Leader 4-6 Section A

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Inside Today: It’s time to reunite, honor the Waltrip state champs • Page 7B

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SATURDAY | April 6, 2013 | Vol. 59 | No. 23 | www.theleadernews.com | @heightsleader

Heights group digs for development details

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Packed weekend and big events

Reminder: Two major annual events are expected to draw thousands this Saturday to chow down on crawfish and to view the Heights historic and unique homes. The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Crawfish Festival has been reworked to consolidate several major events into one in the expansive parking lot of Northwest Mall. In addition to plates of crawfish and the fixings, there will be live entertainment including the Idol of the Heights singing competition finals, a car show, a raffle for a new Hyundai and children’s games and activities. For ticket information, go to www. heightschamber.com. And six homes will be on display during the Heights Home & Garden Tour, showing off preserved historic dwellings and modern designs. Ticket information for the entire tour or individual homes is available at www.houstonheights.org.

by Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader With no zoning and an immense city bureaucracy to deal with, the Land Use Committee of the Houston Heights Association tries to function as the community’s development guardian – but its agenda Monday night and sometimes spotty information reflected just how frustrating that role can be. There – again – was the high-density, high-end Alexan apartment development on Yale north of I-10, the mysterious Emes Place condo plans along White Oak bayou and the future of a complex, multi-agency detention pond project. And there were the recurring items that lead to lively debate:

There is no news on the development of property on Yale at 6th Street. A traffic analysis has been submitted to determine what the area can stand. updating architectural guidelines for better enforcement; mitigating a perceived surge in graffiti around the Heights; addressing loopholes that some vendors pursue to provide alcohol sales in a dry community; and dealing with the effects of old variances that affect nearby property owners and property use long after the applicant has moved on.

Common to all topics raised, however, appeared to be interest in more timely information and better sharing of any intel on what’s happening – and when – at agencies and organizations affecting Houston Heights that post their agendas close to actual meetings.

Functional, not finished

Meanwhile, the detention pond at 6th Street grows closer to being “functional,” probably sometime this summer, reported land use committee regular Mark Williamson, who’s also a Greater Heights Super Neighborhood council rep. Built as part of the Interstate 10 improvement on land once an industrial complex, the detention site encompasses two, coordinated components separated by a floodcontrolling berm: A-7 (handled by Harris County Flood Control District) and A9 (a project by Texas Department of Transpor-

Waltrip teacher probed

“As a chef, you have to create it in your mind first. A good chef understands the art, business and media part of it.”

Houston ISD is investigating a male teacher at Waltrip High School suspected of “inappropriate behavior,” the district said Tuesday. The teacher resigned Monday, according to a statement, but the investigation – which is being conducted by an outside law firm – is continuing. The district said it would turn over its findings to authorities if it appears criminal activity took place. KPRC-TV news reported Tuesday night that the teacher is suspected of an improper relationship with “at least one female student.”

• Lance Fegen

Celebrating 27 years in Oak Forest

FREE BURGER DRAWING Every Day in April

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Heights cyclists looking for respect, support

M-F 11am-9pm Sat 11am-5pm

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What

Can U O YFind Inside

by Charlotte Aguilar charlotte@theleadernews.com

BENEFIT GARAGE SALE:

Saturday, April 6. 8 a.m. 1618 Candlelight. Lawn equipment, tandem bicycle, motorcycle jacket and helmets, boxing bag on stand, household items, brand new Ikea double sink in box. A lot of miscellaneous.

FRANK SALAS IS THE MAN TO CALL for trash hauling and

garage cleaning. 281-312-9795, 832893-5697.

BURGLAR BARS: Custom made. Residential and commercial. Free estimates. 281-448-2759. www. burglarbarsandmore.com.

Big Red Success Lance Fegen has figured out a recipe for restaurants in the Heights and Oak Forest areas. It’s about culture. It’s about letting the young bucks do the hard work. And it’s about surfing.

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THE INDEX.

Public Safety Hipstrict Topics Obituaries Coupons Puzzles Sports Classifieds

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see Details • Page 7A

Bicycles have suddenly become the hot new form of getting around in Houston – although not yet qualifying as “mass” transit – with the Greater Heights battling for inclusion in studies and public projects to make bicycling more accessible. Although running through arguably the most bike-conscious set of communities in Houston, the bike paths along White Oak Bayou and through the Heights into downtown now primarily sustain a ridership of weekend and evening recreational users, walkers and joggers. (It doesn’t help the White Oak trail that 610/290 construction is closing a big chunk of it from south of the North Loop along T.C. Jester to 34th Street for another year.)

see Bikes • Page 6A

British School where? Right here by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Houstonians are aware they live in a cosmopolitan city. However, it may surprise local residents to know that there’s a school in the immediate area with global credentials. The British School of Houston (BSH), located on 14 acres off Watonga Boulevard, has been open since 2000. The school’s 750-member student body includes more than 40 nationalities, while British students make up about 47 percent. Many have parents who work in oil, gas or associated industries.

The school is led by Stephen Foxwell, who goes by the title “headteacher.” A Brit, who has also worked in the Middle East, Nigeria and the Cayman Islands among other locales, Foxwell happens to be an American football fan. He says he used to stay up late in the UK to watch the games and loves Joe Montana and Brett Favre, but is now a Texans season ticket holder. Not solely an administrator, Foxwell sometimes does double duty as a substitute teacher for different age groups.

see British • Page 7A

Secondary students in science class at the British School work intently on a lab project. (Photo by Betsy Denson)


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