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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, November 21, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 55

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HISD approves new attendence boundaries for area schools By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday, Nov. 12 to adjust neighborhood attendance boundaries at 10 elementary schools, including Highland Heights, Smith, Stevens, and Wainwright in The Leader area. According to HISD, the attendance boundary proposals were created in response to state law, which requires kindergarten through fourth grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a state waiver. Last year, the district had to submit about 1,500 class-size waiver requests. This year, working under a directive from the state,

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administrators have succeeded in reducing that number by roughly 40 percent. Gloria Salazar, who has been the principal at Katherine Smith since 2001, said she is “delighted” that she will finally have a solution to the overcrowding at her school which she says has been an issue for the past three years. Now, some Smith students will be shifted to Stevens, Highland Heights and Wainwright. As for the temporary buildings that helped with the overflow at Smith? “They are taking those away,” said Salazar. Also happy about the new zoning is Candlelight Estates resident Jennie Sciba, who was zoned for Katherine Smith but is now zoned for Stevens. Her daughter is 2 years See Zoning P. 8A

Photo by Betsy Denson Katherine Smith Elementary is one of several area schools affected by the adjusted attendance boundaries.

Attempted burglary sheds light on safety during the holidays

Living the...

By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader Many in The Leader’s readership already know that crime spikes in our area as the holidays approach. One resident in the Heights area knows it all-too-well after a recent brush with a criminal in her own home. The woman wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, however, the slight, 5-foot-2-inch woman recently chased a roughly 6-foot-2-inch would-be burglar from her garage with a broom. “I opened the garage door one morning, and backed out to load some items in the car,” the woman says. “Then I went back to the house to lock the door. The garage was open all of 30 seconds when he went inside.” The young woman grabbed a broomstick hanging in the garage and “released a shower of F-bombs on him,” she said. “I demanded that he get out, and I chased him with the broom,” she said. “You use what you have on hand. I

Eating green & saving green Figuring out what’s in season and what isn’t can be tricky - especially for all of our readers looking to entertain plenty of guests for the upcoming holidays. Turn to our special section this week for info on what’s hot and what’s not for the holidays.

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Photo by Betsy Denson Angel Viator Smith said that a sense of community is important at GeekLife. Customers are welcome to play their games in the store.

New Heights shop celebrates all things gaming By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Rally for a name Older alumni of Reagan High School are gearing up for a major rally next month in support of maintaining the high school’s current name. Find out about the local organization’s rally and some of the revisions to HISD’s facility naming policy.

Like many great laid plans, Mangum Manor residents Angel Viator Smith and her husband launched the idea for GeekLife - their retail store and game space at 728 W 20th St - on a road trip. “We were listening to a podcast about a game place, and said to each other ‘we really could do that’,” said Smith. They brainstormed for a while and then started doing booths at area game and comic conventions. After five years, they were ready for a brick and mortar store, which they found at the end of September in the Heights behind GeekLife features a variety of Euro-style games as well as Star Hugs & Donuts. merchandise. Smith and her husband can’t wait for the “We have really good neighbors,” Smith said of Insomnia Wars movie. and Hugs & Donuts. They’ve given us a lot of insight into And not games like Monopoly or Battleship, but those the area.” Smith left her full-time job in accounting at Rice Universi- that are strategic and cooperative – sometimes referred to ty to focus on GeekLife. Her husband Koree helps out quite as German style or Euro-style games. As an example take one of their newest and most popua bit when he can and there are also two other employees. lar, Mysterium, in which one player is a ghost and the others “We want to focus on communal activity,” said Smith who said that while the retail store offers other merchandise like are mediums who must try to solve a murder. Another pecomic books which they will special order for customers, See Geek P. 3A the focus is on games.

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Memorial Hermann Greater Heights will be celebrating its new name by giving back to local families with a Fall Family Fun Day this Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., families will be able to enjoy a variety of activities, food and refreshments at the hospital’s main campus, located at 1635 North Loop W. Families can take part in traditional tailgate games and giveaways, watch some college football on outdoor TVs and even visit with LifeFlight crew members. Free parking is available for the event and children can have fun in a pumpkin patch and hay maze, while parents can check out local art and enjoy great food from neighborhood restaurants and potentially take home a new pet from an adoption service. To register for the event, call 713222-CARE (2273).

Budget constraints may limit maintenance of Timbergrove Manor FEMA lots By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

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Timbergrove Manor residents were looking for assistance, and a few answers, with the area’s empty lots which were bought out by the Harris County Flood Control District and the Federal Emergency Management Agency over 10 years ago. With some lots becoming overgrown and lacking maintenance, last week’s civic club meeting was a chance to address the issue. HCFCD staff representatives Gary Bezemek and Erin Going gave a presentation not only outlining the scope of HCFCD’s responsibilities and the basis behind its flood plains maps but also spoke about the somewhat tricky situation behind the use of the empty FEMA lots along streets like Woodbrook Lane, Shelterwood Drive, Hurst Street and Queenswood Lane.

“We spend millions of dollars mowing and doing basic landscaping for our bayous and other properties. We don’t have the resources to come in and mow during the summer months every week or every other week.” HCFD Representative Gary Bezemek on the challenges of providing upkeep to empty lots. Tropical Storm Allison in June 2001 damaged a number of the residences in the neighborhood. As part of the Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Program headed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, homeowners were approached by the HCFCD and offered a buy out where purchased homes were destroyed and the lots remained empty. Currently, there are 18 total lots owned by the HCFCD in Timbergrove Manor, Going said, but some aren’t happy about the overgrowth along areas like Shelterwood Drive, where brush and other plants have

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grown out and over sidewalks. When one resident voiced their concern, Bezemek and Going explained that, while issues dealing with visibility or safety will be dealt with once assessed by property management, they are still limited by time and money. “Our buyout lots are mowed eight times a year,” Going said. “Depending on the amount of rain and weather forecasts, typically eight times a year is reasonable, but there have been times where we start early or do one extra month if we find the weather will produce a lot of grass growth.” Bezemek said three cycles of maintenance are completed on HCFD-owned properties throughout Harris County. “That’s strictly because of budgetary constraints,” Bezemek said. “We spend millions of dollars mowSee Lots P. 5A

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Police Reports • Nov. 9 - Nov. 14 Burglary 2:39 AM 600-699 W 8TH Theft 4 AM 1600-1699 WILLOWBY Theft 10:52 AM 1300-1399 LAMONTE Theft 7:10 AM 1500-1599 W 24TH

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their, for lack of a better word, junk, from time to time.” Items and bags like these are often filled with animal feces, are too damaged to use, have clothes that have been soiled on or have furniture that is completely unusable. Dornak said volunteers can’t do anything with such items other than clean it up. “What we end up doing is hauling it off for the city to dump it,” Dornak said. Throwing items into their own dumpster carries a price tag each month, meaning that volunteers at the non-profit are essentially paying to dispose of someone else’s trash. “Last week, we had a couch with no cushions, a bag of clothes with rat droppings in

It’s the last thing that volunteers at the Ministry Assistance of the Near Northwest Alliance want to see at the start of a long day – bags and piles of damaged items with little to no resale or donation value that have been scattered around outside of the center’s resale store at 1806 W. 43rd Street. On Nov. 12, volunteers spent their morning cleaning up a considerable mess left overnight by people scavenging for anything they can sell. “It’s not the first time and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last time, either,” MANNA Executive Director Patricia Dornak said. “People drop off

them, a box with documents and papers in it and a chair that had tears in it,” Dornak said. “It took us pretty much all morning to clean up the mess and our staff is all volunteers and often elderly. Some are 80 to 90 years old.” Add to this, others may still come by and rummage through donations left when the center is closed, particularly if bags of clothes or furniture are dropped off and are in good condition. Dornak said it’s a challenge to keep less savory customers away from the resale store as, being classified as a business, they aren’t part of the S.E.A.L. Security Program, although Dornak said they are contemplating putting in hidden cameras.

Robbery 3:11 AM 2000-2099 YALE Robbery 12:43 PM 400-499 W 19TH Theft 12:20 PM 8100-8199 N MAIN Theft 3:42 PM 100-199 YALE Theft 5:10 AM 3600-3699 WILLIA Theft 7:40 AM 1300-1399 W 43RD Assault 10:40 AM 4000-4099 WATONGA Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

Still, such security measures cost money. “We’ve called the police before and they’ve said there’s nothing they can really do about it,” Dornak said. “We have signs up that say to avoid dropping off donations for non-store hours. If you’re dropping off a nice bag of clothes, just make sure you’re doing so when the store is open or others might take it or otherwise make a mess.”

Precinct One: Don’t be taken by thieves this holiday season their pockets. So please donate only to recognized, familiar charities. If a solicitor will not show you proper identification and provide details about the cause they are seeking money for, don’t give. If something seems odd to you, please contact law enforcement and let us investigate the suspicious activity. It’s important to remember, if you see something say something! And of course, have a safe and healthy holiday season!

By Constable Alan Rosen Harris County Precinct One The holiday shopping season is around the corner, and the rise of shopping on the internet has created a new set of public safety issues that I would like to bring to your attention. Often, packages containing goods that residents have ordered on-line are delivered to their doorsteps in the middle of the day when no one is home. And there the packages sit, in plain sight and unguarded, for hours or even days in instances. You guessed it. Some thieves specialize in plucking these packages off front steps and porches and calmly walking away. Sometimes they even drive large vehicles to pose as delivery personnel and other times they follow delivery trucks to your homes and wait to steal the packages after the delivery is made. How do we know? Because some crafty residents of neighborhoods like yours install home security cameras that capture images of the criminals. And these images often help law enforcement track down these thieves. If you own such a security system, I suggest you post signs letting literate criminals know they will be “caught on camera” if they try to take your property. Better yet, consider having packages delivered to locations where a trustworthy person can accept them: Your workplace if possible, or a relative’s home for instance. When you are home, please be aware that the bad guys sometimes take advantage of the holiday spirit by soliciting donations for “charitable organizations” that exist only in

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ebecca Joyce Cole came into the world on December 14, 1952. From that point on, her parents Gerald (Jerry) Cole and Joyce (Marek) Cole knew she was a strong willed, independent individual who had her own path from birth. Always called “Cookie”, it became her legal name in her teen years. Cookie deeply loved her family which included two brothers, Scott, Mark and a sister Sara. Cookie was athletic. She loved horseback riding, sports and the outdoors. She excelled at basketball and volleyball and played basketball at the college level. She graduated from El Campo High School in 1971 and went on to North Texas State and in 1975 graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. She lived her adult life in the Heights Neighborhood of Houston where she was involved in many grass roots revitalization projects. Cookie spent her professional career of more than 35 years in the insurance industry, last employed until her death with Knight Planning Corporation. Cookie also loved animals, especially Boston Terriers. Active in the Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston, Cookie was drawn to the rescue of senior and special needs Boston’s, evidenced by her frequent adoption of the aged and those with difficult health issues. Her love, patience and healing knowledge helped many of these needy loving animals thrive. She leaves behind her beloved Boston Terriers: Pete, Roy and Annie. Cookie was also a loyal, loving and steadfast friend. She loved to travel and visited Europe and Central America. She loved music, theater, vintage movies and all animals. Cookie is survived by her father, Jerry, a brother, Mark and sister Sara. She also leaves a host of close friends and extended family throughout the United States. All who knew Cookie realize she fought the aggressive and unique cancer with every bit of energy in her body. Cookie’s strong character, loving spirit, loyalty to relationships and love of animals will be missed but not forgotten. Cookie’s family wishes to thank the entire staff at MD Anderson, especially the Palliative Care Unit, for their efforts to help Cookie in her battling cancer. Many thanks to her devoted friends and neighbors who stood beside her during her illness. A celebration of Cookie’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston or the Houston SPCA. “Buon viaggio” Cookie, you will be missed by all.

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Reagan High School alumni to hold rally to preserve its current name By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Graduates of Reagan High School are hoping their continued opposition to the proposed name change at the school will catch the attention of the HISD Board of Trustees, despite the approval of a second reading of revisions to the facility naming policy during a meeting last month. Howard Moon, president of Reagan: Save the Name, said he is reaching out to alumni across the region for the group’s rally on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the SPJST Lodge at 1435 Beall St., as a form of protest against what members are calling a proposed bureaucratic action. The district has proposed renaming facilities named after figures of the Confederacy following national outcry in the wake of an alleged racially motivated mass shooting in South Carolina earlier this year. “Of course there will be some discussion about keeping the name but it’s also kind of a reunion for Reaganites to rally to save the name,” Moon said. “We’re hoping that some of the graduating classes will bring memorabilia from over the years and we plan on doing a bit of decorating as well.” Moon and others with the organization are hoping the potential turnout from high profile alumni will bring more attention to the side that opposes the potential change. “To change the name of the school is like taking our heritage away from us,” Moon said. “There’s a lot of history built up by the graduates of Reagan High School.” Moon believes that, should the name be changed, graduating seniors might not have the same access to scholarships as before and could potentially hurt the view of the district in the future. “We think if they change the name, so many of the alumni will be completely dissatis-

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FIle Photo by Jonathan Garris Alumni of Reagan High School are trying to pull out all the stops when it comes to rallying for the name of their high school which might change due to a policy revision by the HISD Board of Trustees.

fied that, in the event the next bond issue comes up, they may be voting against it and that will hurt the children,” Moon said. “Furthermore, we see no way that changing the name will affect history. It is what it is.” Moon praised the board as being “good, hardworking people,” but said they may be influenced by outside political pressure. Moon himself served on the board in the late 60s, and said he is surprised the board would take the position that would rile up the public the most. “It’s most important to me, in my opinion, that the school board maintain the confidence and the goodwill of the public in order to achieve many of their goals such as bond issues and others,” Moon said. “I just feel the board hasn’t thought the situation all the way through.” New revisions HISD made adjustments to the revised policies, which were approved by the board Oct. 15. Some of the additions to the revised policy included the text specifying that the “name of a school,

specific area of a school, or other District facility must respect cultural differences and values,” and that the board may initiate the process for a name change “through a resolution that deems renaming to be in the best interests of the district.” The board also revised language designed to reflect that a unanimous board vote is required when renaming a facility after a living person and that a simple majority vote is required for renaming a facility after a deceased person. The school naming committee would have members appointed by the superintendent or designee, and would consist of the chief school officer as a chairperson, the principal (if any), a student, a teacher, a local civic leader, an alumni representative and a parent. The chief school officer “may also solicit input from other constituents affected by the naming of the school. The board may also agree to name a facility for an individual, family, group, organization or business entity when a major capital donation of at least $7.5 million is made toward the construction, reno-

GeekLife is part of the National Netrunner circuit and will have a tournament for the cyberpunk collectible card game in mid-November. They are also members of the Wizards Play Network, which brings people together to play Magic: The Gathering, a card game that Smith said took the place of Pokémon in popularity. It’s not just young males who are finding GeekLife says Smith. “You expect the 18-34 males, but we’re getting high school kids and 40 to 50 year olds running games,”

she said. “They are outiside of your stereotypical demographic. We get a lot of women too.” She says she loves the reaction of customers when she unites them with that one perfect item or accessory. Since September, the store has been open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. but now they are adding Tuesday evenings. Smith notes that one Friday and Saturday, their closing time is undefined. “If people are playing, we’ll stay open until midnight,” she said.

trees and gifts should not be placed in front windows where all can see, and he recommended keeping shrubs and landscaping limited as both provide places for burglars to hide. The officer added that bright lighting at night serves as an excellent deterrent. “And if you don’t have an alarm system, get one. If you do have one, use it,” he said. As for the woman who chased off the would-be burglar, her garage remains a sore spot. The burglar she ran off with a broomstick and Fbombs last week was the second one with whom she has faced-off in her garage. The first was a carjacking attempt. “I drove my car into our garage one afternoon and a thief followed me in and tried to take my car,” she said. “I hit him hard with the car door, over and over again. I beat him up. Then I closed the automatic garage door to catch him. He rolled under the door at the last moment and got away.” As a veteran of crime in the Heights, what has this woman

learned? “My husband and I throw a block party twice a year now, so our neighbors can get to know one another and watch out for each other,” she said. “It’s a good line of defense. I have also learned not to take chances. I stay aware of my surroundings, and try not to let my guard down. Sometimes it’s inconvenient, but it is always intelligent.”

Safety from P. 1A think a lot of people would have screamed, but I was yelling – there is a difference.” The burglar stopped, then retreated empty-handed, but not without casing the contents of Curry’s garage first. The woman and her neighbors have dealt with holiday crime before. Three years ago, ten out of the 12 homes on her block suffered garage robberies. “Neighbors noticed something like a leaf blower missing here, or hand tools missing there, easily pawnable items,” she said. In one case, the thieves cleared out the entire contents of the garage.” The Leader contacted the Houston Police Department’s Public Information Office for tips on holiday home protection. “We do indeed see thefts going up as the holidays approach, but there are actions people can take to reduce the possibility,” HPD representative Kese Smith said. Smith says leaving a garage door open, even inches, is an invitation to thieves. The officer suggested that Christmas

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Geek from P. 1A rennial favorite according to Smith is Catan, a multiplayer board game that came out in 1995. Players are settlers, who try to build and develop holdings while marshalling resources. If you don’t know how to play a certain game, no worries. Smith knows 90 percent of them and the store offers demo nights which highlight specific games. Smith said that good games are those which are enjoyable, even when played multiple times. The games that come out with variations, tend to spike in popularity.

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What tells burglars your home is a target? -Very little activity in the home over an extended period of time -What appears to be very little in the way of home security systems -Easy to open doors and windows that are unlocked, or unsecured -Open garages during the day and night are an easy target for a burglar -Homes that are removed or obscured from street view -Multiple newspapers and a full mailbox visible to burglars Courtesy of Crime Stoppers of Houston

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vation or acquisition of the facility. A specific area or portion of the facility could also be renamed in such a way in the event of the donation of at least $1 million toward the facility. Acceptance of such funds and approval of the subsequent name would require a two-thirds majority vote and the funds would be reserved exclusively for the school.

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REAGAN: SAVE THE NAME ORGANIZATIONAL RALLY When: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 Time: 3 - 7 PM Where: SPJST LODGE, 1435 Beall St., Houston , Texas, 77008 Purpose: Protest of proposed bureaucratic action The Houston Independent School District (HISD) Board is currently in the process of establishing a committee structure for the purpose naming/renaming HISD facilities. According to some reports, removing the name of John H. Reagan from the traditionally assigned high school seems to be high on the Board’s agenda. No alternative name has thus far been published. An ad hoc committee has assembled to oppose this school renaming proposal. This committee has registered with the Harris County Clerk’s Office as “REAGAN: SAVE THE NAME”. To demonstrate the depth and strength of our opposition to this HISD Board proposal, a rally has been scheduled at the SPJST Lodge in the Heights on December 8th from 3 to 7 p.m.. Knowledgeable speakers will be there to inform us. Barbeque will be served for as long as it lasts and beverages are available for purchase. You are invited to wear your colors and letter sweaters (if they haven’t shrunk too much). Media has been notified and presence is assumed. To assist our attendance estimates, please RSVP your plans to attend to one of the following addresses: Jessie Hamlin: jessie_hamlin@netzero.net Sonia Price: SPrice9010@aol.com

We need volunteers to help the night of the rally. If you can help call Howard Moon. 713-686-7778 Remember, FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. Please mail your freewill donations in support of this effort to the following address. REAGAN: SAVE THE NAME P.O. Box 800149 Houston, Texas 77280

Howard Moon, President Allen Marcontell, Treasurer

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ccording to Amazon – you know, that jungle of a bookstore – there are precisely 71,069 books on parenting and parenting activities available for purchase. Do you have any idea what this means? Good, I’ll tell you. It means that if one parenting book were written every week all the way up to this very week of November 2015, the first book would have been penned in 648 A.D. And do you know what was happening in 648 A.D.? Good, me neither. I don’t even think they had spell-check back then. For those of you new to my column, I like to step away from writing boring, non-controversial opinions once every few months and tell you stories about my now 2-year-old son Hank. Actually, what I really tell you are stories about my futile attempt to be a parent, only because my psychologist would have me believe I am not alone in this battle – you know, if I actually went to a psychologist. (There are 206,743 books on psychology and counseling available on Amazon, which probably means none of us have any business raising children.) So while all you young, inexperienced parents out there are wasting

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

your vacation funds on self-help literature, I thought it might be nice if I threw a little free knowledge your way about the First Four Stages of Your Child’s Life – available on Amazon probably never. Stage 1 happens when you arrive home from the hospital. It is the porcelain doll that is scrubbed with Q-tips, eats directly from mom and is wrapped in a piece of cloth that you wash with a detergent only available at stores that have parking spaces for electric cars. In other words, this is the delicate stage and fathers are usually relegated to observatory status. A few months later, Stage 2 hits with a whimper. Mom still wraps the child in cellophane but, day by day, the child becomes more mobile in the sense that his body parts begin to move in electrocuted fashion.

For fathers, Stage 2 is much like Stage 1, mainly because your shiny, new son still can’t hit a 7-iron and you don’t know what to do with him otherwise. So you watch as the boy’s fingers begin to work, his legs start pushing across the floor, his crying decibels increase, solid foods are introduced and that precious, porcelain son of yours – in all his beauty – begins to fidget, feed and look you in the eyes to tell you he needs a new toy to chew. And so every time you walk through the grocery store, you buy a new toy, only to realize three months later that you were shopping on the Pet aisle. Stage 3 gets fun because two significant, though causal, things have happened. First, your child has learned to walk. Second, your home has been invaded by foreign objects. While you may not think those two phenomena are related, you would be greatly mistaken. Ever wonder why the accounting firm of Mattel, Hasbro & Lego rakes in revenues of $14.8 BILLION every single year? It’s because children learn how to walk. And when children learn how to walk, parents like Meghan and I fear that our son will sneak out of the doggy door one night with a note that said he took

The buck stops here when it comes to presidential campaigns THE TV – “…and, if elected, I shall balance the budget, make good things happen, cure cancer,… “ Gad, the presidential election is still almost a year away, and I’m already getting bored with it, which is not good for a patriotic American who -just like you -- wants to put a President in office who will see things my way and do what I wish. Now I must endure countless TV ads, debates and stupid, impossible promises from people who bash Washington, the federal government and those who make the machinery work - and can hardly wait to join them. Can these candidates even spell hypocrisy? But you and I can turn a healthy buck on this. As you know, every four years there is a lot of hand-wringing over how much money is raised and spent on the campaigns, and every candidate brags how his or her donations come from “the little people, grass roots Americans.” Yeah, if those grass roots are the Koch brothers’ putting green or George Soros’ polo field. Regardless of who gives, the amount increases. For the last presidential election in 2012 it was estimated, by someone with obviously too much time on his hands, that the Obama and Romney campaigns spent close to $1.12 billion -- not counting the millions more spent by the parties and outside PACs, which have a secret accounting system. But it’s getting worse. There have already been seven times more political ads for the 2016 presidential election than at this point in the 2012 election. When you toss in all federal races, not just the presidential campaigns, political TV ad spending will top $4.4 billion, up from $3.8 billion in 2012. Mere peanuts. Are you ready for this? The total number of dollars spent on the 2012 election exceeded the number of people on this planet. About $7 billion was spent by candidates, parties and outside groups on the 2012 election, according to a review of campaign finance reports by the Federal Election Commission. Seven billion dollars! This next time it will be even more. Some people are going to receive that money. Why not us? Most of these funds go to TV ads. That means the local stations get the money, and feed it back into the local economy. Uh, no it doesn’t work that way. Here in Texas, for example, virtually all, if not all, local TV stations are owned by outof-state (read: east coast and west coast) corporations. In Houston, for example, the major TV stations are owned by the Washington Post, Disney, TEGNA and Faux News (Rupert Murdoch). So much for the local angle. But millions more bucks are spent

Lynn Ashby Columnist

as the candidates’ tours, for hotel rooms, ballrooms, caterers, drivers, food tasters and bodyguards. So how can we grab our fair share of the loot? We can’t, unless we move to a so-called Battleground State, where the outcome of the election is in doubt. Texas is a red state, meaning the Republicans will win every election so, it is reasonably reasoned by both parties, that there is no point is spending a dime here. But they do come for money, and the Republicans hold all the cards -- and cash. Behind our backs, Texas is known as “the GOP’s ATM.” The only time any of that money came back to Texas was in 2008 when Hillary and Barack were both seeking the Democratic nomination for President. The Texas campaign was tough and mystifying to outsiders. It’s hard for missionaries to grasp the difficulties of running a state-wide campaign here. We are expensive. Texas is separated into 20 media markets, the most of any state. Former Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, who was state director for Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2008, told The New York Times, “It’s like running a national campaign. There are no similarities between Amarillo and Brownsville and Beaumont and Texarkana and El Paso and Austin and Houston and Dallas. These are very separate demographic groups with very diverse interests.” The primary election led to the Texas Two-Step with voting, caucuses, and late-night confusion. At least we didn’t hang anyone from Chad. OK, our path is clear. If we can’t move to a contested state, we have to make Texas a Battleground State for both the primaries and the general election. This will bring big bucks here and we can be first in line. For example, we’ve got to keep Bernie Sanders in the race. Yes, he looks like the poster child for AARP. He wants to take our money and give it to illegal aliens. Sanders has this quirky idea of making all public colleges and universities free. (He’s obviously never met the players in a Big 12 football game.) Hillary will be forced to spend some of her campaign funds here just to keep from being humiliated. The Dems also had Jim Webb and Lincoln Chaffe, but they’re gone. Over on the GOP side, keep those two-dozen nobodies thinking they have a

chance in Texas, so they’ll spend some bucks here. We create Poll Texas and send out press releases showing Lindsey Graham and Bobby Jindal are tied for first, with Mike Huckabee right behind. We send Rick Santorum photos of a mob holding up “Santorum Is Not a Loser” signs. Chris Christi gets drowned in emails from the God Loves Fat People Club of Austin (members 2 million) begging him to campaign in Texas. Dr. Ben Carson gets a petition – we’ll furnish the signatures -- from the staff at M.D. Anderson: “Come teach us how to cure cancer.” Here’s another angle: Rick Perry is no longer in the race, and any contributions you made to his presidential campaign are going to two high-priced lawyers in Houston. Sue to get some of it back. Finally, don’t print any bumper stickers for Trump in Spanish. OK, there you have it. Just remember, I get a 10 percent finder’s fee. Ashby is running at ashby2@comcast.net

the train to Hershey, Pa., because he grew bored at our house. So decent, hard-working parents buy toys. Lots of them. And that gets us to Stage 4, where we currently reside with our son, Hank, where irony proves to be the greatest comedian of all. First about that home of yours. Remember how you bought all those toys that squeaked and the bouncers that kept your son occupied while you watched movies and mom did her eyelashes? Well, one day very soon, mom will realize you have a home full of absolute junk and, fathers, it will be your job to dig a hole in your attic in order to store the guitar shaped like a dog that howls in the key of F. Despite everything you have heard, Stage 4 of a child’s life actually begins with a tidal wave of cleaning because if you don’t get rid of some of these aliens in your home, your now 2-year-old will violently heave them into the new TV mom bought for the study. The cleaning isn’t fun; having a son who repeats your every word and action and facial expression is about as good as it gets. For precisely three scientific (though somewhat fictional) stages of your child’s life, fathers like me scratch

our heads wondering why we’ve gained a few extra pounds, why we can’t get our boy to properly throw a slider. And then, out of absolutely nowhere, that little fidget of a kid turns into your buddy. Remember those first two stages of atrophy? Oh that debilitation is long gone because if I don’t chase my son around now and tackle him onto the pillows and throw him in the air as he mixes his precious laughs with the words, “Faster! Faster!” then I’ll never get that chance again. If I don’t show him that mixing ketchup and mustard makes a hot dog even better – if I don’t let him grab a handful of ketchup and smother it on his shirt before mom gets home – I may never get that chance again. For more than a year, my wife has giggled at a little joke we have around our house. She likes to tell me that “40 hit you hard.” She’s right, because after throwing Hank in the air seven times – “Faster! Faster!” – pieces of me start to ache a little more than they once did. But who really cares? I can’t wait for Stage 5, and I sure don’t want a book to give away the surprise. Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

The reader. Readers appreciate election results breakdown

Dear Editor: Thank you! As the former Presiding Judge at our polling location I learned long ago that voters are curious about the final return for our precinct vs. city turnout. Election Day 2015 for Leader country in this last issue includes our precinct and neighboring precincts - Fantastic! You greatly exceeded my expectations. The map showing where the precincts are with respect to one another is extremely helpful and the list of precincts and election results in a spreadsheet format is helpful to voters, and students in the process of learning the voting process. I love you guys! Stephanie Hrabar, Ph.D. Pct Chair 505 Covered Bridge Condominium Association Dear Editor: Thanks much for the electionresults detail The Leader presented Nov. 14. Your breakdown was refreshingly more useful than any reportage we saw in the Houston Slanticle. The precinct, registered voter, voter turnout, turnout percentages and candidate totals were extremely informative, substantiating the old reality that nothing demolishes an opinion like a number. Voter turnout was interesting; my precinct

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com in the bowels of the Heights was above average. (But I like low voter turnout, the lower the better: That makes my own vote more powerful.) Even as I have completely soured over career politicians, woman’s intuition tells me Sylvester Turner will be our next mayor, given the victory margin over his runoff opponent plus Adrian Garcia’s endorsement. Crony socialism in Houston thus will continue its termite-like advance. J. Reynolds

Save the trees

Dear Editor: Once again, I am sitting in my house listening to the sound of chain saws. Yet again, homeowners feel the need to cut down beautiful, mature live oaks because …. Why? They shed leaves? The roots grow under the house? Do homeowners in Houston not realize that the value of their property is enhanced by mature trees? Do they not realize that their air conditioning bills are going to be reduced because of the shade that these trees provide? Does no one get it that it’s not just in the Amazon or Indonesia that trees are valuable? The builders that are coming through here tearing down houses and putting up gigantic ones in a too-small footprint, are the worst. They are destroying the very heart of what makes Oak Forest a wonderful

neighborhood. It’s trees. What will we call this neighborhood when the builders and the homeowners have destroyed them all? Empty Forest? Lynn

Helms provides solid academic foundation

Dear Editor: Thank you for writing a positive journalistic piece about our Houston schools. I sometimes grow weary of hearing parents talk about their migration to the suburbs “because of the schools”. This school provides a solid academic foundation with amazing support from math specialists and great science educators as well. It has paid off over the years with two of my children who can do math, science, reading, writing, and social sciences in two languages, not to mention the advantages of seeing the world through a broader lens. What an advantage! I engage in global trade and sales everyday and our biggest partners are those countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. It’s wonderful to address their needs in their native tongue, and I’m thankful this school enables me to pass those skills on to my children as well. Sandra

the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Encase a gift 5. Tonsillitis bacteria 10. Pre-1972 British trial session 12. Family Upupidae 14. Five & dime pioneer 16. Public prosecutor 18. Actress Farrow 19. Household god (Roman) 20. Indian dresses 22. Misjudge 23. Actress Zellweger 25. Remove flour lumps 26. Obtain 27. Modeled 28. Juan, Francisco or Antonio 30. Indian territory, Daman and ___ 31. Owl sound 33. A slab of stone or wood 35. Of the largest continent 37. Napped leather 38. Spoke wildly 40. Comically strange 41. Fed 42. Baglike structure in a plant or animal 44. Snakelike fish 45. Bishop’s official seat 48. Bash ____ Falls, N.Y.

50. Bay Area Eating Disorders Assoc. 52. Driver compartment 53. Emitted coherent radiation 55. Radioactivity unit 56. Former CIA 57. And (Latin) 58. Disintegrate 63. “Desperado” band 65. Makes into law 66. Attentiveness 67. Skillful hand movement

dOwn

1. Point midway between W and SW 2. 2011 animated macaw movie 3. A word element meaning nitrogen 4. Shot 5. Coasts 6. Hill (Celtic) 7. Decays 8. Hebrew dry measure 9. Venice river 10. Ablaze 11. Duskiness 13. Enlightened 15. Unnaturally pale 17. Acutely insightful and wise 18. “French Kiss” actress Ryan

21. “Alien” director 23. Long-tailed rodent 24. A way to ingest 27. Sound units 29. Relating to the nose 32. Cereal grass 34. Sticky or hot-cross 35. Productive land 36. Englut 39. Apply with short strokes 40. Indian corn genus 43. Stroke 44. Flowed in contrary directions 46. Comforts 47. Point that is one point S of due E 49. Shrub fence 51. Organ of balance 54. Proofreading symbol 59. CNN’s founder Turner 60. Smallest whole number 61. Airforce of Gr. Britain 62. A subdivision of a play 64. Exclamation of surprise

WORD SCRAMBLE

Saturday, November 21, 2015 • Page 5A

Federal officials end medicare, medicaid funding at St. Joseph’s According to media reports, St. Joseph’s Medicare and Medicaid funding has been terminated by federal officials. According to a report by the Chronicle, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notified St. Joseph that its agreement with the hospital will be terminated Dec. 3. The organization says the center had been out of compliance with CMS participation conditions and said the most re-

Lots from P. 1A ing and doing basic landscaping for our bayous and other properties. We don’t have the resources to come in and mow during the summer months every week or every other week.” What can be done with the lots typically depends on the agreements signed at the time of the buyout. While there are adopt-a-lot and landscape maintenance agreements, one of the main stipulations of accepting FEMA funds was that the agency required that buyout lots be left empty. Other reimbursement agreements with homeowners associations for purposes like mini-parks requires the submission of a specific plan and research on the side of HCFCD to determine what funds were used to purchase the lot and if there are any restrictions that must be adhered to. “Depending on the restrictions, we want to try to make [the buyout lots] at least an amenity versus a haven for

cent problems put patients in “immediate jeopardy” and involved the shooting of a combative, unarmed patient in a hospital ward.” The Chronicle also reports that the letter from CMS says no payment for patients admitted on or after Dec. 3 will be made by the Medicare program. It may continue to reimburse care of patients admitted before that date for up to 30 more days.

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overgrowth and pests,” Bezemek said. Going said people with concerns about overgrown lots should not hesitate to contact the Citizen Service Center to report problems or ask questions about the lots if they believe they present an issue to the community or may be unused properly. The CSC hotline can be reached bycalling 713-684-4197. While some lots around Harris County have been purchased using the organization’s own budget, they are still bound to the original agreement and also their own time and money constraints. “Typically, we’re only going to buy out lots using our own budget money when we’re trying to obtain land for other uses,” Bezemek said. “For example, some of our big regional detention basins were in areas with low development that flooded regularly. We have bought those lots with the intention of building better detention in those ar-

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Page 6A â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, November 21, 2015

The calendar.

MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SCRIPTURE SHARING Foster Family YMCA A Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scripture Sharing honoring Sam Craigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoe box campaign will be held 7 a.m., Nov. 19. Doors open at 6:30 a.m. and will be held at the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA, 1234 W. 34th St. Information: 713-8693378, www.ymcahouston.org. ACTIVITIES FOR NOVEMBER Heights Neighborhood Library To highlight National Novel Writing Month, write a novel in 30 days. Join like-minded writers at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Write Insâ&#x20AC;? in the WiFi equipped space at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25; and at 6 p.m. Mondays Nov. 23 and 30. Heights Neighborhood Library is located at 1302 Heights Blvd. The Library will be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Information: 832-393-1810, www.houstonlibrary.org. NOVEMBER EVENTS American Legion Post 560 The Sons of the American Legion will have Steak Night from 6 p.m. until sold out Nov. 20. Thanksgiving dinner will be free to veterans and their families and will be served at noon Nov. 26. The American Legion Post 560 is located at 3720 Alba Rd. Information: 832-725-1003, richard@ richardvoorhies.com. CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING Resource One Credit Union/ The Oaks Business Association

Resource One Credit Union and The Oaks Business Association are starting what hopes to become a tradition in decorating the neighborhood with the first Christmas Tree Lighting Event Nov. 21. Come enjoy a bouncy house, cookies, hot chocolate, food truck, the Waltrip Band, a visit from Santa and the lighting of the neighborhood Christmas Tree. Start off at Plonk! Beer and Wine Bistro at 1214 W. 43rd (behind Wells Fargo) for drinks and free pizza at 3 p.m. and then walk over to the event at 4:30 p.m. at Resource Credit Union, 1400 W. 43rd St. Please RSVP. Information: https://www.facebook.com/event s/1038762236164031/. FALL FAMILY FUN DAY Memorial Hermann Northwest Memorial Hermann Northwest, 1635 N. Loop W., will be hosting Fall Family Fun Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 21. Attendees can visit with Life Flight crew members, take part in tailgate games and giveaways, play in the pumpkin patch and hay maze and view creations by local artists. Enjoy great food from neighborhood restaurants. There will be free parking. Call to register. Information: 713-222-CARE (2273). PICTURES WITH SANTA Alliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizzaria Come take a picture with Santa for the Holidays at Alliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizzaria, 350 W. 19th St. The cost is $25 and includes two 4x6 prints, four

Ad # 30111

wallet size and a digital copy via email. Picture taking will be from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., beginning Nov. 27, and will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20; then Monday Dec. 21, Tuesday Dec. 22 and Wednesday Dec. 23. Information: 713-360-6204. AARP MONTHLY MEETING AARP Chapter 1265 The monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., Dec. 7, in the community room at 1520 Candlelight Dr. A X-mas party will be held, along with holiday wishes from President Richard Rabe. The meeting is open to anyone 50 or older, and will be preceded by a meet-and-greet at 9:30 a.m. Information: 713-681-1133. SAVE THE NAME RALLY Reagan High School Alumni In protest of the proposed bureaucratic action of renaming John H. Reagan High School, a rally has been scheduled at the SPJST Lodge, 1435 Beall St., from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 8. There will be knowledgeable speakers and barbecue served. To mail a freewill donation, send to: Reagan: Save the Name, P.O. Box 800149, Houston 77280. Please RSVP plans to attend this rally to: jessie_hamlin@netzero.net, SPrice9010@aol.com. To volunteer, call 713-686-7778.

Thanksgiving dinner at All Saints All Saints Catholic Community, 215 E. 10th St., will celebrate Thanksgiving with a potluck dinner in the parish hall on the eve of Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, immediately following 6:30 p.m. Mass. Bring a side dish and meet for great food and fellowship. RSVP at 713-864-2653, Ext. 204. Senior Activities Day at St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adults age 50+ are welcome to attend Senior Activities Day, Dec. 2, in the fellowship hall. Games begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by a soup and sandwich lunch at 11:45 a.m. Love offerings are appreciated to help with the cost of lunch. Women of all ages are welcome to attend the annual United Methodist Women Banquet Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. The cost is $10 per person and in-

cludes a catered meal. RSVP to Florence Bowman at 713682-4513. Please bring two unwrapped gifts for a child or teen in need. 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 and the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page. Christmas in the Woods presented by Kingdom Blue Productions Kingdom Blue Productions presents Christmas in the Woods, written, produced and directed by Mary Gray-Gossett. The presentation is at 3 p.m. Dec. 5, at Acres Home Multi Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery 77091, 832-3934145; Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. at the 5th Ward Multi Service Center, 4014 Market St. 77020, 832393-3800. Tickets are $15, children ages 1-12, $5. Tickets are also available at the door. Call 857957-1885, 832-814-0230 or email kingdombluedm@yahoo.com for information. MANNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thanksgiving Turkey Tailgate MANNA is teaming up with the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA and will be providing fried turkeys and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving Dinner to 150 families. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fryâ&#x20AC;? teams are needed to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tailgateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the MANNA parking lot on Nov. 25, to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; turkeys. Turkeys and peanut oil will be provided. Teams

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE Foster YMCA and Heights Rotary Club The Foster YMCA and Heights Rotary Club are teaming up to help strengthen the community by doing a community blood drive at the Foster YMCA, 1234 W. 34th St., from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 15. Visit the website to sign up for a time. Information: 713-869-3378, www.commitforAd # 36774 life.org.

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From the Pews. Oaks Presbyterian holds a Thanksgiving Bake Sale Oaks Presbyterian Church, 1576 Chantilly Ln., will hold its third annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale on Nov. 22, following the 11:30 a.m. church service, in the fellowship hall. There will be pumpkin and banana breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, dips, and cranberry sauce. All proceeds from the sale will go toward Oaksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; building fund. Call 713-682-2556 for information.

make direct connections with other professionals. This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event will be from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 10, and is hosted at Spring Street Studios, 1824 Spring St. There will be complimentary drinks, appetizers and live music. Decemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiday event will include a tackiest sweater competition. Bring a toy for the YMCA of Greater Houston annual toy drive. Information: 713-861-6735, www.heightschamber.com.

just need to provide their own equipment. Children can help put the trimmings in grocery bags on Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. at the Food Pantry. Cash donations are also accepted to help offset costs. For information, contact Patricia Dornak at pdornak@ gmail.com.

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Weekly Sunday Services â&#x20AC;˘ Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. â&#x20AC;˘ Morning:10:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;˘ Evening: 4:15 p.m.

1822 W. 18th

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

713-864-1470

Oaks Presbyterian Church

www.noRHiLLCoC.oRG

What Food and Items To Avoid 1. Grapes & raisins recently have been found to contain an unknown kidney toxin in dogs. Macadamia nuts also contain an unknown toxin harmful to dogs.

2. Onions and large amounts of garlic can damage red blood cells in dogs & cats leading to anemia. 3. Chocolate & caffeine can affect the heart & nervous system. 4. Bones and fat can cause pancreatitis and G.I. obstructions. 5. Spoiled food or garbage can cause food poisoning. 6. Pica (eating non-food items) such as peach pits, plastics, corn cobs, toys, rocks, sticks or string/thread can cause G.I. obstruction and death. 7. Raw meat/eggs can harbor deadly bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. Also tapeworms and toxoplasma cysts in raw meat can affect pets and people. 8. Plants are better not consumed. We maintain a list of poisonous plants. 9. Human medications such as Tylenol or asprin will kill a cat. Advil and similar drugs can kill dogs. Some medications are safe and effective if properly dosed. 10. Other common poisonings we see are from rat/mice poisons, insecticides and anti-freeze. Also over the counter ď&#x192;&#x;ea topicals that are labeled â&#x20AC;&#x153;for use on dogs onlyâ&#x20AC;? will kill a cat.

Always call your Vet if you have any concerns or questions

FAIRBANKS ANIMAL CLINIC WWW.FAIRBANKS.VETSUITE.COM 7151 Fairbanks N. Houston (1 mile North of HWY 290)

(713)-937-7274

TEMPORARY CROWNS

rank Suris Garcia, known affectionately as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pacoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to his family and friends, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 13, 2015. Paco was born in Cuba on August 1, 1919 and came to the United States with his wife and daughter in November 1962 where he built a new life for his family and son Frank was born. He never lost his fervent opposition to the communist Castro regime and refused to return to his homeland until the fall of the regime. Unfortunately, he could not outlive that moment. But, he had no regrets as he loved the United States and became a citizen in 1972. He was loved and cherished by his family and many long time friends whom he would regale with tales of Cuba after making certain they were well fed with delicious meals he so enjoyed cooking. He was gentle to a fault, had an incredible memory and his loyalty and generosity knew no bounds. Paco is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Maria, daughter Isolina, son in law Clayton Coleman, grandson Brandon Whatley; son Frank, daughter in law Chryste, grandson Anthony Garcia; nephew Rafael Garcia of Austin, his wife Victoria and their son, Freder Medina. His dear and wonderful friends are too numerous to name here but the family is very appreciative of their love and support. A celebration of Pacoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life will be held Friday, November 20, 2015 at 11 am at St. Stephens United Methodist Church, 2003 W. 43rd St. Houston, TX 77018.

Heights

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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Frank Suris Garcia

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1504 Yale â&#x20AC;˘ 713-869-4641

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First FirstChurch Church

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

Bring Them To Us And We Can Restore Them Like New

In MeMorIaM

Oaks Christian ChurCh

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

Do You Have Old or Damaged Photos?

COVERED STORAGE NOW AVAILABLE 12'X30'

ChurCh Guide 1700 West 43 rd at Rosslyn 713-682-4942

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Chase Baker, D.D.S.

f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be waiting for a crown to be fitted to a tooth, chances are youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be given a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;temporaryâ&#x20AC;? will have cosmetic value in maintaining the appearance of your mouth. It will also serve some important functions, such as maintaining the proper space and bite relationships with adjacent and opposing teeth. Often the temporary crown will be made of acrylic material of the exact shade to match your other teeth. But it is not intended to last very long, only until the permanent crown is in place to give the tooth long-lasting protection. Sometimes a temporary crown may have to last several months. This can happen if other work has to be completed before the crown is put in place. If this is the case, a longer-lasting temporary crown can be made. The temporary crown is usually cemented in with a very weak cement so that it is easily removed. If it should come off before the permanent crown is ready, be sure and tell your dentist. An unprotected tooth could cause further problems. Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health. From the ofďŹ ce of: Chase Baker, D.D.S., 3515 Ella Blvd., 713-682-4406.

MESSAGE OF THE WEEK

Family TradiTions

amily traditions and customs can be wonderful, and are essential for passing on culture. Many families establish them and pass them on without even realizing their significance. A common tradition observed by many is celebrating a family memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday with a cake and candles. For many families it just wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem like a birthday without a cake. Different cultures have various customs that are passed down from one generation to another, and tradition is what helps to define who we are. Being aware of God in our lives and having a deep faith and trust in Him can also be passed down in a family. The Bible tells us that if we train our children in the way they should go, then when they are old they will not depart from it. Attending religious services, praying, and having respect for others are all good attributes that a loving family can pass down to future generations. The Bible is filled with tradition, and God honors the family that loves Him and lives according to His will. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. K.J.V. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

New Beginnings Happen Here

Sunday Worship - 10:30am

Bible Study: 1st & 3rd Wednesday Noon - 1:30pm Bible Study: 2nd & 4th Tuesday 7:00 - 8:30pm Senior Adult Game Days: 2nd & 4th Tues 9:30-1:00pm includes lunch Reverend Noelie Day

(713) 682-2556 1576 Chantilly @ Piney Woods w w w. o a k s p r e s b y t e r i a n . o r g

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GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN CHURCH

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

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

Neighbors: Herzogs celebrate 50 years of marriage By Elizabeth Villareal elizasgarden@outlook.com

Good luck to Candlelight Estates neighbor Kyle Segura as he leaves for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for boot camp on Nov. 17. Kyle attended Harvard Elementary School, Hogg Middle School and is a 2015 graduate of Reagan High School where he was a member of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drumline and in the Robotics Club. He is also a former employee of The Rainbow Lodge. Proud parents are Daniel and Cindy Segura.

The Herzogs on their wedding day in 1965.

Marie and Virgil Herzog today

Virgil and Marie (Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anna) Herzog were married at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Nov. 21, 1965. Virgil is retired after 40 years of service with Baker Hughes and Marie retired after 18 years of service with Marshall Construction Company. The Herzogs were blessed with three children: Mark and spouse Ann, Michael and spouse Christy, and daughter Katherine, as well as three grandchildren Tyler, Julia and Jack. They are former residents of Oak Forest and since retirement are living in Omega Bay, La Marque, Texas. They celebrated their anniversary with a wonderful vacation in July in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, with their family. Virgil and Marie will renew their wedding vows on Dec. 20 at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Houston, Texas. Oaks Dads Club Board members, volunteers, parents and athletes would like to send a huge shout out to the 2015 ODC Soccer Team Sponsors! Thank you for supporting ODC and the soccer kiddos! Mytiburger, Shipley Do-Nuts, Raising Caneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chicken Fingers, Polk Mechanical, J F Ferrell, LLC, Zamarippa Paint and Remodel, Justin Gordon Homes, LLC, Chavana Office, E Fast Trucking LLC, BaskinRobbins, Signature Smiles, MAACO Collision Repair &

Auto Painting, Haven Wealth Group, LLC, Kona Ice of Houston, and Central Christian Academy.

Robert Jozwiak and Tiffany Moudry

Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Moudry of Houston, Texas are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Tiffany Moudry, to Robert Matthew Jozwiak, son of Anthony and Judy Jozwiak of The Heights, Houston, Texas. Both Matthew and Tiffany are graduates of Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas. Matthew holds a degree in General Business Administration with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Communications. Tiffany holds a Degree in Biomedical Science. A May 2016 wedding is planned at Pecan Springs in Brookshire, Texas. Ashlyn Shumate celebrated her Sweet 16 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Halloween Styleâ&#x20AC;? with family and friends on Oct, 24, a very rainy Saturday. There were many wonderful costumes, lots of yummy food (with gross names), a DJ, and tons of fun despite the weather! Amongst the crowd of family and friends who braved the weather were her parents Cliff and Michelle, her brothers Cody (who was an honorary DJ for the night) and Jacob, with his fiancĂŠe Nora, her sisters Amber S., Brittani with her daughter, Mariah, and Amber B., her husband Nathan and their daughter, Addison, one of her grandmothers, Betty, her Aunt Jennifer and Uncle James, their son, Andrew and daughter, Emma, her Uncle Henry, family friends Russell, Robin, and son Zefon, DJ Dr. Dee and high school friends Frida, Max, Trey, Tra, Alyssa, Ivy, Leanne, Christian, Bella, Darryl, and Daylon. Happy 16th birthday, Ashlyn! Resource One Credit Union and The Oaks Business Association are starting a new tradition in decorating the neighborhood with their first Christmas Tree Lighting Event. Come enjoy a bouncy house, face painting, family games, cookies, hot chocolate, photo booth, food trucks, the Waltrip Band, a visit from Santa and the lighting of the neighborhood Christmas Tree! Start off at Plonk! Beer and Wine Bistro at 1214 W 43rd 77018 (behind Wells Fargo) for drinks and free pizza at 3 PM and then walk over to the event at 4:30 PM. Please RSVP to DavidL2490@aol.com.

The Obituaries. Louis Martin Gorney Jr., 87, born Dec. 14, 1927, died Nov. 7. Gorney served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, where he received the WWII Victory Medal. He was also a participant in the Joint Task Force 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Atomic Bomb Test â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Operation Crossroads. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, I.O.F., and the Citizens Police Academy in Sugar Land. Gorney is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Gorney; children, Kathy Lee Kimich, Elizabeth Ann Bishop, Terrie Jeanette Gorney, and Daniel Martin Gorney; sister, Jean Gorney Crabtree; step-brother Richard Clark; 16 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. Walter John Grow Jr., 68, born Aug. 17, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaii, died Nov. 8, at Grace Care Center in Houston after a long illness. John enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam. After completing his tour of duty in Vietnam, he attended and graduated from the University of Houston with a BA. Shortly after graduation, he was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller for fifteen years. Grow is survived by his sister Patricia Panzer. Henry Victor Krolczyk, 77, born April 6, 1938 in Chappell Hill, died Nov. 4. Krolczyk grew up in the Heights area. Krolczyk is survived by his siblings, Earnest Krolczyk, Beatrice Pavlock, Harry Krolczyk, Raymond Krolczyk, Mary Zawacki, and Julia Krolczyk; children, Victor Krolczyk, Chris Krolczyk, Susan Andahl, Elliot Krolczyk, Anthony Krolczyk and Timothy Krolczyk; 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Rita L. White, 92, born July 17, 1923 in Drumright, Okla., died Nov. 11. She married the love of her life, Maxie E. White on May 31, 1954 and had been a resident of Houston since 1972. She was also a member of St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church. White is survived by her children, Dianne J. White, Mark E. White, Mike E. White and Matt E. White, sister Bertina Maxwell, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Anice Mozelle McCaskill Wilkes, 89, born May 12, 1926, died Nov. 8. She lived her entire life in the greater Heights area and was a member of Heights Presbyterian Church. She graduated from John H. Experience and Reagan High School and was a proud Knowledge... member of the Reagan Red Coats. A Powerful She is survived by a loving extended Combination family and a host of friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Realty Associates DEBBIE Heights Presbyterian Church. ourrealtordebbie@aol.com EllIott

713-906-5481

Saturday, November 21, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 7A

Merry Christmas from... When:

Where: + 2 . ) 3 ( 2 $ + ; # ' - ' . 0 / 3 + . . . "# ! $ % + 3 2 . . . 0 2 % - ! " !0

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Holiday at Home

A LEADER LISTINGS special focus issue.

Look for it next week.

NEW DATE 11.21.15 Celebrating our New Name

FALL FAMILY FUN DAY Bring your family to meet ours and join us for a day of healthy fun, food and festivities for everyone! New date - Saturday, November 21 10 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 p.m. â&#x20AC;˘ Visit with Life FlightÂŽ crew members â&#x20AC;˘ Take part in traditional tailgate games & giveaways â&#x20AC;˘ Catch college football action on our outdoor big screen TV â&#x20AC;˘ Play in the Pumpkin Patch & Hay Maze â&#x20AC;˘ View creations by local artists â&#x20AC;˘ Enjoy great food from neighborhood restaurants â&#x20AC;˘ Take home a new pet â&#x20AC;˘ Free parking To register, please call 713.222.CARE (2273). Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, TX 77008

Greater Heights L O C A T E D A T 61 0 A N D E L L A B LV D

Page 8A • Saturday, November 21, 2015

What foods can your pet partake in from the Thanksgiving table? can partake in on Turkey Day. The following foods are safe and actually pretty healthy for your dog (in moderation). • sweet potatoes (but NOT candied yams) • apples (but NOT apple pie) • green beans (but NOT green bean casserole) • pumpkin (but NOT pumpkin pie) • yogurt (but NOT ice cream) Thanksgiving is all about spending time with loved ones and remembering what we have to be thankful for. Our pets are a huge part of our lives and it’s nice to honor them in some way on Thanksgiving. Just be sure that you

Dear Tabby, This is our first Thanksgiving to have a dog. What foods do we need to make sure she doesn’t get ahold of on the holiday? And are there any that she can enjoy with us? Gobbling with family in Garden Oaks Dear Gobbling, While it’s only natural to want to share this festive (albeit gluttonous) holiday with our furry friends, many of the foods that are traditionally served at the Thanksgiving table are dangerous to our pets. Here’s a list of the foods that you should NOT let your dog have: • turkey skin, drippings or gravy • turkey twine • turkey bones • sage • corn on the cob • onion • mushrooms • raisins or grapes • bread dough • chocolate • alcohol The good news is that there are a few foods that your pooch

watch your dog carefully, so that she doesn’t sneak some food (or bones) on Turkey Day. A Thanksgiving spent cleaning up dog vomit (or worse) or at the emergency vet is no fun for anyone. Have you heard ...of Project WARM at Friends For Life Animal Shelter? Each winter, Friends For Life builds and distributes WARM shelters made out of specially modified Rubbermaid tubs and lined with foam and hay for insulation. They are durable and reusable year after year and designed to keep free-roaming cats safe and warm through the winter. There are several ways for

you to help: Make a donation to help Friends For Life reach their goal of distributing 150 houses this season. Sponsor the build of a WARM house even if you don’t need one. Or, purchase a couple of WARM houses and distribute them to people you think need them. You can even order needed supplies and have them sent directly to FFL! Go to www. adoptfriends4life.org to learn more. Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail.com.

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Pet of the week Autumn is an outgoing, talkative Bengal cat. Autumn needs a home where people understand and appreciate just how special Bengals are. She’d probably do best as an only cat, but when you have a girl like her to hang with, who needs anybody else? Autumn will add a touch of the exotic to the right household--could it be yours? To learn more, go to www.saveacatrescue. org or visit the shelter located at: 2618 Newman Street 77098.

Zoning from P. 1A old and Sciba said she wants to help Stevens. “We wanted to plant roots in the community and we feel like we can finally relax and do that now that the zoning issue is resolved,” she said. “There is a lot of interest from the community [in Stevens] and I feel like the potential is there.” Stevens Elementary’s principal Jennifer Barrientez said that in addition to those in the Candlelight Estates neighborhood, her school picked up approximately six new apartment complexes on Watonga. Stevens and Katherine Smith both have high mobility rates – 30 percent for Smith and 28 percent for Stevens – which refers to the number of students who either enrolled in or withdrew during the school year divided by the total school enrollment numbers. This is partly due to families moving between apartments

throughout the school year, thereby moving from one school zone to another. Many in the Oak Forest community zoned to the school hope that Stevens will be rebuilt as some point. Nearby Oak Forest Elementary got a new school facility in 2004. Stevens’ school librarian Leslie Novak invites anyone interested in learning about Stevens to give their time at the school and help build its forward momentum. “Long-term there is always a need for the Read Houston Read program,” she said. “Volunteers can sign up for that through the HISD webpage. We would also like to see a soccer club started after school. Last year, we had a teacher who coached a team that participated in the YMCA league. They practiced right after school. Unfortunately, she moved to Austin.”

Tanner Touchstone tanner.touchstone@ushadvisors.com www.ushagent.com/tannertouchstone 806 239 1068

In This Season of Gratitude We count our blessings and give thanks for our great clients. We value your patronage and appreciate your continued support. We are especially grateful for your kindness and confidence As we continue our mission to provide the finest automotive service By uniting the best technology, talent and leadership To create a Relationship of Trust that benefits Our Clients, Team Members and Our Community. Wishing You and Yours a Happy Thanksgiving.

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Worship

Freedom From Fear

Freedom From Want

Byron Rusk, Owner

Master Car Care & Collision 2305 Yale Street Houston, TX 77008 Phone — 713

862 6630

Book Online www.mastercarcarehouston.com Hours: Mon– Fri: 7:00 am — 6:00 pm

Sat: 8:00 am — 4:00 pm

Closed Thanksgiving Day

The Four Freedoms By Norman Rockwell