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Saturday, December 30, 2017 • Vol. 62 • No. 51
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Leader of the Year
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From South Carolina down to Houston and the Heights, Harold’s owner Alli Jarrett’s compassion for her neighbors has never wavered. For that, she has been selected as our 2017 Leader of The Year.
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Leader staff photos Our top headlines of 2017 included the effects of Hurricane Harvey, some conflict (and some resolution) about growing and changing with the times as well as a bevy of construction crews working to bring new ambiance to our neighborhood.
inside.
Feline snip - T-N-R program provides a humane way to reduce the feline population.
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Picture this - Food and Drink wraps up the 2017 year through pictures
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Find it. THE PURPLE CAT RESALE AND THRIFT: Monday 12-4, TuesdaySaturday 11-4. 2126 W. 34th St. Benefiting Animal Rescue.
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The INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 7A Coupons. ................................................. 6A Food/Drink/Art................................... 9A Obituaries.............................................. 5A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A Sports. ....................................................... 3B
2017 headlined by Harvey, shifting landscapes Compiled by Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com While the year 2017 was not all about water and construction, it probably seemed that way at times upon scanning The Leader’s headlines. A good portion of our year seems to have been spent recovering from water events and seeing our area change right before our eyes. Our top stories of the past year, as selected by our staff, focus on the water events, more growth/ change and the pockets of development which accompany it. And major headlines did not discriminate, impacting all of our local neighborhoods. The stories below were not ranked in any particular order, but we attempted to place the most relevant near the top.
Water events Really, no words could do these stories justice. The year 2017 couldn’t even let us have a few weeks before dumping enough rain (and causing enough flooding) for HISD to briefly cancel school in early January. And though Mayor Sylvester Turner attempted to combat the problem with the creation of the Storm Water Action Team (SWAT), nothing could have prepared our area for what hap-
pened in August. Hurricane Harvey made its devastating landfall in late August, dumping an unprecedented amount of rainfall and causing massive flooding in our local areas, which spawned a still-ongoing recovery effort. As documented around the region, however, the aftermath has also brought out the best in humanity in the form of people simply helping their neighbors, whatever the need.
Dry laws fully repealed After a partial repeal in 2016, 2017 brought essentially a full repeal of the long-standing Heights Dry Laws as voters elected to overturn the portion of governance which required restaurants and bars in the area to open a private club to pour drinks for patrons. Nearly 61 percent of ballots were cast in favor of the measure, which has stirred many a heated debate. Heights Restaurant Coalition head Scot Luther said the full impact should be felt at some point in January 2018 once businesses can buy new alcohol licenses. HAHC approves revamped Design Guidelines Since 2015, the city of Houston has conducted nearly 30 public meetings – some more contentious than others – to gather public feedback on guidelines that would gov-
ern new building and renovations in the Houston Heights Historic Districts, attempting to create more clarity and eliminate the subjectivity residents have encountered for years. On Dec. 14, the HAHC approved a revised version of the guidelines for city council consideration, though some residents remain skeptical. The document will be taken before the Quality of Life Committee in January, but Project Manager Steph McDougal says there is currently no timeline as to when the guidelines will be formally placed before council.
290, Alba, Rosslyn cause traffic headaches Along with booming growth comes more vehicles, and several construction projects temporarily diverting all that congestion has caused headaches for those in Garden Oaks and Oak Forest. Work along Alba Road, part of the $19.55-million Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Project and the city of Houston’s Capital Improvement Plan has caused bottlenecks and nightmares all year, affecting everyone from homeowners to business owners. Local favorite Liberty Kitchen even attributed its closing in part to its effects. Currently the project stands at about 18 percent complete, and accordSee 2017 P. 2A
One of our local elementary schools got an early Christmas present last week. Monday, Dec. 18, HISD announced that Andrew Casler has been named the new principal of Oak Forest Elementary School beginning at the start of the new semester. Casler joins OFE after serving at Pilgrim Academy for more than a decade. During his time at Pilgrim Academy, he served in capacities such as technology teacher, physical education teacher, dean of students, and most recently the eleAndrew Casler mentary assistant principal. Upon taking the helm, Casler replaces Dr. April Williams, who abruptly left OFE to take another position within HISD back in mid-November. While an administrator leaving mid-year is unusual, administrators do not sign a contract for employment with a school – only with the district – meaning that they can leave that school at any time. Williams left OFE to take over as the principal at Young Women’s College Prep, an all-girls HISD school, after the school’s former principal was promoted to a central office position within HISD. During Casler’s time at Pilgrim, the school distinguished itself as a Gold Ribbon school for three consecutive years, and earned all distinctions in this year’s TEA accountability ratings. “I also learned the value of developing deep and long-lasting relationships between members in a learning community. This understanding has afforded me a meaningful appreciation for the wonderful learning environment that has been carefully cultivated for Oak Forest students,” he wrote in a note to the Oak Forest community on HISD’s website. “In the short time I have had to become acquainted with our faculty, I have seen the dedication of the community to keeping the focus on our children’s successful development. I look forward to getting to know all of you and learning how I can help further nurture the growth of our community.” Casler is well-acquainted with the Houston area, having earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Houston. Later, he earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership at UH as a member of the school’s HISD Turnaround Leadership Cohort.
Dornak resigns as executive director of MANNA By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Patricia Dornak recently resigned as the executive director of MANNA, which serves individuals and families in need in northwest Houston. She says she will retire, but plans to volunteer in the community. “I submitted my resignation in November, with an effective date of today, December 14th, to not only ensure the Thanksgiving Turkey event would not be compromised but also to help with a smooth transition to MANNA’s next chapter,”
Dornak wrote in an e-mail to colleagues. Dornak has been executive director of the organization for five years and by all accounts has really raised the profile of the organization. “The feedback I’ve gotten has made me feel like I accomplished a lot,” she said. Dornak says that the mission of MANNA remains deeply meaningful to her. “I believe MANNA has made a significant impact in this community,” said Dornak in her e-mail. It has been a rough few
months for MANNA. A September fire gutted the building at 1602 W 43rd Street that housed their resale shop and the organization seeks a new location. MANNA also leases space from Temple Oaks Baptist Church at West 34th St. and Oak Forest Drive for their food pantry but they will eventually have to move when the church sells those buildings. “I am confident MANNA will continue to adapt itself to the changing needs of our community, and I see its continued growth in the years ahead,” she said.
Contributed photo Dornak, at left, stands with resale shop volunteeers. She says she is retiring but will continue to volunteer in the community.