Inside Today: A list of great Christmas shopping ideas, from A-to-Z • Page 4A Don’t Forget To Do Your Christmas Shopping at ������������������
10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350
SATURDAY | December 14, 2013 | Vol. 60 | No. 7 | www.theleadernews.com | @heightsleader
TXDOT’s razing irks Lazybrook
THE BRIEF. www.allenSOLDit.com
sponsored by
by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com
������������ ���������������
832.419.9969
Shepherd Forest taking improvements in stride Shepherd Forest Civic Club president John Weber said the City’s Water Line Replacement in his neighborhood is going smoothly. “Some residents are hardly affected, and some are very affected,” Weber said. “But after the work, everything is replaced to its original (setting). (The work) is a mess in the beginning, but it’s called progress.” Weber said Shepherd Forest hasn’t received any complaints about the $2.9 million project, which is set to be completed in May 2014. He noted that the civic club monitors and addresses complaints that are brought to their attention. McKinney Construction Inc. is the contractor for the project, which began last summer.
Lazybrook Civic Club beautification chair Carolyn Lehnert stands at the intersection of W. T.C. Jester and Loop 610 where 50 small trees and a neighborhood sign were taken down. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)
Traffic conditions aren’t the only problem in the Loop 610 construction area. Members of the Lazybrook Civic Club were displeased with the Texas Department of Transportation removing its welcome sign and about 50 small trees from a median near the intersection of the Loop and W. T.C. Jester last month. “We didn’t have any notice,” Lazybrook president Richard Akin said. TXDOT responded to the Lazybrook Civic Club by saying the trees will be re-planted
and the sign restored when the construction is completed in late 2014 or early 2015. Still, members of the civic club were irked that they were not notified beforehand. “We could have moved the trees, and they could have survived,” said Carolyn Lehnert, the civic club’s Beautification chair. In an e-mail to Lazybrook vice president Marc Cougle, TXDOT wrote: “The contractor is moving at a fast pace to complete the North Loop reconstruction between W. T.C. Jester and Ella and began work on the traffic control implementation before we were able to communicate with the neighborhood association. Any future work that will
impact your neighborhood will be relayed to your civic club representative.” Lehnert said all of the money raised for beautification efforts came from donations. She said planting the trees cost approximately $3,000 and the sign another $1,500. Cougle hopes the trees and sign will be restored, but he’ll believe it when it happens. “Based on previous experiences, they never live up to their promises,” Cougle said. Lazybrook resident Bob Barnard, however, said he’s confident that everything will be restored as promised, especially with the area’s representation of city councilmember Ellen Cohen and State Rep. Sarah Davis.
POPPING THE CORK
by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com
�������������
���������������������� ������������ ��������������� ������������������
���������������� � ����������
�������������������������
GET READY We’re about to start the search for the cutest pets in the area. Details soon.
LEADER LOVEABLES What
Can YFindOUInside
EXPERIENCED BILINGUAL CAREGIVER to care for your loved one. Full-time, part-time or occasional. 281-787-2388. ALTERATIONS: Reasonable. Pick up and delivery. Charlotte, 713-6940003. HANDYMAN SAVES YOU MONEY: Plumbing, electrical, carpentry. 281660-0350. I CLEAN HOUSES: Good references. Free estimates. 832-964-4892.
THE INDEX.
Public Safety Hipstrict Topics Obituaries Coupons Puzzles Sports Classifieds
2A 3A 5A 7A 6A 5A 8B 6B
Oak Forest considers starting a Chamber
Andy Adams, who has operated other bars in the area, is now settled at the Corkscrew on W. 20th Street where the crowd imitates much of the community – over 30 and laid back. (Photo by Betsy Denson)
Adams finds a niché serving up drinks, music to expanding area by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com What Andy Adams thought was just going to be a quick trip to Cedar Creek to grab a cup of coffee turned into something much bigger. Stuck in traffic, he saw a lease sign at West 20th Street and knew the realtor. While most people might not be able to look past the washateria and the shuttered (as well as infamous) La Bola Loca nightclub that were currently there, Adams saw opportunity. In 2011, he opened The Corkscrew in that location and has been enjoying big business ever since. Leader readers recently voted The Corkscrew the best live music bar, and the Houston Press editorial team voted it best Wine Bar 2013. “The development in the area blows me out of the water,” he said. “There’s a lot of room for growth.” Not that there weren’t some roadblocks along the way. When he applied for his liquor license Adams had to wait because there was an open murder investigation at the address from the former nightclub. And the building wasn’t exactly move in ready. “My brother and I spent the night and scraped off the asbestos glue by hand,” he said. “I’d been through this before, so unfor-
tunately, we knew what we had to do.” It’s Adams’ previous experience that makes him so successful now and though he says he’s “too old to do anything else”, it is clear he loves his current gig. It’s in his blood. His family immigrated to Houston from Sicily in 1903 and settled on Houston Avenue, one block north of Washington Avenue, before eventually moving to the Heights and then again to the Lazybrook/Timbergrove area. His great-grandfather Anthony Piazza had a place on Houston Avenue that was a coffee shop in front and a bar in the back to serve the men working on the nearby trains. Adams opened the first Corkscrew in a former brothel and boarding house on Washington in 2006 prior to it becoming the nightlife mecca it is now. “Before the condos went up, you could see my family’s old house from the Corkscrew.” He also opened The Washington Avenue Drinkery in 2009. Now, the 20th Street Corkscrew is his only nightlife endeavor. Unlike the previous Washington Avenue bars, the demographic of the current Corkscrew is mostly 30 and up and according to Adams, “a little more laid back.” The Corkscrew obviously serves wine but also cocktails as well as craft beers and Texas whiskey. They serve food too but as Adams said, “I
see Corkscrew • Page 10A
The need for security raised the issue, but other factors are involved in Oak Forest business owners discussing the possibility of a Chamber of Commerce. Insurance agent David Lorms is leading the effort among Oak Forest business owners. “Some studies indicate that if a business belongs to a local Chamber of Commerce, it communicates that the business is using good business practices and is looked upon more favorably,” Lorms said. “And, as a member of a Chamber, local businesses have a united voice in regard to local government issues as well. It’s a great avenue to acquire business referrals too.” Some Oak Forest businesses are members of the Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce. Greater Heights chamber president Terry Burge declined to comment on the possibility of an Oak Forest chamber. But Oak Forest Homeowners Association board member Lucy Fisher-Cain said the discussion may ultimately produce something like a business association, rather than
How cool is this?
see Chamber • Page 10A
Two local businessmen, exact same name
Let’s try this again
by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com They both grew up in The Leader area. They both went to private school. They currently live in Timbergrove. And they share the same first, middle and last name. Surprisingly, the two Andrew Allan Adams weren’t aware of each other until they started using the same dry cleaner – with its ensuing mix-ups – and they’ve only run into each other a few times since. The other Andy Yes. Andy Adams Adams likes to say that he hasn’t gone very far in life. He was born in Heights Hospital, a stones’ throw from Adams Insurance, which his grandfather founded in 1947. Adams’ father came on board in 1964 and Adams himself started with the company in 2002. He attended Our Savior Lutheran and
see Adams • Page 10A
Funny we should see you here again. Last week, if you happened to catch your late-arriving copy of The Leader, you probably realized we had a bit of a glitch with your paper. So here’s what happened: We promoted (in this same space) our annual program called “Voluntary Contributions.” We told you an envelope would be inside, and that if you wanted to take part, you could open your paper and find a letter from me. It’s no fun to promote something that doesn’t happen, and there’s actually a reason. Those letters got stuck on a truck in Tenbucktwo – or somewhere like that. We did what any reasonable newspaper would do: We waited. And then we waited a little more. Finally, with no delivery of the 30,000 letters, we began throwing your newspapers on Friday. While a few of you received the letters, 28,000 of you didn’t. So please accept my apologies for publishing something that didn’t happen. I can promise the letter is there today, because I’m holding one. And if it’s a program that interests you, and you want to save on the stamp, feel free to stop over at our website, www.theleadernews.com, where we have a button at the top right that says “Support The Leader.” Jonathan McElvy Publisher