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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, May 2, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 26

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Pinemont-area residents no longer seeing ‘red’ By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

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Many of the residents in attendance at the METRO Board Meeting April 23 breathed a sigh of relief at the announcement the organization would pursue negotiating selling its former Pinemont Park & Ride to Harris County instead of the Houston Housing Authority. The motion to sell the property to Harris County, which may construct a potential multi-service center, passed unanimously. Harris County Commissioners also voted unanimously to purchase the property during an April 28 Commissioners Court meeting, which several area residents also attended, though not wearing red shirts like

they did at the METRO meting. “It was my judgment that, because of the large amount of apartment development that already exists in that area, to put another high-density apartment complex […], that’s just more multi-family housing than a single family residential community can effectively operate in,” METRO Real Estate Committee Co-Chair Jim Robinson Robinson said. Harris County officials say it’s far too early to say exactly what sort of facilities might move into the area, and the new facility could offer anything from community resources like tax offices to new offices for private Harris County offices. See Pinemont, P. 10A

Photo by Jonathan Garris Town hall meetings such as the one held April 16 at Advent Lutheran Church helped sway METRO into selling its former Pinemont Park & Ride site to Harris County rather than the Houston Housing Authority.

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Krishna Culture There is no better indicator of The Leader-area’s diversity than Krishna Culture, located in the Brookwood Business Park. Offering everything from statues to paintings, the store attracts customers from the Hindu faith as well as those outside of it.

Photo by Jonathan Garris Mike Vance holds his two REMI Awards he won for two documentary films he produced, covering Texas history.

Find it on 1B “We Make Real Estate Simple.”

Photo by Jonathan Garris Richard Walters (right) leads a small reading class at Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet. Children at Risk recently gave the elementary school an “A-” letter grade and ranked the school 244 out of Houston-area public schools.

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INSIDE.

School

STATE RANK

HOUSTON RANK

The INDEX. Church

Classifieds

Coupons

Food/Drink/Art Obituaries

9A 7A

Opinion

Public Information Puzzles Sports

2A 8B 7B

LETTER GRADE

STATE RANK

2014

HOUSTON RANK

LETTER GRADE

2013

A+

HARVARD EL

104

A+

383

103

296

TRAVIS EL

161

A+

381

101

266

CROCKETT EL

291

A+

1,591

343

B-

1,897

438

GARDEN OAKS EL

988

244

A-

2628

530

C-

386

107

FIELD EL

977

249

A-

618

156

A-

697

185

SINCLAIR EL

1042

332

647

166

A-

1,251

315

MEMORIAL EL

2055

451

C+

2,401

488

1,124

273

LOVE EL

2317

507

3,043

600

1,570

382

STEVENS EL

2518

538

2,920

577

1,866

428

SMITH EL

2576

547

1,439

316

B-

1,955

453

BENBROOK EL

2950

612

3,543

682

1,855

424

BROWNING EL

3019

626

2,282

469

884

228

WAINWRIGHT EL

3084

641

3,587

687

2,838

599

HELMS EL

3767

764

2,312

478

638

172

DURHAM EL

3909

788

3,087

609

2,746

584

2015

2014

2013

794

157

B-

644

142

B-

307

CLIFTON MIDDLE

1,090

202

C-

796

166

B-

1,241

197

BLACK MIDDLE

1,427

248

D-

1,820

325

1,800

280

HOGG MIDDLE

1,550

271

1,954

345

1,340

209

2015

HIGH SCHOOLS

Find it on 5B

HOUSTON RANK

OAK FOREST EL

HAMILTON MIDDLE

The Oaks Dads Club youth baseball and softball athletes took the Astros field on Sunday, April 19, during the little league parade with thousands of other Houston youth athletes. Check out photos from the event in this week’s Sports section

STATE RANK

2015

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Baseball Bash

LETTER GRADE

2014

2013

REAGAN HS

491

B-

776

C-

622

WALTRIP HS

618

C+

1,019

119

834

SCARBOROUGH HS

1,211

157

1,171

146

1,066

125

WASHINGTON HS

1,089

139

1,123

137

1,057

123

Note: Garden Oaks received an ‘A-’ rating for their elementary and a separate ‘A’ rating for its middle school.

Children at Risk releases 2015 Public School Rankings, methodology report By Betsy Denson and Jonathan Garris betsy@theleadernews.com jgarris@theleadernews.com

It’s the 10th year of CHILDREN AT RISK’s annual school rankings across the state of Texas, and in 2015, as always, Houston parents are scrutinizing the grade given to their current or future schools and principals are working overtime to address the concerns of their school community. One of these principals is Durham Elementary’s Angela Sugarek whose letter to The Leader argues that it is the schools with the highest number of economically dis-

advantaged students and the lowest number of children classified as Gifted & Talented that score most poorly in the rankings. “What [their] methodology produced is a list of schools loosely grouped (with a few outliers) according to the inverse relationship of the percentage of students who are poor to students who are gifted,” she said. “Telling us that the affluent, gifted kids go to the best schools is not news and does not help parents pick the best school for their child.” Durham scored an F even though 98 percent of the school’s parents say they are happy with their child’s

education there and according to Sugarek, the school has seen a twenty point gain so far with the 2015 STAAR results. Sugarek is not the only one who disagrees with this year’s results. Frank Black Middle School’s Paolo Castagnoli said his school’s D- is “not even close” to Black’s reality. Castagnoli said that they’ve seen a 10 percent increase on the first round of 2015 STARR results, attendance is up 2 percent to 96.2 percent and there has been a 50 percent increase in Vanguard applications.

Behind the Numbers According to Children at Risk’s methodology, schools are ranked across three indices: student achievement, campus performance and growth. High schools are also ranked by the college readiness index. Within each index, a weighted score was calculated for each campus and, using these three index scores, a weighted average was calculated to create an overall composite index. The student achievement index reflects raw performance in key achievement areas. For elementary, middle school and high school, student achievement indicators are calculated from a 50-50 percent split between STAAR Reading and STAAR Math (both advanced). The campus performance index is designed to “demonstrate the relationship between the percent of economically disadvantaged students and their performance on the indicators used for the Student Achievement Index.” Each campus graded by CAR received a positive or negative deviation score based See Numbers, P. 2A

See Rankings, P. 2A

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Oak Forest film producer wins two REMI awards By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Oak Forest resident and Film Producer Mike Vance says he has always been a student of history. Even after working in radio and television for over 15 years, Vance said he never lost interest in the subject, particularly when it comes to Texas history. “I had gone to college and majored in government with a minor in history,” Vance said with a laugh. “I did nothing with it for decades.” Now, with two REMI Awards for Documentary at the 2015 WorldFest/Houston International Film Festival under his belt, that dedication to history has continued to pay off. His non-profit, Houston Arts and Media, won awards for featurelength documentaries covering different periods of the history of Texas. The first, Washington-on-the-Brazos: The Politics of Revolution, won a Gold REMI Award and the one released prior, San Felipe and American Settlement, won a Silver See Documentary, P. 10A

2015 Nominate your favorite businesses to help us determine our top choices for readers across the area!

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Police Reports • April 22 - April 26 APRIL 22 Theft 11:11 AM 200-299 W 19TH Theft 11:20 AM 200-299 W 12TH Theft 2:20 PM 900-999 N LOOP W Theft 10:13 AM 900-999 N SHEPHERD Theft 1:48 PM 100-199 YALE Theft 10:25 AM 0-99 E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 6:05 AM 1300-1399 W 43RD Theft 10 AM 5700-5799 YALE APRIL 23 Theft 1 PM 1700-1799 W 18TH Robbery 6:27 PM 4700-4799 NETT Theft 2 PM 1200-1299 ROY Burglary 9:17 PM 200-299 E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 5:30 PM 1700-1799 LIBBEY APRIL 24 Theft 10 AM 200-299 W 12TH Theft 12 PM 2600-2699 NORHILL Theft 6:15 PM 2600-2699 NORHILL Theft 3:07 AM 1100-1199 DETERING Theft 2 PM 3700-3799 PINEMONT Burglary 7:52 AM 2300-2399

CHANTILLY LN Theft 3:30 PM 4300-4399 W T C JESTER Robbery 7:06 PM 7900-7999 N SHEPHERD Assault 12:54 PM 800-899 E 39TH Theft 8:40 AM 2400-2499 WASHINGTON Burglary 3:30 AM 800-899 E

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CROSSTIMBERS Theft 9:30 AM 9800-9899 HEMPSTEAD Theft 9:30 AM 2200-2299 MANGUM Theft 2:45 PM 4500-4599 MAIN Theft 2 PM 500-599 W 20TH Theft 3 PM 2600-2699 NORHILL Theft 2 PM 0-99 DACOMA/KARBACH Theft 6 PM 4200-4299 WASH-

INGTON APRIL 25 Burglary 7:15 AM 5200-5299 DARLING Theft 6 PM 900-999 DETERING Burglary 11:30 AM 5000-5099 N SHEPHERD Theft 8:45 PM 5300-5399 SHEPHERD Robbery 7:19 PM 5100-5199 ALBA Theft 7:30 PM 2700-2799 T C JESTER Theft 10 AM 1500-1599 CANDLELIGHT LN Burglary 10:07 AM 900-999 HERKIMER Burglary 1:59 AM 4800-4899 LAMONTE APRIL 26 Theft 8:13 AM 500-599 ALLSTON Theft 6:50 AM 3700-3799 WATSON Theft 4:06 AM 1400-1499 E 33RD Theft 9:35 AM 4200-4299 W 34TH Theft 10:45 AM 500-599 NORTHWEST MALL Theft 6:22 AM 200-299 E 23RD Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

Precinct One: Duo targeting lawnscapers, yard workers By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com The Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office is on the lookout for a Toyota Camry belonging to two men who robbed a man at gunpoint early April 14 in the 1000 block of Del Norte and may be connected to nearly 12 other robberies around the area. According to officials, deputies responded to the area just after 5 p.m. and spoke with the victim who said two Hispanic males in a vehicle held him up at gunpoint. The man said the vehicle drove up beside him as he stood near the roadway and the passenger, described as a Hispanic male in his mid30’s, bald, with no facial hair or visible tattoos, displayed a semi-automatic pistol and demanded his wallet. The man gave the passenger his wallet and the robbers drove off. The vehicle was last

seen traveling southbound on Golf Street. The vehicle is described as a dark gray or silver Toyota Camry, with license plate FDX7827, and was reported as stolen from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The Houston Police Department advised this vehicle with the same description of the suspect was also involved in 12 robberies of individuals in and around the Heights area that same Tuesday in the 900 block of Hogan, 1062 West Donovan and the 3400 block of Ella Boulevard. Jodi Silva with the Houston Police Department said the pair have been targeting landscapers and other yard workers and appear to speak Spanish well. “They’re taking wallets, keys, cell phones and, in some cases, lawn equipment, too,” Silva said. In one incident, the robbers stole some leaf blowers. In some cases, the men

were wearing bandanas over their faces. Silva said residents should be cautious and, if confronted, hand over possessions to the robbers. “Those are the types of things that can be replaced,” Silva said. “People should also take steps to limit the amount of cash they might be carrying.”

academic success is affluence. However, one of the purposes of the study is to shine a light on the high poverty, high performing schools so that their success can be replicated. “We want the best schools for the majority,” he said, noting that 60% of Texas school age children are classified as economically disadvantaged. Sanborn understands why principals can get upset but said CHILDREN AT RISK is just there to report what the data is showing. And he said they do make adjustments for schools with a high proportions of economically disadvantaged

students as part of the Campus Performance part of their methodology which looks at both how CHILDREN AT RISK expected students to do and then at how much they deviated from that expectation. However, there is one thing the study achieves that Sanborn believes everyone can get behind. “It makes parents education advocates,” he said.

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Rankings from P. 1A “We have the first waitlist for Vanguard in the school’s history,” he said, noting that they also have creative writing and choir electives this year, and anticipate adding a robotics program soon. Hogg Middle School was given an F which Principal Mina Schnitta believes is undeserved. She said that when she started at Hogg in 2011 her vision was to turn it into a successful school and that she knew the transition would take time and strong leadership, both in and out of the classroom. Schnitta notes that two years ago, Hogg became an International Baccalaureate World School, and that along with their STEM Magnet Program, allows the school to offer students a unique learning opportunity. Schnitta said that last school year, Hogg met TEA standards and received a TEA Distinction in Index 2, Student Progress. “This proves to me that we have effective teachers and students who work hard each and every day,” Schnitta said. “I believe that closing these [economic] gaps starts with an involved community, effective campus principals and teachers, and supportive district leadership. This is exactly what we now have at Hogg Middle School.”

Principal John Baker at Helms Elementary School which also received an F noted that the rankings are based on the results of STAAR test scores from the 2013-2014 school year. “Since I became the principal at Helms in the summer of 2014, we have been working hard to ensure that we have an effective teacher in every classroom and supporting our teachers so that they can be the best they can possibly be,” he said. “I am confident that with the staffing changes for next year and our new Latin Art and Culture class that we will continue to make Helms an even better place for kids to learn and grow.” Not surprisingly, the principals of schools who ranked highly thought their scores were fair. Garden Oaks Montessori scored an A- for their elementary school and an A for the middle school, up from a Cin 2014. “We are delighted by the ratings and believe they are more

In MeMorIaM

Barbara Bircher

deal,’” said Eastman. “She’s going to make sure this school is moving in the right direction.” As for those schools who scored a B or above, Eastman gives credit where credit is due. “It’s an impressive achievement for schools to move successfully from the TAKS to the STARR,” she said. “Hamilton [Middle School] has kind of flown under the radar but it’s a great school. And Field Elementary is a hidden gem.” Eastman said that while rankings can reveal certain things, they don’t give us the whole picture. “They give us tools to help us ask the right questions, but it’s not the end all be all,” she said. One person who is used to getting lots of questions this time of year is Children at Risk CEO, Dr. Bob Sanborn, who created the annual survey. Sanborn agrees with Sugarek in that a key indicator of

For an in-depth response from Angela Sugarek, Durham Elementary Principal, find her op-ed on P.8A

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Numbers from P. 1A on “the difference between its actual score and the expected score.” The growth index is designed to capture improvement over time in standardized test scores and is “composed of gain scores in math and reading, which measure student-level perfromance relative to a student’s test-score peers,” according to the methodology. These peers are all of the students across the entire state who took the same subject-matter test last year and posted the same score at the same grade level. As an example, the organization says the peer group for a 6th grade math student scoring 20 on the 5th grade math test is “everyone who also scored a 20 on the 5th grade math test, statewide.” For high schools, a College Readiness Index is also used, which includes graduation rates, the participation rates for SAT/ACT and AP/IB exams, average SAT and ACT scores and the percent of examinees above AP/IB criterion scores. The organization also explains in its methodology report that the 2015 rankings are not directly comparable to previous years’ results as the organization “continually improves the methodology in determining and calculating school rankings and grades.” Letter grades are subsequently assigned to schools based on their Composite Index. Campuses at or above the 75th percentile, indicating they rank better than at least 75 percent of schools at that grade level, received an A. Those at the 55th percentile and below the 75th received a B. Campuses at or above the 35th percentile but below the 55th received a C and those at or above the 15th percentile but below the 35th received a D. Those below the 15th percentile received an F.

accurate reflections of the efforts of the teachers, students and parents at Garden Oaks Montessori,” said Principal Lindsey Pollock. “Overall I believe that the school rankings are a good tool to use in determining the academic progress of a school,” said Field’s John Hendrickson, whose school scored an A- for the second year running. Why rankings matter HISD Trustee Anna Eastman whose district includes most Leader area schools echoes the sentiment that stability and leadership makes a big difference in a school’s success. “There was tumultuous principal turnover at Durham,” said Eastman, “and also turnover at Scarborough and Helms. When these schools have time to stabilize, they’ll be in a better place for improvement.” Eastman said she’ll never forget the night Sugarek met the Durham community. “I thought ‘she is the real

713-861-5596 • www.saecheights.org

arbara L. Bircher, 79, of Spring, Texas, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2015. She was born in New Orleans, LA. on August 10, 1935 to Ledoux and Opal Loisel. She earned an Associates Degree in Graphic Design and was an extremely talented artist and craftsmen. Barbara married Walter Bircher on February 12, 1955. They moved to Houston in July 1955 and started their married life together. Barbara was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. At different times in her life, Barbara served as a volunteer at the Northwest YMCA, HISD and Memorial Northwest Hospital. Barbara loved to read, travel, work crossword puzzles, garden and go to the movies. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family and friends. Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Wally Bircher; her children, Cary and wife Bridget, Tim and wife Pat, Paul and wife Judy, Beth, and Evan; granddaughters, Kim Moon and husband Brian, and Noelie Bircher; great grandsons, Thomas and Timothy Moon; sister, Gail Kemmerly; along with numerous other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death b y her sister, Arnell Eiswirth and granddaughter, Kelly Bircher. Barbara will be dearly missed and will forever be in our hearts. A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at 10 am, Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Pat H. Foley & Company Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice.

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New Heights art exhibit captures nature through wolf sculptures

Saturday, May 2, 2015 • Page 3A

Free Family Event Hot Dogs & Moonwalk Sat May 2nd 11:00 - 3:00 Evergreen Insurance 3501 Ella 713-686-2700

true to a wild spirit. The sculptures themselves have wire or tree limb skeletons. Gardner then covers the skeletal structure in paper mache, carefully building the sinew and action of their legs and heads. Then she paints them, “and they really come to life,” Gardner said. Because the wolf pack is lightweight, they are simple to move from place to place. Gardner has found that by placing the sculptures in unexpected, urban setting, the animated wild canines take even the most jaded of us on a journey back to our primal selves. “I believe that growing up in a city setting causes many of us to lose our sense of wonder,” said Garner. “We are all caught in our concrete environments. By placing the wolves in urban settings, we’ve found that they cause people to slow down, to look up from their technology; to even reconnect with one another. It’s a beautiful thing to see.” Gardner earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at Stephen F. Austin State University and her Master of Fine Arts at Houston Baptist University. During her time at HBU, she developed a love for the wolf. At the same time the artist noticed how disconnected the city is was from the nature that she loves. Today, Gardner continues her journey with her wolves while she teaches sculpture to graduate students at HBU.

By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader Two weeks ago, Gallery M Squared on 19th St. in Houston’s Heights opened a unusual art exhibition that is a must-see for anyone who holds nature dear. Heights resident and artist Rachel Schwind Gardner launched her “Rewilding” exhibit in the gallery, which will hang until May 24, and includes many of the artist’s remarkable, life-sized sculptures of wolves. The wild canines in this art show are wolf pups, sleeping wolves, hunters, and howlers. Each has a personality of its own, but all share a common thread: each offers a glimpse into the mystery of the wilderness. “Rewilding deals with both the ecological and psychological re-engagement with the natural world,” said Gardner. “The exhibition allows for ‘non-human’ animals to be reintroduced to their natural lands in order to restore a balance in our ecosystems and, ultimately, our human hearts. Rewilding calls for the coexistence of the natural world and our modern world.” Make no mistake, Gardner’s Rewilding wolf pack is not an attempt to imitate nature. These wolves are not in the same vein as that painting of an eagle hanging over your grandfather’s sofa. These wolves are realistic, but they are also vibrant, visceral and full of imagination. They are true to form, while also

Mixteco Ballet presents Mixteco BalletFolklórico Folklórico presents

Family Day and “Día del Niño” Celebrating Cinco de Mayo Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 1 pm Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo at The Northwest Mall with a Family Day and “Día del Niño” celebration.

May 2nd, 2015, 1 to 5 pm Northwest Mall Food Court 9500 Hempstead Hwy. Hou. TX. 77092

Northwest Mall to host “Cinco de Mayo” and “Day of the Children” holiday events Northwest Mall will host an event to commemorate Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Children, sponsored by Mixteco Ballet Folklorico on Saturday, May 2nd, from 1 to 5 p.m. Experience live stage performances by the national and international acclaimed Mixteco Ballet Folklorico dancers and K2karate throughout the afternoon. Visit vendor booth areas and enjoy fun kids’ activities. There will be lots of great entertainment and exciting giveaways. Mixteco Ballet Folklorico is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, preservation and education of Mexican customs, traditions and culture through the art of music and dance. Founded in 1992 by Jose Sada, the goal of

this dynamic group of dancers is to provide Houston area youth with cultural activities that are rewarding to them and increase artistic awareness in the community as well. Jose, along with co-director, Rosalia Chapa, emphasize strong mental and physical discipline while adding their unique style of choreography to the traditional folkloric dances. Since its formation, Mixteco has had overwhelming success throughout Texas and Mexico by performing at various events and dance competitions, including the Houston International Festival, the Downtown Aquarium and the television show, Great Day Houston. Mixteco has also represented Houston in various competitive dance events in and around the Houston area as well as throughout

the United States and abroad. Mixteco Ballet Folklorico proudly brought home First Place in the International Folklorico Dance Competition held in New York City in 2006 and 2007. Internationally, Mixteco has travelled to Macedonia in 2012 and to the People’s Republic of China in December 2013. Mixteco was recently named Grand Champion and won various awards at this year’s International Folklorico Competition held in Corpus Christi, Texas. For more information about Mixteco Ballet Folklorico, contact Jose Sada at 281-772-1373 or visit www.mixtecobf.net. Visit the Northwest Mall website at www.northwestmall.com. Northwest Mall is located at Loop 610 and Highway 290.

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ho would have ever thunk it. Right here, on the outskirts of the Heights – known for its eats, arts and bungalows – terrorists from ISIS are opening a training center under the auspices of education. Sounds like a bad joke from a bad writer, huh? Not if you read the comments from a rather controversial story we published a few weeks ago. In case you haven’t heard, HISD has announced the opening of an Arabic Language Immersion Magnet School, designed to teach children the fifth most-spoken language in the world. Just for fun, nibble on a few of these comments from our readers: “We are witnessing the continued assault against American Nationalism in our country amid a raging fire and smoke background,” wrote one person, quite poetically, I might add. “How dare they try to come over and attempt [to] infiltrate our society with their beliefs!” wrote another. “Why not just pack the kids up and send them off to ISIS training camps?” questioned yet another. Before we go any further, let me make something very clear. There is absolutely nothing flippant about the acts of terror being committed in the name of Islam today. Seeing Christians and reporters

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

and aid workers marched along blood-stained beaches, beheaded before cameras and the rest of the world, beckons our nation to stand stronger than ever against warped allegiances to a perverted translation of religion. My stomach turns at these continued murders, and the facts are quite clear that nearly all of these acts are carried out in the name of Islam. But as the attacks against HISD’s new school continue, I have to ask a very simple question: How many of these crimes have been committed in the name of Arabic? Is there a difference in being a Muslim and being someone who speaks Arabic? I’m no linguist, and I have neither the time nor desire to write a thesis on the roots of the Arabic language being formed on some of the tenets of Islam (because that appears to be the case). For that matter, I’d rather not discuss that the basis of Arabic can be found in Aramaic, which is the language

Jesus spoke. Instead, I’d like to talk person-to-person, not conspiratorto-conspirator. Here’s a little history. My grandmother, great aunts and great uncles are descendants of Lebanon. As a child, I spent one weekend in June, every year, eating kibbeh, tabbouleh and baklava. The tabbouleh and baklava became staples of our home – the kibbeh (raw hamburger), not so much. Heck, I’d spread a smattering of hummus on a car bumper and probably eat it if I were hungry enough. What obviously bothers me now is that, by eating this Lebanese food, in a country where they speak Arabic, am I at risk for becoming a terrorist? Did I ingest something that will trigger hate? My wife and I have a dear friend whose grandparents live in Lebanon. What concerns me is they travel over to the Middle East every couple of years to visit grandma and the cousins. It’s also frightening that they’ve managed to learn some of the language (Arabic) over there. Who knows? Maybe they’re not even visiting family. Maybe they’re undercover ISIS – you know, because they speak some of the language. Ludicrous, you say? No way. I’m not stopping there. I know some people who are trying to learn to speak Spanish. At

one point, I even thought it would be a great idea for my son (who still can’t speak English) to learn some Spanish while he’s still young. Then I got to thinking. They have cartels in Mexico and if my son learns Spanish, he may join the cartel. Here’s another concern. My wife, at one point in her life, was fluent in French. She spent a semester in Paris and even lived in French Polynesia for a bit. In hindsight, I probably never should have married her, given that all the French are snobs and I never really wanted to marry a snob. Let’s remove the frivolity now. The conversation opponents are having about HISD’s decision to open an Arabic Language Immersion school are grounded in a fear that makes absolutely no sense. Sure, there may be connections between the language and religion, just as there are ties between English and Christianity, but all the people who speak English are not Christians, just as all the people who speak Arabic are not violent Muslims. In essence, opponents of this school are making that old argument that we should blame the pencil for misspelling a word; we should blame the gun for shooting an innocent victim. The reality, which is where this conversation should head – and

fast – is that our city and our nation have become leaders in a whole lot of countries. Yes, some of those countries and their religions are a threat to the American way of life, but we are not isolationists. Never have been; never will be. My wife (who I’m thankful married me) is like a lot of people in our city whose job is dependent on the energy business. If she ever had the opportunity to work in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, it would be wonderful for her career. The young people who will attend this school may, one day, have the same opportunity. Maybe they could work in Morocco or Oman or Algeria or Jordan. Maybe they could help rebuild Iraq. Maybe they could work in the booming financial center of Bahrain. Maybe they could serve the U.S. government as we try to stamp out the terrorist threat to our nation. And yes, maybe they’d even learn how to speak like a terrorist and become one. HISD is to be commended for their plan to launch an innovative school. Any person who opposes this plan is living in fear, and that’s more un-American than learning to speak Arabic.

Pro sports teams subtract, The reader.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

Residents living near the former Pinemont Park & Ride breathed a sigh of relief at Thursday’s METRO Board Meeting after officials voted unanimously to sell the property to Harris County instead of the Houston Housing Authority. (Photo by Jonathan Garris)

not add to local economy Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s senior vice president of events, recently visited NRG Stadium, aka Son of the Astrodome, and pronounced the stadium up to speed to host the 2017 Super Bowl. Oh, except for minor improvements like upgrading the stadium’s WiFi, and renovating the club seating and the executive suites. It shouldn’t cost more than $50 to $70 million. O’Reilly said the costs of upgrading the facility rest with Harris County or its tenants: the Texans and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, which have absolutely no plans to pick up the tab. That leaves – one guess -- the taxpayers. Hear me out. The stadium is 13 years old, and certainly needs a rehab. It is far older and more run-down than our schools, hospitals and potholes. Besides, the Super Bowl will make us a pile of money. The 2004 Super Bowl brought $350 million to the Houston area. New Orleans claims its Super Bowl had a $480 million economic impact in 2013. The Houston Super Bowl Host Committee predicts the 2017 game will provide a $500 million boost to the economy. However, according to the committee, the game and lead-up events will cost between $30 million and $70 million. That’s apparently in addition to the millions spent on the stadium. Let’s parse these figures. “Economic impact,” “brought to the area” and maybe “trickle down” are NOT the same as bringing that much cash to town. It is voo-doo economics designed by those who will end up in the executive suites. Follow the money: A fan pays $100 for a meal while visiting Houston. The waiter gets 20 percent (the visitor is a big tipper) and spends his $20 on gas. The gas station owner gets a share which he spends on carrots. The restauranteur spends her $80 on food, utilities, pest control and protection from Vito the Enforcer. By the time that $100 for groceries, gas and toothpaste are counted, the “economic impact” is $54 million. Pay no attention to such inflated figures. Yes, supporters say that the Super Bowl generates “free advertising” for the host city. The entire planet will be focusing on Houston as it extolls its parks and museums, the Ship Channel and the spot where Gilley’s once stood. Quick question: Where was last year’s Super Bowl held? You’re right. Miami. No, it was Seattle. No, Indianapolis. Did those TV shots of the Hoosier capital’s skyline make you want to move your regional office from Akron to Indianapolis? No? Then what, exactly, did that city receive from hosting the world’s most-hyped event? A lot of bills, that’s what. Indianapolis had expected to spend $450,000 more on the game than it made in revenue, mostly for public safety. The city eventually revealed that figure was closer to $1.3 million. The emperor isn’t wearing a jersey. Incidentally, notice how companies using the Super Bowl to sell TV sets and Fritos always refer to the event as “the Big Game.” Most companies are not allowed to use the phrases “Super Bowl” or “Super Sunday,” both of which have been copyrighted. Also, the NFL, whose Commissioner Roger Goodell was paid more than $44 million last year, has nonprofit tax-exempt status. At least we get to see a great football game in person. Uh, sorry. Fans in the host city receive few tickets to the game. Some tickets go to each

Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

Lynn Ashby Columnist

participating team to sell. The rest go to corporations, sponsors, potential sponsors and, of course, to the Budweiser Clydesdales. The Super Bowl is an orgy for the 1 percenters. When Houston last hosted the Super Bowl in 2004, Hobby Airport was so overrun with private jets that it caused concern for safety. Today that multi-million dollar spectacle is mostly remembered for Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction.” The Super Bowl is not the only 400pound linebacker in the room. The finances of pro sports have reached an arms race among cities. So let us look at pro sports without the cheerleaders, not on the sidelines, but on local TV and radio sports programs plus newspaper columnists. Pro sports teams do not add to, but subtract from, the local economy. According to a Brookings study, sports facilities now typically cost the host city more than $10 million a year. Oriole Park at Camden Yards costs Maryland residents $14 million a year. The net cost to local government for refurbishing the Oakland Coliseum for the Raiders was about $70 million. As for construction, promoters are always low-balling the costs. Taxpayers in the U.S. spent about $10 billion more on stadiums and arenas for professional sports teams than the boosters forecast, according to a book by Harvard University urban planning professor Judith Grant Long. This brings up the matter of just how important a pro sports franchise is to a city. It was said that Houston needed to land an NFL franchise in order to be “a world class city.” That makes sense. The franchise put us up there with New York, Los Angeles and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Oh, I forgot, Los Angeles lost not one but two NFL teams years ago, and seems to be doing just fine. One study determined that an NFL franchise employs as many full-time workers as a large Wal-Mart store. Meanwhile, cities like Houston and Dallas support scores of pro athletes, who collectively are raking in hundreds of millions of dollars from local fans. Where do the jocks spend that money? Check the schedule. During the playing season, the athletes are in town for half the time. Off season, most reside elsewhere. The dollars paid by Texas fans are sent to California or Florida or wherever the players live. That giant sucking sound (thank you, Ross Perot) is money being taken out of town. So enjoy the Big Game from your den, and when the camera pans the stadium, look for Peter O’Reilly. He’ll be in one of those executive suites – and check out the new carpets.

Citizens pleased with Metro’s decision to sell property to Harris County Dear Editor: I think the neighborhoods near the Pinemont Park & Ride facility will be pleased to learn that Commissioners Court today voted unanimously to approve purchase of the property by Harris County, and will now proceed with closing of the sale with Metro and development of plans for use of the property as a county facility. As Harris County’s representative on Metro’s board of directors, it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet and work with members of the community and to help come up with a plan that serves the combined best interests of the nearby neighborhoods, Metro, and the County. Jim Robinson Dear Editor: Thank you Metro Board for doing the right thing with the sale of the Pinemont Park and Ride. So glad that you listened to the will of the people/taxpayers. It renews our trust in the elected officials. Would be nice if the City of Houston/Harris County would help/encourage/force landlords of other nearby poorly maintained apartment complexes on Pinemont moving toward Antoine to be cleaned up for the benefit of those apartment tenants. Would be nice not only for the community but to reflect a nicer image of Houston for those moving here from other parts of the country. Concerned Citizen Dear Editor: I want to thank METRO for listening to the people of this community and for looking at all of the facts before making their decision. In the past, METRO has often been accused of not listening to communities’ concerns when moving forward with their plans. In this case, METRO did listen to neighborhoods in considering all bids of what

would be the best use of the property for the entire community. I also commend METRO in their decision to change their policy on how the public will be informed about real estate transactions in the future is a positive move in the right direction in regards to transparency. Thank you for your true leadership in this process! Sandra

Stop using arrogance to solve a tenuous concern Dear Editor: Thank you for writing this article…what you wrote completely hits the mark. We are not elitists in these communities. And our message truly is that it would not matter who wanted to build such a large complex, the simple matter is that bringing that many additional people to the area would not be of benefit to the area. What I also find interesting is that Mr. Gilliam was quoted in an article by Dug Begley in the Houston Chronicle as saying “”The unfortunate thing here is Metro’s process didn’t allow us to do our jobs,” said Lance Gilliam, chairman of the housing authority. “We were never able to communicate with residents who we are and what we were going to build.” Mr. Gilliam and the other HHA board members were invited to attend our Town Hall meeting on April 16th to talk about the plans for that piece of property. He chose, however, to sit in the audience and listen instead. That forum, with over 400 residents in attendance, would have been a perfect place for him to explain what their organization is and what they planned. Sandra

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 • Page 5A

Tips for dining out on Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and this special holiday serves to honor all those women who devote so much time and effort to their families. While gifts and other trinkets are certainly part of the celebration, a vast majority of children opt to treat Mom to a night out on the town come Mother’s Day. Not only does this give mom a night off from cooking, but also it presents an opportunity to get dressed up and spend time together as a family. * Book early ... very early. To guarantee a reservation at any

restaurant, namely your favorite restaurant, you will need to make a reservation well in advance of Mother’s Day. * Expect to wait. Even with a reservation, you’re bound to spend some time waiting at the restaurant. Other families may be lingering at their tables, as no one wants to rush Mom out of the door. Plan accordingly for a potentially long wait time. This means having a snack before you leave. * Consider dining out a day before or after. Restaurants are generally packed on Mother’s

Day, and as a result kitchen and wait staffs might be overtaxed. If you want a more relaxed setting and the ability to order whatever you desire, it may be a better idea to celebrate Mother’s Day in advance. Then have Mom enjoy a relaxing day at home on her special day. * Take-out is an option. Families can treat Mom to a dinner out, without really having to go out. Many restaurants offer takeout service, so you will not be limited to pizza or Chinese. * Expect an included gratuity. Restaurants often include a

Oak Forest Elementary School

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Page 6A • Saturday, May 2, 2015

Let us know your favorites 2015

Fill out the form below indicating your favorite businesses per category. Mail them to P.O. Box 924487 Houston, Texas 77292 or drop them off at 3500 A East T.C. Jester. You can also email them to vote@theleadernews.com or use our online form found at www.theleadernews.com. But don’t delay, votes must be received by Friday, May 29 by 5 p.m. Winners will be announced in our June 27 issue.

Animals & Pet Services Best Day Care/Boarding or Sitter Service_ __________________ Best Grooming________________________________________ Best Veterinarian______________________________________

Automotive Services/Products Best Auto Repair_______________________________________ Best Car Wash/Detailing_________________________________ Best Auto Dealer_______________________________________

Beauty Best Day Spa__________________________________________ Best Hair Salon________________________________________ Best Tanning Salon_____________________________________ Best Manicure/Pedicure_________________________________ Best Stylist____________________________________________

Drinking Establishments Best Bar______________________________________________ Best Coffee Shop_ _____________________________________ Best Happy Hour_ _____________________________________ Best Wine Bar_ ________________________________________ Best Sports Bar________________________________________

Education Best Nursery/Day Care__________________________________ Best Learning Center_ __________________________________ Best Private/Parochial School_ ___________________________ Best Public School_ ____________________________________ Best Community College________________________________

Entertainment & Fine Art Best Family Entertainment Center_________________________ Best Community Theater/ Performing Arts Venue__________________________________ Best Live Music Venue_ _________________________________ Best Local Museum_ ___________________________________ Best Art Gallery________________________________________

Food & Restaurants Best BBQ Restaurant____________________________________ Best Breakfast Spot_____________________________________ Best Caterer_ _________________________________________ Best Asian Restaurant___________________________________ Best Date Place________________________________________ Best Hamburger Restaurant______________________________ Best Hot Wings________________________________________ Best Ice Cream_ _______________________________________ Best Italian_ __________________________________________ Best Lunch Spot_______________________________________ Best Mexican__________________________________________ Best Pizzeria_ _________________________________________ Best Sandwich Shop____________________________________ Best Seafood__________________________________________ Best Specialty Food Store________________________________ Best Steak House_ _____________________________________ Best Sushi____________________________________________ Best Service___________________________________________ Best Takeout__________________________________________ Best Place to Host a Party________________________________

General Shopping Best Bookstore________________________________________ Best Bridal Store_______________________________________ Best Children’s Clothing Store____________________________ Best Antique Store_____________________________________ Best Local Furniture Store_ ______________________________ Best Gift Shop_________________________________________

Best Grocery Store_ ____________________________________ Best Health Food Store__________________________________ Best Jewelry Store_ ____________________________________ Best Liquor Store_ _____________________________________ Best Mattress Store_____________________________________ Best Men’s Clothing Store_ ______________________________ Best Musical Instrument Store____________________________ Best Resale Shop/Consignment___________________________ Best Toy Store_________________________________________ Best Women’s Clothing Store_____________________________

Health Best Physician_________________________________________ Best Assisted Living Home_______________________________ Best Chiropractor______________________________________ Best Cosmetic Surgeon_ ________________________________ Best Dentist__________________________________________ Best Dermatologist_____________________________________ Best Eye Care Provider__________________________________ Best Hospital__________________________________________ Best Massage Therapist_ ________________________________ Best Women’s Health Provider____________________________ Best Pediatrician_______________________________________ Best Urgent Care_______________________________________ Best Wellness Center_ __________________________________ Best Weight Loss Facility_ _______________________________

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Best Professional Services Best Custom Home Builder_ _____________________________ Best Attorney_ ________________________________________ Best Bank/Credit Union_ ________________________________ Best Dry Cleaners______________________________________ Best Insurance Agent___________________________________ Best Developer________________________________________ Best Cleaning Service___________________________________ Best Mortgage Company________________________________ Best Real Estate Agent__________________________________ Best Real Estate Company_______________________________ Best Florist_ __________________________________________ Best Funeral Home_____________________________________ Best Photographer_____________________________________ Best Financial Advisor_ _________________________________ Best Computer Service__________________________________ Best Travel Agent_ _____________________________________ Best Security__________________________________________

Sports & Fitness Best Dance Studio_ ____________________________________ Best Golf Course_______________________________________ Best Park_____________________________________________ Best Sporting Goods Store_______________________________ Best Workout Facility/Gym_______________________________ Best Yoga/Zumba/Aerobics______________________________

Community Church/Minister_______________________________________ Local Politican _ _______________________________________

Saturday, May 2, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 7A

The calendar. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Shops at Oak Forest Summer Block Party Local businesses are welcome to participate in the second annual Shops at Oak Forest Summer Block Party, which will be held Saturday, June 6 from 2-6 p.m. at 43rd/Ella. Contact Elyssa Horvath, event coordinator, by May 1, for information on sponsorships which range from $50 to $500. Information: elyssa@core-landing.com, 832-771-8030. LEGIONNAIRES BARBECUE American Legion Post 560 Come by for a great meal at the American Legion Post 560, 3720 Alba. Barbecue dinners will be served May 2, from noon until sold out. Information: 713-6829287, www.americanlegionpost560.org. 2015 COMMUNITY FIELD DAY The Oaks Business Association The Oaks Business Association is sponsoring a Community Field Day, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 2, at Oak Forest Park. There will be games, a DJ, two bouncy houses, face painting, dunking booth, rock wall, bull riding, vendor booths, and food trucks. Vendor booths and sponsorships are

available. Information: 281-3002581, 281-723-5707. COMMUNITY DANCE SPJST Lodge 88 The SPJST Lodge 88, 1435 Beall St., will host The Moonglow Orchestra, Big Band music, from 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. May 2. The cost is $15 per person. There will be a dress code. Reservations are suggested, but not required. Reservations held only 30 minutes past start of dance. Information: 713-869-5767, lodge88.org. MERCY KILLERS - THE PLAY Health Care for All Texas What might a man do if his cancer-stricken wife has her health insurance revoked and they become trapped in the labyrinth of the health-care system? Written and performed by Michael Milligan. The performance will be 2 p.m. May 3, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1900 Bering Dr. Pay what you can. Information: http://mercykillerstheplay. com/performance-schedule/ AARP MONTHLY MEETING AARP Chapter 1265 The monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., May 4, in the community room at 1520 Candle-

From the Pews.

Spring Bazaar at St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd., will hold their Spring Bazaar from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2. The bazaar will feature close to 50 area artisans, crafters and specialty vendors. Admission is free. The event will take place rain or shine. For information, call 713861-5596 or visit www.saecheights.org. Upcoming May activities at St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family Movie Night will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, in the fellowship hall. Bring pillows and blankets. Popcorn and lemonade will be provided.

The annual Bill Hardwick Memorial Cinco de Mayo Golf Tournament will be held May 2, at Pine Crest Golf Club, 3080 Gessner. Registration forms are available at www. stsumc.org and through the church office. All profits will benefit the ministries at St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UMC. Boy Scout Troop 604 will hold a garage sale May 2, at the Scout House, located at W. 43rd and Donna Bell, to raise funds for summer camp. St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s United Methodist Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or visit www.stsumc.org. Concert honoring Eli Lopez at All Saints All Saints Catholic Church,

The Obituaries. Louis C. Christensen, 71,

born Nov. 12, 1943 in Lakewood, Ohio, died April 14. He worked with model trains both at Northwest Mall and at Zube Park. Christensen is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sharon; children Marilyn Christensen, Sheril Sheppard and Scott Christensen, and three grandchildren.

Cheryl â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheriâ&#x20AC;? Anne Cochran, 59, born June 26,

1955 in Cambridge, Mass., died April 16. Cochran graduated from Scarborough High School in 1973. She was employed at LD Systems. Cochran is survived by her husband Chester, brother Rick Black, and sister Andrea Black.

Marguerite Holloway Fleming, 79, born Jan. 10, 1936, died April 17.

Leslie Clinton Gau, 94,

born Jan. 4, 1921 in La Grange, Texas, died April 14, at Brookdale The Heights. At age 21, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served in World War II. He was a longtime member of St. Stephens United Methodist Church. Gau is survived by his children Gerald, Deborah, Kenneth, and Donald, and six grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Bill Hardwick Memorial golf tournament at St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s United Methodist Church.

Miles Edward Laha, 56,

died April 3. He is preceded in death by parents Elaine and Carter Laha, longtime residents of Oak Forest. He is survived by wife, Lisa Laha, brothers Ron Laha, Lynn Laha and wife Trish.

Printis Monroe McGee,

57, born Oct. 19, 1957, died April

light Dr. The special guest is The Sunshine Band. The meeting is open to anyone 50 or older, and will be preceded by a meet-andgreet at 9:30 a.m. There will be no meetings for June through August. Next meeting will be Sept. 14. Information: 713-681-1133.

door prizes. Call to reserve a spot as seating is limited. Information: 713-869-6261.

COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT White Oak Conference Center Please join Councilmember Brenda Stardig and the District A community for movie night on May 8. Madagascar will play on the big screen at the White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a mobile petting zoo, a food market, face painting, and games. Bring blankets and/or lawn chairs. Information: 832-393-3010.

FOOD, WINE AND FUNDRAISING: A NIGHT OUT IN BROOKE SMITH Enjoy a casual outdoor evening at a local establishment, Lemond Catering, 612 Archer St. 77009, to benefit new landmark signs for the neighborhood. The event will be from 6:30-10 p.m. May 16. Tickets are available for $50 and include lite bites, two adult beverages, keepsake wine glass, participation in silent auction, and opportunity to sample brews from Town in City Brewery. Guests must be 21 and older. Information: 361-319-9712, angelica@montiebeach.org.

HIGH TEA Pat H. Foley Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day is a time to celebrate and honor the most important person in our lives. It can also be a sad time when that person is no longer here. Pat H. Foley, 1200 W. 34th St., will be holding a High Tea honoring mothers living and past at 1 p.m. May 9. Bring your mother if she is here, or bring her photo. There will be food, entertainment and

CENTENARIANS HONORED Christ the King Catholic Church Christ the King Catholic Church, 4419 N. Main St., will honor all centenarians in the area, from 3-4 p.m. May 26. A representative of Ellen Cohenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, Janae Williams Winfield, senior director of constituent services and community affairs, will give out certificates. All nonagenarians (people in their nineties) are also welcome. The event will have a

215 E. 10th St., is holding a concert at 4 p.m. May 3, featuring the combined All Saints English and Spanish choirs. The concert will be given in honor of Eli Lopez for his years of service and for his ordination to the priesthood being held in June. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Email mary.gahr@allsaints. us.com for information. Third Age Learning Center closes semester Third Age Learning Center, located on the campus of All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St., will hold its semester closing/fiesta luncheon fundraiser at 10 a.m. May 8, in the parish hall. There will be refreshments, student performances, dancing, singing,

music, and door prizes. Lunch will be $5 per person. Tickets are now on sale at the TALC lunch desk. For information or lunch reservations, call 713-2481277. Rhythms of Grace at St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd., will feature Rhythms of Grace Houston Heights, a worship experience for people with special needs and their families. This monthly alternative service welcomes all faith traditions, ages and abilities. The service is held every Sunday at 2 p.m. in the parish hall.

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Pastor Don Joseph Member of MANNA Visit us on FaceBook www.oakscchouston.org

1624 W 34th â&#x20AC;˘ 713-686-7689 www.gospeltruthchurch.org

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Sunday 10:30 am Worship and The Word Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church Wednesday 7:30 pm Life Equip classes for all ages

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

LEGALLINE: FREE LEGAL ADVICE Houston Bar Association The Houston Bar Association offers free legal advice over the phone through LegalLine from 5-9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of every month. Consejos Legales for Spanish speakers is the first Thursday of every month from 6-8 p.m. Information: 713759-1133, www.hba.org.

RENOVATION TOURS Pat H. Foley & Company Stop by for a special guided tour as renovations begin and meet the staff. There will be refreshments. Tours will be at 3 p.m. every Friday. Pat H. Foley & Company is located at 1200 W. 34th St. Information: 713-8696261, www.pathfoleyfuneraldirectors.com.

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19, following a brief illness. He was employed as an accountant. McGee is survived by his husband Tim, their son Gregory, sister Lynette Lindsey, brothers John and Bruce McGee.

Gospel Truth Church

Reverend Noelie Day

Ongoing

(Between Ella & T.C. Jester)

(Disciples of Christ)

Ministering to the Oak Forest Community since 1948

OAK FOREST RUNNING CLUB Oak Forest Chill This free social running club, part of the Oak Forest Homeowners Association, meets at 3542 Oak Forest Drive at 6 p.m. each Tuesday. Brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizzeria provided post-run food. Information: 281-685-9929.

Aztec Storages

Oaks Christian ChurCh

Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. Nursery Provided

BOWLING FUNDRAISER MANNA MANNA (Ministry Assistance of the Near Northwest Alliance), is having a bowling fundraising event from 7-11 p.m., May 30, at Delmar Lanes, 3020 Mangum Road. Bowling teams are needed to sign up and all sizes of sponsorship are available. There will also be a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased online. Sign up no later than May 16. Information: 713-504-5486, http://sparesometimeformanna.eventbrite. com/

West 34th St.

ChurCh Oaks Presbyterian Church

THE OAKS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETING St. James Lutheran Church The Oaks Business Association meets every odd month on the third Wednesday, at 7 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, 1602 W. 43rd St. Social networking events are the second Wednesday of the even months. David Lorms is president. Information: 713-6888669, DavidL2490@aol.com.

patriotic theme and is open to all in the community. Call 713-869-1449 for information.

GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN CHURCH 4040 Watonga â&#x20AC;˘ 713-688-5227 Reverend John Cain, Pastor Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Sunday School & Bible Classes 9:15 a.m. Preschool Program â&#x20AC;˘ Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org

Member of MANNA

hy do we laugh? To say that we laugh because we find something funny begs the question why we find things funny. We may laugh for a variety of reasons, and not always because something is funny, since we laugh sometimes when we are nervous or in other situations where we are essentially â&#x20AC;&#x153;breaking the ice.â&#x20AC;? Plato and Aristotle thought that we laughed because we felt superior in some way to the object of our laughter, whereas Kant thought that we laughed when something seemed incongruous. A good joke, according to Kant, raises certain expectations and then dashes those expectations at the punch line. Modern theories of humor tend to side more with Kant, some of them speculating that when social norms are violated in a way that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overly threatening we find it funny. And indeed, most jokes break some rules of propriety and if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find that violation too offensive, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely to laugh. We are wise to think carefully before telling a joke, making sure it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make someone in the audience the object of ridicule. In any case, we ought not to take ourselves too seriously, and should take every opportunity to laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.â&#x20AC;? Proverbs 17:22

You are cordially invited to the church that can guide you in what you must do to be saved.

it is the norhill Church of Christ.

Hear The Gospel - Mark 16:15; Roman 10: 14-17 Believe The Gospel - John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6 Repent - Luke 17:3-5; Acts 17:30 Confess - Mathew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10 Be Baptized - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col 2:11-13 Live Faithfully Till Death - John 8:31; Revelation 2:10; Hebrew 10:23 The Norhill Church of Christ is a non-denominational church located in the near north side of Houston in the inner loop 77009 area. It has operated as a church of Christ since 1927, it is located at 634 West Cottage on the corner of West Cottage and Reagan streets. The Norhill Church of Christ teaches only the Bible, without reference to any man-originated creed. Bible study services for all ages are held at 9:30am Sunday mornings. Sunday morning Worship begins at 10:15am. Sunday evening worship is at 6:00pm Wednesday evening worship and Bible study is held at 7:30pm. Norhill welcomes everyone to attend worship or Bible study to learn more about the truth of the Bible.

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A House of Hope and Prayer in the Heart of Houston Rev. Elizabeth Grasham

1700 West 43 rd at Rosslyn 713-682-4942

Pastor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dr. Richard Walters

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Page 8A • Saturday, May 2, 2015

Easing pet owner’s jitters over joint pain

Dear Tabby, I’m noticing that my older dog is struggling to jump up on the bed, seems to moan a bit when she lays down and is just generally a bit more wobbly on her feet. I fear that her joints are hurting her and that arthritis is setting in. What can I do to help her? Afraid of arthritis in Cottage Grove Dear Afraid, It’s very common for older dogs to experience joint pain and arthritis as they age--much like humans. As dogs get older, the cartilage surfaces of their joints begin to thin and cartilage cells die. When the cells

die, they release enzymes that cause inflammation of the joints and the release of excessive joint fluid. This can cause extra bony growths to develop. With severe cartilage thinning, the normal joint space narrows and the bone beneath the cartilage deteriorates. All of these processes set into motion further changes in the normal functioning of the dog’s joint and an ongoing spiral of pain, lameness, limb disuse/inactivity and muscle atrophy sets in. So, what can you do to make your older pet more comfortable as these normal joint changes begin to happen? First up, make sure she has a comfortable place to sleep. Vets recommend that you provide well-padded bedding away from cold or damp drafts. Carpeted or padded steps or a ramp to get on and off the bed or couch are advised. Non-skid flooring wherever surfaces are slippery also helps your old gal to maneuver around your house.

Durham Elementary principal responds to Children at Risk ranks Every year, Children at Risk releases their rankings of schools across Texas. This is not an event that generally means much to me, despite my position as a principal in Houston ISD, but this year has been different. This year matters to me because Children at Risk rated my school as an “F.” This is despite the fact that ninety-eight percent of parents at my school who completed the HISD Your Voice survey in Spring of 2014 indicated that they were satisAngela Sugarek fied or very satisfied with their child’s education. The “F” did not take in account that when I took this school in late July of 2013, I was the fourth principal in as many years. Nor did this “F” take into account the twenty point gain we have seen so far this year on the 2015 STAAR results. Instead, Children at Risk used a somewhat complicated regression analysis methodology to rank and grade schools using 2014 State Assessment of Academic (STAAR) scores and some demographic data, limited only to students in grades three through five. In an effort to understand their methodology, I decided to look at the ten top and the ten bottom elementary schools in Houston ISD. Given that the greatest risk for children is growing up in poverty, it made sense to compare the percentage of students who are considered economically disadvantaged at each of the twenty schools. My hope was that Children at Risk had devised a methodology to identify schools who are doing a great job of educating large percentages of students who live in poverty. What I found was that all of the schools at the top of the list serve relatively low percentages of students in poverty, while students who attended the bottom ten schools were nearly all live in poverty. There had to be more to the story then poverty, so I decided to look at another data point. Since the other source of data used by Children at Risk was standardized tests (STAAR Reading and Math), it seemed logical to look at the percentage of students who were considered Gifted and Talented (GT) at each campus. Being GT does not guarantee that a student will score well on the STAAR, but it does mean that the student scored well on a normed intelligence test AND on a national percentile ranking assessment like Stanford or Iowa. You can make your own assumptions, but this data should help:

Simple massage can help keep your pet comfortable. While there are licensed pet massage therapists who can certainly help, reading up on pet massage can help you to offer her very valuable joint and muscle relief, which can help stimulate blood flow to atrophying muscles. Massaging your pet also provides a bonding opportunity when you take a few minutes out of your day to focus on your pup and give her a special petting session. While vets don’t yet know whether beginning nutritional supplements at a young age benefits every dog, many pet owners swear by them. Countless joint supplements are available to promote healthy cartilage and joint health. This is a decision best made with your veterinarian, taking into consideration factors such as diet and genetics. The anti-inflammatory effects of omega3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA) have also been documented to be of help in dogs with arthritis.

Maintaining mobility through reasonable exercise is important regardless of a dog’s age and the extent of her arthritis. Just like humans, if a dog leads a sedentary life-

style, health problems are sure to ensue. Simply walking your dog as often as possible can help keep her joints in tip-top shape, affording you both the health benefits of an active

Meet Bella. This 1½ year old Chihuahua was a proud mommy to two puppies when she was lucky enough to be rescued off the streets. Bella is a little shy, but once she warms up to you, she’s loving and loyal. Her manners are impeccable and she gets along with other dogs and cats. Bella’s babies have been adopted and now it’s Bella’s turn at a lifetime of warm laps, treats and belly rubs. To learn more, go to: www. forgottendogs.org.

WHITENING SENSITIVITY! HELP!

Emerging antibiotic resistant germs are a real concern to the human and animal healthcare communities. Yes, we will need better drugs in the future, but at the front line of this never-ending battle, we primarily need responsible people so germ mutations never start. The overuse of antibiotics is dictated by doctors but driven by everyday people. Doctors prescribe unnecessary amounts due to lifestyles that could be improved upon for the beneﬁt of all.

Preventative Medicine helps to Prevent antibiotic overuse, this Prevents drug resistant germs.

Obviously, proper shelter, water, nutrition, hygiene, cleaning, and waste management are key to germ control. Fewer antibiotics are used if good practices are in place. As for Veterinary Preventative Medicine, we can prevent antibiotic overuse by promoting: 1. Proper Vaccine programs 2. Internal Parasite Control Programs - Heartworms/worms 3. External Parasite Control Programs - Fleas/Ticks & others 4. Dental Care Programs - Both professional and HomeCare These programs would significantly reduce respiratory, intestinal, skin, periodontal, and many other preventable infections veterinarians must treat everyday with antibiotics. If we are responsibly concerned about antibiotic resistance, then we will take proactive measures to best prevent parasites and disease in the ﬁrst place.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of antibiotics overused.

Always call your Vet if you have any concerns or questions

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Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com

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lifestyle.

Chase Baker, D.D.S.

fraid to whiten your teeth because of sensitive teeth? One of the side effects of whitening can be increased sensitivity to temperature extremes in your food. This is caused by the whitening gel cleaning out the teeth’s enamel tubules which creates a more direct path to trigger a reaction from the tooth’s nerve. Fortunately this is a transient side effect, and can be improved or lessened by a few little tricks before starting your whitening process. Using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and an at-home fluoride treatment for several days before and after whitening can improve any symptoms. A desensitizing gel can be provided by your dentist as well, which will help diminish the possibility of side effects. Taking an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen prior to whitening will provide the teeth relief before any sensitivity starts. Lastly, using a soft bristled toothbrush will protect the enamel from unnecessary wear which can create problems. As always, let your dentist know if you have any concerns regarding any treatment. Oftentimes, a few simple tips ahead of time can improve your overall experience and allow you to have the white teeth that you deserve.

(713)-937-7274

Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health. From the ofﬁce of: Chase Baker, D.D.S., 3515 Ella Blvd., 713-682-4406.

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The stated aim of the rankings according to Children at Risk is to “not only provide a tool for parents and students, but also to provide information to campuses and districts on how they perform relative to their peers, comparing them against successful models of high-performing public schools.” This is a lofty goal that unfortunately, does not seem to play out in their results. What their methodology produced is a list of schools loosely grouped (with a few outliers) according to the inverse relationship of the percentage of students who are poor to students who are gifted. Telling us that the affluent, gifted kids go to the best schools is not news and does not help parents pick the best school for their child. On a personal note, I know the leaders who serve these twenty schools, and every one of them is a dedicated professional who lives the motto that being a principal is not a job, it is a lifestyle choice. They work tirelessly to ensure that the students they serve have every chance at success. They give up weekends and evenings with their own families to hold parent forums and community meetings at their schools. Their schools, just like mine, cannot be reduced to a single letter grade based on extremely limited data points. I encourage school leaders, teachers, parents and students to join me in sharing via social media the things that make your school more than a letter grade using #More2TheStory.

PCP s • s P e C i a l i s t s MaMMograMs • ColonosCoPies P h y s i C a l t h e r a P y • er s h e a rt & s t r o k e s C r e e n i n g s

memorialhermann.org

Sincerely, Angela Sugarek Principal of Durham Elementary

L O C AT E D AT 61 0 A N D E L L A B LV D

Food, drink & Art Saturday, May 2, 2015 • Page 9A

Thi

rst y E x pl o

Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Start making plans for your Cinco de Mayo festivities Cinco de Mayo – or the fifth of May – commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over France during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862. The victory has been celebrated over the years, but is generally a low-key holiday in Mexico. The United States Cinco de Mayo, on the other hand …has turned into a party, celebrating Mexican culture and heritage. Generally, festivities which include parades, music performances, street festivals and food and drink are at the forefront of the celebration. Can you say ‘Margarita?’ This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday and a few of our area restaurants and bars will be offering a variety of festivities for you to take part in. Here are just a few to consider.

Saturday, May 2

Second Annual Cinco de Mayo Street Festival 419 Travis Street 77002 El Big Bad might be out of the neighborhood, but the street festival will be one not to miss and will even have entertainment for the kiddos, too. The event will be prepartying for Cinco de Mayo and will take place at noon on Saturday, May 2. Live performances will take place on the Dos XX stage – lineup still to be announced. Hot ticket items include liquid nitrogen frozen margaritas and crawfish starting at noon. Face painters will be on-site for the little ones and drink and food specials galore will keep the fiesta going. Check out their Facebook page for the entertainment lineup and to find out more about VIP opportunities www.facebook.com/events/648712325263372/.

Sunday, May 3

Cinco de Mayo at Miller 6000 Hermann Park Dr. 77030 If you’re looking for live music, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo starts early at Miller with a concert featuring the Grammy Award winning group Los Lobos. The group is well known for their Latin soul grooves, roots rock, Mexican folk, traditional Spanish, blues, and R&B. They released their debut album, ‘Just Another Band from East L.A.’

Art Valet

Since then, they’ve repeatedly proved that they aren’t “just another” anything — they are, in fact, a band that has consistently evolved artistically while never losing sight of their roots. This event is free, but ticketed for covered seating. Free tickets can be obtained at the Miller box office, four per person and must be over the age of 16 to grab tickets. Find out the full band lineup at www.facebook.com/events/369708906556223/.

Tuesday, May 5

Beer Market Co. 920 Studemont St. Suite 900 77007 Beer Market Co. is delivering the cerveza. Drink specials will include $3 Mexican beers, $4 Craft Chili Devil Beer Micheladas and $5 Patron & Margaritas. Beer Market Co. has a large beer selection lined up, including: - Bohemia, Chili Devil, Corona, Cave Creek Chili Beer, Dos Equis, Mexicali, Pacifico, Modelo Especial, Tecate and Cerveza Dia De Los Muertos. The Creek Group All of the Creeks will be offering “Bebidas Buratas” or cheap drink specials. Drink specials will include beer, cocktails and assorted frozen drinks. A few menu items will also be catered for Cinco De Mayo at Canyon Creek. The Creek Group includes: Canyon Creek, 6603 Westcott St. 77007; Cedar Creek, 1034 W 20th St. 77008; Dry Creek, 544 Yale St. 77007; Onion Creek, 3106 White Oak Dr. 77007. The El Superior Cantina Superior 602 Studewood 77007 The party is coming to White Oak and The El is pairing up with Karbach, Pura Vida Tequila and Houston Press for Cinco de May Street Taco and Tequila Fest. The parking lot of the The El parking lot will transform into a fiesta, full of Karbach beer, margaritas, special street tacos and live music from We Were Wolves, The Flamin’ Hellcats, dUNETX and Catch Fever! The event will kick off at 3 p.m. and go on until 10. Find the bands on Facebook and give them a preview to plan out your Cinco de Mayo itinerary.

Have a tip for Thirsty Explorer? Email Christina@theleadernews. com and follow on Twitter @ThirstyExplorer

Leader Nibbles

Take advantage of Cinco de Mayo specials Drink specials are a given for Cinco de Mayo, but the food is what keeps the party going. Here are just a few area restaurants that will have specials for Cinco de Mayo. Check page 5A for select coupons.

Tia Maria’s 4618 Dacoma 77092 Tia Maria’s will offer a free dinner with purchase of one additional dinner. Dine in only.

Cristobal Mexican Grill

920 Studemont St. Suite 900, 77007

11031 Northwest Fwy 290 77092

If there are two of you going to dinner, Cristobal has a buy one, get one 50% off deal. Don Jose

5305 Antoine Dr. 77091

If fajitas are what you’re craving, Don Jose has a fajita special for two for $14.95.

Beer Market Co.

Cerveza isn’t the only thing on special at Beer Market Co. The kitchen will also have $2 tacos to soak up all of your celebration drinks. Have a tip for Nibbles? Email christina@theleadernews.com

wE’rE opEn for

Mother’s Day Make your reservations for Mother’s Day. Open from 11am-9pm Piano playng throughout the day. à La Carte menu availabe.

2120 Ella Boulevard • (713) 869-6622

www.Cavatores.com

By Mitch Cohen

Arts Columnist

Abstract pieces available at Public House As my deadline for this week’s column approaches, my eyelids keep getting heavier and heavier. Time for a reboot! Actually, this just reminds me that summer is around the corner as the spring art shows slow down. Looking back

Photos of artwork by Nicole Gavin Featured art entitled ‘Bruce Li’ Now available at Public House Heights

I have had a busy schedule, not anything back breaking; just nonstop. After the Sunday Streets event on 19th St. the other day, I managed to rush over to my octogenarian friend Carolyn Bertrand’s art show with four fellow artists, just in time to catch the final big sale of the day. Ms. Bertrand seemed very pleased with the outcome and last minute visit by her “colleagues.” Ms. Bertrand is a good reminder to not waste time with the little things. Get busy! On that note, I’d like to tell you about a few things that I am personally up to. First up is my show, First Saturday Arts Market. This Saturday is our last show with normal hours 11 a.m - 6 p.m. until September. Per normal, we’ll reopen in June at 6 in the evening to beat the heat. The night shows are always my favorite. July, however, falls on Independence Day and I don’t know anyone that can compete with the The Mayor’s Official July 4th Celebration - 2015 Freedom Over Texas. We don’t like to upset anyone, so we’ll be open July 4 morning from 9 a.m. ‘til the egg fries on the sidewalk. (That would be about 1 o’clock.) Then everyone is free to join the other 50,000 Houstonians at Eleanor Tinsley Park on Buffalo Bayou for the Mayor’s event. Aug. 1, also happens to be White Linen Night in the Heights, the annual event that showcases the Heights to the rest of Houston like no other event. Stay tuned, announcements will be made after Memorial Day. Last November I wrote about artist Nicole Gavin, who was being featured as part of Artcrawl Houston. A Heights resident, Gavin is a

prolific painter whose use of bright colors and bold brush strokes gives her art an almost popish quality given her choice of subjects. Nudes, celebrities and a mix of cultural taboos. That’s what makes it fun and stands out in the crowded art market-place. I have the pleasure to work with Gavin and have her as the featured artist at Public House Heights at 2802 White Oak Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77007. Two other Heights area artists, Alexis Andre and Bryan Magnon also have work on display. Andre, I’ve known since my first days of volunteering with the Houston Heights Association and have done several shows with her. Andre is one of the few artists that can make abstracts work. Her work may have brief, one worded titles, but add a few simple brush strokes, or a mess of color and you have a great piece; like one piece at Public House titled “Air Bag.” Not much guessing for that one. Magnon, I considered to be a coffee acquaintance and one day he showed me his artwork while we were visiting at Antidote. Rustic was the word that sticks to this day. I use a lot of recycled materials and found objects, yet Magnon’s work is ironically the realism that pulls all three artists’ works together. By the way, if you haven’t been, you must check out Antidote Coffee at 729 Studewood. One of my favorite hangouts in the Heights. A reception date has not been confirmed as of this writing, but you can follow my website for details. A side note, The Leader is kind enough to ar-

Share a moment with Mom! Treat her to Brunch @ Harold’s Mother’s Day Brunch

Sunday, May 10th 10am-4pm a la carte or 3 course prixe ﬁx

appetizers

Baby Bibb Salad, Harvest Green Salad, Big Nasty Biscuits, Crab Cakes, New Orleans Style Beignets

entrees

Big Damn Breakfast, Harold’s Double Cheeseburger, Eggs Benedict, Lost Bread, Sweet Potato Waffles & Duck Conﬁt, Gulf Seafood Po’Boy

3 course prixe ﬁx

Jambalaya Boudin Balls Gulf Fish in White Wine & Butter NOLA Bread Pudding $27 per person Featured art entitled ‘Retro-Reaction.’

chive all of my columns. Visit us on the website for more from me! Art Valet is listed under the Lifestyle section. www.theleadernews.com First Saturday Arts Market is located between our host, Gen’s Antiques and YogaOne Studios at 540 West 19th Street. Cohen is the founder and manager of First Saturday Arts Market. Contact him at ArtValet@ gmail.com or visit him on the web atArtValet.com.

350 W 19th St., Houston, TX 77008 713.360.6204 | Haroldsheights.com

Page 10A â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, May 2, 2015

Documentary from P. 1A REMI Award. Both films are part of an ongoing series called the Birth of Texas which chronicles the state from Spanish Texas until statehood, Vance said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re currently about half-way through it,â&#x20AC;? Vance said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be a series of eight feature-length documentaries and we put out Spanish Texas two years ago.â&#x20AC;? Vance said the San Felipe chapter covers topics like Stephen F. Austin and his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to set up colonies in Texas and which settlers arrived in the state during colonization. Washington-on-the-Brazos covers the â&#x20AC;&#x153;whyâ&#x20AC;? of the Texas Revolution and delves into its many facets. The awards are significant not only for Vance but for the

festival itself â&#x20AC;&#x201C; over 4,300 films were entered into the film festival this year and only eight REMIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s were awarded in the History & Archeology Film category. Houston Arts and Media was the only winner in that category from Texas, Vance said. Vance said he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;elatedâ&#x20AC;? when he found out HAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s films had won and said the entire process has been a labor of love. Years ago, while working for the now defunct Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 55 television station, he first pitched the idea of doing a history show which lasted several years. After the station went away Vance, who already had the non-profit HAM in place and was an established production partner, broke off on his own and began the documentary series. Vance had many reasons

for turning so much of his focus to history. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand anything about our past itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to understand who we are as Houstonians and Texans,â&#x20AC;? Vance said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another one of the things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m convinced of is all of those people who say they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like history have never had a good history teacher. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the story of human beings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best novel ever written â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t improve on all of the twists and turns in our history.â&#x20AC;? Vance said the next film in the series would be released on July 23 and will be about San Antonio and the Alamo. For more information about the upcoming Birth of Texas films and how to support the project, visit www.houstonartsandmedia.org.

informed of similar sales. Kirk Waldron, Vice President of the Forest West Community Improvement Association, praised METRO officials for their actions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Board and the Real Estate Committee has gone out of its way to do the right thing,â&#x20AC;? Waldron said. METRO Chairman Gilbert Garcia said Harris County could close on the property in 30 days, which was a shorter time period than what HHA could offer. Both organizations were offering the roughly $3 million appraised value and the measure would likely go before Harris County Commissioners next month. Garcia also took the time to dispel some â&#x20AC;&#x153;mythsâ&#x20AC;? about the sale of the Park & Ride. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had a priority to work with other agencies, and who best than an agency that contributes funds from their hard-earned tax dollars into the METRO service area â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is the county,â&#x20AC;? Garcia said. He cited the transit services provided by Harris County as fitting in with the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to support such services. Garcia also had positive words for the HHA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have been nothing but honorable and for those who have said otherwise itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not correct,â&#x20AC;? Garcia said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked with the HHA on other transactions and they have been nothing but forthright and willing partners.â&#x20AC;?

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Pinemont from P. 1A According to officials, such a planned â&#x20AC;&#x153;multi-service centerâ&#x20AC;? could take a variety of forms and it is too early to say if the facility would offer more public spaces rather than private. Part of the reason the use of the land is wide open is many Harris County facilities have been aging, and there is a desire to construct new facilities rather than put money into existing, aging ones. The decision is an aboutface from METROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous plans to sell the property to the HHA, which had threatened to utilize eminent domain to acquire the former Park & Ride if the property was listed on the open market. Residents living in areas like Forest West, Pinemont Park and other surrounding communities quickly mobilized and voiced a number of concerns with the potential housing complex including impacts on property values, crime and traffic. METRO officials said the subsequent public outcry caused them to reconsider the sale to HHA and Real Estate Committee Co-chair Diane Lewter said, in the future, surplus properties would feature signage displaying information about potential sales and contact information for surrounding neighbors to stay

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Within 2 months, I hit my goal weight. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still losing weight while gaining strength and getting toned. I am down 27lbs and have my Ć&#x201A; IWTG HTQO [GCTU CIQ BACK!!! Honestly, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know it was possible but here I am! ~ Connie Parker

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