10-29-22 Edition of The Leader

Residents stream to polls as early voting begins

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A slow but steady stream of local residents turned out earlier this week in the first few days of early voting with abortion laws, Texas’ electrical grid and more on their minds.

The ballot for the Nov. 8 election is jam-packed with important local and state races, such as County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s

efforts to fend off Republican challenger Alexandra Mealer in search of a second term in county government. And those that spoke to The Leader on Tuesday seemed drawn for different reasons.

Many of those spoken to Tuesday were eying the statewide races, such as those featuring incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott against Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke.

“(The governor’s race)

is the one drawing me out, because that’s the one that I hear about the most,” Heights resident Luke Hebert said. “…The problem is that (Abbott) doesn’t really seem pro-Texas, he just seems anti-Democrat. Beto, from what I see, just seems to be more pro-Texas than he is anti-Republican.”

Hebert said he cast his vote for Beto O’Rourke, and he wasn’t alone.

Family of

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The family of a late Heights High School student who was killed during a crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival music festival in Houston last November has settled a wrongful death lawsuit.

According to an Oct. 20 report from USA Today, the family of former Heights High School student Brianna Rodriguez has settled a wrongful death lawsuit the family had filed against against headliner Travis Scott, among other defendant. The terms of the settlement were confidential, according to the report.

Rodriguez, who was 16 years old at the time of her death, was one of 10 people who died on Nov. 5, 2021 when there was a chaotic surge in the crowd at the Astroworld Festival headlined by Scott, a Houston rapper. The 10 people who died ranged from ages 9 to 27, according to multiple media reports, and hundreds more were injured.

“Brianna Rodriguez was deeply loved and is terribly missed by her parents, her entire and extended family, her friends, and by her peers at Heights High School,” attorneys Troy Williams and Robin Blanchette said in a statement last week, according to USA Today.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Several local business owners say women-owned businesses still face different and unique challenges when attempting to break into the business world compared to their male counterparts, with the perceived role of women in society and belief they cannot handle multiple roles being at the heart of it.

But they are trying to be part of a wave of helping to change such

a perception.

There are a growing number of women starting businesses despite saying they still face obstacles on the path that men beginning similar businesses do not.

“I think that women in general are viewed to have distractions in life such as home, kids, and all that comes with that. We are deemed to be maternal and that should be our only role,” said Linda Trieu, who owns both Three Hearts Apparel and Rel-

By Matt deGrood news@theleadernews.com

People buying used cars while waiting for their dream car to come in; old cars worth more today than when they were purchased years ago – today’s car market couldn’t be more unprecedented or unpredictable, according to experts at several area dealerships.

Prices for new and used vehicles skyrocketed during the early months of the pandemic while automakers coped with supply chain

ic General Store in the Heights. “It is difficult for other to see us in different roles, and seeing that we are capable of holding these roles… people have a difficult time separating those roles and that we can do it all.”

She added that she believes men entering the business world do not face the same battle when starting one, adding another obstacle for women on top of the standard challenges of starting any business.

“I think that female

issues and a chip shortage, according to a Nerd Wallet article.

While some of the worst supply-chain related issues might be behind the industry, spiking interest rates combined with a stillpresent chip shortage mean high prices aren’t going away anytime soon, according to local experts.

“There’s still a shortage of new cars,” said Andy Ortiz, a salesperson with Tommie Vaughn Motors, a local car dealership at 1201 N Shepherd Drive. “That

entrepreneurs will always face an uphill battle when it comes to getting affirmation in the business world, and part of that is related to the doubt that women can multitask in being a businesswoman,” she said.

Oak Forest resident and business owner Sara Heald echoed the sentiment

“(Having children or a partner at home) can sometimes be viewed as a sign of weakness or a

means new car prices are staying high.”

New vehicle prices reached a record level in August, with the average price reaching $46,259, according to an Oct. 5 article in NBC News.

People are calling the dealership from across the country seeking new cars and some have even turned to purchasing used vehicles while they spend the 10 to 12 months waiting on a new car order to come in, Ortiz

Inching

Grief and joy Anthony J. Suber will have his new gallery “We Cried Until We Laughed” on display in Houston this weekend.

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann

wait in line outside SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights on Tuesday. Voters have begun making their way to the polls as early voting kicked o this week.

Photo from GoFundMe.com

The family of late Heights High school student Brianna Rodriguez, foreground, has settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed after her death at a music festival last year

Photo from Facebook Businesses owned by women such as Oak Forest resident Sara Heald, pictured, say that they still face unique challenges today when

Photo from Facebook

The market for cars across the area at local dealerships such as Tommy Vaughn Ford on North Shepherd, which experts say is a combination of spiking interest rates and chip shortage.

creating a bunker mentality

THE BACK YARD – Dig, dig, dig. Maybe 6 feet down would do it. Or 10, just to be safe. Maybe I should move into the tenth floor of a building. Why? Because the Russians are coming, or at least their nukes, and I need a bomb shelter. Yes, once again we must get ready for an atomic war. You see, on October 1 Ramzan Kadyrov, the pro-Putin strongman who runs Russia’s Chechen Republic, called for “lowyield nuclear weapons” to be used against Ukraine. Putin threatened last month that Russia might use “all defense methods at our disposal,” including nuclear weapons, to protect Russian “territorial integrity.” Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said on October 6 that the risk of a nuclear “Armageddon” is at its highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis when many feared a nuclear war might be imminent. Even that famed nuclear scientist, Elon Musk, tweeted that “nuclear war probability is rising rapidly.”

And get this: Polymarket, a cryptocurrency betting site, is currently taking bets on “Will Russia use a nuclear weapon before 2023?” The current odds being offered on the use of an “offensive” nuclear weapon are 1-20. This means, if you correctly bet nuclear weapons will be used, you stand to collect $18.97 from a $1 bet after site fees are processed. Conversely, if you rightly guess they won’t be used you will win $1.04, for the same $1 stake.

So don’t throw away your stocks of Sterno, bottled water, non-perishable food and plenty of beer for the forthcoming Armageddon. Houstonians must be particularly prepared because we’re not Number 1, but close enough.

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

menagerie say that a nuclear attack on U.S. soil would most likely target one of six cities: New York, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. Their criteria for these targets are pretty obvious, but there are also military bases (Fort Hood and San Antonio), depots for military ammunition, major industries that can contribute to economic decline if destroyed by nuclear attacks, places with significant infrastructure facilities such as water reservoirs, power plants, and information technology systems. Houston fits into the category of “places with significant infrastructure facilities,” i.e. our gentlemen’s clubs. No, actually our port, oil and gas industry, our massive petro-chemical plants and our billionaires who own them.

Fortunately, we are prepared. No, wait a minute. We’re not. In 1961, around the height of the Cold War, the feds launched the Community Fallout Shelter Program which designated safe places to hide after a nuclear attack in cities across the country. Most shelters were on the upper floors of high-rise building, so they were meant to protect people only from radiation and not the blast itself. Cities

were responsible for stocking those shelters with food and sanitation and medical supplies paid for by the federal government. By the time funding for the program ran out in the 1970s, New York City had designated 18,000 fallout shelters to protect up to 11 million people. But in 2017, New York City officials began removing the yellow signs that once marked these shelters to avoid the misconception that they were still active. None of those six target cities have designated fallout shelters anymore.

Remember those yellow signs? I haven’t seen one in years. Does anyone still have a backyard bomb shelter? (Incidentally, how do you dig a bomb shelter in the upper floor of a high-rise building?) Our school children no longer are taught to hide under their desks to minimize turning into a glowing ash. Now they are taught to hide from 18-yearold gunmen carrying an AR15-style rifle. And as of last November, a nuclear shelter turned bunker data center in Montgomery County was up for sale.

But we still have FEMA to spring to our aid. We fall under Region 6 which oversees five states and 68 Tribal Nations. Its HQ is located in Denton, which is far from Houston and our hurricanes, but close to Indian reservations. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to avoid being enveloped in nukes. Like move. Areas that are considered the safest states from nuclear attack include Salem, Or-

egon, that has invested in something called “seismic infrastructure facilities” that can decrease damages from nuclear bombs. And stay away from nuclear power plants which are prime targets. West Virginia is one of the safest places in the nation from nuclear attacks. Maine is also one of the safest places because it has fewer violent crimes, low natural disaster risks, and no nuclear bases nearby. The Ruskies don’t want to waste bombs on under-populated places, so you might want to consider Alaska.

You will be happy to know Houston does have plans for a disaster – hurricanes.

Greater Houston has been the site of 25 federally declared disasters in just 40 years, nearly one-third of which have occurred since 2015. All but one of these recent disasters (the COVID-19 pandemic) have involved flooding and/or hurricanes. Can we add the Great Freeze Uri? In case you don’t have a bomb shelter yourself, (for info on how to build one, Google Hitler: bunker) check with your neighbors who may have a fortified hole. Look for someone who wear camouflaged outfits, sports bumper stickers on his pickup (with a fully loaded gun rack) reading: “I Don’t Break For

Wokes” and votes a straight party ticket. Guess which party. Don’t bother seeking out any neighbor who drives an electric-powered Volvo, has a bumper sticker reading: “Keep Running For Something, Beto” and votes a straight party ticket. Guess which party. Be exceptionally nice to the first guy. Laugh at his jokes about Sleepy Joe, offer him a chaw and say he looks spiffy in his white sheet with the cone. When the sirens wail, you may need to hide in his backyard bunker. Bring beer.

Ashby is digging at ashby2@comcast.net

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the

and leading it.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Booker T. Washington Eagles’ football program has fallen on lean years in recent seasons. But this year’s squad has taken on and struck down every challenger, and another big win last week moved them closer to a feat the school hasn’t accomplished in nearly two decades.

Booker T. Washington defeated Yates 57-20 last Friday to maintain their unbeaten mark, improving to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in District 11-4A competition. With the win, the Eagles moved one step closer to a district title, and could clinch the crown if they beat Worthing next weekend. It would be the first district title for the program since 2006.

Quarterback Kamryn Jackson threw four touchdown passes for Booker T. Washington, his sixth consecutive game with multiple scoring tosses, with Andre Walker II catching his team-leading 10th touchdown of the year. Three different players also ran for touchdowns for the Eagles, with freshman Nicholas Tramble finding pay dirt

for the eighth consecutive game.

Elsewhere in public school action, the Heights Bulldogs are in strong playoff position following a 58-18 over Westbury last week. Quarterback Allen Rainey threw for 240 yards and a seasonhigh six touchdowns in the game, while Amilcar Frazier and Lamont Robins caught a pair of scoring tosses apiece. The Bulldogs (5-3, 3-1) have now won three games in a row and will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday against Sam Houston.

Waltrip dropped its first district game of the season, falling 61-7 against Galveston Ball to drop to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in district competition.

Scarborough dropped to 1-7 and 0-5 in district play with a 40-0 loss to North Forest last Friday.

Private school

On the private school side, St. Pius X had its two-game winning streak snapped last weekend, dropping a 41-15 decision to Antonian Prep.

Bryce McKeon threw his 18th touchdown pass of the season, a 16-yard strike to KJ Dibble in the second quarter,

for the Panthers’ lone offensive touchdown of the night.

The Panthers (4-4, 2-1) will now face a stiff test this weekend as they seek a return to the win column, welcoming in North Shepherd rival St. Thomas to Kubiak Stadium for a local showdown.

St. Thomas (8-0, 3-0) won via a forfeit by the Village School last week, and will enter this weekend’s local battle as the third-ranked private school squad by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Running back Johann Cardenas (1,371 total yards, 18 touchdowns) and quarterback Dionte Lewis (1,646 yards, 20 touchdowns) lead the Eagles’ offense into the game.

Lutheran North Academy dropped to 0-8 overall and 0-3 in TAPPS district play following a 45-21 loss to Alpha Omega Academy last weekend. The Lions will play Tomball Rosehill Christian in their season finale on Friday.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A key cog in the Booker T. Washington Eagles’ historic season thus far has picked up his first college football scholarship offer barely two months into his first high school season.

On Oct. 8, Eagles’ freshman athlete Nicholas Tramble announced on his per-

sonal Twitter account that he has received an offer from Southern Methodist University. He joins fellow Eagle Brodrick Malone – himself just a sophomore – to pick up an offer from SMU in recent seasons after Malone was offered at the end of last season.

Tramble has been a big part of the Eagles’ success so far this season, having

amassed a team-leading 575 yards and nine touchdowns rushing while averaging better than 10 yards per carry. He has 720 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns on the season, according to MaxPreps, and has found the end zone at least once in seven of Booker T. Washington’s eight contests.

Photo by Matthew Blue Booker T. Washington’s Brodrick Malone lines up before a play. The Eagles beat Yates 57-20 last weekend to improve to 8-0 on the season and move closer to a district crown.

Heights resident Claire Marshall said the time has come for new leadership and a changing of the guard at the state level, and cast her vote for O’Rourke as well.

The main reason, she said, is because it feels like not enough has changed during the current term of incumbent Greg Abbott.

“We’ve had too many turns of the same thing,” Marshall said. “I think our electrical grid is in serious trouble and we haven’t really done much about it. Immigration is an issue too, and I really like Beto’s ideas.”

It was the same sentiment from Paulette McCoy on Tuesday, though she also said she considers issues such as abortion rights, marijuana legalization and more when deciding who to cast her vote for in elections.

Local polling stations include the SPJST Lodge 88 at 1435 Beall Street in the Heights, the Delmar Stadium sports complex at 2020 Mangum Rd., and the Moody Park Community Center at 3725 Fulton St. in Near Northside. There is also a poll-

ing station at the Sheraton Brookhollow Houston hotel, 3000 N. Loop West.

more information on the polling location nearest to them, community members can visit https://www.harrisvotes. com/Polling-Locations.

roll at the last certi ed value set by the Harris County Appraisal District (“HCAD”).

The District, in accordance with the service, improvement and assessment plan approved by its Board of Directors in 2009 (the “Service Plan”), has provided and will to continue to provide services and improvements in the near northwest area of the City as authorized by the statutes listed above. Such services include: (a) security and public safety; (b) marketing and perception enhancement; (c) planning and urban design; and (d) administration of the District.

ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROPOSED SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS:

The cost of the services to be provided is estimated to be $1,587,815 annually over the remaining ve years of the fteen-year life of the current Service Plan.

PROPOSED METHOD OF ASSESSMENT:

The District proposes to levy the assessment on properties added to the District’s assessment roll in the amount of $0.139 per $100 of assessed valuation as shown in the appraisal rolls of HCAD for the year 2021 to nance the cost of services and improvements.

All property owners within the District and all other interested persons are hereby invited to appear in person, or by their attorney, and contend for or contest the amendment/supplement and/or correction to the District’s assessment roll, each proposed assessment and the change in the assessment rate and to offer testimony pertinent to any issue presented on the amount, purpose and special bene ts of the assessments and the penalties and interest on delinquent assessments. Oral or written support of or objections to the District’s amendment/supplement to its assessment roll, change in the assessment rate and the levy of assessments as to any parcel in the District contained on the amended/supplemented District assessment roll will be considered at the hearing. For information, please call or write the Near Northwest Management District – Legal Counsel, HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, 600 Travis Street, Suite 2350, Houston, Texas 77002, at (713) 525-6266.

For information on the amount of your assessment, please call the District’s Assessment Consultant, Utility Tax Service,

at (713) 688-3855 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00

of the Heights

a

the school’s dance team, for

Marissa Cantu-Harkless said at a candlelight vigil last November.

nonprofit organization called

through Bri has been set up in Rodriguez’s honor, to provide

college-bound dancers and athletes.

Cars from P. 1

Spiking prices, especially as interest rates remain high, are forcing some buyers into unprecedented situations as they seek cars, according to an expert at another dealership.

One dealership purchased a used Volkswagen several years ago for internal use that had about 20,000 miles, according to someone who spoke with the Leader. Now, having

Business from P. 1

Last November, hundreds of community members gathered at the Heights track and football stadium for a candlelight vigil in Rodriguez’s memory, and the Heights football team wore pink in her honor during the team’s playoff football game later that month.

“Brianna’s memory will forever live within those whose lives she touched,” the family’s statement said.

an extra 30,000 miles on it, the car is worth more than when it was first purchased, according to interviews.

Because of high prices and interest rates, prospective buyers are forced to pay with bigger down payments and face higher monthly charges than they would have several years ago, according to experts.

Despite the current conditions, Ortiz argued pro-

sign that perhaps you aren’t as available to work,” said Heald, who has her own event planning business that she started in 2020 with two young kids at home.

There have been rises in womenowned business in recent years. A report from World Economic Forum said that nearly 50 percent of startups in the U.S. in 2021 were started by women, up from 28 percent in 2019. According to a September 2021 report from Houston television station FOX 26, there were more than 125,000 women-owned small businesses in the Houston metro area – making up more than a third of the region’s businesses.

Houston is also a top-10 business city for women-owned startups, according to the report.

“I chose a career in the events industry, which historically has embraced women,” Heald said. “There are many female leaders in the space, and I had many mentors to look up to. I would wish this for all female business owners.”

However, Trieu said there will always be some double standards and battles to fight.

“One manufacturer once told me that I should be at home watching my kids, there will always be that stigma that I should be at home,” she said.

spective buyers are still better off looking for cars now rather than waiting several months in hopes that prices will decline.

For one, dealerships will have a dip in inventory during the shift from 2022 models to those from 2023 in coming months, he said. And no one knows how much higher interest rates will climb, he said.

There are several organizations with a focus on women-owned businesses in the Houston area, such as the Houston chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Houston-headquartered Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance.

Finding one of these organizations, Heald said, can be a big part of finding success, along with a spirit of perseverance and persistence.

“Search until you find what you are looking for,” Heald said of advice she’d have for women looking to start their own business. “Surround yourself with like-minded women who will understand your struggles and successes so you won’t feel so alone.”

Trieu echoed the message of support among women business owners being necessary, and that such business owners should not be viewed differently than the men who work to establish themselves.

“Women shouldn’t look at it as a woman entrepreneur but just as an entrepreneur,” she said. “Gender should not be the reason that you are held back, there’s plenty of women out there that have been successful.”

your favorites

Best

MITCH COHEN Art Columnist

Saturday evening from 6-8 p.m., The Lanecia Rouse Tin sley Gallery, 3719 Navigation Blvd., presents “We Cried Until We Laughed” Works by Antho ny J Suber.

The Lanecia Rouse Tins ley Gallery opened this past April in the East End Houston Cultural District and is part of Holy Family HTX Episcopal Church. “We Cried Until We Laughed” will remain on view through November 18.

At 6:45 p.m., there will be a Sonic Sermon featuring Flash Gordon Parks, an offering of sound, rhythm and words in spired by the theme of vener ating our ancestors through the process of grief and joy. Fol lowed by a gallery talk at 7 p.m.

“This exhibit is an examina tion of the tension between grief and loss and decided joy,” the gallery stated in a press release. “Through the lens of emotional and spiritual con nection, “We Cried Until We Laughed,” reflects how we transcend the realities of loss by veneration and celebration.”

I agree with many artists

that getting lost in the process of creating, can be the best therapy out there. While pre viewing Suber’s Instagram feed (@suberanthony), I liked this statement that accompanied a work in progress for this exhi bition.

“Sometimes you have to in vite things to the table that are uncomfortable to heal from stress and life’s challenges,” Suber stated. “Sometimes you just have to remember what to forget.”

Suber is a Texas native and studied art at an early age grad uating from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Houston, receiv ing a BFA in painting.

As a painter, sculptor and educator, his work focuses on historical references, spiritu ality and the contemporary African American experience through the lens of his person al experiences of religion and social relationships in a postmodern society.

Channeling his love for his tory and art historical refer ence, Suber works primarily with emblematic connections, chronological references and narrative “stills.” In doing so Suber seeks to capture a part of the human experience that allows the viewer to participate in the compositional construct.

As an artist and educator Su ber strives to create work that

is timeless and informs with sensitivity to the viewer.

Currently, outside of his per sonal work, Suber is working on creating an arts education al program for under-served communities in the Houston area. The focus of this program is to create an opportunity not just for enrichment, but to serve the greater community by providing an effective voice to those who otherwise would be marginalized.

The Lanecia Rouse Tinsley Gallery is an art gallery of Holy Family HTX Episcopal Church. The gallery is designed for the flourishing of the arts and stands at the intersection of creativity, beauty, and theol ogy.

The gallery is open for view ing Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Thursdays – Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and by appointment. Email lrtgal lery@holyfamilyhtx.org to schedule.

https://www.holyfamilyhtx. org/the-lanecia-rouse-tinsleygallery http://instragram.com/lrt gallery

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Mar ket and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and art ist’s stories.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

One of the Heights area’s bustling developments recent ly added a couple of new din ing and leisure spots.

Now open at Lower Heights, the 24-acre, mixed-use devel opment fronting Interstate 10 between Studemont and Saw yer streets, are First Watch and Scissors and Scotch.

First Watch is a restaurant that offers breakfast, brunch, and lunch options such as eggs and bacon, egg sand wiches, breakfast tacos, pan cakes, French toast, and vari ous types of sandwiches.

Scissors and Scotch, lo cated right above First Watch, is a men’s grooming spot and cocktail lounge which of fers grooming and trimming services along with a fully-

stocked bar, according to its website.

EZ’s Liquor Lounge opens in Heights

A new neighborhood bar has opened in the Heights.

EZ’s Liquor Lounge, the newest venture of Agricole Hospitality, opened at 3302

A local restaurant is getting into the spirit of the upcoming Day of the Dead holiday with a special event.

On Saturday, BB Butchers at 1814 Washington Ave. will host its annual Day of the Dead brunch at the restaurant. Guests will be able to see a live DJ and mariachi bands, along with Mexican City-inspired food options, face painting, specialty cocktails, and more.

Those wanting to attend are encouraged to make reserva tions for the event by visiting the event page at https:// www.opentable.com/book ing/experiences-availability?ri d=160951&restref=160951&e xperienceId=102151.

White Oak Dr. on Tuesday, ac cording to a post on the bar’s Instagram page.

Its menu includes choices of many different cocktails

and beers on tap and more. Washington Avenue restaurant hosting Dia de los Muertos brunch

Photo from Facebook

previous BB Butchers Dia de los Muertos event

annual

Dead brunch

Saturday

Contributed photo

Artist Anthony J Suber will present new work in “We Cried Until We Laughed” Saturday evening.

Contributed photo

Pictured is “Gentle Droplets,” new art by Anthony J Suber that can be viewed on Saturday.

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