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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, July 5, 2014 • Vol. 60 • No. 35
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Local servicemen reflect on importance of Fourth By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com
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Throughout The Leader area and the nation, the Fourth of July is special time for citizens and military personnel to reflect on what it means to be an American. Two active duties military members with connections to the area – St. Thomas High graduate Joseph Ruhnke, 31, and Lutheran High North alum Jack Mossbarger, 20 – took the time to share some of their thoughts. Ruhnke, a former Heights resident, is a U.S. Army cap-
tain stationed in Fort Dix, N.J. Ruhnke said he’ll probably spend the Fourth at a Veterans Dinner at a local Elk Lodge, followed by watching fireworks on the Army base. “It always means a lot,” said Ruhnke, a 2001 STH graduate. “July 4th and Memorial Day are two of the most substantial holidays we have as Americans. It’s a time to reflect on all of the great opportunities and privileges we have of living here. It makes you want to encourage your family and friends to step back and enjoy that moment,
instead of just enjoying it for being a day off.” Ruhnke joined the Army out of high school because he had a “desire to serve and do something with a great purpose.” Ruhnke served in Iraq when Operation Iraqi Freedom began more than a decade ago. “There was an element of danger, which is a little bit unnerving, but the guys in your unit all have each other’s backs,” Ruhnke said. See Servicemen, P. 4
Lutheran High North graduate Jack Mossbarger joined the US Coast Guard in 2012 and is currently stationed in Virginia. (Submitted photo)
Road To History
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Readers’ Choice Clarification In last week’s edition of The Leader, we published the winners of the Readers’ Choice awards, where you voted for the best businesses in the area. Each category was titled “Best” something, whether it was a hamburger or a hospital. If a business won first, second or third place, they were titled as being a winner in that “Best” category. In some of the advertisements that ran in The Leader last week, any business that won in any category had the name “Best” in their ads, and that caused confusion, mainly among those business owners. Businesses that won second place, for instance, didn’t feel right having the word “Best” in their advertisements. We know this sounds a bit confusing, but we apologize to the businesses who felt they shouldn’t have received such an honor. For a complete list, including who won first place in each category, visit www.theleadernews.com.
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Descendants of Olivewood volunteer Charles Cook said the non-profit organization is working with city officials and developers to find a solution for access into the 139-year-old cemetery. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)
Volunteers seek to expand access to Olivewood’s history michael@theleadernews.com
Olivewood Cemetery, a historic cemetery, sandwiched between Interstate 10 and Washington Avenue, isn’t the easiest place in the world to find. The seven-acre cemetery has a pair of relatively narrow access roads, Court and Wichmann, but widespread development in the area may jeopardize the use of those streets. Grocer Supply, located just south of the cemetery has sold its warehouse, and will be relocating next year, outside the city limits. State law ensures that there’s always an access road to a cemetery, but it doesn’t require a certain width of the road. The Descendants of Olivewood are an active volunteer group that work to beautify the historic African-American cemetery that is officially 139 years old. Prior to officially becoming a cemetery, the site is believed to be a place where slaves were buried before the Civil War. The Descendants volunteered because the final burials at the cemetery occurred in the 1960s, and there
weren’t many people left to take care of it. If Court and Wichmann are shortened or removed due to development, there would only be one narrow access street – Lathan – to the cemetery. Instead of challenging developers, the Descendants of Olivewood are looking to engage them for a solution that benefits everyone. In the past, the Descendants have collaborated with the city and developers. In fact, Kroger contributed $40,000 to the cemetery fence after building a location on Studemont. The Descendants would like to see Summer Street, from the east, get an extension from Studemont two years ago. The Descendants are working with Helen Huey, a former city council member who is a consultant to the developer, about the possibility of the Summer Street extension. The City of Houston’s Joint Referral Committee (JRC) must approve any street extension through Section 380 of the Texas Local Government Code, and it’s expected to make a decision soon. Roberto Medina, a senior staff
analyst with the city, said the JRC reviewed the request for the abandonment and sale of Court and Wichmann streets in exchange for the conveyance of an easement for and extension of Summer St. Medina said the applicant must issue an acceptance statement before the item reaches the city council agenda. If that happens, the city council is expected to have the item on its agenda by next month. Section 380 allows Texas cities to make loans or grants of city funds to developers and investors or providing city staff to “stimulate certain types of real estate projects that are deemed to be urgently needed or highly desired.” Upon completion, any street constructed falls under the care of the city. The Descendants will also look to speak to council member Ellen Cohen about the situation. Cohen’s office was recently made aware of the situation, but they look forward to a dialogue with the Descendants. Erosion and Erosion Control are issues that Olivewood faces, especially considering its close proximity to White Oak Bayou.
When it comes to citizens and the governments that represent them, there’s always room for better communication. That’s one of the main reasons why the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural “Gateway to Local Government” Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel. The keynote speaker will be Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who is expected to discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the Houston area. “This luncheon will give Chamber members and the community convenient access to city and county departments, with the opportunity to communicate in a comfortable, collegial atmosphere” Greater Heights Chamber president Terry Burge said. In addition there will be representatives from agencies such as the Port of Houston, Houston Independent School District and the Texas Department of Transportation, and they’ll answer any questions that attendees may have on a wide variety of subjects such as business opportunity, administration and regulatory affairs, planning and development, transportation and more. “One of the greatest challenges to See CHAMBER, P. 4
WHO’S ATTENDING: • Houston Mayor Annise Parker •City Department of Administration & Regulatory Affairs •City Office of Business Development •City Planning and Development Department (Director Walsh will be in attendance) •Harris County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff Garcia will be there himself ) •Harris County Judge Ed Emmett’s Office •Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner’s Office •Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) •City Department of Health and Human Services •Port of Houston Authority •Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management •City Department of Housing and Community Development •City Councilwoman Ellen Cohen will be in Attendance
Stevens Elementary ushers in new principal
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By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com
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Chamber looks to bring government, citizens together
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On one hand, new Stevens Elementary Principal Jennifer Barrientez is very analytical. She says that she believes in looking at data to drive the decision making process. That’s what she did when she was researching Stevens in Oak Forest, 1910 Lamonte, and going through the interview process with
HISD. Barrientez looked at Stevens’ test scores as well as where zoned students were currently attending school. “A lot were going to HISD magnet schools as well as charter schools,” she said. On the other hand, Barrientez is a people person who says that a top priority for her is “supporting the teachers who are on the front lines. I’m doing my
job when I’m giving them support.” Both facets of her personality will come into play in her new role as Stevens Principal. Barrientez also brings more than 10 years of experience in the field and has been through HISD’s leadership program. Previously she worked at Harmony Public Schools as the Elementary Mathematics Curriculum Direc-
tor where she guided the curriculum of 40 schools around the state of Texas. Harmony Public Schools are K-12 college preparatory charter schools “focusing on math, science, engineering, and computer technologies.” The Harmony website highlights their 100 percent college accepSee Barrientez, P. 4
Principal Jennifer Barrientez seeks to continue the growing standards at Stevens Elementary