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Turner tests positive. Houston’s mayor announced Dec. 17 he tested positive for COVID-19.
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DOJ: Former HISD trustee accepted bribes By Adam Zuvanich
azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Former Houston ISD trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who served public schools in the Oak Forest area for the better part of a decade, pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges and admitted to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes as part of an alleged kickback scheme involving a school district vendor, according to a Dec. 16 news release by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The DOJ and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced that former HISD chief operating officer Brian Busby, 43, and 60-year-old Anthony Hutchison, who was contracted by HISD to perform construction and grounds maintenance services, were arrested Dec. 16 and have been indicted by a federal grand jury under charges of conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and witness tampering. Hutchison also has been
Skillern-Jones
charged with wire fraud, according to the DOJ. The indictment names Skillern-Jones, who served as an HISD trustee from 2012-19 and was board president in 2015 and 2018, and four former HISD employees as alleged co-conspirators. The DOJ said all five have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges as part of plea agreements they entered, with each facing up to five years in prison. Skillern-Jones, 39, who had served as a Houston
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Community College trustee since being elected to that role in 2019, did not respond to a text message seeking comment. She has resigned as an HCC trustee, according to multiple reports. “Today’s arrests and related charges are the result of a lengthy, multifaceted FBI Houston investigation,” Richard A. Collodi, the acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Houston office, said in the news release. See HISD P. 4A
Photo from Twitter Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo raised the county’s COVID-19 threat level earlier this week amid an increase in cases.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The 26 kindergartners in Kate Strempel’s class sat in a circle earlier this month and took turns grabbing the presents that were gathered underneath the small Christmas tree she set up. The longtime Travis Elementary teacher opened them one by one, letting her young students see each item while explaining what it was and how it would help them learn. There was a 3D puzzle with magnetic pieces, books, finger lights and a projector that displays star shapes on the ceiling. There also were mini lacrosse sticks they could use at recess, along with scented pens and stinky markers, including one that smelled like rotten eggs. The kids were captivated for a full hour, according to Strempel, who provided a preview of Christmas morning for her Heights-area students as well as an educational experience. “It was such a magical lesson,” she said. “It was so nice. It wasn’t ripping open boxes. It was cool. It was, like, really purposeful.” The presents unwrapped by Strempel, which she estimated to be worth about $600, were not delivered by Santa Claus but by employees for Amazon. They had been purchased and sent in early December by Snap Kitchen, an Austin-based company with seven Houston-area locations that makes healthy, readyto-eat meals. The local teacher and mealmaking business were connected through a popular fashion and lifestyle blog called ThingsIBoughtAndLiked.com, where there was a Nov. 8 post sharing holiday wish lists on Amazon.com that were created by teachers at Title I schools, which See Gifts P. 5A
Hidalgo raises threat level for COVID-19 By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Contributed photo Travis Elementary teacher Kate Strempel, above, shows off the school supplies and other gifts she received from Snap Kitchen as part of a holiday wish list initiative for teachers that was started by a popular fashion and lifestyle blogger. Strempel unveiled the items to her kindergarten students earlier this month.
Contributed photo Christen Smajstrla, right, a teacher at Heights High School, received two boxes of snacks and several other items for her students as part of a holiday wish list initiative for teachers on the website ThingsIBoughtAndLiked.com. The items were purchased by Hunter Fan Company in Tennessee.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo raised the county’s COVID-19 threat level on Monday amid an increase in cases across the Houston region, which she attributed to the spread of the new omicron variant. Hidalgo raised the threat level from Level 3, or yellow, to Level 2, or orange, which is the second-highest level and represents an “ongoing, uncontrolled level” of COVID spread. Unvaccinated residents are asked to minimize contact with others and avoid any medium-sized or large gatherings, according to a news release from Hidalgo’s office. She said public health officials are urging all Houston-area residents, especially those age 65 and older, to get vaccinated or receive COVID booster shots if they are eligible. “Unfortunately, the omicron variant has arrived in Harris County in full force,” Hidalgo said. “These trends are understandably frustrating - especially as we close out the year with friends and family. But we can still blunt the force of this latest wave if we take action. As we approach Christmas and New Years, consider giving yourself and your family the gift of health by getting your booster, getting tested before any gatherings of people outside of your household, and wearing a mask. It could very well save your life or that of a loved one.” The number of COVID-19 cases throughout the county has steadily inSee COVID P. 4A
Community rallies around local pastor’s family after brain cancer diagnosis In love with lights. We provide tips for viewing holiday light displays in the area.
Page 7A
Good news. Owners of two Heights properties were selected for Good Brick Awards.
Page 1B
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink............................................. 7A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
New Day Church pastor James Yandell might not have many closer friends than co-pastor John Wethington and his wife, Halcie. “My wife jokes that John and I will talk for four hours, or a meeting will go for five hours with just me and him talking – then we’ll go home and get on Instagram, and we’ll (direct message) each other all night,” Yandell said recently. “(It gets to the point) where my wife says, ‘Put your phone in your room. You’re done with John.’ ” Yandell shared that tidbit with a group of more than 200 people who gathered Dec. 16 at their Oak Forest-area church, to illustrate their strong bond and perhaps to provide a moment of levity during an otherwise solemn occassion. They were all there to offer support and pray for 30-year-old Halcie Wethington, a mother of three young children who on Dec. 7 was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, according to social media posts by the Wethingtons, who are leaning on family, friends and community members for support during what has become a harrowing Christmas season. An operation to surgically remove the tumor was scheduled for Tuesday morning but was postponed for at least 10 days after Halcie tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Monday night
Facebook post by John. “This is crazy. Not even sure what to say. Hard to convey the range of emotions we’re feeling,” he wrote. “We both feel fine, no symptoms. Keep us in your prayers and we’ll regroup when the new surgery date comes.” Emotions have run the gamut for the Wethingtons and those connected to their lives, such as Yandell, who became co-workers with John about five years ago after they both attended the church when it was called White Oak Baptist Church. Yandell is watching two of his best friends endure an unexpected batSee related tle with cancer and column by said he admires their Adam Zuvanich transparency with on such a personal matPage 3A ter. Yandell said trying times such as this also can be occasions during which a church family becomes more connected than ever as they come together in support of their spiritual brothers and sisters. “It’s easy for the church to be a place that you gather on Sunday – but it’s like, when bad things happen, the church gets even better. It’s like God designed it that way,” John said during the prayer event for Halcie and the family that was held at New Day Church, 3615 Mangum Rd. In addition to those who attended the See Wethington P. 5A
Contributed photo Halcie Wethington, left, the wife of New Day Church pastor John Wethington, was recently diagnosed with brain cancer and will soon undergo surgery to remove the tumor. The 30-year-old Halcie is a mother of three young children.
THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 2A
METRO bus crashes near Heights guitar shop By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A Heights-area guitar repair shop was in a close call last week when a METRO bus hit a vending machine in front of the shop after a collision with a van running a red light, the transit authority said. The accident happened near Heights Guitar Tech at 742 W. 20th St. in the
Heights on the afternoon of Dec. 16. METRO spokesperson Tracy Jackson said the driver as well as two passengers on the bus were taken to an area hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. According to Jackson, a preliminary investigation determined that the driver of a white van ran a red light at the intersection of Durham and 20th Street around 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and hit
the bus, causing it to swerve onto the side of the road and the store’s property. A vending machine in front of the store was hit, but Jackson said the shop itself was not hit in the accident. “Never a dull moment here at HGT - thank goodness no one was hurt,” the shop posted Dec. 16 on Facebook. Jackson said the incident remains under investigation.
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Photo by Mark Madeley A METRO bus went off the road and stopped near a music instrument repair shop in the Heights after colliding with a van near the intersection of Durham Drive and West 20th Street last week.
Man accused of burglary, evading arrest in Heights area By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man has been accused of breaking into a Heightsarea business and allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise late last week, according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office. The office said 31-yearold Christopher Shephard has been charged with burglary of a business and evading arrest in connection
Shephard
Car burglarized outside Heights Theater By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A person believed to have broken into a car that was parked outside the Heights Theater last week remains at large, the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office said. Precinct 1 said officers responded to the theater at 339 W. 19th St. just after 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 after a resident reported that a window on his car had been smashed in. According to the office, the man noticed a small black bag containing his cell phone, magazines and a CD missing from the front-right seat after
the theater manager notified him of the incident. Surveillance video showed one person wearing all-black clothing with a black mask breaking the car window, Precinct 1 said, before stealing the bag and fleeing the scene in a gray, newer-model Ford Taurus. The stolen bag was later found at a different location, police said, but neither the suspect nor their vehicle has been found. Precinct 1 said the ongoing investigation has been referred to the Houston Police Department.
with the incident. Shephard was out of jail on bond on burglary and criminal mischief charges at the time of his arrest, according to Harris County court records. According to Precinct 1, deputies responded to a burglary in progress call at a business in the 300 block of North Loop West just before 3 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, to find the window of the business smashed in. The suspect – later alleged to be Shephard – was later
seen walking away from the business with merchandise in hand, according to the constable’s office. After deputies allegedly saw him with the stolen merchandise, Precinct 1 said Shephard allegedly dropped the stolen goods and attempted to flee the scene on foot before being arrested. The office said police allegedly found eight iPads worth nearly $3,000 in the bag that was dropped.
Pedestrian dies in Langwoodarea collision with truck By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A pedestrian died in a collision with a truck in the Langwood area last week, according to the Houston Police Department. HPD said the identity of the victim, a 55-year-old man, was pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner. Police said the victim was crossing the street at 6500 W. 43rd St. just west of U.S. 290 around 7:10 p.m. Dec. 17,
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when he was struck by a red Toyota Tundra pickup truck. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to HPD. The truck’s driver was questioned at the scene and released after showing no signs of intoxication, police said. A preliminary investigation determined that the victim did not yield the right of way, according to police, who said no criminal charges have been filed pending further investigation.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 3A
Wethington family giving us gift of perspective
I
’ve never met John Wethington or attended a service at New Day Church, where he is the lead pastor. We had our first interaction just a few days ago, exchanging some messages on Facebook. But he and his family are on my mind and in my heart this Christmas, just as much as the people I’ve known and loved all my life. And they should be at the forefront of your minds and hearts, too. Wethington, his wife, Halcie, and their three young children – Molly, 5; Ellie, 3; and Peter, 1 – need all the prayers, support and good vibes they can get this holiday season and likely for much longer. Halcie, 30, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer on Dec. 7 and will soon undergo surgery to remove the tumor and then treatment in the form of radiation and chemotherapy, according to Facebook posts by her and her husband. She was supposed to have the operation on Tuesday, actually, but it was postponed because she tested positive for COVID-19. When it rains it floods, right? The whole situation sucks, of
Adam
Zuvanich Editor
course. And as the father of two young children, including a son whose namesake lost a battle with brain cancer, I can’t help but feel gutted over the plight of these well-liked and well-respected members of the community. At the same time, I can’t help but be in awe of the grace the Wethingtons have exhibited at the onset of this ordeal. I’m also inspired by the way their Oak Forest-area church and the community at large has rallied around this young couple. As you read about on today’s front page, in a report by Landan Kuhlmann that was equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming, the Wethingtons have been open about their experience this month by sharing the details of
Halcie’s condition as well as how they’re dealing with it in a series of social media posts. And they’ve been unfailingly positive, at least outwardly, continuing to remind others that their faith in God remains intact. Halcie said in a recent Facebook post that she feels at peace with the situation and is not afraid, which is more than remarkable under the circumstances. They’ve also asked church members and those in the community at large for prayers, support and words of encouragement. That’s been delivered in the form of a GoFundMe account that had raised nearly $30,000 as of press time Wednesday, and also during a prayer event for Halcie that was held last week at New Day Church, 3615 Mangum Rd. Executive pastor James Yandell, pastors at other Houston-area churches and Halcie’s father took turns praying for her and the family, reading scripture from the Bible and professing their faith, with gospel musical performances mixed in. John and Halcie participated, too, singing “Jesus At The Center” together near the end of a service attended by approximately
The moaned star state Oh, what a year it was. What great leadership. How many brave souls stood up against tyranny and made Texans proud. I’m talking about 1836, of course. But 2021 will go down as, well, gone down. Mobs crashing into the U.S. Capitol, including several Texans. A freeze that made millions of us miserable. A stampede at a music festival that left 10 dead and a few hundred ambulancechasing lawyers set for life. Then there is the pandemic. So let’s look back in our rearview mirror at the roadkill before Texas Monthly steals our Bum Steers. First, we must consider what our Texans did in Congress. During a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee, Jennifer Eberlein, associate deputy chief of the U.S. Forest Service, fielded queries about a handful of bills, mostly about special permitting changes in national parks. That is, until U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert asked, “Is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM [the Bureau of Land Management] can do to change the course of the moon’s orbit, or the Earth’s orbit around the sun?” Gohmert, a Tyler Republican, also gave an hourlong speech on the House floor in which he called the vast majority of those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 “peaceful Americans” whose only crime was supporting former President Donald Trump. In court documents released by the Department of Justice, Texans led the nation in the number of arrests in the melee with 44 cases, but only as of May 26. One “peaceful American” was Jenna Ryan, a Texas real estate agent, who vowed she would not do any jail time because she entered the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack. Ryan tweeted, “Definitely not going to jail. Sorry I have blonde hair white skin a great job a great future and I’m not going to jail” and “I did nothing wrong.” She was sentenced to 60 days in jail. Across the Capitol Rotunda, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz made Texas the laughingstock of America, again, flying off to Cancun during Ice Storm Uri, explaining that he had promised his daughters a vacation. When his trip became public, Cruz flew back the next day. Speaking of Ice Storm Uri, there is no point in once more ticking off the misery, inconvenience and deaths that very preventable disaster inflicted on us. But the aftermath of buck-passing, me-no- Alamo dodging that came from those responsible still boggles the mind. Who voted for these weasels? They are still in office, so stock up on generators. Moving on, a crowd of conspiracy lovers gathered in downtown Dallas at Dealey Plaza. The group believed that John F. Kennedy Jr., (the son of JFK), who died in 1999 in a plane crash, would make an appearance at the site where JFK was assassinated. There, Junior would announce that
Lynn Ashby Columnist
Trump had actually won the election. Only hours after Trump, still falsely claiming the election was stolen, pressed Gov. Greg Abbott for a ballot review of four large Texas counties, Abbott and GOP legislative leaders used their emergency powers to move $4 million to fund election audits -- although the secretary of state’s office declared the 2020 elections to be “smooth and secure.” This, despite the fact that three-quarters of Texans believe the election results to be somewhat or very accurate. Trump won Texas by 5.5 percentage points, the closest margin of victory by a GOP presidential nominee in decades. The 4-million tax dollars were taken out of the chronically underfunded state prison budget. Fox Watching the Henhouse: Gov. Abbott appointed John Scott, a Fort Worth attorney, as Texas’ new secretary of state. In that position, Scott oversees election administration in Texas. He briefly represented Trump in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office distributed a 59-page report which also included more than 300 pages of purported exculpatory evidence. It concluded that Paxton did not accept bribes nor misuse his office to benefit a campaign donor. The document was unsigned. The report came despite an ongoing FBI investigation into the matter. Eight of Paxton’s (now-former) top aides had made bribery and abuse of office accusations against him last fall. Don’t Mess With Virginia: Georgia pol Stacey Abrams had a message for Democrats in Virginia prior to their gubernatorial election: “If you want to know what happens in nine days, if we don’t get out and vote, look at what’s happening in Texas.” Many attendees groaned at the idea. Now for something completely different: Good news. The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season generated 21 named storms, four major hurricanes and a new addition to the list of costliest U.S. hurricanes. Only one storm directly affected the Houston area: Hurricane Nicholas made landfall Sept. 14 near the Matagorda Peninsula. It brought wind gusts and power outages but it, for the most part, left Houston unscathed. There was good news, too, on our sports scene. The Houston Astros made it to the World Series. They lost. The UH Cougars had a splendid football season, going 11-2. But the Houston Texans remained an embarrassment, as of this
writing they are 2 and 11, but may earn the Number 1 pick in the college draft. Maybe they’ll get a quarterback that doesn’t face 22 charges of sexual assault and harassment. The Houston Rockets, with a 17-55 record, ended last season with the worst record in the NBA. They started out this season 1-and-18. Now we know the truth: “WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TRAVIS SCOTT CONCERT?” one Facebook post begins. “They’re practicing!! Once they put graphene oxide in you, all they have to do is TUNE THE FREQUENCY!!” The post goes on to say that a material called graphene oxide can “destroy consciousness” and control people through magnetic frequencies, which includes music. “They will turn people into zombies, literally … As others have said, this is a test run on the vaxxed,” it concludes. Ashby’s year is at ashby2@comcast.net
200 people and watched online by nearly 2,000 more. It was a powerful display of positivity, faith and good will, and it brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. I’ll also admit that, while I celebrate the major Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter, I’ve never been much of a churchgoer and am not one to pray in the traditional sense. I’ve been exposed to several different religions and believe most of them are inherently good, and I also believe in a higher power, karma and treating people with dignity, respect and fairness. I believe miracles can happen, too, especially to good people with good intentions. And I’m hoping a miracle happens to a family that has done a lot of good for a lot of people in the community we both serve. So I’m asking all of you, our faithful, community-minded readers of The Leader, to keep the Wethingtons in your prayers – no matter what God you pray to and even if you don’t pray to a God at all. Think about them and their young kids as you open presents
on Christmas morning, feast on food later in the day, drive around at night looking at lights and attend church services with your family, friends and neighbors. And please take the time and make the effort to cherish the people you love and appreciate – your spouses, your children, your parents, your siblings, your friends – whether you see them in person or on a Zoom call or talk to them over the phone. None of us are guaranteed another Christmas or even another day. So let’s make the most of today and be grateful for the people and the things we have, no matter how much or how little that might be. Let’s also have faith in something – in anything – and put others and their interests before ourselves and our own. Let’s give more than we take. That’s the Christmas spirit, at least in my estimation. It’s also what the Wethingtons are teaching us, even during the most trying time in their lives. Email azuvanich@theleadernews.com
THE READER. Reader looks forward to Lynn Ashby’s column
Dear Editor: Just wanted to compliment you on your consistently good reports and stories. I especially look forward to reading Lynn Ashby’s columns in each edition. His wisdom and wit applications to politics and everyday issues are on par and often exceed Samuel Clement’s, you know Mr. Mark Twain. His column in your December 18th edition is award winning. Collin Campbell
Turnout disappointing in HISD trustee runoffs
Dear Editor: Regarding “Turnout disappointing in HISD trustee runoffs” (Dec. 18): I’m gratified to be part of the slim majority that elected the candidate I chose -- even though, given my district’s dominant party lunacy, that choice resulted from digesting certain groups’ and individuals’ recommendations, then voting for the other candidate. You know, the least worse choice. Low turnout does give my vote more power, which I don’t mind. As for general apathy, observe that Houston’s local daily paper, on the same day this week’s Leader came out, reported federal indictments against a former HISD chief operating officer and a vendor, noting that the same case yielded plea agreements with several former HISD officials including one who’d been Board of Education president. Recurring corruption (and we’re seeing it too in County and City offices), along with the same old problems never getting solved, engenders “What’s the use?” thinking in our electorate. Too many professional politicians (some of them leveraging their Identity Politics Victim Group status, often as some sort of “First!”
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com this or that) jawbone themselves into office, relish the spotlight, enjoy the trappings, wheel and deal -- but don’t fix or improve a darned thing. (Glittering example: A Houston mayor awhile back whose last name rhymed with “Outta Town.”) P.S. Leader Newspaper leadership is extremely wise in refraining from endorsing candidates, and only presenting information about them. J. Reynolds
Misleading medical opinions not good for anyone
Dear Editor: Under your ownership, “The Leader” has had good success at becoming a source of local news and community enrichment. I am greatly saddened to see that “The Reader” column was used last week, Dec. 11, 2021, to print a letter on Omnicron Variant that was filled with medical misinformation and political bias. Covid 19 is not a Republican or a Democrat or any kind of political movement. It is a deadly virus that has the ability to grow and change and is still causing the deaths of millions of people. Our hospitals and medical staff are even now struggling to keep people alive and with their families. The largest number of people now in the hospital and losing their lives to Covid 19 are the unvaccinated. How many families will have empty chairs at the table this Christmas? How many families will have tombstones instead of their loved ones with them? Misinformation that leads people into harm is not just words or opinion when it can have life or death consequences. The Leader is a respected source of information in our community. Misleading medical opinions, even if unintentional, are not good for any of us. AR
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Leg shank 5. Small amount 8. Roman emperor 10. Having ears 12. Innocent young woman 14. No wrinkles 16. Small coin (French) 17. 19 hundred hours 19. A way to inform 21. A seal or signet 22. Tobacco smoke residue 23. Tai language branch 25. Set afire 26. Partridge FamilyÕs actress Susan 27. Canadian flyers 29. Faculties of perception 32. A light two-wheel carriage 34. Was ___ (looked at) 35. Appear with 37. Natives of Thailand 39. Hill (Celtic) 40. Runs PCs 42. Visualizes 44. Mistake
45. Riding horses 47. Point of purchase 49. Armless Aphrodite 53. Having negative qualities 54. Protective visual folds 55. Crystallized calcium carbonate mineral 57. Beach grains 58. One who presents a bond for payment 59. Car mechanics group 60. & & &
dOwn
1. Small paddle boats 2. Usual 3. Economic consumption 4. Without (French) 5. Powder mineral 6. Fleshy seed covering 7. Indicates 8. Stone lined grave 9. Feels remorse 10. Chemical structure 11. Decomposition 13. Morally base 14. Joins
15. Danish krone 18. Breastplate 20. Lesson reader in church 24. 1921 Turkish/ Armenian Treaty 26. In a way, refutes 28. Zoftig 30. Fish, hair or inter 31. Mains 33. Fathers 35. Transparent eye membranes 36. Stray 38. Seafowl 39. 3 pip cards 41. Invests in little enterprises 43. Placards 44. 1st woman 45. Finds a sum 46. Thick piece of something 48. River in Hesse, Germany 50. Inner forearm bone 51. 1 of 2 contesting groups 52. Olive tree genus 56. Metal container
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • The Leader
Houston mayor tests positive for COVID By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
There have been more than 294,000 cases of COVID-19 among Houston residents since the local onset of the pandemic in March 2020, according to data compiled by Harris County. The city’s mayor is now part of that group. Sylvester Turner, an Acres Homes resident in his second and final term as Houston mayor, tested positive for the coronavirus on Dec. 17, according to a statement released by his office. It is the first time the 67-year-old
Turner has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson for his office. “I was not feeling well overnight and thought I was suffering from allergies or a sinus infection, so I decided to get tested before starting my daily schedule,” Turner said. “Before and after getting my test results, I canceled all events for today and the weekend. My symptoms are mild, and I will spend the next several days isolating myself at home and getting some rest.” Data from Harris County Public Health and the South-
east Texas Regional Advisory Council, which tracks hospital statistics in the Houston region, shows there have been upticks in COVID cases and related hospitalizations in recent days. The Houston Health Department announced Dec. 10 that it had confirmed the city’s first two cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19, which first was discovered in November in South Africa. The local health department said it has yet to be determined by the scientific community whether the new variant is more transmissible,
causes more serious illness or evades vaccine protection compared to other variants. A total of 294,161 COVID cases had been confirmed in Houston residents as of Tuesday, according to information at readyharris. org, with 7,805 active cases, 3,914 deaths caused by COVID-19 and 282,442 patients having recovered. In the six zip codes served by The Leader - 77007, 77008, 77009, 77018, 77091 and 77092 - there have been a total of 25,074 cases of COVID-19 and 300 related deaths, with 760 active cases as of Tuesday.
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tested positive for COVID-19.
Mayor, engineering firm partner on Acres Homes bike giveaway By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Hundreds of Northwest Houston families have a little less to think about buying this holiday season as the result of a local giveaway last week. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and HDR Engineering hosted their fifth annual bike giveaway last Thursday at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center. During the event, more than 200 Northwest Houston kids – as chosen by the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center staff – received free bikes and helmets as well as H-E-B gift cards, according to a news release from the city. “This giveaway is a blessing for those parents who may be on a limited income, so I want to personally thank HDR and H-E-B for making sure that no family and no kid is left behind during this holiday season,” Turner said. The city said the annual giveaway began following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when hard-hit families had problems buying presents, and has since provided more than 300 bikes for area children. “There’s nothing more important at this time of year than giving thanks for everything we’re blessed to have, and part of that is giving back to those in our communities who may need some support,” HDR Area Manager David Weston said. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, center, attended a bicycle giveaway event for local children last week in Acres Homes.
HISD, from P. 1A ”Houston taxpayers and the thousands of HISD students, along with their teachers and staff, are the potential victims of this alleged multimillion-dollar public corruption scheme. The FBI will continue to work to hold accountable public officials who fail the citizens of their community by accepting bribes, and those who pay bribes.” The indictment alleges that, from 2011 until 2020, Hutchison was contracted to provide grounds maintenance, landscaping and irrigation services at multiple HISD properties - including schools in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas - and systematically overbilled HISD for grassmowing jobs and playground mulch. Hutchison allegedly paid a portion of his boosted profits to Busby in the form of cash and free home remodeling, according to the indictment. The indictment also alleges that Hutchison paid cash bribes to Skillern-Jones and the four former HISD employees in exchange for obtaining purchase orders for construction, repair, landscaping and maintenance jobs with HISD. The four former employees who entered
COVID, from P. 1A plea agreements, according to the DOJ, are Derrick Sanders, who was HISD’s officer of construction services; Alfred Hoskins, who was a general manager overseeing facilities, maintenance and operations; and area maintenance managers Gerron Hall and Luis Tovar. The DOJ said SkillernJones, as part of her plea agreement, admitted to accepting bribe payments from Hutchison in exchange for placing and voting for an item on the HISD board agenda in 2017 for an expenditure of funds for school landscaping and construction projects that were awarded to Hutchison. Busby allegedly facilitated the bribery relationship between Hutchison and Skillern-Jones and personally delivered bribe payments to Skillern-Jones, according to the indictment, which cites an approximately $12,000 payment made to SkillernJones in 2017. Named in the indictment are multiple HISD schools where projects were performed as part of the alleged kickback scheme, including Browning and Durham elementary schools, Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet and Waltrip and Booker T. Wash-
ington high schools. The FBI raided HISD headquarters, 4400 W. 18th St., in early 2020 while investigating the alleged kickback scheme. The DOJ said Dec. 16 that more than $186,000 in cash was allegedly discovered by authorities during the execution of search warrants last year at the homes of Busby and Hutchison. “HISD fully cooperated with the federal investigation into actions that allegedly took place from 2011 to 2020 which led to the charges that were made public today,” HISD said in a statement. “As indicated in previous statements by HISD, from the time that HISD became aware of the federal investigation in February 2020, HISD provided information as requested by law enforcement with respect to the investigation. As that criminal investigation progressed, HISD also implemented additional internal procedures to safeguard against the type of conduct alleged in the charges announced today. “No person charged in connection with the indictments announced today is currently employed by HISD,” the school district added.
Do it for the children By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
I
Photo from Twitter
love cheering for the Houston Rockets. As a boy, I remember watching Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Vernon Maxwell, and the others win the championship. I clearly remember the next year when we swept Orlando in the Finals. My little brother was running around the living room with a broom as we excitedly cheered for our team. Now as a dad, it is fun to pass on my love for sports to my children. I love playing basketball with my boys and girl in the driveway at home and going to my oldest son’s basketball games to watch him play. As parents we find great joy in passing down things that we love to our children. In God’s Word we read of this same process or cycle taking place. In the book of Judges chapter two there is a summary of how the truth was passed down to the next generation. The reality is that most people are not very good at passing down their faith to their children. Sometimes we are better at passing down our love for a sports team, or our love for our alma mater down
better than we are at passing down our faith to our children. As parents, we often make choices based on what will be best for our children. “Do it for the children” we say. How can you pass down your faith to your children? Some people think that this is accomplished by just taking your children to church. The reality is that passing down your faith takes much more than just taking your children to church. Just like a father passes down his love for a sports team down to his child by taking them to games, watching them on TV, buying fan gear by his team, and spending time talking about his team, so to we can pass on our faith to our children by talking about it with our children, living our faith out in front of our children, taking our children to serve alongside of us, and allowing them to experience faith in real life with us. You can’t pass along a faith that isn’t real. Because my faith in God is real it causes me to live a certain way. I am doing my best to pass that faith along to my children because I want them to have the same joy and experience that I have had in their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pass it on! Do it for the children!
creased throughout the month of December. There were 587 new cases reported on Dec. 1, according to COVID-related data at readyharris.org, and there were about 1,100 new cases reported Dec. 17. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, 67, announced Dec. 17 that he had tested postive for COVID for the first time
since the local onset of the pandemic in March 2020. As of Tuesday, there were 760 active COVID cases in the six zip codes served by The Leader - 77007, 77008, 77009, 77018, 77091 and 77092. The most active cases in the area were in the 77007 zip code, which includes the Washington Avenue corridor, with 192.
A total of 294,161 Houston residents have been infected with COVID, according to data at readyharris.org, with 7,805 active cases. The disease has caused at least 3,914 deaths among city residents, with 282,442 patients having recovered.
2400 Augusta Dr. Suite 212 Houston, TX 77057
CHURCH D I R E CTO RY
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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 Morning Worship ............... 10:45am In-person services are • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information about services and events. temporarily restricted. Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children and Adults............................ 6:15pm
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First Church
Weekly Sunday Services • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. • Morning:10:30 a.m. • Evening: 4:15 p.m.
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Sunday School ........9:15 am Sunday Worship......10:30am Wednesday Bible Study 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t Candlelight Church of Christ & Prayer Service 6:00pm Join us for Services Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m.
Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters
www.gethsemanelutheran.org
Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40
FC Heights Family and Staff 201 E. 9th St. • 713-861-3102 www.fbcheights.org
in English or Spanish
Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday Bible Classes 9am Wednesday Bible Study 7pm
Ministries for our All Ages Please website at: Sund visit 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 ◆ 713-686-8241 ◆ s t s u m c . o r g 2003 W. 43rd St. Wed Houston, TX 77092 Sunday Services: In-person @ 11 AM (Live stream during service) Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups
Say a Prayer Today
Gethsemane Lutheran Church Pastor Jerry McNamara 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227
We invite you to worship with us! Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. Online services can be reached through the website below at 9:00 am. www.gethsemanelutheran.org
OV
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The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 5A
Gifts from P. 1A receive federal funding because at least 40 percent of their students come from low-income families. The anonymous blogger, who has about 460,000 followers on Instagram, asked her followers as well as companies to support the teachers and their students by purchasing the items on their wish lists. The initiative took off near the end of November, when the blogger invited teachers from all over the country to share their wish lists in the comments section – and local, statewide and national brands such as Snap Kitchen, H-E-B, Pizza Hut, Bed Bath & Beyond and many others jumped in to clear the wish lists and offer other forms of assistance. As of Tuesday, the post had more than 14,100 comments. The blogger did not respond to multiple messages on Instagram or a message sent through her website – seeking information about where she is based, how many teachers were helped and how much money was spent to help them – but the volume of wish lists posted and corresponding replies suggest
that hundreds if not thousands of teachers from all over the U.S. have had their holiday wishes granted through the initiative. The Leader identified two local Houston ISD teachers who benefited – Strempel and Heights High School teacher Christen Smajstrla, whose wish list was cleared by Hunter Fan Company in Memphis, Tennessee. “Thank you everyone for such a wonderful movement. I could never possibly express what this has meant to me,” the blogger wrote in an Instagram post earlier this month. “Thank you to the individuals and small businesses who quietly and privately brought the holiday spirit to teachers and students they’ve never met.” Strempel and Smajstrla, who teaches World Geography and AP U.S. History to freshmen and juniors, both said they follow the blogger on Instagram, caught wind of the teacher wish lists initiative and decided to share theirs. But because so many teachers from so many places asked for help, both
said they were pleasantly surprised to have their lists cleared. Smajstrla said she received 12 items valued at about $300, including snacks and bottled water, rulers, glue, scissors, a world map, a blanket, tissues and feminine hygiene products. She said she typically spends her own money on many of those items, with the snacks in especially high demand because some of her students don’t eat as much as they’d like at home. “A lot of my students are not from the Heights,” Smajstrla said. “They’re from neighboring communities, and those communities aren’t as affluent as they are in the Heights.” Travis Elementary is in Woodland Heights and not a Title I school. But a spokesperson for Snap Kitchen, which helped a total of nine teachers through the wish list initiative, said the company considered all those educators to be deserving of assistance. It also offered Strempel and the other teachers it helped six free meals per week for one month.
clearing their Amazon wish lists or sending them gift cards so they could purchase their own items. Shelton said Smajstrla was selected by the company at random, adding, “We’re so happy that we could help cover her list.” Smajstrla, a second-year teacher, is glad as well. She said she is saving some of the items she received, all of which are for her students, for the spring semester. She said she and her students also plan to write a thank-you note to the fan company in Tennessee. Smajstrla expressed gratitude to the blogger as well for facilitating the connection. “I do so much for my kids, like all teachers do,” Smajstrla said. “We give ourselves over to them and never ask for anything in return. And we get paid a minimal amount. “To have people on her post just go above and beyond was amazing. I told literally everybody, ‘Look what happened.’ It definitely brightened this year of COVID and sadness. She did a wonderful job with it.”
Like Smajstrla, Strempel said she often spends her own money on personal and educational items for her students, with HISD providing the basics such as books, pencils and paper. Strempel also said she plans to pay forward the generosity she received from Snap Kitchen by donating some of her existing supplies to schools in lower socioeconomic areas, including Blackshear and Browning elementary schools. “Teaching is one of, if not the most, important professions, yet so many of our wonderful teachers are undervalued, underpaid and overworked,” Snap Kitchen CEO Tony Smith said. “… With the added challenges and stresses teachers have had to face throughout the pandemic over the last two school years, this is a time they should especially be supported.” Erin Shelton, the senior brand marketing manager for Hunter Fan Company, echoed that sentiment. She said she follows the blogger on Instagram, noticed the initiative was picking up steam and decided to help seven teachers by either
Wethingtons from P. 1A service in person, a video of the service streamed on the church’s Facebook page had registered nearly 2,000 views as of Tuesday afternoon. “We’ve all had a rough year and two years. We’re just full of gratitude for the people who have taken the time to support them,” Yandell said. “I think it really speaks to who John and Halcie are. A time like this really demonstrates how they’ve poured out into the community.” Coming together Other area pastors such as John La Chappelle from Launch Houston, 2800 Antoine Dr., and Russell Cravens of Houston’s Neartown Church participated in the service, read scripture and prayed over Halcie along
with hundreds of congregation members. And the outpouring of support, from the service and beyond, has profoundly touched the Wethingtons. John said in a Facebook message to The Leader that people have been sending them gifts and prayer from around the world since Halcie’s diagnosis. “It’s truly been incredible how our community and specifically our church have rallied around Halcie during this time. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “… It’s been a bright light in this tough time.” During the service, Halcie’s father mentioned that friends from their family’s time in the Middle East when she was a young girl have been texting him. One woman commenting on the
church’s live video of the service said she was praying from Austin. New Day preschool director Amy Horne, Halcie’s sister-in-law, has also set up a GoFundMe account called “Healing for Halcie” at gofundme.com/f/healing-forhalcie to help the couple cover their medical expenses. More than $29,000 had been donated as of Tuesday. “We thought we couldn’t cry any more, and then we came here and we’ve been crying the whole time,” John said during the church service. “… We knew we were loved, we never doubted that – and yet the support has been literally out of this world.” Yandell called the outpouring of support “incredible,” noting the sanctuary was fuller than he had ever
seen it, and the video is the church’s most-viewed. “(John and Halcie) have poured into so many of us through the years,” Yandell said Dec. 16. “So now it’s our time to pour back into them.” Battle ahead That support is likely something the Wethingtons will lean on in the days and months to come in their battle against brain cancer, buoyed by their faith and support from their New Day family and beyond. “I think this season is a test of our faith. We are all people of faith, and deeply rooted in the belief that God works all things for good,” Yandell said. “This is a season for our faith to be tested, and to hang onto that truth we believe in. It’s also a sea-
son for prayer. ... It’s something that kind of confronts our faith, but it’s something that makes it stronger.” From the initial diagnosis to hospital visits and Halcie’s brain surgery being postponed, the last two weeks have been full of hills and valleys for the Wethingtons and their family, which includes 5-year-old daughter Molly, 3-year-old daughter Ellie and 1-year-old son Peter. And they are not blind to the reality of the challenges they face. After surgery to remove the tumor, the expectation is for Halcie to undergo rounds of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. “It’s been a really dynamic season where it’s been a fight, it’s been a battle, a lot of hard nights, a lot of tears cried, and a lot of questions
asked,” John said during the Dec. 16 service. “… This is hard in a lot of ways. It’s scary in a lot of ways.” But through the dark times, the Wethingtons have drawn comfort from the community standing behind them. And through the power of that community as well as their own spiritual walks, John said they have found a hope and peace to draw on for strength. “The reason we wanted to do this (service) is because we want to take this with us into the battle that we’re facing, in faith that God is going to totally heal Halcie,” he said. “We feel like God is doing something in this. We don’t know exactly what he’s doing, but we can tell he’s doing something.”
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A petition has been filed in this court requesting that the court adjudge Jocilyn M. Sonderland a child/children in need of care as defined in the Kansas Code for Care of Children K.S.A. 38-2202(d), as amended. You are required to appear before this court at 08:30 AM on Friday, February 04, 2022, in the District Court, Juvenile Department, 1900 East Morris, City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, 67211; or prior to said time file your written response to said pleading with the Clerk of this court. Failure to either appear or respond may result in the court entering judgment granting the requested action. Each parent, guardian or other legal custodian of the child has the right to hire and be represented by an attorney. The court will appoint an attorney for a parent who is financially unable to hire one.
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The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 7A
Choose your own winter wonderland adventure By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
While the Houston area will not be blanketed with snow this Christmas, there’s no shortage of holiday spirit from local residents. You probably don’t have to leave your own block to see a dazzling display of Christmas lights and various themed decorations. So whether you missed out on Lights in the Heights this year or you’re looking for more impressively decorated homes and lawns to impress your families, there are plenty of options worth driving or walking by, if you’re staying in town for the holidays. I did some exploring of my own, and I also got some tips from Emily Guyre, executive director of the Houston Heights Association (HHA), to pass along to those of you who can’t get enough red, white and green wattage. Lights in the Heights, which officially was held Dec. 11, is a popular Woodland Heights tradition for a reason. So it would be worth stopping by if you want to take a closer look during a less busy time. Guyre said Byrne Street in Woodland Heights is one of her favorite places to see Christmas lights. The Norhill Esplanade between Bayland Avenue and Euclid Street features a display of nearly life-sized dinosaurs like the triceratops and stegosaurus, among others. The 1200 block of Omar
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Stefan Modrich
GREATER HEIGHTS See related video at
theleadernews.com Street in the Norhill Historic District is also worth seeing, she said. A Star Wars display with a Death Star shooting a laser and various related logos and insignias out in front of a home at Bayland Avenue and Beauchamp Street caught my attention, as did another house with large snowflakes hung from a tree at Bayland and Florence Street. A bit further north, Guyre suggested checking out the 1200 block of Cortlandt Street, the 1200 and 1400 blocks of Harvard Street and 1600 block of Arlington Street in the Heights. Near 16th Street and Oxford Street, I saw a home with green stars projected onto the house as well as green lighting wrapped around the trim and siding, two well-lit outdoor Christmas trees, two inflatable cars with reindeer riding in the back and luminarias, or paper lanterns, which lined the fence. The luminarias are a Christmas tradition in many places, so it was pleasant to see them all over town
when I was out and about for this report. I also enjoyed visiting the area near Candlelight Park and Shepherd Park Plaza, the latter of which had pointed archways staked into the grass on both sides of the streets and lit up with yellow bulbs. The neighborhoods’ arches are another annual tradition, and some were adorned with small decorative touches like Christmas trees or bows at the tip of the archway. One of the most impressive displays in the Shepherd Park neighborhood had several red, orange, yellow, green and blue bulbs covered by clear cups and large trees dotted with traditional string lighting. Hung from the trees were large fivepointed stars, like the one that dotted another tree trunk that was cleverly disguised as a Christmas tree after being draped with another colorful series of lights. I hope you’re able to get out and enjoy the warm weather this Christmas, and continue to take advantage of the many options in the area we have for familyfriendly fun and entertainment. I wish all of you, our loyal Leader readers, a happy and healthy holiday season.
Photo by Stefan Modrich This eye-catching light display in Shepherd Park Plaza is one of many well-decorated homes in the area.
Photo by Stefan Modrich These lit, pointed archways are staked into the grass on both sides of the street on several blocks in the Shepherd Park Plaza neighborhood.
City accepting artist applications for new terminal at Bush airport By Landan Kuhlmann landan@thleadernews.com
Local artists could soon have a chance to see their work on display in a new terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The City of Houston is accepting applications from Houston-area artists for commissioned work on six new boarding gates that are being built in the D-West Pier of the new Mickey Leland International Terminal at the airport, according to a news release from the city.
Artists and artist teams from the region must submit their qualifications and artwork samples by Feb. 8 in order to be considered. The application and detailed request for qualifications can be found online at houstonar tsalliance.submitta ble. com/submit. “Each of the six gates will provide a unique opportunity for a Houston-based artist to share a piece of Houston’s story,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “For some travelers, the commissioned artwork will be their first im-
pression of Houston and will emphasize our city’s commitment to public art.” Made possible by a $540,000 allocation as part of the city’s Civic Art Program, funds for the program will come directly from Houston Airports’ Enterprise Fund – a non-taxpayer, self-sustaining fund, according to the city. The city said applications are open to residents of Greater Houston, which includes Harris County as well as Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston,
Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. The work being commissioned is for large-scale, two-dimensional art pieces that will flank six wide-body aircraft gates. “The artwork will be one of the first impressions of its diverse culture, its landscape and ideas that Houston has to offer the traveling public,” Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said. “Public art will play a critical role in enhancing the passenger experience in the new International Terminal.”
Review: Big Bite could change shawarma conversation measure up to the level of its shawarma. But based on this small sample size, I’d suggest it’s worth a shot.
Stefan Modrich
Lots of places serve good food. But not many have prompted me to reconsider my relationship with a dish or have the potential to change the conversation around one of the most popular imports to the Houston cuisine scene in recent years. Chicken shawarma has been a mainstream part of the Heights-area food scene for years, but Big Bite on Washington Avenue and its Palestinian shawarma might be well-positioned to capture a unique slice of the market share while also serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes that appeal to a wider audience. Much like when I lived in Europe and didn’t realize that “kebob” and “kebab” have entirely different meanings, I was almost embarrassed that I didn’t know Palestine had its own shawarma technique. But there is indeed a difference between what you’ll have at Big Bite and what you might get at Halal Guys, which is delicious nonetheless. That’s why I was asked at the window if I wanted to sample a plain shaving of shawarma, straight off of the
Big Bite Address: 5335 Washington Ave. Dining Options: Take-out Hours: 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday Entree prices: $7.50-$11.99 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Salad ($5.99) Star of the show: Chicken shawarma over rice Rating: 4 out of 5 bites
Photo by Stefan Modrich The chicken shawarma over rice ($11.99) at Big Bite is served with salad and onions.
spit, to taste how it was seasoned without a Greek yogurt or tahini-based sauce drizzled over it. I could clearly taste the fragrant sumac spice blend, which uses dried and ground berries of the wild sumac flower. It has a flavor profile that evokes cloves and cranberries. The onions served with the shawarma are also marinated in sumac. And the tahini sauce with garlic provided a creamy, savory con-
trast. When a food truck makes a commitment to quality over quantity, it might be a sign that they’re scouting the market to determine if a brick-and-mortar location is feasible. You can get falafel, gyros and chicken served either over salad or rice or in a wrap. It will be interesting to learn if Big Bite’s Palestinian take on these classics as well as its grape leaves and hummus
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The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 8A
Community rallies to support businesses after break-ins By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
A string of break-ins at local businesses has made a stressful holiday season for a few local merchants and restaurateurs even more of a challenge. But in keeping with the Christmas spirit, several residents have stepped up with donations or pledges to patronize places affected by burglaries that occurred last weekend. Holly Waters, co-owner of Gabby’s BBQ, 3101 N. Shepherd Dr., said her business was broken into for the second time in eight months at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. One day before, on Dec. 18, Roast & Brew Cafe, 931 W. 19th St., and Central City Co-Op, 420 E. 20th St. Ste. A, were hit by break-ins that their owners said occurred within an hour of each other, according to an interview with the Roast & Brew owner and a Facebook post made by the co-op. It is unclear whether or not these incidents are connected. Waters was eager for her staff to be rewarded for their hard work, but said it was crushing to learn that the burglar had apparently cut through the safe contain-
ing approximately $1,700 in cash tips and $600 to repair the drive-through window, which general manager Erick Mercado said was smashed by the thief to gain entry. Mercado said security footage showed the burglar had crawled on the floor to and from the office inside the restaurant to avoid setting off motion sensors before he cut into the safe. “It was just a blow to our morale,” Waters said. “And we were overwhelmed by, you know, just the community support. When I posted the GoFundMe on the Garden Oaks Facebook page (on Monday morning), in less than 24 hours, we’ve gotten almost half of what we lost.” As of Tuesday, Waters’ GoFundMe, at gofundme. com/f/gabbys-bbq-breakin, had raised $1,385 of its $2,500 goal. In addition, she said her catering van’s catalytic converter — an engine exhaust part that contains precious metals — was stolen three times in three months, and cost $4,000 to replace. So she decided to sell the van and rent transportation to catering events. Thomas Soula, owner of Roast & Brew, a coffee shop serving Greek food, arrived
shortly after 6 a.m. Dec. 18 to find the glass front door to his shop had been shattered. He estimated the damages to his shop came out to about $1,800, including tablets, laptops and a cash register that were stolen. “We work so hard and it saddens us that we were targeted, but we remain resilient,” Soula said. “We would like to thank our customers and the community for the continued support.” The glass door was repaired the same day, he said. Soula said a grandmother came to Roast & Brew with her grandchildren, who delivered hand-written notes expressing their condolences about the break-in. “That was very nice,” Soula said. “We’re very happy with the community around here. People seem to really care and support small businesses like we do.” Soula said he is a customer of the co-op as well and went to check in with the building’s staff when he heard from a police officer responding to his call that a similar incident had occurred there that same morning. According to video footage obtained by ABC13, three people were spotted
Photo from Facebook Holly Waters, co-owner of Gabby’s BBQ, 3101 N. Shepherd Drive, said her business was broken into for the second time in eight months at about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 19.
leaving the co-op and driving away in a black SUV after the alarm went off at 7:10 a.m. Dec. 18. Only about $60 in cash was stolen, but the break-in caused extensive damage to large sections of the store’s shelved inventory, according to a Facebook post by the co-op. The co-op, which moved to the Heights last year after a decade in Montrose, operates like a com-
munity pantry that sells local produce and handmade goods. The co-op’s GoFundMe effort, gofundme.com/f/ repair-and-restock-the-coop, had exceeded its goal of $8,000, raising $8,830 as of Tuesday. Several community members banded together on Sunday to help clean up and restock the co-op. “We are eternally grateful
for everything you all have done for us,” the co-op team wrote in a Facebook post. “The continuous support is inspiring. It is going to be a slow rebuild but we are hopeful.” Waters, whose family-run business has operated in the area for 43 years, said burglaries hit small business owners especially hard during economic downturns like the one facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with labor shortages and supply chain issues and inflation. “I feel like these past two years, we’ve just learned so much,” Waters said. “Just in terms of being owners, whether it’s like the crazy freeze that shut us down for so long, and the pandemic and all these break-ins, we’re in a way traumatized, for sure. “But I will say, we’re also resilient. And we are keeping our heads up. Part of the beauty of being in the restaurant industry is that we get to bring other people joy through food. And so that’s something that we just have to keep focusing on and not let situations like this and people like this get us down.”
Nibbles & Sips: Kinokawa opens this week By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
A Japanese restaurant serving omakase sushi is set to debut Thursday at 119 White Oak Drive. Reservations are available at resy.com/cities/ hou/5Kinokawa for Thursday and Sunday. Kinokowa is the latest concept from chef Billy Kin, who is slated to launch Tesseract next year. Tesseract will be an izakaya, or a casual bar serving Japanese drinks and snacks. Both of Kin’s restaurants are replacing Golden Bagel, which
closed in September. For more information, call 832-285-2996. Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins opens on Ella A new Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins location opened Friday at 3011 Ella Blvd. in the space that formerly housed Carl’s Jr. The Massachusetts-based doughnut and coffee chain now has three locations in the Greater Heights. The new location is open from 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. For more information, call 214-552-8420.
Pepperoni’s Pizza coming to Oak Forest A former Baskin-Robbins location will soon be home to a Houston-based pizza chain. Pepperoni’s Pizza, 1354 W. 43rd St. Ste. D, is scheduled to complete its renovations to the 1,289 square foot space by Dec. 31, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). When completed, this Pepperoni’s will be a takeout-only location. For more information, call 281-240-1020.
Permanently closed A bar and a restaurant along the Washington Avenue corridor both shuttered their doors recently. Cabo, a Baja Californiastyle restaurant serving tacos and burritos and other Mexican food, closed earlier this month after a three-year run at 4520 Washington Ave. Fat Boots Trailer Park Bar, 4218 Washington Ave., had operated since May. Calls from The Leader to both businesses Tuesday were not immediately returned.
@steviewu from Instagram Kinokowa, the latest concept from chef Billy Kin pictured during a Dec. 12 preview tasting, is set to open Thursday at 119 White Oak Drive.
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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 1B
Heights property owners picked for Good Brick Awards By Adam Zuvanich
ers how extensive the project was,” Bush said. “It can’t just be, ‘Paint the place.’” Bush said the Dikemans’ neighborhood homes at 1217 and 1219 Tulane St. were a “no-brainer” for the award, because they were added to the National Register of Historic Places last December. The property also provides four different rental units, because garage apartments were added behind each one-bedroom house as part of the restoration. “Part of it was the multi-family aspect of it,” Bush said. “It’s housing that’s affordable for the neighborhood. That was important.” Sentimentality played a role in the Good Brick Award for the Victorian mansion on Harvard Street, Bush said, because it previously was owned by Preservation Houston co-founder Bart Truxillo, who lived in the house for 30 years before his death in 2017. The Greers, who have caretakers staying in the home while they are overseas, have made a series of modifications to the house without modernizing it. Among other changes, they installed an antique sink and faucet in the kitchen, created a second bathroom for their two kids by moving a tub and sink from other parts of the home and installed a three-story laundry chute. The restorations have been completed despite the home flooding during Tropical Storm Imelda in September 2019, according to Jan. “It’s one of the few big, original houses left,” Bush said. “It’s pretty much iconic in the Heights.”
azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Jan Rynda Greer said she and her husband, Tyson, are spending nearly a year away from their well-known and historic home in the Heights. Before they left Houston for Stavanger, Norway, earlier this month, they received a going-away gift of sorts. The Greers were selected to receive a Good Brick Award from nonprofit Preservation Houston in recognition of their work to restore the turreted Victorian mansion at 1802 Harvard St., which was constructed in the late 1800s and also is known as the Mansfield House. They bought the four-story, 3,879-square foot home in March 2019, moved in six months later and have made renovations both inside the house and on the surrounding property while maintaining its historic character. “Very, very thrilled to receive a Good Brick Award,” Jan said in a text message from Norway. “It’s ‘the one’ I really wanted because I have so much respect for Preservation Houston.” The owners of 16 historic properties across the city were recognized this year for being good stewards of their homes, places of worship or buildings, ranging from industrial structures to those at Rice University and Hermann Park. The Mansfield House was one of two Heights properties to be honored, with the other being a pair of neighboring, 99-yearold bungalows on Tulane Street that were restored by Neal and Karen Dikeman and their real estate invest-
Photos from preservationhouston.org Above are two historic bungalows on Tulane Street in the Heights that were restored and turned into rental properties. At right is the historic home at 1802 Harvard St., also known at the Mansfield House. The owners of both properties were recently selected for Good Brick Awards by nonprofit Preservation Houston.
ment company, Old Growth Ventures. The Dikemans and Old Growth Ventures also were awarded a Good Brick for rehabilitating a shotgun house in Freedmen’s Town that was built in 1913. Nancy J. Simien received one for restoring a Victorianstyle cottage in Near Northside that was constructed in 1907. David Bush, the executive direc-
tor of Preservation Houston, said the 2022 Good Brick Awards were announced about a month ago and are scheduled to be presented at an awards ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 4 at River Oaks Country Club. The winners were selected by a panel or seven jurists, which were a group of former Good Brick winners, preservation professionals and neighborhood leaders who were picked by
Preservation Houston. “For all of (the winners), there’s a common thread and the jury consid-
Norhill residents reach compromise with developer, city planners By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Lawrence Febo and 10 of his Norhill neighbors asked the Houston Planning Commission to deny a variance request made by a developer that is proposing to construct 13 homes east of the dead end on Fugate Street. The city’s building code would normally require the street to be extended and connected with De George Street on the other side of the property, or to have Fugate terminate with a cul-de-sac. The planning commission ended up granting the variance at its Dec. 16 meeting, but Febo and his neighbors still got what they wanted. In a move that a longtime staffer at the city’s Planning & Development Department called “unusual,” it heeded a point made by a concerned resident and made a signifi-
cant change to the plan during the course of the meeting. The department had initially recommended the creation of a shared driveway from Fugate as a condition for granting the variance, but in consultation with the developer and city’s legal department, pivoted and ended up suggesting a shared driveway with access from De George on the east side of the .2-acre tract of land. That’s what the nearby residents said they wanted – because of concerns about increased traffic and diminished pedestrian safety near the intersection of Fugate and Watson Street on the west side of the proposed development – and the planning commission voted to grant their wish. “It was a very surprising experience,” said Febo, the president of the Norhill Neighborhood Association. “And I mean that in a good way.” A representative of the de-
veloper, The Interfield Group, also expressed agreement with the revised plan during the planning commission meeting, because it’s what the nearby residents wanted and also because it would lend itself to a functional, aesthetically pleasing project that would allow the developer to maximize its space. But that representative, Mary Villarreal, also said the developer reserves the right to sell the southernmost portion of the land that is adjacent to the Fugate dead end and build a smaller number of homes to the north along De George. The Interfaith Group wouldn’t need to use the variance under that scenario and could construct driveways with access from De George for each home, according to Dipti Mathur, the division manager for development serSee Norhill P. 4B
Contributed photo A developer is planning to construct 13 new homes of the west side of De George Street, which is at left.
Planning commission grants variance Space up for lease at for development in Timbergrove Braun properties By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The Houston Planning Commission last week voted unanimously to grant a setback variance to a Houston developer that has proposed constructing a cluster of 104 townhomes on a 4.5-acre tract of land near Sinclair Elementary, despite opposition expressed by Timbergrove residents and Super Neighborhood Council 14. Members of the planning commission, along with the city’s Planning & Development Department staff that recommended granting the variance with conditions for the developer aimed at improving pedestrian safety near the property along Ella Boulevard, said the negotiated arrangement is safer for the neighborhood than if the variance request had been denied and the developer adhered strictly to the city’s building code. Chapter 42 of the Texas Local Government Code, which addresses building guidelines, requires structures on a major thoroughfare such as Ella to have at least 25 feet between the building and front property lines, with a minimum 6-footwide sidewalk, 4-foot-wide landscape buffer between the property and the street and a maximum 8-foot-tall fence around the property that can be opaque. As conditions for granting the request for a 15foot setback from the devel-
oper, Lovett Homes, the city is requiring an 8-foot sidewalk, a maximum 6-foot-fence that can be seen through and a landscape buffer that must include trees that are at least 3 inches in caliper. “It is a safer pedestrian realm than what would have been provided,” said Dipti Mathur, the division manager of development services for the planning department. Mathur said the developer could still opt to build with a 25-foot setback, which would take the negotiated conditions out of play. At the request of Super Neighborhood Council 14 president Leigh Killgore, another condition was added to the variance requires the developer to conduct a traffic impact analysis during the permitting stage with Houston Public Works, with the possibility of implementing a traffic-calming measure at the intersection of Ella and Grovewood Lane, which is at the northeast corner of the proposed townhome development and a popular crossing point for students at Sinclair at the opposite corner of the intersection. Killgore also asked that the developer be required to adhere to the most recent floodmitigation guidelines in Chapter 19 of the local government code. But because the developer submitted its building plans to the city in 2018, prior to those stricter guidelines be-
ing implemented, representatives of the public works and city legal departments said during the planning commission meeting that it had yet to be determined whether the proposed development could be grandfathered under the previous flood-mitigation standards. As a result, Killgore said the Super Neighborhood Council did not support the granting of the variance. “If they will build responsibly, we can get behind them and support them,” Killgore said of the developer. Representatives of Lovett Homes did not respond to multiple voicemails seeking comment. Some Timbergrove residents who spoke before the planning commission criticized the city’s framework for planning developments as well as its building code, which they said allows for dynamics that do not prioritize pedestrian safety at a time when city leaders also are promoting multimodal transportation and walkability. Houston is a city without zoning laws, and the state of Texas favors the rights of property owners. Planning department director Margaret Wallace Brown said during the planning commission meeting that she understood those concerns and encouraged residents to reach out to their city council representatives and ask them to support changes to Chapter
42 that would “make Houston more walkable and to make our rules slightly less oriented toward one side or the other.” Planning commission member Rodney Heisch, while voting to approve the variance, said he also sympathized with Timbergrove residents as a former resident of Grovewood Lane who has a daughter and grandchildren still living in the neighborhood. “If we deny this variance, it does not prevent the developer from continuing with this project,” Heisch said before the vote. “So I think the intent here was to just work out some things that hopefully make the situation better and alleviate some of the concerns with pedestrian traffic and so forth. It’s not a perfect situation.”
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Braun Enterprises has multiple projects going on in the area, and there are spaces available for lease at several of them. Namely at a redevelopment going on a 900 W. 34th St., there is more than 55,000 square feet of restaurant, retail or creative office space available on more than 4.5 acres in the heart of Garden Oaks, according to Braun Enterprises’ website. The website says the project is a “transformative” new redevelopment, which has more than 20,000 square feet of space available in the
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Page 2B • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • The Leader
GOOF tops November home sale figures in area By Landan Kuhlmann
home prices drop year-overyear to accompany the rising sales, while Acres Homes/ Greater Inwood (77091) joined the 77018 zip code as the only two in the area to see a pricing drop, according to HAR data. 77018 The area including Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and Shepherd Park Plaza saw the second-most home sales among local zip codes, with 87 sales last month. On a rate front, the 35.9 percent year-overyear spike was the area’s most dramatic increase. The 880 homes sold here so far this year is 24.1 percent ahead of last year’s mark of 709 through the same time period. On a pricing front, this was one of two local zip codes to see the sales accompanied by dropping prices. The average home price of $496,396 was a 3.6 percent year-over-year dip, while median price dropped 9 percent down to $389,000. 77091
landan@theleadernews.com
Much of the area continued to see year-over-year sales increases, like it has for most of the year, according to the most recent data from the Houston Association of Realtors. But a couple local zip codes stood out from the rest on different fronts. The Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area (77018) saw the largest percentage increase with a 35.9 percent year-overyear spike, while the Greater Heights and Lazybrook/Timbergrove (77008) had the most total homes come off the market with 98 sales. It wasn’t all roses, however, as Washington Heights/Rice Military (77007) and the area that includes Forrest Lake, the western part of Oak Forest and Langwood (77092) saw their year-overyear sales drop. Garden Oaks and the eastern part of Oak Forest saw
On the northern edge of the area, the zip code that includes much of Greater Inwood and Acres Homes saw the second-fewest homes sold last month. However, the 17 homes coming off the market still represented a 21.4 percent increase over the 14 sold last November. Year-to-date, there have been 247 home sales in this area – 29.3 percent more than last year’s mark through the same period. Pricing-wise, this was the second local zip code to have both median and average home prices dip year-overyear. However, it wasn’t nearly as significant as its counterpart to the south – both average ($284,499) and median ($312,000) price dropped by 0.5 percent compared to November 2020. 77092 Just to the west, the zip code encompassing the rest of Central Northwest as well as part of Greater Inwood and
Langwood saw a tough month with regards to home sales. The 14 homes sold represented a 46.2 percent year-overyear decrease compared to November 2020. The zip code remains 22.3 percent ahead of last year’s pace, however, with 291 home sales through the end of the month. The average buyer doled out $357,411 for a home here last month, a 7.3 percent increase compared to November 2020, while median price ended the month having seen a 1.3 percent rise up to $300,625. 77008 In the Greater Heights and L a z y b ro o k / T i m b e r g rov e neighborhoods, it was also a fairly robust month. There were 98 homes that came off the market here in November, the most among local neighborhoods and a 15.3 percent year-over-year increase compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date, the 1,208
total homes sold is nearly 300 more than any other local neighborhood, and 22.4 percent better than its 2020 sales pace. On the pricing front, average home price rose 4.2 percent in this zip code up to $610,522, while median home price ended the month 3.9 percent higher than last November’s mark at $518,500. 77009 On the eastern side of the Heights, the zip code including Woodland Heights and Northside/Northline neighborhoods was one of two in the area to see November home sales dip on a year-over-year basis. Sales were down 7.1 percent from the same month last year, with 52 homes old compared to 56 last November. The zip code remains 19.4 percent ahead of its 2020 pace, however, having seen 622 houses sold through the end of the month. Pricing-wise, the average
home buyer paid $503,635 last month, a 6.6 percent increase over last year’s mark. Median home price was $449,750, a 7.1 percent year-over-year increase from last November. 77007 On the southernmost edge of the area, the Washington Heights/Rice Military-area neighborhoods saw significant year-over-year growth. The 83 homes sold here last month was the third-highest total among local zip codes, and the 29.7 year-over-year increase was the second-highest in the area. Through the year’s penultimate month, its 983 home sales are the second-most locally, representing a 34.5 percent increase from last year’s pace. Average home buyers paid 9.8 percent more for a house in November 2021 ($649,645), while median price in this area went up 2.1 percent to $485,000.
REALTOR SHOWCASE
Sara Black Team provides clients hands-on service By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Sara Black views herself as a natural salesperson, and working with clients to find the best deal and advocate for them is a passion. As such, her transition into real estate more than a decade ago was a natural shift for the Houston native, who runs the Sara Black Team as part of Nan and Companies along with Clayton Sims serving much of the inner loop neighborhoods and the rest of the Houston region. “I was just tired of being inside a building all day and not seeing the outside, and wanted a little more flexibility in my schedule,” said Black, who worked in retail cosmetics prior to getting her real estate license in 2007. “…I’d always been intrigued by real estate, so I gave it a shot.” For the last 14 years, Black has primarily worked with sellers, but said that 2021 has seen the split run a bit more even between buyers and sellers. Her primary target neighborhoods include the Heights, Garden Oaks, Montrose, and more in the Greater Houston region. From guiding sellers on how to strategically price their properties to negotiating for buyers, Black does it all. She has accumulated a number of honors during more than a decade in the business, such as previously being included in Berkshire Hathaway’s President’s Circle, and is currently a Top Producer at Nan & Co Properties. “We have a very hands-on, concierge-style approach to our clients. I’m one of those people where, if there’s a will there’s a way,” she said. “If I don’t have the resources for you (right away), then I’ll find them and make it happen.” As a Houston native and current Heights resident, Black said truly knowing the neighborhoods she’s selling is a key component to her team’s hands-on service along with its desire to serve
Sara Black every need that may arise. Whether it’s recommending a restaurant in the Heights and a park in Garden Oaks, or knowing what buyers might need to do when purchasing homes in the Heights’ historic districts, there’s no shortage to her knowledge of the area.
“I think it definitely helps when you live in an area and you know what’s going on (in those neighborhoods),” she said. “…It’s a true benefit to know the area you’re selling in.” Over the course of the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, Black’s target neighborhoods have seen a bit of mixed bag. In 2020, she said, her team’s sales were hurt due to the uncertainty over things such as the job market and more at the start of the pandemic. In 2021, however, she said her team had one of its best years – and they weren’t alone, as the market rebounded both in her neighborhoods and across the Greater Houston region. “This year, people realized that this is what we’re dealing with, and the market went out of control…It’s calmed down recently, but for a while there it was pretty crazy. It was stemming off 2020 being so slow and consumers not actively buying and selling in 2020… I think they were waiting because they wanted to have that stability in work and the market,” she said. “It was just a long time coming. The year 2020 didn’t have (that stability), so I feel like we had double the buyers/sellers in 2021.” At the end of the day, Black said she simply has an innate desire to help people, and be that constant resource or advocate that they can turn to during the process of buying or selling a home – one which can be a bit overwhelming without the right guide. “When I’m able to help somebody, I feel like I’ve saved one more person from being mishandled. I take it seriously, and I have a lot of pride in it,” she said. “I tell my team it’s not just about making a big paycheck, it’s helping someone and making sure they’re truly handled in the way they should be.” To buy or list a home with Black, community members or interested clients can email sara@sarablackteam.com or give her a call at 832-289-9245.
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Ashley Day is a Real Estate agent affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker and abides by federal, state and local laws. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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The Leader • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • Page 3B
New Year, new pet?
Dear Tabby, I would really like to get a new pet in 2022, but I’m just not sure if I’m quite ready yet or not. How will I know if it’s the right time to get a pet? Time for a Pet? in Garden Oaks Dear Time for a Pet, I applaud you for carefully considering this idea because many people haphazardly get a pet and then regret it. This is often how pets end up in shelters because people misjudge what it takes to be a responsible pet owner. So, good news-you’re already a responsible future pet owner just for thinking about this in a logical manner! Kudos to you! If you’ve been reading my column for any amount of time, you probably know that I seldom discourage anyone from adopting a pet but the truth is, sometimes, it’s just not the right time. Here are some examples of how you might know if it’s not the best time to adopt.
You’re a nomad If you’re in a stage of your life where you are moving frequently, or are planning to move a lot, carefully consider how that might impact a pet. Moving can be stressful for pets and, if you might be renting a home or apartment, it’s often difficult to find housing that will accept certain types of pets. You have a new job A new job often means new responsibilities and long work hours. Think long and hard about what the next year might look like in terms of your job before you bring a pet into your home. You’ll want to spend as much time as you can with your new pet and a new job might require more of you than you’ve anticipated. You’re broke While pets can add immeasurable joy to your life, they can also wrack up a big vet bill in no time. If money is already tight, consider waiting until you have more expendable income before bringing a pet into your life. Or, take a break from your daily coffee run and stash that money into a savings account for your new pet expenses. You’re foot-loose and fancy-free Are you always up for an adventure and love to travel or
go out on a moment’s notice? Well, carefully consider how your active lifestyle might impact a pet. While you can take a dog many places to have an adventure with you, traveling with pets can be challenging and finding someone to care for them well in your absence can be tough, too. Perhaps sow your wild oats now, and then, when life calms down a bit, revisit getting a pet. You’re not a morning person Like it or not, most pets are early birds and require attention and care first thing in the morning. So, if you love to sleep the day away, consider a pet who is nocturnal or adjust your schedule to accommodate a pet who needs walks or feeding early in the morning. While some might say that it’s never a perfect time to get a pet, there are definitely times that are better than others. If you have any concerns that the time isn’t right for you to get a pet, hold off. You can also research less traditional pets who require a bit less from you. In the end, it’s always kinder to wait on bringing a pet home until you are fully ready to give your new four-legged bestie your best self!
Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.
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Page 4B • Saturday, December 25, 2021 • The Leader
Reece, Collier lead Washington over Worthing By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
On the heels of their first .500 season since 2012-2013 last season and multiple starters returning, the Booker T. Washington Lady Eagles were looking to build on last year’s success. And though it has been tough sledding early on, the Lady Eagles are hoping their most recent performance is a sign of things to come. Booker T. Washington bounced back from a loss to Kashmere on Dec. 14 with a comfortable win against Houston Worthing over the weekend, improving their record to 5-10 overall and 3-1 in District 12-4A competition. Three Lady Eagles reached double digits in the 60-42 win over Worthing on Saturday, led by senior leaders Kemya Reece and Kourtni Collier. Reece, had 19 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists, while Collier was a force in the middle with 13 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots. Dakiyah Yates had 12 points and Teyana McCoy grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds. Reece also had 21 points for the Lady Eagles in the 53-51 loss to Kashmere on Dec. 14, while Yates had 13 points.
In other public school action, Heights rebounded from a district-opening loss to Westside on Dec. 10 with a big district win over Chavez on Dec. 13 thanks to big performances from a couple of their senior leaders. They then dropped a 73-53 decision to Lamar on Saturday, falling to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in District 18-6A play. Janiaya Johnson paced the Lady Bulldogs with a phenomenal all-around performance in their 76-16 victory over Chavez on Dec. 13. The senior guard excelled in all aspects of the game, scoring 18 points while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out nine assists. On the defensive side, Johnson added a season-high three steals and a block to round out her night. She didn’t do it alone, however, as senior forward Tatianna Brown posted her second consecutive doubledouble with a season-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. It was the third double-digit rebound game of the season for Brown, who is averaging 10.7 rebounds per contest. Freshman Jazmyne had a team-high 24 points and 18 rebounds in the loss to Lamar. Waltrip’s Lady Rams improved to 4-6 on the season with a 41-31 win over District
23-5A foe Milby on Saturday, while Scarborough dropped to 0-5 with a 102-4 loss against Yates on Dec. 14. On the private school side, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers had mixed results last week. The Lady Panthers had an 8139 win over Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart on Dec. 16 before dropping a 5141 decision to Salt and Light Homeschool on Dec. 18 and a 65-64 loss to Lutheran High North on Monday. Zachara Perkins paced the Lady Panthers (11-4) with 32 points and 11 rebounds against Duschene Academy, and has now posted a double-double in each of SPX’s games this season. Erica D’Souza also had strong game, pouring in a season-high 20 points. Dalanna Carter had 28 points for LHN in Monday’s game along with eight rebounds and six steals, while Jade Miller added 15 points for the Lady Lions (10-5). Lauren Vela posted her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Aaliyah Macias had 10 rebounds. Boys Booker T. Washingon continued to be scorching hot so far this season, winning a pair of District 23-4A contests last
Photo from Twitter Kemya Reece dribbles the ball up the court during a game. Reece had 19 points for Booker T. Washington High School in its 60-42 victory over Worthing on Dec. 18.
week before dropping a nondistrict bout with Fort Bend Elkins on Tuesday by a score of 91-54. Stars Chris McDermott and Kenneth Lewis led the way for the Eagles (11-3, 5-0) this week. McDermott had a pair
of monster performances, posting his second triple-double of the season in a 111-75 victory over Yates on Dec. 17 with a season-high 34 points, 27 rebounds, and 10 assists. The forward also scored 24 points while grabbing 16 re-
bounds in an 88-39 win over Worthing on Dec. 14. Kenneth Lewis poured in 30 points for the Eagles along with seven rebounds in the win over Worthing, then followed it up with a 30-point, 9-rebound performance against Yates on Dec. 17. Lewis (26.8 PPG) now has five 30-point games this season. The Scarborough Spartans dropped to 0-9 with an 85-28 loss to Houston’s Pro-Vision Academy on Dec. 16, but freshman McKeytrick Irving had a strong game despite the loss. Irving poured in a season-high 22 points, his second 20-point performance of the young season and the eighth time he has reached double digits. Waltrip is now 2-8 on the season after dropping two decisions last week, including a 70-68 nailbiter against Sterling on Dec. 14. On the private school side, the St. Thomas Eagles dropped to 3-4 on year with an 82-57 loss to Westbury Christian. Lutheran High North dropped a 59-52 decision to the Village School in the HTown Showcase last Saturday, falling to 11-2 on the season.
Norhill, from P. 1B vices for the planning department. She said the original plan submitted by the developer called for driveways for each of the 13 proposed homes, which was not agreeable to the city because it would make De George more dangerous for pedestrians and motorists. Mathur said the planning department worked through multiple iterations with the developer before agreeing to the idea for a 16-footwide shared driveway on the property, with only one access point from a public street, and that having access from Fugate would be ideal from a planning perspective. But it’s not what nearby residents wanted, with one of them pointing out during the meeting that such a setup would be legally problematic. Community member Daniel Sheehan said the proposed shared driveway from Fugate appeared to be in
violation of the city’s building code, which says a shared driveway cannot be an extension of a public street. Mathur said the comment triggered her to quickly consult with the developer and the city’s legal department, which confirmed the Fugate setup could be legally murky, and she then floated the residents’ suggestion for a shared driveway from De George. “I think everyone was happy,” she said. When asked why the planning department did not already know the idea for a shared driveway on Fugate would be legally questionable, Mathur acknowledged that staff members could have looked more closely at the issue. She also said the situation was new and unique to the planning department, because of the atypical street orientation surrounding the developer’s property. Richard Smith of Houston Public
Works said during the meeting that a shared driveway with access from De George had previously been considered but abandoned because the drive would be parallel and in close proximity to De George and could therefore cause confusion among drivers, specifically at night when headlights are used and visibility is otherwise limited. So as part of the adopted plan, a 30-inch-tall fence will be constructed between the shared driveway and sidewalk that runs along the west side of De George. Conditions for approving the variance included a 6-foot-wide sidewalk in front of the development along De George, along with a 4-foot landscape buffer with 3-inch caliper street trees. When asked if existing property owners on De George might be opposed to the newly devised plan, and
whether they had an opportunity to weigh in on it, Mathur said those property owners were given notice about the variance request just like the residents on the Fugate side. Christ the King Catholic Church is on the east side of De George, with homes as part of the Norhill Historic District immediately to the south of the proposed development and North Main Street immediately to the north. The variance request had already been twice deferred by the planning commission, which was legally required to accept or deny the request at last week’s meeting. “I don’t think the plan worked out so terrible for De George,” she said. “It’s a million times better than 13 driveways along De George.” Febo said he was appreciative of the planning department, planning commission and developer – which
had previously met with nearby residents – for taking the neighborhood’s concerns into consideration. He said he also was impressed by the planning commission’s attention to detail, the planning department’s ability to quicky pivot and his neighbors’ urgency and organization in mobilizing for a mutual cause. Fellow resident Caroline Truong, who said she wanted to preserve the dead end on Fugate because that’s where her home is and where her young children like to play, echoed that sentiment. “Your voice can be heard by the city,” she said. “It takes effort, and it’s always better to get the neighborhood involved and get people to help. I hope it inspires people to get involved if they don’t like something they see that pops up with the city. We all felt like it was a lost cause, but we did it.”
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