Leader 12-27 B

Page 1

Page 1B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • @heightsleader

The Hottest Part of Houston

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Half of all home sales are here H ousing marketsin Leader neighborhoods continued to soar in November –both in numberssold and prices–while the entire H ouston arearegistered unprecedented salesand sent the housing supply to its lowest level in 12 years. Altogether, in The Leader’s 77007, 77008, 77009,77018,77091 and 77092 ZIP codes,2,439 houses sold in N ovember, up from 1,881 last year at that time,according to monthly fi gures provided to TheLeaderby the H ouston Association of Realtors.That accounted for nearly half the home sales in the H ouston area. The H eights’77008 Z IP showed sales of 760

homes,up nearly a third over last year,with average price increasing 4 percent to $346,000. The Washington C orridor’s77007 ZIP code posted a 47 percent increase in sales, with 649 houseschanging hands,compared to 441 in November 2011.Price increase wasa negligible 0.1 percent, just a tad shy of the $400,000 average mark. In the 77009 Z IP,there was an 18 percent increase in sales, up to 330 over the same month last year,with a 6 percent gain in the value of an average home sale to $275,000. TheO ak Forest-G arden O aks77018 ZIP con-

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tinued itshot streak with 454 salesfor 20 percent growth overNovember2011.Andvaluesjumped again,too,up 15 percent.The average price has now broken the $300,000 mark,up to $306,000 over a $266,000 average this time last year. In the77091 ZIP,75 homeschanged hands,for a 12 percent gain and an average price increase of 7 percent, while 77092 showed a 22 percent jump with 171 sales.It wasthe only Leader-area ZIP showing a decrease in average value,with a 5 percent drop to $133,000.

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by Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader

MILDRED HOLEMAN REALTY The OďŹƒce with a Heart

As she walked around an open house in O ak Forest thistime last year,Tracy Brandon knew exactly what she wanted to do with the out-of-date place to make it her own. For starters: Repaint. Remove the popcorn texture on the ceiling. Rip out the three types of fl ooring.And then develop a plan for more ambitious changes to be deployed as time and budget dictated. But that’snot how thingsplayed out.After some planning that“went bold and then culled back to theimportantstuff,�Brandon ultimatelyplunged into a to-the-studsrenovation that all but gutted the 4 bedroom, 1-bath home. The transformation shifted the“too-good-toknock-down�propertyfrom astandard ’50s-vintage ranch-style home into one she calls“Modern French C ountry with H ollywood G lamor and a Texas Flair.� “I hadn’t thought I’d do it all at once,�said the homeowner,who hasbeen in place since August following the fi ve-month morph.“It is nice not having a constant project,�Brandon later wrote in a project summary.“I am happy to live in peace in the fi nal product.� As a supply chain manager in the oil and gas industry,Brandon isa seasoned negotiator.That skill proved useful in the bidding and fi nancing of her remodeling project and in acting as the general contractor,a role that turned referee at times as subcontractors clashed. WhileBrandon’sscopeof work had pulled back from raising the mid-century ceilings,the project did modernize the fl ow between rooms and, in some cases,repurposed space.The original halfbath/half laundry room,for example,isnow the master bath and part of a master suite captured from the back bedroom and hallway.

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Page 2B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • @heightsleader

(AVE ! 3AFE (APPY .EW 9EAR

Close & Aordable

Townhomes are hot commodity by Susan Love Fitts For The Leader Townhomeshave become one of the trendiest features on the H ouston housing market. With the construction of townhomes on the rise in many popular neighborhoods,residents are considering their optionsfor a house with a smaller footprint. Steve Bland, an agent for Better H omes and G ardensReal Estate G ary G reene’sInner Loop offi ce,said many of hisbuyersultimately opt to buy atownhouseinstead of singlefamily homes. “In the H ouston Inner Loop area,townhouses are hot,�Bland said.“M y buyers this year have settled on townhomes 58 percent of the time, and half of those were new construction.� M any factors are attracting buyers to townhomes: 1.Closer to the action. Bland said most of his buyers want to live closer to work or to their sociallife.Townhomesarepopping up in locations that are close to the city - near all that H ouston has to offer. Eliminating the need to struggle with highway traffi c is an added plus. 2. More affordable. The cost of land in the Inner Loop isdriving up the price of single family homes,Bland said.“My clientsmay initially ask to see single family homes,but they quickly realize that they can get a lot more house for their money with a townhouse,�he said.Bland explained that a typical single family home lot is 5,000 square feet or more,while townhousesal-

Steve Bland low buildersto place two or even more homeson the same amount of land.“The cost of that land is half of what it would be for the single family home,� he said. “C onsequently,the home hasa smaller footprint and has to build up rather than out to achieve the desired living space. If there’sa yard at all, it’s fairly small - just what city dwellers want.� 3.Lowmaintenance.The amount of exterior maintenancecan besignifi cantly lessforatownhome - saving homeowners time and money. “Manyclientsareactuallylooking specifi cally foratownhouse,becausetheydon’twanttheupkeep responsibilitiesof a large yard,�Bland said.

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“M aybe they’ve had a house in the suburbsand realize they had an unintended second job taking care of the lawn and landscaping.� Still,Bland believesthat most townhomesoffer enough outdoor space. “They may have multiple patiosoff of the living area or master bedroom, or a huge deck on the roof,�he said.“M any do have great backyard space,big enough for a cookout or even a small pool.� 4. Sophisticated style. N ewly built townhouses often have nicer features and a more contemporary style,Bland added.H e said that during the past decade,the typical fl oor plan for a townhouse includesan entry hall,garage and one bedroom on the fi rst fl oor, with all of the publicspace(diningroom,livingroom,kitchen) on the second fl oor,and a generousmaster and a second bedroom on the third fl oor.“Thisfl oor plan workswell for coupleswith no children or only one-which coversa lot of the market in the Inner Loop,� he said.“But it may not be a great fl oor plan if you have two children and you want them each to have their own room.� Recently,Bland said he hasseen a lot more traditional fl oor plans- with the garage and public roomson the fi rst fl oor and all three bedrooms on the second fl oor.“Buyers love taking their groceriesdirectly from the garage to the kitchen, and they like living on two fl oorswithout having to climb up one fl oor fi rst,� he said. With better layoutsand more affordable prices,townhomeshave become a popular option.

year in November,making up 15.0 percent of all property sales. This is seen as a likely refl ection of the continued slowdown in the sales of homes priced under $80,000. The median price of N ovember foreclosuresticked up 1 percent to $81,100. N ovember sales of all property types in H ouston totaled 5,891, a 27.9 percent increase over the same month lastyear.Totaldollarvolume for properties sold in N ovember climbed 41.2 percentto $1.3 billion versus $926 million a year earlier.

November Monthly Market Comparison November brought H ouston’s overall real estate market positive resultswhen all salescategoriesare compared to November2011.O n a year-over-yearbasis,totalproperty sales,total dollar volume and average and median pricing all rose. M onth-end pending sales for N ovember totaled 3,267. That is up 8.4 percent from last year and signalsthe likelihood of continued gains when D ecember property sales data are totaled. H owever, it is a signifi cantly smaller increase than lastmonth’s24.6 percentyearover-year gain in pending salesand suggests an easing in the pace of sales.Active listings,or the number of available properties, at the end of Novemberdeclined 19.0 percent from N ovember 2011 to 36,539. H ousing inventory in H ouston hasremained below a fi ve-month supply since August of this year, dropping in N ovember to 4.1 monthsfrom 6.2 monthsayearearlier.That isthe lowest level recorded locally since D ecember 2000. By contrast, the highest months inventory in recent history was8.2 in June 1996. For perspective, the nationalinventoryof single-family homesis5.4 months,according to the NationalAssociation of REALTO RS.

Single-Family Homes Update

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Townhouse/Condo Update

November salesof single-family homesin Houston totaled 4,978,up 27.3 percentfrom November2011. That marks the 18th consecutive monthly increase. Broken out by housing segment, November salesperformed asfollows: • Up to $1 - $79,999: decreased 2.6 percent • $80,000 - $149,999: increased 17.2 percent •$150,000 - $249,999:increased 34.0 percent •$250,000 - $499,999:increased 44.4 percent •$500,000 - $1 million and above: increased 50.2 percent The average price of a single-family home rose 10.5 percent from last year to $228,275, the highest level for a NovemberinHouston.At$167,000, the median sales price for singlefamily homes also achieved a record high for a November in Houston,up 8.1 percent year-over-year. H AR also breaks out the sales performance of existing singlefamily homes throughout the H ouston market. In N ovember 2012, existing home sales totaled 4,143,a 32.1 percent jump from the same month last year.The average sales price rose 11.7 percent yearover-year to $215,396.The median sales price increased 11.8 percent to $154,000.

November salesof townhouses and condominiums soared 39.6 percent from one year earlier. A total of 441 units sold last month versus316 propertiesin November 2011.The average price increased 8.3 percent to $187,500 while the median price declined a fractional 0.4 percent to $135,000. M onths inventory dove 36.6 percent yearover-year to 4.7 monthscompared to 7.4 months in November 2011.

Lease Property Update D emand was up for H ouston’s lease property market in November.Rentalsof single-family homes climbed 16.5 percent compared to November 2011,while year-overyear townhouse/condominium rentals rose 18.5 percent. The average rent among singlefamily lease homes and townhouse/condominiumsincreased year-over-year but is down from the summer.The November average rent for a single-family home was $1,517 and $1,397 for a townhome/condo.

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May the warmth and joy of Christmas bring us closer together

Records • from Page 1B The accelerated pace in home sales and the added demand sent average and median home prices to historic highsfor a November in H ouston. According to H AR,single-family home salesachieved the second highest monthly year-over-year percentage increase of 2012,rising 27.3 percent compared to November 2011.Thismarksthe H ouston area’s 18th consecutive month of positive sales.C ontractsclosed on 4,978 homes, driving inventory down to 4.1 months,a level last observed in D ecember 2000. All housing segmentssaw gains in Novemberexcept forthelow end of the market –those homespriced at $80,000 and below. H omes priced from $250,000 through the millions registered the greatest salesvolume and accounted for the month’s jump in prices. “H omesare selling at an unusually hefty pace for this time of year, and that has left fewer properties on the market and driven up prices,â€? said Wayne A. Stroman, H AR chairman and C EO of Stroman Realty.“With continued local job growth and historically low interest rates,thisaggressive home buying trend is likely to continue into the new year. H omebuilders now face the challenge of meeting the demand.â€? The single-family home average price jumped 10.5 percent yearover-year to $228,275,the highest level for a N ovember in H ouston. The median price – the fi gure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less – rose 8.1 percent to $167,000, also a record high for a November in Houston. Foreclosure property sales reported in the H AR Multiple Listing Service(M LS) declined 8.9 percent compared to N ovember 2011. Foreclosures recorded the lowest one-month salesvolume of the

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Page 3B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • @heightsleader

Students learning preservation

This home on Columbia Street in Houston Heights is one of six homes to be featured on the 2013 Houston Heights Association Home & Garden Tour next April. (Photo by Kit Davis)

Featured homes revealed for Heights Home & Garden tour The 2013 Houston HeightsHome & G arden Tour has announced which homes will be on this year’s tour.Below isgeneralinformation aboutthosehomes and the event. WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7, 2013, N oon to 6 p.m. WHAT: Then & N ow Six H ouston H eights homes will be available to tour in one of H ouston’smost cherished neighborhoods,rich in its diverse mix of architectural styles and inviting gardens. The annual event attracts crowds of locals and is a popular springtime tourist destination. •M ark Bouzek H ome, 1617 C olumbia • M ike Klaybor H ome, 1615 C ortlandt • Robert Woods H ome, 709 E. 19th • Bob D err H ome, 2310 Rutland • Eric Reed H ome, 1532 Tulane • Jonathan Elton H ome, 235 W. 18th Street WHERE:H ouston H eights. Known for its shady tree-lined boulevards,historic structures,art galleries,antique and vintage clothing shops,eclectic boutiquesand coffee shops,the H ouston H eightsarea is also home to numerousworld-classrestaurants.It is the perfect place to spend the day,take a stroll,enjoy the shopping and local cuisine,and tour six beautiful homes and gardens. TICKETS: Advance tickets are $20 and will be available online at www.houstonheights.org and at variousH ouston H eightslocationsin M arch 2013. D ays-of-tour tickets are $25 and will be available at the Houston HeightsFire Station (12th andYale) and at each home on the tour and include the service of luxury shuttle busesthat can be boarded at the Houston H eights Fire Station.Individual homes may be

toured for $5 per home. BICYCLES: Accommodations will be made for tour goers who choose to ride their bicycles from house to house.Bicycle riderscan purchase day-oftour tickets at a $5.00 discount.Bicycle racks will be available at each home,and a“bicycle valet�will be on hand to assist with parking and securing bikeswhile the home is being toured.

Candlelight Dinner & Auction WHEN: Friday, April 5, 2013 WHAT:G uestsare offered an exclusive tour of the homeson Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.,before the homesare opened to the public,followed by the highly anticipated C andlelight D inner & Auction from 7 to 11 p.m. The silent auction will be fi lled with everythingfrom A-Z,includingdonationsbyrenowned artists from the area and some surprises. Featured artist M ichaelArcieri,who currently hasasolo exhibit at Avis Frank G allery. H e has created a work of art to be sold to the highest bidder during the evening’s popular live auction.The auction also includesfour additional works by prominent H ouston artists. WHERE: The soon-to-be-closed Fiesta M art at 1407 Studewood. TICKETS:Individual ticketsare $150 and reserved tables for ten are $1500.Tickets will be available approximately M arch 1 until the event issold out.Seating is limited to 500. For more event information: C all the Houston HeightsAssociation at 713-8614002,option3,ore-mailspringtour@houstonheights. org.Visitwww.houstonheights.orgforeventupdates.

“HoustonLivesO n:AnAdventure in Historic Preservation�isan activityand coloring book aimed athelping students understand the value in local preservation.The 26-page book is fi lled with concepts and termsthat introduce young people to the subject. C olorful characters, such as Squeak, the inquisitive young ant, and his guide,Aunt Lucy,take children on a tour to learn about some of Houston’smost popular historic buildings. “Thisactivity book isintended to present thisconcept to elementaryage children so that they,hopefully, will become aware of the importance of historic preservation and the need to save our valuable structures, as well as our historic neighborhoods,for future generationsof Houstonians,�said BettyC hapman, chair for the Education C ommittee of the Houston Archaeological and H istorical C ommission. The book engagesreadersby using puzzles,gamesand other activitiesthatarefun,educationaland age appropriate for use at school,home and extra-curricular activities. Thenarrativeand itsaccompanying exercisesareappropriateforelementary-agedchildren,particularly in grades 2 and 3.This adventure is intended forusein classrooms,with groups such as Scouts or even in an informal family setting.An accompanying teacher’sguide isavailable for instruction. “Educators believe that it is important for students to know the history of the place where they live. H ouston has a phenomenal history—rich in stories of people,locationsand eventsthat have created our hometown,� C hapman said. “HoustonLivesO n:AnAdventure in HistoricPreservation�wascreated by the Education C ommittee of the H ouston Archaeological and H istorical C ommission,which makes recommendationsto C ity C ouncil on historicproperties.The13 member board reviews requests for historic district designations,historic landmarks,archaeologicalsitesand for work on historically designated properties. The Activity book and Teacher’s G uide are available online at www. HoustonPreservation.org.A limited numberof printcopiesareavailable from the C ity of Houston Planning and D evelopment D epartment.

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Do Over • from Page 1B M eanwhile,the former hot water and linen closets at the front of the home became the new, larger laundry room. The kitchen confi guration also changed amid a total overhaul that added more cabinets, concrete counters that look like limestone, a farmhouse sink, and unusual backsplash tile she spotted in one of the many design guidesin the blogosphere.The room’s shape also changed, from square to galley. In the living room,workers ripping out a fi replace added by a previousowner revealed another window. That fi nd was a double win for Brandon, who said she gained natural light aswell assquare footage to better arrange furniture. Besides,she said,“Who in Houston really needs a fi replace?â€? O ther alterations included removing a small pass-through off the front hallway and adding space-saving pocket doors to the overhauled bathrooms, in which original tile work had been painted over. “I like to improve upon things,â€? Brandon said.And to restore.And to decorate.O n thisproject,she especiallyenjoyed pickingoutthefi nishing detailsand working with the cabinet maker on custom piecesin the kitchen and master bath,both of which are her favorite rooms.

a school.Brandon said she and her child are still adjusting to having about twice the space and are not yet using it all. WhileBrandon’srenovation plan had an eye on resale some day, she realizesthat housing tasteschange and that raze-based new construction has followed her to O ak Forest. Just as the previous owners had lived in the home more than 50 years, Brandon is taking a longterm view. H er investment is as much in the community for her child as in the home itself. “I did it for her,� she said.

LESSONS Every home project has its lessons. “I learned that I am more patient than I thought I could be,� she said.“I can persevere.I grew as a person through this process.� H er advice:“D on’t be afraid.G o for it.�

New cabinets, new appliances, new oor plan. Just about everything is new from the old (inset right).

BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Brandon is a “ricochet resident� of O ak Forest. She previously owned a home in the subdivision, but had been living in a 900-square-foot Heightshome for

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Page 4B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • www.theleadernews.com

WHAT A FALL A look back at 10 of the top sports stories of the last 3 months by Michael Sudhalter sports@theleadernews.com

1

The holiday break isa great time to watch college football and ponder N ew Year’s Eve plans. But it’salso a good time to refl ect on some of the top sportsstoriesof the 2012 fall season. It was an eventful one for Leader area sports fans:

3

1. St. Pius X Football To say the St.PiusX football team’s2012 season wasexciting would be an understatement. The Panthersmade a four-game improvement from 5-7 in 2011 to 9-3 last fall. They played a schedule fi lled with postseason teamsand opened with a38-14 win overdefendingSouthwestPreparatoryC onferencechampion, Kinkaid. Then,theydefeated Sealy,45-21,beforeanationally-televised ESPN audience on Sept. 6 at Parsley Field. It was one of the biggest games in SPX football history. The Pantherswent on to win seven of their next 10 games,including a win over eventual district champion,St.Thomas,and two victoriesover defending district champion Beaumont Kelly. St.Pius X’s postseason run was dampened when senior quarterback Kohl Stewart,a TexasA&M commit,had what ended up being a seasonending injury in the regular season fi nale,a 27-6 lossto St.Thomas.SPX lost to 2011 state champion,FortWorth Nolam,28-14,in the TAPPS D ivision I State Q uarterfi nals. Stewartwenton to earn Touchdown C lub of Houston PrivateSchoolO ffensive Player of theYear honors.H e’sbeen selected to the ESPN UnderArmourAll-American G ameon Jan.4 in St.Petersburg,Fla.,and SPX head coach Blake Ware will be an assistant coach in the game.

5

6

2.Reagan Volleyball reaches new heights Stewart said he’ll return to the baseball diamond thisspring to help lead the Panthers to a repeat of their 2012 state title. H e’s expected to be selected early in the 2013 M LB D raft. Waltrip H igh had a monopoly on C lass4A-D istrict 21 volleyball competition,with the exception of Reagan sharing the district crown with the Lady Rams in 2009. Thisfall,the Lady Bulldogssecured sole possession of the 4A-21 title by edging Waltrip, 3-2, in dramatic fashion at D elmar-Tusa Fieldhouse. NaomiHuertaandVanessaRuiz led Reagan,coached byG regG ibson,to its fi rst outright district volleyball title in 15 years.

3. HISD legend, Tusa, honored Houston ISD honored formerdistrictathletic directorJoe Tusaon Nov. 3 by re-dedicating D elmar Stadium and D elmar Fieldhouse,asD elmarTusa, respectively. For maximum effect,and appreciation,the dedication ceremony was held during halftime of the Reagan-Waltrip football game,which wasthe H omecoming G ame for both schools. Tusa, 87, graduated from Reagan in 1945 and returned to coach the Bulldogs’football team,guiding them to a pair of state quarterfi nal appearances in 1958 and 1959, respectively. H e became the assistant principal at Waltrip when it opened in 1960 and then served as H ISD ’s AD from 1965-89.

7

9

4. Reagan girls cross country three-peats The Reagan H igh girlscrosscountry team won the C lass4A-D istrict 21 C hampionship for the third straight season. The Lady Bulldogs,coached by JamesJohnson,were led by seniorKaren Torres, who repeated as the district’s individual meet champion. Torres also plays for the RH S girls basketball and track & fi eld teams. RH S won the 4A-21 district championship in girlsbasketball in 2011-12. She’s considering running cross country at the University of Texas.

5. Reagan builds success on the gridiron The Reagan H igh football team won seven regular season gamesfor the fi rst time since 1976. In addition,the Bulldogsdefeated Jonesand Wheatley for the fi rst time in program history.They also earned their fi rst win over Waltrip in 20+ years, accomplishing that feat in thrilling fashion. The Bulldogstrailed 22-0 and won 34-29 on both teams’Homecoming N ight at D elmar-Tusa Stadium.

6. Waltrip Football reaches playos again Reagan also earned a key upset,defeating C lass4A-D istrict 21 runnerup, Sharpstown, 22-21, at Butler Stadium. TheWaltrip H igh football team returned to the postseason for the second straight year. The Rams started the season with a 4-1 record, their best start in a decade and struggled due to injurieslate in the season.They managed to qualify for the postseason by defeating M ilby in the regular season fi nale. Waltrip fi nished 5-5 under fi rst-year head coach M ilton D ailey.

few yearsearlier at CypressRidge H igh Schoolin Cypress,turned the Lady Spartans’volleyball program around.They went from winlessin 2011 to contending for a playoff spot last fall. But the Eagles(10-2),who lost to D allasBishop Lynch in the state quarterfi nals, had a better regular season. They won the district title for the fi rst time in seven years and defeated Strake Jesuit for the fi rst time in 15 years under the direction of fi rst-year head coach Tim Fitzpatrick.

9.Venric Mark The former St.PiusX phenom became just the 39th Northwestern University football player to earn All-American honors as a punt returner. M ark, a junior for the Wildcats (9-3), led the Big Ten C onference in allpurpose yardswith 171.7 yardsper game.He entersMonday’sG ator Bowl vs.M ississippi State in Jacksonville,Fla.needing just 148 yards to break N U ’s single-season all-purpose yards record of 2,195.

7. Scarborough’s ďŹ rst-year coaches A veteran (Rodney Price) and a rookie (Reagan C abeen) led their respective Scarborough H igh athletic programs to success last fall. Price,a former head track & fi eld coach at the University of M iami and University of O klahoma,guided the SH S boyscrosscountry team to the C lass 3A-D istrict 23 C hampionship.

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Page 5B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • @heightsleader

Waltrip sets tourney to boost baseball The Waltrip Baseball Booster Club met Dec. 5, to discuss the 2013 baseball season. There were more than 30 parents, volunteers and coaches in attendance. Head baseball coach Mike Evans and his staff shared the many upcoming events for the spring season. First and foremost is the annual Ram Classic Golf Tournament four man scramble scheduled for Feb. 17, to be held at Pine Crest Golf Club for an 8 a.m. shotgun start. This event makes it possible for the baseball program to accomplish the many scheduled activities for another successful season. This year’s tournament projects to raise more than $15,000. All contributions from the tournament are directed toward operating the baseball program and are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. The Waltrip Baseball Alumni, with the same dedication shown in past years, will help assure this challenge is met. Proceeds from the tournament fund the purchase of baseballs, bats, gloves, catcher’s equipment, clay, field conditioner, fertilizer, seed, buses, and umpires to name a few. Even if one doesn’t play golf, it is possible to help the team by contributing to the tournament as a sponsor. There are several levels of sponsorships available to businesses as well as individuals and families. Waltrip Baseball depends on the community to help reach the goal of raising $15,000. Sign up to play golf or contribute to the program by contacting Ram Classic Golf Tournament Chairperson Glenda Guidry at gguidry17@sbcglobal. net or Head Baseball Coach Mike Evans at mevans@houstonisd.org.

Spartans seek discipline before ISD Cup by Michael Sudhalter sports@theleadernews.com Scarborough H igh fi rst-year head boys soccer coach Sergio H ernandez Jr. said the Spartans’ success will be determined by its discipline. “We have to make sure we play well as a team and not try to outshine each other but come together asa team,”Hernandez Jr.said. The Spartans open the season in the Spring Branch ISD Cup,Jan.10-12,and open district competition on Jan.29 vs.Worthing at D elmar-Tusa Stadium.

H ernandez Jr.knowsa thing or two about discipline.Priorto coachingLivingston High in East Texas,he was a police offi cer in M idland, Texas for three years. H e said that experience helped him as a coach. “D efi nitely -- it goes back to being disciplined,”H ernandez Jr. said.“(And) how to carry yourself,being a person of good character. I like being a good example for these kids.” H ernandez Jr.expectsto start six seniors, including forwardsD wight Hernandez and Andre Escorcia, from a team that fi nished

second in district to H ouston Furr and lost to Richmond Foster in the fi rst round of the U IL C lass 4A Playoffs last season. “Leadership comes natural to D wight,” H ernandez Jr.said.“D wight ismore of a vocal leader, and Andre leads by example.” Scarborough isa3A schoolnow,butthere’s no 3A soccer,so that doesn’t affect the team. In 2010-11,H ernandez Jr.led Livingston to itsfi rst district title in program history.He guided them to two playoff appearancesin as many years. “I was looking to get to the big city,” H ernandez Jr. said.“When I saw Scarborough

was hiring,I threw my name in the hat.I saw that they had some talent there.They interviewed and offered it to me, so I decided to take it.” An Abilene native, H ernandez Jr. played goalkeeper for H ardin-Simmons for one season and for the UT-Arlington club soccer team for three years. M ost of the Spartans soccer players were membersof theSH S boyscrosscountryteam that won a district title last fall. “C rossC ountry gave them a boost,”H ernandez Jr. said.“The endurance is going to pay off.”

Washington back to play in front of family by Michael Sudhalter sports@theleadernews.com U.S. M ilitary Academy sophomore M ilton Washington, a 2010 Waltrip H igh graduate, is ready to play a weekend of basketball in front of his friends and family. “It’sa chance to show what we’re able to do,” said the 6-foot, 180pound guard.” “[The eight Texans on our team are] very excited. We’ll probably have homecourt advantage.” West Point (5-5) will visit Texas A&M at 4 p.m.Saturday,D ec.29 in C ollege Station and Houston Baptist University at 2 p.m. M onday, D ec. 31 in H ouston. “H e’s a true student-athlete [and] a quiet leader,”Waltrip head boys basketball coach D an Kelly said.“H e leadsby example and has a bright future as an offi cer in the U.S. Army.” Washington was the team captain at W H S and a two-time C lass 4A-D istrict 21 selection.H e chose WestPointovertheUniversityof St. Thomas in H ouston. The life of a student-athlete is much different at a military academy.The athletes–along with all of the other cadets – live in the barracks for four years. A typical day begins at 6:30 a.m.

with cadetsgoing to eat breakfast at the mess hall. From 7:30 a.m.to 3 p.m.,they’re in classes(with an hour for lunch), then it’sstraight to basketball practice from 3:30-6:30 p.m. “H omework takes the whole night,and we go to bed around 11,” Washington said.“Then,I wake up and do it all over again. You just learn to manage your time to prioritize stuff and do what needs to be done.” Washington recently declared his major,Systems M anagement, which isacombination of Business, Engineering and IT. “It’sabout fi nding better waysto solve problems and make things workmoreeffi ciently,”Washington said.“It provides me the skills I’ll need when I [graduate].” Washington will serve as an offi cer in the U.S.Army upon graduation in 2015. H is older brother is currently serving in the Army in

You’re a business with a story to tell.

Afghanistan. The sophomore is one of eight Texanson the Black Knights’roster. H e was the team captain for the U.S.MilitaryAcademyPrep School, in N ew Jersey, two years ago and was an effective member of the West Point team last season, contributing nine points in a victory over archrival, Navy. “It’s very intense. The whole crowd rushed the fl oor after we won,” Washington said of the rivalry. “You get on the court and play your heartsout.O ff the court, we’re pretty good friendswith each other.” West Point has never reached the N C AA Tournament, despite having a strong basketball history that includesformer head coaches Bobby Knightand M ikeKrzyzewski.They’ve reached eight National InvitationalTournaments,with the last invitation coming in 1978. Washington said winning a Patriot League C hampionship and qualifying for the N C AA Tournament is the team’s goal. Last season, Patriot League champion Lehigh, a 15th seed in the N C AA Tournament,shocked Krzyzewski’ssecond-seeded D uke Blue D evils; and Patriot League West Point sophomore guard Milton Washington, a 2010 Waltrip High runner-up BucknellupsetArizona graduate, will return to Texas next weekend to face Texas A&M on Saturday, in the N IT. Dec. 29 and Houston Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 31. (Photo Courtesy of West Point)

The Puzzles. Solutions in this issue’s classsi¿ed section.

ACROSS Cont...

Where do you tell that story?

46. Mazzard 47. Earthy pigment color 49. Hail (nautical) 50. Back 52. Deviating from the familiar 54. Inveighed 56. Within reach 59. Blood group 60. Howl 63. Farm state 64. Aba ____ Honeymoon 67. Seizure 69. College army 71. Graphic symbol 72. Intense trepidation 73. Of an ode 74. Capital of Shaanxi Province 75. Acid + alcohol - water 76. Flat tableland

In November, an average of

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CLUES DOWN CLUES ACROSS In November, 76 businesses advertised in the Heights Tribune for the entire month. * Based on the Tribune’s November 2012 edition ** Does not include non-paid, promotional ads

In November, an average of 19 businesses advertised in the Chronicle’s Ultimate Heights section each week. * Based on the Nov. 8-15 & Nov. 15-12 editions ** Does not include non-paid, promotional ads

1. Massages 5. Automaton 10. The side that goes last 14. Lowest female voice 15. Roar of acclaim 16. Tennis’ Kournikova 17. Canute (alt. sp.) 18. Blind gut 19. Insures bank’s depositors 20. Cathode (abbr.) 21. Appendage 22. Of I

23. The reciprocal of cosine 27. Rubs away 30. Bravo! 31. Crash into 32. Radioactivity units 35. Dynasty’s “J.R.” 38. Components speci¿ed individually 42. Facial skin disease 43. The Peach State 44. Exist 45. Precipitation

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1. Display stands 2. Forearm bones 3. British thermal unit 4. Drunkard 5. Corpuscle count (abbr.) 6. Pitcher Hershiser 7. Rod-shaped bacterium 8. Egg 9. Dancing With the Stars host 10. British Air Force 11. Opposite of beginning 12. Zanzibar Copal 13. Running contests 24. Arms factory 25. Sodium 26. Current Margulies show 28. Ancient Egyptian sun god 29. Former Hess Corp. name 32. Scrap of cloth 33. Highest card 34. Double helix nucleic acid 36. WW2 female corps 37. One point E of due N 39. Express pleasure 40. Data executive 41. Honey (abbr.) 48. One’s usual environment 51. Edison’s company 53. Delaware 54. Base of a system of numbers 55. Ancient computing devices 57. African adder genus 58. Podocarpus coriaceus 61. Plural of 33 down 62. An enticement 65. Tropical constrictor 66. “Birdie” star ___-Margaret 68. Sirius Satellite Radio (abbr.) 69. Memory hardware 70. Lyric poem

Page 6B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • www.theleadernews.com

Watching a Manhunt

Neighbors follow uncertainty of HPD chase by Jonathan McElvy jonathan@theleadernews.com The details – most of them, anyway – made their way acrossFacebook and message boards literally while the manhunt occurred.O n Monday,D ec.17,Houston Policecarsand oneof their helicopters hovered over an O ak Forest street, intent to catch a man later identifi ed asD ontrae C ampbell, 19. Around 8:15 that night,C ampbell went to an apartment complex in the Thousand O aksarea and allegedly held a 42-year-old man at gunpoint,demandinghiswalletand keys.According to HPD spokesman John C annon,thesuspectleft in the victim’sblack 2001 Pontiac Sunfi re,which triggered the victim to quickly call police. Not long after,an offi cer driving south on Ella spotted the very Pontiac in hisrearview mirror, let the suspect passhim,and then quickly pulled him over.C ampbell,accordingto police,had other ideas.Among histwistsand turnsin the stolen vehicle,the suspect did not stop for police,drove through aparkingloton O verhillStreet,wentthe wrong way on Ella,and then attempted to ram a police car somewhere near the 4600 block of Ella where he allegedly succeeded in hitting an H PD cruiser. The chase didn’t end there. C ampbell then turned onto M artin Street, turned again on Hewitt at a high rate of speed,eventually turned right on TC Jester,where he fi nally lost controlof the car, according to C annon. “That’swhen the suspect ran toward the bayou,then crossed over TC Jester,and eventually, hopped afencein the220 block of D eM ilo where he hid in someone’s backyard,� C annon said. O neresidenton thatblock detailed theexperience in real-time via a series of text messages to The Leader, starting with a note most residents likely shared with area friends. “C razy number of cops–multiple patrol cars and a chopper at our street corner.Seems like a manhunt.Any idea what’sup?�read the text sent at 9:45 p.m.

According to C annon,H PD had brought in the helicopter during the chase,and by the time C ampbell fl ed on foot,the spotlight wasalready looking for the suspect. That’swhen the neighbor next requested additional information from The Leader.“Is it on TV?� No,the chase did not air live,but H PD had set up a perimeter and with the three K-9 units on hand, it was only a matter of time. At 10:18 p.m., the neighbor texted that the suspect wasapparently cornered in a back yard on Brimberry.“Sounds like they may have just caught him.� O nly a few minutes later came the next text. “They haven’t caught him;just have him on [infrared] camera and cornered.� That’s exactly what happened,according to C annon.O ne of the K-9spicked up the scent of the suspect,but that didn’t mean the chase was complete.At 10:38 p.m.,the neighbor realized it might be a long night. “Apparentlytheyareexpanding theareanow? So [my wife] and I both have our .40s handy.� After an hour of hearing a helicopter outside, it seemed natural that residentsin the area grew moreconcernedbytheminute.However,Cannon said they never lost the scent of the suspect. “When the K-9 got the scent,he stayed on him the entire time,� C annon said. For residentslocked up in their homes,there wasno way to know,and that confusion wasapparent by the next series of texts. “C hopper shining light into backyard a few houses over; seems like they have someone pinned down,� the neighbor wrote. O nly four minutes later, the next message showed the agony of the unknown. “Apparently still looking – gonna be a long night.� That message was sent at 11:02 p.m. Accordingto C annon,ittook13 moreminutes before the K-9 took the suspect into custody.In otherwords,thepolicedog locked hisjawson the suspect.By then the neighbor had downloaded the H ouston EM S app on his smart phone and

wasfollowing play-by-play with dozensof other neighbors. “Suspect in custody,just came over the scanner,�wrote the neighbor.“The scanner says,‘we need [Houston Fire D epartment] for a,huh,canine contact.’Somebody got good and tore up.� C annon didn’tgo into specifi csof thesuspect’s injuries. H e did say that C ampbell was apprehended hiding behind an air conditioning unit, where he had barricaded himself with sheetsof heavy plastic. Theneighbor,who atonepointarmed himself and hiswife during the event,wasasked the next day what he thought of the event and if he felt communication from H PD wasadequate.The answer likely refl ects the way most residents in the area felt. “There’snot must else to say.The H PD communication was non-existent, but that’s fi ne –they obviously had more important thingsto worry about, and I wasn’t going to go get in the theirway,�hewrote.“Wejusthunkered down,listened to the police scanner,and watched events out the window.� That’s exactly what C annon said residents should do, should they encounter a similar event. “There are a lot of times when you may hear a helicopter,�C annon said.“That’snot unusual around here. But if you hear the helicopter for several minutes, that’s when curiosity usually gets the best of you. What we would not urge people to do,in that case,isto go walking around the area.And if you see a spotlight in your neighbor’s back yard, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and stay indoors.� While C annon obviously wasstating the obvious, there were many people in the O ak Forest area who just couldn’t remain indoors as the manhunt ensued.Picturesfrom Facebook showed numerouspeople watching asC ampbell was put in a patrol car. C ampbell has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon,and aggravated assault against a public servant, according to C annon.

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Volunteers disperse of mulch mountain The ParksD epartment createsthe mulch by recycling trees that were removed from city parksand esplanades. The mulch servesmultiple purposes. Right now, it kills the grass underneath and drives moisture down into the soil to make it easier to dig during the tree planting.After the trees are in,it will moderate the temperature of the soil, keep moisture from evaporating,and in the long term, supply nutrients to More than 40 volunteers helped spread new mulch at the West 11th St. Park. the trees as it decomposes. In addition to Scout Troop 604, volunteerscamefrom Timbergrove 9/52 -%2,% ./2-!. Manor(both westand eastof White O ak Bayou), Lazybrook, Shady Acres,and otherneighboring communities.They made short work of 7)4( 052#(!3%

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Early in the morning on D ecember 15, 2012, over 40 volunteers, including boy scouts and scout leadersfrom troop 604,showed up at West 11th Street Park to spread whatonevolunteercalled“amountain of mulch.� The mulch was delivered during the previousweek by H ouston Parksand Recreation D epartment, as the fi rst step in a large tree replanting effort around the neighborhood ballfi eld on the southwest corner of the park. “If you’vebeen to thepark recently,you know that the ball fi eld really suffered from the drought –nearly all of the big beautiful trees that shaded it are gone now,and it looks pretty barren out there,�said Lorraine C herry,President of Friends of West 11th Street Park,the group that is spearheading the effort. O n H ouston’sArbor D ay,January 26, the Friends will again be working with volunteers to plant about 250 saplingssupplied by the city,and 10 larger trees that will be purchased through donations.The Friends will also be fundraising to have the trees watered by Trees for H ouston over the next two years until they get established. The D ecember 15 event was devoted to spreading some 25 cubic yards of mulch over three beds that will be planted with new trees.

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Page 7B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • @heightsleader

C LASSIFIED S

Page 8B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • www.theleadernews.com

C LASSIFIED S

Page 9B • The Leader • December 27, 2012 • @heightsleader

-&"%&3 -07&"#-&4

Get those pets pampered Leader in search of the 5 cutest pets; sti competition expected It’s a pity the beloved pets in our neighborhoods go so unnoticed. Sometimes, it seems they don’t get any attention at all. C heck that. For some of us, there’s nothing more loving than that sweet dog,sly cat or,um, quiet bird.And if folks in this community love their pets as much as it appears they do, The Leader fi gures it’s time to have a showdown. And what better time to do that than right after C hristmas,when some petsare more pampered than actual children? With that,today we introduce Leader Loveables, a contest that will name (based on your nominationsand your votes) the fi ve cutest pets in The Leader’s coverage area. C onsider this a simple introduction to the contest.Beginning in next week’sedition of The Leader,we’ll publish entry formsand tell you exactly how to submit your pet for nomination. H ere are some of the general rules,just to get you prepared. • Beginning with the Jan. 3 edition of The Leader,you will have the opportunity to submit a photo and a short description of your pet (30 words or less). •Itwillcost$10 to nominate yourpet,and we’ll provide you with a simple nomination form.(If you have more than one pet,you are welcome to pit Sylvester up against his brother Smoky.) • We will submit nominations of pets until

Tuesday,Jan.15.Thatmeansyou’llonlyhavetwo weeks to send in your nominations. • Beginning in the Jan.19 edition of TheLeader,we will publish the photo of every nominated pet, along with a ballot. (We also will have the photos posted on our website, www.theleadernews.com).Immediately after the ballotsare published,we will begin accepting votes – one per day per person, and the ballot can be photocopied. •We will run all photosof the nominated pets

THE CALENDAR. OAK FOREST RUNNING CLUB KICK OFF 6 p.m. Jan. 8 Oak Forest Chill 3542 Oak Forest Dr. 713-759-1133

The Oak Forest Running Club Kick O will be at the Oak Forest Chill. It is sponsored by the Oak Forest Homeowners Association, Oak Forest Chill and Brothers Pizzeria. Runners must register for 10 runs before they can receive an Oak Forest Shirt. Call for information.

FRESHSTART TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM 2-3 p.m. Fridays Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25 Memorial Hermann Northwest South Tower, Classroom C 713-222-CARE Start o the new year smoke free. This free program is a series of four classes. All classes are required to complete the program. Call to register.

FUN4SENIORS SEEKING ACTORS/VOLUNTEERS 5 p.m. Jan. 5; 6 p.m. Jan. 9; 10 a.m. Jan. 12 713-683-0073 judy@frowbiz.com Fun4Seniors, a nonproďŹ t organiza-

tion through Harris County Precinct 4’s Senior Adult Program, is delighted to announce Shakespeare in the Shade Trees. This program is supported by Lone Star College-Tomball. Actors and volunteers are needed for a presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, at the Performing Arts Center at Lone Star College-Tomball located at 30555 Tomball Parkway #102, 77375. Auditions for acting positions will be held at the locations and times listed below. • Saturday, Jan. 5 at Texas Repertory Theater, 14243 Stuebner Airline from noon to 5 p.m. • Wednesday, Jan. 9 at MangumHowell Community Center, 2500 Frick Road from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. • Saturday, Jan. 12 at St. Pius X High School, 811 West Donavan Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regardless of skill level, there is a place for everyone. Administrative assistants, costumers, prop builders, set designers, and more are needed. Contact producer Judy Frow for information. For information regarding Shakespeare in the Shade Trees, please call 281-893-3726 or visit www.hcp4. net/senioradult/shakespeare.

again in the Jan. 26 edition of The Leader and, again,we will publish a ballot for a second time. •Voteswill be accepted until Monday,Jan.28. •We will publish the Top 5 Leader Loveables for 2013 in the Feb. 2 edition of The Leader. So what will you get besides the pride of knowing you have one of the fi ve cutest pets in the only area of town that matters? As of press time, we have 12 local businesses that will combine to offer some of the best pet gifts you can fi nd around. Among this year’s sponsorsare:G retchen & Ivy’sPet Sitting,Bone Voyage Pet Sitting, PetPals Pet Sitting, H aute D awgs M obile Pet Spa, Puddy C uts, D arlene’s Flowersand G ifts,Scoop le Poop Pet Waste Removal Service, Royalty Pet C enter, Longhorn Feed & Seed,HarmonyElectricC o.,Arne’sWarehouse Store and The Leader. As for gifts, the fi ve Leader Loveables (and their owners) will receive gifts such as free pet sitters, free pet walkers, gift certifi cates for pet waste removal, bowls, food, and assorted gift baskets, along with a 30-minute photo shoot with a Leader photographer. For now, it’s best pet owners just put this on their radars.And more important,get out those camerasduring the holidaysand make sure you have a great picture to submit of your Loveable. And checkbacknextweekfornomination forms and the rules for the contest.

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Life truly inspires art, charity, for Jayne Maltbie by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Life is both precious and unpredictable,and G arden O aksphotographerJayne M altbie knows this as well as anyone. In 2008 she received a call from expectant mother M ichelle VanWinkle. M altbie was a volunteer photographer for the American C hild Photographers C harity G uild,which providesitsservicesto familiesin need,including those who will most likely experience the lossof their baby.VanWinkle’sdaughterhad received adiagnosis of Trisomy 18 in utero.Most children with the chromosomaldisorderare stillborn,or only survive for a few hours or days. “I had to have an emergency C -section,� said VanWinkle.“Jayne was on call for us and spent hoursin the recovery room.She was very quiet and let us have our time with Addison.We didn’t know if we’d get to take her home.� At the time,M altbie remembersthinking, “I don’t know how they do it.� Then in June of that year,her 3-year old daughter Emma was diagnosed with Ependymoma,a rare brain cancer.In the last fi ve years,she has endured six operations to remove recurrent tumors as well as additionalsurgeriesand two roundsof radiation. Both M altbie and husband M ike have learned to lean on their faith.“When you are faced with something like this, either you have faith or you go the opposite way,� M altbie said. “It has strengthened me.� In addition,it brought new purpose to herphotographywork,something thathas always been a passion for her. With aBA in television production from the University of Houston,M altbie had an eye for image.H er photography skills are mostly self-taught. “I had Emma around the same time about eight of my friendswere having their

Jayne Maltbie’s children are among her favorite subjects to photograph. This is one recent family portrait.

fi rst kids,� she said.“I started taking pictures of all of them.� In 2005 M altbie started a photography businessand through herprofessionalnetworksconnected with charitableorganizationswhich link familiesand sick children with photographerswho want to help free of charge. She gets referrals from friends and clientsand hasalso offered her services to patients she meets at Texas C hildren’s. Although many of the children she photographs have a short time left with their

families,M altbie strives to help them live in the moment during her sessions. “No matter what I’m shooting,I work to make every occasion happy,�said M altbie. “I want them to forget what’sgoing on and let them just be a happy family.� Recently,she joined with another photographer in the area,Kari Noser,to form Lot Five Studios. In addition to family portraiture,Noser has a lot of experience with adultsand weddingsand Maltbiewith kids, so together they are a good fi t. This

year they have concentrated on children, handling the school pictures for G arden O aksElementary,Durham Elementaryand St. Rose of Lima C atholic School. “We did them all in a three week span.It wascrazy but also such a pleasure,�Maltbie said. In addition to their paid work, they have done joint volunteer photography for Friends of Saint Jude in H ouston and G reater C lear Lake Families Exploring D own Syndrome (G C LFED S).

M altbie also thinks about starting an organization which would focuson offering freeportraitureof children with cancer. Emma is still at Texas C hildren’s H ospital twice a week for therapy and M altbie encountersnumerousfamiliesin the middle of the same fi ght. “I see what these children go through – the effects of surgery and the defi cits they have to deal with because of it.G etting picturesisoftentimesthe last thing people want to think about, but it is something they can hold on to.� M altbie is a passionate advocate for childhood cancer research,since the National C ancer Institute only givesfour percentof fundsto childhood cancer.“Eventually they willfi nd new curesand treatments and it should be sooner rather than later,� said M altbie. Emma has now been tumor free for 18 monthsand the eight year old iscurrently enjoying second grade and her G irl Scout troop as well as her younger brother and sister. “M ike and I said in the beginning that we were going to give her a normal life and treat her like anybody else,�said M altbie, “and that’swhat we are doing to the best of our ability.� VanWinkle stilllooksoften at the photos M altbie shot for her fi ve years ago. Addison lived for another fi ve monthsafter her birth,so there were other photos.ButVanWinkle is partial to the fi rst ones taken. “They might have been all we had.I will cherish them always.� As a gift, M altbie also came to photograph the birth of VanWinkle’s second daughterAvery,who isnow two and knows about her big sister in H eaven. For any thanksshe might receive,Jayne is clear about what drives her. “I’m not a hero.Emma is.She hassuch a wonderfuloutlook on lifeand agreatheart. She really is my inspiration.�

Falling leaves are a good indicator that it’s time to build a compost pile by Dennis Woodward For The Leader I was driving down Brinkman after dropping a child off at school when I saw a pickup truck with trash bagsin the back.“It lookslike it could be yard waste,�I thought to myself.I followed the truck,which turned onto the street my neighbor lives on and stopped in front of his house. I got out and asked Keith Koski if I could have the yard waste. Yeah, I know it is crazy to do some of the things I do. Keith Koski works at the city of H ouston Reuse Warehouse on Main Street.The ReuseWarehouse is a place where contractors can take used building materials.Nonprofi t organizations can go to the Reuse Warehouse and select items that they might need for building and maintenance projects. So Keith followed me over to my house, and I unloaded the bags of leaves. I hope they are free of ants, animal waste,and trash.Someone had mistakenly taken them to the reuse warehouse. And Keith was just taking them home to use in his gardens. I had been wanting for months to acquire some yard waste.I do not own a truck.I really don’t want to put yard waste in my carsincethenew compostablebags fall apart so easily. I gave Keith some lemons, a clump of lemon grass, and a borage seedling for histrouble.I’ll run over the leaves with a lawnmower to chop them into little bits.I might even head over to one of the local

bat coloniesto collect some guano. G uano is easy to collect and lightweight.Idon’tmind putting bagsof guano in the trunk of the car as it doesnot create a messin the truck. The soil in H ouston is truly a challenge unlessit isamended with organic material. Yard waste and kitchen scrapsmixed with manure makewonderfulcompost.My wife said once that I would not even have a garden if I could not make

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compost.I am not a horticultural expert, but,I do know the value of a bag of yard waste. So the next time you have a yard full of leaves and don’t know what to do,get out the mower.Run over the leaves to chop them into small bits. N ext get a containment device. I have used pallets, welded wire,bricks,and even bags of yard waste. O nce you have an area set up that

is about 4 foot square, place the leaves in and sprinkle them with water as you pile them.Add vegetablematerialfrom your kitchen or some restaurant in your area.You could even head over to the polo fi eldsnearMemorialPark.Ibelieve they will allow you to bag up some horse manure.Another place to ac-

quiremanureistheHouston Police Departmentmountedpatrolheadquartersat 5005 LittleYork Road.I do havefond memoriesof standing in the dumpster over there when theywerelocated on theWestLoop. A 92-degree summer day,standing in a dumpster full of sweepings from horse stalls, is truly an un-

forgettable experience.You could, of course, just buy compost – but where is the fun in that? Dennis Woodward is a resident of Shepherd Park Plaza, a home gardener, and a reforester of public lands in his community.

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