Leader April 2

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Inside Today: Help Oak Forest celebrate 75 years • Page 3A

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Heights’ opera mulls future amidst property sale

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Lambert Hall is not going anywhere anytime soon, even though the Heights Boulevard property where it sits is for sale.

As for Opera in the Heights, the longtime tenant of the historic performing arts venue, its days there might be numbered.

Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” will be performed this Saturday and Sunday as well as April 8 and April 10 at

Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. It could be the final performance there for Opera in the Heights, which has leased the building from Heights Christian Church for the last quarter-century and was told earlier this year that it must vacate the property by the end of July.

The church, amidst dwindling membership and financial resources, is selling its 42,600-square foot property on the west side of Heights Boulevard between West 17th and West 18th streets. It was

listed Monday on the Houston Association of Realtors website, with an asking price of $5 million.

“We want nothing more than to be able to stay,” said Eiki Isomura, the interim general director for Opera in the Heights. “I recognize that may be a long shot, because there are likely going to be a lot of potential buyers who want to develop the property into something that might not Contributed photo Opera in the Heights has performed at historic Lambert Hall throughinclude opera.

See Opera P. 5A

out its existence, but could be forced to find a new venue when the Heights Boulevard property is sold.

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Page 7A

Contributed photo by John Everett Houston City Council members Karla Cisneros, driving, and Abbie Kamin wave to onlookers Monday as they exit a newly opened tunnel along Memorial Drive. A series of tunnels is part of Memorial Park’s Land Bridge and Prairie project.

Land bridge nearing completion at Memorial Park

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Watching a line of cars roll down a road is not a particularly exciting site, especially in a city like Houston, where such scenes are commonplace.

But seeing cars and trucks travel through a pair of new tunnels Monday was momentous for Garden Oaks resident Shellye Arnold. The experience provided a peek into the future and signaled that a years-long, transformative project at Memorial Park is nearing completion.

Two eastbound tunnels along Memorial Drive, which were constructed as part of the park’s Land Bridge and Prairie project, opened for vehicular traffic early this week. A pair of adjacent, westbound tunnels are next, with their opening slated for May. “I wouldn’t normally say this about traffic, but it was thrilling just to mark this milestone,” said Arnold, the president and CEO of the Memorial Park Conservancy.

“It’s a real tangible sign that we’re on the downhill side, so to speak.”

Construction for the $70 million land bridge project, which started in August 2020, is set to be complete by the end of the year, Arnold said. The work includes two 35-foot hills built over the Memorial Drive tunnels that will connect the north and south sides of the park while

Contributed photo by Daniel Ortiz Cars pass through an eastbound tunnel Monday at Memorial Park. Westbound tunnels are slated to open in May.

providing 100 acres of prairie as well as scenic views of Downtown Houston and other parts of Memorial Park.

It is part of the Memorial Park Conservancy’s 10See Tunnels P. 5A

The Scarborough High School boys soccer team was flying high entering postseason play, and the Spartans kept the momentum going with two playoff wins last week.

Scarborough beat Needville 3-0 on March 24, advancing to the area round for the second time in the past four seasons, before defeating Jasper 4-1 on Tuesday night to advance to the Region III-4A quarterfinals. With the wins, the Spartans moved to 19-12 overall this year.

Jesus Gamez scored two goals for the Spartans against Needville, while Anthony Lemus also found the back of the net and goalkeeper Alexis Navas stopped every shot sent his way in the match. Gamez followed that up by scoring twice against Jasper, and Chris Meza also scored twice.

It will be a clash of district champions in the next round, as Scarborough is set to clash with the District 24-4A champion Stafford Spartans (17-5-4) later this week for the right to advance to the Class 4A regional semifinals. A Other action Last week was not as fruitful for the rest of the area’s high school soccer teams.

Waltrip lost 2-0 in its first-round playoff game against Richmond Foster, finishing its season with a 9-11-2 overall mark.

In other boys playoff action, Booker T. Washington dropped a 6-0 decision to regionally-ranked Stafford on March 24.

On the girls side, Scarborough lost 6-0 against Needville on March 25, finishing the season with a 10-9 record.

Waltrip dropped a 2-1 decision against Angleton on March 25, ending the year with an overall record of 20-5-2.

Heights’ Lady Bulldogs lost 7-1 against Cy-Fair on March 25 to bring their season to a close.

Prescribed fire set at Houston Arboretum

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Help needed. The Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center needs a new home and financial help.

Page 1B

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds ............................................. 5A Coupons .................................................. 3B Food/Drink ............................................ 7A Obituaries.............................................. 2B Opinion .................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 4B Puzzles ..................................................... 3A Sports ........................................................ 2B

If passersby saw smoke coming from the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center last week, there was no need to worry.

The Houston Fire Department and the arboretum partnered with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on a prescribed fire on 3 acres of grassland and meadows March 24 at the arboretum, 4501 Woodway Dr. “Despite slightly wet soils, variable winds and green vegetation, the team was able to burn a good portion of the meadow safely,” the arboretum wrote on Facebook.

Last week’s exercise was the second time the arboretum has done a prescribed fire on that portion of the

Photo by Anthony Rathbun A member of the Houston Fire Department burns the brush during last a prescribed fire March 24 at the Houston Aboretum & Nature Center.

See Fire P. 5A

Photo by Pallares Productions Scarborough’s Diego Argueta takes a penalty kick during Tuesday’s area-round matchup against Jasper. The Spartans won 4-1, advancing to their first regional quarterfinal since 2015.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • Page 3A

Share your Oak Forest story for 75th anniversary celebration There’s a lot going on in Oak Forest, maybe now more so than ever, or at least in recent memory.

The neighborhood has seen an influx of young families and young professionals in recent years, which has provided a boost of energy and new ideas in a community filled with longtime residents from older generations. Oak Forest remains a desirable, affluent and friendly place to live, much like it always has, and there are signs of growth and modernity mixed in throughout.

Oak Forest Park has been upgraded and expanded in recent years, while being made accessible for children of all ability levels, and there is an ongoing effort to improve American Legion Park on the eastern side of the neighborhood. New homes and multi-family housing complexes are seemingly sprouting up like wildflowers, and so are new early learning facilities and shopping centers on thoroughfares such as West 34th Street.

It’s a time to celebrate the community for what it is now and what it has the potential to become. It’s

ADAM

ZUVANICH Editor

also a time to remember and honor what Oak Forest has been.

The neighborhood is commemorating its 75th anniversary this year, for which the Oak Forest Homeowners Association (OFHA) is planning a free, communitywide event from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Candlelight Park and Community Center, 1520 Candlelight Ln. The vision is to encourage walking and bike-riding to the park – partly because parking is limited – while having live music, yard games, cold treats for kids and a parade around the park.

Also in the works is a 3D, walkable, historical timeline that illustrates Oak Forest over the years,

along with all the most memorable moments, the most oft-visited places and the traditions that have made the neighborhood such a great place to live and work. The idea is to conjure memories, provide knowledge and perspective and allow residents to compare the differences and similarities between then and now.

And this is where you come in: The OFHA is asking community members to participate in a short survey of sorts while sharing fond memories, photos, memorabilia and news clippings from publications like The Leader, which has served the neighborhood since 1954 – only seven years after Oak Forest was founded.

The key questions are as follows, with respondents asked to provide time-specific details along with their answers: 1. What is your name?

2. Where do you live or where have you lived?

3. How long have you lived in the neighborhood?

4. Which schools did you attend?

5. What was Oak Forest like

when you moved in?

6. What were your favorite restaurants?

7. Where did you go shopping?

8. What did people do for fun in the neighborhood?

9. What are your favorite memories of Oak Forest?

10. What photos, news clippings and memorabilia can you share that would help illustrate your other answers?

Residents are encouraged to share their stories and corresponding materials in an email to ofha75thanniversary@ofha.org. The deadline for submissions is April 15.

“We think that people want to share their story,” said Frances Davidson, the OFHA’s public relations chair. “We’re trying to make a historical timeline to present at this event. We’re trying to just take these memories that people share with us, in whatever form they are, and display them nicely.”

The May 22 celebration could be considered a culmination of sorts, or perhaps a highlight, in a year already filled with engagement

and activity within the OFHA. A second community cleanup event, called the Oak Forest “Spruce Up” Day, is scheduled for 8 a.m.-noon this Saturday, with volunteers asked to meet at MytiBurger, 2211 W. 43rd St., before cleaning along West 43rd Street and T.C. Jester Boulevard.

And to coincide with the 75th anniversary, the OFHA has enlisted Waltrip High School art students to paint a neighborhood-themed mural on the side of T&T Washateria, 1859 W. 43rd St. It all signals a love and passion for the place a lot of people call home, along with a renewed commitment to keep the neighborhood safe, friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re one of those Oak Forest residents who is proud of your community, take some time to share that with the OFHA and participate in their callout for the anniversary celebration. You might help to make the event as memorable and enjoyable as the last 75 years in the neighborhood.

George P, give a dam THE TROUGH – Just stick your snout in here and get big bux from Uncle Sam. Congress has approved $4.3 billion to help Texas and local governments finance infrastructure to stave off future disasters with dams, canals, drains and a little Dutch boy with a strong finger. We need the projects because we remember Hurricane Harvey. That was a Category 4 hurricane that hit Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, causing massive flooding, more than 100 deaths and $125 billion in damages. Harvey is tied with 2005’s Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical storm on record.

So get in line for an ounce of prevention and our share of the loot. But wait. Not so fast.

Houston and Harris County suffered half of the damage and deaths caused by Harvey and, by all rights, they should get half the flood prevention money. They had asked for more than $1.3 billion, and they got, uh, nothing. Huh? Nothing? You read right. Zero.

The reasoning, if you can call it that, is a complicated formula made up by the Texas General Land Office (GLO).

The formula gave Houston and Harris County less than half the average score for all the other city and county projects that were awarded money. That includes 48 Southeast Texas counties. Four smaller municipalities in east Harris County — Pasadena, Jacinto City, Galena Park and Baytown — will receive about $90 million combined. In the midst of all this, the GLO approved $750 million for Harris County, but earlier the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that minority neighborhoods were not given their share of Harvey funds, so I don’t know if anyone will ever get anything.

Who is in charge of the GLO? George P. (for Prescott or maybe Petty) Bush. He is the eldest child of the former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush; nephew of the 43rd president, George W. Bush; grandson of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush. Now P. is in a runoff with incumbent Ken Paxton for attorney general. P. placed third in Harris County in the March 1 primary, so in the runoff we may prevent P. from advancing his political career.

Hehehe. As the Kennedy family said, “Don’t get mad, get even.”

When the GLO’s pay schedule was made public, our local officials went ape. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said it was “unconscionable.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner called on the federal agency to “immediately halt the distribution” of the funds until it could review the situation. Turner added: “And it is unfathomable that the state GLO would redirect most of these dollars to areas that did not suffer much from Hurricane Harvey.”

When even more outrage hit the GLO, P. said it was not his fault. He was only following

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

instructions from HUD. There seems to be a lot of fingerpointing in Austin these days.

Check under: “Abbott, Greg – Ice Storm Uri.” P. could have yelled the explanation of Mexican soldiers at the Battle of San Jacinto: “Me no Alamo!” except that he is in the midst of a battle of his own with Lite Guv Dan Patrick over how to spend the nearly $400 million redevelopment plan earmarked for redoing the Alamo.

This isn’t the first time Houston has been snubbed. Back in 2012, NASA was going to farm out some of its old space craft so the public could see where their tax dollars were going.

The Kennedy Space Center in Florida got one. So did the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, and that hotbed of space exploration, New York City. The Johnson Space Center in Houston got a mock-up, a replica that never left ground. As former Houston Congressman Ted Poe blogged: “The first word spoken on the moon was ‘Houston’ not ‘New York City.’” But we did get the Johnson Space Center, the Houston Ship Channel (the feds paid half) and several military recruiting offices in strip centers.

We also got the BarkerAddicts dams and reservoirs.

They were courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, built after devastating floods in 1929 and 1935. Construction of the Addicks and Barker structures were completed in 1948 and 1945 respectively.

Everything worked fine until Harvey. Actually, it was after the rains fell that the dams were opened, inundating thousands of homes, including mine. I should have known.

My first clue was when the animals at the Houston Zoo started lining up two by two.

The Bayou City is aptly named: 26 percent of Harris County lies within the 100year flood plain. I believe that study was made 100 years ago.

No wonder we flood in a heavy dew, and real estate agents use glass-bottom boats. If and when we get any funds to prevent more flooding, let’s start with overbuilding out west.

Before Harvey, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) argued, “Contrary to popular belief, not many of the miles of man-made or improved channels are concrete lined. Only about 6 percent of the channels in the county are concrete lined -- most are grass lined.” I must only see the 6 percent.

HCFCD also disputed the suspicion (mine and other survivors) that all the concrete and asphalt, malls and schools, being built out west and in

town are adding to the threat of us being washed away. “It is a popular urban myth that, in Houston’s and Harris County’s past, flood plains were contained to the channel banks, and that land development has caused all of the area’s flooding problems. That is not true.

Nature can and will provide more rainfall than the area’s channel systems can handle.”

I think what the HCFCD was saying – and, again, this was before Harvey – was that all the concrete being poured in Katy isn’t to blame because “nature” can still dump more rain on us than the channels can handle. So, P, let’s either (1) build more channels (2) stop opening the flood gates or (3) hire more little Dutch boys.

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THE LEADER PUZZLERS. Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

ACROSS 1. Nonsense (slang) 5. Military leader (abbr.)

9. Removes 11. Streamed 13. Inner ear cavity 15. Where to go after high school 16. Olympics host 17. A day to remember fallen soldiers 19. Forearm bone 21. Bypass surgery pioneer F. Mason __ 22. Judo garments 23. Gentlemen 25. Large wrestler 26. Large integer 27. Makes a soft sound 29. Some claim to have six 31. Sunfish 33. Clan 34. A form of comedy 36. Defy 38. More (Spanish) 39. Sixteen ounces 41. Adventure story 43. Liquid distilled from wood or coal 44. Michigan ghost town

46. Fond of 48. Pearl Jam frontman 52. Clothes 53. Flinches 54. Giving the axe 56. Where planes are kept 57. Intervals 58. Plant’s unit of reproduction 59. Equips

DOWN 1. Cooks by exposure to direct heat 2. Using few words 3. Wood 4. Steer 5. Soft drink 6. Consider 7. Clears from a river 8. Claim again 9. Beige 10. Witnesses 11. Spiked 12. Partidge actor Susan and Marmaduke director Tom 14. __ and Andy, TV show 15. Fraiche and de

Menthe are two 18. Burden 20. Olfactory properties 24. Carbon particles 26. Set of four 28. A sweater pulled over the head 30. Relaxing places 32. Gets up 34. Canned fish 35. __ Blyton, children’s author 37. A conceited and self-centered person 38. Fine-textured cotton fabric 40. Turner and Kennedy 42. Repents 43. Smartphones, tablets, etc.

45. A way to garner 47. Eat them for breakfast 49. Former Tigers third baseman Brandon 50. Oh, God! 51. Canadian flyers 55. One legged Chinese mythological demon

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Page 4A • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • The Leader

Local Boy Scout giving back to St. Ambrose Church

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A local boy scout is using his Eagle Scout project to give back to the church and school he has attended his whole life.

Matthew Akin, a 15-yearold member of Boy Scout Pack 540 and Troop 540, will be helping create a Gaga Ball pit at St. Ambrose Catholic Church and School for the project. The project will take place this Saturday on the church and school campus at 4213 Mangum Rd. Akin attended St. Ambrose School through the end of his 8th grade year, and said in his project description that classes would

always play Gaga Ball during P.E. classes or recess. Gaga Ball is a game played with a ball and many players in a ring called a pit, he said.

The goal of the game is to be the last person left. If the ball hits any part of the body other than the hands, a person is out.

But according to Akin’s project description, he and his friends always had to play the game by placing eight plastic tables on their sides to create the pit, since the school did not have a permanent pit. And once he went to his first summer camp with Troop 540 to New Mexico and played in a permanent pit, it was all he could think about.

“Since I was in the 6th grade, I knew what I wanted to do for my Eagle Scout project,” he wrote.

Now, he is hoping the church can offer the game on a more permanent basis after the project is done for the foreseeable future. His SAS class gift to the school was $1,000 toward a permanent pit and he wound up raising more than $2,000 total for the pit, which includes green turf with crushed granite and other materials.

“I am so glad to be able to give back to the school that gave so much to me,” he wrote. “My hope is that our St. Ambrose community will benefit from this project for many years to come.”

Contributed photo Matthew Akin, a 15-year-old Boy Scout who attended St. Ambrose School, is building a Gaga Ball pit at the church and school for his Eagle Scout project.

Heights Rotary Club growing in members, community service

By Ken Stallman For The Leader

Heights Rotarians and their guests recently gathered at Saltgrass Steak House, 1803 Shepherd Drive, to host a “Why I Joined Rotary” reception for members and community-minded residents and business owners from the Heights area..

“We focused on the benefits of being a Rotarian— community service, fellowship, a new way to grow your business, and create lifelong friendships,” Rotary Club of Houston Heights President Tim Vozar said. ”We’ve added a half-dozen new members this year and would like to continue to see our growth come from the thousands of new Heightsarea residents.”

Here’s what some other Heights Rotarians had to say about why they joined the club: Howard Moon, longtime owner of Moon, Baker Insurance: “Nothing like be-

Contributed photo Rotary Club of Houston Heights members, from left, Tom Mack, Rosemary Vega, Howard Moon and Ruby Dee, gather during a recent club meeting at Saltgrass Steak House, 1803 Shepherd Drive.

ing a longtime member of a group of people having ties to the Heights, the place where I was raised and operated my business. Rotary has allowed me to achieve things I value – community service and making lifelong friends.”

Colton Poindexter, a cor-

porate banker with BankcorpSouth, said: “I’m new to Houston and Rotary welcomed me with open arms and made me a part of the group overnight. I look forward to getting together with my Rotary pals every Wednesday.”

Rosemary Vega, an im-

Venue changed for high school reunion

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The organizers of an upcoming reunion for the 1970, 1971 and 1972 graduating classes from Heights High School, then called Reagan High School, have switched venues for the event.

The “Fabulous 50ish Reunion” is scheduled for 4-10 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at the Pavillion at BlackHouse Golf Club, 12205 Fry Rd. in Cypress.

All graduates from the 1960s and ‘70s are invited to attend.

Dinner will be served from 5-6:30 p.m., and a cash bar also will be available.

Reunion tickets are $80 and can be purchased either in advance or at the door. Those who plan to purchase them at the door are asked to RSVP by emailing Sheila Hoza-Cunningham at jhr50th@gmail.com.

Questions about the reunion also can be sent to Hoza-Cunningham.

Our Father Which Art in Heaven

By Pastor Will Cover

Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org

I

have been studying through the Lord’s prayer for a series of messages at our church. I have been meditating on the truth that we are praying to our heavenly Father. Talking to your father can mean lots of different things depending on your situation and depending on your father. When it comes to praying to God, it is an incredible privilege and opportunity to communicate directly with him.

When praying to your heavenly Father there is no need to be afraid of the circumstances of this world because God has power over this world. When praying to your heavenly Father there is great hope because we know He holds the future in His hands. When praying to your heavenly Father it is encouraging to focus on His presence. You are

not alone. When praying to your heavenly Father there is no place for selfishness. There is only one God of the universe and everyone and everything else is beneath Him. Coming selfishly to your Father is pointless because He loves all of His children. When praying to your heavenly Father there is no problem of resources that He cannot supply. He owns all things and provides for His children to meet their needs.

All of these truths are a great encouragement to pray and to spend time in communicating with God. Let’s take this one step further.

If you are God’s child, then you have the great privilege of praying to God. It is important to remember that as His child you also have the great responsibility to obey your Father. He is God. As you ask Him for things, know that He delights to hear and answer your prayers. As He tells you things, make sure you are faithful to obey Him.

migration attorney, added: “I was a member of Rotary for years but had to take a leave of absence. I couldn’t wait to come back to friends and participate in what I love, helping others less fortunate.”

Tom Mack, a long-time Certified Public Accountant

(CPA) specializing in tax preparation, said: “I not only benefit from Rotary when I participate in community service activities, but also have grown my business because many Rotarians and their friends have asked me to handle their accounting and tax preparation.”

Ruby Dee, a designer and manufacturer of one-ofa-kind jewelry, explained: “As a newcomer to Houston, I joined Rotary to make friends but soon realized that Rotary was a way for me to contribute to the community and help others.

I love my Rotary family.”

For more than 30 years, the Heights Rotary has sponsored a crawfish and shrimp boil to fund its many programs focused on supporting organizations and institutions that make living in the Heights a great experience. This year, the event is scheduled for Saturday, April 23, at Houston Leiderkranz, 5100 Ella Blvd.

Heights Rotary donates bicycles to Harvard Elemen-

tary School students having perfect attendance, money to the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA aimed at after-school care, scholarships to graduates of Houston Heights High School, and funding to the food bank sponsored by Zion Lutheran Church. Rotary also supports Turning Point, a transitional housing program, and provides generous food packages at Christmas for 60 low-income families.

“Community organizations always have a need for financial support and Heights Rotary is delighted to help,” Community Service Chair Stephan Monsen said.

For more information about joining the Rotary Club of Houston Heights, contact Ken Stallman, Membership Chairperson, 713870-0764. Meet Heights Rotarians by attending a club meeting at noon every Wednesday at Saltgrass Steak House, 1803 Shepherd Drive.

ST. MATTHEW’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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Say a Prayer Today

Houston, TX 77092

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t goes with made mista err is huma this the next t must learn fro to repeat them it can be hard can sometime We sometimes we’ve done, a for years, or e addition, some our past. And them, we mus we should forg the coming da as well as our them; that is, repeatedly mu the phrase “for the only way t more divine, is the offense. S vindictive, sha it! Corrie ten prison camp s to realize that

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The Leader • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • Page 5A

Fire

Tunnels

from P. 1A

Photo by Anthony Rathbun A member of the Houston Fire Department burns the brush during last a prescribed fire March 24 at the Houston Aboretum & Nature Center.

area, according to Christine Mansfield, the arboretum’s senior marketing and development manager, though the first one done since 1999.

“From an ecological standpoint, this area historically would have had fire to help keep them maintained and healthy,” she said. “It returns nutrients to the soil, and helps prevent these areas from becoming forests.”

The arboretum conducted a prescribed fire on another part of the sanctuary in March 2021, however, and Mansfield said the arboretum is interested in doing more of them in the shorter term.

Prescribed fires are “heavily planned endeavors which safely mimic the essential natural fire cycle,” according to the arboretum, and Mansfield said they are a common land management technique

for improving resiliency and diversity of native habitat.

She said periodic burns also mitigate the risk of destructive wildfires by reducing the “fuel load” in the designated area such as dead trees, leaf litter and other flammable vegetation.

“As grasses grow, die and then grow back, there is a lot of fuel that winds up accumulating,” Mansfield said.

“So that’s something the fire department wants to work with us on, reducing any potential for hazardous wildfires.

We want to prevent that here in Houston, and burning it in a controlled way helps with that.”

The arboretum said in a news release that, long-term, prescribed fires will also help maintain its historic ecosystems, which will in turn increase biodiversity and pro-

from P. 1A

Cars pass through an eastbound tunnel on Monday on Memorial Drive.

year, $200 million master plan, which included the previous construction of the Clay Family Eastern Glades as well as the first phase of a sports complex. Arnold said the Seymour Leiberman Exercise Trail is being moved away from Memorial Drive while the land bridge project continues, and on the docket for next year is a running complex that will feature a café and event spaces.

The master plan is being executed in part by local residents such as Arnold, who said fellow Garden Oaks resident Randy Odinet is a project manager for the land bridge and Garden Oaks-area resident Suzanne Formanek is the senior manager of park operations for the conservancy. “(The neighborhood) has a lot to do with the work go-

vide environmental education opportunities. It will also preserve Gulf Coast prairie and savanna, according to the organization, both endangered ecosystems that are essential for native wildlife.

“We think of this area as being at risk in that it’s an ecosystem that there isn’t a lot left of, so we’re trying to preserve that ecosystem,” Mansfield said.

And though she reiterated that Houston is not in the same drought situation as other parts of Texas – thus already reducing the risk for wildfires in the region akin to the recent ones in the western part of the state – she said prescribed fires are an important precautionary measure.

“If we can head some of that off, provided it gets drier, we definitely want to do that,” Mansfield said.

ing on in Memorial Park,” Arnold said.

The recently opened tunnels, which are 24-foot tall, 54-feet wide and include natural as well as artificial lighting, are for one-way, vehicular traffic only. No stopping is allowed in the tunnels, and neither is walking or cycling, with Arnold saying the land bridge will serve those modes of transportation.

In addition to creating more green space, pleasing aesthetics and safe crossings for bike riders, pedestrians and wildlife, Arnold said the land bridge project also aims to reduce flooding and the impact of climate change. The native Gulf Coast prairie vegetation being planted has deeper roots and can absorb carbon as well as water, according to

Contributed photo by Daniel Ortiz

Arnold, who said stormwater also should flow more freely from north of Memorial Drive to Buffalo Bayou to the south.

A wildlife tunnel has been created, too, that goes underneath Memorial Drive.

Among the first people to drive underneath the land bridge, and through the Memorial Drive tunnels, were local Houston City Council members Abbie Kamin and Karla Cisneros. They were in the same vehicle Monday and both wore wide smiles as they come out of a tunnel.

“The project really is designed for park users,” Arnold said. “But drivers, too, will enjoy this experience.”

Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich

Opera from P. 1A “We know that many interested parties have been coming in to tour the space, because we have been in the space nonstop for the past three weeks, because we’re about to open a show,” he added. “Here we are in rehearsal, performing this incredibly beautiful music, but it’s been bittersweet, acknowledging somewhere in our hearts that there’s a very good chance that this is the last opera to play in Lambert Hall.”

Realtor Amanda Anhorn of Greenwood King Properties, the listing agent for the church campus, which also includes educational buildings used by an art studio and ballet studio, said Wednesday she has conducted tours with 10-15 prospective buyers. But the current tenants and their supporters might be encouraged to know that, according to Anhorn, many of those potential buyers have been nonprofits and arts organizations, along with some commercial developers that might want to repurpose the space.

The property is part of the city-designated Heights East Historic District, and 95-year-

old Lambert Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. So the buildings cannot be torn down, Anhorn said, and any modifications to the exterior of the church or educational buildings must first be approved by the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. The structures’ interiors are not protected by historic preservation rules and could be renovated and repurposed.

Anhorn said some of the prospective buyers have expressed a desire to keep Opera in the Heights as a tenant. She also said her client, Heights Christian Church, intends to be selective as a seller.

“The church’s main mission is to find the correct stewards for that property,” Anhorn said. “They’re really interested in finding the right buyer that will have the community in mind, and perhaps some or all of the current tenants would even be able to stay.”

Isomura said he would “love to see that” and also would welcome upgrades to the interior of Lambert Hall.

But he realizes the fate of the

property is ultimately out of the control of the nonprofit opera company, which has been working on contingency plans in case it can no longer perform there beyond April.

Isomura said Opera in the Heights has been reaching out to other venues around Houston and exploring the possibility of performing at them during its next opera season, which runs from October through April. Among those venues are the Sterling Stage at Stages in the Hyde Park neighborhood and Zilkha Hall in The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Opera in the Heights also is hosting a town hall meeting among its supporters and stakeholders at 10 a.m.

Saturday at Lambert Hall – just hours before its opening performance of “Eugene Onegin” at 7:30 p.m. Isomura said he and board of directors chair Elise Bungo will be among those in attendance, with donuts and coffee to be served.

“We want to hear from Opera in the Heights supporters right now, for a number of reasons,” Isomura said.

Contributed photo by Pin Lim Members of Opera in the Heights rehearse Tuesday for an upcoming performance at Lambert Hall.

“We want to hear what their ideas are and how people envision Lambert Hall serving the community in the future.

Maybe there are members of our Opera in the Heights community that might have the resources to compete with developers that have business plans that don’t include the arts.”

Anhorn said she and her family have been support-

ers of Opera in the Heights, and she previously has taken Spanish language classes and art classes on the church campus. She said her children, now adults, used to play on the playground there as well.

So she understands its value to the Heights community.

She said the church leaders who enlisted her understand that as well.

“I think this whole property is in the hearts of all the Heights community, and such a special property for many, many families for many, many years,” Anhorn said.

“It’s been very encouraging, all the arts-type organizations and nonprofits that are interested in this fabulous property. Hopefully some of them can kind of come together and make it happen.”

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The Leader • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Enjoy ideal market weather while it lasts MITCH COHEN Art Columnist

Spring has sprung! Good news for those of us traumatized by Houston’s roller coaster weather, although I will miss cooler low-humidity mornings. Let’s just do away with the other catch phrases about weather right now, too, because as Houstonians, we all know what’s coming next.

Speaking of summer, did I mention summer? This summer I’m shaking things up a bit in my art world. In lieu of the customary summer evening markets that we’ve had since 2006, to avoid the heat, you know, we are hosting one big event in August and that’s not the end of the crazy talk.

I’m putting a roof on it. On

Aug. 13, a second Saturday, the artists and exhibitors of both First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards will set up shop inside the cavernous event space at Silver Street Studios, 2200 Edwards St., in Sawyer Yards.

Air conditioning, my friends.

The marvel of our modern world that is the No. 1 topic of conversation by every artist and patron I know each summer going back 18 years. Air conditioning is the No. 1 reason I’ve made this really big move indoors.

The cool details right now are it will be an all-day show with an evening “soirée,” the usual mix of art, craft, food and music with some added guests that we rarely get to see at my tented events. Save the date now, Aug. 13 for BAM! Big Art Market. The artists and I like to substitute “art” for another word, but this is a family newspaper, so make one up.

On to the next catch phrase,

Contributed photo New work by Munira Vejlani incorporates a textile block from her college days.

spring is a time of new beginnings, and Saturday has a couple of new faces joining First Saturday Arts Market for the first time. The market is locat-

ed at 540 W. 19th St. and open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Munira Vejlani is a watercolor and mixed media artist who has made the leap from The

Market at Sawyer Yards, which is more craft and food, to the Heights market that has a stronger focus on the fine arts.

A self-described multitasker (she is a mom and former events manager), Vejlani comes from a textile background, having studied textile design at Sophia Polytechnic, in Mumbai, India. Her painting journey began when she enrolled in the Glassell School of Art, the teaching institute of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Vejlani takes her inspiration from nature. Think flowers and landscapes. Her work, though, is bright and has a quality that makes it appear to be moving.

Quite literally a kaleidoscope of color, as she describes it.

The keen observer will note that Vejlani’s passion for textiles has not gone away, either.

Follow Vejlani on Instagram, https://www.instagram. com/muniravejlaniart.

Matt Richardson owns Sno’d Shaved Ice and joined us at First Saturday Arts Market in March. Richardson is a new neighbor to the Heights, and called excitedly after visiting the market with his girlfriend.

I’m a huge fan of people taking chances on new endeavors, and I say selling a product that melts if you don’t consume it is risky! Richardson’s Sno’d Shaved Ice can also be found at 2nd Cup’s 11th Street Market and many other markets around town. Follow him on Instagram for more, https:// www.instagram.com/snodshavedice.

Preview all the attending artists at First Saturday Arts Market at https://firstsaturdayartsmarket.com.

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: Sao Lao dishes out flavorful Thai food made with love

By Sonia Ramos news@theleadernews.com

Have you ever had food that made you feel like you were hugged from within? If not, I suggest you head to Sao Lao Thai Café, 5013 N. Shepherd Dr. Since opening last October, this place has been my go-to spot for a casual dinner with friends or trustworthy takeout. While the menu is smaller than most Thai restaurants, each offering is made with love that you will taste from the first bite.

An appetizer not to be missed is the Lao sausage with sticky rice and Lao tomato sauce, with just the right amount of spice and heat from the sauce to make your taste buds sing.

The Thai Red Curry with sliced ribeye steak, bell peppers, purple eggplant and basil is mild enough to please anyone scared off by traditional Thai heat and is my personal favorite.

When I asked chef and owner Souli Phaduangdet about her favorite item on the

menu, she replied the Boat Noodle soup. She told me that it took her seven years to perfect this recipe and when she was finally happy with the result, she cried. That is evidence of how much dedication goes into the food. I have tried almost all the dishes on the menu but not this one.

That will have to be corrected soon.

Another soup worth mentioning is the Lao Chicken Noodle Soup, with handmade noodles in an eight-hour, slow-simmered chicken broth with chicken, quail eggs, cilantro and green onions. This is just what the doctor ordered if you are feeling under the weather.

A word of warning, though: Some Laotian food is known to be very spicy, so choose your spice level carefully. My suggestion is to start mild and add the flavorful chili sauce that is available.

On a recent trip I ordered the Drunken Noodles with stir fry wide noodles and ribeye with a medium spice level.

Within two bites, my mouth was on fire and my nose was

Photo by Sonia Ramos The Lao sausage with sticky rice and Lao tomato sauce is among the appetizer options at Sao Lao Thai Cafe.

running. However, I could not stop eating these addictively spicy noodles and was thankful to have my trusty Thai iced tea as a beverage option.

Other beverages offered include the usual suspects of canned drinks and sugarcane juice. However, I usually take advantage of the BYOB option and pay the $5 corking fee, which is waived on Tuesday nights.

End your meal with the Coconut Mango Sticky Rice.

It is an excellent way to cool off the remaining fire on your tongue and make everything right in the world.

Sao Lao Thai Café is a welcome addition to the growing number of locally owned restaurants in the neighborhood and is definitely worth a visit. Chef Souli is the heart and soul of this place and is

Photo by Sonia Ramos Pictured is the Thai Red Curry with sliced ribeye steak, bell peppers, purple eggplant and basil from Sao Lao Thai Cafe, 5013 N. Shepherd Dr.

making life better one bite at a time.

Sao Lao Thai Cafe Address: 5013 N. Shepherd Dr. Dining options: Dine-in, Take-out Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tues-

day-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday Entrée prices: $14 -$16 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: BYOB Star of the show: Thai Red Curry Rating: 5 out of 5 bites

Nibbles & Sips: The Tamale Joint opening this weekend

By Landan Kuhlmann

annual crawfish cook-off Community members with an affinity for mudbugs can get their fill while benefiting a Houston-based nonprofit next weekend.

Cactus Cove, 3333 W. 11th St. in the Timbergrove area, will host its third annual Crawfish Cook-Off at the restaurant from 1-6 p.m. April 9 or until supplies run out. The annual event includes local restau-

landan@theleadernews.com

What’s billed as a downhome Mexican restaurant is opening its doors in the Oak Forest area this weekend.

The Tamale Joint will host its grand opening this Saturday in Jester Plaza at 3352 E. T.C. Jester Blvd., according to a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page.

Among the offerings at The Tamale Joint will be a variety of authentic Mexican tamales, with options such as chicken, pork and bean as well as corn and jalapeno cheese. The Tamale Joint will also have a “tamale of the month,” which rotates throughout the year, as well as queso and three different types of salsa, according to its website.

The Tamale Joint will also offer Mexican drinks such as Mexican Coke, Topo Chico, Limonada and Horchata, but will also have traditional fountain soft drinks as well as coffee and water. There will also be a bar offering different types of margaritas as well as both domestic and imported beer.

The Tamale Joint will be open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit thetamalejoint.com or follow the restaurant on Instagram @thetamalejoint.

Local eateries featured in Black Restaurant Week Several local restaurants are participating in a weeklong event meant to celebrate the flavors of African American, African and Caribbean cuisine in Houston.

According to a news release from Black Restaurant LLC, more than a dozen restau-

rants, distilleries and breweries as well as The Creek Group restaurants all coming together for a crawfish cook-off that will benefit the Summerhouse in Houston.

Summerhouse supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and the Houston community through employment, volunteerism and partnerships.

A $25 ticket buys a tasting

wristband for crawfish and voting privileges, while a $40 ticket gets the aforementioned benefits as well as a Crawfish Throwdown T-shirt. There will also be live music, according to the event page.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the event, go to eventbrite. com/e/3rd-annual-cactuscove-crawfish-cook-off-tickets-290681344727.

JoiN US For oUr

Saturday, April 23, 2022 11am - 4pm

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Funds raised support the 12U Houston Storm 2022 Triple Crown World Series Tournament fees Photo from Facebook Crawfish like this will be available at Cactus Cove, 3333 W. 11th St., during its crawfish cookoff next Saturday, April 9.

rants will take part in the seventh annual Black Restaurant Week – Houston from Friday through April 10. Among the restaurants to be featured are local spots Kale Me Crazy at 718 W. 18th St., The Foodie Barr at 2155 Durham Dr. Suite 105, and Twisted Grilled Cheese food truck at 5555 Washington Ave. Black Restaurant Week – Houston was created in 2016, according to a news release, to celebrate African American, African and Caribbean influences in the culinary industry and educate consumers on the abundance of cultural cuisines. The organization supports restaurateurs, bartend-

ers, chefs, caterers and food trucks, the news release said.

During the specified dates, diners can also vote for the top Black-owned restaurants that will be presented during the Black Plate Awards after the event. Community members can eat at one of the participating restaurants for a chance to win gift cards, cash prizes and more.

For more information about Houston’s Black Restaurant Week, its events and participating restaurants, and to vote for the Black Plate Awards, visit blackrestaurantweeks. com/houston-directory/.

Cactus Cove hosting

Each ticket includes: 2lbs of crawfish, potatoes, corn, sausage and drink

Page 8A • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • The Leader

Houston Art Car Parade returns next weekend

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A popular display of Houston artistry is returning next week following a twoyear hiatus.

The Houston Art Car Parade, hosted by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, will return for its 35th annual parade April 7-10.

In 2019, the last time the event was held, the firstplace art car was “Pride & Joy: A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan,” created by Heights High School students under the guidance of Rebecca Bass.

A news release from the organization said this year’s

show will feature a large contingent of slab cars born out of Houston’s unique contribution to American car culture. It will also display more than 100 new and never-before-seen art cars from around the country like riders, bike and skater groups, wheeled contraptions, bejeweled roadsters, custom-crafted cars and more.

In total, more than 250 creations will be displayed during the parade through downtown, according to the release.

This year’s event, which typically draws hundreds of thousands of attendees, according to organizers, will

Our Savior Lutheran School Oratio Eloquentium

be dedicated to the late Ann Harithas, with the parade’s grand prize to be permanently named after her.

She was a leading figure in Texas’ art community whose efforts to support and create new arts organizations impacted generations of Texas artists and creatives, the news release said, and is credited with organizing one of the first public exhibitions of art cars in Houston in the early 1980s.

The complete lineup of art cars and a schedule of events is available on the Houston Art Car Parade website at thehoustonartcarparade.com.

Our Savior Lutheran School, located at 5000 W. Tidwell Rd., 77091, will host a Coffee and Conversation with the Principal on Wednesday, April 6, at 8:05 a.m. to discuss the Oratio Eloquentium competition conducted each spring. Oratio Eloquentium is Latin for eloquent speaking. This competition for the Sixth – Eighth grade scholars emphasizes three of the five cannons of Rhetoric- style, memory, and delivery. Scholars memorize the verses, poems, speeches, and letters from the Literature Learn By Heart curriculum and are responsible for choosing and memorizing one selection from the curriculum to present to their class, judges, and an assembly of the student body and parents.

The first round is presented within the classroom and judged by classmates and the teacher. Scholars are judged based on a degree of difficulty of the selection, the level of memorization, physical demeanor, and delivery. Twelve scholars are selected after the classroom rounds to proceed to the Round of 12.

The twelve participants present their orations to a panel of judges chosen from the faculty and staff at Our Savior. The judges score all twelve orations and offer an immediate critique with feedback to each scholar with the intent to improve their oration for the next round. The six highest scoring orations are selected as finalists.

The final round takes place before the entire student body, parents, and guests.

The judges for the Finals are members of the Our Savior congregation, professionals from the Our Savior school community, and professionals from outside the Our Savior community with public speaking expertise. The judges score each student and honor the three highest scoring orations with awards.

Photo by Morris Malakoff Shown is the 2019 First Place Art Car Winner “Pride & Joy: A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan” by Heights High School students under the guidance of Rebecca Bass. The parade returns April 7 following a twoyear hiatus.

Our Savior scholars are encouraged to use the Oratio Eloquentium competition as an opportunity to practice speaking eloquently in front of the public, their peers, or those who would question their opinions or beliefs, while learning the importance of the cannons of Rhetoric throughout the competition. We invite the community to hear more about this program and classical Christian education provided at Our Savior Lutheran School. We hope you can join us on Wednesday, April 6 at 8:05 a.m.

Attendees may also join us for our school chapel service at 9:45 a.m.

The Leader • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • Page 1B

Adult activity center needs help finding new home

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Anna Leon comes for the socializing, which includes bingo, card games and occasional themed events. She also likes the arts and crafts as well as the exercise she gets.

As for the food she gets at the Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center – for both breakfast and lunch – it’s fresh, homemade and filling.

Leon, a Northside resident and senior citizen, said she’s been going to the Garden Oaks facility almost every weekday for nearly 30 years.

And when she makes the trip on METROLift, a complimentary public transit service for Houston-area residents with disabilities, she recommends the adult daycare center to everyone she encounters.

She enjoys it so much that she said she wishes it were open on Saturdays and Sundays.

“This is my home away from home,” Leon said.

The Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center, which has operated since 1994 at 905 W. 34th St., is in search of a new home and in need of assistance from a community it has served for nearly three decades. Owner and founder Victoria Davis said the property was recently purchased by a nearby business, and the new owner has asked the statelicensed day-activity and health services center to vacate by the end of April.

Davis said she recently found what might be a suitable new home for the center, an old sports bar in the Northside area, but she needs help to be able to buy it. She set up a GoFundMe account Monday, at https://www.gofundme. com/f/zu3vbx-miracle-on-34th-street, with the goal of raising $65,000.

“The pandemic just really blew the wind out of our sail, so we’re in the recovery process,” Davis said. “I will do everything to continue this business. It really is a good service.”

Davis and her husband, Bob, have lived in Candlelight Estates for more than 30 years and sent their children to school at St. Rose of Lima and St. Ambrose. Not long after Victoria opened the Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center, she said it was referred to in The Leader as the “Miracle on 34th Street.”

The activity center, which serves the elderly as well as those with disabilities, has visitors from all over the Houston area, Victoria Davis

Photo from Facebook Visitors to the Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center, which has served senior citizens and people with disabilities since 1994, dressed up for a luau-themed event in 2017. The owner of the facility said it is being forced to leave its longtime location at 905 W. 34th St. and find a new home.

said. It typically served about 60 clients per day before the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, with that number having dwindled to about 30 this year.

Those benefiting from the services provided at the Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center range in age from 21 to 94, Davis said. In addition to providing social interaction, outings, Bible lessons and daily healthcare, 58-year-old Eastex resident Helena Brown said the center’s staff helped her get her teeth fixed and find an apartment.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “We’re just a big family.”

Leon also used the word “family” to describe her experience at Garden Oaks Adult Activity Center, and Davis said that’s the type of atmosphere she has strived to create. She credited staff nurse Martha Cook as well as her cooks, who make Davis’ homemade recipes such as meatloaf and a collection of casseroles.

The activity center has held themed holiday celebrations over the years, such as costume parties for Halloween.

“We make it fun, engaging and caring, and we have outstanding employees,” Davis said. “We work so hard to take care of them.”

Brown and Leon both said they are not worried about the impending relocation of their favorite gathering place, although Davis said there will be a time gap between the closure of the 34th Street location and the opening of a new facility. She said her operating license with the Texas Department of State Health Services will remain valid during that time.

And when the activity center reopens in a new place, Brown and Leon said they plan to be there.

“I’m going with them,” Brown said. “Wherever they go, I’m going.”

Business Briefs: Urban South releases beer for Ukrainian relief efforts

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A local brewery has debuted a new beer from which all proceeds will go toward relief efforts in Ukraine as the Eastern European country continues to combat an invasion by Russia.

Urban South Brewery announced Monday that it has launched “Double Spilled: Slava Ukraini” that will be available at Urban South’s Houston taproom, 1201 Oliver St. #10.

The New Orleans-based company said all of the proceeds from beer sales will be donated to the International Rescue Committee. Urban South said the name “Slava Ukraini” pays

tribute to the Ukrainian national salute that means “Glory to Ukraine!”

“As a team, we felt a powerful call to support the people of Ukraine in any way we could,” said Kyle Huling, cofounder of Urban South. “Beer is what we do best, and we’ve seen time and time again the power beer has to bring people together and inspire a sense of fellowship. … By launching this new beer, we hope to raise awareness within our local communities and encourage our fans to support this important cause.”

The new beer will be available for online presale in Houston starting Thursday, and will be available for pick-

up and in-person purchase on Friday. To learn more, visit urbansouthbrewery.com.

Photo courtesy of Urban South Brewery Urban South’s new beer, Double Spilled: Slava Ukraini, is on sale, with proceeds going toward Ukrainian relief efforts.

Coffee shop moving into old Becks Prime location What used to be a Becks Prime at 115 W. 19th St. is now an Australian-inspired coffee shop.

According to a report from Houston CultureMap, New York-based Bluestone Lane was scheduled to open its first Texas location Wednesday at the site of the former Becks Prime in the Heights, which closed late last year. A Facebook message to Bluestone Lane seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The shop’s website says

Bluestone Lane blends “cosmopolitan Melbourne design with Australian coastal aesthetics” along with an all-day menu that claims to be progressive and health-centered.

Along with premium coffee, its website says customers will also have their pick of organic teas, juices and more.

Among the food options available will be an avocado smash bowl, a soft chili scramble with avocado and lunch options including a chicken and bacon club sandwich.

For more information on Bluestone Lane and what it has to offer, visit its website at bluestonelane.com or follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @BluestoneLane.

Why business owners need estate planning For The Leader Business owners wear many hats, and because of that, it’s easy to put estate planning behind other pressing business matters.

In reality, however, considering what would happen to your business if you become incapacitated or pass away is a pressing responsibility for any business owner. It is likely that your business is your most valuable asset, and as such, creating a succession plan for that business is crucial for its continued success as well as your loved ones’ future wellbeing.

Below are a few estate planning strategies that can help smooth any transition should something happen to you.

Issue #1: If your estate plan consists of only a Will, your estate—including your business and its assets—must first go through the court-supervised probate process when you pass away. It will easily take a few months before the Court can appoint someone to act on behalf of you and your business, and such delay may disrupt operations and cash flow. In addition, because probate is a public process, your business affairs could potentially be open to your neighbors, or your competitors.

Solution: A better way to ensure the continued suc-

Wills, Trusts, and Probate Law

their particular circumstances.

Jennifer Solak provides legal advice for families and busi-

nesses and may be contacted at jennifer@solaklegal.com or 713-588-5744.

SolakLegal.com 713-588-5744 Subscribe to helpful videos at: TinyURL.com/SolakLegal

Jennifer Solak provides legal advice for families and businesses and may be contacted at jennifer@solaklegal.com or 713-588-5744.

cess of your business is to place your company in trust.

A trust is not required to go through probate, and all assets placed within the trust can be immediately transferred to the person of your choice in the event of your death or incapacity.

Issue #2: If you become incapacitated by illness or injury and you haven’t legally named someone to manage your business assets, the court will choose someone for you.

Solution: Again, having a trust and a named Trustee would allow your business to be operated in the event of your incapacity, without the necessity for any court

process at all. Another estate planning vehicle that can help is a durable financial power of attorney. A durable financial power of attorney allows you to name the person you would want to run your business and handle your financial affairs if you ever become unable to do so yourself. You can grant your agent the legal authority to handle your business affairs, such as managing payroll, signing documents, and making financial decisions.

Issue #3: If your business partner dies, becomes incapacitated, or gets divorced and you don’t have a legal agreement that states what should happen to your partner’s share of ownership, you could find yourself with business partners you never counted on, such as your partner’s heirs or former spouse.

Solution: To prevent such conflicts, you should create a buy-sell agreement.

A buy-sell agreement outlines exactly what would happen to your business in the event you leave the company for any number of reasons, or what should happen when one owner dies, becomes incapacitated, or gets divorced. It can also help your loved ones from getting stuck owning a business they don’t want and can’t sell.

If you would like to meet to ensure that the company you’ve worked so hard to build will survive—and thrive—no matter what happens to you, please contact Solak Legal at 713-588-5744 or jennifer@solaklegal.com so that we can discuss your particular needs.

The information in this column, which was sponsored by Solak Legal as part of The Leader Expert Series, is intended to provide a general understanding of the law and not legal advice. Readers with legal questions should consult attorneys for advice on

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SPX girls, St. Thomas headline TAPPS all-state soccer teams

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

While none of the area’s private high school soccer teams were able to claim a state championship this season, all three of them saw players recognized as being among the state’s best in their respective classifications.

In total, eight players from St. Thomas, St. Pius X and Lutheran High North were represented on the recently-revealed TAPPS all-state teams. St. Thomas led the way with three players selected from its boys team that reached the state

semifinals, while the SPX girls also had three selections from their state-finalist squad and Lutheran High North saw two from its boys playoff team.

Freshman striker Alejandro Tello was a Division I first-team offensive selection for a St. Thomas squad that finished the season 244-3 overall. He scored 19 goals (second on the team) while also dishing out a team-leading 16 assists. Santiago Labarthe was a firstteam midfield honoree after scoring a team-leading 22 goals and adding 15 assists, while Evan Crosswait was a first-team defensive pick.

Margo Matula (midfield), Emma King (offense) and Tess Dabney (defense), all underclassmen, were Division I second-team selections for SPX’s Lady Panthers. Matula, a Texas A&M commit, was the team’s leading scorer, while King had the Lady Panthers’ best individual scoring game of the season with seven goals against Beaumont Kelly Catholic on Feb. 17.

Lutheran High North was also well-represented on the Division III squad, with Riley Bennett earning a first-team defensive selection and Cole Jao garnering second-team offensive honors.

Photo from Facebook St. Thomas High School’s Mambo Tello, left, tries to move past a defender during a match this season.

Tello was a first-team TAPPS Division I all-state selection for the Eagles.

Local hoops stars earn regional, state honors

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A number of local high school basketball standouts have been recognized for their prowess on the court this past season.

A total of 10 players from the area’s public and private schools earned regional and state honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) and Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).

Leading the way among local selections was Booker T. Washington junior forward Kenneth Lewis, who was recently named as both an all-Region III-4A honoree and a Class 4A All-State selection by the TABC. Lewis was previously named a finalist for this season’s Guy V. Lewis Award – given annually to the boys player of the year in Greater Houston – and earned first team AllDistrict 23-4A honors.

The 6-foot-7 slasher averaged 27.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Eagles this season in leading them to a 29-5 record – Washington’s most wins in nearly two decades – and the program’s first regional final berth in nearly 30 years.

It was the second straight season averaging at least 27 points for Lewis, who holds

college scholarship offers from Georgetown, Texas A&M, Prairie View A&M, Lamar, and TCU, according to 247sports.com.

Lewis’ teammate, sophomore forward Chris McDermott, was an All-Region III4A selection for the Eagles following a campaign in which he was second on the team in scoring (21.6 points per game). The 6-foot-8 standout also averaged a team-high 16.9 rebounds and three blocked shots.

McDermott has college offers from Texas A&M and Georgetown, according to 247 Sports.

Private schools Sophomore guard Dalanna Carter led the way for the state-champion Lutheran High North Lady Lions on the all-TAPPS 3A first team following a season in which she led the team with 26.4 points per game and tied for the team lead with 5.6 steals per contest. Jade Miller (14.7 points) and Aaliyah Macias (7.8 points, 9.4 rebounds) were also first-team all-state selections.

St. Pius X sophomore Zachara Perkins was named to the all-TAPPS 6A first team after pacing the Lady Panthers in points (23.9 per game), rebounds (12.5), blocks (4.2), and assists (3.0) during a season in which

Photo by John Skees/TAPPS Media Lutheran High North’s Dalanna Carter dribbles down the court during this season’s TAPPS 3A state championship game. Carter was one of three TAPPS all-state selections for the Lady Lions.

SPX went 21-11, its most wins in a decade. It is the second consecutive firstteam all-state selection for Perkins.

While they were denied the state title that their girls counterparts won, the LHN boys team also had multiple all-state selections after a campaign in which they went 26-4 overall and reached the 3A state championship game. Zion Carter (19.3 points, 13.4 rebounds) and Edwin Preston (13.7

Photo by Wayne Donnelly Zachara Perkins of St. Pius X prepares to shoot a free throw. Earlier this month, Perkins was named as a TAPPS 6A all-state selection for the second consecutive season.

points) were first-team honorees, while Emeka Williams (13 points, 4.5 rebounds) was a second-team pick.

St. Thomas forward Jake Pike was an all-TAPPS 6A first-team honoree for the second straight season. The junior put up a team-leading 16.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game along with 3.9 blocks for an Eagles squad that went 14-11 overall and reached the regional round of the playoffs.

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Heights, Washington sweep through undefeated weeks

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Two local high school baseball teams went undefeated last week, with Booker T. Washington snapping a losing streak and Heights improving on an already-impressive start to the season.

Heights continued its hot start in District 18-6A by winning two games against Carnegie Vanguard last week to improve to 9-5-1 overall and 4-0 in District 18-6A. Paul Smith had three hits for the Bulldogs in a 9-0 win on March 24, while Eduardo Lopez and Darien Cantu had two hits apiece. The Bulldogs also won 10-2 on March 25 and have won five of their last seven games.

Washington, meanwhile, stopped a two-game skid with a 15-7 win over Yates on March 23 before winning by forfeit on March 26.

The Eagles improved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in District 23-4A and are next slated to play Scarborough on April 9.

Scarborough dropped two games to Mickey Leland

College Prep, losing 20-0 on March 23 before falling 14-4 on March 26. With the losses, the Spartans fell to 2-6 on the season and 2-3 in District 23-4A. On the private school circuit, St. Pius X lost two games last week to Katy St. John XXIII, dropping a 3-0 decision on March 22 before losing 3-2 on March 25. However, the Panthers bounced back with a 9-7 victory over Clear Falls in a non-district matchup on Monday. SPX was 9-6-1 overall and 2-2 in TAPPS district play entering Tuesday’s matchup with Kinkaid.

St. Thomas’ rough patch continued with two losses last week. The Eagles fell 7-6 at the hands of Tomball Kings Homeschool on March 22 before losing 9-1 against Bellaire Episcopal on March 24, their fourth loss in a five-game span. Jacob Cueva had two RBIs for the Eagles (8-11-1, 0-2 district) against Tomball Kings Homeschool.

Softball Heights’ Lady Bulldogs

split a pair of games last week, beating Splendora 4-2 in a non-district tilt on March 23 before falling 11-5 against Bellaire on March 25. Laila Robins and Ava Martinez each had two hits including a homer for Heights (17-9, 4-3) in the win over Splendora, while Haylie Jaime went 3 for 4 with a home run against Bellaire.

Booker T. Washington’s Lady Eagles are 6-2 on the season after also splitting two games last week. The Lady Eagles defeated Yates 14-10 on March 23 before dropping a 20-12 decision to North Forest on March 26.

In private school action, the Lutheran High North Lady Lions dropped a 21-1 decision at the hands of Alpha Omega Academy on March 24. The Lady Lions were slated to play the Bob Hope School on Tuesday.

St. Pius X (7-10) had both of its scheduled games canceled last week and were scheduled to return to action Tuesday night against St. Agnes Academy.

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IN MEMORIAM

J

eanette Moon entered into rest on March 17, 2022. She was born in Houston, Texas on June 14, 1932 to Jimmy Dyer and Lola Kissel Dyer.

While attending the University of Houston, she began working at Southwestern Bell.

Growing up she attended Baptist Temple in the Heights and it was there she met her future husband, Howard Moon, while both were teaching Sunday School classes.

Jeanette and Howard continued to attend Baptist Temple where they married on April 20, 1957. After marriage and welcoming two sons, Dean and Marshall, they moved around the country and ended back in Texas in 1966.

Jeanette was the PTA President at both Sinclair Elementary and Hamilton J r. H i g h s c h o o l s .

Jeanette’s passion for travel inspired her and Howard to explore the world. They traveled together to six different continents, most of the countries in Europe

and all fifty states.

One of her favorite pastimes was working jigsaw puzzles, which often became a family endeavor. Jeanette was very involved in her community and will be greatly missed by the other residents of Timbergrove Manor, where she resided for 54 years.

Jeanette was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, greatgrandmother and friend to everyone she met. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Howard Moon; son Dean Moon and

his wife Martha of Houston, Texas; son, Marshall Moon and his wife Dr. Marilyn Ward of Kenmore, Washington; grandsons: Andrew, Christopher and Carter Moon; granddaughterin-law Julie Moon; and great grandchildren: Trystan and Dylan Moon.

Jeanette’s love for holidays and seasonal décor was so ingrained in her that by a remarkable coincidence, she was born on Flag Day and left our world on St. Patrick’s Day. The Moon family has lost our shining light and her beautiful twinkling blue eyes.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. heightsfuneralhome.com for the Moon family.

The Leader • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • Page 3B

How to help Inaugural ‘Pup Promenade’ a car-sick dog planned for next weekend

By Landan Kuhlmann

Dear Tabby, We’re going to take our new dog on our family road trip this summer and we’re super excited!

Here’s the problem, though: Our old dog, who passed away years ago, used to get horribly car sick and we’re concerned that our new pup will follow in her footsteps, making our road trip a mess (literally!). Any tips on how to ensure that our new dog keeps it down in the car?

Roadtrippin’ in the Heights Dear Roadtrippin’ This might be hard to swallow (pun intended), but unfortunately, car sickness is common in dogs. There are a few things that might cause it, including an immature vestibular system in puppies, as well as infection of the vestibular system, but barring any inner ear issue, there are a few other things that can bring on car sickness in dogs.

The good news is that there are a few ways to circumvent this malady and ensure that you have a fun, uneventful road trip. Let’s discuss…

A few dry runs For many dogs, the excite-

ment that comes from a car ride can cause car sickness, so prior to taking your long road trip, take your dog on lots of little trips (like to the pet store or park) to see how he reacts. This will also desensitize him for the big trip, so that it’s not as scary and new when the time comes to depart.

half-portion of food the day of the trip, then dole out the rest on potty breaks during the trip.

Speaking of potty breaks…

While it might make the trip longer, plan lots of little breaks for pottying, fresh air and sniffing for your dog.

This will help him to relax, cope with the car ride and break up the trip a bit. This might also help the humans in the car to do the same!

Medications Always consult your vet prior to medicating your dog, but Dramamine can be helpful in preventing motion sickness in adult dogs. Your vet can give you guidance on the proper dosage, but also keep in mind that Dramamine can cause sleepiness, lethargy and dry mouth, so be sure to monitor your dog closely while on this drug.

If all else fails leave the dog at home Always take your dog’s health and happiness into consideration when planning a road trip with him, but also consider your own happiness. While it is so fun to take our dogs places to explore new parts of the world, if your dog is anxious or miserable the whole time, this will potentially ruin your own vacation. Sometimes it’s easier on everyone to find alternate arrangements for your dog so that you and your family can go and enjoy your trip, then come home to a healthy pooch who is so happy to see his family!

Seeing outside Just like in humans, being able to see outside is paramount to preventing car sickness. If your dog is too small to see out, look for ways to boost him up on the seat so that he can see out.

Limit large meals Before hitting the road, feed your dog a smaller meal, but don’t refrain from feeding him all together. An empty stomach can cause car sickness and a full stomach can as well, so split the difference and feed him a

Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail.com.

Pet of the Week Meet Julio Julio is a 5-year-old mixed breed who has spent most of his life in rescue. He is super smart, eager to please and is so much fun! Julio has had training and this has made him confident in showcasing his extreme intelligence. Julio would do best in a home without small kids but with tons of fun and activities to keep his big brain busy! To learn more about Julio, go to www.friends4life.org.

landan@theleadernews.com

If community members are looking for a way to let their furry friends work off some energy, a new event in the Heights next weekend could be the perfect opportunity.

The Houston Heights Association (HHA) will host its inaugural Pup Promenade from 8 a.m.-noon April 9 along Heights Boulevard.

During the walk, registered participants and their dogs will be presented with three challenges courtesy of partnerships with the Shawn Manderscheid Team (638 Heights Blvd.), Revival Market (550 Heights Blvd.) and Greenwood King (1801 Heights Blvd.). Walkers can begin the challenges at their leisure, the HHA said on its website, and complete them in any order.

There will also be a “pup

party” at Marmion Park, 1800 Heights Blvd., following the walk. Participants must show a completed challenge card for entry into the party.

Tickets for the event start at $35, with the price set to increase after Friday, according to the HHA web-

site.

For more information on the event or to register, visit the event page at houstonheights.org/event/ the-inaugural-houstonheights-pup-promenade/.

Questions about the Pup Promenade can be emailed to hhafunrun@gmail.com.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, April 2, 2022 • Page 4B

Man accused of fatally stabbing wife in Inwood

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man has been arrested and accused of fatally stabbing his wife inside a Greater Inwood apartment last week, according to the Houston Police Department.

HPD said Francisco Jimenez, 51, has been charged with murder in the death of his wife, 35-yearold Yennis Olga Llanes

Garcia. Jimenez remained jailed on a $500,000 bond as of Wednesday morning, according to Harris County court records.

The couple’s 13-year-old daughter and two other people were present at the time of the incident, but were unharmed, according to police.

Officers responded to the Rosslyn Heights apartment complex at 7015 Woodsman Trail about 11 p.m. March

23 to find Garcia dead at the scene with multiple stab wounds, according to police.

HPD said Jimenez was allegedly seen fleeing the scene in a black Cadillac and was later arrested in the 8000 block of Antoine Drive.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600.

By Landan Kuhlmann

landan@theleadernews.com

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Tour de Houston, an annual bicycle ride around the city, is returning this Sunday after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 15th annual event, which benefits the Re-Plant Houston Program managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m.

Sunday at City Hall, 901 Bagby St. “The annual bike ride is a Houston tradition,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a news release. “Riders will enjoy the city’s premier biking event, traveling through some of the city’s great neighborhoods while supporting the growth and sustainability of our greenspaces.”

Riders on the 60-mile route start at 7:30 a.m. and will travel west along Allen Parkway, with views of Buffalo Bayou and the new Land Bridge tunnels on Memorial Drive, before proceeding northwest through Spring Branch and Cypress before returning to City Hall. There also is a 40-mile route, which starts at 8 a.m., and a 20mile route starting at 8:15 a.m.

There will be three rest stops at schools along the routes, along with bike repair and medical support as well as police.

The cost of the ride is $45 for adults who sign up before Saturday at midnight, or $50 for on-site registration. It’s $25 for children age 12 and younger.

For more information or to register, visit www.tourdehouston.org.

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The Houston Fire Department said it is investigating a fire outside a grocery store in the Sawyer Yards area last week.

There were no injuries reported in the fire, according to the department.

HFD said crews responded

to a one-story grocery store at 1501 Spring St. just after 4 p.m.

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Arson investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, which caused an estimated $35,000 worth of property damage, according to HFD.

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Car stolen from home in Heights

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A car was stolen from a woman’s driveway in the Heights last week, according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s office.

The constable’s office said deputies were called to a home in the 3000 block of Lawrence Street just before 10:30 a.m. last Saturday, March 26 in reference to a car theft that had taken place the night before.

The woman came home and

parked her tan 2015 Buick Lacrosse in the driveway around 9 p.m. March 25, according to the constable’s office, then came outside at 10 a.m. the next day to find it stolen. It may have been left unlocked, the constable’s office said, and the woman told investigators there was a spare key inside the car.

No surveillance video was found in the area, according to the constable’s office, which said it did not have any information on potential suspects.

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Mathew Naftis, D.D.S. 1214 W 43rd Ste 300

CARE

713-682-7939

Jennifer M. Solak

713.588.5744 jennifer@solaklegal.com

THELEADERNEWS.COM

Contributed photo by Donna Carson Riders participate in Tour de Houston in 2019.

Police Reports • March 24 - 29 MARCH 24 Vandalism 3 AM 1000 BLOCK OF 34TH ST W Theft 8 PM 1500 BLOCK OF LOOP N Theft 8 PM 3600 BLOCK OF SANDMAN Theft 7 AM 1300 BLOCK OF 40TH ST E

MARCH 25 Theft 6 PM 400 BLOCK OF GARDEN OAKS Theft 4 PM 800 BLOCK OF USENER Theft 9 AM 3900 BLOCK OF SHEPHERD DR N

MARCH 26 Theft 11 AM 1200 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Other 4 PM 4900 BLOCK OF FISK Arrest 9 AM 700 BLOCK OF THORNTON Theft 12 AM 1100 BLOCK OF THOMPSON Theft 7 PM 5800 BLOCK OF KATY FWY Theft 9 AM 100 BLOCK OF LOOP N Theft 9 PM 500 BLOCK OF NORTHWOOD Assault 7 AM 400 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS Arrest 2 AM 4800 BLOCK OF KATY FWY Other 10 PM 3200 BLOCK OF KATY FWY Theft 7 AM 1900 BLOCK OF HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 11 PM 5300 BLOCK OF SHEPHERD DR N

MARCH 27 Theft 7 PM 100 BLOCK OF LOOP N Assault 12 AM 900 BLOCK OF WINSTON Theft 4 AM 1000 BLOCK OF 31ST ST W Theft 8 PM 2800 BLOCK OF WHITE OAK Burglary 5 PM 800 BLOCK OF WALTON Arrest 5 PM 800 BLOCK OF WALTON Other 8 PM 500 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS

Theft 12 AM 5000 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Burglary 3 AM 900 BLOCK OF WAKEFIELD Theft 12 PM 200 BLOCK OF HEIGHTS BLVD Other 7 PM 4500 BLOCK OF OXFORD

MARCH 28 Theft 7 PM 600 BLOCK OF 16TH ST W Assault 8 PM 700 BLOCK OF ALLSTON Theft 3 PM 1400 BLOCK OF LOOP N Theft 12 PM 200 BLOCK OF 20TH ST W Theft 6 AM 1800 BLOCK OF AIRLINE Theft 4 PM 1400 BLOCK OF 20TH ST W Other 7 AM 00 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Other 10 AM 1000 BLOCK OF STUDE Theft 1 PM 100 BLOCK OF CAVALCADE Assault 8 PM 1300 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS Theft 6 AM 100 BLOCK OF YALE Other 2 AM 1500 BLOCK OF SHEPHERD DR N

MARCH 29 Theft 7 PM 200 BLOCK OF 20TH ST W Theft 8 AM 500 BLOCK OF 20TH ST W Other 7 PM 1300 BLOCK OF CORDELL Assault 2 PM 400 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS Other 5 PM 2600 BLOCK OF KATY FREEWAY Other 8 AM 1100 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS Assault 4 PM 200 BLOCK OF CAVALCADE Theft 8 PM 1400 BLOCK OF STUDEMONT Vandalism 7 AM 3000 BLOCK OF SUMMER Theft 1 AM 1200 BLOCK OF NORTHWOOD Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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