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Saturday, August 13, 2016 • Vol. 62 • No. 33
About Us 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.
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Heights Opera’s last note? Without injection of funding, Oh! will not be able to start a new season
By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader For 20 years, Opera in the Heights, (also known as Oh!) has been offering high-quality operatic performances, fostering emerging young artists, working with our children in local schools, and making residents of the Heights proud. Now, this treasured member of the community is at dire risk of going dark. Due to a downturn in Houston’s economy, a few of the theater’s corporate funding associates have withdrawn their help. Similarly, a previously granting foundation, suddenly changed its mission.
Opera of the Heights has hit a financial crunch that could stop production for its fall season. The group has until next week to raise the money needed to continue. At left, Julia Engel plays Lucy The Telephone.
These two facts have launched Oh! into a need for immediate help. “We have until Aug. 19 to raise $26,000 or we can’t start the new season,” stated Oh! Executive
(Deji Osinulu Photography)
See Opera P. 9A
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special report: BACK TO SCHOOL
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Heights PO buyers heed community outcry By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
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INSIDE.
Harvard Elementary students win prestigious Ellen O’Neal Art Scholarship
Read about it • 6B
What about math? As parents get ready to take their children back to school, our publisher discovers the one thing more important than any subject
Read about it • 7A
FOR SALE. OAK FOREST: 3-1 with a large den. Appliances furnished. $1,695. 713-503-0282. (TF) FOUND CHIHUAHUA: Antoine/Afton Village. Call to identify. 713-688-6104. I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE. References. Betty, 713-699-1077. FREE PICKUP/DELIVERY: Clothes don’t fit? Alterations. Charlotte, 713-694-0003. GARAGE SALE: Saturday, Aug. 13, 1618 Candlelight Lane. Futon, clothes, shoes. Your back to school sale. Miscellaneous.
Find it on 7B
Because of torrential rains in early summer, construction at Waltrip High School is behind schedule and won’t be complete by the time students report for school. Earlier this week, crews were hard at work, and HISD has brought in extra crews to work weekends in anticipation of the first day of school. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
Rain slows high school work; GOM good to go By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com With the start of school approaching – and construction still very much underway on the $30.1 million bond projects at Waltrip High School – the clock is ticking for HISD. “Significant rains in the past several months have been a challenge for the Waltrip project,” said Sylvia Wood, general manager of bond communications at HISD. “However the contractor has brought on an extra crew and the team is working weekends to ensure the building will be ready to
The INDEX. Church....................................................... 8A Classifieds.............................................. 7B Coupons. ................................................. 6B Food/Drink/Art................................... 9B Obituaries.............................................. 6B Opinion. ................................................... 7A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 7A Sports. ....................................................... 4B
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A city ordinance almost forced GOM to pave its Spark Park to provide more parking spaces.
welcome students on the first day of school.” Wood said that the new main entry
to the building will be open for use on the first day of school, but probably not before that. This means that Waltrip staff, students, and visitors will continue to be routed through the north end entrance until then, including for registration and for the Ram Rally on August 18. The new circle drive, parent dropoff, and front parking lot, along with the new band hall, 1st and 2nd story classrooms, and administration area will also be open for the start of school, but it is expected that crews See Bond P. 9A
More Back to School Inside Throughout the pages of today’s edition, we look at new faces, new places and pieces of advice as our young people head back for another year of school.
New Katherine Smith principal treating her teachers like royalty • Page 3A
Stevens adding an ‘A’ to its already rich STEM program • Page 5A
Clifton digging out some of the concrete for green space • Page 6A
Local doctors offer their tips for getting kids off to healthy start • Page 1B
When urban designer and Heights resident Kent Marsh recently wrote a letter to The Leader about the design that MFT Interests submitted to the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission for the former Heights post office on 11th Street, he took umbrage with the “suburban retail” aspects of the building – with parking in front of set-back buildings – and said it “indicated a complete disregard for the historic, moreurban, 2-story, brick commercial prototype similar to that located at the corner of 12th Street and Yale, across from the historic Heights Fire Station.” Now Glenn Clements with MFT Interests says that they have abandoned their previous design and layout According to Glenn for something Clements, MFT Intermore urban ests has scrapped their plans for a suburban feeling. for Heights Cen“Most peo- look tral Station and will ple didn’t real- create something more ize [the appli- urban feeling, includcation] wasn’t ing having minimal complete,” said setback from 11th Clements. “Af- Street and parking in ter feedback the back. from the neighborhood, we’ve flipped the site and put parking in the back. The plans are for minimal setback so pedestrians on 11th will be able to walk right up to the doors. The material of the building will most likely be red brick to fit in with other buildings in the area.” Clements said plans still call for a 1,200 square foot freestanding coffee shop on the southeast corner of the property. “We’ve had some interest from an indie coffee shop,” he said. The public hearing on the updated application will be at the end of the month. Clements also is developing the site of the former Texas Cafeteria, 2400 N Shepherd Dr., and said that after long permitting delays, they are 30 to 45 days out from finishing the shell of the new modern inspired structure. “Nobody has signed yet, but there’s been a lot of interest,” said Clements. “We’re still in a dry area so that’s a consideration for food service tenants. It’s a great location and near a stoplight. We say if we build a pretty building, they will come.”
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