Leader 12-13 A

Inside Today: A local gift guide from our area stores • Page 3B PREMIER PROPERTIES

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THURSDAY | December 13, 2012 | Vol. 59 | No. 7 | www.theleadernews.com | @heightsleader

THE BRIEF.

Move over Turkey

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Molina’s fills its traditional tamales with pork butt.

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Heights event will help recycle computers The city of Houston and Compucycle will sponsor electronic waste recycling from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Center Street Recycling Center, 3602 Center St., near Washington Avenue and Heights Boulevard.

Acceptable items are computers and accessories, printers and toner cartridges, fax machines and other office equipment, television sets with up to 27-inch screens, stereo equipment, phones and cellphones, electric clocks and clock radios, small kitchen appliances, personal care appliances such as hair care items and shavers and electric fans.

The goal is to keep these item out of landfills, where they are capable of leaking toxic substances, or retrieving rare trace minerals from some.

For the complete list of what can be recycled, go to http:// www.compucycle.net/residential- recycling/products-we-accept.

by Charlotte Aguilar charlotte@theleadernews.com With their long-established MexicanAmerican families woven into the fabric of life, Greater Heights neighborhoods have informally included tamales as part of their holidays for as long as anyone can remember.

“It’s a family tradition in our culture,” explains Monica Morales, whose family has operated the homestyle Andy’s Café on 11th Street in the Heights since 1977. “It’s more than just about the food.”

But in recent years – no one can really

pinpoint when exactly – Houston’s many diverse cultures have embraced the humble corn-husk wrapped staple as a part of their holidays, too. From authentic lard-based, pork-filled hand-rolled treats to mass produced tubes made with vegetable shortenings and more health-conscious fillings and an occasional sweet dessert variety, hundreds of thousands of tamales will become the stuff of office parties, family meals – and even gift-giving – over the next few weeks.

For Morales, the business has already been steady, beginning post-Thanksgiving. Andy’s has hired a tamale-maker to

turn out dozens of tamales autenticos daily – the real thing with the masa dough made with lard (rendered pork fat), corn meal, broth, spices and slow-roasted shredded pork, artfully wrapped in a corn husk and steamed into a neat little packet that many eat with their fingers, one after another. Cost is $9 a dozen.

“They’re addictive,” said Morales.

Just a few blocks away is the version more typical of mass audience tamales. Berryhill’s Baja Grill, also on 11th Street, started out in 1928 as a simple tamale cart that of-

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WHAT: Claire School of Dance Presents New York Nutcracker WHEN: Dec. 16, 2 p.m.

WHERE: 2401 Claremont Lane HOW MUCH: $15 for adults; $10 for children LEARN MORE: (713) 880-5565 EDITOR’S TAKE: We’ve all seen the classic version on The Nutcracker during the holidays. Isn’t it time to change things up this year? This event, with some special guest artists and local dancers, is a modern version of the ballet. It uses the Duke Ellington musical arrangement and the storyline of “Eloise at Christmas.” Better yet, there are only so many things the entire family will enjoy together, and this is one of them.

THE INDEX. Public Safety Hipstrict Topics Obituaries Coupons Puzzles Sports Classifieds

2A 3A 4A 8A 6A 9A 1B 5, 8B

W

hen it comes time for photographing little ones with Santa, you never know if you’re going to get an ahh-inspiring keepsake or a grotesque shot of torture as the tyke is plopped on the lap of the oddly dressed older man whose face is masked by heavy white hair. Mindy Switzer admits she “got lucky” Saturday morning when she took 7-month-old son Benjamin Klich to the Oak Forest Homeowners Association’s Breakfast with Santa at Candlelight Community Center.

After a few moments’ hesitation, Benjamin warmed to the jolly old fellow, and Mindy was able to snap the perfect shots. “I…hope this was the beginning of a beautiful relationship between the two,” she said. More than 60 families took advantage of the event, which featured refreshments from Starbucks, Shipley’s Do-nuts on Ella, H-E-B on 18th Street and the 43rd Street Edible Arrangements. Other sponsors included Justin Gordon Homes, and Quentin R. Martin of Light Realty & Associates. So happy were the organizers that they’ve already set a date for next year’s breakfast. Mark Dec. 14, 2013 on the calendar. (Top photo by Charlotte Aguilar; photo left by Mindy Switzer)

fered Houstonians what was a novel treat at the time, and the restaurant chain claims to use that same recipe – a fluffier, almost cornbread-like masa stuffed with more filling than the traditional Mexican tamales.

see Tamales • Page 9A

Stevens is ready to realize high hopes

by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com A rainy night did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the roughly 20 people who met in the library of Stevens Elementary last week. The group, brought together by Stevens Principal Lucy Anderson and Oak Forest residents Catherine DeBlieux and Rachel Markworth, discussed ways the community could better partner with the school to help make it the elementary school of choice for those zoned there.

“I have lived in the community of Oak Forest for almost ten years and the school is not only where we are zoned but is a block from my home,” said DeBlieux. “The more I am learning about HISD, the more I realize that it takes the community to share in partnership with these neighborhood schools to grow.”

DeBlieux and Markworth recently talked with Tim Weltin who was an instrumental part of the Black Middle School turnaround and gained some valuable insights.

“The schools will improve over time in neighborhoods that demand higher expectations and offer sponsorship, like we are seeing with Black, Oak Forest Elementary, Durham Elsee Stevens • Page11A

Following Up: Business owner works to improve W. 43rd

by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Following a story in last week’s edition of The Leader on trash and the lack of a tenant at 4301 Rosslyn, numerous readers responded with ideas and thoughts about the property. Among those was Shawna Hudson, of Hudson Chiropractic.

She is the owner of the office complex at 1820 West 43rd St., and while she has similar concerns about the adjacent property, her building and tenants have thrived in the area.

Hudson’s property leases for $11 per square foot on an annual basis – or less than $1/SF per

month – and that’s pretty standard for the area.

The Leader was unable to obtain a monthly lease price for the seemingly abandoned building at 4301 Rosslyn, though Stacy Mathews at Prudential can be contacted for that information.

Hudson has leased most of the available 3,000 square feet at her building to Medcuba Clinic, a new family practitioner in the area.

The building was formerly occupied by a pediatrician who retired.

According to Hudson, who initially leased her office and has since bought the space, the S.E.

see Rosslyn • Page 9A

Despite repeated calls to the city for help, this sign at the corner of Rosslyn and West 43rd Street does little to help the overall appearance of the shopping center.

(Photo by Betsy Denson)

Page 2A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Sexual assault reported

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Bayou Village School

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On Dec. 6, Houston Police received a complaint of a man who frequents a clothing store in the 700 block of W. 23rd Street. Though the suspect does not purchase anything from the store, he allegedly went too far in his harassment of one of the store workers.

According to John Cannon, spokesman for HPD, an intoxicated man entered the store and began verbally harassing a 31-year-old lady in the store. “He kept talking to her, and then he grabbed her,� Cannon said. “She then yelled, slapped him and police were called.�

Before police could arrive, the suspect had fled the store and has not returned.

Cannon said because the store does not have surveillance video, there is no image of the suspect that police can distribute. He is described as 5-foot-2, either white or Hispanic, weighing between 180-200 pounds.

If you have information on this person, contact HPD at (713) 308-0900.

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Houston Police’s Juvenile Department has determined that an alleged rape that occurred Nov. 20 near Reagan High School was actually a story completely fabricated by the supposed victim.

According to the 15-year-old girl making the allegations, a Dodge Charger stopped her around 8:20 a.m., a woman stepped out of the car, grabbed her and forced her into the back seat. In the original report, the girl claimed that she was driven to a different location, sexually assaulted by a man who was driving the car, and then taken back to 14th Street where she was released.

According to Kese Smith, a spokesman for HPD, the girl confessed to juvenile detectives that she made the story up and she was not assaulted.

Despite misleading police, Smith said

charges were not filed against the girl. “That’s really decided on a case-by-case basis, and because she immediately confessed to detectives in the first interview, they decided not to press charges,� Smith said.

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by Jonathan McElvy jonathan@theleadernews.com

Valero robbed Last week, HPD received a report of a man who walked into the Valero at 2202 North Shepherd and handed the store clerk a handwritten note in Crayon. “The note told the clerk to do exactly as he told her,� Smith said. “He then either lifted or pointed to his shirt to indicate that he had a gun.�

Police do not have a suspect in this case, but he is described as a 27-28 years old Hispanic, around 6-foot-1, weighing between 210-230 pounds.

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Page 3A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Heights artist blends talent with generosity

Witchcraft Tavern & Provision Co. 1221 W. 11th St. www.witchcrafttavern.com Small plates: $5-$9 Burgers: $9.50-$10.50 Salads: $8-$9.50 Kid Friendly: Yes, but probably not ideal to have them there during witching hours LE’s Favorite: Seared Scallops

Review: Witchcraft Tavern fits perfectly There is now a formula for opening a new restaurant in the Heights and/or northern Houston area. Neophyte and veteran restaurateurs alike have built a template for what works for casual, beer-based dining around here. And the new incarnation of the old Dragon Bowl space on 11th Street, Witchcraft Tavern & Provision Co., hits on all the major highlights of the blueprint.

First, there is the anchor of the food menu – burgers. The pedigree of the steer is always identified (80/20 Angus in the case of Witchcraft) to clear any misconceptions that patrons would be downing an average cut of beef. The combinations of burger toppings have to be both clever and bordering on the gourmet.

For example, Witchcraft has its Stilton Burger that boasts hickory maple bacon, sautÊed onions, balsamic onion and stilton blueberry cheese. (However, Witchcraft promises to have a sandwich-heavy menu when it evolves out of soft opening mode that it’s currently in.)

The rest of the menu is usually highlighted with a creative sampling of salads and small plates and/or appetizers.

The second major schematic of the new Heights restaurant centers on craft beer, a trend that Leader Eater has recently detailed in this space. There has to be an array of local, independent brewers on tap and a few other of-the-moment hops artisans (most often from other corners of this state).

And an absolute must is displaying those beers on an as-the-kegs-change erasable chalk board.

When I recently stopped

by Witchcraft, I looked down through the menu and could have easily looked back up and been at Petrol Station, Cedar Creek, Shepherd Park (Ken Bridge’s other eatery in Garden Oaks) or Cottonwood.

Sure, each of the aforementioned restaurants can be dis-

tinguished by its own distinct characteristics in food, drink and dÊcor – Witchcraft’s is its half-finished-game-of-Tetris collection of vintage speakers and enormous framed aquarium on the wall and its Jimi Hendix and Led Zeppelin-themed walls and menu (certainly playing off the restaurant’s name and the musicians’ affinity for mysticism in their lyrics).

Maybe the new wave of sleek and stripped down, bring the kids and kick back, suds and sliders joints in this area is a reflection of the demand by an emerging demographic coming in and gentrifying the neighborhoods. (OK, Leader Eater isn’t going to go all Stephen Klineburg on you now.)

But Leader Eater isn’t passing ill judgment on this trend (although I wouldn’t mind seeing a little more diversity in our neighborhood’s dining scene).

In fact, the replication comes as these restaurants and earlyclosing bars have packed parking lots and warm bar stools most every night of the week.

After being open only a couple of weeks, Witchcraft had a nice crowd on a late-evening week night.

It’s tough to be critical of some fine flash-fried scallops (be sure to use up the full helping of the jalapeno bacon jam), a pint of Real Ale’s Devil’s Backbone and a good chat with the bartender.

The fine folks working Witchcraft’s quaint and exposed kitchen even accommodated Leader Eater by toning down the watermelon salad (a brilliant blend of the summer fruit, hazelnuts and goat cheese) to a more manageable side salad size. It’s the kind of middle-ofthe-road dining experience that starts to become your default on a week day when you are too late to cook and too early to just ride the cocktails. And one that has started to become ubiquitous in the region’s dining scene but a genre that Leader Eater has trouble turning down.

.EED #HRISTMAS

#!3(

Anne Reese Hernandez, noted Houston artist, may be shy about promoting her work, but she’s a generous member of the Heights community. When asked about creating an original piece of work to be used as the focal point for a limited edition holiday ornament, to be sold during the Holiday Home Tour, Anne immediately said yes.

Anne’s watercolor, using a detailed pointillism technique, brings the 1914 Houston Heights City Hall and Fire Station to life, while harkening to a time gone by when streetcars rumbled up and down Heights Blvd and garden parties were the social events of the season. In fact, Anne lives in the 1906 Upchurch Cottage, fea-

Anne Reese Hernandez tured in Historian Anne Sloan’s published chronicle of Houston Heights. “When I think of the Heights,� said Anne,� and what

it means to my art, I think of Mr. Huey Long of the Inkspots, whom I met when I moved to the Heights. I think of romance and that little extra touch that went into the older architecture and that gentle way that people treated each other.�

With an extensive number of works located in private and corporate collections, Anne once created a mural of the Chicago World’s Fair for the Museum of Printing History. She’s done a series on both the Rice and Shamrock Hotels, and continues to paint Height’s area historic buildings and homes. Anne displays and sells her art at Grace Hart Antiques on 19th Street.

Gilbert Perez, owner of Bunga-

Pig dinners, Latin guitarists and holiday swap meets on tap Looking for something to do in the next week? Specifically, it’s the holidays and let’s face it, things are pretty slow at the office.

This area dubbed the “Hipstrict� has plenty of things to do on a weekend or a weeknight, and the Thirsty Explorer has picked three places you might try in the next few days.

If you’re a patron of a local pub or restaurant, and you think your favorite establishment should be included in this weekly feature, drop us a hint at ivee@theleadernews.com.

BRC Gastropub 519 Shepherd Drive 713-861-2233 BRC Monthly Pig Dinner With Southern Star Brewing, from Conroe, Texas, tap takeover, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. until it’s all gone. $34 per person, includes one pint from featured brewery.

Menu will feature Christmas Suckling Pig Dinner: Cranberry feta, walnut and arugula salad, oyster cheddar spoonbread, baked sweet potatoes with marshmallow glaze, horseradish creamed brussel sprouts, and gingerbread apple cranberry.

CHA Champagne and Wine Bar 810 Waugh 713.807.0967 Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. Bonneville Nightlife

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Saturday, Dec. 15, 9 p.m. The “ARE�

Sunday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m. Sunday Grill Night with Latin Guitar Stylings from Omar Felker inside.

Monday, Dec. 17, 4 p.m. All day happy hour Tuesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Soular Grooves Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Cory Wilson Jazz Collective

Onion Creek 3106 White Oak 713-880-0706 Holiday Swap Meet, buy, sell or trade, Saturday, Dec. 15, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reduce, reuse, recycle books, art, clothes, furniture, bikes, household, anything goes in good quality condition. Wrapping station available. Great food, craft beer, bad assness.

Mondays: All day happy hour and steak night.

Tuesdays; All Dutch beer $2.50.

Wednesdays: Texas drink specials and steak night.

Thursdays: $2 Jamican beer, $5 craft cocktails.

Friday: Cheap beer.

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outside the newest location of La Casa de Frida Mexican Kitchen on Ella Street across from Waltrip High. The owners are hoping to open the TexMex-Italian eatery before the end of the month.

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Leader Nibbles The owners of La Casa de Frida Mexican Kitchen, which has operated successfully for about two years at 4002 N. Main St., plan to open a second location before the end of the month at 3452 Ella St. in Oak Forest, our Betsy Denson has learned.

Owner Diana Davila, a former Houston ISD trustee who lives in the neighborhood, said “lots of time and moneyâ€? has been invested to decorate the building’s interior. The exterior now boasts a mural of iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, for whom the business is named. The original Casa de Frida has been well received with its combination TexMex-Italian menu, weekend breakfast buet and Thursday lunch buet. For more on the original, visit www.lacasadefridahouston.com In the submitted photo, the portrait of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo has gone up

low Revival and Bespoke on 19th Street, is a big fan of Anne’s work. “I like to commission a painting of a home I’ve just completed to give to the homeowners. And they are always thrilled to have an original work of art by Anne.�

Twenty-five signed and numbered limited edition prints of Anne’s rendition of the Fire Station will be on sale during the Home Tour at the Fire Station and at Davis Hardware on Studewood through December. Ornaments are available for $12 each at Jubilee and at Bespoke, both on 19th Street. All proceeds benefit the HHA. For private commissions, Anne may be reached at 713-8698446. – Houston Heights Association

7 1 3 . 6 8 1 . 11 2 5

Open Sunday Dec 23 10 am - 4 pm

Page 4A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Letters to Santa don’t always have to include gifts T here are days to be serious; others not so much. Next week in The Leader, we’re going to start a tradition with the publication of Letters to Santa.

We’ve asked first and second graders at local schools to submit letters to us with the promise that we’ll deliver them to the North Pole. (They probably can’t read this, so I think we’re OK in telling you that we’re not going to send all the letters. We’re just mailing a copy of the paper.)

Thanks to some wonderful teachers in the area, we’ve got enough letters to fill three newspapers, but if you want to spend an hour laughing, wait until you read the letter from the youngster who only wants a condominium and a cruise ship this year. Pretty sure he’s taking his talents to Galveston when he grows up.

Reading some of these letters got me thinking about things I’d ask of St. Nick – you know, if he didn’t live so far away and all. I have all the material things a man could want: Good golf clubs (wait ’til next year), a reliable car and, thanks to all these crooks, a new gun.

Instead, I’m asking the big guy to fix two of the things that really annoy me.

JONATHAN MCELVY Publisher

I know this could be taken the wrong way. It’s the holidays and I’m about to air my list of grievances, but if someone doesn’t speak up, we’re never going to get these things corrected.

So that’s what I’m doing, and I’m starting at the grocery store – a place I visit far too often, according to my checking account.

Dear Santa, please tell me why people leave grocery carts sitting in the middle of the parking lot.

When I sat down by the fire to write my list, this one was the first to come out of my pen. It absolutely pains me.

Listen, I know there are elderly people who struggle just to get the sacks out of the car, and I can forgive them if there’s an actual health reason for simply slid-

On the mess at Rosslyn and 43rd Street

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its rightful place. Maybe we don’t need St. Nick for this one. Maybe we all could be a little less lazy... I mean rushed.

This second request may take a little doing from someone up north, because I don’t think there’s a thing we common people can do about it.

Have you ever driven home from work on the same day the garbage and recycle bin collectors come through your neighborhood? It’s best to make this drive home right before all your neighbors get home. Because, if you have, I promise my neighborhood experiences an F-1 tornado immediately after the garbage trucks make their rounds.

Back in the good old days, I used to think the guys riding on the back of gar-

Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

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ing the cart off to the side of the lot.

But for the rest of us, I just don’t get it. Last week, there was an unnamed person who literally parked two spaces from the “Cart Return� metal thing. He unloaded his plastic bags and left the cart right in the middle of an adjacent parking space.

Here’s what really gets me: There are people who strategically place the cart between two spaces. I don’t know what goes through their minds, because I have never actually done this, but my assumption is they believe if they straddle the cart between two lines, it won’t disturb fellow parkers.

Humbug. It literally adds 17 seconds to your shopping trip to return a cart to

bage trucks had the best and worst jobs in the world. Obviously, the smell made the working conditions quite tough.

But man, who wouldn’t want to ride on the back of a big truck hanging on with one hand and waving – like he was in a parade – with the other.

Today, as with most things, these garbage trucks are automated. Each has a claw-of-life that grabs your garbage container, lifts in mightily in the air, and with a fit of anger, destroys the weak plastic.

Once the contents are emptied, that claw-of-life angrily slams the garbage can back to the ground. About six percent of the time, the garbage can lands on its wheels. The other 94 percent, I come home to find the poor container crumpled to the ground, with bottle caps and bits of apple strewn on the ground.

Not sure if this is something Santa can fix, but if he could call 3-1-1 for us, that might help.

If you don’t believe me, I took pictures. And I’d love to hear from some of you if there are grievances that need to be aired.

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get involved on this page!

If you want to send us a letter, we might edit it a little, and we won’t let you personally attack your pesky neighbor. But we’ll publish as many letters as our readers choose to write.

Email news@theleadernews.com

Dear Editor: I drive past this empty building at least twice daily, for years now we have wondered what will become of the space. The property has curb appeal and potential, so why isn’t it selling or leasing? Because it’s adjacent to a church and a residence that have very high “security fencing� (steel bars), which always makes one wonder about an area. It’s a bit too close to 43rd, where at times auto speeds can seem excessive and there have been two major high-speed accidents within a year or so. The proximity to the intersection is not ideal for its parking situation. The sale price is too high (we could say that about all property, especially commercial, in Houston). The business would be in between all of the service establishments you mention towards TC Jester, and all of the retail of the Oak Forest Shopping Center, which is not ideal placement when dealing in competing products or services unless such can be greatly discounted — not an ideal situation with the price of the space as it is.

Another reason this property is not being developed — Houston is one giant entity rather than a gathering of small, incorporated cities as one often ďŹ nds in the midwest or other areas. The plus to the mass annexation of the past is oset by a lack of local representation and concern for development that small, incorporated cities have. Liberal use of zoning is unique to Houston and has worked positive for businesses and city revenue, the

downside being, as you mention, strip clubs right next to family-oriented businesses.

We moved to Oak Forest because it oers a home and yard space, with good proximity to 290, 610, I-10, and the park and bike trails. The shopping center is convenient and played a role in our decisions because we never like driving far for groceries or other items.

But, the stretch from Rosslyn to TC Jester, as well as all the way to 290, is not “interesting�, nor is it living up to a potential. Deed restrictions are not adhered to nor enforced — count the number of cars parked on front lawns along 43rd, as well as the number of “yard signs� advertising businesses, in violation of ordinances.

Oak Forest / Garden Oaks are changing, the new ownership of “The Leaderâ€? is one example of how the area is being “brought up to speedâ€?, and the new, hip commercial establishments you mention are also a ďŹ ne addition.

It would take a very strong grassroots movement to court the “proper� businesses as well as local government in order for “west� of Rosslyn to emulate “east� if a long-term, modern change is desired.

Brian

in this zip code.

My friend Candice (who lives in Garden Oaks) and I opened Yoga Collective in the Garden Oaks Shopping Center almost a year ago. As a clear supporter of local businesses, I’d love to invite you in for a free class to try us out. Whenever new customers come in, I always ask where they heard about us...I would sure love to see more of my Oak Forest neighbors coming through.

Rhia Robinson

Dear Editor: I enjoyed reading [Betsy Denson’s] Leader article about the vacant properties on Rossyln and 43rd. I live near that area as well and wish each time I drive by that Central Market, HEB or Trader Joe’s would have have some vision and re-purpose the site. Certainly the demographics of our area have changed enough within the last 5-10 years to warrant another grocery store

On The Leader

From Facebook...

THANK YOU for writing the commentary article about the corner of 43rd & Rosslyn. I really hope that some business moves into the empty building soon.

Karen Blair Yip I enjoyed reading your story last night! (I’m old fashioned- I like turning the pages.)

Clint William Croley This story was very informative as well as enjoyable. I don’t often get the chance to “turn the pages� since most of the time the “Leader� doesn’t show up in the driveway.

Judy Williams

Dear Editor: My wife and I read your article this weekend. Nice job on communicating the new plan for The Leader. Hopefully this is the beginning of an even more successful period for The Leader.

We really appreciate what you and your team do and we would be happy

to make a voluntary payment. Our street doesn’t actually receive your paper, but I routinely pick up an extra unwanted copy left along Fisher Drive in Oak Forest. We also like the delivery plan changes since we routinely wait to read the paper until Saturday morning while enjoying our coee, and we hope that everything is successful in the new year. We will do our best to help build support for your new eorts in the neighborhood.

Thanks again and keep up the great work!

Cory Herlocher

Lights in the Heights Following Lights in the Heights on Saturday, Dec. 8, we asked some of our Facebook friends to tell us what they thought of this year’s event. SpeciďŹ cally, we wanted to know if the idea of scaling down the event actually worked. Here’s what we got from a few people: David Rabe: Scaled back, really?

I’d never seen so many people in one place! Woodland Heights was packed and all surrounding areas had streets lined with cars on both sides. Scaled back, pf, still I had a great time!

Matt Hackworth: DeďŹ nitely scaled back from 2 years ago. As I walked back to Norhill around 8, I was going against the ow of literally hundreds of 20-somethings pulling wagons full of beer. Not sure how you go about telling them that the party’s over and it’s time to leave.

Susan Whitt: Yawn!

Dennis Woodward: They did not get their wish. It was as big as ever.

When did 20-year-old houses become tear downs?

THE FRONT YARD – Across the street from me a new house is rising where, a short time ago, an old house stood.

There was nothing particularly wrong with the old house except that it was an old house. In today’s vernacular, that ancient (20 years) dwelling was a teardown. (In Texas, any structure that gets a second coat of paint warrants a historical plaque.) Out with the old, in with the new – the new being the real estate equivalent of trophy wives. Indeed, my neighborhood, Running Rats Acres, has been mostly rebuilt over the past few years with tear-downs and build-ups, but my own street, Dismal Drive, had been spared. Until now.

The first clue came when tear-down terrorists stripped the house of anything and everything of value, including the grass, garbage cans and those little spools that hold the roll of toilet paper.

I hope the workers were legit rather than copper robbers. I mean, they had matching ski masks and only worked late at night. Next, we heard the deathly rumble of a flatbed, which came down our sleepy cul-de-sac carrying a machine that looked very much like Steven Spielberg’s version of a prehistoric meateater. It was almost as big as the house it attacked.

With a mighty blow, the bucket in

ASHBY AT

LARGE

front of the metal monster became a huge hammer, systematically smashing the roof into the upstairs which fell into the downstairs which fell into the basement. I didn’t know my former neighbors had a bomb shelter with space for survival gear. Wonder why they didn’t tell me? In case of a nuclear bomb or another presidential campaign, whichever came first, there would be room for my family, too. In any event, the destroyer slammed, smashed, leveled.

Have you noticed how long it takes to build a house and how quickly it can be destroyed? In no more than one day my neighbor’s rather large house, with four or maybe five bedrooms, became a pile of rubble. Next came the dumpsters the length and depth of Palo Duro Canyon.

At dawn, big gobblers scooped up the debris, dumped it into the dumpsters, which were hauled away.

At this point, if you have ever wit-

nessed such an event in your own neighborhood, you are wondering why I haven’t mentioned the dreadful, nonstop noise. That’s because I didn’t think you could hear me. From before the birds wake until dark, various machines make various loud noises. I wake to the banging of jackhammers, pile drivers, scoopers and saws, and go to sleep with concrete trucks loudly pouring gray goo.

The worst decibels come from putting on a roof, with those nail-drivers making my street sound like the gunfight at the OK Coral. It’s bad enough for us, but how do the workers survive that daily routine? Mostly on junk food sold from the visiting taco trucks.

Generally, residential developments are created at the same time, with houses and streets and bunkers all going up within the same span, so there are no residents to bother. My neighborhood’s developer, Cookie Cutter Construction, could run up a block of houses in an afternoon. But this is tear-down time, when the tearing and building take place amidst a calm neighborhood, where the only excitement is the occasional rabid dog.

Anyway, after the destruction comes the construction, which means a convoy of trucks and pickups wander down my street to disgorge the new house in bales

and bundles. During the day the block is jammed with vans and flatbeds, making the area one big mud slide. What a mess, and nothing says “class� like a Port-OJohn in the front yard.

They are now putting up that McMansion. First on the front is brick the color of pig drool, then beige stucco, stones of brown and black and purple and wooden beams – a rainbow of mismatched materials. The front of this house looks like Walt Disney threw up on it. This must be the fad in home building these days: cover the exterior with as many different materials as possible, making sure nothing goes together. Are gargoyles coming back? How many pink flamingoes do you need? This sucker blends in with the rest of the houses on this block like George W. Bush at a Mensa convention. My new neighbors have the taste of a rodeo clown.

After the workers have left for the day, I sneak over to the construction site to inspect it for structural flaws, mainly, are they putting in a swimming pool and basement bunker? Prior to the next Hurricane LeRoy, it would be the neighborly thing to invite us over. The door is not open, but after bounced brick or two, I enter and look around. Here is a halffinished gun rack for pistols, rifles and a howitzer. A wet bar, which is nice, but in

the bathroom? This must be the owner’s man cave, complete with descending rows for seats with cup-holders, all facing a 120-inch TV. The walls are ready for hunting trophies with the spots, already marked: deer, wildcat, wild boar, wild Democrat. Upstairs, his-and-her walk-in medicine cabinets.

Wandering around, I see that the wine cellar has shelves for the boxes of Thunderbird. The kitchen has granite counter tops; it must be used granite – the slabs have names and life spans chiseled in them. The six-slot garage has the Mitt Romney Elevator System for boats, NASCAR racers and at least one armored car. Why don’t they just put the cars up on cinder blocks like everybody else on Dismal Drive?

Around the yard, it looks as though the new neighbors are installing barbed wire fences topped by concertina. This crate is marked “land mines.� TV surveillance cameras, flood lights, is that a guard tower? OK, but at least the neighborhood kids can swim in the moat.

It’s a shame they don’t have big picture windows along the front so they could look across the street at my satellite dish.

Ashby rebuilds at ashby2@comcast.net

Page 5A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Neighbors: Decorations and milestones

by Elizabeth Villarreal elizasgarden@sbcglobal.net Mary Ann Zimmerman sends belated birthday wishes to Dian who celebrated her 70th birthday with a cruise and visit to Canada to enjoy the changing of the leaves and the advent of autumn. Dian, your friends and family hope all your birthday wishes come true.

On Dec. 13, Mrs. Charline Morris will be celebrating 85 years of health and happiness on this great earth. She moved into Candlelight Estates 40 years ago with her beloved husband, Calvin, to raise twin sons and a lovely daughter. She is a sprite, sassy and funloving soul who brings spirit and love to all she knows. Wishing her a happy birthday are her loving family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors, especially Jaxon.

Happy, happy birthday to Mason Griffith who will blow out his candles on Dec. 12. Mason is in 9th grade at Waltrip and plays and marches in the Ram Band. Mamaw Bette is very proud of you and all of the work you have put into school and the band. It was a joy watching you march at football games this year. Keep it up!

Nick Rios turned 25 on Dec. 3 and was grateful to have all of his family join him to celebrate his birthday. Among the party attendees were his Uncle Miguel Facundo and Aunt Melanie Aleman who are also Garden Oaks residents.

Happy birthday to Maria Harnden who celebrated her 14th birthday on Dec. 8 with a rockin’ party at Speedy’s. Maria had a great time with mom Laura, dad Anthony, stepmom Kay Harnden, and friends and family.

William Griffith will celebrated his special day on Dec. 12 and his family sends all their love and bunches of hugs. Wishing you all the best! Love from Mom, Elizabeth & Company,

Mark & Company and Shirley Ann. One of our Oak Forest neighbors found two dead blue jays in her back yard last week. Mosquito Control picked up the birds and told her to check their website. It has been confirmed that West Nile Virus has recently been found in the 77018 zip code. Please remember to use mosquito repellant when going outside mornings and evenings and empty any standing water in your yard.

Forest West neighbors Angela and Craig Pennington are hosting a 1980s glowstick dance where everyone will go back in time with friends at Oaks Presbyterian Church as a fundraiser for Waltrip’s Ram Band’s trip to Washington D.C. Angela (1993) and Craig (1986) say,“We just want to contribute, and we have been looking for an excuse to have a party with our old music!� There will be old school tunes, prizes for the best 80’s dress, a dessert bar, and good times with old friends. Admission is $10 per person. Oaks Presbyterian is located at 1576 Chantilly Lane right across from Black Middle School. The dance is Dec. 14 from 7-10 p.m. If you would like to contact Angela, email her at angmpenning@sbcglobal. net.

Neighbor Jeremy Goodwin says that after four years without a restaurant, it seems he will have a new project early next year. The restaurant will be small, moderately expensive and a bring your own wine kind of place, but almost all the food will be from local farmers, who have become friends over the life of the Single Man’s Kitchen project. The project will be in the Houston Heights. Specialties will include local by-catch seafood, grassfed beef, local lamb, ethically raised pork and chickens, plus all the extraordinary produce available from local farms. We can’t wait, Jeremy !

Santa’s elves Sheri Beasley, Sarrah Moseley and Bob Warren were out decking the entrances to Shepherd Park Plaza over the week-

Dornak tapped to head MANNA Ministry Assistance of the Near Northwest Alliance (MANNA) has selected Patricia Dornak as its new Executive Director. Patricia brings more than 25 years experience in the delivery of social services.

A graduate of Lamar University with a degree in Social Work, Dornak will be able to provide the leadership and skills necessary to alDornak low MANNA to continue to reach the organization’s goals in providing services to the community. She has lived in the area for 24 years with her husband, raising their three daughters.

More than 20 years ago, 12 area churches came together to provide much needed social services in the area. The churches banded together in response to the community who because of aging, education, illness, lack of income or other crises, could not sustain themselves and/or their families.

Today, 23 years later, because of the community’s continued support, MANNA is able to still respond to the needs of our community, providing emergency rent and utility assistance, food from the food pantry, a vision station and a resale store that provides discounted clothing and household wares. Over 90 percent of the funding MANNA receives to provide these services comes from the resale store. In 2011, the food pantry provided food to almost 6,900 families and rental assistance to over 500 families.

For 23 years, volunteers have been the backbone and glue for MANNA. Giving their time, talents and treasures, they have and continue to give countless hours volunteering in the Assistance Program, the Food Pantry, the Vision Station and the Resale Store.

Without our volunteers, MANNA could not exist.

welcomed and all volunteers must attend a training and orientation session.

MANNA has served more than 27,000 people due to the generous donations and dedicated volunteers. For more information, contact Dornak at 713-504-5486 or email at mannaassistance@gmail. com.

end. A beautiful job well done, neighbors!

Congratulations and heartfelt blessings to Alice and Noris Butts who are recognizing some very special milestones in the coming month. The couple will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Jan. 3, 2013. Alice said, “We have had one love, six children, 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, two retirements, and lived a wonderful life in the Houston Heights.� Noris, Alice and their children all attended John H. Reagan High School.

Noris left Reagan High School on his 18th birthday and joined the U.S. Coast Guard in WWII. It was the popular thing when WWII started and the boys he ran with at school joined the service, too. His mother would not sign the papers for him to join, so he did it himself on his 18th birthday. Alice’s best friend was dating Noris’ best friend (they were all Heights residents and friends from Reagan High School) and the couple met around the time Noris was honorably discharged. They had a big church wedding at Grace Methodist Church, at that time in the original church on 13th and Yale Street. They married over the Christmas holidays on January 3, 1948. When Alice’s father opened the door to escort her to the altar, they saw that the church was full of high school kids, including the balcony.

Noris and Alice attended their 60 year class reunion, meeting both of the girls who gave their wedding shower, and also meeting Sue, the vocalist who sang at their wedding.

The couple was very pleased to see these old friends and kept up with many of them, attending many Red Coat reunions and class reunions up to and including Noris’ Class of 1947 reunion on Memorial Day weekend of this year.

Family and friends will gather for a festive celebration on Dec. 17 in honor of Noris’s 85th birthday. Happy, happy birthday to you, Noris!

PODS to help Ind. Heights project PODSŽ Houston, a moving and storage company, is lending a green thumb by donating a reliable PODSŽ container to help support the Power Living Missions’ new community garden project in historic neighborhood of Independence Heights. The project aims to improve nutrition, reduce hunger, provide income and bring residents together to help keep the neighborhood a nutritious place to live.

During the project, PODS will serve as an on-site staging

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Page 6A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Germantown now ‘Historic’ The Germantown area of the Heights became Houston’s 20th Historic District after a vote of City Council last week.

Enough residents followed the process to bring the designation to a vote for the small residential neighborhood, situated on a wedge of land located east of Woodland Heights and bounded

by Houston Avenue to the west, I-45 to the north and east, and Woodland Park to the south. The Germantown name is leftover from the late 1800s when the rural land north of White Oak Bayou was populated by German immigrant farming families. Today’s Germantown is just a small portion of this larger area.

Developed as a neighborhood in the very early 20th century, most of the proposed historic district was originally the homestead of a local German family, the Grotas. The Grota Homestead evolved into a stable working class neighborhood until the construction of I-45 in the 1960s split the neighborhood and forced some households and businesses to move.

After a period of decline, the neighborhood has experienced revitalization in recent years and retains most of its original housing stock. Of the 71 structures in

Even though the Germantown area was granted protection as an Historic District (boundaries shown at right), and even though the area is now eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the proposed expansion of I-45 still threatens the neighborhood’s longterm survival. the proposed district, 83 percent are over 50 years of age and classified as contributing to the district.

Preservation Houston’s Historic Neighborhood Resources program assisted the neighborhood’s civic association by creating an inventory of the area’s historic properties and answering questions from residents during civic association meetings. The neighborhood contains a collection of early 20th-century houses, including vernacular Victorian cottages and Craftsman bungalows.

The proposed historic district is almost entirely residential and contains a significant mix of

bungalows and modest houses with Craftsman, American Four Square, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival architectural details.

A handful of larger houses face Woodland Park. The proposed district also includes Woodland Park itself, which was developed in 1903 and is one of Houston’s oldest parks. “Property owners in the newly designated Germantown Historic District can now breathe a sigh of relief that their historic homes are now protected and the architectural character of their neighborhood will be maintained. We are preserving Houston’s history and know this designation will ben-

efit the District and City for years to come,� said Wendy Parker, applicant, Germantown Historic District.

Texas Historical Commission has determined that Germantown/Grota Homestead is also eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The new historic district is currently threatened by the proposed widening of I-45/North Freeway. The local and national designations would provide limited protection from the highway project. – Based on releases from Houston Planning & Development and Preservation Houston.

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Page 7A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • www.theleadernews.com

THE CALENDAR. 18 HANDS GALLERY HOLIDAY HOURS 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays 249 W. 19th St. 713-869-3099 www.18HandsGallery.com The gallery will have new holiday hours. The December featured artist is Sandra Blain. Blain uses found objects and industrial refuse as textural tools. Also featured is a jewelry trunk show series by Mary Jarvis from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.

WINTER NATIVE PLANT SALE 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 8-16 Houston Arboretum & Nature Center 4501 Woodway Dr. 713-681-8433 www.houstonarboretum.org Join us at our weeklong Winter Native Plant Sale to find more than 100 Houston-area native species that can enrich landscapes and beautify yards.

This plant sale will include trees, shrubs, vines, fern, groundcovers, grasses and more.

Members receive discounts on all plant sale purchases, and proceeds benefit the conservation and education efforts of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.

Houston Choral Showcase is a non-profit chorus celebrating its 80th birthday with a holiday performance “Come on, It’s Christmas!”

The performance is the largest fund-raiser.

Community outreach is to retirement homes.

All are volunteer singers. Come hear jazz, swing, rock, ballads and some Broadway music. Also featured are three comedy numbers, even dancing fruitcakes. Children are welcome.

Tickets are $15 each, but Manning Pool Service, located at 2123 Judiway, offers them for $8 each.

HOLIDAY ROAST PIG WITH CRAFT BEER FROM SOUTHERN STAR BREWERY 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 BRC Gastropub 519 Shepherd Dr. 713-861-2233 www.brcgastropub.com

Many in the community ask how they can get their information in The Leader. One of the best ways is to submit a calendar item of an upcoming event.

We tend to use this space for non-profits and groups that cannot afford to advertise, but we’ll gladly accept anything you send.

Email your information to: news@theleadernews.com for an old fashioned Holiday Sing-A-Long and silent auction. A brief student performance will be followed by a time of holiday singing.

A silent auction benefiting the school will be open to attendees.

Join us for the first in a series, Wednesday, Dec. 19, (happening monthly, check the website for upcoming dates) mark your calendar, grab your group and meet at BRC Gastropub to enjoy Chef Lance Fegen’s Roast Pig, to be offered with all the trimmings, accompanied by pairings of fine craft beer from Southern Star Brewery. The cost is $34 per person.

HERITAGE OAKS SCHOOL HOLIDAY SING-ALONG AND SILENT AUCTION 10:30 a.m. Dec. 21 2931 W. 12th St. 713-426-1848 www.heritageoaksschool.org

HOUSTON CHORAL SHOWCASE 3 p.m. Dec. 16 Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church 8300 Katy Frwy. (I-10 at Wirt Rd.) 281-346-0161 info@houstonchoralshowcase.org

BE LISTED

Please join us at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21,

TOYS FOR TOTS During business hours Nov. 15-Dec. 15 Prudential Premier Properties 1803 W. 43rd St. 713-686-5454 Prudential Premier Properties is again hosting their annual Toys for Tots fundraiser. Items may be dropped off at their office between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15. For information call 713686-5454 or visit www.preproperties.com.

FRESHSTART TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM 2-3 p.m. Fridays Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25 Memorial Hermann Northwest South Tower, Classroom C 713-222-CARE

Start off the new year smoke free. This free program is a series of four classes. All classes are required to complete the program. Call to register.

FUN4SENIORS SEEKING ACTORS/VOLUNTEERS 5 p.m. Jan. 5; 6 p.m. Jan. 9; 10 a.m. Jan. 12 713-683-0073 judy@frowbiz.com Fun4Seniors, a nonprofit organization through Harris County Precinct 4’s Senior Adult Program, is delighted to announce Shakespeare in the Shade Trees. This program is supported by Lone Star College-Tomball. Actors and volunteers are needed for a presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, at the Performing Arts Center at Lone Star CollegeTomball located at 30555 Tomball Parkway #102, 77375.

Auditions for acting positions will be held at the locations and times listed below.

• Saturday, Jan. 5 at Texas Repertory Theater, 14243 Stuebner Airline from noon to 5 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Mangum-Howell Community Center, 2500 Frick Road from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Saturday, Jan. 12 at St. Pius X High School, 811 West Donavan Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Regardless of skill level, there is a place for everyone. Administrative assistants, costumers, prop builders, set designers, and more are needed. Contact producer Judy Frow for information. For information regarding

Shakespeare in the Shade Trees, please call 281-893-3726 or visit www.hcp4.net/senioradult/shakespeare.

OPERA IN THE HEIGHTS PRESENTS ‘MACBETH’ Jan. 31-Feb. 10 Lambert Hall 1703 Heights Blvd.

713-861-5303 www.operaintheheights.org Opera in the Heights will be presenting “Macbeth” in February. Performance dates are as follows: Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 2, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 7, 8, 9, 7:30 p.m.; and 2 p.m. Feb. 10. Visit the website for ticket information.

LAUGHTER YOGA 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays Heights Library 1302 Heights Blvd. www.houstonlaughteryoga.com Laughter Yoga is breathing and play-based movement exercises practiced for health and wellness by people of all professions/ages/ abilities. No sense of humor and not in a good mood? No problem. Laughter Yoga restores joy and psychological well-being. There are no difficult contortions or on-the-floor exercises and no yoga mats or exercise clothing is needed. Laughter Yoga is free and open to the community. For information, visit www. houstonlaughteryoga.com.

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Page 8A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

OBITUARIES

NEWS FROM YOUR PEWS

John Bartkowiak, 82, died Nov. 29. He was born on Feb. 15, 1930 in Chappell Hill, Texas to Ike Bartkowiak and Sophie Marshall Bartkowiak. John is reunited with his parents and two brothers, Bernard and Leonard Bartkowiak. He leaves to cherish fond memories, his loving wife of 62 years, Dorothy Felchak Bartkowiak; three sons, James Bartkowiak and wife Renalda, George Bartkowiak and wife Janet and Brian Bartkowiak and wife Tammie; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Victor Bartkowiak and wife Dorothy and Raymond Bartkowiak and wife Pat; one sister, Florence Kocich and husband Marvin as well as other relatives and friends.

Churches to perform ‘Beautiful Star’

St. Giles hosts Living Nativity Dec. 16

The combined choirs of Garden Oaks Baptist and Oak Forest Baptist church will present the Christmas musical “Beautiful Star,� created by Dave Clark, arranged and orchestrated by Steve Mauldin. The musical will be at Oak Forest Baptist Church, 1700 W. 43rd St. at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 16.

Everyone is welcome to come and share in this Christmas celebration. There will be a churchwide fellowship following the presentation in the fellowship hall.

The annual Living Nativity will be held from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Dressed in the costumes provided, family pictures can be taken in the outdoor stable setting with the donkey and sheep.

Hot soup will be provided for all who attend. There will also be toys for young children. Members of the community are welcome.

The St. Giles Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. In addition to peanut butter, items especially needed are boxes of cornbread mixes and macaroni and cheese. With cold weather coming, socks for the homeless are always needed. Call 713-6809976 to reach the pantry.

The community is welcome to recycle newspapers and magazines in the recycle bin at the back of the church parking lot. No cardboard boxes please.

St. Giles is located at 5900 Pinemont Drive. Call 713-6810515 for information.

William H. “Billâ€? Bradley, 85, died Nov. 26 after a battle with liver cancer. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joycelyn; son, Keith Bradley and wife Sharon; two grandchildren and a great grandson. Condolences may be oered at www.pathfoleyfuneraldirectors.com.

Charles Anthony Bryant, 58, born June 24, 1954 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, died Dec. 2, in Houston. Arrangements are entrusted to Heights Funeral Home.

Joe Canino Jr., 89, died Nov. 27. He was born to Joe Canino and Christine Helena Carfello on Dec. 25, 1922 in Houston, Texas on Canino Road. He co-founded Canino Produce Company in 1958 on Airline Drive in Houston, Texas where the family-owned business continues today. He worked at “The Market� nearly every day for over 50 years and was well respected in the Heights Community. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Society; and since 1972, a member of St. Bartholomew Parish in Katy, Texas. He was preceded in death by parents Joe and Christine Canino and son Baby Canino; siblings, John Canino, Petrina Cuccerre, Vita Monakino, Ginetta Klieman, and Nancy Klieman; and great-grandson Evan McCauley. He is survived by his adoring wife Maria Rosario Canino; children, William Canino and wife, Cynthia; Kristine and husband, Lawrence Pilkinton; Michael Canino; Carlos Mendez; Mary Canino; and Joe Paul Canino and wife, Meagan; grandchildren, Kimberly and Marvin Atkins, Lyndsay and Larry Pilkinton, Danielle and Kevin Pilkinton, Kristie Pilkinton, Natalie and Kris McCauley, Billy Canino, Nadia and Brett Canino, Chase and Caleb Canino, and Ashley and Alexis Mendez. He is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Youth of St. Stephen’s present ‘The Real Christmas Story’

The youth of St. Stephen’s will present a play and pageant, The Real Christmas Story at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 16, in the sanctuary.

Admission is free. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to be given to a child at the Wesley Community Center.

The United Methodist Women held their annual banquet last Jane Nina Johle, 76, died Nov. 30. She was born April 16, 1936 in Houston, Texas week. Toys were collected for to Lester and Mamie Smith. Jane is survived by her husband of 49 years, Eugene Johle; needy children at the Wesley Cendaughters, Sherry Gray and husband, Bradley and Lisa Hodro and husband, Brett; grandchildren, Chandra and Michael Engstrom; sisters, Leta Johnson and Betty Vick and ter as well as gifts for the children brother, Harold Smith. to give to their mothers for Christmas at the Houston Area Women’s Rosemary Luzader, 85, died Dec. 2. She was mother of Mark and Marcia. In lieu of Center. This week, Christmas food customary remembrances, donations may be sent in her name to the St. Rose of Lima baskets, which included toys and Legacy of Faith or Memorial Hermann Hospice. clothing for children, were distributed to needy families in the Eve Votrain Martin, 62, died Nov. 28. Eve is preceded in death by her father, Lorinza community.

Oliver; a child and her ďŹ rst husband, David Votrain. She is survived by her second husSt. Stephen’s will hold its tradiband, Patrick H. Martin; her mother, Nancy Combs; sisters, Kathleen and David Harrison, tional Christmas Eve Candlelight Carol and Hal Brinson of Illinois and Susan Oliver of Oklahoma. Eve was born on Nov. Communion service at 7 p.m.

8, 1950 in Granite City, Illinois and grew up with her siblings in Illinois. Eve and David Votrain exchanged vows in 1968. They traveled throughout the United States and the Monday, Dec. 24. All are welcome World during David’s service in the United States Air Force. Eve and David shared 29 years to attend. of a joyous life. Eve and Patrick H. Martin were wed in March 2000 and resided in Houston St. Stephen’s United Methodist until her passing. Eve worked in the banking industry for several years after arriving in Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd Houston, Texas until retirement.

St., between T.C. Jester Boulevard and Donna Bell. For information, George Henry McMillan Jr., 90, died Dec. 4. He was born Feb. 11, 1922 to his loving parents, George and Ruby McMillan in Husmith, Texas. George graduated from Iola High call 713-686-8241, or visit www.

School in 1939 and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. During his stsumc.org. assignment in California, he met and married the love of his life, Norma Rose Green. They reared ďŹ ve children during their 60 years of life together until Norma’s passing in 2003.

Oaks Christian Church George was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers, Bobby, Joe, and Dan will stage Live Nativity McMillan. He is survived by his sister, Mary and her husband Gordan Bussey; daughter, Oaks Christian Church welJane Johndrow; sons, David, Robert, George, and Jerrold McMillan and wives, Carol, Joyce, comes all the community to join Allison, and Cindy, respectively. He leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandin their Live Nativity on Dec. 16, children.

Eugene “Geneâ€? Holland Nixon, 83, died Dec. 3. He was born Oct. 2, 1929 to Holland and Margaret Nixon. Nixon was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bill Nixon. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Opal “Mickeyâ€? Arnold Nixon; twin children, Vickie Sta and husband, Rick, and Rick Nixon and wife, Vicki; grandchildren, Stephanie and Matt Sta and Johnny and Jake Nixon; sister, Mary McQuerry, and by numerous loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and many close friends.

Wanda Sue Wiese, 72, died Dec. 2. Call 713 869-6261 or visit www.pathfoleyfuneraldirectors.com for service information.

around dusk. There is a Family Festival scheduled at 5 p.m. with a gathering to make Christmas ornaments. The live Nativity will follow.

Oaks Christian Church is located at 1216 Bethlehem at Ella. For information, call 713-688-7761.

Lessons in Carols and Bells at St. Matthew’s The community is welcome to come to the Sunday morning worship service, Dec. 16, to hear the choir perform Lessons in Carols and Bells. St. Matthew’s has one of the grandest choirs in the area, under the direction of well known Dr. Roger Keele, with music provided by Dennis Siltman on the pipe organ.

Sunday morning worship and Children’s Church begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by 10:30 a.m. Sunday School. Wednesday evening Prayer and Praise Service is available for those wishing to partake of Holy Communion.

During the week, at 7:30 a.m., there is an early Thursday morning Bible Study, led by the pastor.

St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is located at 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. at Crosstimbers. For information, call 713-697-0671 or visit the web site at www.stmatthewsmethodist.org.

Hope Episcopal teams up with Blood Center The Gulf Coast Blood Center and Hope Episcopal Church are hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, in the parish hall. The com-

munity is welcome to come out to “help save a life� by donating blood.

Hope Episcopal Church is located at 1613 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-681-6422.

St. James Church ready for Children’s Festival The New St. James Church will host its 6th Annual Children’s Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 15, followed with an award ceremony and reception from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Dec. 16.

The church has prepared a variety of activities for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, 4 to 12 years. These include games, crafts, story time, music, and some surprises, in addition to lunch and snacks.

Cost is two cans of food per child, benefiting the MANNA Food Pantry. Registration forms can be obtained from the church office at 713-686-1577, or by email at stjameshouston@aol.com.

St. James Church is led by the Ministry team of the Rev. Raymond LeBlanc, and Aura Suarez, Minister for Outreach.

For information or to volunteer at the Center, call Robert Rivera, Director of the St. James Family Life Center at 713-686-1577. St. James Church is located at 1602

W. 43rd St.

Refuge Temple Ministries holds women’s breakfast Refuge Temple Ministries, in Humble, will be holding a Christian Women United in Prayer “Power of Praise� prayer breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 2.

The cost is $20. Please note that tickets will not be sold on the day of the event. Tickets are available online at http://www. refugetemple.net/. Refuge Temple Ministries is located at 1500 Old Humble Road.

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16 Spring Valley Village Park 1025 Campbell Road 713-248-5167 Come live the Christmas story.

Live reenactment and nativity.

Free camel rides and petting zoo.

There will also be music, entertainment and refreshments. This is a project of almost 20 Spring Branch churches and neighborhood partners.

Your Neighborhood RealtorsÂŽ

Paul & Sandra Cannon

713.703.5807

ADOPTABLE PETS

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P

ortia hopes that her sparkling emerald eyes can persuade you to do just about anything she wants. What does she want?

Petting, petting, petting! She’s a beautiful 2 year old, friendly girl who loves attention and would wants a family of her own. To meet Portia, contact Friends For Life at 713.863.9835 to set up a visit or check me out at www.nokill1.org.

Church Guide

Gospel Truth Church Sunday 10:30 am Worship and The Word Children’s Church Wednesday 7:30 pm Life Equip classes for all ages

GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN CHURCH Reverend John Cain, Pastor

Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Sunday School & Bible Classes 9:15 a.m.

1624 W 34th • 713-686-7689

www.gethsemanelutheran.org

Grace United Methodist Church 7 TH 3TREET ,AWRENCE )N THE (EIGHTS $EC 7AS #ANDLE 0REPARATION $EC 4HE #ANDLE OF ,OVE $EC 4HE #ANDLE OF *OY $EC 4HE #ANDLE OF 0EACE

(Disciples of Christ)

Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m.

www.gospeltruthchurch.org

“The Heart of the Heights�

1245 Heights Blvd.

Sunday School . . . . . . . 9:30 AM Sunday Worship . . . . . 10:45 AM Nursery Provided

3ERVICES AT AM 7E INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE THE !DVENT SEASON WITH US 4HE THEME IS h! #HILD IS "ORNv

Reverend Hill Johnson, Pastor

713 862-8883

Food Pantry, Thurs. 2-4:30 PM www.graceintheheights.org

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Sunday SundayWorship WorshipServices Service at 8:30am & 11:00am 10:45 am

MESSAGE OF THE WEEK

0",4 $)3*45*"/ $)63$)

4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227

Member of MANNA

Oaks Presbyterian Church

Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Nursery Provided

Ministering to the Oak Forest Community since 1948 Reverend Noelie Day

1216 Bethlehem at Ella Blvd.

(713) 688-7761 Sunday School 9:30 AM Morning Worship10:45 AM Pastor Don Joseph Member of MANNA Visit us on FaceBook www.oakscchouston.org

(713) 682-2556 1576 Chantilly @ Piney Woods

Candlelight Church of Christ Join us for Services in English or Spanish Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday Bible Classes 9am Wednesday Bible Study 7pm

H

THE DOOR IS OPEN

ow many of us live in prisons of our own making? If you feel constrained by the circumstances of your life and yet those circumstances are largely your own creations, then you have indeed built yourself a prison. Henry David Thoreau writes about those who have “forged their own golden or silver fetters,� accumulating wealth and property to the point where they are literally enslaved to it.

He reminds us that “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.â€? And a man is free in the same proportion. The ultimate freedom is to have the liberty of mind and spirit to do as one would choose, free of duress or external control. Most adults live life free of external control, and yet we feel constrained by the circumstances of our lives. We must toil and work like slaves because we have allowed materialism to become our master. We are slaves to our appetites and desires because we have allowed hedonism to become our master. And we are imprisoned by our own minds because we fail to see that there are other ways to think and live. The SuĂ„ poet Rumi asks “Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?â€? The answer can only be that it is a prison of our own choosing.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.� ~ Galatians 5:1 ~

4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 Houston, TX 77092

1822 W. 18th

Sunday - Bible Study For All Ages .. 9:30am Morning Worship............ 10:45am Age Graded Zones ...........6:15pm Wed. Prayer Meeting & Missions Organization .....................6:15pm Dr. John W. Neesley - Senior Pastor

713-864-1470

7iiÂŽÂ?ÞÊ-Ă•Â˜`>ÞÊ-iĂ€Ă›ÂˆViĂƒ

Bible Study 9:30 am 3206 N. Shepherd

713-864-4447 Website www.gobc.org Interim Pastor Pastor Dr. JimBob Daniel Overton X

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Page 9A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • www.theleadernews.com

Tamales • from Page 1A Varieties include seasoned beef, chicken, pork, a spinach and corn vegetarian blend – and, for the holidays, a turkey-stuffed version.

Macario Ramirez, who offers lessons in Latino cultural traditions along with folkart at his 19th Street Casa Ramirez gallery, first remembers tamales catching on outside Texas when he worked in Washington, D.C., in the 1960s and the Smithsonian featured an exhibit on San Antonio that offered tamales. “They loved them once they realized they had to remove the husks before biting in,” he chuckles.

HANDS-ON TRADITION Ramirez thinks it’s important to impart the “social interaction” that is important to understanding the place that tamales hold in Mexican-American families, and points to origins of the food among the ancient Aztecs and Zapotecs. He’ll offer two “tamaladas” Saturday, led by noted restaurateur Arnaldo Richards, whose Pico’s restaurant in southwest Houston attracts diners from throughout the city for its authentic regional “Mex-Mex” cooking.

The tamalada is the annual gathering, taking hours, where tamales are made for extended families and friends. “It’s a social event, the highlight of the Christmas season,” explains Ramirez.

“It’s all about interaction – catching up on the year.” Traditionally the event is for women – until the consumption of the tamales occurs – but even that is changing, with men now taking part in the rolling, stuffing – and gossip, he said.

Two tamaladas will be held Saturday at the gallery, 241 W. 19th St., at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., which include lessons in tamale-making, demonstrations, tastings and a half-dozen tamales to take home. Cost is $20 with advance reservations, which can be made at 713-880-2420, or $25 for walkins if space is available.

For those wishing to learn the art of tamale-making – not as difficult as it might appear, especially with many hands involved – there are also a number of cookbooks available and instructions and recipes online. Sylvia Casares of Houston’s celebrated Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, offers a DVD/ cookbook combination (through her restaurants and Amazon. com) for visual learners, as well as a hands-on Tamales 101 course at her west Houston restaurants.

Visit www.sylviasenchiladakitchen.com.

DO-IT-YOURSELF And while in some places, simply assembling the required ingredients for tamales could be a challenge, the Greater Heights is blessed with easy access to all the right stuff for a proper tamalada.

Indicative of the mainstreaming of tamales is La Mexicana’s broader, even healthful, offerings. Not long ago, they only sold traditional lard-andpork tamales for the holidays.

READERS’ CHOICE Still, for those not ready to tackle their own tamale production, we informally asked Leader readers for their go-to spots.

“Home” came in first, but here are eateries which can satisfy your holiday craving. Because of Houstonians’ ravenous appetites for these treats, planning and ordering ahead is essential to avoid disappointment.

ALAMO TAMALES Mentioned most often by our readers, these happen to be The Leader’s favorites, too, among the retail kind (selfishly, we keep our family tamalada chicken tamales and tomatillo sauce to ourselves and a few close friends). They’re delicious and cheap enough to feed a hoard of co-workers or schoolchildren. You can order between 6-12 dozen online at www. alamotamales.com and have them delivered. But they also have three outlets – at 3713 Jensen Drive, 809 Berry Road, and our favorite – at 2310 Navigation Blvd., just a couple blocks from the Original Ninfa’s east of downtown – where it’s worth the effort to order ahead and buy them fresh and steaming in foil wrappers (bring a Styrofoam container). For mass entertaining, the machine made variety will do. For special occasions, the caseros or homemade, plumper tamales, are worth the couple dollars extra per dozen.

Varieties include traditional pork, beef, chicken, spinach and cheese, and bean. Learn more at their website, www.alamotamales.com,

Rosslyn • from Page 1A Covington sign will come down soon. And while she loves the area and believes there is growth potential there, even Hudson has some wishes for improvement – namely the large red and white parking lot sign that originally advertised Manna. Most of that sign has been painted over and the sign is so old now that it has become a safety hazard.

“After the hurricane, the sign became more unstable and pieces of it just started falling off,” said. Hudson, who has been in the location for 15 years. “I’ve called the city numerous times.

I’m afraid someone is going to be hurt and I don’t understand why they won’t tear it down.”

One Resident’s Background Edward Jones, who often contributes news tips to The Leader, explained some of the history of the building and what may be keeping a suitable tenant from leasing the space.

“The building at 4301 Rosslyn and West 43rd was originally Pettigrew and Smith Auto Parts.

The auto parts store was bought out and this location was closed.

The building was vacant for a pe-

Ranking high is another Houston institution – Molina’s Cantina, with its closest outpost at 4702 Washington Ave. – serving up 100 percent pork butt traditional, hand-rolled tamales by pre-order.

Call 713-862-0013 or visit www. molinasrestaurants.com.

TEXAS TAMALE COMPANY

DON TEO’S

A good bet for sending gifts out of town or state if you act fast.

They offer small, gourmet beef, pork, chicken, spinach and black bean tamales made with vegetable shortening instead of lard – along with other Texas treats, such as chili and queso, spicy sausage links and salsas. For a real treat, though, visit their factory outlet in southwest Houston for fresh

This Oak Forest classic boasts healthier but classic Tex-Mex favorites, and its tamales are no different. While the filling is pork, the tamales are made with soybean oil instead of lard. Cost is $7.95 a dozen, and the restaurant offers a wide catering menu of other items and sides. Location is 2026 W. 34th St.; phone 713-681-7641; online at www.donteos.com.

riod of time, and later a guy from Canada rented the property to repair electronics, TVs, and anything else and had all the same things for sale. He attempted to open a photography developing business next door but that didn’t materialize,” Jones wrote in a letter to The Leader.

“I visited with him a number of times and had him repair a number of things for me. My guess was that he lived in the back as he never seemed to be away from there.

“The customer base was slow and he told me he was going to move to FM-1960 West of I-45 and maybe Hardy Toll Road,” Jones said. “Since then, I don’t believe the owner has repaired the leaking roof and I don’t believe it is worthy of the rent. You’ll notice that all the ceiling tiles have been removed.”

MANNA, once located on Ella Boulevard across from Jack in the Box, eventually moved into the area when the Food Town building was vacated.

“When the rent was raised [on MANNA], and it didn’t favor the church volunteer group, the owner of Food Town gave MANNA a deal to use the space.”

where there are also recipes for salsas and side dishes, historical vignettes and tips on serving.

MOLINA’S

Here’s an aerial view of the reforestation work that will be done at West 11th Street Park, starting with volunteers spreading mulch Saturday.

(Submitted image)

LA MEXICANA Another Houston institution, operated by the Trevino family for more than 30 years in Montrose, La Mexicana’s holiday tamale offerings reflect the changing tastes in consumption. Where once they only sold the traditional pork and lard delicacies by the dozen to customers, they now widely advertise on social media (@eatlamex on Twitter) not only their spicy and regular pork tamales, but beef, chicken and “vegan friendly” bean and veggie varieties. More at www.laxmexicanarestaurant. com, or visit 1018 Fairview Drive at Montrose Boulevard; phone 713-521-0963.

(Submitted photo)

The Airline Drive Farmer’s Market has the corn husks and spices needed, while markets that cater to Latino customers, such as the two Fiesta Marts, carry lard.

Check Revival Market on Heights Boulevard for the highly prized lard from Mangalitsa pigs, which is said to be lighter and lower in saturated fat.

All along Airline Drive are kitchen supply outlets which sell the giant, reasonably priced aluminum pots specially outfitted with a steaming tray that can produce dozens of tamales in one hour on the stove.

made, foil wrapped tamales by the dozen or half dozen with the just-made chili and queso, sold separately or blended. You can grab a $5.99 lunch plate of four tamales, rice, beans, chili, queso, chips and a drink as a sampler at one of a handful of seats before you order. 3340 Fountainview Drive, 713-953-1181, www.texastamale.com.

Workday will launch project to reforest W. 11th Street Park

by Lorraine Cherry Friends of West 11th St. Park We need your help at West 11th Street Park. If you’ve been to the park recently, you know that our little ball field really suffered from the drought – nearly all of the big beautiful trees are gone now, and it looks pretty grim out there. We are going to be replanting trees, starting on December 15 with spreading of 15 cubic yards of mulch supplied by the city. Then on Arbor Day (next April), we will be planting 250 saplings supplied by the city, and 10 large trees that will be purchased through donations to Friends of West 11th Street Park.

We will also be fundraising to have the trees watered by Trees for Houston over the next two

years until they get established.

So, we need your help to spread mulch and plant trees, and we could also use your financial help to raise the money to make sure that our trees stay alive. If you have time but no money or money but no time, we need you! We will be spreading mulch starting at 9 am on Saturday, December 15. Trees for Houston will be bringing out some tools.

If you have shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows of your own to bring, that would be great. Make sure and mark them with your name so they don’t go astray.

Donations can be sent to Friends of West 11th Street Park, P.O. Box 7679, Houston TX 77270-7679. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, so all donations are tax-deductible.

You’re a business with a story to tell.

Where do you tell that story?

In November, an average of

234 #1

businesses advertised in THE LEADER each week.

Local

Business Source

* Only includes paid advertisers

In November, 76 businesses advertised in the Heights Tribune for the entire month. * Based on the Tribune’s November 2012 edition ** Does not include non-paid, promotional ads

In November, an average of 19 businesses advertised in the Chronicle’s Ultimate Heights section each week. * Based on the Nov. 8-15 & Nov. 15-12 editions ** Does not include non-paid, promotional ads

There’s no debate about it.

THE LEADER is the best way to market your business.

Ask your neighbor.

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Page 10A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Lights on Display

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&REE 3OPAPILLAS WITH PURCHASE OF AN ENTREE %XPIRES *AN

It would almost be accurate to say young Quinnlin Hickman went on a walk through Woodland Heights on Sunday evening to check out some of the Christmas decorations, but that wouldn’t be entirely honest. She actually spent much of the journey being pulled in a cart, while snacking on homemade cookies and stopping at homes like this one on Highland to get a glimpse of a well-lit gingerbread house. (Photos by Jonathan McElvy)

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Over in Shepherd Park Plaza, they’re gearing up for hundreds and hundreds of cars in the next couple of weeks, where there are always arches over the street and an incredibly large dog (or is that Santa?) protecting one house on Richelieu.

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A couple of years ago, this house on Omar put Santa on a wakeboard on top of the roof. This year, the belly full of jelly is back on the ground. While we’re not sure if the theme is in response to recent thefts in the area, those who are hooked on the popular show “Duck Dynasty� will no doubt enjoy the lengths this homeowner has taken to decorate his yard. The ducks, pictured left, are raised at least 30 feet in the air.

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Keep the Heat In When In It’s Cold & the Heat Out When It’s Hot ENERGY EFFICIENCY 50% Energy Savings NOISE CANCELING Up to 80% Noise Reduction FIRE RETARDANT Class 1 Fire Rating

Probably no better way to cap o a page of Christmas Lights than to leave you with this message, found at the corner of Dunsmere and Chantilly Lane in Shepherd Park Plaza. The ďŹ re hydrant is real and couldn’t be moved.

Think your decorations are worthy of publication in The Leader?

Email a hi-res photo and we might publish it next week.

news@theleadernews.com

Its Never To Late

Page 11A • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader

Stevens • from Page 1A ementary, and Waltrip High,â€? DeBlieux said. “Zoned schools affect all residents, even those without children.â€?

During the meeting, Principal Anderson, who came to Stevens in 2006, outlined the positives as well as challenges the school currently faces. Currently a ‘Recognized’ school under TEA guidelines, pluses include the school’s new robotics team and the recent addition of the Accelerated Reading program. Students also scored very well on the science portion of the Stanford test last year.

Current Stevens parents affirmed their satisfaction with the school. “The teachers are fantastic,� said Alycia Harvey.“When the school sponsors evening activities such as family literacy night, a large percentage of teachers participate and it’s obvious that the children are excited to see them in the after-school setting.� “Stevens also has technology above and beyond what I had expected,� Harvey added. “One of my son’s classrooms has a SMART Board which captures his attention and excites him to learn. It’s really a shame that all the classrooms don’t have them.�

The challenges Anderson addressed include the high mobility rate of students. Between 85-95 percent of Stevens students live in area apartment complexes and 40 percent of them transfer into the school in any given year. A teacher might start the year with 22 children and end the year with 22 children, but during the entire

After a meeting last week to discuss improvements at Stevens Elementary, parents and supporters were given a tour of the school. (Photo by Betsy Denson) year will have served about 28-30 students.

There is a language barrier as well – 83 percent of students are Hispanic and many of their parents do not speak English. Stevens offers ESL classes twice a week for parents and until third grade also has bilingual classes for students who need it.

Anderson took the opportunity to ask attendees how they thought Stevens could improve. Participants voiced a desire for better landscaping outside the school,

increased technology and publicity about Stevens’ successes, as well as more enrichment programs and additional corporate sponsors.

Current sponsors include David Lorms with Farmers Insurance, Oakington Realty, ARMA Houston, PacoTech and St. Stephens Church. Stevens also receives other support from Gospel Truth Church, Oaks Presbyterian Church, St. Ambrose Church, and Compass Bank.

Melodie Matlock with Oaking-

I’ve been workin’ on the...

ton Realty donated her own money last year and also got her company as well as Brent Buys Homes involved to fund the purchase of additional robotics kits so more students could participate in the program.

This year Matlock has doubled the donations for the robotics program with added financial assistance from SRS Contracting/Schindler Homes, Mr. and Mrs. David Bupp, Dave Smith and Old Republic Title Company. Currently two contributors are building the “mission field� for the students to practice on before they go to the competitions. “It is a fun program to be a part of and I have high hopes for next year to be able to raise even more money,� said Matlock.

Of course, the biggest wish for many, after all the publicity about bond improvements, is an entirely new building for Stevens.

Rhonda Skillern-Jones, HISD District II trustee, recently helped with getting some ground erosion issues by the sidewalks corrected at Stevens and is currently working with the district on getting landscaping assistance for curb appeal.

She said that the 2007 bond was primarily elementary and current bond money has been allocated to high schools and middle schools. A new bond will likely be considered in another 6-7 years. “However, I am committed to find creative ways to fund small capital projects for improvements,�

Skillern-Jones said. “I am in com-

munication with several parents as well as the principal around needs and wishes and trying to find ways to assist.�

In the meantime, Stevens needs volunteers to read with children and to serve as mentors. The school is setting up beautification days in January and February.

Members of the community are asked to help in transforming the campus grounds by soliciting materials or offering expertise.

School tours are in the works for early 2013. Principal Anderson also wants to gauge community interest in a tuition-based Pre-K program at Stevens. To get started, the school would need at least 17 parents.

To offer support, assistance or to inquire further about the school, please contact Lucy Anderson at LANDERS4@houstonisd.org or e-mail standforstevens@gmail. com.

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If you’ve driven over the railroad tracks in the Garden Oaks area, you’ve no doubt seen new rail ties ready for installation. That work is part of BNSF’s 2012 capital commitment program of approximately $3.9 billion across the nation. From a maintenance standpoint, BNSF is installing 3.5 million new ties –most of them wood.

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Page 2B • The Leader • December 13, 2012 • @heightsleader