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Inside Today: The January edition of Leader Listings • Page 1B
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THURSDAY | January 26, 2013 | Vol. 59 | No. 13 | www.theleadernews.com | @heightsleader
Heights mom now HISD’s board prez
All in the Family
THE BRIEF. sponsored by
Please Stop by
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10570 NW Frwy • 713-680-2350
Leader Loveables contest over the top
Wow, is all we can say. Bowwow and me-wow. The reaction to our Leader Loveables contest has exceeded all expectations, with voters clicking on our website in record numbers that climb higher each day, and ballots arriving by hand and mail by the dozens. Deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 28 to cast your vote – once a day online at www.theleadernews.com or by print ballot from The Leader (copies are allowed). The goal is to whittle down the field of more than 100 of our readers’ most purrfect cats and darling dogs, submitted by their owners, to the five top vote-getters, who will then be designated Leader Loveables and pick up a whole slew of prizes. We’ll bring you the tail-wagging good news on the winners next week. See the pets one last time on Pages 4B, 5B and 6B.
Effort to spruce-up Stevens brings community together by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
THE EVENT. sponsored by
COME WATCH ‘EM Rockets & Astros
Happy Hour starts 4pm M-F 11am-9pm Sat 11am-5pm
3401 W. T.C. Jester 713-957-1100
WHAT: The 14th annual Super Bowl Barbecue Dinner, provided by Boy Scout Troop 40 from St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. WHEN: Noon-6 p.m. Feb. 2; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 3 WHERE: At the church, 3600 Brinkman. HOW MUCH: $10 for a plate that includes a choice of chicken or beef and sausage, along with savory homemade buttered potatoes and seasoned green beans, condiments and a drink. Or if you’re feeding a crowd, you can order a whole brisket for $60 or a party pack for $7 a head, with a 20-person minimum. LEARN MORE: Call 713-444-2972 or write chriscarroll93@gmail.com for info or advance purchase. EDITOR’S TAKE: Instead of stressing over the Big Game, queue up for this legendary ’cue and forget slaving over dips, cheese platters, buffalo wings and pizza. Just ice some drinks, and you’re good to go.
THE INDEX.
Public Safety Hipstrict Topics Obituaries Coupons Puzzles Sports Classifieds
Stevens fifth-grader Esau Albarran came with his dad Ecsau and other family to help Saturday. After cleaning the courtyard, Esau got to take home the pecans that had fallen, a real treat for him. (Photo by Betsy Denson)
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Organizers of the first beautification day at Stevens Elementary delayed the event by a week and crossed their fingers for better weather. Not only did the new date coincide with the President’s National Day of Service Saturday, but the sun was shining for the nearly 50 volunteers who showed up ready to work. Gardening, power washing the exterior walls and painting classroom doors in eye-popping primary colors were all on the agenda. Principal Lucy Anderson brought donuts, and volunteers worked steadily throughout the morning. Some volunteers were made aware of the service opportunity though the Stand for Stevens Facebook page. There were also several volunteer groups including Girl Scout Troop 12016, the Lamar High School Honor Society, BESO (Bilingual Education Student Organization) from the University of Houston–Downtown and members of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church. Senior Pastor Kevin Otto said that St. Stephen’s had been planning a monthly outreach program and that the beautification day was a natural fit for their first outing. “St. Stephen’s has a long history with the school,” said Otto.“We’ve had Stevens
St. Stephen’s volunteer Chris Barcus brightens up the school by painting a classroom door. (Photo by Betsy Denson) teachers in the congregation for many years who have volunteered there after retirement. We wanted to be a part of the rejuvenation of the school.” Students, parents and teachers were also on hand. Kenneth Huddleston is in his seventh year as a math and science teacher at Stevens. “I appreciate the faculty here,” he said.
“And these are really nice kids.” Supervising the painting was school clerk Rickey Donato who, along with art teacher Matthew Juarez, is responsible for the school’s distinctive Mustang mural. Donato used to work as an artist in residence at Blackshear Elementary and
by Charlotte Aguilar charlotte@theleadernews.com A Heights mom, famous for her pies and tarts, who not long ago led her neighborhood school PTO, was chosen by trustees last week to head the Houston ISD school board. District I Trustee Anna Eastman ‚ who represents most Leader-area neighborhoods and is known for frequently bucking the majority on the board ‚ was elected unanimously and took over the gavel on the spot. It was a leap forward from this time last year when Eastman, who had been serving as a board vice president, expressed her interest in leading the trustees but was passed over for the job in an awkward compromise that saw one of her allies become Anna Eastman president. Eastman was INSIDE first elected to the board in 2009 • Q&A with the new largely through HISD board president the efforts of Parent Visionaries, a PAGE 10A grassroots reform group. She became a watchdog for magnet schools and school choice when Superintendent Terry Grier attempted major changes, was a major architect of board ethics reform which passed last year, opposed a contract extension for Grier, and has expressed concerns about HISD’s monitoring of the district’s huge bond programs that have helped lead to increased oversight. At times, she’s also decried the district’s emphasis on construction, worrying more about what goes on in the classrooms than whether they’re state-of-the-art. It’s the second year that a Parent Visionary reformer has been elected HISD board president. Eastman succeeds Michael Lunceford, who represents schools in southwest Houston. She praised Lunceford for his leadership during a year when the district passed its largest bond ever – $1.89 billion – and tightened its own ethics rules. And in a common theme of hers‚ the need for open discussion of HISD issues rather than board rub-
see Stevens • Page 10A
see Eastman • Page 10A
Reporting from DC: Ram Band soaks up inaugural activities by Isabella Zamora For The Leader It was part pomp-and-circumstance, part fairytale for more than 150 members of the Waltrip Ram Band and their entourage over last weekend, as they ventured to the Nation’s Capital for presidential inaugural activities. Musicians, chaperones and security were scheduled to come down to earth and return to Houston late Tuesday. While members stayed in Virginia, they launched into sightseeing in the nation’s capital immediately, visiting the Mall and Lincoln Memorial Friday afternoon. “The bus ride was a little long, but I was just pumped to be headed to Washington,” Jared Adams said.
The band played Texas-centric songs and more at the traditional Black Tie & Boots Ball Saturday night sponsored by the Texas State Society. Non-uniformed adults with the band were decked out in formal wear. (Photos by Isabella Zamora) “The first day was fun,” said Cesar Velasquez. “It was cool seeing all the history.”
That night they took over a Buca di Beppo restaurant in the heart of D.C. to fuel up for
their busiest day on Saturday. The band members got a chance to show off what they do best – play music – in the shadow of the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial Saturday morning, just outside Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The sky was blue and the weather was crisp as band members, in full uniform, made the first appearance of their hard-earned trip to perform at presidential inaugural events. “It was special because I have family in the Marine Corps, so I was playing for them,” said 11th-grader Gregory Vega, Jr. “It was a good experience performing at Iwo Jima,” echoed 11th-grader Nataly Ochoa.
see Band • Page 10A