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Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 57

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Montessori Makeover

While the Montessori educational approach is known to many, the background of the program might not be known quite as well. Maria Montessori, born in 1870, was the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree and worked in a variety of fields including psychiatry, education and anthropology. According to the International Montessori Index and the American Montessori Society, she believed each child is born with unique potential rather than a “blank slate” and focused on creating an educational method that builds on the way a child naturally learns. She opened the first Montessori school, the Casa de Bambini, in Rome at the beginning of 1907 and wrote extensively about her approach to education. She observed students carefully and, based on these scientific observations, introduced many elements that have since become mainstays of the Montessori method. Large, open spaces encouraging students to move and work independently were established. She continued refining the program, designing learning materials and classroom environments that fostered self-discipline and a natural desire to learn. By 1910, her work attracted international visitors and spread rapidly throughout the world and reached the US in 1911 and 1912. However, Montessori also lived in turbulent times and, despite an initial warm reception by Benito Mussolini, the Italian government would cease Montessori schools in the mid-1930s due to its idealogy clashing with that of the then-Fascist government. She was forced to live in exile for the remainder of World War II and lived in India before returning to Amsterdam where she spent her final years. She died in 1952.

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Simmering selections at Simos Diner In this week’s Business Leaders, we take a look at Simos Diner on North Shepherd in this edition’s Business Spotlight. A community staple for years, the small diner has been a go-to breakfast and brunch spot for people of all ages in the community with a focus on fresh food and fast service.

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A Turkey Day for Everyone Volunteers at MANNA were busy leading up to Thanksgiving last week, frying turkeys and preparing them for needy families across the area in time for the holiday. Check out some of the leftovers - er - photos from the event in this week’s issue.

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HISD breaks ground with new Montessori program at Waltrip High School By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Parents of children attending Montessori schools like Garden Oaks Elementary and Wilson Elementary have few options available for continuing a Montessori-based education because choices beyond middle school are limited. Private schools like School of the Woods can cost thousands of dollars in tuition, and not having a public Montessori high school program has left many yearning for a new initiative. Now, with the help of Waltrip High School, that’s about to change. Starting next year, Waltrip will be the first high school in HISD offering a public Montessori program. Cheryl McCosh, Montessori School representative for Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet and board member for Friends of Montessori, said they had met previously with former Waltrip principal Andria Schur and met with current principal Dale Mitchell earlier this year. “It’s been a dream of mine to have a school-within-aschool program,” McCosh said. “Parents and Montessori students want a Montessori high school. They want that student centered experience and the kids love the project oriented approach.” Mitchell calls the school-within-a-school program a good fit not only for the community but also for the continuing vision of Waltrip High School. “From the comprehensive high school standpoint, it’s a good marriage of instruction and extra curricular activities,” Mitchell said. “Adding this program to our campus is a good way to bring the community even closer together and it’s a natural pathway for a large group of students just down the street from us.” According to the American Montessori Society, there are only three Secondary I-II Montessori programs, covering ages 12 to 18, in Texas. Those include Garden Oaks Montessori, School of the Woods in Houston and White Rock Montessori School in Dallas. The program at Waltrip will be a first not only for the school district but also for the state; however breaking new ground isn’t necessarily the objective, McCosh said. “We’re going to be primarily serving students that could not afford the schools that might cost up to $25,000 in tuition,” McCosh said.

Photos by Jonathan Garris (Above) Students at Garden Oaks Elementary wait for their work to be graded during class. Parents and students alike believe the school’s Montessori program affords pupils a better opportunity at cultivating skills and a sense of independence better than in a conventional classroom. (Below) Students will now be able to continue their Montessori education at Waltrip High School, which will boast new classrooms and a new entryway once renovations are completed. The renovations offer convenient timing for the launch of the Montessori program in time for the 2016-17 school year.

“Adding this program to our campus is a good way to bring the community even closer together and it’s a natural pathway for a large group of students just down the street from us.” Waltrip High School Principal Dale Mitchell

Currently, McCosh and Mitchell say they are looking at starting with two teachers and a director for the program and will likely welcome between 40 to 50 students in its first year. Both said the smaller sizes will allow officials to gain data and work out any issues that might exist in the system for the first three years or so and adjust the program as needed. The program also fits in well with Waltrip’s recent expansion and its all new classrooms, Mitchell said. McCosh said that large, open classrooms with potential breakout places benefit the fluid kind of learning extolled in Montessori classrooms – something that David Santana, a teacher at Garden Oaks Montessori Magnent for the past five years, can support. “In general, the Montessori method allows teachers to meet students at their level,” Santana said. For adolescents, this means not only cultivating problem solving skills but See Montessori P. 5A

The Kids Are Alright

Who was Maria Montessori?

Officials seek input for preservation ordinance guidelines at meeting For The Leader Officials with the Planning & Development Department are seeking public input for creating historic preservation guidelines for three Heights historic districts. According to a press release, the first community meeting to begin the process to adopt the revised historic preservation design guidelines for three historic districts (Houston Heights East, Houston Heights West and Houston Heights South) is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 1819 Heights Blvd. One of the requirements of the amended preservation ordinance is that the city complete and adopt design guidelines for these districts within 16 months. Among some of the approved revisions to the ordinance inSee Meeting P. 2A Planning & Development Department Historic Preservation Ordinance Design Guidelines Meeting St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 1819 Heights Blvd., Houston 77008 Tuesday, December 8 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Proposed Antoine Drive reconstruction has some on edge By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

Holiday Home Tour For information about the Houston Heights Association’s annual event, turn to Page 6A.

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While still in the planning stages, a potential widening of Antoine Drive has a number of residents and business owners concerned that the changes could be detrimental to surrounding neighborhoods. The project itself is split into two segments – a 1.3 mile North Segment stretching from Victory Drive to Bridge Forest Drive and a South Segment of about 3 miles which would run from Victory Drive to US 290. According to officials with Public Works & Engineering, a planning study previously identified inadequacies with the area’s pavement, wastewater, storm sewer and traffic mitigation. Officials are recommending a full reconstruction of the roadway including the “replacing and upgrading of underground utilities and pedestrian/bike facilities as needed.” Modifications include widening the existing road from 4 to 6 lanes between Tidwell and US 290, improving signals and turn lanes at intersections and adding off street bike paths.

Contributed Art An example of a potential reconstruction of Antoine Drive provided by Public Works & Engineering shows what a six lane arrangement might look like from West Tidwell Road to ACorn Street.

Julie Gilbert, PWE communications officer, said city officials realized through their planning study that traffic is going to significantly increase in the area. “We’re trying to plan for the next 40 or 50 years with a project like this,” Gilbert said.

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The public. Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Page 2A

Police Reports • Nov. 16 - Nov. 24 NOV. 16

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CROSSTIMBERS Theft 7:15 PM 1100-1199 ROY Theft 4:50 AM 2100-2199 WASHINGTON Theft 5:30 PM 200-299 W NORMA Theft 12 PM 2200-2299 BEVIS Theft 5 PM 5100-5199 CENTER Theft 9 AM 200-299 W 19TH Robbery 2:38 PM 2100-2199 YALE Theft 5:39 AM 2000-2099 STUDEWOOD Robbery 7:38 AM 3700-3799 YALE Theft 11:02 AM 900-999 N LOOP W Assault 8:46 PM 900-999 N LOOP W Theft 10:41 AM 900-999 N LOOP W Theft 1 PM 2600-2699 ELLA Theft 3:10 PM 2600-2699 ELLA Theft 6:46 PM 1400-1499 STUDEMONT Theft 6:58 PM 100-199 YALE Theft 7:05 PM 4400-4499 WASHINGTON Robbery 10:43 AM 0-99 HARVARD Theft 5:18 AM 2200-2299 UNION Theft 9:21 AM 1300-1399 W 43RD Assault 11:31 AM 3800-3899 SHERWOOD Burglary 10:54 AM 200-299 W 27TH Theft 2:30 PM 1300-1399 W 23RD

Theft 11:03 AM 5300-5399 WASHINGTON Assault 7:40 AM 4700-4799 SHERWOOD

NOV. 17

Robbery 1:46 PM 4600-4699 WERNER Theft 5:35 AM 400-499 OXFORD

NOV. 18

Burglary 11:45 PM 4600-4699 N MAIN Theft 5:21 PM 1600-1699 N LOOP W Theft 11:45 AM 2500-2599 SHEARN

NOV. 19

Theft 5:57 AM 1800-1899 N SHEPHERD Theft 5:32 AM 1200-1299 N SHEPHERD Theft 1:22 PM 5200-5299 CORNISH Theft 12:07 PM 1300-1399 W 43RD Burglary 1:30 PM 1800-1899 W 18TH Theft 3:40 PM 5000-5099 YALE Theft 8 PM 200-299 REDAN Assault 6:02 PM 5200-5299 N SHEPHERD

NOV. 20

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Theft 10 AM 1700-1799 SEAMIST Theft 5 PM 700-799 SHEPHERD Theft 9:16 AM 4000-4099 CENTER Theft 6 PM 1300-1399 BIRDSALL Theft 1 PM 5100-5199 YALE Theft 10:13 AM 2500-2599 SHEARN Theft 4:41 AM 2200-2299 WASHINGTON Theft 9 AM 600-699 E CROSSTIMBERS

NOV. 22

Theft 6:15 AM 1900-1999 TAYLOR Theft 4 AM 400-499 TRUMAN Theft 1:18 PM 100-199 YALE

Theft 1:46 PM 2800-2899 WHITE OAK Theft 9 PM 800-899 JACKSON HILL Theft 3:04 PM 5600-5699 WASHINGTON Theft 5:30 PM 2400-2499 WASHINGTON Burglary 7:30 AM 700-799 PINEMONT Theft 9:13 AM 900-999 W DONOVAN Theft 10:44 AM 2800-2899 W T C JESTER Theft 10:50 AM 200-299 20TH Theft 1:30 PM 3200-3299 WHITE OAK Theft 4:18 PM 100-199 YALE Burglary 1:39 AM 1700-1799 W LOOP N Theft 8 PM 4700-4799 NETT

According to investigators, Davis and the other boys allegedly entered the restaurant at East T.C. Jester and North Loop 610 and robbed the customers inside of the store at gunpoint. As the suspects fled the scene in their vehicle, officials say a customer got into his own vehicle and followed it, calling authorities and leading officers to the suspect’s vehicle. Officers caught up with the trio, however they allegedly led officers on a chase until their vehicle crashed into a fence near T.C Jester and West Little York Road. The

The Houston Police Department arrested two juveniles and one 19-year-old in connection with a robbery that occurred early Monday morning at an area Denny’s restaurant. Two juvenile males, ages 13 and 14, were taken into custody and referred to Harris County Juvenile Probation on robbery charges and Quonze Davis, 19, currently has a pending charge of aggravated robbery according to HPD officials.

Burglary 9:30 AM 100-199 HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 7:31 AM 200-299 W 20TH Theft 5:48 AM 100-199 E 13TH Theft 3:50 AM 1000-1099 CANDLELIGHT LN Theft 4 PM 3800-3899 SHERWOOD Robbery 1:20 PM 1600-1699 BEALL Theft 6:10 PM 2200-2299 BEVIS Robbery 6:08 AM 3600-3699 N MAIN Theft 10:10 AM 1300-1399 CROSSTIMBERS Assault 3:40 AM 1700-1799 W 34TH

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broken out and several items were missing. No information about a suspect was available and a report was referred to the Houston Police Department. Please report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

Heights Crime Alert On Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, deputies were dispatched to the 1200 block of Yale Street where a complainant said his vehicle had been burglarized between noon and 1p.m. The driver’s side window had been

Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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suspects allegedly fled the scene on foot however a K-9 unit later found the three and they were taken into custody. Two weapons were recovered from the scene along with several items belonging to people who were inside of the restaurant, including personal items like wallets and cell phones. Officials say there may have been a fourth robber involved in the incident however it is currently unclear. The incident remains under investigation.

a report was referred to HPD for investigation.

Burglary 6:54 PM 500-599 PECORE Burglary 6:58 AM 1300-1399 N LOOP Theft 8:47 AM 1600-1699 E T C JESTER Theft 6:46 AM 300-399 CROSSTIMBERS

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Precinct One: Bicycle stolen from porch overnight Garden Oaks Crime Alert Around 8:15 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, deputies were dispatched to a house in the 300 block of West 34th Street where a caller said his bicycle had been taken from his back porch overnight. The thief or thieves had entered through an unlocked gate. No suspect information was available and

NOV. 24

Assault 1:58 AM 700-799 BARKLEY Burglary 4:50 AM 100-199 HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 11:10 AM 4900-4999 WASHINGTON Theft 12:40 PM 5900-5999 N SHEPHERD Theft 1 PM 400-499 OXFORD Theft 4 PM 400-499 OXFORD Theft 4 PM 5300-5399 LARKIN Theft 4 PM 2100-2199 DETERING Theft 10:15 AM 1000-1099 SAWYER

NOV. 23

Three arrested following early robbery of North Loop Denny’s By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

Theft 12:30 PM 3100-3199 E T C JESTER Theft 12:08 PM 2900-2999 MANGUM Theft 3:09 PM 2200-2299 TAYLOR Theft 1:30 PM 5000-5099 LAMONTE Theft 1:30 PM 2200-2299 ELLA

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Meeting from P. 1A cludes the establishment of an Appeals Board to hear appeals of HAHC decisions. Design guidelines provide useful information to property owners who are planning changes to their property that would require a Certificate of Appropriateness, according to the release. Once the design guidelines are adopted by Houston City Council, the HAHC and historic preservation staff will use those design guidelines alongside the revised Historic Preservation Ordinance to review Certificate of Appropriateness applications. The revised ordinance also clarifies terminology with new definitions for terms like “exterior feature” and others like “ordinary maintenance and repair” excludes the replacement of historic materials. The ordinance’s definition of “demolition” also includes demolition by neglect and the ordinance now has a number of features (including gutters and window screens) added to the exempt list. New language also sought to clarify the Certificate of Appropriateness and the criteria for obtaining one, which was a topic of heated discussion throughout the amendment process.

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Faith Spotlight: Uniting local families through faith, music at Church of the Holy Trinity in the Heights By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Reverend Carl Lund of Church of the Holy Trinity says the objective of his church is clear – maintaining a family-oriented approach to teaching his congregation and the surrounding community of the Holy Trinity. Lund has served at the church for the last four and a half years after previously living in the San Francisco Bay area in Northern California. Lund knew full well he was heading into a tight knit community in the Woodland Heights area and came fully prepared to use that sense of community to drive his approach to leading the congregation. “We use traditional worship and we’ve merged it with some contemporary elements which we feel gives us a unique feel,� Lund said. “We also have a very talented group of musicians here

Lund

who volunteer their time and skills to enhance our experiences.� According to the church’s website, a typical service will “feature selections from the 1940 Hymnal, chant, several contemporary worship songs, and traditional and original liturgical music, all arranged for piano, organ, guitar, percussion, and strings.� The previous church leadership had originally decided to move to Katy in 2004, however members of the church purchased the property from

the diocese and Lund said that, since then, the church has gained an identity it didn’t have before. “I think our family-centered focus is what drives us and from what I’ve seen in the last four and a half years is that we’re probably trending in a younger direction for our congregation,� Lund said. “People in the Woodland Heights tend to gravitate towards places that are welcoming of people across generations.� Typically, the church opens its doors up for the upcoming Lights in the Heights set to begin 6 p.m. Dec. 12. Also the Sunday night before Christmas is also an evening filled with caroling through the surrounding neighborhood. “It’s a time for people to come in and meet us, sit and pray and really get to know us,� Lund said. “We’re looking forward to it.� The church is located at

HISD exploring new facilities? By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Issues with the existing bond budget – specifically an estimated $211 million shortfall in HISD’s $1.9 billion bond budget – garnered a lot of attention this fall. Although those issues clearly need to be addressed in order for renovation and rebuilds to be completed at the chosen schools, Garden Oaks Montessori and Waltrip High School among them, parents zoned to local elementary schools wonder where their neighborhood schools are on the priority list for future projects. With the recent rezoning of schools in The Leader area, parents zoned to Stevens have voiced their desire to see a new facility. The board is lis-

tening. “Stevens is among many schools in HISD in need of a campus facility update, whether that be a new campus or a major renovation, to meet the needs of students,� said HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones. “A third-party assessment of all HISD facilities is wrapping up, and we will use that information to identify campuses with the most pressing facility needs for our next bond proposal, which I am sure we will ask voters to consider in the not-too-distant future. Stevens is a growing campus. This year, there are 735 students at Stevens, an 11 percent increase from 10 years ago.� Skillern-Jones said that HISD is working to ensure that students at all schools, includ-

ing those serving Leader neighborhoods, have the resources they need. “That starts with hiring and retaining the best teachers,� she said, noting that the school board voted this year to raise starting teacher pay to more than $50,000 a year. “We also voted to pay extra for teachers who are willing to work in our struggling schools,� she said. “We must also fund schools in a way that recognizes it costs more to educate students in schools with large populations of children from low-income families. And we must also ensure that students from all ZIP codes have the same access to our gifted and talented program and to our magnet programs.�

“What concerns Super Neighborhood 12’s community leaders is that the city’s own Northwest Mobility Study took off the widening in its final, approved study after receiving numerous comments against such a proposal,� SN12 president Mark Klein said. “In fact, the public has long voiced concerns about plans to widen Antoine. What’s troubling is its sudden appearance in a recent PWE presentation. If this proposal can come up now – well after the public weighed in against it – then without concerned community members commenting again, what will prevent the plan from resurfacing?� However, Gilbert said the mobility study didn’t address moving from four to six lanes and didn’t directly indicate that officials shouldn’t consider it. Gilbert also said the expansion will stay within the

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ATTENTION

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

MANY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP MAY BE LOST

Pinemont from P. 1A While the deadline for comments had been set for Nov. 30, Gilbert said officials will continue to take public comments and meet with local groups to discuss the project throughout the planning stage. Comments can be emailed at pweplanning@houstontx.gov “We will never not take comments within a reasonable timeframe throughout this process,� Gilbert said. “If anyone needs us to do another presentation or sit down and talk to us again, we can do that and we can let the project team know there is interest in connecting with people.� The team had previously reached out to members of the community at an Oct. 20 meeting at the offices of the Near Northwest Management District, however, some feel PWE did not provide enough advance information to surrounding communities about the presentation.

211 Byrne St. Holy communion begins at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, with an 8 a.m. morning prayer Tuesday and Friday and an evening prayer at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Podcasts and Sunday service streaming are also available on the church’s website at www.holytrinityrec.org. A blog is also maintained with updates regarding church activities and sermons. For more information call 713-862-5657.

Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Page 3A

existing right of way, and documents show that officials will work to maintain or improve sidewalks and bike lanes. “We looked at what traffic volumes might be in the future along with the area and population growth rates,� Gilbert said. “We’re spending quite a bit of money on our infrastructure and we have a responsibility to think ahead and spend that money wisely.� However, Klein said those in the community, particularly the ones in attendance at a Nov. 18 meeting, aren’t convinced. “I can safely say that the community leaders we’ve talked with are very concerned about the potential for the southern portion of Antoine to be widened,� Klein said. “That proposal would seriously impact the homeowners living along what is a residential corridor.�

Many college scholarships will not be awarded if HISD changes the name of John H. Reagan High School. In 1990, Joel Sturdivant, and Joe P. Wright, former principal and alumnus respectively, of John H. Reagan High School established a golf tournament to generate funds to provide college scholarships for deserving graduates of Reagan High School. The first Scholarship in 1991 was for $4,000, in 2015 the contribution from the golf tournament and other sources was in excess of $160,000. Should the name be changed, the 89 year heritage of John H. Reagan High school will be lost and so will the incentive of the Reagan Alumni to make donations. Many of those donors now live outside the district and may want to support their local school. Others will be angered the trustees spent taxpayer money meant for education so as to change the name of a school only to gratify their personal political reasons. THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE!

Remember, FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. Please mail your freewill donations in support of this effort to the following address.

We need volunteers to help the night of the rally. If you can help call Howard Moon. 713-686-7778 Howard Moon, President Allen Marcontell, Treasurer

REAGAN: SAVE THE NAME P.O. Box 800149 Houston, Texas 77280

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Better choices in education benefits everyone involved I’m sure there are plenty of jokes out there about how journalists aren’t exactly the greatest when it comes to math. Truth be told, I’d guess I’d fit the stereotype pretty well. It may seem odd, but my rather large mathematical deficiency is one of the reasons why I’m so excited about the news concerning the new Montessori program going in at Waltrip High School. To explain why, perhaps it’s best to talk about my own elementary and middle school education growing up in a rather poor school district. I attended Beverly City School in New Jersey while growing up – a kindergarten through eighth grade school that had maybe a few hundred students, many of whom could likely be labeled at-risk. The school itself is rated in the second lowest socioeconomic rating by the New Jersey Department of Education and, even after what I hear are improvements, still ranks with a rather miserable grade on numerous school rating websites. I can’t speak for what the faculty is like there currently, but it felt like it was where many bad teacher’s careers went to die a slow, painful death. Most of the talented teachers here would teach for a year or two before leap frogging into bigger, better school districts. (I can’t blame them, given the conditions of the school and the administration at the time.) While I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a mother who emphasized reading at an early age – which I can certainly say without a doubt has paid off – mathematics were never my strong suit. For a time I remained unchallenged in classes like history and english, but I was always hampered in math classes that did little to communicate the practicality and usefulness of what I was learning. There was little patience for anything outside of “by-the-book” learning which is disappointing as I’ve now seen the flexibility and importance across the spectrum of math. I would have given anything for something different and I have to admit after working with the Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet School I’m a little jealous of how smart these kids are at such a young age. I was first exposed to the Montessori program earlier this year when we published our

Who was that mosque man?

Jonathan Garris Editor

Children At Risk story, examining the rankings and their metrics. I wasn’t all that familiar with the method of learning and I didn’t know what to expect. I think out of all the things that grabbed me at the school was the freedom. Children freely moved from class to class, completing their work, asking for help, participating in activities and, most importantly, asking questions. That kind of freedom in a classroom at such a young age was a concept that was completely foreign to me, and my inner child can’t help but yearn to be able to experience that. Many people in this state and across the nation bemoan the lack of choice and reform in education, but the adoption of the Montessori program at Waltrip is a step in the right direction for everyone. Having that kind of freedom isn’t for every pupil, as there are plenty of students I imagine would benefit from something more orderly to fit their needs, but the point is that choice exists there in the first place. We’re all too quick to want to turn to the private sector for our choices in education but it appears we’ve lost sight that education options shouldn’t benefit just high income levels (or those willing to take on massive amounts of debt). Public options in academia, whether it be through career academies or Montessori programs, is in my eyes the real pathway to ensuring that our children have the necessary tools and schools to remain competitive. Take it from someone who has seen both ends of the public school spectrum – embracing and pushing for a greater level of choice among Houston-area public schools will only make our city and its economy stronger. So long as people don’t picket any more language magnet schools, at least.

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Reagan High School alumni to hold rally to preserve current name Dear Editor: There was a poll in the Chronicle created by Ms. Mellon who is the person with the Chronicle who does the educational “beat.” The results of that poll was 87% said NO to the name change 11% said yes and 2% said to change some schools. It seems that this poll has been ignored. WHY? Seems like a pretty good consensus that a vast majority of people don’t want the names changed. Jim White Dear Editor: Yesterday, I spoke with a beautiful 96 year old alumnus who graduated from John H. Reagan in 1937. She was a Redcoat and possibly the oldest living graduate. She is adamantly opposed to the name change. I wish I could attend the rally, however I will be helping out with my new granddaughter in Minneapolis. Would hope to have another rally and have news media cover the event. Annie Dubec Britton Dear Editor: I am a 1955 graduate of Reagan High School, formerly Heights High. Back then our view of Houston was a city made up several small but proud neighborhoods. Heights still had the old trolley tracks and brick streets. The point I wish to make is that Reagan was more than just a school - it was a symbol of our heritage, of where and how we grew up. I always thought of Reagan the man as a hero of the Texas Revolution not the Confederacy. I sincerely hope that the name is not changed just to be politically correct. There are many things in life I find offensive but I am old enough and mature enough to know that life and history will go on and that tolerance and respect are life lessons not government protections. William Noles Dear Editor: So, if rallying in effort to retain the name “John H. Reagan Senior High School” is unsuccessful, I would suggest that we find out how to nominate a new name for our Alma Mater. My recommendation would be that the school be renamed for

my friend and first Houstonian killed in action in Iraq, Corporal Tomas Sotelo, Jr. Thomas Gonzales Dear Editor: The renaming of John H. Reagan High School because its namesake was tied to the Confederacy is again an example of government trying to please one group of citizens over another while spending everyone’s tax dollars to do this. Fourteen presidents of the United States of America owned slaves. If we’re going to be politically correct and change names of schools because one group or the other finds it offensive, maybe we should start with President George Washington and go right down the list of presidents, senators, representatives who owned slaves or participated with something we disagree or find offensive. To be fair let’s change all the names or none; move on to more pressing issues like healthcare, poverty, unemployment, education, tax reform, things that need to be fixed now. Joseph Stephen Mire

is “Texas fatigue.” Kevin Brady was not worthy to become Speaker of the House, since he invariably sided with Obama on important issues that matter most to Conservatives. Brady will not have my vote next election in his bid to remain in the position he now possesses. And, I might add — many of my Conservative friends feel the same as I do. There is a much better candidate waiting in the wings to take Brady’s place. Barbie Miller

THE CURB – Here I am performing my weekly task to create a greener planet, add to the beauty of Texas and commune with nature -- taking out the garbage. Across the street performing the same task must be our new neighbor, Elmo Hammod from Syracuse. I go over to welcome him to Running Rats Acres. “Greetings, Elmo Hammod from Syracuse.” He smiles and extends his hand. “Actually, I am Al-Mohammed from Syria. We are refugees from the war. Thanks for letting us live here.” “You speak good English for a foreigner. Learn it in grade school?” “I’ve spent much time in your country. I was born in Damascus, raised in Pampa and received my doctorate from Rice in bio-generic molecular engineering and a post-doctorate from MIT in atomic isotope transmissions as they relate to auto-physical neutrons. I’m a U.S. citizen, but Governor Greg Abbott believes that I’m a security risk, and threatened to cut off all state funding to my workplace, UTMB.” “So what are you doing now?” “I got a gig with Uber.” “Sounds a waste of your talents.” “Not bad. I get to see a lot of the city and meet many nice people. But the two black SUVs that follow me everywhere are bad for business.” His family’s arrival spruced up the next meeting of the Running Rats Acres Homeowners Association. Milton Mudflap brought it up. “I don’t want no commie Arab in my neighborhood. He’ll be building pyramids in his front yard like they do in Turkey.” Jimbo Jackknife pointed out that the pyramids were actually in Iraq, but did note that Mudflap’s own front yard exceeded the deed restrictions of no more than four cars on blocks at any one time. Debbie Sue Bonnie Bootstrap was next. “We’re getting swarms of them Muzzlems in here, and not one of them will do yard work. What’s the point of having migraine if they can’t rake leaves? I say send them back to Lesbian or Algebra.” She got a standing ovation. The next week I ran into Al at the supermarket. “Hope you like it here. Don’t mind the

Lynn Ashby Columnist

smell. It’s only when the wind blows over the hog rendering plant.” “We are doing fine,” he says.” My son, Rocky, is captain of the soccer team, and daughter, JoAnn Luci, is class president and perhaps valedictorian. And they still have time to work the overnight shift at the hog rendering plant. Oh, let me ask you. Is it normal for the Texas State Guard to set up camp in one’s front yard?” “Al, Governor Abbott said he would do everything in his power to prohibit any more Syrians from coming to Texas. Unfortunately for him, his power has nothing to do with migration, immigration, salutations or vacations. In Texas we call this ‘grandstanding’ or ‘pandering.’ But it works. To be fair, the Texas State Guard followed Abbott’s orders and kept tabs on Operation Jade Helm 15. As a result of the guard’s vigilance, the military did not seize a single Texas city of any size, if you don’t count San Antonio.” “I am worried that we are not welcome here, because your Texas senator, Ted Cruz, wants to bar all Syrians from immigrating who are not Christians.” “Ted Cruz knows all about immigration, since he kept dual citizenship with Canada until last year when he was found out. But I agree totally – only Christians allowed in. So long Albert Einstein, Irving Berlin and, retroactively, Elizabeth Taylor.” “Don’t forget Barack Obama.” Al says. “A Pew Research Center survey found that 17 percent of Americans, including one third of conservative Republicans, think Obama is a Muslim, and one third think he was born outside the U.S. That’s double jeopardy. It is good to live in a country with so many intelligent and well-educated people. No wonder more Americans voted in the 2014

‘American Idol’ finals, 132 million, than voted in the 2014 Presidential election, 122 million. Well, I’d better go now. The curfew, you know. ” A few days later I drop by Al’s house to hand him a letter that had been mistakenly delivered to my house. It’s from the Dept. of Homeland – Terrorists Div. A stranger comes to the door. “Allah be praised. It’s the infidel from across the street. I am Ali’s visiting cousin, Akmed, also known as Mohammed, Jose and LeRoy, depending which passport check. Pardon my attire. I am just fitting for a new vest. Pockets holds 10, uh, hotdogs. Yes, that’s it, hotdogs in a bun. Ali not here, checking in with the Border Patrol, ICE and FBI. Weekly. He also needs a new battery for his ankle bracelet. Oh, let me show you a selfie I made recently in front of a sports stadium in Paris. Uh, selling hotdogs.” “Do you live in town?” “No, I am refugee, fleeing the bombs and bullets, the kidnappings and terrorism.” “Baghdad? Damascus?” “No, Chicago. Actually, I think I’ll move to Damascus. It’s safer.” That week I read a news report: “The federal Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act has been stalled for eight years because the NRA and GOP lawmakers oppose it. So a legal loophole allowed more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist to legally purchase weapons from 2004 and 2014.” Right! The feds start prohibiting firearm sales to known terrorists, and pretty soon they’ll be prying my howitzer from my cold, dead bunker. I ran into another neighbor, J.J. Beerbreath, at our school’s meeting of the PTA (Parents with Troubled Adolescents). “I hear you’re chummy with that Musler in the neighborhood. Do you know he prays five times a day? Even my preacher says that’s too much. And I hear he’s setting up a caliphate, or calcium, maybe it’s a California, in Running Rats Acres. That would mean wives must obey their husbands, and women can’t drive a car, and can’t buy anything without their husbands’ permission. I sent him twenty bucks.” Ashby refugees at ashby2@ comcast.net

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

SUDOKU

Dear Editor: The poll did not take into account the many Reagan graduates who died fighting for our country including their school. It would be a shame to take away some of their heritage. Howard Moon Dear Editor: We are the South, it is crazy to think that people will agree to change the names of 60 to 70 percent of the schools in this state. This is history you just can’t erase it like it didn’t exist. Being of Hispanic origin, I can understand this as this is what happened in Texas history to our heroes who fought alongside others. Karen Becerra Dear Editor: My alma mater was named after a man whose nickname was Mr. Democrat. What if Republicans were offended by that? Tom Zakes

Others weary of Texans influence in Washington

Dear Editor: I don’t agree with you that it

aCrOss

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26. Marsh elder 27. Horse noise 28. Contract research organization (abbr.) 29. Excessively ornamented 34. Engine additive 35. Small bite 36. Snakelike fish 37. They __ 39. Performance arena 40. Enact before an audience 41. Special interest group 42. Grows old 44. ConductorÕs implements 45. A heavy cavalry sword 46. Tropical shipÕs wood 47. A domed or vaulted recess 48. Lascivious look 51. Mentally quick and resourceful 52. La __ Tar Pits, Hollywood 53. Unstressedstressed 54. Celery cabbage 58. Wrong prefix

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Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Page 5A

Montessori from P. 1A also providing real application and real explanation on how they will be utilizing that information in their careers. “The focus of the adolescent program is to cultivate their communication skills with the academic portion itself,” Santana said. “Learning isn’t simply a process of memorization. It’s the ability to work with that information and apply it to their career. It’s such a fast paced world and it’s important students have flexibility with the knowledge they’ve received.” Tonya Knauth said her children who attend Garden Oaks Elementary are encouraged to go at their own pace but are always challenged. “They aren’t expected to wait for other children to master something but they also aren’t pushed ahead if they feel they haven’t gotten the hang of something yet,” Knauth said. She said that, even from the beginning, teachers emphasize independence with learning and also focus on time management skills at an early age. Having a high school program continue that form of learning benefits everyone involved,

Santana said. “I think it’s groundbreaking,” Santana said. “Being able to extend the Montessori program to the high school level has been years in the making and parents [at Garden Oaks and Wilson] have been looking for it for quite some time. As an educator, I have been excited as it gives us a chance to service their needs and it’s also innovative for our district. It’s important for us to reach out and have new approaches to education in our city.” Knauth’s son, Christopher, a seventh grader, said he is excited to be able to continue his education in the coming years at Waltrip’s new in-house Montessori program. He enjoys the self-directed work and small group projects and what he feels is a greater sense of purpose and responsibility in his schoolwork. Another benefit for students like Christopher is that they’ll also be able to participate in extra curricular programs at Waltrip like marching band and sports. “[The Waltrip program] wasn’t something

we expected,” Christopher said. “There is Post Oak, but we couldn’t pay for private school as the cost was ridiculous. Now that this is here, this is amazing.” Christopher’s favorite thing about Montessori learning? It’s all about the kids, he says. “If I’m one or two grades ahead in math, I can be one or two grades ahead,” Christopher said. “I don’t have to wait for the other children and do work that isn’t challenging. I’m constantly being challenged.” Stepping Stones Over the next month, officials with Friends of Montessori and HISD will begin establishing criteria for hiring two teachers and establishing some of the more technical side of implementing the program. Officials will also be looking for community partners such as businesses and other institutions, as another major aspect of a high school program are internship experiences. Mitchell also admitted he was surprised that

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approaching the superintendent and other district officials with the idea of adding the program was “easier than originally thought.” “It would be no different if I was looking to add some type of medical study program to our curriculum,” Mitchell said. “The biggest issue will be scheduling and certifications. We want to make sure we have block times for the program and we also want to offer choice but we also know our limitations.” McCosh said visits from current eighth graders and parents at some of the newly finished classrooms at Waltrip will also happen in the coming weeks and months. With the program beginning next year, Mitchell and other representatives of Friends of Montessori are looking forward to a new beginning at HISD. “This will be opening a whole new window of opportunity and we believe it will be very successful,” McCosh said.

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Q&A: Wainwright principal talks math, science at school By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com In an ongoing effort to spotlight all the principals at Leader area HISD schools, this week The Leader visited with Wainwright Elementary’s Christina Aguirre-Oliva. What has been your career path to principal? How long have you been in HISD? This is my 21st year in HISD. I started as a third grade teacher here at Wainwright Elementary. After 12 years I moved down the street as an administrator at Scarborough High School which was also my alma mater. After 5 years at Scarborough, I was the founding assistant principal at the Mandarin Chinese School in HISD. I became the principal here at Wainwright in August of 2013. Wainwright is a Math and Science Magnet? How is that reflected in the curriculum? We have three dedicated science teachers here at Wainwright who each work out of a fully functional science lab classroom. All of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students go to science as a separate class every day. K-2nd grade go to these labs once a week as part of their ancillary schedule. We

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are also a departmentalized school, which means our students have separate teachers for Math and ELA (English & Language Arts). This allows for a longer Math block and students receive extended instruction besides the recommended time allotments. This is your first year to be a dual language school. Why did you decide this was a direction you wanted to take the school in? Honestly, my experience helping open the Mandarin Chinese School had a huge impact on my decision. Having a program that allows students to become fluent in more than one language and learn about other cultures not only increases academic performance, but develops students into learners who can really contribute

to a city that represents a very diverse and global community. The benefits to students are long lasting and exceed beyond the classroom. My own daughter is in her fourth year at the Mandarin school and I see firsthand how quickly she is learning a second language and also academically how she is out performing her peers. I want that same success for my students here at Wainwright, so when the district offered the opportunity to became a dual language program for Spanish, I jumped at the chance.

Our dual language program will expand from kindergarten to include 1st grade, which we are very excited about.

You are also a Neighborhood Vanguard school. What percentage of students are classified G&T? What kind of instruction do they receive? Currently, 7% of our students are labeled as GT. We have testing beginning soon to identify additional students. All of our teachers are GT certified and students who are identified receive specialized instruction, mostly in the form of Project Based Learning.

What do you consider Wainwright’s main

Are there any misconceptions that you think people have about Wainwright that you would like to clear up? I think there have been concerns on whether Wainwright would continue to be a magnet school, and I’d like the community to know that there are no plans from the district to remove our magnet status.

strengths? I think that our main strengths are our unique scheduling that allows for three dedicated science teachers and daily, rigorous science instruction in a lab setting for our 3rd-5th graders. We also have very dedicated parents who volunteer a lot of time and materials to help our students and teachers have the very best. There has never been a time when we have asked for help and not received it. It is a wonderful thing. What is the main thing that the community can do to support you?

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Are there any other programs at Wainwright that you want people to know about? Our magnet and dual language program are our biggest programs. Currently we are accepting magnet applications for the upcoming school year.

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Klaybor Home 1615 Cortlandt Owners: Gayle & Michael Klaybor Built in 1927 Michael and Gayle Klaybor put their mark on the kitchen and baths of this many-times-over lovingly renovated 95-year-old home, which features a beautiful stained-glass window over the master bath and an 18th century fountain from a Japanese Shinto Temple in the backyard. Silkwood and Milnarich Home 706 Mosby Circle Owners: Chris Silkwood & Gary Milnarich Built in 1994 In keeping with the Italianate-style of homes on this reclaimed residential cul-desac, Chris Silkwood and Gary Milnarich contracted with Sterling Victorian Homes to build 706 Mosby Circle in 1994 on a 14,000-square-foot lot. Whitfield Home 915 Heights Boulevard Owners: Heather & Colby Whitfield Circa 1919 Newlyweds Colby and Heather Whitfield purchased this circa-1919 Queen Annestyle bungalow in 2009 and fully renovated and rightsized the home for a modern family in 2014. Taking great care to match original features both inside and out resulted in the Whitfield Home’s nomination for an HHA Community Improvement Award. This year’s tour headquarters will also be at the Historic Heights Fire Station, located at 107 W. 12th St., and will open one hour prior to the start of the tours. Shuttle rides are included with ticket purchases. Event organizers recommend parking at or near the Fire Station and riding the shuttles. Tickets purchased on tour days are $25 and no refunds are offered. Tickets will also not be sold at individual homes this year. For more information, visit www.houstonheights.org.

Where do you want Wainwright to be in 5 years? In five years, I want Wainwright to be a school with academic distinctions in all areas that is also the neighborhood school where all parents want

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Houston Heights Association readies for its annual Holiday Home Tour The Houston Heights Association will once again be “home for the holidays� as it celebrates this year’s Heights Holiday Home Tour. This year’s tour features four unique Heights homes “bedecked for the holidays with musicians, carolers, and special treats adding to the festivities.� The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 and 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5. Among the homes included in this year’s home tour:

We would love the community to learn more about our magnet and dual language programs so that they can inform others of what we have to offer. We also are always looking for community volunteers, especially to help read with students or work with our teachers on special projects that their classes have going on.

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REAGAN: SAVE THE NAME Reagan Friends, Our world has become such a uncertain, unstable place that it requires us to judiciously pick our battles. In the same way, most of us have to budget our time and our money. Frankly I would have previously said that fighting with the HISD school board, or any school board about anything other than the education of children, would not be worth either our time or money. However after further consideration of the current issue, I believe we would be neglecting our school, our alumni, our heritage, school law and common sense to not challenge the reasoning and motivating factors of those attempting to assume the right or authority to even attempt this action. Generally it will NOT be about the education of HISD students or the well being of the district or the particular school. It is about the publicity for the various board members and the furtherance of emphasizing “political correctness.� In the specific case of John Henninger Reagan, we have a notable, distinguished gentleman who served his state and nation well both before and after the horrible Civil War. He was the first judge of Henderson County, Texas and subsequently became the Judge representing the 9th Judicial District. Reagan was appointed the post master general for the Confederacy, was in charge of the Confederate Treasury for a little more than a month, prior to his capture along with former Texas Governor Francis R. Lubbock. Are we also looking to rename Lubbock?? Ultimately Reagan received a full pardon and was elected to serve this time as a United States Senator. Moving on, Reagan was appointed, by Governor James S. Hogg, to become the first chairman of the newly formed Railroad Commission of Texas. Under Reagan’s leadership and with the support of Governor Hogg, the Commission became an effective reality at the state level as a kind of extension of The Interstate Commerce Commission at the Federal level. This effort resulted in an enormous boon to the economic growth of our Texas Economy. John Reagan deserved and deserves to be honored by his State and the United States for his positive contributions to the people who elected him under a multitude of changing circumstances, including the tragedy of the Civil War. With all due respect, it would be a travesty to have his name dishonored by those whose individual contributions or those of most of us, pales by comparison to his. Personally, I recommend “going to the mats� on this issue if necessary. Perhaps it is an opportunity to educate our collective students, children and citizens at large about the not so subtle approach toward the direction of Anarchy encouraged by various factions in our society.

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It is also an opportunity, by taking this action, to honor the superb individuals who taught us to think, to study, to debate and intelligently discuss those things that are important. It is an opportunity to honor our Alumni who fought in every American Battle, some paying the ultimate price, since Reagan was established. With all the Bulldog fervor I can muster, Jim Smith Approved and paid for by Reagan: Save The Name

Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Page 7A

The calendar. STUDIO OPEN HOUSE AND SALE Houston Studio Glass Come to Houston Studio Glass, 610 Jackson Hill St., and check out handmade glass by Houston artists and glassblowing demonstrations. The preview reception will be from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 4. The 17th annual open house and demonstrations will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5. There will be extended shopping from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. Information: 713-802-0500, www.houstonstudioglass.com. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Oak Forest Homeowners Association Breakfast with Santa will be at the Candlelight Community Center, 1520 Candlelight Ln., from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 5. Aitu Pham Taube, Oak Forest Allstate Agent is sponsoring the event. In-Kind Sponsors are Susan Ericksen Kostelecky of SK Designs Custom Drapery will be providing Santa’s backdrop. Shipley Donuts will provide donuts and; Christy and Kelley McClosky Cupcake Bar will provide cupcakes. MOVIE IN THE PARK Oak Forest Homeowners Association Three movies for the price of Free at Oak Forest Park Dec. 5. Frosty the Snowman will be at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. with Charlie Brown Christmas, and 7 p.m. with Elf. Jonathan Kolmetz of Oaks Wealth Management

is sponsoring the event. Black Middle School and Waltrip High School will provide concession stands selling hot dogs, popcorn, candy, soft drinks and hot chocolate. Any child (under 13) who dresses like Buddy the Elf will receive a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream from Baskin Robbins. ART MARKET Houston Vineyard Cafe Several local artists will be featured in an Art Market at the Houston Vineyard Cafe, 1035 E. 11th St. The event will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. On display will be paintings, photography, art notecards, mixed media artwork, and hand crafted soaps. Each of the artists will be contributing part of their proceeds towards various charitable organizations. Information: 713-471-3621, www.penny4histhots.com. 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 ORGANIZATIONAL RALLY Reagan High School Alumni In protest of the proposed

From the Pews.

St. Rose of Lima School holds Holiday Market St. Rose of Lima School is hosting its annual Holiday Market from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5. Free admission. There will be more than 30 vendors. The Silent Auction features everything from the vendors. There will be pictures with Santa and concession stand. All proceeds benefit the Catholic school. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community is located at 3600 Brinkman Dr. Call 713-6910104 for information.

VIPs luncheon at St. Stephen’s Adults age 50+ are welcome to attend the VIPs luncheon, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m., in the fellowship hall. The cost is $8 per person and includes a chili lunch and entertainment. RSVP to the church by Dec. 7. A children’s Christmas program is 6 p.m. Dec. 13. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. St. Stephen’s UMC is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or visit www.stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page. Breakfast with Santa at Advent Lutheran Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be held at Advent Lutheran Church, 5820 Pinemont, from 8-10 a.m. Dec. 12. Bring a camera. Pictures available from 8:30-9:45 a.m. Advance ticket purchase requested. The cost for adults is

$6, Kids $3, and under 3 free. Call 713-686-8201 for information. Free pancake breakfast at St. Matthew’s The free monthly pancake breakfast will be held Dec. 5, 8:30-10 a.m., in the fellowship hall. A Birthday Party for Jesus, will be 3 p.m. Dec. 13. Bible Study “Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas,� will be held for the next four Sundays. St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is located at 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. For information, call 713-697-0671 or visit the website at www.stmatthewsmethodist.org. Christmas in the Woods presented by Kingdom Blue Productions Kingdom Blue Productions presents Christmas in the Woods, at 3 p.m. Dec. 5, at Acres Home Multi Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery 77091, 832-393-4145; Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. at the 5th Ward Multi Service Center, 4014 Market St. 77020, 832-393-3800. 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. Oak Forest Baptist presents Christmas Musical ‘Emmanuel’ The Celebration Choir of Oak Forest Baptist Church presents it’s Christmas Musical, “Emmanuel� Celebrating

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. MONTHLY HAPPY HOUR HYPO   Meet, network, socialize and make direct connections with other professionals. This month’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. December’s holiday event will include a tackiest sweater competition, winner takes home a prize. Bring a toy for the YMCA of Greater Houston annual toy drive. Information: 713-861-6735, www.heightschamber.com. FREE VACCINATIONS Children’s Museum of Houston Free immunizations will be given to children, 6 weeks to 18 years of age, every second Thursday of the month during Free Family Night, now through May 2016. The service is limited to the first 40 children. To qualify, guardians must bring their child’s

immunization records. Children must qualify for the Vaccines for Children Program. Pre-registration is not required. The next Free Family Night will be from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 10, at the Children’s Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz St. Information: 832-824-6780, www.cmhouston.org.

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.commitforlife.org.

FAJITA PLATE FUNDRAISER Waltrip Lady Rams Soccer Support the Lady Rams and buy a delicious fajita plate from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 12, at Waltrip High School, 1900 W. 34th St. Plate includes beef fajitas, rice, beans, potato salad and two corn tortillas. The cost is $8 per plate. Information: bbrittan@ houstonisd.org, 281-299-9149.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Northwest Mall Celebrate the holidays at Northwest Mall, 9500 Hempstead Hwy., and have breakfast with Santa at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 19. The breakfast is free to all children with the donation of two canned goods or a new unwrapped toy. Reservation is required. Children can also register to win a new bike.

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f you sometimes hear a popping noise when you move your jaw joints and have noticed a dull aching in your face or head, this may be caused by myofascial pain dysfunction. This is a common affliction of women under 40 years of age. It is characterized by pain in the temporomandibular or jaw joint and may also lead to headaches, toothaches, and painful limitation of the mouth opening. The condition should be examined promptly by your dentist so it can be corrected before the pain becomes more intense and affects other areas of your head. In extreme cases it may cause blurring of vision and hearing loss. Pain in the jaw joints or temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) can have many causes, such as improperly aligned teeth or the habit of teeth grinding or clenching. The goal of your dentist’s treatment will be to correct any dental problems that are causing TMJ, returning the jaw to its normal function and eliminating spontaneous muscle spasms in the jaw joint area. 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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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 5:00pm 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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PICTURES WITH SANTA Alli’s Pizzaria Come take a picture with Santa for the Holidays at Alli’s Pizzaria, 350 W. 19th St. The cost is $25 and includes two 4x6 prints, four wallet size and a digital copy via email. Picture taking will be from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20; then Monday Dec. 21, Tuesday Dec. 22 and Wednesday Dec. 23. Information: 713-360-6204.

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KRBE 104.1 with Special K will be there from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 12; and Gerardo Aparicio of El Norte 107.9 will be there 1-3 p.m. Dec. 19. Information: 713-681-1321, www.northwest-mall.com.

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Banish Fear and anger

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ear and anger are natural human emotions and it is perfectly appropriate to feel them in the appropriate circumstances. These emotions, which are closely allied with our bodies’ “fight or flight� reactions, are natural mechanisms for self-preservation. It is clearly a good thing to feel fear when in the presence of real danger or anger. Fear and anger are a bit like warning bells or alarms, telling us that we need to fight or flee, but sometimes the alarm is going off and there’s no real danger. Some politicians and certain media outlets are good at stoking fear and anger, and seem bent on keeping us in a perpetual state of fear and anger. If a tornado is heading your way, it’s probably appropriate to be fearful (and to get in the basement), but should we really be angry or fearful about national or international politics? We should not be passively resigned in the face of politics. People should be informed and get involved in local, state and national politics, but we need not get overly disturbed about it. The real problem with all of the fear and anger generated these days is how unproductive and debilitating it is. It keeps the talking heads happy, but it leaves the rest of us fearful, angry, and powerless to do much about it. So, perhaps we should keep our heads calm and unruffled, and save the fear and anger for when we really need it.

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Food, drink Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Page 9A

Art Valet

By Mitch Cohen

Arts Columnist

Go behind the scences with Heights artist

Visiting an artist studio is equal to going behind the scenes at a movie studio, or factory. Walking into James J Armentor’s studio is an overwhelming visual experience. A car takes up most of the space upon walking in and as Armentor leads the way through his process of creating, new rooms are around every corner – one with mirrors strategically placed to make the space appear larger. Heights resident Armentor grew up in Spring Branch and is a self-taught artist, specializing in the airbrush. He has worked hard at perfecting his craft, though, not exactly arriving where he is today by any traditional means. Armentor uses automotive paints for many of his projects, and has built an elaborate fan system to filter and remove the paint infused air from the room. A homemade spray booth has an outside air source so Armentor can breathe and wait out the short dry time after clear coating his work. “I like to tell people I have O.T.D., Obsessive Tinkering Disorder,” Armentor tells me about all of his homemade filters, fans and equipment. The mirrors, he said, are to keep his sanity after spending many hours painting, giving him the comforting illusion of space in an oth-

I airbrushed on t-shirts, jeans, and paper for a long time beginning as a teenager. Finally I think I just got frustrated with the limited technology of the time so I went back to pen and ink. I still do a lot of that today. I love it. You use to airbrush motorcycles, tell me about the transition to art on “canvas.” I wanted to paint my old ‘75 Duster. I did not know anything about automotive paint so I figured I’d dust off the old airbrush, looked at online forums and started grabbing any old sheet metal off my job sites – I was a fire sprinkler fitter at the time. So I started making trades for the metal I needed; I love horse trading. One day I was showing some of my artwork to other sprinkler fitters and one happened to

Featured art by James J Armentor Art entitled Dualing Dreams.

erwise very small space where he creates. How did you get started as with the airbrush? My dad says as soon as I could hold a pencil I started drawing. My mom and dad were always very supportive, but I was a complete loner when it came to art. I think being a loner, however, really allowed me to have a unique style even if it may have slowed my progress as an artist somewhat. I’ve always loved airbrush. I liked traditional painting, especially water color. I think I always loved machines and technical things, as well, and airbrush is very technical.

Featured at by James J Armentor Art entitled Top Side Down.

be an old biker. Cliff was a very, very, very persistent man. He loved the dragon I had painted on sheet metal. He really pestered me about painting a motorcycle tank he had laying around for a Harley Davidson Sportster. I kept telling him I really was not interested, that I did not ride and did not want to paint motorcycles at all. Well, Cliff got his way, one thing led to another, I started posting pictures of the tank online and, bam, customers started rolling in. All of a sudden I was airbrushing whole bikes, working with professional body men and motorcycle builders, both custom and semi-custom, and doing bike shows. I was still painting fine art when I could. It was a wild ride. But then I got burned out; I wanted to paint what I wanted. Armentor will be a guest artist at First Saturday Arts Market this Saturday, keep up with him on his blog and website: artfreewill.com armentorart.com.

Nibbles

New menu additions at The Durham House By Christina Martinez christina@theleadernews.com

New dining hours

11th Annual Heights Holiday Market Also this week, an event that hits a little close to home, my cousin will be setting up for this year’s Heights Holiday Market. This year’s market will be from 11-5 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 935 Harvard Street 77008. The market will be filled with local artists, gifts and crafters alike.

If you attend the market, look for my cousin, Kim Martinez, with her colorful hand beaded jewelry and prayer bowls by the Huichol Indians of Mexico and more of her great finds from this year’s family adventures in Mexico. Holiday on 19th I mentioned last week about shopping local and this weekend presents another opportunity at the shops on 19th Street in the Heights. The 19th Street merchants proudly invite you to this year’s Holiday on 19th. Shop, sip, and stroll with family and friends to enjoy the merriment of the season with music, food and more. The sip and stroll starts from 6-10 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 19th Street between Shepherd and Yale Street. Reinbeer games Something a little outside from shopping, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. will be hosting their 2nd Annual Reinbeer games. A Houston microenterprise, The Community Cloth, has made it their mission to empower refugee women in Houston. Along with providing means and needs to remain a well woman, The Community Cloth also supports them and helps in creating and selling handmade, indigenous arts and crafts such as woven bags, knitted scarves, household items and more.

From 12-3 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 5, find handmade goods with a Buffalo Bayou Beer in hand. The event is donation based off of how giving you feel and how many beers you’d like to enjoy while shopping. Check out their eventbrite for donation suggestions and tickets

https://www.eventbrite. com/e/reinbeer-games-forthe-community-cloth-tickets19607050215 Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. is located at 5301 Nolda St. Cheers! Email christina@theleadernews.com and follow on Twitter @ThirstyExplorer

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North Houston’s 50 Year Tradition Contributed photo The Frisse Salad, a new lunch item at The Durham House.

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Treadsack opens third restaurant, Bernadine’s This week, the local restaurant group, Treadsack, opened its sixth concept, Bernadine’s at 1801 N. Shepherd 77008. Bernadine’s will be open for dinner Monday through Sunday and brunch on Saturday and Sunday, with lunch service scheduled to begin in January 2016.

Spaghetti Thursday

5

Town In City launches Wing Wednesday Over at the Heights microbrewery, something new is coming out of their food truck, Tied House Kitchen, on Wednesday’s wings. Every Wednesday, grab six Korean gochujang wings (sweet and savory red

Art And Craft Market Over at Ladybirds bar, catch local artists displaying art, handmade crafts, and good conversation. The event kicks off from 7-10 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4. There will be live music, and complimentary cheese and wine. Visit Ladybirds at 5519 Allen St. 77007.

I-4

Tuesday and Wednesday - 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday - 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday - 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last seating; kitchen closes at 5 p.m.)

By Christina Martinez Managing Editor

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Contributed photo Hand beaded prayer bowls by the Huichol people of Central Mexico.

James in the “clean room,” Armentor’s homemade Cohen is the founder and manager of First spray booth, wearing his own version of a respiSaturday Arts Market. Contact him at ArtValet@ rator that feeds in fresh air from outside. gmail.com or visit him on the web at ArtValet.

Just this week, the newly revamped Durham House, previously Woodrow’s Heights, launched their lunch and brunch menu. So what’s on the menu? You can select from several offerings specific to lunch, as well as items showcased on their small plates and dinner menus. The lunch menu will also offer a prix fixe, three-course option where customers can choose from select salads or soups, entrees and desserts. The Durham House will also be opening their doors and patio to guests this Sunday, December 6, as they unveil their new brunch menu with dishes boasting fresh, local seasonal fare.

Thirsty Explorer Just this week, my phone gave me an alert that wasn’t your typical reminder. A girl friend of mine scheduled a reminder in my phone to send my Christmas list to her - she’s a little adamant on lists, and to say the least, I am behind on making my list and checking it twice. This weekend, there are some great options to get a jump start on holiday shopping in the neighborhood, and, of course, several include a sip and stroll. Here’s a few to plan out the weekend.

Armentor in his studio, demonstrating some of his techniques.

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Christmas Worship Page 10A • Saturday, December 5, 2015

These People Are Us (Matthew 1:1-17) Rev. Laura Mayo Covenant Church

My genealogy is not my destiny. Yes, the generations that have come before me through blood, through adoption, through second marriage, through spirit, through friendship, through connection and disconnection impact my life and who I am but they don’t make me, they don’t define me, they free me as much as they limit me. I must find a path carrying what is helpful and dropping what is not. This seems to be the message the first chapter of Matthew is trying to convey as the stage is set for the birth of Jesus. The author does some unusual things with ‘so and so begat so and so’ in order to draw our attention to relationships. Matthew’s genealogy shows connection much more than simple bloodlines. Matthew is focused on Joseph. Luke is the source of Mary’s Magnificat and angels visiting Mary. Luke contains the stories of babies leaping in wombs and traces Mary’s family tree.1 But, in Matthew’s telling of the Christmas story, it is Joseph, not Mary, who has a dream and is given the interesting news that Mary is pregnant “from the Holy Spirit.” It is Joseph whose ancestors are named. It is Joseph who holds in his woodworn hands the right to have Mary stoned to death. Matthew begins with Abraham. Then, there’s Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and on an on. Matthew’s audience would have known the stories when they heard the names but our First Testament knowledge may not be quite as good.

For those of us who don’t remember: Abraham was a liar who was willing to kill his own son. Isaac was a liar (told an almost identical lie as his dad – he should have read Friedman’s Generation to Generation). Jacob was a liar and a conniving cheater. Interestingly, in Matthew’s malefocused telling of Jesus’ genealogy, more theology than genetics, five women appear. The first woman named is Tamar. Tamar was the widowed daughter-in-law of Judah who disguised herself as a prostitute in order to conceive a child with Judah. (Her story is told in Genesis 38.) The second woman mentioned is Rahab who is identified as a prostitute and a Gentile living in Jericho. She gave hospitality to the Jewish spies who came to Jericho and hid them from the king of Jericho who wanted to kill them. (Her story is found in Joshua 2 and 6.) Rahab, like Tamar, used creativity to make her way in a world with precious few choices for women. She then married Salmon and had a son, Boaz. Boaz married Ruth, the third woman mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Ruth was a widow and a Moabite. She loved her mother-in-law, Naomi. Her words to Naomi are used in many wedding vows: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Like the women before her, Ruth had limited choices. Yet, she used the resources available to her and made a way. Planning with her mother-in-law, Naomi, she seduces Boaz and gains another mother-inlaw, Rahab. I can only imagine the conversations had by Naomi, Ruth,

and Rahab. The fourth woman mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy is not actually named. She is referred to only as “Uriah’s wife.” This phrasing is certainly intentional. Bathsheba was Uriah’s wife when King David saw her and took her and then had her husband killed. Bathsheba is often referred to as an adulteress but that term implies choices that, given power and status differences, were likely not available to her.2 It is through Bathsheba that the line of decedents is carried first to Solomon and then on and on until the fifth and final woman mentioned in this genealogy: Mary. Mary is mentioned in this genealogy simply as wife to Joseph and mother to Jesus. Joseph’s grandmothers shout out from the confines of socially accepted silence to pave the way for his acceptance of Mary and Jesus. Joseph is descended from a line of very strong, resilient, loyal, resourceful, and faithful women. He is descended from powerful women each surrounded by their own sexual scandal. Does family lore enable Joseph to accept this fifth woman mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy - this fifth woman who is found to be pregnant before she is married? Although I would like to make this story neat and tidy and declare that Joseph is Jesus’ biological father, the story really won’t let me do that. If Joseph were the dad, I feel it safe to assume he would not hesitate to proceed with his planned marriage to Mary – they were engaged before she got pregnant, after all. After pondering what to do, Joseph has a dream and after waking decides to heed the dream by making Mary his wife and claiming the child as his own. I wonder why Matthew chooses to focus on the details of the mysterious paternity of Jesus – hasn’t he ever heard of being vague – letting people draw their own conclu-

sions – how many people really take the effort to count the months between the wedding and the baby’s birth? Luke’s Gospel manages to tell the entire Christmas story without mentioning the questionable paternity of Jesus. Was Matthew dealing with an early rumor, one that asserted a Roman soldier raped Mary?3 If it is Matthew’s goal to squelch rumors surrounding Jesus’ paternity, it is interesting that he begins his story with a genealogy full of sexual impropriety. The Christmas story is tinged with scandal. Was there really no room in any of the inns or were the young couple being shunned, sent off, and turned away to be with the animals where they belonged? Our interpretation of the stories of Jesus might shift as we consider a Jesus who grew up amidst rumors of scandal and pointed insults. Jesus’ protection of the woman caught in adultery, for example, takes on a new level of intensity: “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). These are the words of the great-grandson of Bathsheba. The Gospels tell us that the adult Jesus is mocked and ridiculed. He is abused for spending his time with sinners and prostitutes. Jesus comes to the defense of the poor, the widowed, the outcast, again and again. Perhaps Mary and Joseph made sure he knew the stories of his ancestors. Perhaps he had learned through family secrets that resourcefulness and creativity are often unorthodox. Jesus had a history and a family and that mattered. It didn’t matter most. Consider Matthew, chapter 12: “While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’* But Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And point-

All are welcome

ing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” Or in Matthew 16 when Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?” Doesn’t he know? Oh he knows and everyone else knows, too. He’s that boy from those people. Jesus’ compassion for the outcasts comes from somewhere. We’ve made the Christmas story sentimental. We’ve decided that barns smell like evergreen trees rather than steaming manure. We’ve ignored the implications of scandal, both recent and generations old. It is not a comfortable story that creates Jesus. Oh no, the man who stands on a mountain and proclaims “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you” knows what it is to be insulted – knows what it is to come from a family with members society labels disgraceful (Matthew 5). Jesus is making his own way – a way steeped in history but not confined by it. There’s a lot of brokenness and a lot of pain in Jesus’ family tree. There’s a lot of love and loyalty, too. In Joseph’s dream, the angel tells him to name the baby, Jesus “for he will save his people from their sins.” Perhaps Jesus saves us from our sins, not by dying on a cross, but by sitting with us, by

knowing what it is to be shamed, by refusing to let scandal and the opinions of others determine his actions. Perhaps this is the salvation of a God with us. From the very beginning, the stories of Jesus give us a way to understand God as relational – a God like us who knows what it is to be ridiculed and embarrassed; a God like us who knows what is to love and be loved; a God like us with family – with history – with a family system full of connection and disconnection, creativity and dysfunction, skeletons and role models, mistakes repeated again and again and some lessons learned. This Advent, as you dust off the shepherds and the wise ones, as you place the angels and the animals, consider the ancestry of Jesus – consider that the God we meet in the life of Jesus knows all about human frailty and dysfunction, knows all about creativity and survival, knows all about connection and disconnection. As you decorate with garlands and bows, consider that the Christmas story is challenging. It is full of love that smells like a barn full of black sheep. It is full of love that sounds like a crying baby conceived out of wedlock. Christmas love knows what it is to be sent out back away from the respectable people. It teaches compassion and chooses mercy. This love creates a savior who is with us – who is one of us. Amen.

Methodist St. Stephen’s United Church

Sun. Dec. 20

11am - Lessons & Carols Service 4pm - Blue Christmas Service

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Communion Service

Christmas Eve - 6:30 pm Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion Sunday Services 8:30am & 10:30am Wednesday Service 6:30pm

Dec. 24th - 4:30 pm & 7pm (Nursery provided)

2003 W. 43rd St. • 713-686-8241 • www.stsumc.org

211 Byrne • www.holytrinityrec.org

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

Covenant Church

an ecumenical liberal baptist congregation Rev. Laura Mayo

4949 Caroline St. 77004 www.covenanthouston.org Worship Sundays @ 9:00 & 11:00 am

First Church

Heights

“the place where YOU belong”

December 6th @ 10:30am

A.B. Anderson Academy Children’s Violin Performance

December 13th @ 10:30am Holy EucHarist HOLY EUCHARIST

Sundays at 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM

Sundays at 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM

advEnt lEssons & carols December 6 at 5:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE December 24 at 5:30 cHristmas EvEPM & 10:30 PM

All SAintS CAtholiC ChurCh

December 24 at 5:30 PM & 10:30 PM

CHRISTMAS DAY cHristmas day

December2525atat10:00 10:00 AM December AM

FCHeights Children’s Christmas Program

December 24th @ 6:00pm

Open Candlelight Communion

201 E. 9th St 713-861-3102 www.fbcheights.org Follow Us On

Pastor C David Harrison

ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1819 HEIGHTS BOULEVARD | SAECHEIGHTS.ORG

© Seraphic Icons, “Trinity” Icon by Robert Lentz, OFM Courtesy of TrinityStores, www.trinitystores.com 800-969-4482

Saturday, December 12

Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe 5:00 a.m. Las Mañanitas 6:00 a.m. Mass • 5:30 p.m. Mass

Saturday, December 19 - Children’s Live Nativity

AdVEnT SEASon AT THE VinEyArd

5:30 p.m. Mass 6:30 p.m. Posada Event Parish Hall

Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. Family Mass 7:00 p.m. Mass in Spanish 10:00 p.m. “Midnight Mass” in English

Friday, December 25, Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. Christmas Mass

Sábado, 12 de Diciembre, Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe 5:00 a.m. Las Mananitas 6:00 a.m. Misa 5:30 p.m. Misa en ingles

Sábado, 19 de diciembre, Natividad en Vivo de los Niños

Vineyard Church of Houston 1035 East 11th Street, Houston, TX 77009 Sundays 10 & 11:30am houstonvineyard.org

SCheDule

Wed Advent ServiceS Dec 9, 16th - 7:00 PM

4:00 p.m. Misa Familiar 8:00 p.m. Misa en español 10:00 p.m. Misa en ingles

chriStmAS eve cAndlelight Dec 24th - 6:00 pm

La Natividad del Señor Misa a las 10:00 am Ingles

chriStmAS dAy Service Dec 25th - 9:30 am

25 de Diciembre, Navidad

Vineyard Church of Houston 1035 East 11th Street, Houston, TX 77009 Sundays 10 & 11:30am houstonvineyard.org

Join us this Christmas season to worship our Lord and Savior at a traditional service in a sanctuary that was built for Christmas

5:30 p.m. Misa en ingles 6:30 p.m. Posada en el Salón de la Parroquia

Jueves, 24 de diciembre, Noche Buena

Vineyard Church of Houston 1035 East 11th Street, Houston, TX 77009 Sundays 10 & 11:30am houstonvineyard.org

& School A hAven for believers of biblicAl TruTh

All weekend masses at regular times 5:30 p.m; 8:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.

215 East 10th • Houston TX 77008 713-864-2653

www.allsaints.us.com facebook.com/allsaintshouston

5000 WeSt tidWell

Between Antoine & T.C. Jester 713-290-9087 www.osl.cc

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