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Residents question townhome development By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
When she moved to Timbergrove Terrace more than two years ago, Margaret Humphreys said she was excited to live within a few hundred yards of the daycare her daughter already attended. They initially made daily walks along Ella Boulevard to get to and from the townhome community on the north side of Grovewood Lane to the Principrin School, which is one block to the south on West 12th Street. But Humphreys said they aban-
doned the routine after a couple weeks, because she found the walk along the west side of Ella to be too dangerous. The sidewalk is 3 feet wide and close to the street, a major thoroughfare that is about 10 feet away from the fence line of a long-vacant property. So Humphreys and her daughter started walking to the west of the vacant lot, which took them through neighborhood streets that aren’t nearly as busy. “We even got a bicycle flag for our stroller and it was just too dangerous,” Humphreys said.
“We try to avoid Ella as much as possible. They drive crazy.” The City of Houston’s Planning & Development Department has negotiated a tentative agreement with the owner of the aforementioned vacant property that stretches from Grovewood to 12th along the west side of Ella – a developer that plans to construct a community of 104 townhomes on a 4.5-acre tract – that calls for widening the sidewalk to 8 feet while creating a 4-foot-wide landPhoto by Adam Zuvanich scape buffer that would include a A man jogs down the sidewalk along Ella Boulevard near its intersection with Grovewood Lane in Timbergrove. A comSee Timbergrove P. 4A
Rising Star
munity of townhomes is planned for that location.
46th Annual
THE LEADER.
GUIDE 2021
Annual publication appears in this week’s edition
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INSIDE.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
New home. Restore Houston has settled into a new place for church services, the YMCA.
Page 4A
Photo by Doug Durkee Photography Baker Day, a 13-year-old Heights resident, prepapres to make a cut during a soccer drill. Day was recently selected to participate in a U.S. Youth Soccer training camp in January. He was one of 20 players nationwide from his age group picked to go. Art in advance. Mitch Cohen provides a sneak preview of upcoming arts-related events.
Page 7A
Heights youngster picked for national soccer training camp By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernerws.com
Holiday feasting. This month’s Food & Drink section offers suggestions for holiday meals.
Page 1B
Baker Day has been kicking a soccer ball around almost since he could walk, and dreamed of being a professional athlete from the moment he started playing at the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA. At his core, he’s always loved the sport. “I really enjoyed the fact that we got to use our feet – no other sport really does that,” he said. “There’s a lot of players, a lot of decisions – that’s really cool.” Fast forward 10 years, and that “cool” sport he picked up has taken him to new heights. Day, a 13-year-old Heights resident who plays center back, has been rising in the ranks of U.S. Youth Soccer. He was selected to the South Texas Olympic Development Team last year and participated this year in tournaments in Dallas, Tennessee and Orlando. Now, he is set to participate in U.S. Youth Soccer’s National Training Camp in Tampa, Florida, from Jan. 27-30. U.S. Youth Soccer spokesperson Ryan Loy said 250 players were selected for the camp out of 1,100 eligible players from state and intraregional teams. And it’s been quite a ride Photo by Doug Durkee Photography for the young Day, who never quite saw this on his horizon Baker Day tried out for the South Texas Olympic Development See Day P. 5A
All-state accolades. Several local football players were named all-state in TAPPS.
Page 4B
Santos, Wade prevail in unofficial runoff results By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink............................................. 1B Obituaries.............................................. 7A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports. ....................................................... 4B
Team in 2020 and has been playing tournaments with the team throughout this year.
Are you looking for things to do and places to eat in the area? Do you wonder what’s coming in terms of commerical and residential development as well as infrastructure improvements in a popular, ever-evolving part of Houston? How about local schools, medical facilities and places of worship? Do you want to learn about the local options and the services they provide? You can find information about all of that and then some in The Guide, our annual publication that provides an expansive overview of life in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas. The 32-page magazine is included with this week’s edition of The Leader, and we hope our readers will give it a thorough look. The Guide is especially valuable for newcomers to the neighborhood, but it’s still a useful resource for longtime residents and those who also work and play in the Northwest Houston community. Because we provide a rundown of all that’s changed in the last year along with what’s new to the area and what is no longer around. We address a variety of aspects of life in the neighborhood, including education, development, infrastructure, health, recreation, religion, the arts and, of course, the area’s bustling, ecletic, ever-expanding restaurantand-bar scene. There is something for families with children, young professionals, singles, couples, empty nesters and retirees. If you’re part of the neighborhood, you’re important to its fabric. And we strive to serve all of you as well as your wants, needs and interests. So we hope you’ll flip through the pages of The Guide along with this week’s edition of The Leader. Our staff enjoyed putting together this year’s edition, because it gives us a unique opportunity to reflect while also looking forward. And we hope you, our dear readers, get just as much out of it.
Elizabeth Santos is poised to hold on to her seat on the Houston ISD Board of Education – just barely. Santos, the incumbent in a trustee district that serves schools in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Northside areas, edged Janette Garza Lindner by 41 votes, according to unofficial runoff results released late Dec. 11 by the Harris County elections office. San-
tos received 2,210 of the 4,379 votes cast in the District I race, or about 50.5 percent, while the Norhill resident Garza Lindner appeared on 2,169 ballots. The Dec. 11 results are unofficial until canvassed, which is a process of accounting for every vote cast in person and by absentee ballot. A spokesperson for the county elections office said Tuesday it was in the process of curing provisional ballots and waiting for any mail-in ballots from overseas, and that the results were
Santos
Wade
expected to become official by this Friday or Saturday. Garza Lindner said she will not ask for a recount despite the close margin in a runoff in which only about 5 percent of registered voters in District I cast ballots. “I’m definitely excited that the work isn’t done,” Santos said of her apparent re-election. “I get to continue and move forward and make sure our kids continue to get what they need.” See Runoff P. 5A
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • Page 3A
Turnout disappointing in HISD trustee runoffs
T
he most convincing argument I’ve heard against replacing the Houston ISD Board of Education with a stateappointed board of managers – the intention expressed in 2019 by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and the crux of a lawsuit making its way to the Texas Supreme Court – is that such a drastic move would disenfranchise Houston voters. Residents of a populous, diverse and forward-thinking city like Houston should be able to decide who they want to manage their largest public school district, especially when each of the nine seats on the board come up for election every four years. It’s been half that long since Morath told HISD what he planned to do, citing what he called a “failure of governance” by the board as well as the prolonged failing academic performance of Wheatley High School – and Houston voters have since elected six new trustees, including two new fresh faces, unofficially as of press time, in a runoff election that was held Dec. 11. A look at voter turnout, however, suggests that Houston voters could do a much more thorough job of picking the people who will make critical decisions about the education, safety and well-being of their own children or at least those of
Adam
Zuvanich Editor
their friends, family members and neighbors. And that is especially true in the part of town served by The Leader, which is largely served by the District I seat on the board. Turnout was particularly paltry in the runoff between incumbent Elizabeth Santos and challenger Janette Garza Lindner, who were campaigning to serve schools in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Northside neighborhoods, among others. Only 4,389 ballots were cast in a trustee district with 87,671 registered voters, according to information released by the Harris County elections office, equating to a turnout of about 5 percent. Garza Lindner, the Norhill resident and Travis Elementary parent who lost to Santos by 41 votes, according to results that as of press time had not been canvassed and made official, said “voter apathy” was partly to blame for her apparent loss. “I met many voters who were
just sick of all the school board dysfunction and didn’t think this election was worth their time,” she said in a post-runoff statement to The Leader. “People who said they didn’t vote because they didn’t have kids, didn’t have kids in the district, or just didn’t care about the election.” Now, we have to consider the possibility that some local voters, maybe even many, just did not like the options presented to them on the ballot and decided not to vote for either of them. Santos and Garza Lindner might not have appeared too dissimilar to voters in terms of their general philosophies about education, although their respective campaigns certainly tried to point out the differences between them and those who backed them financially or otherwise. Of course, it also was a lessthan-ideal time for a runoff election. It’s the holiday season, when many are focused on families and friends and wrapping up work before taking a vacation. And there were several holiday-themed community events on Dec. 11, namely Lights in the Heights in the Woodland Heights neighborhood that is served by Travis. So low voter was to be expected to a certain degree. All four candidates in the locally relevant runoffs said as much beforehand.
In the other race, Bridget Wade unseated incumbent Anne Sung for the District VII seat that serves Sinclair Elementary in the Timbergrove neighborhood. There was 12.43 percent turnout in that race, with 12,405 of the 99,824 registered voters casting ballots. But still. That’s not very many for a race with significant ramifications for the District VII community and the district as a whole. The turnout in the District V runoff, in which incumbent Sue Deigaard defeated Caroline Walter, was better at about 15.1 percent. The turnout in the District VI race, in which challenger Kendall Baker narrowly outpaced incumbent Holly Flynn Vilaseca, approached District I territory with 6.85 percent turnout. If Houston residents want better results for their public school district and in turn the youth in their community, and if they want to avoid drastic scenarios like a state takeover of their school board, then they have to be more engaged and make their voices heard more loudly and more often. And perhaps we at The Leader can do a better job of facilitating better turnout, although in this case we tried to give voters ample notice of both the Nov. 2 general election and the Dec. 11 runoff. We published front-page stories about
Shopping in the presents tense THE READER. THE STORE – On Black Friday I made the mistake of going to Samuel’s Boutique & Exclusive Finery. Some of you may called it Sam’s Club. The place was a madhouse what with all the kicking and screaming and tug-o-war with another shopper. She almost fell out of her wheelchair. I was the sole survivor. Now here I am at a store on the Maul Mall, trying to do my Christmas shopping, holding my list along with a can of Mace. My first stop is this store’s toy department, but I can’t find it. “Excuse me,” I say to a clerk. “Where is the toy department?” He sighs. “In a container on the deck of the China Sloth five miles off Long Beach. If it stays there much longer the Coast Guard will weld a historical plaque on the bow.” No toys presents a problem. I had hoped to buy a Whacka-Mole for President Biden. Every time he thinks he’s making progress against one pandemic, another pops up. The Covid-19 virus was starting to subside, then came Delta. Vaccinations began to slow Delta, but then the Omicron Variant came along. I keep moving. This is odd. A lot of these price tags are erased with a new, and higher, price penciled in. President Joe has inflation to deal with. Don’t forget immigration. For Christmas maybe he could give every American family a family from Haiti. Former President Donald Trump put up 20-foot walls along the Rio. ICE could start giving out 21foot ladders. Feliz Navidad! Where’s the sports department? I need to give a bowl bid to the UT Longhorns. On the other hand, their new coach, Steve Sarkisian, already has a great present: He is guaranteed to make at least $34.2 million throughout his six-year contract. Sarkisian can afford to buy his own bowl. Then there is his poor cousin in College Station: Jimbo Fisher has a four-year contract extension that increases his average annual salary to more than $9 million. With an 8-4 record this past season, maybe he’d rather receive a super quarterback. Wait a minute. The Houston Texans have a quarterback, Deshaun Watson, they aren’t using. Can the Aggies pick up Watson’s four-year, $177.5 million contract? Sure they can. The Aggies have the biggest athletic budget of any school in America with $192.6 million. UT is second at $183.5 million. Speaking of the Houston Texans, could they give their fans a win? Probably not. The Houston Astros got a great present this past season: a trip to the World Series, even if, in recent years, they’ve been more naughty than nice. I spot basketball paraphernalia. The only jerseys they are selling read “Harden.” Moving on, there are a bunch of Houstonians who could use repairs
Lynn Ashby Columnist
on their house which was doomed by Hurricane Harvey. FEMA promised money to rebuild their homes. Millions if not billions of federal dollars were sent to Austin. Land Commissioner George P. Bush said his department would handle the funds, but Mayor Sylvester Turner said the City of Houston would take charge. Bush said no. That money is somewhere and will be handed out sometime, maybe. A nice present to those folks living under blue plastic tarps for the last four-plus years would be a new mayor and a new land commissioner. “School Supplies” the sign reads. They’re having a sale for students, teachers and school board members: flak jackets. Here’s a big pile of 849 unused books, all confiscated by State Rep. Matt Krause, Republican from Fort Worth, because they deal with – or at least mention -- race, sex or anything that could produce “discomfort” among students. Good thing Rep. Krause never read the Bible. I suppose there is a huge Christmas tree in the Texas Governor’s Mansion. I should give Gov. Greg Abbott a pair of flip-flops and a mask. Also a heavy blanket to keep warm during the upcoming winter freeze which will knock out our power for days on end. For Lite Guv Dan Patrick, I should also give a mask – one that fits firmly over his mouth to prevent him from talking. A majority of our Texas Legislators could use a present. I’m thinking of a giant erasure so they can re-draw our legislative and congressional districts to more accurately reflect the people who live here, elect them and pay their salaries. I could find a gift for our attorney general, Ken Paxton. Our Number 1 state law enforcement official could use a pardon. I wander through the mall. Maybe I should open my own store: “Turn Signals for Houston Drivers – Totally Unused.” The Dr. Fauci Needle Shop was raided by an anti-vax mob, but there was no need to press charges. They all died. I spot Gifts & Grafts. A sign, reads: “Just the thing for your member of Congress.” I go inside and am greeted by a stall selling Cruz Shuz. “Put your foot in your mouth with style,” says the Santa-salesman who has a short, black beard. “Want to insult everybody? Make your constituents blush with embarrassment over your reprehensible antics. Then you need to wear a pair of Cruz Shuz.” No thanks. I walk over to another counter. “Special for
Republican members of Congress.” I ask the clerk, “What are you selling?” “Spines,” he replies. “But business is dead. Not a customer all day.” Fox News has a kiosk selling conspiracies. There is a long line in front of the “Trump In 2024” voting booth. I pass a store that sold “Defund the Police” demonstration signs. Unfortunately it is out of business. Seems the place was burglarized. Lakewood Church is selling used bathroom tile. Ah, here’s an interesting shop: January 6th Gear. It is selling helmets, clubs, funny costumes and Get Out Jail Free tickets. Finally, I find a unique gift boutique. “Do you have any gold, frankincense and myrrh?” I ask. The clerk laughs. “Sorry. This is a Christmas store.” Ashby shops at ashby2@comcast.net
The Shepherd-Durham Project Dear Editor: Who else is not harboring fuzzy warm feelings for the coming Shepherd-Durham Project? Traffic on those avenues presently horrendous, “at least five years” (yeah right) of construction will monstrously aggravate the situation, likely shunting drivers to Yale and Studewood -- traffic on those avenues presently horrendous. As for Shepherd-Durham bicycle lanes, the existing prototype on Cavalcade between Airline and I-45 is a magnet for Darwin Award contestants. Bicyclists are swell folks -- I’ve never met one who wasn’t cheerfully law-abiding, courteous and kind -- but Shepherd-Durham is no place for them. P.S. It’s a crying shame that Matthew McConaughey won’t be running for governor. He doesn’t get misgendered nearly as frequently as Beto does. J. Reynolds
Dear Editor: So, they’re going to take a already daily congested 4 lane road and turn it into a 3 lane road so that bicyclists have a place to ride. Well, anything that Dan Crenshaw
the District I and District VII races before each early voting period, and we reached out to every candidate for every story to make sure their voices and perspectives were included and local voters at least had a basic understanding of who they are, what they stand for and what they wanted to accomplish by serving as an HISD trustee. We do not endorse political candidates and will not tell community members who to support or oppose, because that’s not our place. That’s each citizen’s choice and for their own individual reasons. But we strive to keep our readers informed, and in some cases, we try to convey what’s important to the fabric of the community and its future. So your local newspaper editor is not going to say he’s pleased or disappointed that one candidate prevailed over another in any particular race. He just wishes more of you would have participated in the democratic process this time around, because the state of our public schools has an impact on all of us, whether we have children in HISD or not. If we’re not careful, a state education commissioner might come along and decide for us in terms of who’s going to run our local school district. Email azuvanich@theleadernews.com
is involved in is bound to be “short-sighted”....ba-dum-bum. Revisbell Thanks to the community for supporting Blue Santa Dear Editor: The members of American Legion Post 560 would like to thank our community for their generous toy donations in support of the Houston Police Department’s Blue Santa Toy Drive. “The depot boxes and bags were overflowing this year! Because you cared, many children will not be disappointed this Christmas, but will have something to open,” said Commander Irene Infante. Post 560 Cmdr. Irene Infante
The Ice of Texas Dear Editor: I’m not worried, Matthew McConaughey is rushing to our aid, right after he reads a few more books. Mobarr Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Blackbird (Scot.) 5. Part of (abbr.) 8. Large fish 11. Of urea 13. Mauna __, Hawaiian volcano 14. Organized crime head 15. Bird genus 16. Curve 17. Greek sophist 18. Thick river fish 20. Negative 21. Young woman (French) 22. Extra features 25. Luckily 30. Pounced 31. Congressman 32. 92543 33. Flemish names of Ypres 38. Spherical body 41. Imply 43. Popular zombie TV show 45. Drink 48. Used to have (Scottish) 49. Former hoopster Heard 50. California graffiti artist 55. Managed
56. Irish military organization 57. Felt ill 59. Larkin, Rose, Bench 60. Used to catch fish 61. Jewish spiritual leader 62. Andahuaylas Airport 63. Google development expert 64. Cheek
dOwn 1. Central European river 2. Actor Bana 3. 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 4. Southeast Asian ethnic group 5. Celestial body 6. Investigator 7. Tangible 8. Type of television 9. Opaque gems 10. Portion 12. Carriage 14. Women’s undergarment 19. Of sound mind 23. Mentally ill 24. Office skill
25. Follicle-stimulating hormone 26. An obligation to repay 27. Read-only memory 28. The lower end 29. Billy knew a girl from here 34. Not the beginning 35. He wrote ‘The Raven’ 36. When you’ll get there 37. Celtics legend Auerbach 39. Making fun of 40. Made dim 41. Heston character El __ 42. Small integers 44. Unarmed combat 45. Made of wood 46. Rex and Sorenson to name two 47. Affixes 48. Wife of Zeus 51. Swiss river 52. Prejudice 53. Actor Idris 54. Runnin’ __: UNLV nickname 58. Criticize
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • The Leader
Restore Houston finds home at Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
As pastor Justin Gingrich and Restore Houston searched over the last several months for a more permanent home than Walking Stick Brewing Co. – where the church had previously been holding services – the COVID-19 pandemic made an already-complicated process even more so. What is not complicated, he said, is the connection the church has to its new permanent home. Gingrich said Restore Houston has found a spot at the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA, 1234 W. 34th St. Since April, the church had met every first Sunday of the
month at Walking Stick Brewing Co., 956 Judiway St. The plan to was to move into a building on Aug. 8, but Gingrich said the pandemic forced the church to push that date back. His first sermon at the YMCA was on Oct. 21. The YMCA’s mission statement says it strives to “put Judeo-Christian principles into practice” through its programs, which lines up with the message and goals Gingrich has for his startup church. A spokesperson for the YMCA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about its arrangement with Restore Houston. “We had a couple of different buildings we were looking
at. … We ended up really hitting it off (with the YMCA),” Gingrich said. “We have pretty similar values as far as serving the community and reaching marginalized communities. It ended up just being a good fit for us arrangement-wise, location-wise and culturally. We’re really excited to be a part of what they’re trying to do there.” Gingrich said a couple of YMCA staffers open the building each Sunday morning, before he and his staff take care of things for the weekly 10 a.m. services, which he said generally consists of a congregation of anywhere from 40-60 community members. And while he would like to
Gingrich
increase his numbers, Gingrich said that will be a byproduct of the connections he hopes to foster with those who attend the Sunday services – or even
just those they might come into contact with through use of the YMCA facilities. He said those community connections are at the heart of what both Restore Houston and the YMCA strive to do, making the two a good match. “We’ve been able to meet people in the community,” Gingrich said. “The connections we’ve been able to make, we’re really grateful for. A lot of us live in or around the neighborhood, and have a heart for the area. … We’re by no means a megachurch, but our heart has always been in a communitydriven church. I want us to feel like we’re really connecting with the people that are there on Sunday mornings.”
Through that connection, Gingrich hopes to bring the same sense of community that the YMCA does, in a way he said cannot be achieved to the same extent with congregations in megachurches or large auditoriums. “There’s nothing wrong with that at all, but my heart was always to create a church that made some real connections,” he said. “I tell my staff every week that if those connections (to God and to others) go well, then everything else will fall into place.” For more information on Restore Houston, community members can visit the church’s website at restorehouston.org.
Timbergrove, from P. 1A row of trees. But Humphreys and many of her neighbors do not necessarily like the idea, and they are not convinced the overall setup will be any safer, considering the proposed development is catty corner to Sinclair Elementary School. Timbergrove residents are pushing back against the developer, Lovett Homes, and the city as the Houston Planning Commission considers whether to grant a variance request for a 15-foot setback – the space between the property line and building line – as opposed to the 25-foot setback that is required by the city’s building code. The planning department has recommended the variance be approved by the planning commission, because it will come with conditions that its staff members say will make the development safer for the children and other neighborhood residents who walk or ride bicycles along that stretch of Ella. Dipti Mathur, the division manager for development services for the planning department, said denying the variance request would require the developer to adhere to the 25-foot setback rule but allow for a pedestrian realm that is only about 10 feet instead of the 15 negotiated by the planning department. Also off the table would be some other conditions aimed at improving pedestrian safety, such as wider sidewalks along Grovewood and 12th, one vehicular access point from Ella to the proposed townhome community as opposed to multiple, and a 6-foot-tall wrought-iron fence surrounding the property as opposed to an 8-foot, solid fence that cannot be seen through. After twice deferring a vote on the variance request, most recently at the request of Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin so impacted Timbergrove residents could have more time to study the proposed agreement and ask questions, the planning commission is set to vote on the issue at its next meeting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at 900 Bagby St. Mathur said the planning commission has signed off on similar arrangements with other developers, and planning commission member Bill Baldwin, a prominent Heights-area Realtor, said he would vote to approve the variance request if the negotiated conditions presented at the Dec. 2 commission meeting remain un-
changed. “Should the planning commission deny the variance, we will have no point of communication with the (developer),” planning department director Margaret Wallace Brown said during the Dec. 2 planning commission meeting. “The variance is the way in which we negotiate with developers to get a better pedestrian realm to get better safety, to get what we believe is a public improvement. If the variance is denied, the developer is allowed to build exactly what Chapter 42 (the city’s building code) calls for.” Residents raise concerns Even if the variance request is approved, Mathur said the developer would not be required to apply the variance to its project and could instead build according to the rules outlined in Chapter 42. Lovett Homes’ intentions in that regard are unclear, as is its willingness to address other concerns residents have raised about the planned development, because it did not respond to multiple messages left by The Leader or directly participate in a Dec. 9 virtual community engagement meeting organized by Kamin’s office and Super Neighborhood Council 14, which serves the Timbergrove and Lazybrook areas. During the public meeting, the Dec. 2 planning commission meeting and in interviews with The Leader, several neighborhood residents and stakeholders expressed concerns about the development’s potential impacts on traffic, stormwater drainage in an area already prone to flooding and a strain on water, wastewater and electrical infrastructure in a neighborhood that is becoming more and more dense in terms of population. Some nearby residents, such as George Frey, who has a 5-year-old son who attends Sinclair and a 2-year-old daughter who attends Principrin, have raised questions about the city’s framework for planning development. At a time when city leaders are promoting multimodal transportation under the “Vision Zero” initiative, which aims to end all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2030, the building code adopted by city council allows for dynamics that do not prioritize pedestrian safety. Baldwin said public safety is
the chief concern of the planning commission, but also said it is limited in what it can do in a city without zoning and a state that favors the rights of property owners. Issues such as flood mitigation and traffic flow are not under the purview of the planning commission, he said, and instead are addressed by Houston Public Works at later stages of development. “I share our residents’ concerns,” Kamin said. “No one I’ve heard from is opposed to development. We’re asking for development to be done responsibly – especially when it comes to child safety and flooding. “I do think the planning department has been working hard to add in some improvements, but we have to stop treating variances as the only vehicle to get benefits for neighborhoods,” she added. “This area already is prone to flooding. More must be done.” Leigh Killgore, president of Super Neighborhood Council 14, said she agrees the negotiated arrangement between the developer and planning department would be safer for the community than both the current setup on Ella between 12th and Grovewood as well as the original project plan submitted to the city. The execution of that agreement is one of the conditions under which the neighborhood council will support the development, she said. In a letter submitted to the city, she also is asking for a traffic study to determine whether a signal is warranted for the intersection of Ella and Grovewood – a popular crossing point for Sinclair students – and for the developer to adhere to the most recent flood-mitigation guidelines in Chapter 19 of the municipal code. Citing correspondence with Houston Public Works, Killgore said it is unclear whether the vacant lot can be grandfathered under the previous drainage guidelines. “I am concerned about the new development and I feel like a little bit of a disregard for the safety and the neighborhood in general as far as flooding and as far as the traffic,” said Tiffany Murray, a Timbergrove Terrace resident with a 5-year-old son who goes to Sinclair. “Development’s great, but safety is more important.” Visit theleadernews.com for news about Thursday’s planning commission meeting.
CHURCH
Post 560 collecting supplies for Kentucky tornado victims By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks is collecting items to donate to victims in Kentucky after a series of tornadoes ravaged the state over the weekend. The state was hit by four tornadoes beginning last Friday, Dec. 10 and into Saturday morning, according to a report from the New York Times, and the death toll from the storm had risen to at least 74 people – includ-
ing 12 children – as of Tuesday afternoon according to a report from WLKY News in Kentucky. Among items that can be donated at Post 560’s headquarters at 3720 Alba Rd. are bottled water, non-perishable food, body wash/body wipes, new clothes, and backpacks. Residents can also donate items such as household cleaning supplies, plastic trash bags, generators, space heaters, flashlights and batteries. Tens of thousands remain
LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a WINE AND MALT BEVERAGE RETAILER’S ON-PREMISE PERMIT (BG) by BE KIND ENTERPRISES CORPORATION dba CENTRAL CITY CO-OP, to be located at 420 E 20th St SUITE A, HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, Texas. Owners of said corporation are: ERICK E. NAVAS (MANAGING DIRECTOR)
LOCAL WORD Do you have something to share about our community send us an email news@theleadernews.com
Everyone needs Jesus GET OVER IT!
By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
D I R E CTO RY
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t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.” As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something we’ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use the phrase “forgive and forget” is because sometimes that is the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.”
he reasons for which many people struggle with God and the person In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with church below for updated St.each James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am of Jesus Christ are many. Some Morning Worship ............... 10:45am In-person services are • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information about services and events. temporarily restricted. have been hurt by religion, Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm MANNA • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm and Adults............................ 6:15pm Sponsor church, and religious people 1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 in the past. Others feel like A DVENT St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Weekly Sunday Services Gethsemane Lutheran Church LUTHERAN C HURCH , ELCA intellectually that God and • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN • Morning:10:30 a.m. We invite you to worship with us! Everyone is Welcome! the things of God’s Word are • Evening: 4:15 p.m. 1700 West 43 at Rosslyn MANNA t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN Sunday in-service at 9am 713-682-4942 just fairy tales or nice stories t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN Pastor – Dr. RichardSchool Walters and Sunday 4QPOTPS Ad # 32285 but that they include some at 10:30am 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t contradictions and therefore 5820 Pinemont Dr. Candlelight Church of Christ Join us for Services Houston, TX 77092 cannot be believed. When in English or Spanish Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 713-686-8201 Judge not, Jesus and you willwalked not be judged; condemn Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm on this earth Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40 Please our website at: Sund visit not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, www.adventhouston.org Sunday Bible Classes 9am Ministries for All Ages and you will be forgiven... Wednesday Bible Study 7pm and when his followers Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org for the following: Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 R.S.V. Luke 6:37 Sunday Services: @ 11 AM carried his message across the 2003 W. 43rd St.Wed 713-686-8241 s t s u m cIn-person .org Houston, TX 77092 (Live stream during service) world, many people trusted Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on in Christ and received God’s 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups gift of salvation. Many others Say a Prayer rejected the message, choosing Today! their own way instead. Put Gethsemane Lutheran Church simply, you can either choose Pastor Jerry McNamara God’s way, or you can choose 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 your own way. We invite you to worship with us! Many churches and Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. religions of this world have Online services can be reached muddied the waters when it 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227
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without power in the state, and President Joe Biden has declared a federal state of emergency for eight counties in the state – with more that could potentially be added in the coming days according to WLKY. “This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state’s history. The level of devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said according to the New York Times.
comes to understanding who God is and what He is like. God has described Himself through Word of God. When men try to add to or take away from God’s Word it opens up the door to ideas that are contrary to God’s way. Jesus put it simply when he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Instead of trying to decide which religion is right, take time to read God’s Word for yourself and let God speak directly to you. As a pastor of a church, I am constantly aware of the importance of pointing people to God’s Word and not trying to gather people who just want to follow me. It is not my job to gather followers or members of the church I pastor. It is my job to point people to Jesus Christ. He is the way. It is my job to explain God’s Word to people. He is the truth. It is my job to help people understand how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the life. Everyone needs Jesus!
The Leader • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • Page 5A
Day, from P. 1A when he tried out for the South Texas team. He was one of 20 players nationwide from his age group to be chosen for participation in the camp. “Before the tryout, (U.S. Youth Soccer) was not on my mind at all,” Day said. “I didn’t even know if I was going to make the tryout – then I found out about all this.” Day subsequently became part of the South Texas Olympic Development Team, and was invited to participate in the state tournament in Dallas in June. From there, he was selected to represent Texas in the regional tournament in July in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Then in August, he was placed on the South Region team to compete in Orlando in the Inter-regional tournament in November. But even after all of that, the thought he would be viewed as one of the best remaining players seemed like an unattainable dream that is now reality. “I thought, ‘There’s no chance. That would never happen,’” Day said. But it has happened. And though it was a surprise to
Day, it may very well have been an even bigger joy to parents Ashley and Jeff Day – the latter of whom played soccer in high school and has trained with Baker for much of his life. “His reaction was very modest – there was almost no reaction, and that’s because he’s so humble. But I’m floored still – I can’t believe it,” mother Ashley Day said. Building a brotherhood Over the last year and change, Baker Day has traveled thousands of miles across the country, played dozens of games and met countless new faces. He said the camaraderie of the team – between both coaches and players – is what has made the treks and travel more enjoyable both on and off the pitch. “This whole thing has been really fun, just traveling around and seeing new places, seeing how they play and how they experience the sport,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of friends from the new teams that I’m being placed on, and we’re still connected today. ... It’s been pretty brotherly, really, with the connection between the team. Then on the field,
it’s the same attitude. We’re always being positive to each other, and that’s really what I like most about it.” That positivity is preached to the players and an extension of what he already does on and off the field, according to Ashley Day. Baker is looked to as a leader at Spring Branch’s Regis Academy of the Sacred Heart, Ashley said, where he is a center back and captain of the school’s varsity soccer team. He also plays rugby and basketball at Regis. As captain and center back, Ashley said her son’s job is to lead and direct the team with confidence and humility. And that dedication to working together and building others up is the reason she believes her son can go far, regardless of whether he decides to pursue soccer as a career. “(This experience) assists his leadership skills,” she said. “He never puts himself first. He always thinks of the team. It’s always about the team and building others’ confidence.” Shifting focus To that end, Baker Day said he had not given much thought to building his soccer
dreams beyond the general youthful wish of becoming a professional player prior to his U.S. Youth Soccer experience – at least in regards to what it would take to actually achieve such a dream. But that’s not the case anymore. “It’s been really different from past years – I’m transitioning to a higher level and really just putting in more hard work, preparation and training into it,” he said. “… Now that I’ve done this, I’ve seen how I can do it. (I’ve seen) where I can go, and all the things that I can do to become it.” Ultimately, time will tell where the eighth grader’s future lies in the sport he loves and has dedicated countless hours to perfect – especially this past year. But if there’s one thing he knows, it’s that he sees many more options for a potential path now than he did just one year ago. “High school is a good route, but club teams and this team will be a great jump for my future,” he said. “I’ll see where it takes me and get as many opportunities as I can.”
Photo by Doug Durkee Photography Baker Day plays for and attends Regis Academy of the Sacred Heart in Spring Branch, where he is captain of the school’s varsity soccer team.
Runoff, from P. 1A In another HISD trustee race impacting the area, Bridget Wade unseated District VII incumbent Anne Sung by receiving 53.8 percent of the 12,397 votes cast in their runoff. Sung has served since 2016 as the trustee for District VII, which includes Sinclair Elementary in the Timbergrove neighborhood. Sung said she has offered to provide support in the onboarding process for Wade, a former private-school trustee who said she is “honored and I am humbled and I am thrilled” to be elected to the board overseeing the largest school district in Texas. “My first plan of attack is to sit back and listen to what the trustees that are sitting trustees have to say. … I’m going to connect this week and go have coffee with a few of them,” Wade said. “Superintendent (Millard) House reached out, which was lovely. Anne Sung was very generous and reached out to offer help. I’ll just listen and take
a little bit of time to hear and listen, then take inventory.” In the other HISD trustee races that went to runoffs, District V incumbent Sue Deigaard received 63.8 percent of the vote to beat challenger Caroline Walter, and Kendall Baker received 78 more votes than District VI incumbent Holly Flynn Vilaseca. Myrna Guidry was re-elected in District IX without needing to compete in a runoff. Santos said she is “absolutely willing” to work with the newly elected trustees, but expressed disappointment that Sung and Vilaseca were voted off the board, saying she had become friends with them and their impending departure is a “serious loss for our board.” Sung said she is proud of her tenure as trustee, citing accomplishments such as raising teacher salaries to make them more competitive in the region, creating a wraparound services department and creating evalu-
ation systems for the superintendent and chief audit executive, both of which report directly to the board. “Though we did not win, I am deeply grateful to the thousands of voters and hundreds of volunteers who mobilized around our vision of an HISD committed to equity and excellent education for all students,” Sung said. “… It is my deepest wish that the HISD board and Superintendent House continue to build on this foundation and to focus on our nearly 200,000 students and what they each need to succeed.” Garza Lindner, the mother of two Travis Elementary students, lamented what she described as “voter apathy” among some of the District I voters she encountered during the campaign. The self-described Democrat also said false claims were made by her opponent’s campaign about her, her political leanings and her intentions for wanting to serve as a trustee.
elected trustees with a state-appointed board of managers, citing what he called the board’s “failure of governance” and the prolonged failing academic performance of Wheatley High School, and HISD in turn sued the Morath and the state in an attempt to prevent that from happening. The lawsuit remains ongoing, and the Texas Supreme Court is expected to decide whether Morath has the legal authority to replace the HISD board. Since the court battle began, six new trustees have been elected. “My hope is with this election and voices being heard, that they would then stop and give us the opportunity to serve the way we were elected,” Wade said. “If (a takeover) happens), we’ll do what we have to do and support that, if that’s what they decide. I like the voters and I like the public being able to have that right.” Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @ AZuvanich
Still, Garza Lindner said she’s proud of running a close race against Santos and that she plans to continue attending board meetings, advocating for students and families and focusing on her career with an energy consulting firm. “This was a terrific experience,” Garza Lindner said. “Many said I was crazy to do this, but the support I received and the great conversations I had at voters’ doors made this effort worth it. I worked extremely hard, left it all on the field, and I don’t regret a thing. I hope I inspire more people to get involved in our district work because our students need all the support our community can offer.” For both re-elected trustees such as Santos and newly elected trustees such as Wade, the possibility of a state takeover of the board continues to loom. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath in 2019 announced his intention to replace HISD’s nine
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The Leader • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • Page 7A
Art Valet: It’s never too early to plan ahead for art events Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Found within this week’s issue of The Leader is the wildly popular The Guide and as the name suggests, it is a guide to all things Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and North Houston. Nearly all things, this week in Art Valet I have an addendum to my contribution to The Guide, so clip this column or grab your calendar and jot down the following events. Finishing out 2021 from 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 31, at MATCH (Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston), 3400 Main St., is the 3rd Annual Kuumba: A Celebration Of Afro-Dance by Dance Afrikana. The dance presentation celebrates Kwanzaa through one of its seven principles called Kuumba. Kuumba is Kiswahili for creativity and its purpose is to leave the community “more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.”
When Dance Afrikana artistic director Lindsay Gary sent me this information she also mentioned she organizes a bus tour (Sawari Tours) of Houston’s Black art scene taking place in January. She got my attention. I love Houston history. It’s not as bland as one might think. The air-conditioned bus tour is led by expert tour guides through Houston’s rich art scene where guests meet some of the Black artists and organizations behind them. Perusing Gary’s tour website, I noticed they have themed tours scheduled through May. Find out more at https:// www.sawaritourshouston. com. A Celebration Of AfroContributed Photo Dance is fiscally sponsored by Joel Anderson’s “Miller Outdoor Theater 2” will be on view at Archway Gallery, 2305 Dunlavy St. Fresh Arts and was made possible in part through the Hous- oldest like it. In other words, public spaces, parks and gar- shrubs and dead grass -- perfect conditions allowing me to ton Art Alliance’s Support for they’ve got their act together! dens. “It was the first nice week- add my own leaves and flowOrganizations Grant. Tick- Their calendars of exhibits is ets are $35 and available at already posted to their web- end after the big freeze of ers into the scenes.” Public Spectacles’ opening https://matchouston.org and site and will kick off 2022 with 2021,” Anderson said about Heights’ artist Joel Anderson’s work inspired at Hermann reception is 5-8 p.m. Saturday, http://DanceAfrikana.com. Archway Gallery, 2305 Dun- annual solo exhibit titled, Pub- Park. “People were out en- Jan. 8 at Archway Gallery, joying some warmer weather with an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. lavy St., is an artist-owned and lic Spectacles. Anderson’s encaustic paint- and there were signs that the Complimentary valet parking operated gallery since 1976, making it one of the oldest in ings (beeswax mixed with pandemic was abating, but and light refreshments will Houston (I haven’t heard of damar resin) are also a visual this was against a backdrop be available. For more inforanother, yet) and the nation’s tour, in his case of Houston’s of bare trees, severely pruned mation and details about the
Spreading cheer
Contributed photo A Timbergrove resident constructed a “Joy To The World” message out of plywood, painting the letters and then hanging them on a fence bordering Grovewood Lane across from Sinclair Elementary. The message is meant to spread holiday cheer to fellow neighborhood residents.
IN MEMORIAM
Deborah Jane Bishop Hobart FEBRUARY 4, 1958 – NOVEMBER 22, 2021
D
eborah Jane Bishop Hobart, 63, passed away Monday, November 22, 2021. Angels carried her away after a long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. Debby was a lifelong resident of Candlelight Lane in Houston’s Oak Forest neighborhood, attending Garden Oaks and Oak Forest elementary schools, Frank Black Middle School and Waltrip High School, where she was a member of the color guard and graduated in 1976. She passed away at home, less than a mile away from her childhood home, with her husband of 42 years Kevin Hobart, daughter Jennifer Hobart, sister Donna Webb and brotherin-law Shelby Hobart at her side. She was a loving wife and mother, half of an inseparable sister pair and a doting aunt and grandmother. She was known as a generous and kind soul, always wanting to help others. Debby was a lifelong member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school there from 1976-95. She also volunteered as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and an assistant coach/team mom in the Oaks Dads’ Club, where she
was a member of the softball board. She worked multiple jobs over the years as well, including a nearly threedecade stint as a newspaper carrier for The Leader along with her sister Donna. Debby also worked for Houston ISD’s Stevens and Brock elementary schools, at Gethsemane Lutheran Daycare, at Palais Royal on West 43rd Street and as a secretary for Big Three Industries. Mrs. Hobart was preceded in death by her parents Betty Jane Koch Bishop and Johnnie Lee Bishop. She is survived by her husband and devoted caregiver Kevin Hobart, daughter Jennifer Hobart, grandson Vivaan Gummi, sister Donna Webb and husband Steve, nephews Carey Webb and Colin Webb, wife Mikayla, and grand-niece Kinsley. The family received friends on November 28 at Pat H. Foley & Company, 1200 W. 34th St. Funeral services were held November 29, with a reception and church service at Our Savior Lutheran, 5000 W. Tidwell Rd., with Rev. Dr. Laurence L. White officiating. Interment followed at Resthaven Cemetery, 13102 North Freeway.
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spring exhibits, visit https:// ArchwayGallery.com. A few more annual events definitely worth mentioning early: First up is the Bayou City Art Festival the weekend of March 25-27 at Memorial Park. Bayou City Art Festival got its start way back in the day when the Westheimer Street Festival was a thing, which means the festival is celebrating 50 years in 2022. The recent fall event, held on Allen Parkway, had a record breaking attendance. Learn more at http://bayoucityartfestival.com. The 2nd Annual Chalk Crawl Houston scavenger hunt and festival will be held Nov. 19 of next year alongside Houston’s original Art Crawl Houston. I’m giving you plenty of time to plan ahead this time, so don’t miss these two events! The websites are http://chalkcrawl.com and http://artcrawlhouston.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.
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The Leader • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • Page 8A
Man accused of murdering off-duty constable’s deputy By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man accused of shooting and killing an off-duty Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s deputy and injuring two others in October has been arrested and charged with murder, according to the Houston Police Department. HPD said 19-year-old Eddie Miller has been charged with capital murder of a police officer in connection to the death of off-duty deputy Kareem Atkins on Oct. 16. Miller has also been charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer and aggravated assault against a police officer in the
wounding of Precinct 4 deputies Juqaim Barthen and Darryl Garrett that same night, according to police. Miller was arrested Sunday in the 4400 block of Williams Way in Richmond, according to the department. “We knew where he was and at the right, appropriate time, we brought him into custody,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said during a Monday news conference according to TV station KHOU. HPD said Atkins, Garrett and Barthen were working an extra job at 45 Norte Sports Bar in the Northline area just after 2 a.m. Oct. 16 when they were alerted to a potential robbery
Miller
or disturbance in the parking lot. As Atkins and Garrett were attempting to detain someone
in connection with the possible robbery, police said a Hispanic male – later alleged to be Miller – allegedly opened fire on the deputies from behind. Barthen then heard the shots and rushed outside, according to an Oct. 16 Facebook post from Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman, when Barthen was also shot. The suspected shooter then fled the scene, according to HPD. Barthen, who shot in the foot, was later released from the hospital, according to KHOU, while Garrett – who was shot in the back – is still in intensive care recovering from his injuries.
Bicyclist killed in collision Man killed in local with truck in Northside auto-pedestrian crash By Landan Kuhlmann
landan@theleadernews.com
A bicyclist was killed last week after colliding with a truck in the Northside/Northline area, according to the Houston Police Department. The identity of the victim, a 65-year-old man according to HPD, has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin, HPD said. Police said the victim was going east at 7500 Northline Dr. just before 12:30 p.m. Dec. 10, when he attempted to cross the intersection at East
Little York. According to HPD, the driver of a red Freightliner truck was traveling south on Northline and attempted to turn onto East Little York at the same time. The truck then collided with the cyclist, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. HPD said the driver showed no signs of intoxication when questioned at the scene. An investigation into who had the right-of-way remains ongoing, according to police.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man died as the result of injuries suffered during an auto-pedestrian crash that occurred in the Northside/ Northline neighborhood Monday night, the Houston Police Department said. The man’s identity is pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner. He was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital later Monday night, according to HPD.
Police said the victim was attempting to cross the road at 5800 Airline Dr. just before 6 p.m. Monday. A car traveling northbound then braked to avoid hitting the victim, according to HPD, which caused a white Ford F-150 truck behind it to swerve into the turning lane and hit the man. The truck’s driver was questioned at the scene and released, police said. HPD said there have been no charges filed in the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police Reports • December 10 - 13 DEC. 10
Theft 1 PM 1300 BLOCK W 34TH
DEC. 11
Robbery 8 PM 2000 BLOCK COLUMBIA Theft 7 PM 500 BLOCK HARVARD
DEC. 12
Theft 4 AM 800 BLOCK FISHER
Assault 2 AM 1600 BLOCK ENID Other 12 AM 1900 BLOCK BONNER Theft 4 PM 500 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Theft 12 AM 5200 BLOCK LARKIN Assault 1 PM 1400 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Burglary 1 AM 200 BLOCK W 26TH
DEC. 13
Theft 8 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 10 PM 2400 BLOCK ARLINGTON Theft 2 PM 1500 BLOCK OXFORD Theft 12 AM 400 BLOCK W 30TH Theft 9 AM 2000 BLOCK AIRLINE Theft 1 PM 400 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS
Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.
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& The Leader • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • Page 1B
Local chefs, residents share culinary Christmas traditions By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are two of the most special days of the year for those who partake in the holidays out of religious observance or simply out of good cheer. My family prepares a dish for Christmas Eve that extends back through at least three generations of my father’s Croatian lineage which we call bakalar, a heavily-salted codfish that is nearly rock hard when you buy it, so it needs to soak for at least 24 hours. Eating salted cod fish to commemorate Christmas Eve is an ancient tradition across Europe that is known as baccala in Italy and bacalao in Spain. My family serves it alongside boiled potatoes, cottage cheese and burek, a phyllo dough pastry similar in texture to the Greek Spanakopita that is filled with meat and cheese. I wanted to know what local business owners and residents were planning for this holiday season, so I reached out to several of you to learn about what Christmas dishes might be appearing on your dinner tables this year. Ewa Sek, owner of Pierogi Queen, 8200 W. Washington Ave., hails from Kraskik, 140 miles southeast of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. In the Polish Catholic tradition, Christmas Eve is known as Wigilia, a day of fasting, followed by an evening of 12 traditional dishes in a nod to the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Before eating, Sek said her family prays and shares a customary thin wafer that is rectangular and usually embossed with iconic Christmas images such as the Nativity scene. What exactly is served depends on the region of Poland, Sek said. Around her table, you’d probably find jellied carp,
Contributed photo Ewa Sek, owner of Pierogi Queen, 8200 W. Washington Ave., commemorates Christmas Eve with a selection of 12 traditional dishes, including red barszcz, or beetroot soup, and uszka, or small pierogi.
herring served in cream or oil, a red barszcz or beetroot soup, pasta with poppy seeds or kutia, a wheat pudding made with poppy seeds, honey and nuts. Sek said her favorite dish is red barszcz with uszka, which are essentially small pierogi. At Mastrantos, 927 Studewood Ste. 100, Venezuelan pan de jamón, a savory and sweet roll, is customarily served during the holidays with sliced ham, thick bacon, raisins and green olives. Maison Pucha Bistro, 1001 Studewood Ste. A, is a modern French restaurant. Their Christmas Eve menu includes a beef wellington with wild mushrooms, garlic, parsley, a house-made brioche, seasonal vegetables and a red wine demi glace, or a French broth traditionally made with veal stock. For dessert, the buche de noel is a classic chocolate and vanilla Christmas log, with a raspberry coulis (a smooth, thick sauce) and other seasonal berries. At King’s BierHaus, 2044 E. T.C. Jester Blvd., you can chow down on specials from the restaurant’s winter menu like a shepherd’s pie schnitzel or Bavarian pudding. You can also enjoy drinks like Berlin eggnog and glühwein, a seasonal concoction from Germany and Austria that is made with hot red wine and a blend of brandy, cinnamon and cloves. You can get a free glass of glühwein on Wednesdays at King’s BierHaus. Heights neurologist and India native Dr. Reeta Achari said she has embraced making festive drinks and salads and entrees with local ingredients. “Coming from the other side of the planet, learning new food traditions and assimilating them was a challenge and delight,” Achari said. “We make cranberry cocktails and have a mustard-herb crusted (beef) rib roast. A Texas citrus-fennel salad is a must.”
Review: Chatter’s Cafe serves up array of sandwiches By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Chatter’s Cafe & Bistro is an interesting place in many ways. It has the distinction of being one of the few Greek restaurants in the Greater Heights, labeling itself a purveyor of American and also Mediterranean cuisine. It is closing in on two decades of operating in the area, having been open since 2004. It has a quirky layout and chill interior vibe. But nothing about Chatter’s seems to really move the needle beyond it being a totally reasonable place to hang out and have some good — but not great — food. The sandwiches from Chat-
ter’s Cafe seemed to be among its most popular options, so I went with a meat option and a meatless option. The pressed Cuban sandwich ($9) from Chatter’s Cafe comes with sliced ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard on a freshbaked baguette. The margherita sandwich ($8) is served with fresh mozzarella, slow-roasted tomatoes, basil and spinach with a pesto spread. For $2 more, you can add chicken to it. I felt the Cuban sandwich was the better of the two, if only because the mustard and sliced ham and roasted pork provided a superior combination of flavors, which the pesto seemed to
lack. The combination of fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes is usually a home run, but the margherita was a double at best. The side of pasta salad that I ordered with the margherita, however, should get some credit for being a better version of the pesto than what was presented with the sandwich. You also get the choice of french fries and fresh fruit with a sandwich, the latter of which I ordered with the Cuban sandwich. While my experience may have been an anomaly, it’s also possible that there are much more exciting options at Chatter’s Cafe, from the churrasco beef sandwich with a chimichurri sauce ($9.75) to a Thai shrimp salad ($14) and the
build-your-own pasta portion of the menu (choose a noodle, sauce, and vegetables and protein for $8), to pick out a few. Chatter’s Cafe & Bistro Address: 140 S. Heights Blvd. Dining Options: Dine-in Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Entree prices: $10-$17 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Vegetarian delight ($10) Star of the show: Pressed Cuban sandwich Rating: 3 out of 5 bites
Photo by Stefan Modrich The Pressed Cuban sandwich ($9) from Chatter’s Cafe comes with sliced ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard on a fresh-baked baguette.
Spice up your holiday season with a festive sangria Stefan Modrich
With the right beverage, you can transform the whole vibe of your holiday celebrations this winter. With Christmas fast approaching, I’ve been experimenting with cocktails and mixed drinks, and decided to try my hand at another classic: sangria. Yes, you read that correctly. The classic summer beverage is just as refreshing in December in Houston. The sources of my inspiration were the sparkling sangria de cava (with gin, vermouth, apple and citrus) from Jose Andres’ Mercado Little Spain in New York, and the sangria from La Pampa, an Argentinian steakhouse in Brownsville, Texas along the state’s border with Mexico. The most important thing to note is that sangria is an easy thing to prepare and approachable to drinkers with different palates. If you’re stressed about holiday preparations, this is an exceedingly simple concoction that merely requires a
Photo by Stefan Modrich This Italian sangria blend features lambrusco wine and blood orange soda with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
short overnight stay in your refrigerator to rest and let the various flavors and aromas of your fruits, herbs and spices set in. I was lucky to have a shipment of bartlett pears sent to me from the tree in my family’s backyard, which served as the fruity base for my first batch of sangria. I cut up two large pears into wedges about a quar-
ter of an inch thick, coated them in honey and tossed them on a baking sheet and into a 400-degree oven for about 45 minutes. You certainly don’t need to break the bank on a fancy bottle of wine for sangria. I found two bottles of wine from Trader Joe’s for $5 each for the two different sangria blends I made. The first was with the traditional Spanish
red wine, Garnacha, that is so often used as the base for sangria. Using my spherical ice molds, I froze two ice balls of sparkling cranberry juice while my pears were roasting. You’ll want them to be browned and soft, but not charred. As the pears cooled off, I started putting together the liquids into a pitcher. I first poured in my bottle of garnacha, then added a cup of lemon elderflower syrup. I stirred it together and then added a pinch of my preferred spices and stirred it vigorously for about 30 seconds. Let it sit for about 1520 minutes and then stick it in the fridge before you go to bed. I repeated this process a few nights later using a bottle of Italian lambrusco, and half of a 34-ounce bottle of Villa Italia blood orange soda. Instead of pears, I used frozen strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. You also don’t have to sweat it too much if you’re trying to follow an exact recipe and can’t find a specific ingredient in a pinch. I was unable to locate star anise, for example, but I went with a couple cinnamon sticks and a tablespoon of saffron
instead. When you’re ready to entertain your guests, garnish
with a few leaves of fresh mint and a citrus wedge of your choice and enjoy.
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Protect plants from freezing weather Amy Williams
G
arden uru
Hey Garden Guru, With the warm weather we have had, the cooler weather caught me by surprise! It has me wondering what the best options are to prepare for cold weather and freezing temperatures. In the past I have always used old bed sheets, but I don’t love the look, and I noticed some damage to the plants after a few days. Are there any better options? Chilly on Chantilly Dear Chilly, ‘Tis the season for plants to be covered in mismatched
old bedding! There was a year when even my yard looked like I had dumped the laundry on top of the garden. This aesthetic leaves us questioning if there is a more aesthetically pleasing option for protecting our plants. Fear not, Chilly on Chantilly! There are options for covering your garden which are better for garden health and more attractive than mismatched sheets. But before we get to that, there are some steps you should take to prepare before freezing temperatures arrive. First, let’s start with prepping the garden. It’s important to insulate your plants with 2-4 inches of mulch. There are various materials that work just fine as mulch. I prefer leaves from our pecan trees, but you can use hay, pine needles, bark or wood chips. The purpose of mulching is to increase
to temperature of the soil, which protects the roots. An added bonus is improved soil quality, protection of organisms below the soil and moisture retention. Mulching also protects trees, rose bushes, evergreens and fruit trees. Watering should be omitted during a hard freeze. Luckily, we rarely have freezing temperatures that last longer than a few days (this is not expected this year). So, watch the weather and water a day before a freeze hits. When you do so, water thoroughly. Wet soil stays warmer than dry soil and will help insulate the plants during a freeze. Any plants that you can move indoors should be moved when nighttime temperatures reach below 45 degrees for tropicals, and 40 degrees for all others. If you have a large collection of potted plants, a greenhouse is a great investment for this
Stock Photo Adding mulch to a garden helps to protect it from freezing weather.
time of year and it’s beneficial for starting seeds early for spring. Now onto the big question: What’s the best option for covering plants during a hard freeze? While those bed sheets will suffice, I highly recommend fabric plant covers made of non-
woven polypropylene, supported by a frame. These plant covers can easily be cut to size, are breathable, protect against frost, freeze, wind and pests, provide UV protection and are reusable. We use our trellises that are already in place to support the covers, and with the
mulch, this creates a mini greenhouse protecting the garden from freezing temperatures. Now before you cover your entire garden, keep in mind that some of your winter garden can withstand freezing temperatures. The brassica family, most greens and root vegetables can withstand temperatures above 28 degrees. I typically do not cover my fall/winter garden unless we have a hard freeze lasting multiple days like we saw last February. Warmer-weather vegetables should be your main focus in the garden during a freeze. This means crops like eggplants, squash, beans, peppers, tomatoes as well as the plants mentioned earlier that may not be potted. See you in the garden! Do you have questions for the Garden Guru? Email Amy at underhillurbanfarmco@gmail. com.
An evening of chamber music and neighborliness in Lindale Park By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
I came to Lindale Park on Monday expecting to hear some chamber music and visit with some residents and then call it a night. I left with a belly full of carnitas and tamales and an appreciation for a community that embraced a total stranger in its midst. The Lindale Park Civic Club hosted the Monarch Chamber Players, a local ensemble, at 613 Gale St. for an evening of music from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ballet. The event is part of the Monarch Chamber Players’ ongoing tour across the Houston area called “The Neighborhood Nutcracker.” Canary Cafe, a local coffee shop, sold pizza and other snacks. The musicians played alongside a projection of the 1993 film adaptation of the ballet starring Macaulay Culkin to a crowd of dozens of families, many of them with young children. Nadia Heffernan, the president of the Lindale Park Civic Club, is one of those parents, and she was in attendance with her son Zach, 10, on Monday. “We have a lot of multigenerational families in this
GOOFy GETTING
in the
Stefan Modrich
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theleadernews.com neighborhood, which is what makes it so special that people are up here,” Heffernan said. “They have raised kids here, their kids come back and have kids, and now new families are moving into the area as well. It’s just getting a whole new life and it’s a really great place to live.” During the show’s intermission, I met Teresa Coronado, a resident of Lindale Park for 28 years who gave me some additional history lessons about her beloved neighborhood. Another resident told me he was among the multigenerational families who have called this area home for several decades. Lindale Park once had a nine-hole golf course that was replaced after World War II to fulfill a demand for additional housing. At that time, it was predominantly white, but it
began to diversify and then become a Hispanic neighborhood. In recent years, the demographic picture has shifted again as younger families have moved into the neighborhood seeking a quiet, safe community for their children. “Our kids grew up (here), and now we’ve got to get ready for these little ones,” Coronado said. She said when her adult son returns home from New York for the holidays, he knows to expect a reception similar to the one that was graciously provided to me. Coronado and I were having a complimentary hot chocolate provided by Jackson’s Brew Coffee Co., and chatting with Vicky Colorado, the civic club’s vice president, as she handed out complimentary cookies from El Bolillo Bakery. Colorado said she is eager to meet newcomers to the neighborhood and help use the civic club to foster a greater sense of community. “It’s kind of brought us together,” Colorado said. “Ev-
Photo by Stefan Modrich The Lindale Park Civic Club hosted the Monarch Chamber Players Monday at 613 Gale Street for an evening of music from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ballet.
eryone’s been inside during (the COVID-19 pandemic). We were anxious to be outdoors to do something. Although we’re not 100 percent back to normal, I think most of us are fairly comfortable being outdoors now. And this is the kind of thing that we probably needed to make us feel somewhat normal. It’s also a great opportunity for our civic club to introduce ourselves to our new residents.” Moments later, I was in-
vited into the home of John and Norma Martinez a few houses down for one of the best Mexican-food meals I’ve ever eaten and listened to them as they regaled me and their other friends and neighbors with stories about Lindale Park’s rich history and Christmases of their childhood. “If you want to see what community looks like, here you go,” Coronado said. I will never forget the warmth and friendliness
shown by the people of Lindale Park, and I hope that no matter where you live, you’ll find ways to check in on your neighbors this holiday season. The Monarch Chamber Players are scheduled to play from 7-8 p.m. Thursday at 705 Wilken St. in the Heights. For more information, visit monarchchamber player s. com and lindalepark.org to learn more about the Lindale Park Civic Club.
Nibbles & Sips: Local Table opens this week By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Local Table, 2003 W. 34th St., was set to open Wednesday in Oak Forest, according to a news release from Brittney Meisner of Southhouse PR. Local Table is the latest project of the restaurant group Eat Local Concepts. The 6,400-square foot location will serve fresh, made-to-order seafood offerings like blue crab cakes, green chile shrimp and ceviche. Local Table is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. ThursdayFriday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 281-867-6257. Chick-fil-A opening Northway Center location Atlanta-based fast-food chain Chick-fil-A held a grand opening for a new location Wednesday at 11011 Northwest Fwy., according to a marquee sign outside the restaurant and a post on a Facebook page affiliated with the new franchise. The new location’s hours are 6 a.m.-10 p.m. MondaySaturday. Francisco Hernandez is the restaurant’s operator, according to Chick-fil-A’s website. Houston Cider Co. holding end-of-year sale Local cidery Houston Cider Co., 1125 W. Cavalcade St., is closing up shop for the year this weekend by having a “Drink Us Dry” sale, according to spokesperson Christina Martinez. All ciders on tap are $4 and all single cans are $2. Houston Cider Co. is open from noon-5
p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Sideout Volleybar relocating A Northside bar popular for its sand volleyball courts and outdoor deck seating is changing locations. Sideout Volleybar, 2623 Keene St., is moving its building less than a mile away to 3209 North Main St., according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Construction on the new deck and porch for the 2,170-square foot space is scheduled to take place Jan. 1-March 1 at an estimated cost of $75,000. For more information, call 832-582-6006. Brazos Bagel available at local markets Attendees of Heights Mercantile Farmers Market, 711 Heights Blvd., and Eleanora’s Market, 2120 Ella Blvd., can now buy locally made bagels on a recurring basis. Brazos Bagel, led by Zac Wilson, will attend Heights Mercantile on the second and fourth Sunday of each month and Eleanora’s Market on Saturdays. For more information, visit brazosbagel.com Rooster & Rice headed to Stomping Grounds A San Francisco-based Thai restaurant is making its Texas debut at the Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks next fall. Rooster & Rice, 1223 W. 34th St. Ste. C-400, serves its signature dish, khao mung gai, or poached organic chicken over rice with cucumber and cilantro and fresh chili pep-
Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.midnight Friday-Saturday. Crumbl serves sugar cookies, milk chocolate chip cookies and a rotating menu of flavors that changes weekly. For more information, call 832-696-0105. Charleys Philly Steaks to launch in Heights An Ohio-based chain with several Houston-area locations is making its first foray into the Heights. Charleys Philly Steaks, 111 Yale St. Ste. R, is expected to open soon. The restaurant serves Philly cheesesteaks, chicken wings and fries. For more information, call 614-923-4700. Contributed photo Local Table, 2003 W. 34th St., was set to open Wednesday in Oak Forest.
pers, ginger, garlic and soybean sauce and a side of chicken broth. It also offers popcorn chicken, chicken wings, and salads. For more information, call 415-265-9088. Hattie B’s coming to Heights A family-run hot chicken chain based in Nashville, Tennessee has plans to open in the Heights in 2023, according to a report from patch.com. Hattie B’s, 1808 N. Shepherd Drive, is a fast-casual restaurant founded by the father-son duo of Nick Bishop Sr. and Nick Bishop Jr. The planned building will be 3,800 square feet and feature a 1,200-square foot wrap-around patio. The venue will seat approximately 175 customers. For more information, call 615-678-4794.
Margaux Button debuts at Railway Heights A new dessert concept held its soft opening Nov. 26 at Railway Heights Market, 8200 W. Washington Ave. Margaux Button, a project of Choey Dang, serves sweet and savory Japanese crepes and launched a breakfast menu with avocado toast, egg sandwiches and more on Dec. 8. For more information, visit margauxbutton.com. Crumbl finds home in Heights A popular Utah-based bakery specializing in soft-baked cookies is launching Friday in the Heights. Crumbl, 174 Yale St. Ste. 700, is open from 8 a.m.-midnight Friday for its grand opening celebration. It will then be open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
After closing up shop at 1919 N. Shepherd Drive in October, Mellow Mushroom is planning a comeback in the Heights. The Georgia-based pizzeria is headed to the Lowell Street Annex at 726 W. 18th St. between North Shepherd Drive and Durham Drive, according to real estate marketplace loopnet.com. For more information, call 404-505-2801.
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Adjusting to working from home with a needy dog atic. Here are a few things to start doing now to ensure that you and your pet are ready to be on your best behavior when your new remote position begins. Dear Tabby, I’m starting a new job that is entirely remote in the new year. I’m worried that my needy dog will interfere with video calls and other work obligations while at home. What can I do to ensure that she doesn’t ruin my new work-from-home career? Working From Home in Woodland Heights Dear Working From Home, It’s estimated that 4.7 million people in the United States work from home, either full-time or occasionally. The pandemic opened up new avenues for people to work from home and America’s pets have relished in all of the extra attention. For many pets, having their humans at home has eased anxiety and helped to strengthen the human/animal bond, but for many, having pets in the same room while you’re trying to get important work done can be both distracting as well as problem-
Keep her on a schedule Pets thrive on a schedule, so if you don’t already have your dog on a good schedule, now is the time to implement one. Dogs need to expend energy, so plan to give her a good walk or exercise her before your work day begins. With any luck, she’ll be so tired after that she’ll snooze the morning away while you get some work done. Also, make sure she has regular feeding times. With regular feedings, you might be able to discover that regular potty habits follow, so once you’re at work, you’ll be able to take her out to do her business at regular intervals, instead of being at her beck and call to go out and potty. Training helps If your dog hasn’t been trained to learn some basic commands, now is the time to get on that. Commands that can keep your dog from barking during important calls are important, as is rewarding her good behavior with treats or extra playtime. Begin work-
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HEIGHTS SPORTS ACADEMY BASEBALL CAMP BY: RON SMITH (Former Oaks Batter Up Cages) • Dates: Week 1: December 20 - 23 • Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (check in is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) • Location: Lutheran North Baseball Field, 1130 W. 34th St., Houston, TX 77018 • Cost: $150 per week * $7 per day for lunch (Able to bring your own lunch)
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* Send all payments to Ron Smith, 4904 Milwee, Houston, TX 77092, or ZELLE payment to 281-639-4475* • Ages: 5 to 14 • Contact: RON SMITH Phone: 281-639-4475 * Email: Coachron1118@gmail.com • Camp Goals: For all campers to concentrate on basic fundamentals of hitting, throwing, fielding, running, etc. through organized drilled and games.
This camp will consist of instructions from high school coaches, college and high school players. Also, we will have snacks and drinks for sale daily. Water will be provided each day of the camp.
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Page 4B • Saturday, December 18, 2021 • The Leader
Local players earn TAPPS all-state honors By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The high school football season may be over for all of the area’s private high school teams, but the local players are continuing to rack up honors. More than a dozen players from the area’s private schools were recently earned TAPPS all-state honors. The St. Thomas Eagles had nine total players selected, while the St. Pius X Panthers had five of their own honorees. Leading the pack for the Eagles on the first team offense was a trio of skill players from its high-flying attack in quarterback Jake Wright, receiver Cameron Price, and running back Johann Cardenas. Wright finished the season ranking second in TAPPS in passing yards (3,750) and touchdowns (43) according to MaxPreps, while Price – his favorite target – had a TAPPS-leading 80 catches and 1,549 yards along with 17 touchdowns. Carde-
nas, who is just a sophomore, accumulated 1,546 scrimmage yards and 16 touchdowns. Leading tackler Zach Rocha (114 tackles, 14 TFL) also earned first-team defensive honors for St. Thomas, as did safety Caleb Davis. Linebacker Tegan Spencer (97 tackles) and defensive back Marquis Kiatta earned second-team honors. Linebacker Carson Hintz was the lone first-team selection for SPX after racking up 122 tackles this season en route to becoming the school’s all-time leading tackler. The mark ranked him sixth in TAPPS Division I, according to MaxPreps. Burke Battenfield was a force on both sides of the ball for the Panthers, receiving second-team offensive honors following a season in which he ran for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 105 yards receiving and another score. Mobley also earned secondteam offensive honors after
having a team-leading 566 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, while defensive lineman Aden Allen (46 tackles, 7 sacks) was a second-team defensive selection. Below is a complete list of honorees from area schools: St. Thomas First team Jake Wright (QB) Johann Cardenas (RB) Cameron Price (WR) Zach Rocha (LB) Caleb Davis (DB) Second team Wyatt Green (OL) Charlie Batterson (DL) Tegan Spencer (LB) Marquis Kiatta (DB) St. Pius X First team Carson Hintz (LB) Second team Jackson Mobley (WR) Burke Battenfield (RB) Michael Fite (OL) Aden Allen (DL)
Lady Lions start strong in district play By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The early-season road has been bumpier than last year’s for the Lutheran High North Lady Lions’ basketball team, but they proved why they are still the class of TAPPS 3A last week with a stellar showing. The top-ranked Lady Lions opened district play with a pair of decisive victories, beating Alpha Omega Academy 82-14 on Dec. 7 and defeating Legacy Christian Academy 75-22 on Dec. 10. The perfect week moved LHN to 9-5 on the season, snapping a two-game losing streak in the process. Dalanna Carter had 28 points and nine rebounds to go along with seven steals on Dec. 10 against Legacy Christian, while Aailyah Macias racked up a doubledouble with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Five Lady Lions grabbed at least seven rebounds, led by Lauren Vela’s 12 boards. It was the fifth double-digit performance of the season for Vela, who is averaging 10.6 rebounds per game. In other private school action, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers dropped a 7155 decision on Dec. 11 to Houston Christian, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ top-ranked team in TAPPS 6A, to fall to 10-2 on the season. Zachara Perkins paced the Lady Panthers with 38 points and 12
rebounds to go along with three blocked shots. On the public school side, the Heights Lady Bulldogs went 0-2 last week, but still had several standout performances. Freshman Jazmyne Gilbert paced Heights (1-5) with 15 points, 12 rebounds and three steals in a 52-45 loss to Pearland Dawson on Dec. 7, while Tatianna Brown had 10 points and nine rebounds. Booker T. Washington’s Lady Eagles dropped to 3-9 with a 39-38 loss to Sterling on Dec. 7, while the Scarborough Lady Spartans are 0-4 following a 64-0 loss to Worthing on Dec. 10. Waltrip dropped to 3-6 with a 84-31 loss to Sterling on Dec. 10. Boys Booker T. Washington went 4-1 at the Fort Bend ISD tournament Dec. 9-11 in Missouri City. Kenneth Lewis led all scorers with 28 points in the first game of a doubleheader for the Eagles (8-2) on Dec. 9 against Fort Bend Willowridge, while Chris McDermott had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Lewis then followed it up with 35 points in a later game Dec. 9, a 70-63 win over Fort Bend Dulles, and 29 points in an 80-63 win over Fort Bend Clements on Dec. 11. McDermott also had 17 points and 17 rebounds against Clements, while Andre Walker II had 16 points to go with nine as-
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Lutheran High North’s Dalanna Carter prepares to shoot a free throw during a game last season. Carter scored 28 points for the Lady Lions in a win over Legacy Christian last week.
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sists and seven rebounds. Scarborough dropped to 0-8 with a 99-12 loss to Mickey Leland College Prep on Dec. 10, while Waltrip is 2-6 following a 68-55 loss to Spring Woods on Dec. 7. The Heights Bulldogs dropped a 57-56 overtime decision to Kashmere on Dec. 7 before losing 54-32 against Bryan Dec. 10, dropping their season record to 3-7. On the private school side, Lutheran High North defeated Alpha Omega Academy 76-65 on Dec. 7 before beating Beaumont Legacy by a score of 79-68 on Dec. 10 to run its winning streak to seven games. The Lions (111), who are TABC’s seventhranked squad in TAPPS 3A, are back in action Saturday against the Village School. St. Pius X (4-4) was idle last week and will return to action Saturday against Galveston O’Connell Prep.
Photo from Twitter St. Thomas High School quarterback Jake Wright was one of 14 TAPPS all-state honorees from the area.
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