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Inside Today: Time running out for Leader Lovables contest • Page 4B
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Saturday, January 21, 2017 • Vol. 64 • No. 3
About Us
Outlooks for 2017
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Local businesses and schools shared their optimistic outlook for the new year. Inside Page 3B
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Boiled Crawfish speCials po-Boys & More B.y.o.B. (713) 703-7544 2521 N. Durham
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The emphasis will be on flooding and drainage. This is the next big step.....” - Mayor Turner Photo by Jonathan McElvy Cars try and navigate partially flooded streets near the intersection of Oak Forest Drive and 43rd Street Wednesday morning. The newest round of rains further illustrated the reasons for the new stormwater action team.
Mayor taking proactive approach By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Revved up. Adolf Hoepfl & Son Garage will host its 7th Annual Classic car show on January 28.
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Find it. FOR SALE - BAR BUSINESS, equipment and furnishings. Property NOT for sale. Call Linda, 713-6880260, 713-345-0260. 2303 McAllister 77092. FOR SALE: Apple series 1 watch 38mm stainless steel case, $300. 713-683-9906. GENERAL CARPENTRY AND PAINTING: Small jobs welcome. Excellent references. 832-523-0360, 281743-8467.
Medicine a family affair for MHGH doc By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
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With a new year has come a new vision for the city of Houston, one which could have far-reaching effects for residents, including those within The Leader’s readership area. On. Jan. 11, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the official formation of the Storm Water Action Team (SWAT). This comes on the heels of a 2016 visit to Washington D.C. to impress upon Congress the dire situation facing the Bayou city, which was once again thrust to the forefront with two major floods last year. Residents also saw another round of rain cause major flooding issues as well as an HISD school delay just this past week. Many areas were seeing high water as of Wednesday morning, and though flood waters did eventually recede, the newest dumping of rain further illustrated the situation which causes many areas of the city (including some in our readership) extreme unrest at every drop of rain--the one Turner has vowed to mitigate to the best of his abilities. The Mayor’s new SWAT team will work proactively to reduce drainage problems not directly attributed to overflow from the bayous, which are under the control of the Harris
County Flood Control District. Projects have been selected based on 311 calls and other data regarding frequency of flooding, with the goal being to expand maintenance capabilities and improve the movement of water from day-to-day storm events.
Photo supplied Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks with various news outlets at a press conference announcing formation of the SWAT team
“No longer will we be reactive. This approach will allow us to anticipate
when and where improvements are needed and then take care of them before we have a problem,” Turner said in a release. “In 2017, the emphasis will be on flooding and drainage. This is the next big step in improving Houston’s infrastructure.” Approximately 100 deferred maintenance projects spread throughout the city have been identified for inclusion in the SWAT program. Houston City Council has approved an initial round of funding of $10 million so work can begin on two projects in each council district. The work encompasses everything from replacing sewer inlets and grates to regrading ditches and resizing culverts to minor erosion repairs and regular mowing. “I know a forecast of stormy weather causes anxiety and fear for many Houstonians,” Turner said. “There is no reason why we can’t help alleviate some of those concerns. These are practical improvements that can be completed quickly to provide the greatest amount of relief and reduce the possibility that water will enter homes and strand motorists.” One such project falls within The Leader’s distribution area, in Ellen Cohen’s District C at 5942 Greenmont Dr. In this instance, funds have been set aside to address drainage issues precipitated by a 36-inch outfall which has collapsed and caused a cave-in. Local areas still in need Though residents are likely happy
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See Flooding P. 2A
The INDEX.
Worst flooding areas in our neighborhood
Church....................................................... 6A Classifieds.............................................. 4B Coupons. ................................................. 5A Food/Drink/Art................................... 1B Obituaries.............................................. 2A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A Sports. ....................................................... 7A
• Antoine from 290 to Scarborough High School • 2300 block of Poinciana near Jester side in major rain events • Glebe at Lamonte Lane in major rain events • 43rd Street at Oak Forest Drive • Oak Forest Drive at Curtin St. Source: Social media call
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights (formerly Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital) has beome entrenched in the lives of many Leader-area communities; and for one individual, the place has also become a second home in more ways than one throughout her life. The hospital has quite literally encompassed Dr. Melissa Montoya’s life from birth and has come full circle to where she now practices family medicine in the very place her father worked as a surgeon for more than 40 years; and she has embraced the namesake while carving out her own niche within the hospital. Her journey (and interest in medicine) now seems as though it was destined from birth — and only grew from there. The journey begins “Growing up, she always listened to me talk about medicine, and when she was probably 7 or 8 years old, she would start going with me to make rounds at the hospital, and at that point I could tell she was interested in medicine,” her father Roberto Montoya said. Despite the clear interest, and the fact that his lineage always consisted of at least one doctor, Roberto remained adamant that he stand back and let fate run its course. “My father, my grandfather and my great great grandfather were all doctors, so it was always in the back of my mind that one of my children might follow the steps and tradition, but I never told her that she needed to be a doctor,” he said. “I never pressured her to say she should become a doctor—she has always made her own deciDr. Melissa Montoya sions. The only pressure I gave her was that I invited them to come to the hospital with me.” Melissa echoed her father, however, in acknowledging that being seemingly surrounded by the hospital in so many forms from a young age did represent a significant factor in deciding to follow in her father’s footsteps. “Seeing him come home every day after working in the hospital, seeing how happy he was to be a doctor and the satisfaction he would have after having gone through a long surgery and then seeing the results definitely played a role,” she said. “Every weekend I would go home and go to rounds with my dad. I would always see his interaction with patients and how they would respond to him.” It wasn’t until near the end of high school, however, that the passion began to clearly manifest itself. “I loved my biology classes and I was always the one in class wanting to dissect the frog and whatnot,” she said with a laugh. Montoya also spent hours at MD Anderson with the children while they played as part of her work with Houston’s Chapter of the National Charity League. “I loved being a part of that environment. I love that exSee Doc P. 5A
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