As the NFL preseason kicks off and high school sports ramp up, The Leader had the chance to speak with someone who plays a critical role on the football field, though he’s neither a coach nor a player. Stephen Hallmark, an award-winning realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, has been a Heights resident for 21 years. While Hallmark is wellknown for his success in real estate, he has a fascinating side hustle that takes him from the closing table to the side-
lines—he’s a football referee. Hallmark’s journey into refereeing began at the young age of 10, inspired by his father, Jim Hallmark, who was a varsity football referee for 47 years. Despite his family’s hesitation about the sport’s physicality, young Stephen would accompany his father to varsity games, often holding the chains as his father made the calls. Although Hallmark took a break from the sidelines during his high school and college years, he returned to refereeing after attending college. Now, as a head linesman with 21 years of experience,
Hallmark officiates games under the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and the Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO).
Refereeing at the varsity level requires dedication and skill. Referees work their way up from Division 5 to Division 1 through a point system that considers training, clinics, and onfield experience. Varsity games earn 2 points, sub varsity games earn half a point. To become a Division 1 referee you must accumulate 660 points
By CHRIS DAIGLE The Leader News Contributor
As you walk along Foxwood street in Timbergrove, you might just see it as a neighbor’s backyard fence. There’s no sign, no sidewalk leading up to it, yet inside is a legacy to early Houston history.
It is an abandoned cemetery at the corner of Foxwood at Cindy known as the Vollmer-Niemann cemetery. a time tunnel to a German rural community known first as Vollmer before there were any streets or houses here, and next to townsites called Eureka and Smokeyville. It was the most significant settlement for Germans moving west along the prairie. The cemetery, at 1.5 acres, contains 35 marked graves of early German settlers, four graves of Confederate soldiers, and unmarked graves of several slaves.
THE
ORIGINS OF VOLLMERNIEMANN CEMETERY
This area was well promoted in the South as good land for farming in 1836, when Texas gained independence. Henry Vollmer was a farmer and carpenter his whole life. He picked up his family and two mules and headed for Texas. Being the first one there, it was named Vollmer. Soon the Hillendahl family, the Bethje, the Clay, the Sauer, Telchow, and Lange families followed. The main feature was a bayou to the east later named White Oak Bayou. There soon was a post office there in the 1850s and the HT&C railroad came in 1852 to bring supplies from other states.
St.John’s German Lutheran Church was the geographical center of the Vollmer settlement. It served as the
By CHARLIE HARDWICK The Leader News Contributor
Ben Jarrad has lived in the Heights for about seven years and currently loves living in his house on Rutland. His history with the neighborhood goes back to his teenage years when he was a burgeoning musician. Although not yet a household name, Ben has been carving out a reputation as a music teacher, singer songwriter, studio hire, performer, amazing tennis player and a master at creating a nice grilled pizza.
TEENAGER RECORDS ALBUM IN HEIGHTS STUDIO
Ben’s family roots are centered in Oklahoma and Texas. His childhood was somewhat transient as his father took advantage of job opportunities in various parts of the country. Ben was actually born in Denver, CO, when his father was in business with his godfather who was a tennis pro. Eventually the business was sold and the family moved down to Houston settling in Katy.
Not yet a teenager, at the age of 11, Ben played his first open mic night in Houston back in 1997 at a club
called The Mausoleum. Normally, at an open mic, one is allowed to perform only three songs. Laughing, Ben recounts how overkill he was by hauling in a huge stack of amplifiers while his friend brought in a full drum set. Ben and his friend would play Hendrix tunes at a blistering volume, blowing away the older musicians in the room. Living with his parents at the time, Ben credits his older brother Matt, who lived in Montrose, for helping him get his foot in the door to play these open mic gigs.
Ben said, “My brother did not play music but knew about all these clubs,
By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
Mark your calendar: The organization’s annual fundraiser, Pugs on the Bayou, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19
PugHearts of Houston, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, has dedicated itself to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding loving homes for unwanted and neglected pugs. Founded by a group of devoted pug owners and enthusiasts, the organization has grown into a vital resource for pugs in need throughout the greater Houston area, with over 5,000 pugs rescued.
At the core of PugHearts’ mission are its volunteers, who are essential in ensuring that every pug receives the care and love it deserves.
“Our volunteers play a vital role in accomplishing our mission,” says Angela Moebus, a Heights resident and dedicated volunteer with PugHearts. “Providing foster homes, picking up pugs in need of rescue from shelters or the streets, transporting pugs long distances, processing adoption applications, and organizing fundraising events—these are just some of the ways our volunteers assist the organization and the pugs.”
This dedicated network of volunteers allows PugHearts to operate without the need for shelters or kennels. Instead, all rescued pugs are placed in private foster homes, where they can receive individualized care and attention and learn to be a part of a loving family.
so he was instrumental in my exposure to the Houston inner city club scene.”
While in high school at Cinco ranch, Ben joined an original band called Solshine that was created by his friend Sasha. Ben was intrigued by Sasha’s multi-instrumental talent and his prolific songwriting ability. A musical family, Sasha’s mother had a vocal cabaret act, singing at a local Russian bar called The Russian Bear. With the connection from Sasha’s mom, the bar let the band rehearse in the day during off hours.
Submitted photo Heights realtor and referee Stephen Hallmark calling plays during football season.
Editor's Note: In its "Economy at a Glance" report for August, the Greater Houston Partnership - the regional chamber of commerce - outlines many of the most important impacts of Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall on July 8 and cut a destructive path through the Houston region. Ken Fountain, editor of The Leader's sister paper The Fort Bend Star, presents the main body of the report here with permission.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas as a Category 1 Hurricane around 4 a.m. Monday, July 8. The hurricane's path took it through parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties. These four represent 90 percent of the region's 7.5 million residents.
Hurricane Beryl was primarily a wind event, with most of the damage caused by fallen trees and downed power lines. Maximum sustained winds were 80 miles per hour (mph). By comparison, maximum sustained winds for Hurricane Ike were 110 mph and for Hurricane Harvey 115 mph. The Texas A&M Forest Service estimates that Hurricane Beryl affected 50 percent of Houston's urban tree coverage.
Beryl passed through Houston in half a day, unlike Harvey which stalled over Houston and dropped rain for five days. Beryl’s short duration helped limit property damage. Local rainfall
was four to eight inches, with 10 to 15 inches in a few isolated spots. Ike dropped six to 10 inches on the region and Harvey 30 to 60 inches.
POWER OUTAGES
Beryl knocked out electrical power to nearly 2.3 million CenterPoint customers, about 81 percent of its base. The company lost 20,000 utility poles during the storm. By comparison, 2.2 million customers lost power during Ike. Power outages exceeded 1.7 million statewide for Harvey.
To put Beryl’s 2.3 million outages in perspective, metro Houston had a population of 5.7 million when Ike hit.
During Harvey, Houston’s population topped 6.9 million. As of July 1, 2023 (latest data available), the region had 7.5 million residents.
Given Houston’s growth over the past 12 months, the region’s population likely topped 7.6 million residents during Beryl.
SERVICE RESTORATION
CenterPoint restored service to 53 percent of its impacted customers within 48 hours and to 92 percent within seven days. By comparison, with Ike 53 percent of CenterPoint’s customers had their power restored within seven days. Comparable numbers for Hurricane Harvey are not readily available.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
CoreLogic, a property analytics firm, estimates wind
damage claims at $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion due to Beryl. That’s for the entire U.S., not just Houston. Moody’s estimates the losses at $2.5 billion to $4.5 billion, with $3.7 billion as the best estimate. Moody’s estimate includes property damage and business interruption losses. Again, that’s for the entire U.S. By comparison, Hurricane Ike’s losses are estimated at $39 billion and Hurricane Harvey’s at $160 billion, after adjusting for inflation.
Immediately after the storm, the Greater Houston Partnership asked its members
Suspect charged with murder for allegedly strangling his child's mother to death
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the death of a woman found at 11077 Northwest Freeway (U.S. Highway 290) service road about 4:10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10.
The suspect, Ivan Bautista Cazarez, 27, is charged with murder in the 182nd State District Court.
The identity of the deceased female, 27, is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
HPD Homicide Division officials reported that Cazarez walked into the HPD
Patrol Division Station and admitted to officers he killed the mother of his child and drove her to the parking lot at the above address and left her in the vehicle.
Patrol officers and Houston Fire Department paramedics reportedly responded to the address and found the victim in the backseat of a vehicle.
HFD paramedics pronounced the woman deceased. Court records indicate that the woman died of manual strangulation.
Cazarez was transported to HPD Homicide where he was interviewed by detectives.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office was contacted and Cazarez was subsequently charged. He was then booked into the Harris County Jail where he currently remains on a $150,000 bond.
about the impact Hurricane Beryl had on their operations. Eighty members responded to the survey. Most had reopened in four days or less. Some were still closed a week or more later.
When asked about the specific impacts of the storm: 91.3 percent reported they had employees who were unable to report to work,
• 68.8 percent temporarily halted operations, 41.3 percent lost sales or revenues,
• 30.0 percent reported damage to their buildings,
• 28.8 percent had delayed
shipments or deliveries, 21.3 percent suffered equipment damage, and 10.0 percent reported inventory losses.
• When asked how quickly they returned to normal staffing levels:
• 18.8 percent reported within one to two days,
• 37.5 percent reported within three to five days, and
• 40.0 percent reported within one week.
None of the survey respondents reported water in their facilities. Only 40 percent reported wind damage. Houston has invested roughly $10 bil-
lion in flood mitigation proj-
ects since Hurricane Harvey, which helped to minimize damage.
The vast majority (91.1 percent) of respondents indicated the storm will have no longterm impact on their ability to conduct business.
REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Hurricane Beryl disrupted operations at Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airports, leading to flight cancellations in the late morning and early afternoon. The airports resumed normal operations within four hours of the storm’s passing.
Port Houston reopened 48 hours after the storm. The port extended operating hours and cleared all delayed cargo movements within a week. Several refineries reduced operations or shut down units ahead of the storm, but these outages were indiscernible from normal seasonal patterns. There was similar feedback from the chemical sector, though some damage to minor units was reported. Impacts to area rail and trucking centered on power outages at warehouses, but most were restored within a few days. There were no reports of roads or bridges washed out due to the storm. The report also looks at the new businesses relocating to the region, its latest demographic figures, and recent employment trends. Find the full report at houston.org.
according to the Houston TASO football website.
Hallmark’s crew of seven referees remains intact throughout the football season, working football games across Houston. To cover an area as large as the Houston district, over 800 referees are needed.
Hallmark’s crew has a wealth of experience and a full game schedule this year. School coaches use a system called “Coach’s Picks” to assign their games each week.
“Before the season begins, coaches attend a meeting where they can view all the referee crews,” Hallmark explains. “All schools having Friday night games in week 1, for example, are randomly shuffled. The schools placing first in the shuffle get first pick of a crew, and it goes down the line until all schools have picked their crew for week 1 games. This process continues until the season’s officials have been assigned to all weeks of games.”
When asked how football and real estate intersect in his life, Hallmark is quick to draw parallels.
“Football has taught me a lot about negotiations and dealing with people, not only clients but other agents and anyone involved in a real estate transaction,” he says. “As a referee, football coaches
often get upset about a call and lose their temper. I had to develop skills to deal with that efficiently and effectively. I’ve also learned a lot about body language and how to stay calm in emotionally charged situations. I carry that through to my real estate business.”
Hallmark’s attention to detail is another trait that serves him well in both fields.
“They say football is the hardest rule book to learn because there are so many exceptions to every rule,” he notes. “I like to take a deep dive and make sure I am fully aware of what rule applies to any situation in football. I carry that over to real estate, making sure I understand the contract, amendments, addendums, and all the paperwork that brings a real estate transaction to fruition.”
Beyond the professional skills that refereeing has honed, Hallmark also appreciates the physical benefits and camaraderie that come with the job.
“Being a referee is a great way to stay in shape and build lifelong friendships,” he says, encouraging young people to consider refereeing if they think it might be a good career path.
According to CBS News Money Watch, NFL referees now earn an average salary of $205,000 after advancing through the college ranks, with additional pay for officiating the Super Bowl. However,
not all aspects of refereeing are glamorous. When asked about dealing with spectators, Hallmark admits that pee-wee football parents can be the most challenging. He recalls one particular game where a group of dads gave him a hard time from the sidelines during the first half of a game. Using his wit and communication skills, Hallmark approached them, saying, “You have a great vantage point here from the 20-yard line, how about I call the rest of the game from here instead of running up and down the field?” At this, one dad proclaimed to his friend, “Dude, he just burned you!” The comment sparked laughter from everyone, and Hallmark gained the respect he deserved for the remainder of the game.
Whether he’s making critical calls on the football field or negotiating real estate deals, Stephen Hallmark brings a unique blend of expertise, calm under pressure, and a deep understanding of rules and strategy to everything he does. If you’re in the Heights, you might spot him at a football game or working hard to make his real estate clients happy—it’s a win-win with Hallmark on your side. Follow Stephen Hallmark on Facebook at Stephen Hallmark Realtor. Email hallmark@stephenhallmark.com or call 832-228-1659.
Submitted photo
Stephen Hallmark with his 7-member referee crew.
File photo by Ken Fountain
In a new report, the Greater Houston Partnership outlines the impacts of Hurricane Beryl on the region.
Photo released by HPD ARRESTED: Ivan Bautista Cazarez
designated place of worship for the Vollmer and Niemann families, and the area, hence the cemetery was named after the two families. A primary social center was the White Oak Schutzen Verein, where everything from annual shoots to masquerade balls were held. The one-room White Oak School No. 26 was founded in 1884 in a log cabin.
HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CEMETERY
Over time, the cemetery became a who’s-who of notable names people today encounter every day. Louis Clay, 1846-1936, is the namesake of Clay Road. Conrad Sauer, 1843-1917, was a pioneer in dairy farming in Spring Branch and a street is named after him because he laid out and paved many of the streets in Spring Branch. He served in the Civil War in a regiment named Waul’s Texas Legion. The Hillendahl family under W.H. Hillendahl, 1870-1904, helped put Spring Branch on the map as the first post office owners as well as the railroad stop. Their skill at farming is legendary, running a farm on Long Point from 1854-1962. The oldest grave in Vollmer Cemetery is that of John Ojeman, buried in 1848, but the oldest standing gravestone is that of Henry Vollmer, who was buried here in 1878. Several other graves are of wives, children, brothers and sisters of these pioneers.
PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Trevia Wooster Beverly devoted herself to Houston history. Being that she lived very close to the cemetery, it became her next interest.
Together with Bernice Bell Mistrot, David Hornburg, John Vaughn, and Janet K.Wagner, this team searched deed records from Harris County, city libraries, and the appraisal district for clues. Fascinating details emerged.
At least three men buried in Vollmer Cemetery served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Theodore W. Hillendahl and Henry Vollmer both were in Company C, 1st Regiment, Texas Heavy
Artillery; and Conrad Sauer served in Waul’s Texas Legion. Land records show there are four slaves buried in unmarked graves somewhere on the property. The graves’ locations are as yet unknown. Until now, a thorough study has not been attempted to identify the unmarked graves.
More discoveries were that this land had several names, and was referred to as the Vollmer Family Cemetery, the Vollmer-Niemann Family Cemetery, and the Eureka Cemetery, or the Cemetery at Eureka. One mystery remains — slaves are listed, yet the German pioneers did not own slaves, and always relied on hard work and independence as well as large families.
In the 1950s eight homes were built next to the cemetery. These neighbors always say living next to a cemetery does not affect their property values and it’s a very convenient place to celebrate Halloween.
For decades, there was a wooden fence surrounding the land, and for decades people thought it was a neighbor’s backyard. And while all the neighbors surrounding the cemetery know about it and had gates in the fence for access, the cemetery is abandoned in the sense that there is no point person to take care of it. Enter neighbors Reen Cantazaro and Margo Cunningham. Cantazaro once interviewed longtime Timbergrove resident and across-the-street neighbor Gus Arndt about the graveyard. He said that on the north side of the cemetery are a number of unmarked graves of black Civil War soldiers. At one time those soldiers were marked with little white markers which have long since disappeared. Cantazaro did quite a bit of work in 2007 to get the cemetery officially registered as a historic site, and as of 2024, the application has been approved and a Historic Marker is tentatively scheduled for installation in October.
The real concern is for upkeep of the cemetery these days. Cantazaro mows the cemetery herself sometimes, or gets a mowing company to come do it. Cantazaro says any help in landscaping, es-
pecially after two destructive storms, is always welcome. If any local Boy Scout troops are interested in a community service project, there is a lot of work to be done. In 2021 the wooden fence surrounding the cemetery was blown down in a storm. Instead of replacing it with a new one, which would hide the cemetery, a wrought iron fence was installed, so that a widely unknown part of Houston history could be revealed.
THE FUTURE OF VOLLMER CEMETERY
In 2006, retired police officer John Vaughn knew about the plight of the Vollmer lot.
”We knew that developers were looking for any property inside the loop, and we didn’t think the fact that it was a cemetery would slow them down.” Said Vaughn. ”We could envision them tracking down the owner and making him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and one day see bulldozers coming in here to level everything. We didn’t want that to happen.”
However, Vaughn and his neighbors didn’t know who owned the property or whether the owner could be found. So Vaughn, with the blessing of the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club, took it upon himself to try and find some answers. His first stop was the Harris County Appraisal District, where he discovered the land
was exempt from taxes and had no official owner. Through discussions with old-timers in the neighborhood, coupled with other investigative work (Vaughn was a retired cop after all), he found the property’s legal owner.
“He’s in the Brenham area, and he’s a descendant of the Vollmers and the Niemanns,” he said. The good news, said Vaughn, is that the property owner doesn’t appear to be motivated by dollar signs. ”He says he wants to protect the cemetery and keep it main-
tained.” Vaughn said there has been some talk of setting up a trust fund to pay for maintenance. A major tool to help protect the cemetery would be if it received Texas Historical Cemetery status from the Texas Historical Commission. Vaughn knew just who to turn to to try and make that happen — Trevia Beverly, who happened to be Secretary of the Harris County Historical Commission.
Vaughn turned over all he knows about the cemetery to
Beverly, who had been working in the historical field for 50 years. She finds cemeteries fascinating.
“The cemetery is definitely eligible for historic status,” she said. ”But we do have to get the family’s okay to move forward. The ball really is in their court.” There is a way to get the Texas Historic Cemetery designation without the family’s approval, but Beverly didn’t elaborate on that option. As of 2024, the application has been approved and the Historic Marker should be installed in October. As a historic place, the Vollmer Cemetery is always of interest to historians. Barbara Hinton and her husband Marks Hinton took an interest in old cemeteries in Harris County and created a site called Historic Houston: Cemeteries, Streets, and Lagniappe (historichouston1836.com), exploring the untold stories of the people buried in southeast Texas. Marks Hinton also wrote two books on the stories behind Houston’s streets. Area kids had fun memories of this place, too. Patty Blackwell lived on Lindyann down from the cemetery and remembers it well.
“We’d play baseball in there after school because the fence would keep the ball out of the street. We didn’t know we were running around on unmarked graves,” she said.
Vicci Huble remembers telling ghost stories at Halloween.
“We always wondered if they could hear us talking about them,” she remembered with a laugh.
Dee Strickland would always play touch football in the open part of the land.
Although we now see these pioneers buried here as frozen in time, their stories still leave us looking for more. What was life really like in their time? What were their goals, their dreams? Did they know they would inspire people 170 years later to seek them out? For eight Timbergrove neighbors, these German pioneers are telling their stories right in their own backyards. They are saying “Thank you.”
To get involved with the upkeep of Vollmer-Niemann Cemetery, please contact Reen Catanzano at reencatanzano@gmail.com, or email Laura Bradham at blockcaptains@timbergrove.org.
Photo by Laura Bradham
Reen Catanzaro mows the 1.5 acres of the Vollmer-Niemann Cemetery. Upkeep has been a challenge lately with the severe storms, and volunteer help is appreciated.
Photo by Laura Bradham
Timbergrove neighbors visit the Vollmer Cemetery to learn about a legacy of Houston pioneer spirit.
Let’s say your house is on fire. The family is safe on the front lawn. Sirens tell you help is on the way. You have a short time to run into your house and grab something from certain destruction. What would you grab? Perhaps the irre placeable Snoopy doll you had as a child or those gold bars you hid in the freezer awaiting either World War III or COVID-20, whichev er comes first. That photo of Uncle Albert who you fawned over in the hospi tal. No, don’t bother. He still didn’t leave you the ranch. In my case, my father’s rolltop desk is too big to wrestle outside. I could always get a replica of my Medal of Honor or the Nobel Peace Prize. What do I value the most? In a famous TV skit, Jack Benny, who had a reputation for being stingy, is accosted on the street by a robber, who points a gun at Benny, and demands: “Your money or your life.” Pause. The robber says again, “Your money or your life,” to which Benny replies, “I’m thinking. I’m thinking.”
Lynn Ashby Columnist
THE TOPICS.
What’s on first?
It’s all a matter of priorities. Your priorities are probably your family (except for fans, who live and die over the fate of the Astros, Aggies, Longhorns, Cougars, Texans, etc. Those fans really need to get a life. We must recall the observation of John McKay, long-time coach of the University of Southern California Trojans football team. After some adoring fan congratulated McKay on a particularly important victory, he said: “There are still over 600 million Chinese who don’t care if we win or lose.” Obviously they had the wrong priorities. Some folks’ top priority is money – get it any way, anyhow, legal or illegal, with a pen or a pistol, it matters not. That’s why we have Huntsville. Some questionable choic-
THE FOSTER HOME ADVANTAGE
The decision to place all pugs in foster homes rather than shelters offers numerous benefits.
“Having all of our pugs in a home environment allows the foster homes to get to know each pug’s unique personality,” Moebus explains.
“This helps tremendously with matching the right pug to the right adopter. By having a pug become part of your daily life and routine, fosters are also teaching that dog how to integrate and become a pack member.”
Fosters help prepare pugs for their new lives by integrating them into a daily routine
and providing a loving home environment. This allows for early detection and treatment of any health or behavioral issues, which can be more challenging in a shelter environment.
With rescue demand high, PugHearts always needs more foster homes. Those interested in becoming fosters can contact AaronH@pughearts.com for more information.
A THOROUGH ADOPTION PROCESS
PugHearts of Houston takes the adoption process seriously to ensure that every pug finds its perfect forever home.
“Prospective adopters can find our adoption application at www.pughearts.com,” Moebus shares. “We ask questions regarding current and
es are hard to refute. Vice President Dick Cheney, the war hawk who urged President George W. Bush to invade Iraq to seize its nuclear warheads which it didn’t have and never did, was asked why he received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War. Cheney explained: “I had other priorities in the sixties than military service.” Like not getting shot. This leads us to politics, politicians and government in general. Texans have a low opinion of all three and show it by not showing up on Election Day. We generally are at the bottom among the states in percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot. We have other priorities.
But the last presidential election in 2020 was an exception. That year more than 11million Texans -- almost two-thirds of estimated eligible voters -- voted, according to the Pew Research Center. The number represented a higher than average turnout. In Texas, Donald Trump got 5.9 million votes and Joe Biden got 5.2 million. With 38 electoral votes, Texas is second only to California, but here’s the problem: Texas has a winner-take-all policy in the
Electoral College. Trump got them all. So those 5,259,126 Texans who voted for Biden needn’t have bothered. (Locally, only 16 percent of Houston voters cast ballots in our last mayoral runoff.)
Maybe millions of Texans don’t vote because they know their vote won’t matter. Or they have other priorities, like sorting their sock drawer or watering the lawn. Possibly they know what they want from their various elected officials is not what they get. For most of our elected officials it is transparently clear that their top importance is getting elected and keep getting elected. To this end, they have the backbone of a jellyfish. A prime example currently is Vice President Kamala Harris. She is on tape, multiple times, calling for a fracking ban. Same with mandatory gun buybacks and banning private health insurance. She endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Medicare for All bill. Now Harris has done a 180 on all of them. It’s priorities over principles.
When running for president in 2016, by one count, Trump took 141 distinct stances on 23 major issues. After he was elected, he took
previous ownership of pets, the age range and activity level of the pug you’re looking to adopt, and we also ask for personal and veterinary references to gain insight on pet
ownership.”
The next step in the process is a home visit, where PugHearts representatives meet potential adopters to ensure that their home envi-
32 new stances on 13 different issues. My favorite example is Sen. John Kerry, when he was running for president in 2004, said, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” Their chief priority was winning. OK, we all change our minds. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.” Our little statesmen must have little minds, but at least they know their priorities. When it comes to what’s most important, we only have to look at Texas. How important are Italian Angela Carini and Algerian Imane Kheli? They were two boxers in the Paris Olympics, and Kheli won in a 46-second fight. Then a big brouhaha erupted over whether Kheli was a transgender. That was important to Texans, so Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got into the fight, so to speak. “NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS!!!” Abbott wrote on social media. “That is the law in Texas. It should be the standard everywhere.” Patrick declared: “We must fight back on every level against this continued
ronment is safe for a new pet.
“Having a thorough adoption process is very important because we want to be sure our rescue pugs find their happily ever after with the right adopter,” Moebus emphasizes.
PUGS ON THE BAYOU: A NIGHT TO SUPPORT PUGHEARTS
PugHearts’ annual fundraising event, Pugs on the Bayou, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the Bayou City Event Center.
“It’s a fun night where all funds raised go directly to the pugs in our care,” says Moebus. “There will be a huge silent auction with something for everyone, a live auction, Pug King and Queen Crowning, dinner, music, and more!”
This year’s event will fea-
Democrat assault against girls and women.”
Hey, Abbot and Patrick, maybe you can walk and chew gum at the same time, but don’t you have other priorities? At least 2.2 million Texans just sweated in the dark for up to a week because our electricity company, which you all indirectly oversee on our behalf, turned out to be incompetent, greedy and operating for years without adequate state supervision. Our public schools need money and you seem bound to cripple them. CNBC just ranked Texas the worst state in quality of life. Consumer Affairs ranked us third worst. We really don’t care about an Algerian boxer’s sexuality, and neither should you. Speaking of priorities, I smell smoke.
Ashby prioritizes at ashby2@ comcast.net
Editor’s note: This column and its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of The Leader News, its staff, or its publisher. The Leader News welcomes opinion articles on matters of interest to Greater Heights residents. Publication is at the discretion of the editor.
ture a “scrumdiddlyumptious” Willy Wonka-themed party and promises to be an exciting evening for all attendees. Dogs are welcome, making it a perfect night for pug lovers to come together in support of a great cause. Tickets will be available for purchase at pughearts.com, and those interested in volunteering can email eventsc@pughearts. com. There are many ways to get involved and support this incredible organization, whether through fostering, adopting, or attending fundraising events like Pugs on the Bayou. For more information about PugHearts, their adoption process, or to get involved, visit www.pughearts.com. You can also follow PugHearts on Instagram @pughearts.
If you spend any time on social media these days following health topics, you will have heard the protein story and how you need to increase your intake. Is it true? Do I really need that much protein? Well, it depends.
There are certain conditions where too much protein can increase chronic illness such as with kidney disease and gout. But outside of chronic diseases such as these, and depending on your age, an increased need is likely.
We live in a world with many health fads. Practices like fasting and ketogenic diets have diluted dietary requirements in public health messaging. Because personalized nutrition is how I work with most of my patients, making blanket claims is something I usually avoid. However, there are some recent studies highlighting an increased need for protein compared to the current dietary guidelines.
Proteins are universal in every living organism on earth. Within the human body, protein serves as a fundamental building block for muscles, skin, hair, bones, and virtually all other tissues and bodily components. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring proper muscle development and function, promoting bone health, enhancing the strength of connective tissues, facilitating tissue repair and growth, supporting blood oxygenation, and underpinning basic cellular activities.
All proteins are composed of amino acids, often referred to as the fundamental building blocks of life. Amino acids are the primary components of crucial biological elements like RNA, DNA, neurotransmitters, hormones, and a significant portion of our muscle
Recounting the culture shock, Ben said, “The air was filled with the scent of this amazing Russian food, then these belly dancers would start coming in to work for their evening shift.”
At the age of 14, Solshine recorded a record with the legendary Houston recording engineer and musician, Rock Romano, a.k.a. Dr. Rocket. Ben recalls how much of an inspiration it was to get a first-hand lesson on recording and engineering from the Houston icon. Romano’s studio was located in the Heights, planting a seed for Ben that would blossom into his affinity for the neighborhood. Continuing his music education with lessons at Katy Music, Ben found a mentor in Clayton Dyess, a jazz musician and teacher. Dyess, who has appeared on the Dizzy Gillespie record label and is friends with legendary jazz guitarist Joe Pass, was a formidable influence on Ben. Ben followed Dyess at many of his Houston shows, opening up Ben to the world of jazz and, in some cases, allowing Ben to sit in on gigs.
BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC — TENNIS, ANYONE?
While blazing musical ground in Houston during high school, the inevitable reality of college was fast approaching on the horizon. At 15, Bend had settled in his mind that he wanted to pursue a career as a musician, setting aside his other talent and love for competitive tennis. Ben said, “I grew up in a tennis family. I wish we were a music family, but we all loved tennis.”
As the onset of college approached, Ben’s family received the unfortunate news of his father’s cancer diagnosis. Ben said his father was nervous about his desired career path, concerned that he could not make enough money. The family finances were tight because of the cancer treatment and Ben’s father said they would only have enough to cover one year of college.
At 16, Ben applied for a co-op license from his school that allowed him to work without going to school. Ben began teaching music lessons
SHANA TATUM, RD, IFMCP www.shanatatumrd.com
tissue. It's important to note that our bodies neither store protein nor produce all the essential amino acids required for optimal bodily function. Consequently, it becomes imperative for us to incorporate protein into our daily diets.
The good news is that a diverse array of foods contain protein, ensuring that we have access to this vital nutrient daily. In general, sources include animal and plant proteins, beans and legumes, protein powders, dairy products and nuts and seeds as well as many vegetables. When intake is drastically reduced it signals to the body to begin breaking down lean muscle mass. This muscle mass is what we want to preserve. Some say it is our most important organ for longevity. With significant weight loss you will see some reduction in skeletal muscle mass (SMM), but over time we want to preserve this, especially if aged 45 and older. At this time, especially for women, adding SMM can become more difficult.
To maintain SMM, two things should occur: 1. adequate protein intake and 2. the right type of resistance training to maintain and
acquiring 23 students within his first quarter. Earning roughly $30,000 from teaching lessons, Ben gave the money to his dad contributing to his own college fund. Proud and impressed by his son’s ability and passion for hard work, Ben’s dad was glad to see the acceptance letter Ben received to attend the Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, students have a choice to participate with other university sports programs in the region. Having played competitive tennis in high school, Ben elected to join the tennis team at Emerson College. His time on the Emerson tennis team led to a connection with the tennis coach at Harvard and Ben was eventually hired to teach tennis at Harvard in the summers while he was attending Berklee. Ben recalls, “ I taught tennis to anyone from small kids to almost-adults. I also walked dogs and took odd jobs just to make some extra money.”
Ben’s time at Berklee was constant exposure to a rich history of the music industry. Among class instruction there were seemingly continuous live shows in the area, jam sessions with established visiting musicians and clinics and lectures with notable guest like Paul Simon. Ben recalls, “There were always clinics available to the students; it was mind-blowing to go to a clinic and be able to raise your hand and ask Paul Simon what he was doing on a certain recording.”
Ben speaks highly of his Berklee mentor and professor Danny MO Morris, a bass player who has performed with names like, Calypso Hurricane, Paula Abdul, and Bo Diddley among others. Morris included Ben in a lineup of bass players to play Wes Fest in Los Angeles, CA, held at the Roxy. Wes Fest is an annual benefit concert held to raise money for the Wes Wehmiller Endowment at Berklee, which awards scholarships to bass players. Wes Wehmiller was a former bass player for Duran Duran who passed away from thyroid cancer at the age of 33. Ben became a popular addition to the lineup, even making friends with Wehmiller’s mother Paula. Ben recounts, “My mom’s
Mastering Protein Intake: The key to muscle maintenance
Canned Tuna 4oz. 23g Quinoa, 1 cup cooked 8g
Chicken, Turkey 4oz. 28g Oatmeal, 1 cup cooked 6g
Ground Bison, 4oz. 23g Nutritional Yeast, 2 tbsp 5g 1% Milk, 8oz. 8g Walnuts/Almonds ¼ cup 8g 1% Cottage Cheese 1 cup 28g Hummus, ¼ cup 5g
Non-Fat Greek Yogurt, 6oz. 14g Lentils, ½ cup cooked 9g Feta Cheese, 1oz. 7g Tofu, firm 3oz. 10g
Brown Rice, 1 cup cooked 5g Soy Milk unsweetened, 8oz. 7g
Examples of high protein foods
build muscle mass.
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY'S RANGE OF PROTEIN NEEDS
General recommendations would be
1.4-2.2g/kg of body weight. To calculate, first find your weight in kilograms: 1) weight in lbs./2.2 = kilograms of body weight 2) Take body weight in kg x 1.4 = total grams of protein, low end of range 3) and body weight in kg x
2.2 = total grams of protein, high end of range
This is the range that is recommended by the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Research also shows that the quality of protein consumed, and the timing and distribution of protein intake throughout the day are important to understand.
This may feel difficult to achieve if you are not used to being protein forward in your meals, of if you are prone to
name is Paula and I would see Wes’s mom every year at those shows at the Roxy, so we became friends.”
Playing these gigs in L.A. connected Ben to some of the heavies in the recording industry. Names that might not be household names but definitely known amongst musicians. Examples include, Brendon Small, the creator of Metalocalyps and Death Clock of Cartoon Network; J.R. Robinson, noted as one of the most recorded drummers in history; and Mike Keneally, who is known for playing with Frank Zappa and the Steve Vai band.
BACK HOME IN THE HEIGHTS
After graduation from Berklee, Ben remained in Massachusetts for a decade and hit the road with a band he fronted called Autumn Armor. A desire to get back to Texas and closer to family, Ben moved to Conroe where he became involved in the country music scene and met his friend Jake. The two would eventually create the band Ruckus.
Transitioning down to Houston, Ben worked at Heights Vinyl located on White Oak Dr., down the street from Fitzgerald’s. The first band Ben played with
in Houston after graduating Berklee was Spain Colored Orange. Eventually he landed a teaching gig at Rockin’ Robin guitar store where he taught 7 days a week, and was pretty much the breadwinner in lessons for the store. Ben was asked to help out with a songwriter workshop for iconic Austin guitarist Ian Moore. The meeting of the two would lead to a working relationship that lasted for a few years with Ben being Ian’s primary bass player.
Ben remembers, “Ian was a great guy to work for. I met a lot of really cool people through him, he was always really nice and gave everybody his time.”
Ben recalls many great memories playing with Ian’s band. The band headlined a gig at the Bomb Factory in Dallas for an event called Guitar Fest, an event that hosted some of the world’s prominent guitar players. Toward the end of the festival, several of these guitarists were on stage for a jam session that turned into a guitar stand-off. Ben was holding down the bass on stage playing with such greats as Paul Reed Smith, Eric Johnson, Redd Volkaert from Merle Haggard’s band, and George Lynch from
skipping meals. So, let’s review some sources of protein to help you better understand what 30-40g of protein may look like on the plate.
WAYS TO INCORPORATE MORE PROTEIN
Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled with spinach, onions and mushrooms with a side of 3/4 cup Greek nonfat yogurt
Lunch: 4-5oz. salmon filet on bed of mixed salad greens
Dokken as they battled it out for best player.
Another fond memory was meeting John Doe from the Los Angeles punk band X, and getting to spend a lot of time with him learning about how their band worked, his songwriting technique and the early days of the L.A. punk scene. After a few years of a great working relationship and friendship with Ian that continues to this day, Ben would eventually leave the Ian Moore Band on good terms because he wanted to break out and do his own projects. The new availability of time allowed Ben to work on his band Ruckus with his friend Jake and move on to begin producing some solo work.
NASHVILLE PRODIGY
A good friend of Ben’s, Kayla Thornton, married Glen Campbell’s son Cal Campbell and, about two years ago when Ben was in Nashville playing a solo gig at Sambuca, Kayla wanted her husband Cal to meet Ben. After the show, Cal Campbell was impressed with Ben’s voice and expressed an interest in developing a record project together.
The project has been in the works off and on for the last two years. So far, they have completed a three-song live acoustic EP and finished up a nine or 10-song album with the first song to be released this month called “Like We Used To.” Ben has found the experience to be fruitful as Cal is contributing half the work, playing drums, singing, adding guitar and doing a lot of the mix-downs. Ben and Cal have agreed on a 50-50 partnership on this venture which has been a great experience for Ben.
Expressing admiration Ben said, “It’s been cool, I look up to him. He’s a little older than me and he knows a lot about recording and mixing, and I love learning more about how to record.” When the project is released it will be labeled as a collaboration between Ben Jarrad and Cal Campbell. Although appreciative of the lineage of Campbell, Ben also highlights his excitement in working with the core band of musicians who reside in Nashville with lineages of their own. Eli Bishop on strings, Cornelius Webb, son
and a side of ½ cup quinoa
Dinner: 1 cup lentil and Swiss chard stew and carrots with an arugula side salad topped with parmesan and avocado.
Just as important as the quantity of protein you consume is the timing of your protein intake. Your body functions optimally when protein is distributed evenly throughout the day. And for weight loss, studies show adequate protein in the morning is effective. Consuming protein close to exercise at approximately 10g can be beneficial for promoting lean muscle development. This strategy can lead to enhanced recovery and a reduced postexercise discomfort. Try some new things out and see what works for you. If you are used to exercising fasted in the morning, try adding some protein pre or post workout and measure your changes. Enjoy the experiment!
of Grammy winning songwriter Jimmy Webb, on bass, and Neil “Steel” Jones on pedal steel guitar.
When Ben is not working on the album with Campbell you can find him sitting in with a friend’s band that has a regular house gig at Jon BonJovi’s club or other notable Nashville haunts like The Basement East or the Five Spot. Primarily a guitar player, Ben recognized that his willingness to take up bass guitar when needed afforded him the chance to seize the many opportunities that came his way. Ben remarked about how he just loves music and if playing the triangle opened doors for the same opportunities, he would totally do it. Ben is currently 38 years old. His passion, drive and serious work ethic have placed him in front of live audiences for 27 years. Ben has an innate standard of the do-it-yourself work ethic that resonated with him from his love of the culture of old punk music. There is a common bond between musicians who go out on a limb to create original music. They face the fear of rejection from an audience that wants to be entertained in a low-risk, high-reward environment. He’s had a few tours where the hotels were nice and the catering was good, but Ben has paid his dues, spending many nights on the road driving all night to the next gig and sleeping on couches. Ben said he got his bachelor degree from Berklee but he earned his master’s degree by being on the road, touring in bands. Ben’s Berklee professor Danny Morris sums it up by saying, “Ben is a beautiful spirit and, man, can he play. He knows what the language of music tastes like and delivers a five-course meal when dishing it out. Even between courses, there are vibes going on there that are magical and I am proud to have been part of his journey.”
In the Houston area you can catch Ben Jarrad as a solo act or with his band Ruckus who just released a self-titled album, produced by Steve Torres. Of course, search for Ben Jarrad or Ruckus on all streaming platforms. For more information and show listings, visit benjarrad.com.
Photo by Kris Lenore
Ben Jarrad
JARRAD, from P. 1
Sitio Royalties has multiple openings for a Reservoir Engineer – Reserves/Revenues in Houston, TX. BS, or higher, in Petroleum Engineering, related field or foreign equivalent required. 6 years of exp required, which must include experience in exploration and production; Permian Basin; large datasets; Spotfire and IHS. Send resumes careers@sitio.com
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What: Competitive and recreational volleyball tournaments with cash and prizes
Cost:$30-$110
Info: houstonssc.com/ league/75447/details
DOGGIE DAY AT BENNY THUNDERS
Who: Adults, families When: Sunday, Aug. 18, 4-7 p.m. What: 1st Annual Doggie Day with local doggy supply vendors, raffles, Nacho Wagon food truck,
and
Armando
Herrera, Eva Martinez and Virginia Garcia. She is survived by her children - daughter, Diana Hendon; son, Robert Bexar (Bethanie); daughter, Cynthia Ruggles (Thomas); grandchildren Kellye Hendon, Robert Bexar II (Ashley), Ashlee Bexar (Sean Horigan), Patrick Ruggles (Nikki), Kyle Ruggles; great-grandchildren Cora and Charles Ruggles; sisters Olivia Munoz and Eloise Rodriguez and numerous nieces and nephews. Her children would like to especially thank their Tia Eloise and her grandson, Robert, for the love and support in caring for their mother during her last days. Pallbearers Robert Bexar, Robert Bexar II, Ashlee Bexar, Thomas Ruggles, Patrick Ruggles, Kyle Ruggles, Honorary Pallbearer Kristian Bexar.
Services were held on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Pat H. Foley & Company. Her interment took place at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.
What: Fundraiser for the Bulldog Band’s marching season Cost: $10 per car Info: facebook.com
DAVID LADUCA AT EQ HEIGHTS
Who: All ages
When: Saturday, Aug. 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
What: Learn the steps to take for growing fall tomatoes Cost: Free Info: buchanansplants.com/ events
ELEANORA’S MARKET
Who: All ages
When: Saturday, Aug. 17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: 2120 Ella Blvd.
What: R&B artist Allen Stone and his band play the downstairs venue at WOMH Cost: $40-$140.00 + Fees Info: whiteoakmusichall.com
SUMMER SERIES 6 SAND VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT AT WAKEFIELD CROWBAR
Who: Adults and families
When: Saturday, Aug. 17, 9
Fidelity National Title announces art call for local artists
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Fidelity National Title is excited to announce an open call for local artists to exhibit their work at our office located at 1512 Heights Blvd. This unique opportunity is available from September through November 2024 and aims to showcase the vibrant talent within our community.
new
This art exhibit provides a platform for artists to connect with potential buyers in an intimate and welcoming setting.
FOR SUBMISSIONS: Exhibit Dates: September - November 2024
Location: Fidelity National Title, 1512 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX
Contact: Chelsea Munoz at chelsea@lairdlaw.net for more details
The office, a beautifully converted bungalow, serves as the final stop for new home purchasers to close on their properties. As they embark on this new journey, they may also be seeking the perfect pieces of art to adorn
Jeff Laird of Fidelity National Title and wife, Sarah, in front of “Starry Heights” currently on exhibit by artist Stacy Gresell.
Inspiration comes in many forms. For me, one of my favorite inspirations is other people’s journeys in the art world. Lindsey Johnson fits that bill. Johnson is a Houston jewelry artist that joined us at First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights in 2017.
Originally from Lafayette, LA, Johnson moved to Houston in 2010 for her corporate work. She tells me she likes to garden, travel and spend time with her husband. She also plays saxophone in a jazz band. That caught me by surprise!
After completing an MS in Geology and working in the oil industry for 8 years, Johnson decided to jump the corporate ship and make her jewelry hobby a business. With a fascination with the earth, a love of pretty rocks, and the simplicity of geometric jewelry, she named her new business Geophilia Studio.
Art Valet:
ship from the corporate world to art
HOW DID YOU GET INTO JEWELRY?
“My stepmother bought me my first jewelry tools as a present, along with some beads and a book and it just snowballed after that,” Johnson said. “Eventually, I took a class at the Art League from Mary Rogers, to learn basic metalsmithing skills like sawing, soldering, and stonesetting, but almost all my oth-
er skills are self-taught using books and online videos and tutorials.”
YOUR WORK SEEMS TO “EVOLVE” FREQUENTLY, TELL US ABOUT THAT.
“I’m learning new skills all the time to try and elevate my work to a high-end artisan jewelry brand,” Johnson said. “Fine jewelry like what you see at typical jewelry houses is boring to me, but I don’t want “rustic” used to describe my work, either. So, designs are kept simple, without much fussy detail, but I like to focus on texturing and finishing and use of fabulous stones, whether that’s oneof-a-kind incredible jaspers or well-cut garnets and sap-
phires. When people think of Geophilia, I want them to think ‘oh wow, her items are so amazingly well-done!’
I’m also intrigued by 3D work, kinetics, and bringing jewelry away from the body. Instead of keeping everything flat, I’m making spheres, boxes, and more rounded wearable objects that will include hinges and rotating mechanisms.”
YOU MUST HAVE PLANS/GOALS FOR THE FUTURE THEN.
“At the moment, I’m trying to figure out how to get more people to pay attention so I can make this a viable business,” Johnson said. “As for plans and goals, there are stone-setting skills I’d like
to master that I can offer for custom creations. Something that feels very far away is that I would like to have the skills and confidence to recreate heirloom jewelry into modern designs using the customers’ inherited pieces.”
YOU KNOW THE SCOOP: TELL US SOMETHINGS THAT WOULD SURPRISE US!
“Anyone who knows me also knows my stories, but I have a master’s degree in Geology,” Johnson said.
‘Part of a Geology program involves a 6-week stint in Colorado spent hiking, mapping, and staying up all night to get your map done, with a new map to be made every week. The experience
changed my life. I have also been first alto in a community jazz band for the last 10+ years. They’re like my family. And I love jazz SO much.” I might have to look into that jazz group for the art market!
Lindsey Johnson’s jewelry can be purchased on her website or find her at many of Houston’s fine art festivals and markets. Visit geophiliastudio.com and follow her on Instagram for works in progress and upcoming events instagram.com/geophiliastudio.
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.
Kids show interest, True North artist shows heart
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY
The Leader News Contributor
A June edition of The Leader took a deep-dive into the mechanics of the Heights Boulevard 2024 True North Exhibition and the artists who brought it to life, including the creator of the unforgettable Airplane1, Dion Laurent. During a recent casual conversation with a Heights neighbor, we learned that her two young boys had seen the exhibits in passing many times from the car, but never had the opportunity to enjoy an upclose and personal examination of any of the sculptures. Dion Laurent is the artist behind one of the more noticeable exhibits, Airplane 1. In addition to his sculptures and installations, he is recognized
and renowned for his performance art.
The True North artists are spread across Texas, but Laurent resides right here in Houston, near The Heights. He was contacted and asked if he would be amenable to providing a personal, guided tour for the two young boys, Gabe and Sean Krueger, and he graciously accepted. In the middle of the stifling August heat last weekend, Laurent provided both of them with an unexpected thrill. He took them on his artistic journey, providing a rare opportunity to explore his airplane installation up close and in detail. He described the processes that went into creating it, including all of his measures to design them for selfsustainability; for example, the
solar panels and water pumps to house living, breathing vegetation and flora.
Laurent also shared information and videos about his related performance art, ‘Earth Man’ and how it addressed greater concerns like the ominous effects of climate change, but in a way that the youngsters could understand, combining summertime fun with learning. He allowed them to climb inside the plane and invited them to don his ‘Earth Man’ helmet, which they took turns wearing with pride.
Just before leaving, Laurent presented both boys with some tiny toy glider replicas to remind them of their experience. The wide eyes and smiles were undeniably heartwarming.
Carnelian Cuffs by Lindsey Johnson of Geophilia Studio
Lindsey Johnson of Geophilia Studio
Johnson of Geophilia Studio
Submitted photos Handcrafted earrings by Lindsey Johnson of Geophilia Studio
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
2024 True North Artist Dion Laurent shares his passion with the Krueger boys, Gabe (l) and Sean (r).
