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Local resident remembered as loving man of faith By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Their Christian faith was at the heart of the marriage between Ryan and Izaura Lutz, who kept one of their favorite Bible verses at the forefront of their relationship. “A cord of three strands is not easily broken,” is a phrase that comes from Ecclesiastes 4:12 and represents the bond between a man, a woman and God. And it became especially meaningful to the Shady Acres couple earlier this month. Ryan Lutz, 35, was critically injured April 5 during an early morn-
ing jog around the neighborhood, when he and his dog, Orbit, were struck by the driver of a pickup truck in the 900 block of West 25th Street, according to the Houston Police Department. Izaura said her husband’s beloved “running buddy” died at the scene, and Ryan succumbed to his injuries 10 days later – on Good Friday. Izaura, 33, said she took that as a comforting sign. “My favorite thing about Ryan was he loved Jesus so much more than he did me, which in turn made him to be this incredible man and husband,” she said. “I really feel like
I got to experience this holy, true, rich, like, rare love that not very many people get to experience in their lifetime.” Izaura said Tuesday she continues to feel the presence of her husband of seven years, who worked as a technical writer for an oil-andgas company, was involved at West End Church and had a passion for adventure and physical activity. A former defensive back and special teams standout for the football Contributed photo team at the University of Northern Shady Acres resident Ryan Lutz, 35, died April 15 afColorado – the couple’s home state ter being struck by a truck while jogging on West 25th
Street on the morning of April 5. He is survived by his wife of seven years, Izaura Lutz.
See Lutz P. 4A
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Bikes on parade. The inaugural Houston Art Bike Parade is scheduled for May 21.
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Photo by Adam Zuvanich There is a portion of sidewalk in front of one home and one home only on West 42nd Street in Garden Oaks, where Matt and Abby Martone walked in the street with their two young sons on a recent afternoon.
Garden Oaks faces sidewalk conundrum By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Hare-raising experience. Moon Rabbit is the subject of our latest restaurant review.
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Bess, Jones set for first of two election battles
When they pushed their two young sons in a stroller during a recent afternoon walk along West 42nd Street, Matt and Abby Martone were walking in the road and sharing it with the motorists who occasionally drove by. There was not a sidewalk they could use, at least not much of one. There was a paved concrete path in front of one home and one home only, with a dropoff of a few inches from the ends of the sidewalk piece and the grass on either side of it. “We’re not going to use a sidewalk that you have to jump up on and then get back in the road,” Abby Martone said. “It kind of makes it exactly pointless,” her husband said of the short stretch of sidewalk. Sidewalks to nowhere, as they are becoming known in the Garden Oaks neighborhood, have started to crop up and figure to become more prevalent in the coming years. There are the result of a legal framework created by the City of Houston, which is pushing for increased walkability and pedestrian safety as part of the overarching Vision Zero initiative that aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities by the year 2030.
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Sidewalk requirements by the City of Houston have resulted in some short stretches of sidewalk being constructed in the Garden Oaks neighborhood.
An ordinance passed by the Houston City Council in 2020 requires property owners and homebuilders to install sidewalks along the public streets in front of their properSee Sidewalks P. 5A
Danielle Keys Bess and Jolanda Jones will soon compete for the right to represent District 147 in the Texas House of Representatives – through the end of the year. About two weeks later, the Houston Democrats will be in another head-to-head election that will determine who has a chance to represent the district for the following two years. Bess and Jones are competing in a May 7 special election to complete the term of former State Rep. Garnet Coleman, who reJones tired after serving in the Texas House since 1991. Regardless of who earns that distinction, Bess and Jones will square off again May 24 in a runoff for the Democratic primary, with the winner advancing to face Republican Bess Rashard Baylor in the November general election. Early voting for the special election between Bess and Jones starts Monday, April 25. “The special election is the undercard,” Jones said. “May 24 is the title bout.” Those eligible to vote in the special election are people who live within the District 147 boundaries as they were before statewide redistricting last year. Most of that district, the boundaries for which can be viewed at https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/ House/58/PLANH2100, is in the south and southeast parts of Houston, although it goes as far north as Washington Avenue. A larger number of voters in the Greater Heights will have the Democratic primary runoff for District 147 on their May 24 ballots. That race is being held with the new district boundaries, which can be found at https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/House/57/ PLANH2316. The new District 147 boundaries go further north to include the part of the Heights just north of Interstate 10 See Election P. 5A
Local track athletes sprint into area meets By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The push toward the state meet has started for Houston-area track and field athletes, and each of the four public high schools covered by The Leader will be represented at area-round meets this weekend. Heights, Scarborough, Waltrip and Booker T. Washington each had at least one individual athlete and one
relay team advance from their recent district competitions by placing among the top four in their events. Waltrip’s girls relay teams were the stars of the District 23-5A meet. The Lady Rams’ 400-meter relay team of Leah Gaytan, Aydis Avilez, Priya Owens and Kaitlin Moreno won the district title with a time of 53.52 seconds. Also winning the district championship was the Lady Rams’ 800 relay
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team of Owens, Charisma Carter, Gaytan and Avilez in a time of 1:54.10. Rahim Hutchens paced the Rams on the boys side, winning the 23-5A title in the long jump with a mark of 20 feet, 9.5 inches and placing third in the 200 meters. He also anchored the Rams’ 800 and 1.600 relay teams, which also qualified for the area meet. See Track P. 5A
Photo from Twitter Athletes and coaches with Booker T. Washington’s boys track and field team celebrate at the District 23-4A meet on April 9. The Eagles qualified multiple athletes for the area meet this weekend.
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • Page 2A
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Police searching for man accused of killing children’s mother By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man accused of shooting and killing the mother of their children at an Inwood-area townhome last week remained at large as of Tuesday morning, according to the Houston Police Department and Harris County court records. Macieo White, 21, has been charged with murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Shiakar Brantley. They have two children together, ages 3 and 4, according to county court
White
documents, which show that White pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault of a
family member in 2019 and was convicted of felony assault of a family member last November. Brantley was the victim in the two assault cases, according to court records. Police responded to a shooting call at about 8 p.m. April 11 at a two-story townhome at 7716 W. Gulf Bank Rd., to find Brantley unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds, according to police, which said she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said two witnesses at the scene - White’s moth-
er and 11-year-old brother, according to court records - told investigators that Brantley and White got into an argument that escalated into White allegedly shooting Brantley before fleeing the scene. White’s vehicle was later found abandoned, according to HPD. Anyone with information about this case or White’s whereabouts is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.
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A Northside man has been sentenced to 40 years in jail for fatally beating his girlfriend in 2018, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s office. Marcus D. Lockett, 36, was sentenced Monday after being convicted of the August 2018 murder of 31-year-old Latara Sanders, the district attorney’s office said. A news release from the office said family members
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Sanders
went to Lockett and Sanders’ home in the 5600 block of Yale Street on Aug. 6, 2018, when they could not reach either of
them. Prosecutors said it was upon entering the home that family members discovered Sanders’ body.
Lockett was found several days later, prosecutors said, after his mother called police and told them about the incident. Sanders and Lockett were in a relationship for 18 years, according to the district attorney’s office. “We often don’t know everything that happens behind closed doors, like in this case, but this is the worst-case scenario of what can happen in domestic violence cases,” Assistant District Attorney Helen Le said.
Woman dies after single-car crash in Acres Homes By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A woman has died after a single-car crash in the Acres Homes area over the weekend, according to the Houston Police Department. The identity and cause of death for the woman, who was 63 years old, according
to HPD, was still pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner as of Monday. Officers responded to a call of a car in a ditch at 2200 Mansfield St. just before 8:30 p.m. last Sunday, police said, to find the woman unresponsive in the
driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Impala with several open containers of alcohol in the car. She was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital, according to HPD. Police said further investigation and statements from family members indicated
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the woman had suffered a head injury several hours prior to the crash, though it is not known how the injury occurred. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to HPD.
Man found dead in vehicle near Washington Avenue By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man was found dead in a vehicle near the intersection of T.C. Jester Boulevard and Washington Avenue early Wednesday morning, and the Houston Police Department said the cause of death is pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner.
HPD said the identity of the man, believed to be in his 20s, also was pending an autopsy. Another man was driving near 100 T.C. Jester Blvd. just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, police said, when he noticed a black Jeep Cherokee that had hit a tree. He tried to pull the man out of the Jeep and help, according to HPD, but the victim was pro-
Police Reports • April 11-18 APRIL 11
Assault 7 PM 1000 BLOCK OF YALE Assault 12 AM 3800 BLOCK OF ELLA Theft 10 PM 1500 BLOCK OF 25TH ST W Arrest 7 PM 00 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Burglary 4 PM 2700 BLOCK OF YALE Theft 9 PM 500 BLOCK OF 25TH ST W
APRIL 12
Theft 7 PM 1400 BLOCK OF SHEPHERD DR N Assault 8 AM 4300 BLOCK OF AIRLINE Theft 1 AM 4900 BLOCK OF EIGEL Theft 12 PM 3300 BLOCK OF YALE Theft 8 PM 900 BLOCK OF 33RD ST E Theft 6 PM 500 BLOCK OF YALE
APRIL 13
Theft 9 AM 100 BLOCK OF AURORA Theft 5 PM 500 BLOCK OF 20TH ST W Vandalism 11 AM 2900 BLOCK OF AIRLINE Theft 9 AM 2500 BLOCK OF AIRLINE Theft 6 AM 1400 BLOCK OF LOOP N Theft 2 AM 600 BLOCK OF HARVARD Theft 8 PM 3200 BLOCK OF WHITE OAK
APRIL 14
Theft 9 PM 1200 BLOCK OF 25TH ST W Assault 9 PM 3600 BLOCK OF MICHAUX Theft 9 AM 1900 BLOCK OF ASHLAND Burglary 5 AM 600 BLOCK OF 20TH ST E Assault 4 AM 2300 BLOCK OF BEALL Theft 12 PM 1500 BLOCK OF NORTHWOOD
APRIL 15
Burglary 5 PM 1900 BLOCK OF HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 8 PM 1300 BLOCK OF 34TH ST W
Theft 11 PM 500 BLOCK OF YALE Burglary 12 PM 400 BLOCK OF 28TH ST W Theft 11 AM 200 BLOCK OF 12TH ST W Theft 9 AM 1100 BLOCK OF YALE Theft 12 PM 700 BLOCK OF HEIGHTS BLVD Burglary 4 AM 600 BLOCK OF YALE Burglary 9 PM 600 BLOCK OF LINK RD
nounced dead at the scene. The first set of investigators who responded to the scene believed the victim may have suffered a gunshot wound, according to police, though HPD said a preliminary investigation at the scene could not determine the full nature of the victim’s injuries. Anyone with information in this case is urged to
contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.
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Theft 5 AM 4500 BLOCK OF WERNER Theft 12 AM 1000 BLOCK OF DOROTHY Theft 11 AM 500 BLOCK OF 20TH ST W Burglary 9 AM 1100 BLOCK OF NICHOLSON Arrest 7 PM 3400 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Theft 2 AM 4800 BLOCK OF YALE Theft 4 AM 600 BLOCK OF 37TH ST E
APRIL 17
Theft 6 PM 2700 BLOCK OF BEVIS Theft 4 AM 900 BLOCK OF JUDIWAY Assault 7 PM 5500 BLOCK OF KIAM Theft 9 PM 5400 BLOCK OF KARCHER Assault 9 PM 3400 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Theft 5 PM 100 BLOCK OF YALE Assault 2 PM 800 BLOCK OF MARTIN Robbery 1 AM 1200 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • Page 3A
Russian oligarchs rely on yachts of luck THE BOAT SHOW – Do I want a SuperSpiffy MegaBoat or an Ocean Mangler? That depends on how many helipads I need. Maybe a ballroom or a sauna. I am here picking out some baubles to go with my solid gold glider and a 6-acre spread in River Oaks. Those are a few signs of my new role as an oligarch. You know how they are all the rage now that the U.S. government along with much of the rest of the civilized world is sanctioning Russian oligarchs because of their support of “peacekeeping” in the Ukraine. Or as Stephen Colbert said, “The Russian peacekeepers are keeping a piece here and keeping a piece there.” So there are now openings for new oligarchs. But who, exactly, are they? Is there an Oligarchs Club with dues in dollars, bitcoins or gold bars and you have to be worth so much to join? As your intrepid reporter, I decided to find out. First, the name, oligarch. My ace research staff (me) found the title comes from the person who made billions in outdoor restaurants, Al Fresco, only his kitchen staff couldn’t say the name of his restaurant, Olive Garden, so they said “Oligarch.” Actually the staff couldn’t say a lot of English words. Further research found that an oligarch is a Greek word that means “rule by a few.” So just being rich is not enough.
LYNN ASHBY Columnist
You have to be rich and politically powerful. Arab oil billionaires fit that description, although in their cases the rich are the countries’ ruling families who keep their nation’s treasury for themselves. How many are there? By the end of 2020, there were 56.1 million millionaires in the world and the U.S. had 20.2 million of them. The world had 2,755 billionaires. The U.S. had 724. Seven billionaires in the U.S. are Black. In 2021, Jeff Bezos was named the world’s richest person with a net worth of $189.3 billion, although Austin’s own Elon Musk may have gone ahead. But to be an oligarch you must also have to be politically powerful. The Koch family springs to mind. They are the secondrichest family in the nation with a net worth of $100 billion, and are always spreading their cash to very right-wing
political candidates. The richest is the Walton family (Walmart, Sam’s Club) with $247 billion, but they donate relatively small amounts to both Republican and Democratic causes and candidates. As for power, the aforementioned Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post, but doesn’t seem to bother with its editorial stance. One editor was quoted saying that Bezos calls up occasionally to see how the Post is doing, and that’s it. Elon Musk and Bill Gates are rarely mentioned in political fund-raising. George Soros might qualify as an oligarch. He has given millions to liberal and Democratic causes – are they the same? – and, as a result, has been linked to all kinds of conspiracies by rightwingers. So America may have lots of billionaires, although not many try to become politically powerful, and thus oligarchs. Then there is Donald Trump. No one seems to know his worth, but several law enforcement agencies, including the IRS, are trying to find out. Trump’s net worth increased by $600 million since he left office, Forbes estimated. This was mostly due to his new social media platform, Truth Social, as a replacement for more mainstream networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Both networks banned Trump after the
Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol which tanked Truth Social. The subscribers left, so did top executives and the whole plan is behind schedule. So Trump may or may not be an oligarch. This brings us to Russia’s oligarchs. A 2017 study estimated that they held as much as $800 billion in foreign properties and banks which was roughly equal to the wealth of the entire rest of the Russian population of 144 million people. By 2022, according to Forbes’ estimates, 30 percent of oligarchs’ total net worth is parked outside Russia in huge yachts, private jets, luxury real estate – they love London’s mansions -and stocks. Forbes put 83 Russians on its 2022 billionaires list, with 69 of them considered oligarchs. But invading a neighbor can cause problems for the invader. Another 19 were billionaires before Russia invaded Ukraine, but they have lost too much money to still be members of the club. Forbes estimates that these former oligarchs -- worth a collective $290 billion as of March 11-have lost nearly half of their prewar net worth since January. As of March 28, western sanctions have confiscated more than $23 billion of their holdings. It seems the toys of the Russian oligarchs are yachts, but many of them have been seized. Alisher Usmanov’s Dilbar, a 512-foot yacht worth nearly
$600 million, has been stuck in a shipyard in the German port city of Hamburg since October. It has two helipads and cabins for dozens of guests. Usmanov, an early investor in Facebook, was sanctioned by Western nations. He had to lay off his entire crew. There are two problems here. One is that it’s almost impossible to determine who owns what. These riches are hidden behind layers of false flags, obscure ownerships and off-shore shell companies. And, two, if they try to buy or sell any of their mansions and yachts, their rubles are now practically worthless. These oligarchs are aptly known as “Putin’s People” because they are close to him, but what about Vladimir Putin himself ? His official salary is $140,000 annually, and he supposedly lives in a Kremlin apartment. But leaks keep leaking that Putin has a plush hideaway in Siberia, 20 other properties including a $1 billion estate on the Black Sea, dozens of luxury aircrafts, four yachts -- one is a 459-foot super yacht valued at $700 million complete with two helipads, marble baths and a Jacuzzi, and 11 wristwatches valued at $700,000. Hey, Vlad, got the time? Ashby oligarchs at ashby2@comcast.net
Let’s rethink city’s plans for road diets By Alliance for Reasonable Traffic Solutions For The Leader
The Leader published a Feb. 23 editorial by Adam Zuvanich in support of the 11th Street redesign. In it, Mr. Zuvanich pointedly said, “It’s time now to take a step back, trust the city’s traffic engineers—who do this stuff for a living—and give the 11th Street Bikeway a chance to work as designed.” Does anyone remember Claytie Williams? He said something similar regarding the weather (and rape)…“If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it.” Mr. Zuvanich’s unquestioning reliance on skewed “facts” presented by David Fields, chief transportation planner for Houston, is confounding and astounding. We are a community of Heights business and homeowners who have come together to build a coalition against this and other road diets City Hall is planning to impose throughout Houston. We call our coalition ARTS - Alliance for Reasonable Traffic Solutions. Looking behind the numbers, we disprove many of the facts cited by Mr. Fields in support of his specious plan to put 11th Street on a road diet to reduce crashes and increase safety. See below Notes. If safety and a reduction in crashes are truly a concern, then Mr. Fields’ facts would align. But they do not. Counterintuitively, he says there are too many crashes on 11th caused by too few vehicles having too many lanes in which to maneuver. Perhaps. But he says in one breath that there are too many crashes on 11th, and in the next breath says there is too much traffic for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross. So which is it, too little traffic or too much? He attempts to wave away population increases, fudges on the Federal Highway Administration’s road diet guidelines, makes up reasons for the causes of crashes, and more. Moreover, he has not been forthcoming in dealing with questions, suggestions and concerns that residents have about this project, despite Mr. Zuvanich’s assurances. Fact is, 11th Street currently meets Vision Zero goals. Given that, attention should be focused on improving safety at key intersections, chief among them Nicholson at 11th and Shepherd/Durham. Further, the city has not studied or planned for peak period gridlock, which will surely result in an increase in air pollution from idling cars and trucks. Traffic will divert onto nearby streets looking for a way out of gridlock, making nearby streets LESS safe. There apparently is no money for traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, speed cushions, speed tables, etc. Vehicles now speed up and down Oxford between 11th and White Oak where there are only two stop signs. If Mr. Fields’ argument against a hybrid pedestrian beacon at Nicholson and 11th is that cars regularly run stop lights, what does he think happens at stop signs? The plan also does not ac-
count for driveways into businesses on 11th, which means no protection for the bike lane at those points. And there are many driveways. Go look at the Cavalcade bike lane. The bike lane will be only partially protected, and there will be conflicts with cars and trucks entering and exiting the driveways of popular businesses. We all want safer streets but based on our assessment, we believe the focus should not be on a complete redesign of 11th Street costing $600,000 but on addressing other high-impact safety issues such as repairing sidewalks; re-striping lanes and crosswalks for pedestrians; solutions for slowdowns at the Nicholson bike crossing; and appropriate signal timing for Durham and Shepherd. Today lane markings and crosswalks are so badly faded on many streets that they have become difficult to track during daylight, are often invisible at night, and especially so during rain storms. Bike Boulevards (Google it) should also be considered on alternative route residential streets along with bicycle signals on 11th and other similar improvements. These safety measures are low cost, quickly implemented and would likely prove more popular. Mr. Fields, along with Mr. Zuvanich, will wave all this away, as he has in all our interactions with him. None of this matters to him. But facts do matter, words matter, the truth matters. There is no coherent rationale for this road diet. We should not have to suffer increased congestion, air pollution and safety concerns due to arbitrary and capricious road diets. Please join us if you believe the city should plan better roadways for the future of Houston that prioritizes safety for all stakeholders as well as achieving Houston’s carbon zero goals. Sign our petition at https://www.change.org/p/ force-a-re-think-on-road-diets11th-street-lane-reduction. NOTES ON 11TH STREET ROAD DIET: • In community meetings, Mr. Fields has focused on reducing crashes. But 11th Street is not identified as a problem street in the “high injury” map of the Houston Vision Zero Plan-Nov 2020 [See page 14-15 (https:// houstontx.gov/visionzero/pdf/ VZAP_Final%20Report.pdf)] The city’s own brochure shows no fatalities reported from crashes in the 10-year period ending 2019. • Of a total 506 crashes over a 10-year period (city’s data), 71 percent are at six intersections: Shepherd/Durham (156), Dorothy (21), Yale/Heights (125), and Studewood (59). While Mr. Fields implies the crashes are due to speeding and erratic lane changes, there is in fact no data to back up that claim. Driver distraction, DUI, etc. are not quantified either. (https:// www.letstalkhouston.org/11thstreet-bikeway) We also do not know how many “crashes” are minor fender benders where no one was injured. • The average crash benchmark for Texas four-lane undi-
vided roads is 356 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. Using the city’s own data, most of the crashes (156) were at Durham/ Shepherd (31% of total). So the remainder of 11th street (Dorothy to Michaux) has 350 crashes which equates to 266 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles, or 25% lower than the benchmark. Therefore from Dorothy to Michaux, 11th Street does not exceed crash benchmarks that justify the project. In fact, it’s been totally mischaracterized all along. We understand the city plans to re-work the signaling at Shepherd/Durham to reduce crashes. • We noticed that the city is using old data from the time period between 2014 and 2019. We know that many new apartment complexes have been built in the Heights during the pandemic, and that has very likely increased population figures. In parsing the outdated data, however, we noticed something else. Historic population growth in the Heights is 260 percent greater than that used in the city’s forecast models for determining traffic
congestion on 11th Street. U.S. Census survey data indicates that our neighborhood population grew by 13% between 2014 and 2019 (https://communityimpact.com/houston/ heights-river-oaks-montrose/ data-reference/2020/12/21/ data-heights-river-oaks-montrose-area-has-added-over15000-residents-in-5-years/). This represents a 2.6% per-year increase. Per https://www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-streetbikeway# !: “1% is typically assumed to be a reasonable growth rate for built-out, urban areas. For this project, that was used as a starting point. A detailed assessment of growth trends and new, planned, and approved developments was conducted to further refine the analysis. It was discovered that newly-generated traffic has not be (sic) equally distributed throughout the Heights community, and traffic along 11th Street is not expected to grow significantly.” This statement is dissembling at its finest as any nearby resident can tell you. • Even using outdated traf-
fic volume and capacity data, eastbound traffic on 11th Street already exceeds federal traffic capacity guidelines for road diets for a 2-hour period starting at 4 p.m. Using the Federal Highway Administration’s Road Diet Guidance 3.3.6, road diets are “probably feasible below 750 vphpd” or vehicles per hour per direction. The city chose to show the boundary of 800 vphpd so they could say traffic is over capacity for only one hour. And that guideline assumes a traditional road diet which reduces four lanes to three lanes with a center lane. Since the plan does not have a turn lane, the guideline is too high, and a specific guideline is not available for radical lane reductions without a turn lane. Most importantly, federal traffic capacity guidelines would be exceeded for more hours in the day, or at greater capacity than is shown in Mr. Fields’ plan if correct population statistics were used or a more recent traffic count was done. The last traffic count was done in 2019. • The light for pedestrians and bicyclists at 7th Street and Yale
apparently was allowed to be placed there by reasoning that it is not a public street subject to Texas transportation guidelines. It is a public through street east of Heights Boulevard, and for all intents and purposes, superficially appears to be one between Heights Boulevard and Yale. If so, then the question arises whether public money was used to place a stop light there? And why not find some way to place a hybrid pedestrian beacon (or PHB or HAWK beacon) at Nicholson and 11th Street when that is the one thing that is most requested? • Finally, road diets are a waste of tax dollars. Houstonians are about to be smacked with a sizable boost in their tax bill. Taxpayer disgust with the city council members and other politicians in City Hall will be greater than ever because consumers are experiencing unprecedented price jumps on necessities such as gasoline, now costing twice what it was a year ago. Road diets may also negatively affect the market valuation of a business or home, especially if gridlock ensues.
THE LEADER PUZZLERS. An s w e r s f o u n d i n t h i s w e e k ’ s C la s s ifie d s e c tio n
SUDOKU
ACROSS
1. Famed Spanish General’s nickname 5. Drink alcohol 11. Savings for soggy days 14. Kleenex, Puffs are some 15. Moved in a circular way 18. Pile of stones 19. Drenched 21. Talk to you (abbr.) 23. World’s longest river 24. Thoughts 28. Stake 29. Lawrence Taylor’s nickname 30. Coat or smear 32. Comedian Josh 33. Cost, insurance, freight (abbr.) 35. Royal Bank of Canada 36. Polyvinyl chloride 39. Lifeless 41. Doctor of Medicine 42. Former Saudi Arabian king 44. River along border of India
and Nepal 46. German widow 47. Administrative review board 49. Small tower 52. Central American fruit 56. Cigar 58. Bring to life 60. Linked together in a chain 62. Marinara, BBQ are two 63. Mail
DOWN 1. Expression of creative skill 2. Nonclerical 3. Credit card company 4. Ancient Chinese city 5. Personas 6. More (Spanish) 7. Close to 8. Nigerian City 9. Pals 10. Internal 12. Type of tent 13. Beloved Princess 16. Supplementing with difficulty 17. Region in
Mississippi 20. Brave act 22. 36 inches 25. -__, denotes past 26. Swiss river 27. Submersibles 29. Portable computer screen material 31. Binary-coded decimal 34. Supervises flying 36. Represents dull, abrupt sound 37. Deformity involving a limb 38. Map 40. Dominican Republic 43. Breed of hogs 45. District attorney 48. Light Russian pancake 50. Selfs 51. Rock songstress Turner 53. American Music Awards 54. Partner 55. Egyptian Sun god 57. European money 58. Consumed 59. Doctor of Education 61. Actinium
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • The Leader
Memorial Hermann relaxes many COVID-related restrictions By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Memorial Hermann Health System has relaxed some of its restrictions related to COVID-19 amidst a continued decline in cases and hospitalizations across the Houston region. Effective Monday, the visitation policy for the hospital system’s inpatient facilities returned to pre-pandemic, campus-specific guidelines, and masks are now optional for visitors when in non-patient care areas. Masks continue to be required in patient care areas, the hospital system said. Additionally, health
screenings are no longer required upon entry for patients, visitors and hospital staff. Pre-procedure COVID testing will continue to be required for specific procedures, while patients with proof of up-to-date COVID vaccination and no COVID symptoms are exempt from pre-procedure testing in many cases. The new guidelines apply to Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital, which serves the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas at 1635 North Loop West. Masks continue to be required at Memorial Hermann Medical Group clinics, Memorial Hermann Conve-
nient Care Center locations, Memorial Hermann Cancer Centers and the system’s rehab facilities, because of high-risk patient populations, according to the hospital system. At its clinics, Memorial Hermann is allowing two adult visitors for adult patients as well as two parent/ guardian visitors for pediatric patients. At most outpatient facilities in the Memorial Hermann system, adult patients are allowed one adult visitor. Memorial Hermann said it also is implementing a systemwide COVID-19 Risk Matrix that will determine guidelines and precautions based on two metrics - the
amount of COVID-19 in the City of Houston’s wastewater and the COVID-19 Community Level Tool operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The current risk level is low, according to Memorial Hermann. “Memorial Hermann will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in the Greater Houston area and take appropriate action to keep our workforce, physicians, patients, visitors and members of the community safe,” the hospital system said. For more information, visit memorialhermann.org.
File photo Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital, 1635 North Loop West, loosened some of its COVID-related restrictions earlier this week.
Inaugural Houston Art Bike Parade set for May 21 By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
On the heels of the annual Art Car Parade earlier this month, Houston is gearing up for another event aimed at showcasing the city’s creative diversity. The inaugural Houston Art Bike Parade is set for May 21, according to a news release from the Houston Parks Board. Born out of the spirit of the Art Car Parade, the free day-long celebration will feature a parade of art bikes created by more than 3,000 students from more than 100 Houston ISD schools, according to the news release. The May 21 event is a partnership between the parks board, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (OSCVA) and HISD. It was initially slated to debut in May 2020, the release said, but got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The students of HISD are creative, and like the Art Car Parade, this is another opportunity for them to show off their skills,” HISD Superintendent Millard House II said.
The event kicks off at MacGregor Park, 5225 Calhoun Rd., at 9 a.m. An hour later, participants will join up with the parade to ride along an organized bike route that will take them past Brays Bayou Greenway and MacGregor Park to the OSCVA campus at 2401 Munger St. Before and after the parade, there will also be a range of activities throughout the day, according to the release. “This wonderfully unique event called for multiple sites to showcase the beauty and diversity of our city,” Houston Parks Board president and CEO Beth White said. “We look forward to experiencing Houston’s creative spirit at MacGregor Park, Brays Bayou Greenway and The Orange Show.” Registration for the festivities is encouraged, the release said, but not required for participation. More information on the Art Bike Parade can be found at www.houstonartbike.com. Houstonians who are interested in participating in the parade portion of the event are encouraged to register online by May 15.
Contributed graphic The inaugural Houston Art Bike Parade, created in the spirit of the city’s annual Art Car Parade, is scheduled for May 21 and will start at MacGregor Park, 5225 Calhoun Rd.
Lutz, from P. 1A – Ryan had recently completed the Houston Marathon for the first time and was training for another long-distance run on May 1 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Izaura said Ryan was about 10 minutes into his run on April 5, when he and the pit bull mix he rescued were jogging on the south side of the street and struck by the driver of the black Chevrolet Silverado, who also was traveling east. Police said the driver of the truck remained at the scene, was determined not to be impaired and was questioned and released, with no criminal charges having been filed as of Monday and the case remaining under investigation. “He was one of those people that was very athletic and good at everything he did,” Izaura said of Ryan, who trained at Facet 7 Heights in addition to running. “He wanted to work toward being able to qualify for the Boston Marathon eventually. That was his goal.” Although Ryan will not be able to complete that objective, his wife said she takes comfort in the belief that her husband is now in heaven. Izaura said she also has been buoyed by the support of friends, family and the Heights-area community. A GoFundMe account that was set up while Ryan was in the hospital had raised more
than $68,000 as of Wednesday morning. Online donations can be made at https://www. gofundme.com/f/9y7y5-lutzfamily-support. Izaura said she plans to donate 10 percent of the fundraising total to a charitable cause. “The best way to explain it is the awe and wonder of God,” Izaura said of the outpouring of support. “I haven’t been without anything since the time that I called our pastor and then our friends found out. I feel like heaven just came down on us through this whole thing. Our friends and family, people checking on me constantly … I am so grateful.” A memorial service for Ryan has been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. May 7 at West End Church, 802 Shepherd Drive, where Izaura said he often created slides for sermons and set up the music for Sunday services. The couple also had been part of a church program in which they helped provide counseling to other couples, Izaura said. Ryan also exhibited a giving spirit outside of church, according to Izaura, who said he volunteered to help build a fence at Marshall Middle School in the Northside area. She said she often found him at neighbors’ homes, helping with things such as moving or tinkering with tools in the garage
or backyard. “His personality and the way that he loved people, he was always very selfless,” Izaura said. “Any chance he got to help somebody out, he did.” Izaura said Ryan liked to drink craft beer and was especially fond of Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Eureka Heights Brew Co., the latter of which is located in the Heights. Among their favorite places to eat together were Heights restaurants Coltivare and La Lucha. Ryan lived fearlessly and liked adventurous activities such as cliff-diving and water sports, according to Izaura, who said her husband “lived his days like they were numbered.” The couple talked about things such as death and estate planning and how one might manage without the other, she said. After Ryan was hospitalized, Izaura said she discovered he had left everything she needed in that regard, such as account information and passwords, on his phone. “God’s hand has been in every aspect of this,” Izaura said. “What brought me a lot of peace was knowing that Ryan was going to heaven. I didn’t have to question where he was going. He lived out his truth and our truth, which was God’s truth.”
Time is short By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
I
have been really challenged lately about the brevity of life. Maybe this is the reality of getting a little bit older. Maybe this is a result of having a child who is almost as big as me now. Maybe this is a result of being a pastor and having to preach funerals and help people who are grieving. Perhaps it is the sum of all of the above. Either way, I know that life is short and I want to live a life that counts. God’s Word says in James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” When you live with the perspective that life is short
it can cause you to feel stressed out by your inability to accomplish everything that needs to be done or you can realize that you have an eternity after this life to think about. God’s Word teaches us that you will either spend eternity with God in Heaven or you will have eternal death in Hell. Eternity in heaven is possible through because of the work of Christ on the cross to pay for your sin. Without Christ, every person is doomed to Hell as a result of their sin. Time is short and you must trust in Jesus. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I want to live each day with an eternal focus. I don’t want to waste time because every moment is precious as it is another opportunity to live for Christ and to point others to Him. Are you living in the reality that time is short?
Notice of Public Sale NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE of property to satisfy Warehouseman’s lien. The Sale is May 18, 2022 at 10 AM at Isaac’s Moving and Storage, 7440 Fairbanks North Houston Rd., Houston, TX 77040 Phone # 781-436-4760 Conducted by BoldBids.com, Steven Mayers, Auctioneer, Lic. 8237. Property will be sold to the highest bidder for CASH. Seller reserves the right to withdraw property from sale. Unit contains miscellaneous furniture, fixtures and equipment. Property includes contents of the following tenant; Wanda Jackson / King Liquor; 107222; crates 8008, 8083, 8070,8074, 8097, 8098, 8011, 8052, 8056 & 8057. All contents must be removed within 24 hours. All moving blankets must be retained by the moving company. Any personal papers or photos must be returned if located in units.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
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St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA
S unday
B ible S tudies F or All Ages ... 9 : 3 0 am Morning W orship ............... 1 0 : 4 5 am W ednesday B ible S tudies F or Y outh, Children and Adults............................ 6 : 1 5 pm
St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA MANNA Sponsor
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• Worship (English)..... 10:00 am - 11:00am • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm
t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN 1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470
MANNA t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN Gethsemane Lutheran Church 4QPOTPS 4 4 Watonga 713-6887
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www.theleadernews.com
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The Leader • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • Page 5A
Election, from P. 1A
Track, from P. 1A Lily Rusteberg of Heights was the District 18-6A champion in the girls high jump after clearing 4 feet, 10 inches at the district meet. On the boys side, Xavier Neal qualified in both the long jump and triple jump while anchoring the Bulldogs’ 400 and 800 relay teams that advanced to the area meet. In District 23-4A, Washington’s Shaniece Powell is moving on in two events. She finished third in the girls shot put with a distance of 31-6.25 and second in the discus throw with a best of 94-0. The Eagles’ boys also had two athletes advance in multiple events. Broderick Malone placed second in the 100 hurdles (17.75 seconds) and the long jump (19-5.5) while also running the second leg of the 400 and 800 relay qualifiers. Reginald Durden advanced in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. Nefertiti Martin was the lone individual qualifier for Scarborough after finishing third in the girls 400, while the Lady Spartans’ 1,600 relay team of Helen Almendarez, Aaliyah Castro, Ashley Luna and Aranza Luna is also headed to the area meet after a fourthplace finish.
and also include the Sawyer Yards and Washington Avenue areas to the south, between Shepherd Drive to the west and Houston Avenue to the east. “It’s a learning curve (for voters),” Bess said. “Runoffs are already problematic, bringing people back out to the polls. They’re like, ‘Didn’t I already vote for you?’ Now throwing a special election in, it’s confusing some voters.” Jones, 56, a former standout basketball player and track-and-field athlete for the University of Houston who has served on both the Houston City Council and Houston ISD board of trustees, has more name recognition, political experience and financial backing. According to Texas campaign finance records, she had more than $69,000 in cash on hand as of the latest filing period earlier this month, compared to about $22,500 for Bess. Jones, an attorney who practices criminal, family and personal injury law, was the leading vote-getter in the March 1 primary, receiving 41.8 percent of the vote in a seven-person race. She has since been endorsed by Coleman, the longtime state legislator she is vying to succeed, which she called “huge” for her campaign. “This is the one office that if it became available, I was willing to come out of political retirement for,” Jones said. “The stars just aligned.” Bess, a 38-year-old real estate agent and first-time political candidate who like Jones has deep ties to District 147, finished second in the March 1 primary with 19.9 percent of the vote. That figures to leave her with an uphill climb in both the special election and subsequent primary runoff, but Bess said she’s encouraged by the fact more than
Running Down a Dream
Below is a list of area-meet qualifiers from local high schools, with their district-meet marks and places in parentheses. District 18-6A Heights Boys 400-meter relay – Dylan Harris, Jerel Campo, Amilicar Frazier, Xavier Neal (43.92 seconds, fourth) 800 relay – Christian Logan, Jerel Campo, Amilicar Frazier, Xavier Neal (1:32.86, second) Amilicar Frazier – high jump (5 feet, 8 inches; third) Xavier Neal – long Jump (20-4, fourth), triple Jump (40-9. third) Jaylon Bihms – Discus (115-4, third) Girls 1,600 relay – Katherine Barran, Yamia Everline, Tara Lewis, T’kyah Lloyd (4:33.76, fourth) Lily Rusteberg – high Jump (4-10, first) Enya Krathaus – 800 (2:31.80, third), 3,200 (12:51.96, fourth) Nevaeh Carrizal – 800 (2:32.50, fourth) District 23-5A Waltrip Girls 400 relay – Leah Gaytan, Aydis Avilez, Priya Owens, Kaitlin Moreno (53.52, first) 800 relay – Priya Owens, Charisma Carter, Leah Gaytan, Aydis Avilez (1:54.10, first) 1,600 relay – Aydis Avilez, Leah Gaytan, Katherine Luna, Brianna Villafuerte (4:43.44, third) Priya Owens – high Jump (4-2, second) Kennedy Doakes – shot put (26-11.5, second) Hailey Lamot – discus (59-3, fourth) Charisma Carter – 200 (28.10, second) Katherine Luna – 800 (2:48.90, fourth) Elizabeth Castillo – 1,600 (6:46.89. fourth) Boys 400 relay – Xavien Leadon, Sean Crawford, Carlos Rasgado, Drake Williams (46.76, fourth) 800 relay – Sean Crawford, Tramayne Black, Jaylen Middleton, Rahim Hutchens (1:32.15, second) 1,600 relay – Tramayne Black, Jaylen Middleton, Soloman Butler, Rahim Hutchens (3:42.23, second) Tramayne Black – 100 (11.55, second) Rahim Hutchens – 200 (23.40, third), long Jump (20-9.5, first) Daniel Ladet – 300 hurdles (48.38, second), triple jump (35-9.5, third) District 23-4A Booker T. Washington Boys 400 relay – Tyreek Murray, Broderick Malone, Reginald Durden, Caleb Smith (46.35, fourth) 800 relay – Tyreek Murray, Broderick Malone, Trumarcus O’Neil, Caleb Smith (1:37.83, fourth) 1,600 relay – Tre Allen, Daveon Relford, Ladarrell Thomas, Terrance Woods (3:43.10, second) Broderick Malone – 110 hurdles (17.75, second), long Jump (19-5.5, second) Reginald Durden – 110 hurdles (17.87, third), 300 hurdles (41.57, second) Kenneth Lewis – high Jump (5-6, third) Daveon Relford – 400 (55.54, fourth) Michael Russell – 800 (2:16.00, fourth) Girls Shaniece Powell – shot put (31-6.25, third), discus 94-0, second) Scarborough Girls 1,600 relay – Helen Almendarez, Aaliyah Castro, Ashley Luna, Aranza Luna (5:09.72, third) Nefertiti Martin – 400 (1:07.50, third)
58 percent of primary voters selected someone other than Jones on March 1. Among the endorsements received by Bess are from U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the longtime Congresswoman who has represented the Heights area. Bess said she has served as a logistics director for Jackson Lee’s campaign for the last 14 years. Bess said she and Jones are similar in terms of being aligned with the values and policies promoted by the Democratic Party, and also in the types of services they want to help provide to constituents. Bess said she would focus on public safety, education and women’s rights, among other issues, while Jones said the most important issues to her are healthcare access, voting rights and criminal justice reform. The two candidates differ in their approaches, according to Bess, who described herself as a consensus builder. Jones described herself as having more of an uncompromising, fighting spirit. Voters will pick between them on May 7, and then a slightly different group of voters will decide who they like best on May 24. Bess said the first election figures to give both candidates some campaigning feedback leading up to the second election. She said both are important because, even though the special election winner is not guaranteed to participate in the next Texas Legislature session in 2023, there is a need for someone to fill Coleman’s seat on behalf of District 147 constituents. “There could be calls for special sessions, and there’s just different ways you can help people as an elected official,” Bess said. “I think they’re both important and neither should be taken lightly.”
Sidewalks, from P. 1A ties when a new single-family home is constructed or there is a substantial remodel to an existing home, even if there are no existing sidewalks on the rest of the street. That plan is problematic in the eyes of some residents of Garden Oaks, which decades ago was constructed without sidewalks and has a ditch-and-swale drainage system that multiple residents said is effective in combatting structural flooding. Garden Oaks Civic Club president Tonya Knauth said the city had a longstanding practice of granting sidewalk exceptions to homeowners in the neighborhood, in the interest of preserving the existing aesthetics and drainage system, but stopped doing that last fall and is instead reviewing waiver applications on a case-by-case basis. Hector Rodriguez of the city’s Planning & Development Department, who is a member of the committee that reviews waiver applications, said an exception likely would not be granted because of those reasons, adding that the addition of sidewalk pieces does not figure to increase flooding risks. Knauth added that the civic club is not opposed to the idea of sidewalks, and that the neighborhood in general might be in favor of having
sidewalks installed throughout Garden Oaks if that were an option presented by the city. Instead, she said, “The City of Houston wants sidewalks and they want homeowners to pay for them.” “The issue that we have is there is no master plan for uniform installation of sidewalks,” Knauth added. “We are pro-walkability. We love to walk in our neighborhood. We recognize that we have narrow streets and it can be challenging. But it will be ineffective to try to install sidewalks lot by lot as we have new builds.” Not every Garden Oaks homeowner is against the idea of sidewalks being installed in a piecemealed fashion over time. A member of the Garden Oaks Civic Club who asked to remain anonymous said the neighborhood already lacks uniformity in many ways, with some homeowners creating gravel parking pads where the street meets their front lawns. Garden Oaks resident Ben Dotson, who also used the street during a recent walk along 42nd Street, said the city has “right idea” in terms of requiring property owners to install sidewalks in the longterm interest of walkability and safety. “It’s not pretty,” he said, “but it gets us somewhere.” Rodriguez, the division
manager for development services with the planning department, said he has visited Garden Oaks and observed traffic and considers its lack of sidewalks to be a safety hazard in a neighborhood filled with young families. He also said he sees a neighborhood that is being redeveloped, so the gradual addition of sidewalks matches the intent of the city’s sidewalk policy. “It may seem like right now these are sidewalks to nowhere,” Rodriguez said. “Eventually, we’re hoping we create a whole sidewalk system in the whole neighborhood.” Sidewalk solutions? With decades-old bungalows expected to remain unmodified by longtime homeowners and so many new homes having been built in recent years – before Garden Oaks property owners were required to install sidewalks – Matt Martone said it could take as many as 100 years before that sidewalk system is complete. Along those lines, his wife called the piecemeal plan a “stupid solution.” Knauth said the Garden Oaks Civic Club is exploring the possibility of a Heritage District designation through the city, which is a new tool made available by the planning department that allows neigh-
borhoods to protect characterdefining elements and foster civic and cultural pride. Such a designation would apply to public rights-of-way, whereas a Historic District designation applies to private property within a specified district. Knauth said a member of the Houston Office of Preservation told the civic club in February that a Heritage District designation might allow Garden Oaks homeowners to side-step the sidewalk requirements. But it is unclear if that would be the case, according to Nicole Smothers, the deputy assistant director of the planning department. She said Freedmen’s Town is so far the only Houston neighborhood to apply for a Heritage District designation, which was made available last year, primarily so it could preserve its red-brick streets. “I don’t know how they would tie there not being sidewalks to the history and heritage they’re trying to preserve in the neighborhood,” Smothers said of Garden Oaks. “I’m not saying it can’t be done, but I don’t know how they would do it.” Whether it would affect the sidewalk situation or not, Knauth said the civic club plans to hold a vote among members about whether to pursue a Heritage District des-
ignation, which would come with some other potential benefits to the neighborhood, such as the ability to apply for beautification grants and to preserve street signage. The vote is planned for the civic club meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. May 3 at Great Heights Brewing Company, 938 Wakefield Drive. Knauth said civic club members with questions about a Heritage District designation can email heritage@ gardenoaks.org. Garden Oaks’ sidewalk conundrum also could be addressed as part of an amendment to the existing sidewalk ordinance, which Rodriguez said is in the works and could be finalized later this year. He said the city plans to implement a fee-in-lieu-of program that would allow property owners to pay a fee instead of installing a sidewalk. Rodriguez said such fees would go into a pool and be earmarked geographically, meaning a majority of the money could be redistributed in the Garden Oaks area, including for the purpose of installing more expansive sidewalks that connect. As it stands now, Rodriguez said property owners can choose not to install a sidewalk if they sign an affidavit saying they agree to pay a fee-in-lieu when that option
becomes available. “The money that’s going to be in that particular neighborhood … could fill in the gaps,” Rodriguez said. “The city could eventually come in and connect the dots, the gaps, and have complete sidewalks from intersection to intersection. That’s the intent.” Rodriguez also said the city does not intend to do away with Garden Oaks’ open-ditch drainage system, even if it becomes completely fronted by sidewalks. Beth Wiedower Jackson, the secretary of the Garden Oaks Civic Club, said she would be in favor of sidewalks throughout the neighborhood if that were an immediate option. But since it’s not, she said she doesn’t see the piece-by-piece plan over time being beneficial for the neighborhood. It might even create safety issues, she said. “The addition of piecemealed sidewalks, property by property, is only going to create hazards and disjointed paths for me and my children and my neighbors and their pets and our seniors in this neighborhood – for decades and decades to come,” Jackson said. “The city is to be applauded, I think, for the spirit of the ordinance. But there’s got to be some flexibility.”
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GENERAL
The Leader • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Upcoming exhibition asks Houstonians to MITCH COHEN Art Columnist
Normally calls for submissions in the art world are for artists to submit their work. This week I received a request for the public to be part of an art exhibit. That means you, dear reader, regardless of your background in the arts, are being sought. Not to worry, artistic skill on your part is not needed. Artist Karen Navarro uses images of crowdsourced skin tones and data to create mixed-media demographic portraits that are central to her ongoing art project entitled “América Utópica.” For her upcoming Houstonbased exhibition drawn from this evolving national project, Houstonians are invited to participate by submitting
photographs and other data at www.karennavarroph. com/home. See how easy that is? “América Utópica: Houston” exhibition will be on display May 14 through June 26, viewable online or in person by appointment. A focal point of the exhibition is a mural installation designed to depict the diversity of Houston entitled “Hechos del Mismo Barro,” which translates to, “We are Made of the Same Clay.” It’s an abstract collage work of color squares ranging in hues from light tans to warm browns, blush pinks to dark browns. Hundreds of photographs of skin submitted by participants will be rendered by the artist into 4-inch square tiles and arranged in order of how they were received to avoid hierarchy. By reducing skin tones to colored squares, the artist looks to convey the similarities and erase the differences as people. Join Navarro in conversation with curator Allison
longing, identity within communities and exploring her own ancestral Indigenous culture. To attend via Zoom, RSVP on Facebook, https:// fb.me/e/2ZAiG3iJv Navarro, an Argentineborn multidisciplinary artist, has won numerous awards and grants for her mixedmedia photography and has been exhibited in the U.S. and abroad. “América Utópica: Houston” is made possible by the support of the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. To visit the exhibition in person before it closes, request an appointment by sending an email to info@ karennavarroph.com. For details about the project and how to submit your image, visit www.karennavarroph. com/home.
Contributed photo Karen Navarro’s large neon abstract, “Shine America 2043,” will be on view at the “América Utópica: Houston” exhibit from May 14-June 26.
Glenn for the virtual exhibition opening and an online artist talk at noon Saturday,
May 14. The artist will discuss her multidisciplinary practice and share insights
into her artistic process and her work, which speaks about race, migration, sense of be-
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.
Review: Make new friends at Moon Rabbit By Jennifer Caldwell news@theleadernews.com
Moon Rabbit has quietly opened its doors at 605 W. 19th St. in the Heights. It offers authentic Vietnamese comfort food in a contemporary location. It was brought to the Heights by the Azuma Group, which has become well-known for Izakaya in Midtown and Kata Robata in River Oaks. Moon Rabbit lends a familiar attention to detail across the entire restaurant, elevating the guest experience to an exceptional level. I was lucky to get a seat at the bar, where neighborhood regulars have already taken most of the seats. This is a group that shares its favorite drinks and dishes with one another, and for whom the bartender knows names, allergens and palates and makes recommendations in kind. There is a wall of windows behind most of the bar, which have been opened to let a cool breeze blow through. The menu is deceptively simple, focusing on wellcrafted traditional Vietnamese foods. A regular enthusiastically recommends the Banh Xeo Tostada ($9),
a Vietnamese crepe that has been fried crispy with shrimp, pork belly, lettuce and a coconut crema. It is a delight with a rich variety of textures that is achieved using incredibly fresh ingredients. I also tried the Veggie Egg Rolls ($7), which are filled with delicate mushrooms, carrot, cabbage, jicama and ginger. Although the egg rolls are fried, the vegetables are crisp and fresh and quickly become the highlight of the dish. Fresh herbs are used to garnish each dish, carefully complementing the core ingredients. There are more substantial meals ranging from pho ($12-$15) to sandwiches ($8$12) and rice and vermicelli dishes ($11-$17). I decided on the Shaken Beef ($24), a house specialty with filet mignon, onion, garlic, jalapenos and mixed greens. The beef is incredibly tender, and the lime dipping sauce adds a brightness to the whole meal. This comes with a side of white rice. Having never been able to properly cook rice, I was unduly excited by rice that was perfectly tender, and clean and sweet, with a fluffy texture.
Moon Rabbit’s cocktail list is plentiful and impressive. I had to try the Trinidad Sour. It was everything that it is supposed to be – balanced, slightly sweet, with a deep spice throughout. I am also tickled to see Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco on the menu. It’s an underrated red, sweet and bubbly, that unlocks my inner 1960s socialite. Attention to detail here is critical. Garnishes are perfectly cut, Riedel crystal glassware is polished and neat, and measurements are precise. Moon Rabbit brought back my best memories of eating Vietnamese food with friends. It is lovely, deeply nostalgic and offers a rare opportunity to enjoy a meal with friendly strangers. The attention to detail and commitment to a terrific experience colors everything they do there. If I had friends, I would take them all back there and make them share small plates with me. I know I can always return and enjoy a conversation with my new friends at the bar. Moon Rabbit Address: 605 W. 19th St. Dining Options: Dine-in, takeout, Uber Eats
Photo by Jennifer Caldwell Pictured is the Shaken Beef with filet mignon, onion, garlic, jalapeños, mixed greens, a lime dipping sauce and white rice from Moon Rabbit, 605 W. 19th St. Photo by Jennifer Caldwell Pictured is bartender Rachel Smith with her Trinidad Sour, made with rye whiskey, lemon and Angostura Bitters from Moon Rabbit, 605 W. 19th St.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. TuesdayFriday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday Entrée Prices: $8-$29 Kid-Friendly: Yes Senior Discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy Options: Pho, salads, entrees with grilled meats and vegetables Star of the show: Banh Xeo Tostada Rating: 5 out of 5 bites
Nibbles & Sips: Fegen’s closes doors in Heights marijuana strains. According to Cheba Hut’s website, there are no marijuana-related products in any of its offerings. Its website said most locations also offer craft beer from neighborhood breweries. “What really sets Cheba Hut apart, though, can only be experienced in our shops,” the restaurant’s website reads. “We combine homegrown food with real people in a relaxed environment.” For more information, follow Cheba Hut on social media or visit its website at chebahut.com.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
An American food restaurant in the Heights has served its last meal. Fegen’s announced April 12 on Facebook that the restaurant had closed its doors at 1050 Studewood St.. Developed out of the old Liberty Kitchen concept that closed in 2020, Fegen’s opened on Studewood last April. The menu featured American food along with Italianinspired pizzas and other options. In all, the space had operated as Liberty Kitchen and Fegen’s since 2007. “While it’s regrettable that the end of our tenure has come, it has been a privilege to serve the Heights community and beyond for over 15 years,” owner Lance Fegen and F.E.E.D Restaurant Partners said in a statement posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page on April 13. “We are grateful for each and every one of our patrons, and will miss you all – we have memories to cherish for a lifetime.” Cheba Hut opens in Sawyer Yards An alternative style of sandwich shop has made its way to the area. A report from Houston CultureMap said cannabisthemed Cheba Hut Toasted
Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader
Photo by Jennifer Caldwell Pictured is the Bahn Xeo Tostada with shrimp, pork belly, lettuce and coconut crema on a crispy crepe from Moon Rabbit, 605 W. 19th St.
Family Owned - Authentic Mexican Food DAILY
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JoiN US For oUr Photo from Facebook Fegen’s which developed out of the Liberty Kitchen concept at 1050 Studewood St. in the Heights, closed its doors effective April 12.
Subs was set to open Monday in Sawyer Yards at 2150 Sawyer St. It is the national chain’s first Houston location. According to the restaurant’s website, the restaurant offers more than 30 signature sub sandwiches as well as “a variety of Rice Krispy Treats, salads, and munchies,” many of which are served on Parisian bread and named after different
Saturday, April 23, 2022 11am - 4pm
Lutheran North High School Baseball Field • 1130 W 34th St.
Funds raised support the 12U Houston Storm 2022 Triple Crown World Series Tournament fees
$25 per Ticket
Photo from Facebook The Cheba Hut was reportedly slated to open Monday in Sawyer Yards.
Tickets can be purchased from your favorite Houston Storm Player Each ticket includes: 2lbs of crawfish, potatoes, corn, sausage and drink BYOB your favorite drink and a chair
Page 8A • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • The Leader
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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • Page 1B
Divvy offers assistance for homebuyers By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Longtime renters who are looking to buy a home but don’t have much of a credit history or savings. Young families and young professionals who might have good incomes but also a lot of debt. Someone who has the necessary savings and credit score but can’t seem to win a deal in an ultra-competitive real estate market that favors sellers over buyers. All of those people might be interested in working out a deal with Divvy, a rent-to-own real estate company that is relatively new to the Houston market. Divvy, a California-based company that started less than five years ago and operates in 16 markets across the U.S., partners with prospective homeowners by purchasing the home they want and charging them monthly rent while they save money for a down payment and build their credit over a period of up to three years in most cases. Those renters can purchase the home from Divvy at any time during that rental period – at a predetermined price – or back out of the arrangement by paying a relisting fee. “The goal of the program that we’ve set up, which I founded 4 1/2 year ago, is really to provide access to home ownership,” Divvy CEO Adena Hefets said. “Owning a home is the American dream.” Divvy, which also operates in San Antonio and the Dallas-Fort Worth market, entered the Houston market in 2020. A spokesperson for the company declined to say how many customers it has in the region – saying only that it has “thousands” of customers nationwide – although Hefets said most of Divvy’s Houston-area business is in the suburban hot spots of Katy and Sugar Land. Its services might still be an attractive option for residents of the Greater Heights, which has seen an influx in both rental properties, young professionals and young families in recent years. Oak Forest resident Martha Mears, the general manager for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties, said the real estate agents in her firm have yet to work with Divvy but likely will in the near future. “It’s a well-funded rent-to-own (company),” Mears said. “It’s probably something if you ask us in six months, we’re probably using. As the (mortgage interest) rates get higher, there’s a market for it.” Hefets said Divvy typically buys homes in the price range of $150,000-$450,000 and will go
Photo from Twitter Divvy co-founder and CEO Adena Hefets, second from right, visited Pinkerton’s Barbecue, 1504 Airline Dr., during a trip to Houston earlier this month.
higher in some cases. She also said its practice of paying cash for homes often helps in situations in which there are multiple offers, which has been common in a market with low inventory and lots of prospective buyers, beginning not long after the local onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That sort of competition remains a challenge for Divvy, Hefets said, but remains an advantage because the company also covers closing costs and other related fees. The way the program works is a prospective homebuyer applies through divvyhomes.com and, if approved, pays either 1 or 2 percent of the purchase price, which helps determine their monthly rent and also is put into a savings account as a prospective down payment should the customer decide
to buy the home during the threeyear rental period. A Divvy spokesperson said artificial intelligence is used to predict a home’s future value and come up with one potential purchase price during the first 18 months of the arrangement and another, higher purchase price during the last 18 months. Hefets said Divvy makes most of its money off monthly rental fees, charging market rent and also a smaller payment that is placed into the aforementioned savings accounts, which helps the renter save money for a future down payment. Divvy’s typical customer is a first-time homebuyer between ages 25-45, according to Hefets, who also said there have been instances in which customers enlist the company not because they can’t secure a mortgage on their own, but
Contributed photo Adena Hefets is the co-founder and CEO of Divvy, a rent-to-own real estate company that has expanded to the Houston market.
ments during the first three years. “Divvy customers are as diverse as every color of the rainbow,” Hefets said. Hefets, who made a visit to Pinkerton’s Barbecue in the Heights during a trip to Houston earlier this month, said she’s excited to have her company in the market and hopes to become a popular option for prospective homebuyers in the region. “The biggest thing to know is we really care about our reputation, about our brand and our customers. We try to do right by the customer. We are not a scam. We are for real.”’ For more information, visit divvyhomes.com.
Local business is our business.
because Divvy’s cash offer helps them secure the home they want. Those customers then turnaround and buy the home from Divvy. Hefets also said Divvy will extend its lease arrangement for an additional three years if a customer makes no more than four late pay-
Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com
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REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP
HHA to announce Community Improvement Awards Sunday
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As part of an upcoming awards ceremony, the Houston Heights Association will honor construction and development projects it deems to improve the character and community of the neighborhood. The HHA will reveal the 2021 Community Improvement Awards during its 48th annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Dinner from 5:308 p.m. Sunday at the historic Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th St. Each year, the HHA recognizes recent commercial and residential construction or renovations in the neighborhood that help preserve or improve the building character and living experience in the Heights community. For this year’s awards, the HHA received nominations from community members of residences and commercial businesses that were either built or renovated in 2019, 2020 or 2021. Nominations were accepted for four categories: • Commercial New Construction • Commercial Renovation • Residential New Construction • Residential Renovation Past Community Improve-
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AMANDA PIERSON Amanda@heightslawgroup.com
Photo from HHA website The Heights Waterworks site on West 19th Street previously won a Houston Heights Association Community Improvment award. HHA will announce this year’s winners soon.
ment Awards winners include the Heights Waterworks site at 449 W. 19th St. – which won the 2019 award for Commercial New Construction – as well as a home at 1226 Cortland St. that received the 2019 award for the Residential Renovation construction. Tickets to the event are $40 per person, $320 for a table of eight, and $400 for a table of 10. For more information on the event or to purchase a ticket, go to houstonheights.org/ event/48th-annual-volunteerappreciation-awards-dinner. New multi-family project coming to Timbergrove Two local firms have joined
forces to bring a new multifamily project to the Timbergrove area. According to a news release from Houston-based McNair Interests, the company announced in late March that it has partnered with Cockrell Interests to develop a multifamily project on a 6-acre plot of land at the corner of West 11th and Maxroy streets just south of Ella Boulevard. The release said the project will create a residential enclave of about 400 units with significant outdoor green space. It is part of the “broader transformation” taking place in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove/West Heights areas, the release said, and will provide
an amenity-rich housing option to Houstonians wanting to live within a new neighborhood setting while still having access to the Loop 610 and I-10 corridors. “McNair and Cockrell are excited to join forces on this transformative real estate development project,” said Drew Steffen, who leads real estate ventures for McNair Interests. “We look forward to adding this premier multi-family community to our development projects planned for Houston’s West Heights.” For more information on McNair Interests, visit the company’s website at mcnair. com
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Page 2B • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • The Leader
Home sales slow across local markets By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
For much of the last couple of years, many local real estate markets have seen significant upticks in home sales. While that trend had continued for the first couple months of 2022, March brought a significant shift. Five of the six zip codes served by The Leader saw either no change or a stark yearover-year drop in home sales last month, according to the most recent data report from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). Among local markets, only the 77092 zip code – which encompasses the western portion of Oak Forest along with Langwood, Forrest Lake and Mang-
um Manor – saw a sales spike compared to March 2021, while the 77091 zip code (Greater Inwood/Acres Homes) experienced no change from last year. The rest of the local markets saw year-over-year dips of at least 8 percent, and they ranged to up to as much as a 27 percent decline, according to HAR data. On the pricing front, all local markets saw both average and median prices continue to spike compared to last year. 77018 This zip code, which includes the Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and Shepherd Park Plaza neighborhoods, was one of the four local markets to see a sales dip. Eighty-four homes came off the market in March, a 12.7 percent drop from the 96 sold during the
same month in 2021. The area is lagging 2.5 percent behind last year’s pace as a result, having seen 196 sales compared to 201 at the same point last year. Pricing-wise, the average buyer paid 28.5 percent more for a home here ($649,414) relative to last year, and median price rose 19.6 percent yearover-year to $496,500. 77091 Just to the north, the Greater Inwood/Acres Homes area escaped a dip, though it didn’t see a rise either. The 32 homes sold here last month matched the March 2021 figure, according to HAR. This zip code is still 10.1 percent ahead of last year’s pace, however, having seen 76 homes come off the market compared to 69 through the
same period in 2021. The average price for a home in this area was up 10.2 percent to $292,969, while the median price jumped up 8.3 percent year-over-year to $294,950. 77092 The western edge of The Leader’s coverage area was the only local market to see a yearover-year sales spike last month. There were 45 homes that came off the market, which was a 32.4 percent increase from the 34 sold here last March. As a result, the zip code has had 85 homes sold so far in 2022 – a 7.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Average buyers paid 3.8 percent more ($329,109) for a home here last month, and median price rose 1.9 percent year-
over-year to $319,888. 77008 In the Greater Heights, a neighborhood that typically has seen some of the biggest growth rates in the area, was on the opposite end of the spectrum in March. Home sales in this zip code were down 27.5 percent year-over-year – the largest local drop – with 105 homes sold last month compared to 144 sales in March 2021. Following the March drop, the area is 4.8 percent behind its 2021 pace, with 277 sales through the end of March as opposed to 291 through the same period last year. Average home sales price jumped 18.8 percent to $709,366 in the Heights last month, and median price had the largest
local spike (20.7 percent) up to $610,000 at month’s end. 77009 There also was a bit of a downturn for the zip code including Northside and Woodland/Norhill Heights on the eastern portion of the area. There were 8.7 percent fewer homes sold here compared to March 2021, with the figure dropping from 62 in March 2021 to 57 last month. However, the 139 sales through the end of the month marks a 3 percent gain on last year’s pace of 135 sold during the same stretch. On the pricing front, the average buyer paid $553,888 here last month – a 16.5 percent spike – and median price jumped 5.3 percent up to $470,000.
REALTOR SHOWCASE
Villarreal cherishes chance to help people realize dreams By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
In the late 1990s while working for a downtown corporate law firm, Elizabeth Villarreal would often look out of her 37th floor office window and marvel at the number of cars and trucks driving on Houston’s freeways and long for the freedom of a flexible schedule. A short time later she decided to jump into a career in real estate with both feet and she hasn’t looked back. Licensed as a Realtor since 1998, Villarreal recently moved to Coldwell Banker Realty and is in the process of forming a team with two of her three daughters, both currently in real estate school. “I just hit the ground running in 1998 because I had to support my family and couldn’t create a lag in monthly income while in transition, and I did it! Selling real estate is not a game to me; selling real estate is a worthy career where I can assist and support people making significant life changes and investments. Within a year or two, I realized “This is who I am – a Realtor, and this is what I am supposed to be doing” – all my life and professional experience came together and made me a stronger realtor,” she said. Given her heavy background in corporate transactions and document creation in downtown firms, Villarreal said one of her specialties is breaking down a contract in a way that is easily understandable for her clients. When combined with her natural love of people and interaction with them, Villarreal said a career in real estate allows her the chance to combine her skills, knowledge and passions. “I can help people understand what it is they’re signing and why, and that’s a very important thing to me – to guide and educate my clients,” she said. “I enjoy people and I thoroughly enjoy getting to know my clients as we view houses or work through a transaction together. That is the fun part.” Working primarily in Inner Loop and Central Houston neighborhoods such as the various Heights neighborhoods (including some of Houston’s Historic Districts), Rice Military, Camp Logan, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other nearby subdivisions, as well as Livingston, Conroe, Woodlands, Galveston, League City, Katy, Sugar Land and Pearland, Villarreal’s clientele is generally a mix between buyers and sellers – though she said this past year
Elizabeth Villarreal brought more sellers and listings. As a seventh-generation Houstonian and 3rd generation owner in Oak Forest, Villarreal knows Houston like the back of her hand, whether it be commutes, walkable neighborhoods, grocery stores, mechanics, food scene, houses versus condos, high rises versus an over 55+ community, etc. That inherent knowledge, she said, makes a true difference for her clients. “If you’re working in the Med Center all day and need to get home to your family in time to attend Little League games, your commute matters to me and I want to find the shortest commute to the best neighborhood and find the nicest home available which fits the buyer,” she said. Villarreal shared, “I feel like my superpower is being able to find a home for anyone. I know the city really well and I am wellequipped to dig in and find that perfect home for each person. I really enjoy the hunt.”
Elizabeth Villarreal
But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy showing and listing homes, too. “Open houses,” she said, “are another avenue for sharing stories of Houston’s amazing evolution or highlighting things people might want to know about a certain neighborhood.” “Because I’m a people person, it’s always an adventure to meet folks coming through the open houses,” Villarreal said. Though things are starting to return to normal with regards to COVID-19, Villarreal said her inherent desire to be a calm, guiding force for buyers and sellers has been especially crucial over the last couple of years as everyone dealt with uncertainty and extra stress. After all, the process of buying or selling a home can be a stressful one under even the best conditions, and she aims to reduce the stress. “It gives me a feeling of peace to know I’ve done my best to help clients understand what they are getting into and to eliminate surprises with regard to mortgage requirements or understanding third party home inspections, etc. It’s who I am,” she said. “Educating your clients is so important – otherwise, they’re more stressed and anxious. The more they know, the more confident they feel and the better experience they have. I always tell people that no question is silly, because buying or selling is a big life change and there is so much information to wade through. Ask questions!” And after all these years, after all the hunts for the best fit and all through the pandemic - Villarreal’s business did not slow down during the pandemic - one thing has not changed: the joy she feels when seeing the end result. Villarreal, who wrote a weekly column for The Leader for 12 years called “Neighbors,” simply cherishes the opportunity to help people realize their dream. “It is such a cool feeling when people are grinning ear-to-ear, collecting the keys to their new house at closing, and ready to run out and start moving their things in,” she said. “And just the opposite, with listings, sometimes people need to sell property in order to make a necessary life change, which in and of itself is challenging. The best part of those transactions is seeing a person’s life change for the better; stress lifted off their shoulders at closing.” For more information about buying or selling property, you may call Villarreal at 832-712-1320 or email her at elizasgarden@ outlook.com.
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The Leader • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • Page 3B
How often should you bathe your cat? sure that all is well.
Dear Tabby, How often should we be bathing our cat? She’s generally pretty clean but sometimes gets a little stinky. I know that she would probably really hate getting a bath but I wasn’t sure if it was necessary. To Bathe or Not to Bathe in Garden Oaks Dear To Bathe, One of the best things about cats is that they are typically “self-cleaning” creatures. Cats have an instinct to groom themselves--often quite fastidiously. In fact, experts speculate that cats can spend upwards of 25 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves! If you are noticing that your cat is dirtier or smellier than you think is normal, though, you might want to check with your vet to make
Bathing can be traumatic …for not only your cat, but for you! The exception would be Sphinx cats (hairless) who do require regular bathing. Sphynx cats create more oil on their skin, which makes baths a necessary part of their life. If you have a Sphynx, consider introducing them to bathing early so that it’s not quite as traumatic. Otherwise, most cats do not need a bath and trying to bathe your cat will only create lots of stress for you both. Good brushing should suffice For most other cats, regular brushing is all they need from you to help keep them tidy. If your cat is a little dirty or needs some extra help cleaning their backside (this often happens with overweight cats), consider doing a little sponge-bath and just spot clean the dirty area with a damp cloth. The simple act of helping your cat to clean will also stimulate her to take over cleaning duties
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herself and, chances are, she’ll go on to give herself a good bath, thanks to your slight intervention. Changes in grooming If you notice your usually fastidious cat is suddenly slacking on bathing, it would be a good idea to take her to the vet. Weight gain, illness and arthritis can all make a cat become lax on self care. Additionally, if you notice urine collecting on your cat, a trip to the vet is definitely in order. This might be the beginnings of a UTI or other bladder issue. The short answer is that no, a healthy cat shouldn’t need you to do a full-scale bath on her. The occasional spit-bath, coupled with regular brushing and maybe even some gentle ear cleaning should be all that your kitty needs in the bath department. And trust me: no one will be happier to skip bathtime more than your cat!
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Page 4B • Saturday, April 23, 2022 • The Leader
Don’t let vine borers squash your harvest Amy Williams
G
arden uru
Dear Garden Guru, Over the last few years we’ve planted squash plants only to have them destroyed by squash vine borers. We spotted one flying around the garden yesterday. Any tips or tricks to protect our squash plants? Help! Sincerely, Feeling Squashed Dear Squashed, I consider these awful little creatures my garden nemesis, and I’m sure all local gardeners feel the same way! For those who do not know, squash vine borers are red and black moths that lay copper-colored eggs on squash plants. Once the egg hatches, the larva bores its way inside the squash vine, destroying the plants from within.
There are proactive measures to take as well as remedies that can be used to protect our beloved plants. First let’s consider proactive approaches. I highly recommend starting your squash for the spring indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. While we’re past that point now, it is good to remember for next year. This allows your plants to become established before squash vine borers show up in the spring. Squash vine borers are attracted to the strong smell of squash. Planting strongsmelling herbs around your squash will help camouflage the plants. Dill, basil and mint are all good choices. Some gardeners choose to cover their squash plants with netting and hand pollinate their plants. This can be done simply by using a Q-tip or paintbrush to transfer the pollen from the male flower into the female flower. However, it can be difficult to contain large squash plants in netting as the plant
grows and reaches its mature size of 3-5 feet. I have had success with wrapping the base of the plants with aluminum foil to keep the borers from penetrating the vines, but you do have to be consistent with this as the plant grows. Another way to protect the base of the plants is creating a mound with mulch or dirt around the base of the plants. Local gardener Jenni Cave Ferrell suggests injecting the plants’ stems with BT. BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a safe and natural biological pesticide proven to be effective against larvae and worms as well as other insects. I plan to routinely use Mercenary by Cultured Biologix, an all-natural insecticide, as a proactive approach to deterring borers away from all my plants. Even with a toolbox to keep these guys away you may find your squash plants suddenly looking droopy indicating there is larva attacking the plant from within. A telltale sign is frass that re-
sembles sawdust below the vine. Look for areas where the larva has made holes in the vine. With a small knife, slice the vine near these holes and you can remove the larva. Once the larva is removed show no mercy, kill it, squish it, or feed it to your chickens! Continue to check the rest of your plants for more larva, and eggs, because it is very rare that there is only one. Remove any damaged leaves or vines and cover plants back up with soil and mulch. If you would like more information on how to remove squash vine borers in the event that you find yourself struggling with them, we do have a video on our social media pages. See you in the garden!
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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL ROUNDUP
Offensive onslaught paces Lady Bulldogs Self-Defense & Physical Fitness
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The Heights Lady Bulldogs have scored runs in bunches this softball season, and their potent offensive attack was on display once again last week. Heights swept through two games last week, winning a 15-12 slugfest against Lamar on April 12 before beating Chavez 13-4 on April 14. The Lady Bulldogs (23-10, 9-3 district) have won four consecutive games ahead of Friday’s regular-season finale against Alief Elsik. The Lady Bulldogs crushed four homers in the win over Lamar – with two of them coming off the bat of sophomore Kennedy Hill, who had three RBIs. Ava Martinez and Hayley Jaime also homered, while Vannesa Avalos doubled and drove in three. Sydney Palomo tripled and homered with four RBIs against Chavez, and Angelina Del Pozo and Laila Robins had three RBIs apiece. It was more of the same story as it’s been all season for Heights, which is hitting .393 as a team with a 1.031 team OPS entering Friday’s regularseason finale while averaging nearly nine runs per contest. The Lady Bulldogs have been even better in District 18-6A competition, hitting .481 with a 1.270 OPS and putting up more than 12 runs per game. Elsewhere in public school softball action, Booker T. Washington picked up a win in its only game last week with an 18-3 victory over Worthing on April 13. The Lady Eagles improved to 8-3 on the season, and were slated to play Scarborough on Tuesday afternoon. In private school play, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers fell 7-0 at the hands of Bellaire Episcopal on April 12 to snap their three-game winning streak. SPX was 10-12 overall and 3-2 in TAPPS district play entering Tuesday’s game against St. Agnes Academy. Baseball Booker T. Washington ran its winning streak to six games with a second consecutive win over local rival Scarborough. Jonathan Vidal had two hits and two RBIs to pace the Eagles’ offense, while Jordan Vidal struck out seven batters in 2.2 innings pitched. Sean Sellers also drove in two runs.
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Photo from Facebook The Heights Lady Bulldogs used their potent offensive attack to finish the district season strong with wins over Lamar and Chavez last week.
Richard Carrizales struck out 11 batters in four innings on the mound for Scarborough, which fell to 3-9 overall and 3-6 in district play, while Juan Garcia reached base twice. The Heights Bulldogs snapped a two-game slide by splitting a pair of games with Westbury last week. Heights beat the Huskies 12-3 on April 12 before losing 2-1 on April 14, moving to 13-8-2 overall and 7-3 in District 20-6A. R.J. Robinson had two hits on April 12 for Heights, while Charlie Maddux threw four shutout innings in relief on April 14. Waltrip won its only game of the week, beating Sterling 18-0 on April 12 to improve to 9-6 on the season and 6-2 in District 23-5A. St. Pius X bounced back from a 12-0 loss to Concordia Lutheran on April 12 to beat local rival St. Thomas 9-1 on April 14, completing the season sweep of the Eagles. Jackson Mobley went 2 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs for the Panthers (12-9-1, 5-4) against St. Thomas, while Casan Evans had two RBIs while striking out eight in five innings pitched. Luke Evans drove in the lone run against SPX for St. Thomas, which had its threegame winning streak snapped with two losses last week. The Eagles (11-15-1, 3-6) also lost 6-2 to Beaumont Kelly Catholic on April 12. Jack Ward had two hits and an RBI against Kelly Catholic, and Sam Mahlberg also drove home a run.
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