Leader126a

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Michael Silva 713.725.8748

Inside Today: Local business ‘raises the bar’ for kids • 1B

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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston

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60 Saturday, December 6, 2014 • Vol. 61 • No. 5

About Us 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.

AREA SPECIALIST

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Join us!

Years of local news

Inside today’s edition 60 events that shaped the neighborhoods in our area

Please join us in celebrating 60 years on Saturday, Dec.6 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lutheran High North - 1130 W 34th St. 77018. Come shop from our local businesses, meet Santa in our snow village and enjoy a great day with us. We hope you can make it!

Find it | Page 5A

9B

Classifieds

6B

Coupons

8A

Food/Drink/Art Obituaries

11A 5B

Opinion

5A

Public Information Puzzles

2A 6A

1954

The Leader newspaper was established by Jack Worder and Al Cherry

1957

The Leader newspaper was purchased by Lee Burge.

1969 A look at 60 people who have impacted our lives, businesses, schools and community over the past 60 years Find it | Page 5B

The INDEX. Church

Key dates in Leader history

Publisher Jonathan McElvy offers his thoughts on what might happen to The Leader over the next 60 years Find it | Page 5A

Terry Burge,19, the son of Lee, became publisher of The Leader while still a student at the University of Houston, after his father’s passing.

2012 McElvy Media and Jonathan McElvy purchase The Leader from TerryBurge, launching a redesigned image of content.

2014 The Leader newspaper celebrates 60 years serving the community as a reliable local source of news, a media platform for our area businesses and a voice you can count on to listen and tell your story.

The public.

CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR HOME? “Don’t Just List Your Home, Let Scott Sell It�

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Saturday, December 6, 2014 • Page 2A

WWW.SCOTTMDALEY.COM

Police Reports • Nov. 19 - Nov. 30

NOV. 20

Theft 3 PM 600-699 E 24TH ST Theft 2 PM 1100-1199 DOROTHY ST Burglary 2 AM 900-999 HERKIMER Theft 2:30 PM 600-699 WESTCROSS Theft 1 PM 1600-1699 SHEPHERD Theft 1 PM 2900-2999 W 12TH Theft 7:20 PM 5100-5199 WASHINGTON Theft 6:55 PM 1900-1999 JOHNSON Theft 1 PM 900-999 W DONOVAN Theft 4:57 PM 3500-3599 E T C JESTER Theft 1 PM 3800-3899 SHERWOOD Theft 2 PM 3900-3999 SHERWOOD Theft 3:38 PM 100-199 E 22ND Burglary 6:28 AM 2900-2999 ATTRIDGE Theft 4:37 AM 4200-4299 CORTLANDT Burglary 3 AM 1400-1499 E 36TH ST Theft 7:23 AM 4400-4499 N SHEPHERD Theft 3:03 PM 900-999 WAKEFIELD Theft 8:09 AM 0-99 E CROSSTIMBERS Assault 2:06 PM 800-899 OAK Assault 8:07 PM 1200-1299 OVERHILL Theft 6:34 PM 11000-11099 NORTHWEST FWY Theft 2 PM 4900-4999 POINCIANA Theft 12:30 PM 2300-2399 ALTHEA DR Burglary 2:30 PM 600-699 WESTCROSS Theft 11:22 PM 100-199 HEIGHTS BLVD

NOV. 21

Theft 5:30 PM 3200-3299 MANGUM RD Burglary 5:20 AM 1600-1699 SANDMAN Theft 2:37 PM 4200-4299 WASHINGTON

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Theft 7:03 AM 8200-8299 WASHINGTON Theft 3:54 AM 3800-3899 SHERWOOD Theft 5:45 AM 4600-4699 SHERWOOD Burglary 3:20 AM 3700-3799 WATONGA Theft 7:30 AM 1300-1399 34TH Theft 10 PM 4300-4399 LILLIAN Theft 5:49 PM 5000-5099 LILLIAN Robbery 4:44 PM 4400-4499 SHERWOOD Theft 4:25 PM 3300-3399 SHEPHERD Theft 11:30 AM 10600-10699 HEMPSTEAD

NOV. 22

Theft 11:30 AM 2800-2899 WHITE OAK DR Robbery 3 PM 3700-3799 N MAIN Theft 12:33 PM 700-799 GREEN MEADOW LN Robbery 10:25 AM 4700-4799 WEST 34TH Burglary 8:03 AM 1600-1699 W 15TH Theft 3:48 AM 600-699 E 10TH Theft 8:15 AM 1400-1499 W 20TH Theft 9:28 AM 100-199 YALE Theft 5 PM 1000-1099 W 20TH Theft 6:30 AM 5200-5299 SHEPHERD

NOV. 23

Burglary 1:33 PM 100-199 E 38TH Theft 3 AM 3800-3899 N SHEPHERD Theft 10:35 PM 600-699 STUDEWOOD Theft 6:30 AM 4100-4199 N SHEPHERD Theft 8 AM 1800-1899 SHEPHERD Theft 4 AM 2000-2099 ELLA Theft 9:20 AM 700-799 CURTIN Theft 5:59 AM 4800-4899 N SHEPHERD Theft 7:23 PM 2500-2599 WASHINGTON Theft 5 PM 2400-2499 WASHINGTON Theft 9:15 PM 1200-1299 W 18TH Theft 7:01 PM 900-999 THOMPSON

Theft 1 PM 400-499 OXFORD

NOV. 24

Theft 7:30 AM 300-399 ENID Theft 6:30 AM 100-199 YALE Theft 11:20 AM 600-699 E JANISCH RD Robbery 3:21 PM 3400-3499 MANGUM Theft 9:18 AM 4300-4399 W T C JESTER Theft 3:39 AM 4100-4199 OXFORD Theft 4:37 AM 2200-2299 N SHEPHERD Theft 4:30 PM 1600-1699 W T C JESTER BLVD Theft 1:28 PM 1400-1499 SHEPHERD Theft 10:21 AM 1500-1599 W 34TH ST

NOV. 25

Theft 2:37 AM 1500-1599 COHN ST Theft 9:46 AM 600-699 11TH ST Theft 1:06 PM 100-199 W 20TH ST Theft 1:29 AM 2900-2999 W 12TH Burglary 9:40 AM 700-799 W 43RD ST Theft 10:48 AM 4400-4499 SHEPHERD DR Burglary 6:54 AM 800-899 WAKEFIELD Burglary 7:08 AM 800-899 W 31ST

NOV. 26

Please report any suspicious activity to local Law Enforcement.

Aggravated robbery in the Heights

On Nov. 30, 2014, at approximately 9:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to an Aggravated Robbery Call at the 1300 block of Tulane. The reportee advised that he was walking his dog when 2 males pulled up in an unknown make/model black pickup truck and held him up at gunpoint. The suspects are described as 2 black males in their 20s and

9-year-old boy accidentally shoots brother with gun Police have said no charges have been filed yet in the investigation into the accidental shooting of a teenager by his younger brother at a Leader-area apartment complex. According to The Leader news partner, KHOU, a 9-yearold child playing with a handgun ended up shooting his teenage brother on the morning of Nov. 30. According to the report, the

shooting happened at about 6 a.m.inside of the Mangum Oaks Apartments, located on the 4700 block of West Mangum Road. The report states the 14-yearold boy was asleep in his bedroom when he was shot by his brother. The victim was transported via Life Flight Helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

NOV. 30

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Arrest 12:30 PM 3300 BLOCK OF N LOOP W Theft 10:15 AM 4200-4299 SHERWOOD Robbery 12:35 PM 2300-2399 W 18TH Theft 8 AM 400-499 HEIGHTS BLVD Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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Robbery 1:39 PM 200-299 NEYLAND Theft 6:19 AM 7500-7599 N SHEPHERD Theft 7:49 AM 400-499 STUDEWOOD Theft 2 PM 200-299 W 20TH ST Theft 5 PM 1100-1199 ROY Theft 2 PM 400-499 S HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 2:50 PM 900-999 WASHINGTON Theft 1 PM 4800-4899 LAMONTE Robbery 6:39 AM 2100-2199 TAYLOR

NOV. 27

Burglary 4 PM 10600-10699 NORTHWEST FWY Theft 7:01 PM 4600-4699 NETT

NOV. 28

Theft 12:26 PM 500-599 E 11TH ST Burglary 10 PM 1200-1299 PRINCE Theft 11 AM 1200-1299 PRINCE Theft 11:27 AM 10000-10099 HEMPSTEAD RD Assault 6:38 AM 4000-4099 WATONGA Theft 6:34 AM 1000-1099 SHEPHERD

NOV. 29

Theft 6:13 AM 1200-1299

Items stolen from Garden Oaks resident’s porch On Nov. 27, deputies responded to a dispatched call in the 300 block of W 34th in response to a theft. Upon making contact with the complainant, he advised that a wooden table and a granite candle holder were stolen from his front porch. The complainant stated he last saw the items before he went to bed at approximately 11 p.m. and when he awoke that morning at 6 a.m. they were gone. No suspect information was obtained and the case is referred to the Houston Police Department for investigation.

WAKEFIELD Assault 5 AM 5600-5699 YALE Theft 9 AM 9600-9699 HEMPSTEAD RD Theft 6:30 PM 4200-4299 W 34TH ST Theft 7:39 AM 200-299 W 20TH Theft 2 PM 4000-4099 N SHEPHERD Theft 8:40 AM 4400-4499 ELLA Theft 9:30 AM 4700-4799 THORNTON CIR Theft 3 PM 5500-5599 DARLING Theft 9:10 AM 4700-4799 WASHINGTON Theft 11 AM 400-499 HEIGHTS BLVD

4

Theft 3:48 PM 5000-5099 YALE Robbery 6:29 PM 3700-3799 WATONGA Theft 2 PM 1300-1399 W 13TH Theft 4 PM 1600-1699 SHEPHERD Theft 1 PM 4600-4699 SHERWOOD Theft 4 PM 3700-3799 WATONGA Theft 3:25 AM 200-299 W 19TH ST Burglary 8:31 AM 100-199 E 27TH ST Theft 6:45 AM 700-799 W 23RD ST Burglary 3 AM 2300-2399 WATSON Theft 2 PM 2200-2299 TAYLOR

B

NOV. 19

were last seen south on Tulane. Reportee was not injured and no items were taken. The reportee advised that one black male stayed inside the truck while the other one got out with a gun and had on what appeared to be a black ski mask. The reportee did not want a report at this time since no items were taken. There were no known suspects and no arrests have been made.

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FOR 60 YEARS, Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston

HAS LED THE WAY Thank you for keeping our community in the know, from your friends at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital. The Leader has served an integral role in Houston for quite some time, providing relevant news for The Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other communities. Here’s to another 60 years of The Leader being our source for neighborhood news as our area continues to thrive.

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Page 4A • Saturday, December 6, 2014

Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA awards local resident with highest volunteer honor For The Leader Every year the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA recognizes an outstanding volunteer for his or her generosity of spirit, hard work and compassion for others. We are pleased to announce that Chad Owens has been named this year’s YMCA Volunteer of the Year. Chad was presented with his award at the YMCA of Greater Houston’s Annual Celebration on Tuesday, November 18 at the Hilton Americas hotel. He joined 32 others, each representing an individual YMCA center. Chad is an excellent leader whose compassion allows everyone who meets him feel at ease. He has been a member of the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA since 2007. Chad is highly involved in the community, especially with the Y and the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community. Chad became a Board Member in 2011 and quickly moved to Board Chair in 2012-2014. This past year Chad took on a new challenge as a Y volunteer soccer coach

for two three year old teams. While serving as the Board Chair, Chad led the Board through an Executive Director transition and served on the Board Development Committee which brought in nine new board members for Fall 2014. The Foster YMCA is truly blessed to have had Chad as a committed leader who helps the YMCA further the mission. “We are so proud that Chad gives of his time and talents to impact the lives of individuals and families. His dedication makes the YMCA a better place for everyone.” said Rosemary Lengefeld Executive Director of the Foster YMCA. Throughout the year, the YMCA relies on volunteers to assist in different capacities. Volunteers come from different walks of life, but all have one trait in common - a desire to help others. Together, volunteers empower people and communities to learn, grow and thrive. For more information about volunteer opportunities at the YMCA, visit www.ymcahouston.org.

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The Topics. Saturday, December 6, 2014 • Page 5A

Can The Leader survive another 60 years? Why not?

T

hroughout most of today’s edition of The Leader, you’ve probably noticed we’re celebrating a bit of a milestone. And if our constant barrage of articles and advertisements over the past two months hasn’t been enough, you now certainly know The Leader excitedly turned 60 years old with this edition. Actually, if you’re a newspaper geek and understand volumes and numbers, you know we’ve actually been 60 for a few weeks now – but who’s counting? We’ve tried to keep the narcissism to a minimum. In fact, beyond a few interesting anecdotes and the listing of people who have helped deliver this newspaper over the last six decades, most of this edition is focused not on us, but on the people and events that have defined who we are and what we look like today. This has been a fun project, and we’ve had some wonderful people help us along the way. As usual, though, I have agreed to take on the most daunting task of today’s publication. Smart people often tell us the past is only worth what it teaches us about the future, and that’s where I want to try my hand in what space we have remaining. Most of today’s newspaper tells you about the past, but what about the next 60 years? More pointedly: We know what The Leader has looked like for the previous 60 years; what will it look like 60 years from today? Well, that kind of depends. Newspapers, since their inception in the late 17th century, have been mere reflections of the geographic areas they covered. If, by chance, you’ve ever lived in a city where crime and jobless rates are high and

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

morale is low, I’d bet $60 you’d find a grungy newspaper with too many crime stories and not enough helpwanted ads. If, however, you lived in a thriving town with an active chamber of commerce, strong schools, stronger neighborhoods and a sense of place, then I’d bet $60,000 that you’d find a perky newspaper with diverse content and relevant information. The lesson is pretty simple when it comes to all shapes of media: Whether it’s TV, radio, print or digital, media always mirrors community. That’s why I believe The Leader has survived six decades of independent ownership. The community Jack Worden and Al Cherry chose to start a newspaper in 1954, and the same community where Lee and son Terry Burge chose to save that newspaper – even through down times – has always maintained a fabric of strong, local institutions that care about the future. So if we get back to the question at hand – what will The Leader look like in 60 years? – I’d again answer by saying, “That depends.” It depends on what happens to our community. Will we be swallowed by the larger city? Will we lose our sense of uniqueness? Will developers turn our quaint neighborhoods

In the future, many of us could ‘consume’ our news through screens built into our dinner plates....

into mid-rises? Will our local stores become consumed by corporations that substitute nameless employees every season? As the publisher and owner of this newspaper, I’ve often been accused of being pro-development. I’ve been told that The Leader doesn’t care about who comes into our neighborhoods, what happens to the historic homes we have, and would rather see Shepherd Drive turn into Kirby Drive. I actually don’t believe The Leader has that sort of power. What we do have, and what I envision of this newspaper in the next few years, is a serious look at the identity of our neighborhoods and what we can do to help preserve that identity. That doesn’t mean we’ll attack developers or contractors doing their jobs within our laws and deeds, but I do believe our newspaper must get more involved in helping us maintain our sense of place. That’s one promise I can make. After that, well the future gets muddy. Let’s start with actual paper. In 60 years, is there any chance in the world we’ll still be using a printing

Walking the line between caution, paranoia over cat mutilations I’m an animal lover by nature. I’ve been around dogs my entire life and have had plenty of friends and relatives with cats, reptiles and other pets of all shapes and sizes. My aunt in particular has several cats of her own, and the idea of getting an older cat of my own is something that is crossing my mind more and more. I can completely understand the shock of losing a pet, particularly in regards to the incidents facing cats in the Greater Heights area. However, I feel in some ways we all need to pump the brakes a bit when it comes to seeking answers for what’s behind these killings. For the past several weeks, The Leader has covered the mutilations, the response from the Houston Police Department and most recently what some local experts have been saying. HPD’s official stance regarding the animals they’ve performed necropsies on is that the deaths are the work of animal predation, possibly from coyotes in the area. Judging from the letters to the editor and comments on Facebook, peoples’ minds still aren’t at ease. It’s understandable. For years, psychologists and other researchers have linked violence like animal cruelty to psychotic behavior. Even just a cursory glance of many infamous murderers throughout history shows that many committed violent acts of animal abuse in their younger years. These types of cases have rocked communities across the nation, with similar killings occurring in states like Oregon, Florida and Ohio. Each incident seems similar to the ones here in The Leader area, with residents and local officials noting the cuts of the animals, missing limbs or organs and the placement of the animal often times on the owner’s property. However, you will also likely find just as many more stories that point to animal predation being behind the killings. It’s important to keep in mind where we live, particularly in relation to surrounding parks and other greenspaces. I myself can forget that this part of Houston is host to a variety of different animals and some aren’t exactly friendly to cats. I also feel it’s important for some in our community to keep in mind that panicking or even starting witch hunts will solve nothing. There are clearly steps that pet owners and other resi-

Jonathan Garris Editor

dents here can take to protect themselves and their animals, like keeping an eye out for one another and reporting suspicious activity. What people shouldn’t be doing is crowding their social media networks with speculation, finger pointing, and blurry images that sort of, kind of, might be (but likely aren’t) the real threat to our neighborhood cats. I’ve had this conversation with other devout cat lovers and some of them have told me that I simply “don’t get it,” but I do. In terms of psychopathic behavior, animal abuse can lead to deeper, more serious crimes and the idea of a person like that roaming our area would make anyone uneasy. However, during last month’s meeting with the Houston Police Department and Timbergrove Manor residents, HPD’s own experts explicitly said the animals they examined were killed by other animals. This, of course, brings little closure to those who have lost pets who are, by all means, members of their families. Most people will likely tread with caution in the coming months, or even the coming years, with their furry friends, but there are a select few who are utterly convinced there is a serial cat killer on the loose without clear enough evidence to back up such a claim. In one of The Leader’s more recent stories, a local veterinarian testified that she herself performed a necropsy on a cat in late 2008 and said the animal had injuries that were very clearly inconsistent with an animal attack. Also somewhat damning to HPD at the time is that investigators allegedly did not come to retrieve the animal. If that claim were true, I can’t defend HPD’s handling of the incident especially if the details of the animal’s death were as gruesome as what was reported. But we also have to keep this in context – that examination was done in 2008, nearly seven years ago, and similar reports have surfaced around the entire city for years now. I’m not attempting to make light of the mutilations of innocent animals, nor would I ever

paint the rapid deaths of local pets as “business as usual,” but perhaps we might be underestimating how predators and even accidents might be contributing to the deaths of these neighborhood cats. There is also the notion that some neighbors feared retaliation and many never filed reports with HPD about some of their animals. This, honestly, concerns me just as much as the idea that a serial cat killer is roaming the streets. Our police department and their investigators can only do so much when it comes to pinpointing patterns or trends in violent behavior. To allow such cases that are as violent as those that have been reported by local residents to go completely under the radar does a disservice not only to fellow pet owners but also fellow neighbors. Reporting criminal activity, like these animal deaths, when it happens is far more useful than posting blurry photos of a person someone on Facebook decided to chase off of their property because they “looked suspicious,” which is something I’ve seen multiple times across several neighborhood Facebook pages. There is also the discussion of whether people should be letting their cats roam the neighborhood at all, which appears to be a heated debate. The American Humane Society points to a number of potential issues with allowing cats to be outside on their own including the transmission of numerous diseases, parasites, poisons and vulnerability to vehicles, dogs and other wild animals. Loose cats also kill millions of birds each year, and there is also the clichesounding issue with cats climbing trees and becoming stuck. Whatever a resident decides to do with their cat, they should always remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their four-legged companions. But those same residents also must remember to keep things in perspective and not allow that fear to cloud their judgment and even their trust in other people. In my position, I’m skeptical about most things, but if HPD truly feared there was a person murdering cats in our own backyards, it would not be in their best interests to tell people that the recent deaths are likely due to animal predation and turn their backs so easily on a serious public safety issue. Let’s all remain calm, but cautious – not paranoid.

press and carriers in cars to throw a newspaper? I doubt it. Then again, people have written off newspapers as dead for two decades now, and we’re still kicking. Here’s how I see things, for what it’s worth: The internet (who some in our business demonize) has been around since the mid 1990s. It’s on our desks at work. It’s on our phones. It’s now on our wrists, if any of you have been crazy enough to buy a smart watch. And it’s even in our glasses – assuming you want to Tweet with your eyes. I suppose the question is where we’ll get our information next. Will something come along that’s better than what we have already and finally spell the end of the printed word? Maybe we’ll one day buy dinner plates that have screens built into them. Once you finish your green beans, you can read the day’s financial news on your plate. Maybe some brainy kid on the West Coast will develop coffee mugs that have monitors built into the bottom of the cup. Every time you take a sip of Joe, you get another headline.

Or maybe our pillows will be implanted with a special sort of code that feeds us information as we sleep. If one of our friends updates her Facebook page at 3 a.m. (probably after too much imbibing), we’ll automatically know when we wake up the next morning. Maybe when we take our pets to get neutered and spayed, the vets will install a chip that allows Rufus to read us all the sports stats from the late games in the NBA. Rufus can lie at our feet while we sip our coffee mugs, which would actually mean we can get news from under our noses and sports from under our feet. Maybe the robots are actually coming this time. I remember watching Rocky IV, when Paulie’s robot became his girlfriend, and I thought it was just a matter of time. If we all get robots to replace our phones, watches, glasses, dinner plates, coffee mugs, pillows and Rufus, then it sure will be easier to get our news. If you ask me what The Leader will look like in 60 years, I can’t give you a technical answer. For some reason, I think the developments in technology will move away from the focus on information and move toward a focus on functionality. We’ll have newer and better cars, better air conditioning units, better appliances. I don’t know that we’ll see much of a change in the technology of information. Does that mean The Leader can survive another 60 years? I don’t know. What I do know is if our community stays intact, and if we keep giving you the most local, useful information possible, I believe someone will own this newspaper in 2074. I just don’t think it will be me. Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

When you represent Texas, always go first class “I’m from Texas and one of the reasons I like Texas is because there’s no one in control.” -- Willie Nelson. “Doesn’t Texas sometimes seem to resemble a country like Saudi Arabia, with its great heat, its oil wealth, its brimming houses of worship, and its weekly executions?” -- Martin Amis, “The Palace of the End,” The Guardian, March 4, 2003 “I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults.” - Molly Ivins. Yes, it’s time once again to see what people are saying about us – outsiders, insiders, critics and people who just don’t know any better. Let’s start with politics, always good for a laugh. “I go into the office, I sue the federal government, and then I go home.” – State Atty. Gen. (and future Gov.) Greg Abbott. Then there is U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock who harangued an innocent park ranger in front of TV cameras about a shutdown-shuttered war memorial in Washington, insisting that the ranger and her colleagues should be “ashamed of themselves.” Rep. Neugebauer had voted for the shut-down. U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas cemented Franco-American relations with: “We’re not French. We don’t surrender.” Outgoing (as in leaving, not as in friendly, although he may be) Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told a Tea Party gathering: “I don’t know about you, but Barack Obama ought to be impeached.” Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land said that the government is becoming secular because “we stopped realizing that God created this nation, that he wrote the Constitution, that it’s based on biblical principles.” “How can you look at the Texas Legislature and still believe in intelligent design?” -- Kinky Friedman. “Crucial to understanding federalism in modern day America is the concept of mobility, or ‘the ability to vote with your feet.’ If you don’t support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol -- don’t come to Texas. If you don’t like medicinal marijuana and gay marriage, don’t move to California.” – Gov. Rick Perry. And this Molly Ivins quote is particularly relevant right now: “Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.” Blasts from the past: Gov. Perry quoting another governor, Sam Houston, at a Tea Party rally in Austin: “Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.” Next up: “Anyone who has seen the auto factories in Detroit and the oil fields in Texas, knows that Japan lacks the national power for a naval race with America.” -- Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor. “Van Horn [Texas] is so healthy, we had to shoot a man to start a cemetery.”-- Bill Goynes, who coined this civic slogan for the town. Then he was gunned down during an argument and was the first man buried in the Van Horn cemetery, in 1892. Where’s the remote? Oprah Winfrey, who has hosted her show in both Houston and Dallas, was asked (in Dallas) which Texas city was the best host. She answered, “Dallas won! If you have a rivalry, Dallas won!” Keep changing channels. Conan O’Brien (in Dallas): Houston is “650 square miles, all of it

Lynn Ashby Columnist

comprised of burning garbage piles. Houston’s smog is the eighth worst in the USA, and it’s home to every serial killer that’s alive today. Its industries are known for pollutin’, and it’s the favorite U.S. city of Vladimir Putin. And here’s my last line, and I don’t mean to be callous, but if you drive near Houston just keep going to Dallas.” No wonder O’Brien got fired. “Don’t Mess With Texas” Now of worldwide fame, it was born in 1985 when the then Texas Dept. of Transportation (now the cutesy TxDOT) asked two Mad Men, Mike Blair and Tim McClure, to come up with a slogan to stem the $20-million-a-year cost of cleaning up Texas’s highways. McClure, spotting all the trash along a road near his house, remembered his mother telling him that his room was messy. The slogan now ranks up there with Hook ‘Em Horns. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a letter to his brother, Edgar Newton Eisenhower, on Nov. 8, 1954: “Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.” This is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas: “If someone in a Lowe’s store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you may live in Texas. If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong umber, you may live in Texas. If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas.” ESPN personality Colin Cowherd: “There’s only one side of the argument to be on: Johnny Football created this whole entire mess. Tough talkin’, rigid, all-about-cops-and-laws Texas, all lining up today, defending a lawbreaker, who lied to his coach, lied to his teammates, lied to the cops -- I “For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.” -- John Steinbeck, “Travels with Charley.” And finally, the final words from James Michener’s “Texas”: “Never forget, son, when you represent Texas, always go first class.” Ashby is quotable at ashby2@comcast.net

Page 6A • Saturday, December 6, 2014

60 Events This story takes a look at history. Find stories walking through past decades.

• 1950s and ‘60s - 9A • 1970s and ‘80s - 9A • 1990s and present - 10A

60 shaped our

events that have

Around town The Barbeque Inn - It’s all good!

Main featured photo

area neighborhoods

Founded in 1946, by Louis and Nell Skrehot. The Barbeque Inn is one of Houston’s oldest family owned restaurants. The couple searched hard to find the perfect location - the little house on Crosstimbers, and proceeded to build the original barbecue pit. Starting with a simple menu, area residents could not get enough of the wonderful fare. The founding couple’s sons, Louis, Jr. and Wayne, slowly took over the family business and incorporated everything their mother and father taught them - hard work, determination, quality and value. When customers would come in and ask ”What’s good,” the brothers would answer, ”It’s all good,” an expression that has become part of the businesses identity. “It is the 50-year partnership of Louis Jr. and Wayne that is responsible for making the Barbecue Inn the thriving business it is today,” stated David Skrehot, third generation family member and son of Wayne. “We would not be what we are today, with my dad, my uncle and the wonderful people in the area who are our customers and friends,” David concluded.

Pine Forest Country Club – The “new River Oaks”

By Kim Hogstrom The Barbeque Inn is one of Houston’s oldest family owned restaurants, founded in 1946, by Louis and Nell Skrehot.

he Leader newspaper’s readers share a fascinating history. In celebration of the 60th birthday of our newspaper, we at the The Leader offer this retrospective to help keep our remarkable community’s story alive - so that long-timers can remember with pride and newcomers will know. Like The Leader’s readers themselves, our area is colorful, remarkable, and unique. Enjoy!

T

In the beginning....

It was 1890 and Houston, Texas, had matured into a bustling city of commerce and commotion with a thriving population of 26,000. In an effort to escape the chaos of city life, an entrepreneur named Oscar Martin Carter had a vision for a modern, planned community for working families - a suburbia, far from the noise, stress and dust of the city. With a number of investors, Carter set up the Omaha and South Texas Land Company specifically to develop his ideal community. In 1891, Carter’s company paid $45 an acre and purchased 1,756 acres of land four miles northwest of downtown amid the trees, streams and pastures of rural Harris County. At the time, residents of Houston were suffering from the ravages of yellow fever, and devastating floods, so Carter chose property that was 23 feet higher than Houston proper and called it “Houston Heights,” promoting the area’s “cooling breezes from the gulf.” By the time World War I came to a close in 1918, the Heights had become everything Carter imagined: a suburban community speckled with beautiful homes, tidy bungalows, parks and schools hosting a population of professionals blended with a thriving middle class. Still, Houston continued to grow and that same year, the city of Houston annexed the community. It was 1937, and in a similar need for quiet to that of developer Carter before him, that Houston developer Edward L. Crain was yearning for the life of Small Town, America, so the determined visionary created one. Just 8 or 9 miles from downtown Houston, Crain purchased 1,100 acres of undeveloped land north of Houston Heights, and called it “Garden Oaks.” Originally plotted in six sections, five were developed in Crain’s utopian Garden Oaks. The businessman made certain that the community boasted winding streets without sidewalks, and over-sized lots shaded by massive, graceful magnolia, pecan and oak trees. The community was soon deemed, “the new River Oaks.” For years, Garden Oaks maintained the sense of tightly knit community that Cain sought. Many will say the attitude remains, right down to the “welcome baskets” for new residents. It’s true: beautiful Garden Oaks today boasts approximately 1,400 homes, and the Small Town, Texas, values its founder had imagined. In the years following the founding of Garden Oaks, Hous-

Contributed photo

ton continued to grow, as did the demand for housing. In 1946 Real estate developer Frank Sharp took note of the success of Garden Oaks and launched Oak Forest Realty Corporation to develop a community nearby. He called it “Oak Forest.” (Sharp also developed Houston’s Southside Place and later, Sharpstown). Sharp’s Oak Forest Realty Corporation ultimately developed 17 sections and plotted 4,780 lots for homes with special attention to locations for schools, parks and churches. The company constructed streets and added infrastructure, but left the home construction to contractors, sitting this as a way to save homeowner’s money. The lots were larger than average for Houston, and the dwellings were a collection of two- or three-bedroom, onebath homes with carports. The average house at the time offered about 1,000 square feet and sold for between $8,800 and $10,000 - complete with appliances. Despite this fact, Sharp promoted his new community with the statement that “No two houses are alike” and in fact, only two were. Young American GIs were returning from World War II in masses. Many were marrying, and having children, causing the population in America to explode. These small families were snapping up the new homes in Oak Forest at a clip that could barely be maintained, and the demographic quickly required a school. In 1949, Oak Forest Elementary School opened its doors. Today, there are approximately 5,000 homes in Oak Forest.

Established in 1945, Pine Forest Country Club offered area residents all the amenities of a first-class country club including one of Houston finest golf courses. The club’s mere presence helped foster the “new River Oaks,“ reputation area residents enjoyed. Pine Forest occupied 144 acres just northeast of Garden Oaks along North Shepherd Blvd. and was renowned for its magnificent trees and interesting layout. “I was pretty young when I played the Pine Forest golf course,” stated Oak Forest resident, Pat McDougle. “Even though I was a kid, I somehow managed to play most of the courses in Houston at the time. Pine Forest was definitely the most fun, and it sure was beautiful.” The Pine Forest course was so well-regarded that, in 1949, it hosted the Houston Open at which time John Palmer won by one stroke. Sadly, the club moved to west Houston in 1979 and the land, parceled out.

R.J.’s Boot Company – Bootmakers to the Stars In 1940, Rocky Carroll Sr. moved his business into his brand new building at 3321 Ella Blvd. Traffic along Ella was light, but the gifted bookmaker never wanted for customers. Carroll soon earned a reputation for quality custom boots that approached the level of works of art. Today, Rocky Carroll Jr. and his son John Carol continue to run RJ’s Boot Company at the same location. The traffic on Ella blvd has certainly changed but the shop’s reputation for quality has not. While the store itself is dusty, and something of, well, a mess, it remains at the top of its field in custom-made cowboy boots. The New York Times reported in 2006 that Governor Rick Perry’s favorite boots came from RJ’s Boot Company, as well as Dolly Parton’s. “It’s true. In fact, we’ve made boots for that last nine presidents in a row,” stated 3rd generation bootmaker John Carroll, proudly.

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

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system 43. Ad __ 44. 2nd smallest planet 45. First on moon 46. Androgyne 48. Skating jump 49. Remove fat from 50. Point midway between NE and E 51. London park 52. Pig pen

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1. Chief Polish port 2. Japanese motor co. 3. Carbolic acid 4. Mures River city 5. Small bread roll 6. Inexplicable occurrence 7. Thrown in track and field 10. Military leader (abbr.) 12. Indian dress 13. Children’s tale bear 14. Opposite of cameo 16. Portraiture stance

19. 1/2 an em 20. Pouchlike structures 21. Music awards est. 1973 23. Belonging to a diocese 24. Memory whose contents cannot be changed 27. Transfer property 28. Universal Standard Time (abbr.) 29. Norse goddess of old age 31. A type of salamander 32. Appease 33. Not common 34. Church of Pope Francis 35. Common frog genus 36. Wild goats 37. Customer 38. NAACP founder Florence 39. Outbuilding 40. N.E. Chinese province 44. Distribute by measure 47. Scoundrel

WORD SCRAMBLE

Saturday, December 6, 2014 • Page 7A

The calendar. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Oak Forest Homeowners Association Come have breakfast with Santa from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 6, at Candlelight Community Center, 1520 Candlelight Lane. Bring a camera and take a picture with Santa for a $5 donation. Proceeds go towards the OFHA general fund. Information: 713-688-6342, www.ofha.org. SANTA PAWS Houston Humane Society Santa Paws is coming to the Houston Humane Society. HHS is offering free photos with Santa for kids and pets from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 6. Visitors are encouraged to bring a Kong toy or dry pet food donation. The shelter is located at 14700 Almeda Rd. Information: 713-433-6421, www.

houstonhumane.org. TREE OF REMEMBRANCE SERVICE Pat H. Foley and Company Pat H. Foley and Company, 1200 W. 34th St., welcomes families they have served in the past year to join them for a service of remembrance and healing for the holidays. The service will be from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 7. John Snider, retired minister and funeral director, will deliver a special message of hope and comfort. Music and refreshments will be provided, as well as time to visit with staff. Information: 713-869-6261. UGLY SWEATER PARTY Karbach Brewery Support Playworks Texas from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 10. Come by for

From the Pews.

Holiday Market at St. Rose of Lima The St. Rose of Lima Catholic School will have their Holiday Market from 10 a.m.3 p.m. Dec. 6. There will be more than 30 booths. Admission is free. Call 713-692-9123 or visit www.stroselima.org for information.

Advent season discussions at Hope Episcopal Hope Episcopal Church, 1613 W. 43rd St., will have discussions during the Advent season with Canon John Newton about “New Clothes.� Supper and fellowship will be at 6 p.m., followed by the 6:30 p.m. discussion. The group meets Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. There will also be an Advent Prayer Breakfast at 9 a.m. Dec. 6. The guest speaker is Rev. Archie Thompson of St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church. Call 713-681-6422 or visit www.hope-episcopal.org for information.

a night of ugly sweaters, beer, snacks, games and fun. Get to know what Playworks does for more than 16,000 elementary school children in the community. Buy a ticket and tour the Karbach facility. Information: 281-6618367, eblevins@playworks.org. UGLY SWEATER CONTEST/ TOY DRIVE Heights Young Professionals Organization Celebrate the holidays with HYPO’s Ugly Sweater Holiday Party, from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 11. The party will be held at Harold’s, 350 W. 19th. Bring a new toy for the toy drive. Information: 713-8616735, www.heightschamber.com. BREAKFAST CONNECTION Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce This month’s breakfast connec-

welcomes the community to enjoy a special music performance at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7, by Rodica Gonzalez, noted violinist with The Houston Symphony. Heights Christian Church is located at 1703 Heights Blvd. Dr. David Klinger, Ph.D. to preach at First Church Heights First Church Heights, 201 E. 9th St., welcomes Dr. David Klingler, Ph.D. (Old Testament Studies), at the 10:30 a.m. service, Dec. 7. Dr. Klingler was an AllAmerican quarterback at the University of Houston and first round NFL draft pick for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1992. He currently serves as an associate professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. For information, call 713861-3102 or visit www.fbcheights.org.

Breakfast with Santa at Zion Lutheran Zion Lutheran Church, 3606 Beauchamp, is hosting it’s annual Breakfast with Santa from 9-10:45 a.m. Dec. 7. There will also be stories, crafts and pictures with Santa. Donations of canned goods will be collected for HIM food pantry. Monetary donations will benefit a ReThink Christmas ministry. For information, call 713869-1493 or visit www.zionlutheranhouston.org. Rodica Gonzalez performs at Heights Christian Church AdHeights # 29672 Christian Church

VIPS Christmas luncheon at St. Stephen’s Adults age 50+ are welcome to attend the VIPS Christmas

Luncheon Dec. 11, in the fellowship hall. Entertainment begins at 11 a.m., followed by a catered lunch at noon. The cost is $8 per person. RSVP to the office. The Children and Youth will present a Christmas play at 6 p.m. Dec. 14. Admission is free. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit a child at Wesley Community Center. St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or visit www.stsumc.org. Christmas musical at Oak Forest Baptist Oak Forest Baptist, 1700 W. 43rd St., will host a Christmas Musical, presented by the Oak Forest Baptist Celebration choir during the 4:15 p.m. worship service, Dec. 14. After the presentation, there will be a Christmas party in the fellowship hall. Call 713-682-4942 or visit www.oakforestbaptistnhca.org for information. Posada celebration at the Vineyard Church of Houston The Vineyard Church of Houston, located at 1035 E. 11th St., will host its fifth annual Posada celebration from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 14. The celebration includes candlelight carols, a live nativity, pinatas, a variety

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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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community. Donations of an unwrapped toy will be accepted through Dec. 15, at any local Walgreens, the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce office at 545 W. 19th St., Memorial Hermann Northwest at 610 and Ella Blvd., or at The Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA at 1234 W. 34th St. Information: 713-861-6735, www.heightschamber.com.

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Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. Nursery Provided Ministering to the Oak Forest Community since 1948 Reverend Noelie Day

MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE Collier Regional Library Join the Collier Regional Library, 6200 Pinemont Rd., at 2 p.m. Dec. 13, for its first Gingerbread House Decorating program. The program is free, but registration is required. Children ages 3-17 are welcome to attend. Limited space available. Call the library to register. Information: 832-393-1740.

TOY DRIVE Heights Young Professionals Organization The Heights Young Professionals Organization and the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering with Walgreens, Memorial Hermann Northwest and The Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA to bring the joy of the holidays to underprivileged children in the

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Find comfort when Christmas hurts at St. Andrew’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church will host a “Comfort When Christmas Hurts� service at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10. The service includes Scripture readings, prayers, music and meditation. Members of the St. Andrew’s pastoral care team will also be available for additional support. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is located at 1819 Heights Blvd. For information, visit www.saecheights.org or call 713-861-5596.

Oaks Presbyterian Church

tion, sponsored by The Heights Modern Dentistry, will feature guest speaker Steve Lufburrow, CEO of Goodwill Industries. The event will be from 6:45-8:30 a.m. Dec. 11, at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 N. Loop West. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Display tables are available at this event. Register online. Information: www.heightschamber.com, 713-861-6735.

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Simplify your Wardrobe

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f clothes make the man, then it’s also true that clothes can unmake the man (or woman), and can certainly lead to their financial ruin. Clothing can be expensive, but a simple wardrobe doesn’t have to put you in the poorhouse, and your wardrobe can be designed to make the decision of what to wear incredibly simple. If all you own are a few pairs of pants and some gray and black T-shirts, there isn’t much to decide: gray or black? People who are trying to live full lives and help solve serious problems usually have simple wardrobes which make getting dressed the easiest part of their day. Uniforms, whether of the standard military variety, or the unwritten dress code “uniform� which most professions have, are usually both functional and designed to free the person for more important tasks than getting dressed. Shopping at secondhand stores or wearing “hand-me-downs� allows us to have decent clothes without going into debt and to simplify our life in the process. Washing our clothes can be simplified too. A teaspoon or two of dishwashing liquid makes a perfectly good clothes detergent. God has more important things for us to do than to fuss and worry about our clothes.

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Page 8A • Saturday, December 6, 2014

Helping animal charities this Holiday season shelters and rescue groups are terribly underfunded and often overlooked. There’s no better feeling than walking into a shelter and handing some cash directly to the people who will put it to good use. Volunteering: Speaking of walking into a shelter...donating your time and attention at a shelter is worth its weight in gold. The most budget-friendly of all of the gifting options, but just as valuable, volunteering for even an afternoon at a shelter helps. There are jobs for every personality type in a shelter. Are you a people person? The front desk is always hopping at a shelter, so someone to greet potential adopters and answer phones is an important role in a shelter. Are you more of an introvert? Sitting with the cats and brushing them for a few hours is so important to the socialization of kitties in shelters. Supplies: Shelters can’t do their good work without lots of supplies--from pet food to cleaning supplies, you’d be amazed at how quickly they use up their reserves. Call ahead and see what the shelter’s immediate needs are and how much they are equipped to store before heading off to shop. Anything you can con-

Dear Tabby, This Holiday season I know there are lots of area shelters that could benefit from donations. What’s the best way to give to these animal charities? Philanthropist in Timbergrove Dear Philanthropist, Great idea--and yes, animal charities are in constant need of donations in order to keep on, keeping on. Animal shelters and rescue groups rely on donations in many forms, so there’s a way to help that fits every budget. Monetary donations: Naturally, giving money to shelters is always encouraged but it’s better to give your money directly to the shelter that you support, as opposed to sending in funds to a large, national organization, hoping that your money will somehow reach animals on a local level. Small

tribute would be so appreciated. If you’re in a budget crunch, donating old towels, bath mats and blankets is a good way to help out as well. Fostering: Opening your home temporarily to foster a pet is a huge help to shelters and rescue groups--especially during the holidays, when many regular foster parents are traveling and unable to help. Giving a pet a break from shelter life is a rewarding experience and helps exponentially in getting a pet adopted. Most shelters and rescues send their fosters with food, so it’s really no trouble at all and makes such a big difference.

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How you can help: Did you know that BARC’s new low-cost spay/neuter clinic is up and running? Prices start at just $29 for a cat neuter and go up to $65 for a dog spay. In case you’ve priced this procedure around town, you know that this is a good deal indeed! You can go to www. barchoustonblog.com to make an appointment and get more information. Do you have a question for Dear Tabby? If so, email her at: deartabbyquestions@gmail. com.

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Saturday, December 6, 2014 • Page 9A

Happy 60th Birthday

The 1950s and ‘60s The 1970s and ‘80s

To my Leader Friends. Thanks for making me look good.

Pat Walker SRESÂŽ, GreenÂŽ 713-412-6682 pat@thepatwalker.com

he 1950s in Houston, Texas, were exciting indeed. It was peacetime in America and American-made automobiles were everywhere, giving birth to new business concepts such as the drive-in hamburger stand, and drive-in movies. It was a mobility previously unknown. As a result of this new mobility, the breadwinner of a household could travel some distances to and from work everyday. It follows suit that a brand new house in the suburbs became the epitome of the American Dream. As the mid-1950s approached, so did the pinnacle of the baby boom and the explosion of suburbia. There were families with 2.3 children and a brand new, black and white TV, nearly everywhere. And why not? Jobs were plentiful, the average American home cost a little over $10,000, a new car, $1,900, and gasoline, 23 cents a gallon. In the 1950s, all dreams seemed possible and within reach. In 1954, a wonderful event occurred: the very first issue of The Leader went to print, giving voice and identity to our community. It was prophetic. In 1955, the Houston Metro’s population reached new heights. The young families in Oak Forest and Garden Oaks had children who were growing, requiring the addition of public schools to educate its youngest residents. The beautiful, original Oak Forest Elementary School was finished in 1951. Black Junior High School (now called Frank Black Middle School) was completed in 1958, and Waltrip High School was added in about 1961. In 1965, the population of Houston was in dire need of roadways to accommodate commuters, so city planners introduced the concept of three major transit “loops� to handle the growing reliance on cars. It

urviving the 1970s and 1980s in Houston was something akin to riding a roller coaster at Astroworld without a safety restraint. Some of the years were absolutely thrilling, others, terrifying. In the 1970s, Houston’s population exploded. People moved to the city from areas such as California, the Rust Belt and the northeast to take advantage of the city’s economic health. Houston had an abundance of jobs, while other American cities were on the decline. Adding to America’s problems was the 1973 Arab oil embargo which quadrupled oil prices in a matter of months, and Americans suffered. Gas was rationed and oil prices sky-rocketed. Houston, however, had oil. While those on the east coast shivered through the winter months due to the price of heating oil, there were bumper stickers all over Houston that read: “Drive Fast, Freeze a Yankee.� It was a time when big money was everywhere and Houston was booming. Nearly everyone drove a new car, and the Rolex watch was so ubiquitous it was dubbed the “Texas Timex.� The Cadillac Bar on Shep-

T

Mytiburger – Mytigood for Many Years As the American love affair with the automobile continued, several new types of business were added to our landscape. Perhaps the most prolific of these was the curb-service burger stand. Oak Forest’s Mytiburger opened in 1967, and originally included “awnings, and car hops, the whole thing,� stated the shop’s owner, Shawn Salyers, laughing. Mytiburger has been a favorite hangout for years. Always popular, the shop prides itself on offering “the mytiest Texas-style burgers, fries, homemade onion rings and just about anything else you can put bacon and cheese on.� One of Mytiburger’s most notable patrons was Patrick Swayze, who grew up in Oak Forest. As a teen, it is said the movie star spent hours there sipping malts and chowing on Mytiburger’s wonderful onion rings. “In fact, we have tourists in from Europe, Asia, all over the world, who come in just to see where Patrick spent his teenage years,� Salyers stated with a smile.

took three more years, but the entire West Loop was complete in 1968, securing the near northwest’s future as a bedroom community. Northwest Mall opened for business in 1968 near the intersection of U.S. 290 and Loop 610. “It was really a beautiful mall when it first opened,� stated long-time resident of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, Dian Parker. “We all thought we were very uptown when we got that mall. You could lose hours in there!� she concluded, laughing. Throughout the 1960’s, the Heights continued to enjoy its unique identity. Family owned businesses were everywhere; businesses such as malt shops, drug stores, clothing stores and auto repair shops made up the vast majority of the commercial activity. Neighbor knew neighbor, and garden clubs thrived. It was also during the 1960s that the first hint of change occurred in the Heights. The community reached its stride many years ahead of the suburban areas further north of downtown. While there were still children growing up in the Heights, a good percentage of the population was a bit older: often the parents or grandparents of the residents in the new suburbs. In essence, the Heights population was aging at a rate faster than it was being replaced.

S

herd Dr. opened in 1978, and was a favorite spot for those in the oil industry. Waiter, Fernando “Papa� Velazquez, 75, has been serving customers at the Cadillac since day one and remembers the early years fondly. “My favorite memory of the old days is when my customers would come in a Rolls Royce or land a helicopter in the parking lot across the street,� the waiter said with a laugh. “I have never seen anything like it since.� During this boom, new homes and apartments were going up almost overnight throughout the Metro area. Places such as Greenspoint, Jersey Village and the Gulfton area offered brand new construction, in newly developed communities, tempting all. In 1975, U.S. 290 opened to traffic. Sometimes called the Northwest Freeway, today, hundreds of thousands of people commute to and from work on 290 everyday. In an effort to celebrate its important role in so many lives, the Texas Legislature designated the Harris County leg of 290 as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway in 2005. It didn’t stick. As a result of the new highways leading to and from shiny, new communities, the decline of Heights acceler-

Sunday December 7, 14, 21

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Contributed photo Donna Buchanan opened her Heights plant shop, Buchanan’s Native Plants, at nearly the bottom of Houston’s recession in 1987.

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Contributed photo Oak Forest’s Mytiburger opened in 1967, and originally included awnings, and car hops.

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Sears Opens to the Delight of all In 1950, Sears opened in the Garden Oaks Shopping Center, and quickly become the center of the community’s retail universe. Offering almost every item a growing family needed, Sears was the source of nearly every washing machine, pair of socks, toy bike or hand tool in the Heights or Garden Oaks/Oak Forest for years. Sears even offered family entertainment. “Every year, the one and only Houston Rodeo star and his horse would appear at the Sears store,� remembers long-time resident of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, Dian Parker. “We would all dress up in our ‘Roy Rogers and Dale Evans’ clothing and get there early so we could pet the horse! We also saw James Arness there, and his horse, and Gene Autry too. I was six or seven and to me, it was wonderful!� she concluded. Not to be outdone, JC Penney opened in the Garden Oaks Shopping Center in 1955. The event was such an important one to the retail chain that James Cash Penney himself attended.

Arne’s – Remarkable Retail and Tourist Attraction Arne’s Warehouse, (now called Arne’s Party Store) has been doing business in the same building on Hick’s St. in the Heights for the last 60 years. Not many know that there is a real Arne. Arnold Grossman is the founder and has a long history in retail. Grossman’s journey began as the first Tupperware party distributor in South Texas prior to opening the warehouse in the 100-year old building. “Originally, he kept all his inventory there, finally opening it to the public,� explained, Jovita Torres, Arne’s Director of Operations. “Mr Grossman is slowing down a bit now, he is 89, but he’s still running it all,� she added.

Congratulations on a great performance Leader! We are so proud that The Leader has not only had a strong presence, but has enhanced our lives with great and accurate reporting of community activities. Happy Birthday Leader! May your 60th Birthday bring you many reasons to celebrate. Prosperity Bank wishes you many more years of Success!

Call today and let one of our associates go to work for you. Houston HeigHts

2310 Yale Street | 713-861-1125 w w w. p r o s p e r i t y b a n k u s a . c o m

Page 10A • Saturday, December 6, 2014

The 1990s to present

I

n the 1990s, the city of Houston continued its recovery from the devastating 1980s. Determined to never get caught in the “onetrick-pony-trap� again, city leaders decided that the economy relied too heavily on the oil industry, so they made an effort to diversify. The Port of Houston, the Texas Medical Center, manufacturing, retail, and service industries have all blossomed due, in part, to that commitment. During these years, the American economy grew strong. Both Inflation and unemployment were low, and by the late ‘90s, “it was the best of times in America.� Houston was not far behind. It took some time, but there were signs of recovery in the The Leader’s service area as well. Crime had been a problem throughout near north Houston for years. Car thefts, and burglaries were commonplace, but the statistics started to show improvement by the end of the 90s, a trend that, for the most part, continues today. In the 1990s, America’s population was growing. Almost 33 million babies were born during the decade, marking the largest increase in American history, even outnumbering the baby boom of the 1950s. Today, we call this generation, Gen Y, or the Millennials. They are a generation so great in number that their

preferences and buying power have changed the face of business in our country. As the 1900s passed into history and the new century dawned, Houston’s economy was definitely looking up. Then, in 2001, the Houston-based energy company, Enron, collapsed into a pile of smoke and mirrors. The world discovered that Enron was a sham. In Dec. 2001, the Los Angels Times published a sad statement that could easily have functioned as Houston’s obituary: “Enron funneled much of its $100 billion in revenue in 2000 through (Houston’s) local economy. Its payroll of more than 7,000 well-paid employees stirred, shook and lifted the local housing market, restaurant and entertainment industries and retail trade like no other.� Houston wasn’t taking it. There were indeed casualties of Enron, both businesses and personal bank accounts, but typical of the city’s pugnacious personality, we slogged on. Perhaps nothing more clearly illustrates the economy and growth in The Leader’s area, than the trend in home values in the last ten years. We simply could not say it better. Information courtesy of Paige Martin, Owner of HoustonProperties.com & Broker Associate, Keller Williams.

“I started selling real estate in the Heights in 1994,� stated Karen Derr, one of Houston’s most notable realtors and an undisputed expert on Houston Heights real estate. “The previous year, my husband and I bought a bungalow on an edgy street in North Norhill Heights for $53,500. By 2000 we sold the same home on the same edgy street for $157,000. We had superficially update the home and it’s garage apartment, which was bigger than the home but there was no additional square footage or luxury added,� Derr continued. “The Heights neighborhoods have appreciated consistently for two decades, allowing families like mine to enjoy a beautiful neighborhood to live in while performing as a great investment,� Derr stated. “Even in the uncertain times of 2007 and 2008, very few of my seller clients lost money on their Heights real estate investments. “People ask me often, when do I think the Heights market will peak. We saw an easing of bidding wars during the summer in some price brackets,� the realtor observed. “Now it’s the holidays and with 2014 coming to an end, I have multiple offers on all my Heights listings. With twenty years of living, working and volunteering in the Heights, I guess I’m too much an insider to predict any end to property appreciation in the Heights. I drank that KoolAid a long time ago,� Derr concluded with a laugh.

‘70s & ‘80s, from P. 9A ated. The original population had aged out and many of the older homes were converted to rentals or multifamily units, furthering the area’s slide. Used car lots, resale stores, and all sorts of industry seemed to consume the graceful, old community for years to come. Oak Forest and Garden Oaks fared better, but not by much. There was a flight to newer communities seen here too. During the 1970s and ‘80s home ownership declined as rentals escalated, leaving these communities in decline as well. In 1985, the Oak Forest Civic Club voted to revise a deed restriction to stop the sale of used furniture, mattresses and used cars from the front laws of Oak Forest homes. Still, it had not slipped to the degree of the Heights. “I think the Heights reached a turning point in 1973, when residents and business owners formed the Houston Heights Association,� stated former owner and publisher of The Leader, Terry Burge. This gentleman lived and breathed the area The Leader serves, including the Heights, for 40-plus years. He knows from where he speaks. “Under the charge of Marcella Perry, the Houston Heights Association worked to maintain the original quality of life and preserve the historic fiber of the community. Thanks largely to the as-

sociation, the Heights slowly started to recover its value and charm. In the 1970s an ‘80s, we also had many young northerners move to Houston. As the East Coast has always placed more value on history and older homes, these new residents were taken by the beauty of the Heights’ aging structures. With the help of the Houston Heights Association, the new Houstonians started to renovate the older properties, setting the next stage of the Heights in motion,� Burge concluded. As many know, what goes up, often comes down. Houston’s economic health certainly did. Throughout the mid to late-1980s there was a glut of oil on the world’s market, and Houston lost its place as the most vital city in the nation and dove into a recession. At the bottom of the recession in 1987, the Houston Metro had lost nearly a quarter million jobs. For the first time in history more people were leaving the city than moving here. Homes in the newest communities were abandoned by their owners due to the inability to meet the mortgage. The houses were simply abandoned. In a matter of five years – from 1982 to 1987 – about one in seven Houstonians had lost his or her job.

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Hickory Hollow – Great Doesn’t Change The year was 1989, when the ever-popular restaurant, Hickory Hollow opened its doors on 101 Heights Blvd. The start was a bit rocky, but the city was early in its recovery. This locally owned, Texas Roadhouse-style eatery survived and has been serving up barbeque and a chicken-fried steak the size of a waterbed for 25 years. “The area has changed a lot, but we’ve not changed much of anything here. It’s still the same great food,� stated Joseph Boeham, General Manager of Hickory Hollow. “The food is the same, but our customers have changed. We still have long-time regulars, but we used to be kind of surrounded by industry: steel workers, pipe fitting, machine shops.

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Visit our booth at the Leader’s 60th Anniversary Birthday Bash Saturday Dec. 6 at Lutheran High North

Saturday, December 13th, 8:30 am

Free of charge to all kids with the donation of 2 canned goods or a new unwrapped toy. reservation required - (713) 681-1321

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Just in time for Christmas! Three chances to win - boys’ and girls’ bike given away at each event. Must be present to win. For kids under 18 years of age.

9500 Hempstead Highway Houston, TX 77092

713-681-1321 www.northwest-mall.com www.facebook.com/NorthwestMall

December 6 12-2pm

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Fun, Games and Giveaways plus the chance to win Great Prizes!

Food, drink & Art Saturday, December 6, 2014 • Page 11A

Leader Nibbles

Paul Kopecky’s handcrafted furniture, lamps and art with an industrial bent in his booth at First Saturday Arts Market. Above, Sofia Coussirat, perhaps the youngest of Paul Kopecky’s fans, shows off a small wooden cube that he uses as price tag holder. It is now a Christmas tree ornament!

Art Valet: Inside the tent Upon first arriving at an art festival or market, even the seasoned patron can be overwhelmed with a sensory overload. The people, rows of tents, all full of paintings, sculpture, jewelry and so many items make it hard to focus. When your eyes come to rest on Paul Mitch Cohen Kopecky’s booth, you Arts Columnist will not want to look away - you’ll feel at home, and be compelled to walk in. Kopecky’s tent is like most of the others until you look inside at the white draped walls, decorative paintings hanging, a throw rug, a few tables with unusual lamps and a coffee table with a few cards laid out on top. The space is a cozy room, except that the tables and lamps are handmade by Kopecky, and all are for sale. A large banner at the back of the tent displays Kopecky’s company name, an eye catcher too: CARPENDEUM, spelled out in bold white letters on a two toned wooden background. His brother-in-law came up with the name by combining “carpenter� with the popular latin phrase “carpe diem,� which means “seize the day.� When Kopecky first visited First Saturday Arts Market, he said that was when he realized he could turn his carpenter habits into a profession. He definitely seized the day and signed on for the year. I was amazed when the Carpendeum team arrived for their first show at First Saturday Arts Market. Two truckloads of furniture, five men and a half dozen friends and family went to work. The end result was impressive, and so was Kopecky’s first offerings to the public. A native Houstonian and current Garden Oaks resident, Kopecky has been creating from wood and metal for as long as he can remember. Both his grandfathers were carpenters, so you could say his desire to build was inherited. It was only a few years ago, at the request of his wife to build a bar in their new home that Kopecky found a passion for furniture. Combining locally sourced wood and metal, Kopecky’s rustic furniture definitely falls in the “industrial� design category. Many of the tables are built with a “live edge,� shaped like the tree it was cut from, with all the curves and

even worm holes then smoothed out. “I enjoy sourcing the reclaimed materials and the inspiration that comes from finding new ways to use existing items,� Kopecky said of his materials and inspiration. “My furniture makes use of a variety of elements – steel, copper, iron, and the entire spectrum of hardwoods: oak, pecan, birch and maple.� Once Kopecky gets started he says the ideas just keep coming. The lamp bases and some of the tables are made with copper; twisted, angled and often with four to five legs. Much of his work is commissioned. “I get great satisfaction from making something that works perfectly for a customer’s environment, something custom and unique that can’t be purchased at any retail store,� Kopecky said. There may be other odds and ends available, with a compulsion to create, Kopecky leaves little waste behind in his shop. I happen to have one of his cutting boards and use it daily. It still looks new! Wooden puzzles and small carved squares keep the kids entertained too. Meet Paul Kopecky at First Saturday Arts Market this Saturday where he attends regularly. He maintains a website too with current projects including photos of work in progress. Carpendeum.com Events around the Heights this Saturday First Saturday Arts Market, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 540 W. 19th St. on the parking lot between Gen’s Antiques and YogaOne Studios. Music 11 a.m. Standing By Roses, 3 p.m. The Atomic Nightingales. Way Good Food Truck, Porch Swing Desserts and Water 2 Wine Houston. Preview all the art and more online at FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com Heights Artisan Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Odd Fellows Lodge 115 East 14th Street Houston, TX 77008 Invitational Fine Art & Craft Show. Heights Holiday Market - 10th Annual, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 1330 Heights Blvd. Houston, TX 77008 Houston Heights area artists and crafts people come together to sell their wares at this annual market. Craftidote 2014, 12-5 p.m. 729 Studewood, Houston, Texas 77007 A local handmade market of wares at Antidote Coffee shop.

Cohen is the founder and manager of First Saturday Arts Market. Contact him at ArtValet@gmail. com or visit him on the web at ArtValet.com.

Shop with Yellow Rose Distilling Are you totally confused on what to buy this year? Thirsty Well, after you’ve Explorer gone to The Leader Birthday Bash, head over to Yellow Rose Distilling from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., at 1224 N. Post Oak, Suite 100. Yellow Rose is raising a glass to guys this season and hosting a male-centric shopping event at the distillery! But this event isn’t just for the guys. Ladies, you’re invited too. There is no admission, and all guests will enjoy complimentary tours and samplings of products. Whiskey isn’t the only Thirsty thing on sale at the distillery. From hot Explorer sauce to a personal training package, guests can enjoy complimentary tours and samplings of the recently opened bourbons, whiskeys and just debuted vodkas. For more information, visit their website at www.yellowrosedistilling.com

Karbach St. 77092. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. Enjoy live music and complimentary Karbach brew – which includes a complimentary Karbach pint glass – and Chipotle Mexican Grill burritos, all while supporting a cause. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to Texas Children’s Hospital, and HoustonSSC will be accepting toy donations and everyone that brings a toy donation will receive a free ticket to a local Houston event! Supporting a cause and in turn receiving a local event ticket is great, but it gets better! Everyone that brings a toy donation will receive a ticket to a local Houston event, but the first 75 people to bring a toy will receive a FREE TICKET to the Texas Bowl on December 29 at Reliant Stadium featuring a battle between the Big XII and SEC – it be a Texas vs Texas A&M matchup - so come early and bring toy donations for Texas Children’s Hospital! For more information on how to buy your tickets, visit www.stubwire. com/event/houstonssctoysforticketsholidaypartybenefitingtexaschildrenshospital/karbachbrewingco/houston/9230/ Email christina@theleadernews.com

Toys for Tickets Holiday Party! Join Houston Sports & Social Club for their fourth annual holiday party from 3 -6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec.7 at Karbach Brewing Co. 2032

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fully stocked bar with sake, soju and Japanese beer. Ka Sushi has a hopeful opening date set for March 2015. Boom Boom Room to become Johnny’s Gold Brick Swamplot reports that Brad Moore and Ryan Rouse have joined forces with the newlyenhanced Treadsack restaurant group to take over the former Boom Boom Room space at 2518 Yale from building owner Jackie Harris. Johnny’s Gold Brick will be the name of the new bar. Treadsack principal Chris Cusack told Swamplot that he hopes Johnny’s Gold Brick will be the sort of place where you can get “decently-made cocktails, but also a shot and a beer, and be totally accessible and easy to be in.�

Have a contact for Nibbles? Email christina@theleadernews.

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Ask and you shall receive sushi Around this time last year, The Leader published a story asking Leader Readers what types of businesses or restaurants they would like to see move in to the area. The general consensus from the story was that the area wants sushi, but the question of where was the bigger topic. Pak Tsui, owner and chef of Fat Bao must have read that edition of The Leader because he has listened and is opening Ka Sushi at 1901 North Shepherd. Tsui’s sushi joint will move next to some sweet neighbors, with Smoothie King and Fat Cat Creamery next door. Tsui has done well at Fat Bao serving up his fusion concepts, but Ka Sushi will focus primarily on sushi. Building has yet to begin at the sushi Shepherd location, but is expected to start soon. Houston Eater reported that once construction is approved, Tsui has plans for a

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Photo by Christina Martinez The location of Ka Sushi at 1901 N Shepherd, expected to open in Spring 2015.

Facundo Home Builders 3715 Alba Road has already stamped its mark simply by having a mere four walls within a well-established neighborhood. With a 3-mile radius of more than 100 new up and coming homes, the first ever Gerlands Grocery would be proud to share its original structure and plot with a new full service restaurant in the Oak Forest area. Miguel Facundo, with Facundo Home Builders, has placed a coastal vision on this special landmark by not only keeping true to its classic grandfathered charm, but also by designing a space that creates warmth and community - for brunch, dinner or drinks after. With 3,155 square feet - the wine room, gas fireplace, sun room, large dining room, and wrap around outdoor seating are just a few attributes that could be the next happy hour or dinner destination in the area. For property leasing information contact Stacy Mathews at (713) 301 - 2997 or stacy@stacymathews. com. For design, building, and walk through inquiry feel free to contact Miguel Facundo at (281) 235 – 7375 or facundohomebuilder@comcast.net.

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WARMEST WISHES

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