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INSIDE.

More meetings likely for Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization controversy

By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com A fight that originally began with a Facebook post spilled out into the cafeteria of the Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet elementary school Tuesday evening, as former Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization board member Tim Weltin emphasized one important detail.

“My sense is that none of us are evil people or perfect people,” Weltin said. “But we’re not here to say that just because we’re volunteers and not perfect that you can excuse everyone. I think what we can do is collaboratively, constructively and without hurling brick bags at one another, move forward in a good way.”

Those “brick bags” Weltin might be hint-

ing at likely stem from the intense conversations happening on the Garden Oaks Facebook page, where news broke about a Harris County jury ruling unanimously that the GOMO selectively enforced deed restrictions. The jury also awarded $80,000 in attorneys fees to the defendants, Peter and Katherine Chang, who were found not liable for deed violations.

Weltin, who served as a representative of GOMO during the trial, spoke to a packed room Tuesday about the current situation and some of the background of the organization. The board is comprised of three different positions for four different sections in Garden Oaks serving staggered, three See GOMO P. 5A

Photo by Jonathan Garris Tim Weltin spoke to a heated crowd Tuesday regarding some of the issues surrounding the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization, following last week’s ruling by a Harris County jury that the group selectively enforced deed restrictions in the community.

Drive, chip, putt...

Success

New life at former Wabash location As the Heights area continues to evolve, businesses come and go at a breakneck speed it seems. With the departure of Wabash Feed & Garden Store to its new home on North Shepherd, The Leader takes a look at what is happening at its former site and sits down with its new owners.

Find out what might be in store for the area in this month’s Business Leaders.

Find it on 1B

INSIDE.

Photo by Jonathan Garris 9-year-old Stephen Hernandez can usually be found over at Memorial Park Golf Course, practicing his skills for his upcoming appearance at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, GA. Stephen is one of only 80 children across the country who qualified for the event.

Heights-area boy to make appearance at national golf tourney

Brewers go ‘Eureka’ The local microbrewery scene continues to evolve with its newest addition - Eureka Heights Brew Company - which aims to buck a trend in beer by opting to have lower alcoholic content. While it might sound a bit sideways from those unfamiliar with the process, the trio behind Eureka have their own reason. Find out more about the brewery in this week’s Business Leaders.

Find it on 1B

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Calling all senior readers – the annual Senior Expo will be making its return to SPJST Lodge 88 on March 30, with plenty of activities, educational information and expert advice.

This year’s expo runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the lodge, located at West 15th Street and Beall Street. Seniors are once again invited to enjoy free food and drinks, games, activities, information regarding health, finance and legal issues and opportunities to meet with experts who will offer free advice on a variety of other concerns.

Admission to the event is also completely free.

For the last two years, the event has attracted over 500 attendees and The Leader publisher Jonathan McElvy aims to increase that to over 700 this year.

“We’d like all of our seniors to stop by and pick up some valuable information while connecting with other neighbors in the community,” McElvy said.

Prospective attendees and vendors can RSVP for the event online www. theleadernews.com.

Volunteers needed to help with ‘Rebuild Northside’ initiative

By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com At first glance, Stephen Hernandez is like most other 9year-old boys his age. It isn’t always so easy for him to sit still, his favorite TV show is Lego Ninjago and he loves playing Minecraft. However, Hernandez also has the distinction of being part of a small group of youngsters heading to this year’s Drive, Chip & Putt Championship at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, GA. Stephen says he loves golfing because of the challenge.

“You need a lot of balance, patience and, most of all, you have to focus,” Stephen said. “If you don’t focus you’ll be all over the place.”

According to its website, The Drive, Chip & Putt Championship aims at developing the game for youngsters across the nation by “providing a fun, interactive platform for all skill levels.” Boys and girls ages 7 to 16 are invited to participate in separate divisions in four age categories on a local level. The top 80 performers – 40 boys and 40 girls – earn an invitation to the national finals in April.

Now, in the weeks leading up to his trip to Augusta, Stephen can typically be found practicing with his family out at Memorial Park Golf Course. His father, Robert Hernandez, said Stephen first got interested in golf by watching him play. Since first starting, Hernandez said his son has continued to impress him particularly with how the young boy has tackled some of the challenges on and off the golf course.

“The day of the local tournament we had my daughter’s quinceañera,” Hernandez said. “We were scrambling and didn’t have much time for practice and we went over there with no expectation.”

Not only did he win the local tournament, but the regional tournament also occurred on the heels of a reception in New Orleans. After finding a red eye flight with little sleep, Stephen still went on to win.

Even more of a surprise, golfing is far from a longtime family affair. Hernandez said he first got into it through his brother and that’s as far back as the pedigree goes.

“He’s just gifted,” Hernandez said. “He’s also a Taekwondo first degree junior black belt and that helped out a lot

Annual Senior Expo returns in late March

By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader

Source: Eric Christian Smith, Getty Images Stephen embraces his father following his win at a regional tournament here in Houston.

with his balance and discipline. He out-edges a lot of his older counterparts but he’s just having fun with it. I don’t think he realizes how good he is.”

According to the event’s website, Stephen’s best 9-hole score is 33 and his best 18-hole is 71. He lists Jordan Spieth as his favorite golfer – because he “always says and does the right thing,” – and even listens to the theme from Rocky before he plays in tournaments. But does he have any big secrets to success?

“Hard work,” Stephen says.

Stephen has played in junior golf tournaSee Golf P. 8A

On Feb. 20 the Avenue Community Development Corporation, or Avenue CDC, will hold its third annual “Rebuilding the Northside Together” event, This year, more than 500 volunteers from the community have signed up to help. Teams comprised of about 20 area residents each will spend the day assisting their neighbors – elderly, disabled, and military veterans – by sprucing up and repairing their homes.

“It’s neighbors helping neighbors, and it’s wonderful,” Mary Lawler, Executive Director of Avenue CDC, said.

“This is our third year and the biggest yet. There are 15 homes in the Near North we’ll be repairing, and a whole bunch more waiting. We believe that helping people stay in their homes, to age in place, stabilizes the community and preserves its continuity.”

Avenue CDC was founded in 1991 by a group of citizens surrounding the Washington Avenue corridor in the Heights. Realizing that the area would soon be “discovered,” they formed Avenue CDC with the mission of building affordable homes and rentals while preserving the Northside’s historic, cultural and economic diversity.

Most of the agency’s work has been limited to Near North Houston, but grows in demand each year.

See Rebuild P. 8A

The public.

Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Page 2A

Police Reports • Jan. 24 - Jan. 30 JAN. 24

Theft 3 PM 1200-1299 W 23RD Theft 5 PM 1500-1599 BEVIS Assault 8:24 AM 300-399 E 40TH Theft 9:44 AM 1300-1399 TABOR Theft 3 PM 400-499 OXFORD Theft 10 AM 400-499 OXFORD Theft 3:34 PM 200-299 PATTON Robbery 3:14 PM 5400-5499 N SHEPHERD Theft 7:30 PM 500-599 NORTHWEST MALL Theft 6 PM 3100-3199 MANGUM Theft 4 PM 6400-6499 LINDYANN Theft 9 AM 200-299 PATTON Theft 8:12 PM 1300-1399 FOWLER Theft 8:48 AM 100-199 E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 10 AM 10400-10499 NORTHWEST FWY

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Robbery 6:19 AM 3800-3899 N SHEPHERD Theft 2 PM 1600-1699 WHITE Theft 3 PM 1400-1499 CROCKETT Theft 2:30 PM 1100-1199 EDWARDS Burglary 9:23 PM 10400-10499 HEMPSTEAD Theft 1:45 PM 7700-7799 KATY FWY Theft 6:22 AM 500-599 VICTORIA Theft 10:45 AM 2500-2599 SHEARN Theft 10 AM 3100-3199 W T C JESTER Theft 12:30 AM 4200-4299 SHERWOOD LN Theft 12:30 PM 3000-3099 CORTLANDT Theft 10:54 AM 900-999 N LOOP W Theft 10:45 AM 2500-2599 SHEARN Theft 1 PM 5000-5099 YALE

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Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen named finalist for Public Official of the Year award The 5th Annual Public Official of the Year Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Hilton University of Houston in the Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom. The Public Official of the Year Luncheon is hosted by the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at the University of Houston and honors outstanding public officials in the greater Houston area. The lunch is generously sponsored by Peter Brown, aka “Pedestrian Pete”, Director of Better Houston.

This year, five finalists were selected from a group of exceptional nominees. As MPA Program Director James Thurmond explained, “These finalists exhibit qualities consistent with those of the MPA Program– trust, accountability, performance, ethical decisionmaking, and crossing jurisdictional boundaries to solve problems. We are honored to have them as our finalists and one will be recognized as the Public Official of the Year at the luncheon.

Gary Jackson, Assistant Manager of the City of Deer Park Jackson led two collaborative efforts, one for flooding alleviation and the other for the placement historical monuments. First, the Patrick’s Bayou Storm Water Detention Basin included Jackson working with the Harris County Flood District, FEMA, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the public, and the city council. This project had been years in the making but bringing all parties to the effort had been the road block until Jackson. The second collaboration was the placement of historical monuments in southeast

Texas and required a coalition of 10 cities, the Economic Alliance of the Houston Port Region, neighboring industries, the Houston Port Authority, the San Jacinto Texas Historical District, and HGAC. Jackson’s ability to manage multijurisdictional approaches was vital to both these projects.

Of course, while working on these two projects, he still performed his internal managerial duties.

Terence O’Neill, Director for the Mayor’s Office of International Communities and Refugee Affairs O’Neill directs the Mayor’s Office of International Communities and Refugee Affairs, which brings together Houston’s diverse community.

O’Neill implemented the City’s first Mayor’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which resulted in the creation of the Houston Police Department’s first human trafficking unit to help enhance law enforcement’s ability to target human trafficking in Houston and the City’s first human trafficking czar. The police department’s new human trafficking unit resulted in an increase of human trafficking tips to more than 1000 percent. He also initiated the cities first citywide language access plan, mandating that all city departments make essential information available in the five most spoken languages in Houston other than English.

Mike Sullivan, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Sullivan leads the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Office and oversees a staff of over 400 people across 16 branch offices. He works closely with other public enti-

Heights tortilla factory now facing federal charges According to a report by the Houston Chronicle, the owners of La Espiga de Oro tortilla factory in the Heights are facing federal charges for allegedly “knowingly and repeatedly” hiring immigrants without the proper permits to work in the US. The report says Alfredo Sosa Lira and Lydia Botello Lira face a preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday before US Magistrate Judge Stephen Smith. Their daughter, Lydia Lira, who also served as an office manager was arrested along with night manager Roberto Guerra.

The four are alleged to have been part of a conspiracy to harbor people illegally in the country and hired them for work. The report says they were caught when governments informants posed as unauthorized aliens and got

Local business is our business.

Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com

hired at the company. Informants subsequently recorded the defendants allegedly “discussing how to get around the system by using fraudulent documents.”

ties such as county commissioner’s court, school boards, MUDs, the Harris County Appraisal District, and the Texas DMV. He worked with the legislature in 2015 for tax relief and more transparency in government. Under his leadership, a Military Help Desk was established to assist military members with tax matters, and Property Tax Workshops were established to enhance citizen understanding of the property tax system.

Constable Alan Rosen, Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct 1 Constable Rosen created the first Precinct One Special Response Group, the first Precinct One S.W.A.T. Certified Tactical Response Team, and the first Precinct One Game Room and Prostitution Task Force which has shut down illegal gambling establishments.

He also assigned the first Precinct One Deputy to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s anti-drug task force. He has spent the last three years in restoring the public’s faith in the office after his predecessor pled guilty to federal corruption charges. His office has adopted enforceable ethics rules, improved responsiveness to the calls for service, and updated performance standards.

He works closely with Harris County Commissioners and Sheriff, HPD, and other constables.

Captain Brian Penoyer, Commander Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Captain Penoyer’s authority is only over the waterway and stops at the shore line so he must work in collaborative

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ways to get anything done in a complex political environment.

In doing so, he must balance divergent interests such as public vs. private, environment vs. commerce, and security vs. transparency. He did all this in solving the Port of Houston’s security concerns by bringing together diverse sets of people and entities including the East Harris County Manufacturers Association, Port of Houston Authority, Customs and Border Patrol, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Harris County Judge’s Office, City of Houston, Harris County Sheriff, and Harris Ship Channel Security District. The result is a more secure port and the first physical Interagency Operations Center in the USA. All the rest are virtual. Such centers were mandated by Congress but never funded.

Theft 8:22 AM 600-699 N SHEPHERD Theft 7:01 PM 5400-5499 DARLING Robbery 5:30 PM 300-399 FRAWLEY Burglary 11:04 PM 1900-1999 TAYLOR Burglary 8:37 PM 4900-4999 WASHINGTON Theft 9:49 PM 2800-2899 WASHINGTON Burglary 11:09 PM 0-99 NORTHWEST FWY Robbery 9 AM 1500-1599 W DONOVAN

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The Topics.

Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Page 3A

Don’t view us through the national lens A reader sent me a note this week about her concern for the direction of The Leader.

Largely, she worries we’re headed in a very liberal direction.

For many of you, that begs the reply: “So? ‘Bout time.”

Others may have wondered why, as this lady put it, “You already have a liberal point of view writer and many in your area that I have spoken to do not understand why you would add another liberal editor to your otherwise professional paper.”

For those new to The Leader, the writer is talking about two distinct people. One is that devil of a man Lynn Ashby, who apparently loves proving to our readers every week that he’s old enough to smoke a cigar (see below).

Lynn is a veteran columnist who makes most of our readers laugh every week. To be certain, he’s not a fan of Trump or Cruz or Dan Patrick or Faux News, as I think he calls them, but so what? I’m not a particularly big fan of Hillary, Bernie or MSNBC, but that doesn’t mean I’m more professional than Lynn – quite the contrary, if you stacked up our resumes.

And of course, this week’s column by Lynn (again, see below) reeks of an unintended joint conspiracy. In a head-scratcher of an argument, Lynn actually stands

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

up for someone who fought for the Confederacy and (spoiler alert) doesn’t like all this re-naming of our schools.

The other “liberal” writer referenced by this reader is our editor, Jonathan Garris. I’ll grant the letter writer that Garris can get full of vinegar every once in a while and, to be certain, his political views are sometimes misguided – you know, in my opinion. Garris is a budding editor still learning his way through our community, but like Lynn Ashby, that doesn’t make him any less professional.

Here’s what I found interesting, though. I went back and perused Garris’s last seven columns. Three of them definitely had a “liberal” bent. Four of them, on the other hand, had nothing of the sort. He’s written on school choice and Montessori programs, did some great research on train-track deaths, challenged many of the money-making “pink” businesses that cash in on

our desire to end breast cancer and, most recently, wrote about the joys of being a first-time uncle.

This isn’t intended to be a hesaid-she-said discussion, by any means, but over the past few years, our newspaper has developed a very consistent voice, and I understand why this particular reader shared her concern.

Here’s the problem with media: Too much of it sounds like Garris when he rants against the sins of men who died a century ago. As it relates to his column on the renaming of John H. Reagan High School, he judges the men and women of yesterday in the context of today and, in doing so, suggests we should erase important (if not depressing) history for the sake of feeling better about ourselves.

By that logic, we need to rename Washington State, Washington, D.C., and Washington County, just to name a few. At the time of his death, George Washington had 318 slaves on his estate in Mount Vernon, and most historical accounts say he was quite punitive to many of them.

But this isn’t a column about renaming a high school. It’s also not a discussion on how we’re supposed to handle the ugly side of our nation’s history. Instead, what’s most important in this dialogue is explaining to readers like Jeanne

that she’s forming a view of our newspaper through the wrong lens.

You see, most people view The Leader like they would any other big city paper. You see a left-looney column in our paper and worry that we’re becoming too liberal. Many a reader has called our circulation department demanding an immediate halt to delivery because they thought I was far too conservative for a progressive neighborhood like ours.

The reality is that our Topics page, where the opinions of Garris, Ashby and me appear are also joined with the opinions of our readers. It is literally 6 percent of our entire newspaper content on most weeks, and it simply represents a place for writers in our community to share thoughts on current issues.

After Jeanne’s letter came to my inbox, I had a good conversation with Jonathan Garris about her thoughts, and maybe it’s important to share with all of our readers.

The Leader isn’t like a big-city paper. We’re not in the game of having a right or a left slant. We are “homers” in the sense that our only job is to promote our community, right civic wrongs when necessary and then tell stories about the men, women and children who live and work here.

Take it from the owner (me): We

There is a Statue of Limitations for Texas savior Richard W. Dowling HERMANN PARK –It is a busy Saturday afternoon, with joggers, walkers, zoo visitors. Sunny, dry, a gentle breeze ushering in eau de Pasadena. This is the perfect place to read a newspaper article to a local businessman. The newspaper is the Boston Sunday Herald, specifically the edition of Sept, 6, 1863. This story reports “a well authenticated rumor that Gen. Lee has resigned.”

Even back then the press got it wrong. The local businessman is Richard W. Dowling, better known as Dicky. He was once honored in Houston and all of Texas as a savior, but now, like the boll weevil, he’s just lookin’ fer a home. Actually, I can’t even find his statue.

We start with the newspaper, which has turned orange and brittle, yet legible. This from New Orleans, which is in Union hands: Word of a massive military buildup, with 22 warships carrying supplies plus 5,000 infantry, artillery and cavalry, under the command of Gen. William B. Franklin. “The destination, which has been given out, is Mobile; but the rebel sympathizers, however, are quite sure the expedition is going to Texas.” The spies think the exact point is the mouth of the Rio Grande. Bad intelligence. The armada is going to Texas, all right, but is actually headed to Sabine Pass which separates Texas from Louisiana. Capture the pass, take the little fort guarding it, then capture Beaumont, only 18 miles away, with its rail line connecting Texas to the eastern Confederacy. March down I-10 to Houston with its rail lines west into the rest of Texas, then swiftly to Galveston and its port. This will be easy, because most able-bodied white male Texans have gone east to fight.

Indeed, Texas has sent the highest proportion of its men to the war of any state on either side. That leaves Lt. Dicky Dowling. Age 26.

He had run saloons in New Orleans before moving to Houston. A red-headed jovial Irishman, Dowling knew everybody and everybody knew and liked him.

When the war broke out, he recruited fellow Irishmen from his various bars, who became the Davis Guards, Company F of the First Texas Heavy Artillery Regiment.

They were sent to guard a backwater mud-and-log fort named Fort Sabine at Sabine Pass, wherever that was.

Once there, they rowed out into the shallow waters and stuck poles, painted white, into the bottom, then practiced hitting the poles with their artillery -- six cannon: two 24 pounders and four 32 pounders.

On Sept 8, 1863, the Union

Lynn Ashby Columnist

armada steamed into the pass. Lt. Dowling and his 45 men waited patiently. Then the first two warships puffed by the painted poles. Boom!

Then another and another.

In quick order – stick with me -- a shot from the third or fourth round hit the boiler of the Sachem, which exploded, killing and wounding many of the crew and leaving the gunboat without power in the channel. The following ship, the Arizona, backed up because it could not pass the Sachem, and withdrew.

The Clifton came on until a shot from the fort cut away its tiller rope at the range of a quarter of a mile – pretty good shooting. The gunboat couldn’t steer and ran aground, where its crew continued to fire. Then a shot hit the boiler of the Clifton, sending steam and smoke through the vessel and forcing the sailors to abandon ship. The Granite City also turned back rather than face the accurate artillery, and that ended the battle. Dowling and his Irishmen had fired their cannon 107 times in 35 minutes, a rate of less than two minutes per shot, a fantastic rate. The Confederates captured 300 Union prisoners and two gunboats.

Franklin and the army force turned back to New Orleans.

Not a single defender had been scratched. It was the most lopsided battle of the Civil War, maybe ever.

What would have happened to Houston – and Texas -- if the Union assault had succeeded? If the fall of other Southern cities is any clue, nothing good.

Atlanta was burned to the ground. Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, was burned, but not by the Yankees. To keep the Rebels’ military supplies of artillery, vast amounts of shells, and other ordinance, from being captured, the fleeing Rebels set fire to warehouses, but the fire soon spread all over downtown Richmond. Fredericksburg, Va. was occupied and thoroughly looted. Columbia, South Carolina, was destroyed. Sherman’s famed march through Georgia saw civilian homes burned, livestock slaughtered, rail lines ripped up. Sherman said he wanted to “make Georgia howl.” Today they would be called war crimes. New Orleans was spared, but the city’s women ignored or

even insulted the occupiers, so their commander, Gen. Joe Hooker, ordered that all New Orleans women were to be treated as prostitutes – or hookers. It’s a good story although the earliest known use of “hookers” as prostitutes dates to 1835, but it made the term more popular. In the words of British historian Alistair Cooke, “the South was not only defeated, it was destroyed.” The song, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” made popular

by Joan Baez, was based on fact.

Dowling and his men were hailed as heroes, although, alas, he died in 1867 from yellow fever. His statue was raised in 1905 and moved twice. His sword has been

stolen five times. Now there is pressure to put Dicky in some back lot or car pound, take his name off of a school and two streets – Dowling and Tuam, his birthplace in Ireland -- because he fought for the Confederacy although I can find no record that he owned slaves. Douglas Brinkley, a noted author and professor of history at Rice University, says of this and other such movements, “They are allowed a 21st-century moment.” I think he means we are judging our forefathers by today’s standards. Wherever Dowling is now and wherever he winds up, his pedestal should read, “The Savior of Houston and Texas.”

Ashby’s pedestal reads ashby2@comcast.net.

have no agenda to make people think one way or the other. We just want people to think and, ultimately, talk about issues important to our lives.

In the past two weeks, we’ve called the city of Houston to task for the seemingly arbitrary rules they’ve placed on Wabash Feed’s new property on North Shepherd.

We’ve reported on new development that will improve our community. We’ve told the story of a young man representing our community at a national competition, and we’ve informed property owners about a lawsuit that holds to task one of our homeowner groups.

As long as our company owns this newspaper, you don’t have to worry about the liberal points of view. They’ll be consistent in our newspaper just as our largely conservative points of view for the growth of our businesses and community are in The Leader.

Don’t view us through the lens you see the Chronicle or the Times or any other leftist newspaper. View us as a community newspaper that wants to improve where we live.

Improvement requires communication, and just as one letter writer did this week, please always feel free to share your opinion.

Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

The reader.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

Reader concerned about the direction of The Leader Dear Editor: I have lived in this area for 50 years and have really looked forward to reading The Leader from its’ inception but lately have been very disappointed in the direction you seem to be taking.

The January 30 comments in The Reader section had five articles on the Reagan name change that should bear some responsible thoughts on your decision as what your readers need and want. You already have a liberal point of view writer and many in your news area that I have spoken to do not understand why you would add another liberal editor to your otherwise professional paper. Two sides are good but not more in a small neighborhood group one.

Especially one who insults your readership. His comments would be considered if they were not so one-sided.

Your paper has been excellent

and admired but a lot of your readers have noticed a change in the content and do not feel it is worthy of what you have been building these past few years. Journalism should be reporting the facts and biased opinions of the editors have no place in true reporting. Mr. Nelson’s comments along with the other four should have hit a nerve about writing responsible articles that are not just written for the sake of baiting readers and getting more advertisers based on readership number and controversy.

The Leader has a reputation of standing out as an honorable paper who has had the interest of their neighborhood’s values. Hopefully you will not allow it to join the direction of other ratings hungry only papers that do not represent true investigative journalism.

We still need your integrity and old fashioned values.

Jeanne M.

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Owed 7. Shawl 13. Slow tempo 14. Bodily structure 16. Sun-god 17. Franklin or Eleanor 19. Degree 20. Norwegian poet 22. Local school organization 23. Consumer 25. Brews 26. Hero 28. To clear or tidy 29. 9th month 30. Hit lightly 31. Pinna 33. DoD computer language 34. One Direction won at 2014 awards 36. No. Am. peat bog 38. Clear wrap 40. Napped leather 41. In a way, takes 43. Transported 44. Back muscle 45. Unhappy 47. Wrong 48. Chit 51. Epic poem 53. Capuchin genus 55. ____traz: The Rock 56. Weight unit 58. Foot (Latin) 59. Egg-shaped nut

palm 60. A radioactive element 61. Roosevelt V.P. 64. Railroad track 65. More dense, less liquid 67. Block, Fire & Reunion 69. A set that is part of another set 70. Hair product

dOwn 1. Ineffective 2. 39th state 3. Skins 4. In a moment 5. Japanese Prime Minister Hirobumi 6. Tyrant 7. A cruelly rapacious person 8. Point midway between NE and E 9. Abnormal breathing 10. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers 11. Italian river 12. Fixed firmly into 13. Opera songs 15. Cloth measurement 18. 7th Greek letter

21. Extractor 24. For boiling water to make tea 26. Possesses 27. Edible tuberous root 30. Glass window sheets 32. Tactics 35. More (Spanish) 37. Our star 38. Makes a choice 39. Great Plains indians 42. Baglike structure in a plant or animal 43. Female sibling 46. Diverge 47. Adherent of Islam 49. Defer 50. Semitic gods 52. Indian term of respect 54. 10 decibels 55. Surface regions 57. Small amounts 59. Liberal rights organization 62. Teeny 63. Volcanic mountain in Japan 66. Atomic #71 68. Canadian province

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, February 6, 2016

The calendar.

GARAGE SALE Poe Cooperative Nursery School Poe Cooperative Nursery School will hold their 41st annual garage sale from 8 a.m.-noon, March 5, at Poe Elementary School, 5100 Hazard. With donations from households throughout the inner Houston area, the huge inventory continues to be a strong draw for garage sale fans as well as local families who look forward to the annual tradition. Donations will be accepted from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Feb. 6 and Feb. 20. Information: poecogaragesale@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/poecogaragesale.

SQUARE DANCE LESSONS Fairbee’s Square Dance Club Dance your way to a healthier you in 2016. Offering Thursday night basic/mainstream lessons.

Visit Fairbee’s Square Dance Club at Memorial Drive Lutheran Church, 12211 Memorial Dr. (rear of church), for lessons starting Feb. 4, 6:45-8 p.m., $5 per class.

Free Fun Nights are from 7:309:30 p.m. Jan. 21 and Jan. 28.

Information: 713-957-2762.

IDOL OF THE HEIGHTS Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce is calling all vocalists and music lovers alike to be contestants in the 7th annual “Idol of the Heights� competition.

Contestants must be 16 years of age and need to be registered

by Feb. 5. Pre-registration is $30 for all music genres. Information:

713-861-6735, www.heightschamber.com.

GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON Women of Wellness at St. Joseph Medical Center Attend this informative event given by the Women of Wellness at St. Joseph Medical Center. The 3rd Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon will feature Relationship Therapist, Marriage Counselor and Author Julie Nise, and Board Certified Cardiologist Ethan J. Podet, M.D. The event will be Feb. 5. The Health Fair and Expo is from 11 a.m.-noon, followed by lunch and the program from noon-1:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

St. Joseph Medical Center is located at 1401 St. Joseph Parkway in the George W. Strake Building, 9th floor auditorium. Information: www.sjmctx.com/wow, 713-756-5051.

CHEERS TO CARNIVAL EQ Heights Bring the children to this free family fun event and join in this carnival celebration. There will be storytime and a carnival mask craft for the children. Parents can enjoy a champagne toast to Carnival. The event will be held at EQ Heights, 1030 Heights Blvd., from 4-8 p.m. Feb. 6.

17TH ANNUAL BARBECUE DINNER Troop 40 Boy Scouts Boy Scouts Troop 40 will be serving barbecue plates from noon-6 p.m. Feb. 6, and 11 a.m.-4

p.m. Feb. 7, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman.

Tickets are $10. Available for sale are barbecue plates with chicken or beef and sausage, homemade buttered potatoes, seasoned green beans, condiments and drink. Also available are chopped barbecue sandwiches, pre-ordered whole briskets and bulk sales. Information: 713-8250081.

SUPER BOWL PARTY American Legion Post 560 Come by to this family friendly event at the American Legion Post 560, 3720 Alba Road, at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The Super Bowl Party will have free food and drink specials. Information: 713-682-9287, americanlegionpost560.org.

PROM DRESS GIVE-AWAY Lone Star College-CyFair The 12th Annual Prom Dress Give-Away benefiting teens without the financial means to purchase a dress for prom this spring is set at Lone Star College-CyFair Branch Library, Rm. 131, 9191 Barker Cypress Road, Sundays Feb. 7 and April 3 from 1:30-4:30 p.m., and Saturdays April 2, April 15 and April 23 from 1-4 p.m.

Dresses are free to the recipients thanks to community donations.

All dress sizes 0-30 (plus sizes are in most need) and accessories are accepted year-round. Information: elise.j.sheppard@lonestar. edu, 281-290-5248.

GRAND OPENING Cowork Lab Come by for grand opening events. Stop by for free coworking, complimentary wine, live entertainment and more. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 16. Free business showcase - local businesses are welcome to showcase their products and services. There will be complimentary lite bites, wine and live entertainment. The event will be at Cowork Lab, 2500 Yale St., Suite B. Information: 832703-0011, www.thecoworklab. com.

FIX FELIX FOR FREE The Houston Humane Society On Wednesday, February 17th, 2016, The Houston Humane Society, will neuter 700 male cats for free at the HHS Animal Wellness Clinic, 14700 Almeda Road.

Owners must have an appointment, and there is a limit of five cats per person. Domesticated and feral cats qualify, and there are no resident restrictions. For the health and safety of all cats, as well as the staff, each feline must be in a plastic crate or carrier. A current rabies vaccination is required by law. Pet owners must show proof of current rabies certificate, or they may purchase a rabies vaccine for their cat the day of the event. Information: fixfelix@houstonhumane.org, 713-433-6421.

FOREVER PLAID Houston Family Arts Center Stuart Ross’s “Forever Plaid,� is

From the Pews.

Chocoholic Games Party and Silent Auction at St. Rose of Lima The St. Rose of Lima Altar Guild will be holding their Chocoholic Games Party and Silent Auction from 7-10 p.m.

Feb. 5.

The event will be held in the St. Rose West Hall. Donation is $10 per person (includes light dinner). Tickets may be purchased at the church office or online at www.stroselima.org/ parish/fundraising-events.

Tickets may be picked up at Will Call on day of event.

For reservations, call 713898-6566 or email louise.bratton@yahoo.com. Please make sure to receive a confirmation of reservation.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community is located at 3600 Brinkman.

Free pancake breakfast at St. Matthews The community is welcome to come visit St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 4300 N. Shepherd Dr., for a free pancake breakfast. The breakfast will be from 8:30-10 a.m. Feb. 6.

Call 713-697-0671 or visit stmatthewsmethodist.org for information.

Shrove Tuesday pancake supper at St. Mark’s Come by to the all you can eat Shrove Tuesday Community Pancake Supper hosted by St. Mark’s Methodist Church,

600 Pecore. The supper will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 7, and includes pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice, coffee, tea. The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family.

Call 713-861-3104 or visit www.smumc.org for information.

Family Movie Night at St. Stephen’s All are welcome to attend Family Movie Night at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5, in the fellowship hall. Admission is free. The church will provide popcorn and lemonade. Bring pillows and blankets.

St. Stephen’s will host a chili cook-off Sunday, Feb. 7, following the 11 a.m. service.

Sample all the chili entries over fellowship. Chicken soup will also be served.

The 7th annual Dessert Extravaganza will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 13, in the fellowship hall. Dessert items, roses, handmade Valentines, chocolate-covered strawberries and items to-go will be available.

Dessert sampling will be available from 2-3:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for 6 tastings. Whole desserts will be available through a silent auction which will close at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome.

St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or visit www.stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page.

All Saints Third Age Learning Center holds spring classes All Saints Third Age Learning Center, 215 E. 10th St., offers a program, open to seniors 50-plus in the community. The 2016 Spring Semester begins Feb. 8 and registration will continue the first two weeks of the semester, Feb. 8-19.

TALC offers a variety of classes, day trips, and seminars. Some of the classes featured this semester include woodworking, computer, conversational Spanish, Mah Jong, exercise, small appliance repair, scrapbooking, water color painting, and stain glass.

A full course hot lunch is available at noon MondayFriday during the semester for $2.

For TALC program information or lunch reservations, call 713-248-1277.

Movie study, discussion at Hope Episcopal Hope Episcopal Church, 1613 W. 43rd St., has a sixweek series on Wednesday nights. The movie, “War Room: Prayer is a Powerful Weapon� will be shown with the following five weeks devoted to discussion of the material.

All are welcome to attend dinner at 6 p.m. followed by Christian formation.

Hope Episcopal Church is located at 1613 W. 43rd St. Call 713-681-6422 or visit www.hope-episcopal.org for

ChurCh

information.

MANNA needs volunteers The Souper Bowl of Caring utilizes Super Bowl weekend to mobilize young people to fight hunger and poverty in their local community by collecting monetary and/or food donations for their local food pantry that lead up to Super Bowl Sunday. If interested in hosting a food drive for MANNA, call 713-504-5486 or pdornak@gmail.com for information.

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Hear The Gospel - Mark 16:15; Roman 10: 14-17 Believe The Gospel - John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6 Repent - Luke 17:3-5; Acts 17:30 Confess - Mathew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10 Be Baptized - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col 2:11-13 Live Faithfully Till Death - John 8:31; Revelation 2:10; Hebrew 10:23 The Norhill Church of Christ is a non-denominational church located in the near north side of Houston in the inner loop 77009 area.

It has operated as a church of Christ since 1927, it is located at 634 West Cottage on the corner of West Cottage and Reagan streets.

The Norhill Church of Christ teaches only the Bible, without reference to any man-originated creed. Bible study services for all ages are held at 9:30am Sunday mornings. Sunday morning Worship begins at 10:15am. Sunday evening worship is at 5:00pm Wednesday evening worship and Bible study is held at 7:30pm.

Norhill welcomes everyone to attend worship or Bible study to learn more about the truth of the Bible.

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he month of February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! This is a great time to be sure that your child is practicing the best of dental habits to promote long-term dental health.

It is important for the parents to provide a good example to their children by having regular check-ups themselves. It is recommended that children are seen twice a year for dental visits. Being a good role-model gives kids the reinforcement of good dental hygiene and a lifetime of good oral health.

Children should be eating a diet that is low in processed sugars and should limit the amount of fruit juices they are drinking as they are often times high in acid content. This will help to protect the teeth from cavity related to sugars and erosion caused by acidic diets.

The use of fluoride helps prevent cavities as well, and it is recommended that children drink fluoridated tap water over bottled water to strengthen their teeth and provide a resistance to decay.

Children should be brushing and flossing their teeth at least twice a day and should be monitored by their parents to ensure that they are using proper technique and are not developing poor hygiene habits.

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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JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS SPRING SALE Resurrection Church Come check out the largest consignment sale in central Houston. The sale will be held at Resurrection Church, 2025 W. 11th St., March 3 through March 5. Consignors wanted. Information: 713-861-9149.

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DePelchin Children’s Center, 4950 Memorial Dr. Registration is required as space is limited.

If emailing, please include first and last name, phone number, referral source and email address.

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RELATIVES AS PARENTS CONFERENCE DePelchin Children’s Center This free workshop will be from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 27, and will feature workshops, a vendor fair, door prizes. Lunch will be provided. No children allowed. The event will be at

Aztec Storages

(Disciples of Christ)

Ad # 22283

one of the most internationally popular Off-Broadway musicals to hit the stage, and it’s coming to the Houston Family Arts Center, 10760 Grant Road. This nostalgic, 50’s revue runs through Feb. 21.

Visit the website for showtimes.

Information: www.houstonfac. com.

5315 Antoine@ Pinemont

713-688-9625

Hours: M-F 7am-6:00pm Sat. 8am-12 Noon

MESSAGE OF THE WEEK

The PoWeR of WoRDS

L

anguage is more than just words. Every language embodies a culture and reflects the primordial experience of the language’s original speakers. Thus every language is a world view, but also the conditions of making experience intelligible. As Heidegger put it, “Language is the house of being.� The primordial, creative power of language is reflected in the Greek word ‘logos’ which is often translated as ‘word,’ although the concept of logos is much richer than the English ‘word.’ Logos is the principle of intelligibility underlying things, but also the bridge between the spiritual realm and the physical realm. Words are concrete, audible and visible expressions of abstract concepts.

A word is a materialized idea and thus the concept of ‘Logos’ or ‘Word’ was a natural idea to express and explain the second person of the trinity, i.e. Jesus.

Understanding this gives one a sense of the sublime power of language to both create and to make the world intelligible. - Christopher Simon In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

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1700 West 43 rd at Rosslyn 713-682-4942

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A House of Hope and Prayer in the Heart of Houston Rev. Elizabeth Grasham

Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday Bible Classes 9am Wednesday Bible Study 7pm

4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 Houston, TX 77092

Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Page 5A

GOMO from P. 1A year terms. Weltin stressed that because of this, the board continues to reconstitute itself over and over. “The board is not a fixed entity,� Weltin said.

Facing scrutiny from local residents regarding selective enforcement of deed restrictions, Weltin spoke about the Sue Barnett property with two garages that was a topic of contention during the trial.

The organization had rejected plans twice as they felt it wasn’t appropriate to have a second garage with space for more than one or two vehicles.

A later plan had the attached garage converted into a studio no longer with a garage door – however the garage’s second floor was labeled “garage/storage space.� “We asked that they relabel the space on the second floor to not use the word garage,�

Weltin said. “We just took that at being a drafting error.�

Weltin said the group submitted a provisional acceptance letter with the request of changing the garage’s second floor name and the structure was subsequently built.

However, the wall and windows of the previous studio space were replaced with a

door that looked like a garage door and parking was occurring as well.

Weltin said GOMO had only a few options moving forward. “We could do nothing about that or we could do something legally about it,� Weltin said.

However, after talking with attorneys about the issue, because GOMO approved the plans in the first place, it made their odds of successfully winning a case slim. “We could have sued but when there is a question about losing money, we decided collectively that it made no sense to pursue a case that we had already approved because we thought our chances for success were none,� Weltin said.

Still facing confusion and anger from some in attendance, one neighbor opined there is a clear need for another meeting with better preparedness and better explanations. Weltin also said the ruling by the jury applies primarily to one and two car garage deed restrictions in section 3, as opposed to all deed restrictions as some residents feared.

When talk of replacing board members came up, Da-

vid Garver, another former GOMO member who moved to Katy, said residents need to be realistic about the situation and that GOMO is a “legally constituted organization� which must fulfill its duties, even in its current state. “Part of that is determining what they’re going to do with this lawsuit,� Garver said. “I don’t remember, from my reading of the constitutional bylaws, if there was anything in there about trying to get a motion in place to get rid of the board but my bet is you’re not going to replace the board until a third of them come up for election in October. In the meantime, you have to live with the board you’ve got.�

Garver suggested those with specific opinions about GOMO’s operation would have to be voiced politely and said that the nature of a volunteer position means any other resident is free to campaign for a seat. “What I believe should happen is a larger forum that should happen in the next few weeks and I’m sure the current board would entertain that would be good to do,�

Weltin said.

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Page 6A • Saturday, February 6, 2016

Neighbors: Bidding farewell to an old friend

By Elizabeth Villarreal elizasgarden@outlookcom It is with a heavy but thankful heart that friends and colleagues announce Dr. A.L. Griffith, one of the founders of Oak Forest Veterinary Clinic, passed away peacefully at his home on Feb. 1, 2016.

Born July 6, 1927 in Port Arthur, TX, Griffith graduated high school in Port Arthur and went on to Texas A&M University in College Station on a football scholarship and was a Cadet in the Corps. Even though a sports injury ended his football career at A&M, Griffith was accepted into the Army during WWII where he served his country for two years.

When he first began practicing veterinary medicine, Griffith worked at the Alamo Veterinary Clinic on Old Katy Road with Dr. Gene Williams. In October 1963, Griffith and Dr. W.W. Green opened the Oak Forest

Veterinary Clinic together.

Beloved by colleagues, staff and clients, Dr. Griffith created a work environment which felt like family and his employees faithfully worked alongside him for many years. Among those colleagues are Mary Good, Griffith’s office manager for 40 years; Dr. Hallie Ray Moore, Dr. Julie Wagner Palmer, Dr. Karen Edwards and Dr. Jim Hulme, doctors who worked at the clinic over the years; and staff Lynn Friedman, Armenia Garcia, Larry Williams, and Danny Lopez.

Moore shared, “Dr. Griffith was a great man, always loving the relationships he had with his patients and their owners.

He had many stories to tell and always loved telling them. He loved hunting and fishing, his schnauzers, and his family. And he loved his veterinary practice.

Dr. Griffith worked well into his 80’s simply because he loved what he did every day.”

Good remembers Dr. Griffith “loved Texas A&M University and football. Animals would patiently wait to be seen while their owners and Dr. Griffith talked football, baseball and Texas A&M.” Dr. Moore eventually took on more of the practice and in 2007 purchased the clinic.

A running joke in the clinic centered around each year’s opening day of deer season.

Drs. Green and Griffith were both avid deer hunters and each season prepared early and well, making sure their vehicle, gear, clothing and guns were in tip top shape. The staff joked that the deer meat the well-dressed and carefully outfitted hunters brought home was worth about $2,000 per pound when all was said and done.

Long-time friend and client Cathy Crawford shared, “Dr. Al Griffith … was the epitome of a person who bloomed where he was planted. He loved animals

and he loved people. He had a special way of making everyone who came into Oak Forest Vet Clinic feel like they were the most important person in the world. He was greatly missed after he retired and sold the clinic. And, with his passing, a very special light is extinguished. I believe all the animals he cared for and he helped to cross over that rainbow bridge are welcoming him home.”

Dr. Griffith’s funeral is to be held Thursday, Feb. 4th at 10:30 AM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 19222 Tomball Pkwy, Houston, TX 77070.

Moore summed up the feelings of many when she said, “Dr. Griffith had a huge heart and always wanted to take care of all those around him. He will be greatly missed.”

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The claws come out over declawing Dear Tabby, My new cat is scratching on everything and destroying all of my furniture. I’m about at my wit’s end! I’m considering getting her declawed. Is this my only option?

Claws or no claws in Cottage Grove Dear Claws or No Claws, The short answer is no-declawing your cat isn’t your only option, nor is it a kind or humane option. Scratching behaviors are normal for all cats--wild and domesticated.

Not only does scratching a tree (or a sofa!) sharpen a cat’s claws, it is a marking behavior as well as an opportunity to stretch...and most cat owners can vouch for their cat’s yogaloving tendencies.

Up until recently, declawing

an indoor-only cat was an accepted practice in the United States, however, in recent years, a growing collection of vets have stopped performing this surgery, finding it harmful and wholly unsuccessful in helping a domesticated cat to conform to living in a home.

Additionally, the state of New York has measures in place to issue the first statewide ban on declawing, otherwise known as onychectomy (the amputation of the final segment of toe bone as well as the attached claw) for domestic, exotic, and wild cats.

Cats are usually about 8 weeks old when they begin scratching. That’s the ideal time to train kittens to use a scratching post and allow nail trims. Pet caregivers should not consider declawing a routine prevention for unwanted scratching. Declawing can actually lead to an entirely different set of behavior problems that may be worse than shredding the couch, such making a cat less likely to use the litter

box or more likely to bite. Declawing also can cause lasting physical problems for your cat, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

If you are seeking a “quick fix” for the furniture-scratching, look into purchasing Soft Paws nail caps. Soft Paws are little rubber caps that slip over your cat’s natural claws and, while they won’t necessarily discourage the scratching

mental Sciences. The student body has increased from 550 students in 2011 to a current enrollment of 770 students from PreKindergarten starting at 3 years old to 8th grade.

Sponsored by the GOMM Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the event helps cover funding gaps now that the grant has expired. Key among the school community’s needs are scholarships for 3 year old PK students, Montessori teacher training, field trips, and student art and enrichment programs.

“This is a very special anniversary,” said Steve Pittman, PTO president. “The fact that this school has been so successful for so long is a testament to the priorities and character of the Garden Oaks community. We are excited to once again host our neighbors and thank them for their support. Through their generosity, our school has become a model of innovation, opportunity, and achievement for children

The Obituaries.

Henry Bernard Bodensteiner Jr., 77, born April 21,

1938 in St. Lucas, Iowa, died Jan. 27. Bodensteiner was a business owner in Houston for 55 years.

He is survived by his children Brian Bodensteiner, Blair Bodensteiner and Henry B. Bodensteiner III, brother Kilian Bodensteiner, sister Dolores Cuvelier, loving partner of 10 years, Jean Tatum, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Charles T. King, 91, born Aug. 21, 1924, died Jan. 28, after a brief illness. King was a faithful member of Baptist Temple for more than 45 years, serving numerous times as Chairman of the Deacons, Sunday School Director for Senior Adults and served on various committees. He was a member of Lazybrook Church at the time of his passing.

Charles is preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart, Madge.

They were married for more than 63 years. King is survived by his children, Kay Hutcheson, Rick King, and Keith King, and two grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missions Fund at Lazybrook Baptist Church, 1822 W. 18th St., Houston 77008.

Frances Sondra Reed, 78,

born Sept. 15, 1937, died Jan. 28.

Lila Belle Wade, 86, born Feb. 28, 1929 in Marquez, Texas, died Jan. 30. She married George W. Wade in 1957. She is survived

Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com

Pet of the Week

Meet Snap and Crackle. This mother/daughter, Chihuahua-mix super-duo is inseparable and about as sweet as they come!

These girls are a package deal, since they’re so bonded, but their personalities compliment one another. Both girls are spayed, vaccinated and ready to “pop” right into their new life--perhaps with you? If so, contact Scout’s Honor at: www. scoutshonor.org for more information.

Garden Oaks Montessori to hold annual pancake breakfast and silent auction On Saturday, Feb. 6, volunteer dads and granddads will flip thousands of free pancakes, serve up Katz’s hot coffee, and auction off donated merchandise worth thousands of dollars. The Garden Oaks Montessori Annual Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction (PBSA), is now a 22-year tradition. Having the community come together each year to celebrate with free pancakes, fun activities and fellowship has helped set Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet School (GOMM) apart as an exceptional and diverse learning community.

This year’s event theme is based on the celebration of the school’s 75 years. The connection to transformation is a nod toward significant changes on campus resulting from a $3M grant from U.S. Department of Education in 2011.The grant paved the way for Garden Oaks Elementary to transition to an all-Montessori Magnet with an emphasis on Environ-

immediately, they’ll lessen the damage caused to your furniture. This, along with consistent training, as well as offering acceptable places to scratch--such as a scratching post--should get you and your cat back in each other’s goodgraces in a jiffy!

of all learning and socioeconomic backgrounds.”

Last year’s Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction raised more than $38,000. This year’s event will take place from 810:30 a.m. at Garden Oaks Montessori School, 901 Sue Barnett. An orientation session for parents and community members who are interested in Montessori education will be held at 8:30 a.m. Golden brown pancakes, warm syrup, sausage, Katz’s coffee, and juice are free to the community. Bidding for the silent auction closes at 10:30 a.m.

To underwrite a portion of the annual breakfast or to donate auction items, please visit the website at https:// houstonisd.ejoinme.org/pancake2015 or contact the silent auction coordinators: Michelle Ray at michelle@michellerayproperties.com or Amabelle Cowan at amabelle.cowan@ yahoo.com. For information about Garden Oaks Montessori School, call 713-696-2930.

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Food, drink Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Page 7A

Art Valet

ART

Thirsty Explorer

By Mitch Cohen

Arts Columnist

By Christina Martinez Managing Editor

Local source it at the Heights Epicurean Farmers Market

There’s a big football game on TV this weekend

A few weeks ago, after getting several announcements from different artists, I created a news page on my website to feature all the new babies, books published, lectures, receptions and television appearances. It seems fitting I share some news that is more Heights related with you, because apparently I’m a good news magnet.

I suspect that many do not know that the Heights have a new farmers market, the Heights Epicurean Farmers Market. It’s open once a month on the first Saturday of the month and takes place at 1245 Heights Blvd. on the campus of one of the oldest houses of worship in the neighborhood - Grace United Methodist Church.

In my view of the Heights, a farmers market is a must. I happen to be friends with the market coordinator, Doria Goldman, and asked her to tell me a bit about the market. “There are A LOT of farms in Texas,â€? Goldman said. “We actually have many choices because of our geographic location. Farmers markets enable the farmers to bring all of their items to market. The big box might only be buying their rice, but a farmer may have an extra-large crop of greens, or they are experimenting with an all-natural skin care crème that would have to go through a number of hoops before it could ever be on grocery store shelves.â€?

This includes the chemical preservative hoop, which some producers don’t want to jump through at all. This is where Farmers Markets come in! The local market provides a perfect testing ground for new products, and an outlet for overproduction, and natural produce. Not to mention, the integrity factor of standing by your product, literally, and facing the people who will be eating it, or putting it on their body. Farmers markets raise the bar for everyone on what matters most.�

You’ll also find a plethora of related products from free range eggs, teas, coffees, flowers and local honey and even some artisan crafts.

Two of the local farms joining the market this weekend are the Last Organic Outpost, which allows anyone who works the farm to eat, and Plant It Forward Farms. The market is open 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every first Saturday at 1245 Heights Blvd. Get all the details on their website: www.heightsepicurean.com.

Art news in the Heights was like a roller coaster in 2015. Well it’s starting off with good news and new neighbors! Ladies and gentlemen, the Heights is getting a tea bar and art

The Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos took the stage this year, both claiming their respective conferences and will meet this weekend for the grand finale of football games. The big game is set for 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7.

The game will be televised on CBS. So where are you watching the big game this year? Maybe you are heading to a neighbor’s house or hosting the big game yourself this year. If you’re like me, without cable, finding the best local spot will be the answer.

Here’s this weekend’s round up.

TEA + ART, an upcoming tea bar, is currently undergoing renovations and will be located at 613 1/3 W 19th St.

gallery! [TEA+ART] is the name and the location, which is now undergoing renovations, is located adjacent to Vietnam Restaurant and behind Heights Glass at 613 1/3 W. 19th St. This is the brainchild of Lee Q. Garcia, publisher of Texas Tea & Travel magazine, and Tea in Texas, which purveys hand-crafted teas infused with local herbs from Houston area herb farmers. “For us, tea has always been about community and home,� Garcia said of opening shop in the Heights. “Since starting TEA in TEXAS by blending local herbs with fresh teas in 2010, we’ve yearned to use our experience to create a similar environment for the folks of the Heights.�

Garcia is so serious about keeping it local, she’s moving her residence here, too.

Garcia will host local artists and host regular receptions. She’s getting assistance with artist recommendations from Karen Cruze, whose work will also be featured. Cruze was one of the founders of the soon (and unfortunately) to be closed, 18 Hands gallery. The exhibit space will also be available to lease for events, art classes and as a meeting place.

There’s a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the build out, and yes, there are some really cool perks. Help them out and keep up with the progress here www.teaplusart.com.

Meet Garcia and her tea team at my First Saturday Arts Market this Saturday, open 11 a.m. They can answer your questions, and may have some tea samples to hand out. The market is located at 540 W. 19th St. between Gen’s Antiques and YogaOne Studios.

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.

A Saturday shot of Heights Epicurean Farmer’s Market, located at 1245 Heights Blvd.

Leader Nibbles

Rainbow Lodge welcomes home previous executive chef

By Christina Martinez christina@theleadernews.com It is often said that one can’t go home again, but Chef Mark Schmidt is proving that that is not always the case. The award-winning chef has returned “home� to Rainbow Lodge, reprising his role as executive chef at the restaurant, housed in a 113-year-old log cabin.

Schmidt has just returned to Houston from Austin, where he recently closed the almosttwo-year-old Blackbird & Henry, where he was executive chef and owner. He was executive chef of Rainbow Lodge from 2009-2011. “It is tough to close a restaurant that you put your heart and soul into, but it is comforting to have a soft place to land, and Rainbow Lodge is definitely that place for me,� says Schmidt. “There is a sense of comfort and security here. I was missing Houston, and the opportunity to rejoin the Lodge came available at just the right time.�

New hours at Doyle’s The Oak Forest neighborhood eatery, Doyle’s, is cutting down hours on Saturday’s

after the Valentine’s Day holiday. New hours will go into effect the week of February 20, closing doors all day on Saturday.

Doyle’s restaurant is located at 2136 34th St. Lola expanding patio, not moving Someone recently asked if Lola on Yale was moving to a new location and this rumor is not true. The new development happening at the 1102 Yale St. location is simply an expansion of their patio. The railing of the top of the patio will be topped with flowers and plants.

Shade in the Heights closed for renovations, re-opening this week Shade Heights is closed for renovations to give the restaurant a few fresh updates. The restaurant will re-open Feb. 5, for dinner.

Along with new updates, the menu will also have a few fresh updates, with the brunch menu staying, relatively, the same.

Shade Heights is located at 250 W 19th St.

Email christina@theleadernews.com

Banquet Hall

Collective Fridaze Get Collective this weekend with Collective Dreams and friends. The show kicks off at 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5 at Notsuoh.

On the lineup this month, The Doc Ellisons, a Rock and Roll blues band from Houston, Derrick Bryant, an indie folk singer out of Baytown and host Collective Dreams coming in from San Antonio.

The show is free to attend, never a cover, music at 9 p.m.

Notsuoh is located at 314 Main St. Mardi Gras at Market Square The second weekend of Mardi Gras kicks off this weekend, making its way to Main Street. Head to the Historic Market Square neighborhood for a festive night out.

Enjoy live music as Bayou City Brass Band kicks things off at Market Square Park at 7:30 p.m.

After the concert, spend the evening exploring the neighborhood’s eclectic bars and restaurants such as cajun favorite, Treebeards Restaurant, which will have extended hours for this special occasion.

Don’t forget to venture over to Main Street for the Market on Main where food and vendor trucks will line the 300 and 400 blocks. Our local hotdog eatery, Good Dog Houston, will be part of the vendor lineup, along with many more.

The party starts at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 at Market Square, located at 301 Milam St. Mardi Gras Celebration at Little J’s Bar Join Little J’s this Saturday, for a Mardi Gras Celebration featuring Crawfish and the Zydeco DOTS. The local act is a rockin’, dance, boogie, Cajun/Zydeco band that has entertained the gulf coast region for 28 years.

6 p.m.

Little J’s is located at 5306 Washington Ave. Football Sunday Karbach Brewing Co. Over in the neighborhood, Karbach Brewing Co. will be showing the big game this Sunday, upstairs in their new facility on two big projector screens. The watch party will start at 4 p.m. and will go on until 10 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7.

Tickets for the event are $45, including access to five different buffet style stations: Frito Pie Station, Pulled Pork Slider Station, Build Your Own Nachos, German Beer Brats and Kraut, Crudite and Cheese Station. Ticket also includes an exclusive 16oz souvenir event glass with three beer tokens.

Attendees must be 21+.

Visit Karbach Brewing Co. online at karbachbrewing.com, under events to purchase tickets.

Town In City Brewing Co. Head to the Heights at the brewhouse for a special viewing of the big game at 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7. Cheer on your favorite team, watch Million dollar commercials, enjoy half-time, or just celebrate beer. Football not your game?

How about puppies? Town In City will have one screen dedicated to the puppy bowl.

There will be food and drink specials throughout the night.

Town In City is located at 1125 W Calvacade St. with parking around the brewery, look for parking at AJ’s.

8th Wonder Brewery The downtown brewery is hosting their Wonderbowl at the taproom, starting at noon - until the game ends.

There will be specialty kegs + casks, a game day menu

by Eatsie Boys, barbecue by Pappa Charlies Barbeque and a complimentary 8-layer dip and chips (while it lasts). In the taproom, there are ten HDTVs, plus an outdoor projector.

Admission is free, just simply buy tokens in the taproom for suds.

8th Wonder is located at 2202 Dallas St. Have a tip for Thirsty Explorer? Email christina@theleadernews.com and follow on Twitter @ThirstyExplorer and on Instagram @FromTheLeader

10444 Hempstead Rd. Houston 77092 713.686.9625 Near Karbach Brewery

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File Photo by Jonathan Garris The Oak Forest Animal Advocates announced it is no longer operating as of Feb. 1, but the group has thanked its suporters in helping the adoption of over 40 animals.

Oak Forest Animal Advocates announces it has dissolved

By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com What once started as a community effort to foster local animals and perform outreach initiatives revolving around Houston’s stray animal problem has unfortunately come to an end.

The Oak Forest Animal Advocates announced online that the organization dissolved effective Feb. 1 following “major life changes within the board.”

The organization’s remaining assets would be transferred to the Rescued Pets Movement, a non-profit which removes animals from shelters and pro-

vides short-term foster homes until their transportation.

RPM made headlines last year following a $300,000 donation to the organization from Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. The group has saved over 6,600 animals from BARC since its partnership with the City Shelter began in late 2013.

On their Facebook page, the OFAA board thanked its supporters.

“We can’t thank our supporters enough as we have helped many animals along the way by providing vaccinations, sterilization and the adoption of over 40 animals

into new, loving homes,” the post said.

The group hosted events like the Dog Days of Summer, which offered attendees a chance to enjoy a pet fun run, silent auction and other activities. According to an August 2014 article, the group had started with about 20 people signed up to help foster animals and had been hoping to have 30 on a rotational basis.

The group’s founder, Kay Adams, was unable to be reached for comment about the end of the group before press time.

all over the city and steps up each year for the Near North.

Local companies, churches and schools often form teams to participate.

Gloria Galvan, 74, is on a fixed income and has lived in the Near North for more than 50 years. She and her husband raised a family in their home, but as age crept up on the couple, so did needed repairs to their house. “Rebuilding the Northside Together,” replaced all the siding on the left, helped re-landscape, and painted the entire home.

“Now we can leave the house to our children when we pass away,” said Galvan.

The volunteers for “Rebuilding the Northside Together,” speak highly of Avenue CDC and its work. Isabella Longoria has been volunteering for this event since its inception, and looks forward to it again this

year.

“Avenue is doing so many great things, and when you volunteer for ‘Rebuilding Houston Together,’ you get to see the fruits of that labor,” Longoria said. “Senior housing is a big issue in Houston, and the homeowners are so grateful. Avenue allows them to stay at home. It is a physically demanding event, but it is rewarding on many fronts.

I was so moved by the caring community, I bought a home in the Near North after the first year.”

There is still room on the teams of volunteers for “Rebuilding the Northside Together.” Avenue CDC asks that children 10 and under not participate, but everyone is otherwise welcomed. For more information call 713-8648099, extension 264, or email scottf@avenuecdc.org.

Rebuild from P. 1A Scott Fisher, 24, is an intern with Avenue CDC and this year’s Project Manager for “Rebuilding the Northside Together.”

“We have helped people who had holes in their floors or in their roofs where rain would get in,” Fisher said. “We have helped restore bathrooms that had been inoperable for years.

We sometimes take for granted our comfortable homes, but there are people living in our community in conditions that are barely livable. It feels amazing to change that.”

Avenue CDC has done a terrific job of forming partnerships with other public/ private agencies who support “Rebuilding the Northside Together.” Local roofers, plumbers, and HVAC companies help with supplies and skill. Nonprofit “Rebuilding Houston Together,” does the samething

Golf from P. 1A ments across the country in places like North Carolina, Florida and Arizona. However, Hernandez stresses that he and his wife maintain a tight balance for Stephen, prioritizing good grades at Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet Elementary.

“He has to do good in school or else there isn’t any practice time,” Hernandez said.

As part of Stephen going to Augusta, his family will also be flown out to watch the tournament.

Hernandez thinks the sky’s the limit for Stephen as far as a future in golfing and achieving scholarships or even a professional career, but it’s important for him to figure out where he wants to go “There are a lot of people that believe in him,” Hernandez said.

Neighbors from P. 6A firefighters at Firestation No. 13. Oak Forest neighbor Justin Gordon, his wife Michele, and his daughter, Anna, decided they wanted to do something kind for the firefighters who serve and put their lives on the line for the community every day and thought they would take a Christmas card and dinner to FS No. 13. It was quickly decided this was a meaningful and personal way to give back to the firefighters and a plan was hatched to make this a monthly gig. Gordon decided to mention their plan to friends on his personal Facebook page and asked if anyone was interested in bringing anything to add to the monthly dinners.

As is usual and customary with Oak Forest and the surrounding community of neighbors, once people got wind of this, they wanted in!

Along with delectable stuffed jalapenos from Crowbar, Kim Alvarez with Jus Mac donated some of her delish mac n’ cheese, and about 10 dishes along with desserts and tea were dropped off at FS No. 13 on Monday, Feb. 1st. A big thanks to Bobby Penick, Juan Cuevas, Jane Johnston, Renee Roy Hansen, Chris Hansen, Chuck Coon, Jennifer Lopez, Ann Sa, Brandee Conrad, and Michele Gordon for delicious dinner and dessert items, and thank you Wakefield Crowbar for bringing some heat (stuffed jalapeños)! Anyone is welcome to join in this monthly effort to show appreciation to the men and women at FS No. 13 – dinner on the first of every month is planned. Email Justin Gordon at justin@ justingordonhomes.com or call/text him at 713-670-4848. Also, watch this column for more info coming soon about a shindig in March to raise funds for the firefighters’ outdoor recreation area.

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