LOOK Saturday, April 29, 2017 • Page 1B
A special visit for local girl By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Mayor Sylvester Turner has barely been able to rest since taking office little more than one year ago as he attempts to solve each problem thrown at this city. However, in between the flurry of appointments and meetings with dignitaries – and just days removed from riding the Tour de Houston — he made a special stop in the Heights last Friday afternoon for one special little girl that tugged at his heartstrings. Eight-year-old Harvard Elementary second grader Sophie Blitz inquired to the mayor not long ago with a very pressing matter at hand – asking for sidewalk repairs so she could safely walk and ride her bike to school. “There is an unfinished sidewalk on 5th and Cortlandt. I ride my bike to school, so that is a problem. I have to ride on the street now. My mom says it is not safe to ride my bike on the street. Can you either build a bridge or finish the sidewalk?” she asked in a handwritten letter. “I will show you the bumpy sidewalk. It will be better if you fix it so I can ride on the sidewalk and you can help rebuild the sidewalk because it is bumpy.” Sophie’s plea tugged at the city leader’s heartstrings so much that he could not simply pen a response and go on with his day after seeing such innocence in the request. The sidewalk repairs were finished Friday afternoon and Turner himself was on hand to greet Sophie, inspect the work and even walk with the family for an afternoon gelato treat. “You can be as young as Sophie is but still move the hands of government. You’re never too young to be very powerful, and quite frankly, when a per-
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Mayor Sylvester Turner greets a beaming Sophie Blitz in front of her Heights home last Friday. Sophie wrote to Turner asking for help fixing a dangerous unfinished sidewalk in her neighborhood.
son like Sophie speaks, that can be more powerful than people who are well-connected,” he said. “There’s just something about the innocence of a child asking for people to help them continue to be able to go to school and be safe.” “There was no agenda other than wanting the sidewalk fixed so she and others would not have to ride in the street. When a second-grade student takes the time to ask for help, when we can respond we should respond and try to do it in as timely a manner as we can,” he added. “[Sophie] is an exceptional student with an exceptional sister—I was very touched by it.” Sophie and her sister also presented the city’s leader with personal handmade masterpieces of ‘thank you cards’ — another gesture Turner said he found more touching and impactful than receiving even flamboyant gifts and trophies from the highest dignitaries. “I am so proud to be a Houstonian and the mayor of Houston because of people
like Sophie, Anna and this family—it’s just a great day in this city,” he said. “I’m just really happy it got fixed,” Sophie added with an ear-to-ear grin before helping Turner lay down a ramp to improve wheelchair access. Turner said Sophie didn’t just write for herself, she wrote for many others. “Because of your letter, we are out here responding and completing this sidewalk, not only to help you but help a lot of the other kids,” he said. Later, Turner reiterated that Friday represents just one facet in the city’s efforts to emphasize completing sidewalks in a state of disrepair. “For her it’s riding a bike, but there are many others in our city in wheelchairs who can’t traverse these sidewalks in the current state of disrepair,” he said. “It’s about recognizing who is needing these sidewalks in a good state so they can go places they need to get to. We’re going to work even harder to address the needs of many others in the city.”
Rolling into first place EXpEcT MorE... Our Savior Lutheran School classical christian Education
Enrolling noW! 2017-2018 School Year • grades 1 - 8 Half Day & Full Day Kindergarten Available offering preschool 3 and pre-Kindergarten classes 3 Day | 4 Day | 5 Day options • Extended care Available
Contributed Photo Frank Black Middle School’s ‘Hyppalectryon’s Candy Dreams’ (try to say that three times fast) won ‘Best Youth Group’ at the recent Art Car Parade.
got to be a part of this experience,” said Pinkston. “Every year there seems to be a little over 30 youth groups from inside and outside the Houston area that participate in this. That is a small fraction of the population that even have this opportunity.” Pinkston said he got into making Art Cars his first year at Frank Black in 2014-15. “Through it I have been able to reach students that I have had a hard time connecting with before we made the art car(s),” he said. “It is a way of looking at art outside of the box, outside of a usual way to exhibit art and one that captures a spirit that most art usually doesn’t evoke in many people.”
Serving Families For Jesus Christ
713-290-8277
of e s t 20
16
Students at Frank Black Middle School are still basking in the glow of their 1st Place “Best Youth Group” win at the recent Art Car Parade. “Hyppalectryon’s Candy Dreams” was designed and built by students along with teachers Julon Pinkston and Sarah Reavis. “A Hyppalectryon is a half chicken half horse - which was an oddity that came out of conversation and art making in the art classes,” said Pinkston. “Our car started as a mythological creature car, but realizing we were running short of time and materials to make it right, we switched themes
to include a candy landscape which would make the process much easier and effective.” Reavis and Pinkston guided students in as many as sixteen art classes in making edible looking larger than life items to be attached to the art car. It’s estimated that 300 students participated.This is the third FBMS Art Car made by students guided by Pinkston. Last year, their car “The Beastie Croonie-Kerploppus-Yalapapus” also won 1st Place “Best Youth Group” award. This year student Nicole Holton and teacher Sarah Reavis rode in the parade with Julon Pinkston at the wheel. Students were very excited about the win. “Better than any award for me was that the students all
B
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
THE LEADER
Readers' Choice
5000 West Tidwell • Houston, TX 77091 www.oslschool.org
GREENWOOD KING The Leader of Innovative Real Estate Marketing
713.864.0888 G
R
E
E
N
W
k O
O
D
1801 Heights Blvd. K
I
N
G
.
C
O
M