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MICHAEL SILVA

brought to our readers by neighborhood attorney Phyllis Oeser Call Phyllis at 713-692-0300

This week’s

713.725.8748 Houston Business Journal Top 25 Residential Real Estate Professional

Established 1967

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

Come check out the Summer Sale! Flower & Gift Shop 10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350

Saturday, June 6, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 31

Leader Small Display_Silva NEW PHOTO.indd 4/17/15 2:04 1 PM

Changing Faces

About Us 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494

Area flooding means more mosquitoes By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.

It’s no surprise that Mosquito Joe franchise owner Robert Torres says that their “phones are going crazy.” Aside from being named the number 5 “Worst Mosquito City in the U.S.” by Orkin – we’re coming for you Atlanta, Chicago, Washington and Detroit – the rain and flooding have created an ideal environment for the pests to multiply. Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in standing water, which Houston has a lot of lately. “The ground is saturated and the bayous are full of standing water,” said Torres. Of course, regular ponds and swamps are mosquito favorites as well, although Torres said that even Jacuzzis and pools that aren’t filtered and chlorinated properly can work

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See Mosquitoes, P. 10A

Blue Bell Blues It’s hard to imagine a world without Blue Bell Ice Cream, as many in The Leader area already know. In this week’s Business Leaders, we take a look at how local residents and businesses are faring without their previous, summertime confections and what it might mean for those who are gearing up for poolside barbecues and other celebrations.

Find it on 1B

INSIDE.

Community joins family in mourning Heights residents and employees at Christian’s Tailgate on White Oak are mourning the loss of a friend, family man and neighbor who was killed during the historic flooding several weeks ago. Fellow residents have since set up a GoFundMe page for Christopher Kirby to help cover funeral costs and expenses for his family, which includes two young daughters.

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The INDEX. Church

6A

Classifieds

7A

Coupons

5A

Food/Drink/Art Obituaries

9A 3B

Opinion

3A

Public Information Puzzles

2A 4A

Photo by Kim Hogstrom Older homes sitting next to large, modern developments have become the norm in certain areas of the Heights. Discussion of gentrification and its effect on lower income families and individuals living in the area has dominated many discussions about the past, present and future of the Heights which, for better or worse, has resulted in rapid upscale residential and business development over the last decade.

Gentrification and life in the Heights By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader Most already know that talking about one’s views on politics or religion may ignite an argument. We suggest adding another topic to the list: gentrification. What exactly is gentrification? In Houston, there is no better example than the Houston Heights. Arguments rage across America regarding what gentrification means, and whether it is good or bad for a community. The word itself comes from the French word “genterise,” or “of gentle birth.” (Translation: upper class.) The definition as listed by Mirriam-Webster: “Gentrification is the process of renewal of a neighborhood accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces its former residents.” Proponents of gentrification will cite the increased property values it brings, thus adding to the city’s tax base, the restoration of old structures, the influx of new businesses and the inevitable reduction in crime. They will mention the improved quality of life in communities that were previously in decline. Naysayers will point out that gentrification disproportionately displaces populations of color, working class poor, and the elderly. Renovation and restoration of aging, urban communities also drives out renters, as the property values escalate forcing taxes up and rents with them. What does gentrification look like? The Heights only recently become the bucolic setting of million-dollar homes, stylish condos, and quaint parks we know today. The community spent from the 1970s to the end of century, on the skids. Unkempt houses, overgrown acres, industrial businesses, used car lots, and stray dogs reigned. While still home to many working-class families, the Heights was circling the drain. “When we were kids in the late 70s and our family would

File Photo by Michael Sudhalter Dr. Jim Dennett with Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services - Mosquito Control Division checks out one of his department’s mosquito traps.

Hogg Middle School officials searching for new principal By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Photo by Jonathan Garris New developments continue to border older homes across the Heights area and appear to be a trend with little signs of slowing down, despite an easing real estate market.

drive through the Heights, our mom would make us roll all the windows up, even during the day! The crime was that bad,” stated Garden Oaks resident, Patrick McDougle. Similar to the past 15 years in the Heights, American gentrification classically happens in stages. First, artists and gay couples move into a decaying urban or suburban neighborhood attracted by the charm of affordable, older structures and the diversity of the existing population. The community then takes on an edgy cachet. Next, renovation and restoration of old structures starts, with the razing of disheveled buildings followed by new construction. As rents and home prices begin to rise, the earlier residents - artists, gays, elderly and the working poor-are

Hogg Middle School is on the search for a new principal. On May 20, the current head of school Dr. Mina Schnitta, announced her departure to the Hogg community, although she said she wasn’t at liberty to say where she was going next. “These last four years at Hogg MS have been truly amazing,” she said. “The parents, the scholars, the staff and the community have been a gift to me. I have always believed that it takes a village to raise a child and we are achieving that every day at Hogg MS. It has been an honor these last four years to serve the Hogg community. I look forward to hearing about the continuous success at Hogg.”

See Gentrification, P. 5A

See Hogg, P. 5A

Residents still concerned over card skimming By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com From Facebook posts to civic club newsletters, residents living in Oak Forest and Shepherd Forest say they are worried about potential credit card skimming at neighborhood businesses. In last month’s edition of The Leader, alleged security issues at the Oak Forest Shopping Center at West 43rd Street were highlighted, particularly concerns at the Kroger’s gas pumps near the intersection of Ella Boulevard and West 43rd Street. Last month, the Shepherd Forest Civic Club also issued a warning to residents in its newsletter’s Citizens Patrol Security

Report about the recent increase in reported incidents of card skimming in the area. The message was heard by management at Kroger – employees there checked the pumps individually and no skimming devices were found and HPD also verified it, public affairs manager Joy Partain said. “We’re very committed to protecting our customers from fraud, and we obviously want customers to trust our fuel rewards program implicitly, so security at our fuel centers is very important to us,” Partain said in an email. “Skimming is something we’ve been hyper-vigilant about in the last several years.” In 2012, credit card skimming,

which can happen at machines like ATM and gas pumps, comprised some of the $24.7 billion in direct and indirect losses related to identity theft, according to a report by the US Department of Justice. Credit card skimming occurs when a device is installed either in a credit card reader or within a computer system which reads card information and saves it, allowing criminals to use credit and debit card numbers to access cash, credit and make purchases. In February, Marlene Caldwell claimed on the Oak Forest Homeowners Association Facebook page that her credit card had been skimmed See Skimming, P. 2A

923 Teetshorn St.

$1,300,000 | MLS# 1310345 3-4 Bedrooms | 3 Full Baths & 2 Half Baths

Newly built home in picturesque Woodland Heights.

For a private showing: 713.862.1600

Photo by Jonathan Garris it might look innocuous to some, but others in the community are avoiding card readers like these altogether.


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