Leader March 26

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Racist flyers dropped outside of Heights homes

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Many Heights-area residents awoke last Sunday to find small plastic bags on their curbs or front lawns. Inside were rocks and pieces of paper that had been folded up.

Upon opening the bags and unfolding the papers, residents saw “various racial quotes, symbols and drawings,” according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office.

Photos of some of the distrib-

uted flyers that were provided to The Leader showed language and imagery that could be categorized as white supremacist, neo-Nazi and antiSemitic.

“It is creepy, and it’s unsettling,” said a Sunset Heights resident who received a flyer.

“If they were setting out to make people uncomfortable and stir stuff up, I guess that was successful.”

According to the constable’s office and two local residents, who are not being named by

The Leader in the interest of their safety, the flyers were distributed in the central and northern parts of the Heights, including on Arlington Street, Harvard Street and East 24th Street. A spokesperson for the constable’s office said there were no indications that anyone’s person or property was damaged in association with the flyer distribution.

Photos of the flyers showed they contained the name and See Flyers P. 3A

Contributed photo Plastic bags containing rocks and folded pieces of paper with racist language and imagery were delivered to several homes in the Heights last weekend, according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office.

Turner tabbed as new publisher

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Bluebonnets blow in the wind Tuesday afternoon between East T.C. Jester Boulevard and White Oak Bayou.

Texas’ state wildflower making appearance in area

By Adam Zuvanich

INSIDE.

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Look familiar? An Airbnb rental in Shady Acres has a “Friends” theme.

Page 1B

Wild about restaurant. We review Wild Oats, a new concept at the Houston Farmers Market.

Spring is a time of new beginnings. The weather warms up, baseball season gets underway and, in the Houston region, crawfish is a culinary delight.

Across Texas, March also marks the fairly short time period when bluebonnets are in bloom.

The state wildflower is making its annual appearance in the area and is especially prominent along White Oak Bayou. There are clusters of the colorful blue-and-white flowers, which sometimes have a tinge of red, along East T.C. Jester Boulevard and West T.C. Jester Boulevard, which run on opposite sides of the bayou between North Loop 610 and West 34th Street.

We captured the blooms of bluebonnets on a windy, sun-splashed Tuesday afternoon when the flowers were especially vibrant in color. Several local residents admired them while walking, jogging or cycling along the White Oak Bayou Trail.

We encourage readers to check them out for themselves while there’s still time.

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

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

See Turner P. 5A

Fundraiser for park improvements set for Saturday

By Adam Zuvanich

Page 7A

Corey Turner was named publisher of The Leader earlier this week, bringing to the role a wealth of experience in community newspapers across the Houston region and beyond.

Turner has spent the last four years as the marketing director for McElvy Partners LLC, which owns The Leader as well as other newspapers in Texas and Charlotte, N.C. The Houston native previously worked as a reporter, editor, sales manager, advertising director and publisher, making stops at the Houston Turner Chronicle and New Orleans Times-Picayune, among other publications.

As publisher of The Leader, Turner succeeds McElvy Partners President and CEO Jonathan McElvy, who said Turner is tasked with building on the strong reputation of The Leader, expanding its reach to readers and creating “new and exciting ways for our advertisers to connect with our audience.”

“Among his many strengths, Corey has that perfect blend of journalism and marketing,” McElvy said. “He has been an editor of community newspapers, an advertising and marketing director of community newspapers and a publisher.

He understands the importance of local journalism, while also helping small, local businesses use our multiple platforms to reach informed and valuable customers.”

McElvy bought The Leader in 2012 and will continue to have a role overseeing the newspaper, while also managing the other divisions of his company.

Along with The Leader, McElvy Partners owns the Greensheet, Fort Bend Star, Coastal Bend Publishing and its five newspapers, along with Charlotte Media Group and its three community newspapers. The company also owns a division called Core Digital Brands, which provides digital marketing services for local businesses, and Texas Printers, a division that provides commercial and promotional printing for small businesses.

Prior to joining McElvy Partners as

The Shetland Nationals, a T-ball team that competes in the Timbergrove Sports Association, holds practices every Tuesday afternoon at American Legion Park.

After the team’s most recent workout earlier this week, its 4-, 5- and 6-yearold players still had plenty of energy to burn. So they ran over to the playground

on the eastern side of the park, where they jumped, climbed and slid until it was time to go home for dinner.

“We love it out here,” said David Pierson, a Shepherd Park Plaza resident and one of the team’s coaches.

American Legion Park, 3621 Golf Dr., already is a popular place for local families to gather, even more so after a fence recently was installed along the south end of the park to provide

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a safety buffer between an adjacent railroad track.

Additional improvements are in the works.

A community-driven initiative to upgrade and reimagine the park is nearly two years in the making, with a group called the Friends of American Legion Park having teamed up with the Houston Parks Board and Houston Parks and RecSee Park P. 5A

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Local kids play on the playground Tuesday evening at American Legion Park, 3621 Golf Dr.

Move your auto loan from another lender and be automatically entered to win up to $1,000*!

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Page 2A

HPD: Woman with dementia reporting missing last week from Northline area

By Adam Zuvanich

in the 74th block of Lyerly Street, just east of Interstate 45, at about noon March 17, according to HPD, which said she may have gotten on a METRO bus or rail line.

HPD described Duarte as 4-foot-11 and approximately 130 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a light

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

A 56-year-old woman diagnosed with dementia has been reported missing from the Northline area, the Houston Police Department announced March 17.

Elisa Duarte was last seen

complexion. She was last seen wearing blue plants and a gray, zip-up sweater.

Anyone with information about Duarte or her whereabouts is asked to call HPD’s missing persons unit at 832-394-1840.

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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Police have arrested a man accused of being involved in a June 2021 shooting in the Kempwood area near U.S. 290 that killed a woman and put two men in the hospital, according to the Houston Police Department.

HPD said 19-year-old Frederick Crouts has been charged with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault, and remained in jail as of Tuesday.

Two other people suspected of being involved in the shooting remain at large, ac-

Police: Teenage boy killed, another injured in drugrelated shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Houston Police Department said a drug deal gone awry last week outside of an Acres Homes convenience store led to the shooting death of a teenage boy and the hospitalization of another teen.

A 16-year-old boy was killed in the shooting, according to HPD, which said a 15-year-old boy was taken to an area hospital in stable condition.

Police said officers responded to the Lucky Mart at 2502 W. Little York Rd. around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 to find both of the boys injured with gunshot wounds.

The 16-year-old victim was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to HPD. The teen who died was allegedly meeting with three other people – including the 15-year-old who was injured – in a suspected drug deal, according to HPD. The three people attempted to rob the 16-year-old, police said, and they subsequently began shooting at each other.

The other two people involved were uninjured and fled the scene on foot, police said.

Anyone with information about this case or the two people who fled is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.

Crouts

cording to police.

Jasmine Burrell, 19, was killed in the shooting on June 21, 2021, according to HPD, while 30-year-old Don-

ovan Crawford and 31-yearold Chaz Caddie were hospitalized.

Police said officers initially located Crawford and Caddie in the 8000 block of Grow Lane, with Burrell found dead in a car a short distance away, the night of June 21. According to police, a preliminary investigation indicated all three had been shot in the parking lot of a strip center at 8102 W. Tidwell Rd. around 9:15 p.m.

According to HPD, the suspected shooters were described only as four Black boys or men. Police said one of them pointed out the

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Man dies in single-car crash in Greater Inwood

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A young man died as the result of a single-car crash in Greater Inwood last weekend, according to the Houston Police Department.

The identity of the victim,

a 19-year-old man, is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, police said.

According to HPD, the man was driving westbound at 6000 W. Little York Rd. just after 2 a.m. last Sunday

when he lost control of the car and ran off the road, entered the median and struck a tree.

Police said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

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victims’ vehicle while two others – one of whom is suspected to be Crouts – allegedly shot the victims and a fourth drove the getaway car. One of the suspects, a 30-year-old man, was killed in a separate incident on July 27, 2021, that was referred to a Harris County grand jury, according to police.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts or identities of the two other suspected shooters is encouraged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Page 3A

Avoid the void, unlike so many forgotten figures THE VOID – Here they are, all the old and nowuseless parts of our lives. Ice trays and inner tubes, just behind the League of Nations. Sitting beside them is a straight razor. My grandfather used a straight razor, with brush and soap and shaving stand with mirror, all his adult life. And a razor strop, which had a two-headed eagle on the top. I asked him what that signified, and he said, without missing a stroke (hahaha), “Why, the Czar, of course.” Seems Grandpa was once offered a job running the railroads in Russia. It’s a long story. In more recent times we have the Macarena, bell-bottom pants and disco. Here are backyard bomb shelters, home movie cameras and pencil sharpeners. Wait! The way things are going, we may need those bomb shelters again. Newspapers have been declared dead. I read it in the newspapers.

We have lots of movements here, like Black Lives Matter, which is still around, and has certainly changed our society, but for how long? The #MeToo movement put several formerly famous people into The

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

Void, and made sexual harassment toxic -- about time.

There was Charlie Rose, Bill O’Reilly and his War on Christmas. Roger Ailes and the “Today Show”s Matt Lauer are here. But movements have a short shelf life. Remember Occupy Wall Street?

Whatever happened to the once-hot topic of bullying?

A couple of years ago bullying, especially in schools, received non-stop coverage in the media. Bullying is MIA. Here’s a movement, so to speak: The EPA reports that about 20 billion disposable diapers are dumped in landfills each year, accounting for more than 3.5 million tons of waste, and they are made of synthetic materials that aren’t biodegradable.

So there was a drive by the tree-huggers to do away with disposable diapers. It didn’t work.

Speaking of which, we

now come to the Tomb of the Disposable Celebrities.

Dick Cavett had like six interview-the-famous TV shows, but they never lasted. Is Keith Olbermann still around? Judge Ito? Johnny Football? Is Celine Dion still with us? How about Justin Bieber? Miley Cyrus is still singing, but her father, Billy Ray “Achy Breaky Heart” Cyrus, fell into The Void. Prince Andrew qualifies. Once I became a truck driver because there were films, songs and a TV show about truckers with their CBs, Smokey and handles like “Red Dog” and “Digger.”

Then Canadian truckers gave trukulence a bad name.

Their U.S. colleagues tried to circle the U.S. Capitol and then disappeared.

Ah, yes, the U.S. Capitol. How long will it be until those rampaging Trump worshippers will join The Void? Donald Trump continues to make headlines, but look for Rudy Giuliani and MAGA caps to arrive here soon. This brings us here to the Political Void. Remember Fawn Rice and Donna Hall?

Or was it Fawn Hall and Donna Rice? Newt Gingrich has gone into The Void,

and none too soon. The late Andy Warhol once observed, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Newt’s 15 minutes are up. Grover Norquist, the great tax cutter, has been missing. He used to be on every TV talking heads program around. His show was canceled. West Virginia Sen. Joe Mansion is headed here.

At this point we need to note that some may crawl out of The Void and come back to relevancy. I once dumped Our Man in Beijing into the Void, even got a nice letter, with a Chinese panda stamp on it, complaining that he didn’t know he was no longer relevant. But I was right. We never heard of George H.W. Bush again.

In Texas we have our own share of Voiders. Peter Hansborough Bell, Fletcher Summerfield Stockdale and, of course, Samuel Willis Tucker Lanham. They were all governors of Texas. We must wonder for how long Greg Abbott will be remembered. Will there be highways, schools and universities named for Dan Patrick?

How about the Ted Cruz Intercontinental Airport? One of the clearest examples of

Flyers from P. 1A website of a white nationalist organization, which is not being named by The Leader so as not to call attention to it. Questions emailed to a contact listed on the organization’s website – seeking to confirm whether the group was responsible for the distribution and also to determine the purpose of the flyers and why the Heights area was targeted – were not answered by press time Wednesday.

“The Houston Police Department is aware of flyers with divisive messaging and propaganda distributed (last) weekend in various neighborhoods,” the department said in a statement. “We take this type of incident very seriously and are investigating the matter to the fullest extent.”

Mark Toubin, the southwest regional director for the AntiDefamation League, a national social justice and civil rights organization, said those who dis-

tribute racist and anti-Semitic materials such as the flyers thrown in the Heights typically are looking for a reaction they can monetize. So Toubin said the Anti-Defamation League discourages news outlets from reporting about the incidents and asks members of the public to refrain from posting the materials on social media, because that can draw attention to those responsible and ultimately support their cause.

“Certainly they want to provoke anxiety. They want to spread their message,” Toubin said. “Primarily, it is to raise money. These are fundraisers to them. Secondarily, it’s to help recruit people to their cause.”

An Arlington Street resident, who discovered the flyers while on a Sunday morning walk with their dog, said they had “never seen anything like it” in nearly two decades of living in the

Heights. And seeing the racist messages dispersed in the open, and to so many homes in the neighborhood, was particularly unnerving, the resident said.

The aforementioned Sunset Heights resident said the flyer distribution was akin to a “hate crime.”

“Are they trying to send a challenge and throw down the gauntlet against people in our neighborhood?” asked the Arlington Street resident.

“They’re feeling emboldened, and they’re feeling encouraged.

That’s what bothers me.”

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the Heights as part of District C, said she is encouraged by the fact local residents have spoken against the flyerdistribution effort and reported it to authorities. She said it shows that Houstonians are unwilling to tolerate hate and

Edwards announces run for mayor

discrimination.

HPD asked community members to contact the department to report similar incidents and also if they have information about the materials distributed last weekend in the Heights.

In addition to reporting racist and anti-Semitic messaging to police, Toubin said those who encounter it also should make an online report on the Anti-Defamation League website at adl.org/reportincident.

“It’s horrific. No one should be subjected to that kind of hate,” Toubin said. “Having to walk out onto your front lawn on a Sunday morning and encounter filth like that, it’s not something that people should have to do.

“Either give it to law enforcement or throw it away, which is where it belongs, which is in the trash.”

Voidom are the empty pedestals around the country: the removal of anything or anyone Confederate, be they generals on horseback or a mere privates holding a rifle. UT-Austin has removed campus statues of Confederate notables from the South Mall. George Littlefield presents a problem. He was the largest single donor to UT, (Littlefield Fountain, Littlefield Residence Hall, Littlefield Dorm, etc.) but was an officer in the CSA. How do you remove a huge fountain that dominates the south end of the campus? William Marsh Rice gave funds to create Rice University. He got moved to a space originally reserved for the Rice National Football Championship Trophy, or someplace.

There would be no Texas A&M if it weren’t for Sul Ross. Unfortunately he was also a Confederate general.

Last I heard, Sully was being Hullabaloo dis-Caneck-ted.

The Houston School Board spent a reported $1.2 million (we may never know the final amount) to change the names of eight schools named for Confederate leaders, or even privates. The changes include (after 90

years!) that of Sidney Lanier, a poet, author, composer and, oddly enough, a school teacher. Fourteen schools, a college, other structures and two lakes are named for him. Lanier’s crime is that, as a young Confederate during the Civil War, he served aboard a British blockade runner and was captured by a Union warship, thrown in prison where he contacted tuberculosis, and never recovered. The school is now the Bob Lanier Middle School, conveniently renamed for the former Houston mayor.

Candidates for The Void are coming quicker these days. Maybe it’s because we have the attention span of a fruit fly. Y2K came and went.

Protocol was all the rage during the Ebola pandemic.

Every news report that dealt with Ebola had to include the word “protocol.” Covid-19 (or COVID-19 if you prefer) has given us social distancing, masks anti-vax and Hang Fauci. Into The Void.

Are you still here? Get back to me in 15 minutes.

THE READER.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

Primary problems suggest need for political independents in process

Dear Editor: I would point out that these problems were with the primary. Now, the primary is for the Big Two to nominate their candidates. Although many people don’t realize it, the political parties are private, nongovernmental entities. Plus, smaller political parties and independent individuals can run for office. So, my question is, why are the tax payers subsidizing the procedures for the Big Two? Why can’t they fund their own primary? Why do they need to use county personnel, machines, and polling locations? Primaries have only been in use since maybe the early 1900s, I would guess.

Jason H.

Historic Heights church selling property amidst merger

Dear Editor: Very sad to hear! All of my daughters took ballet there and we saw many wonderful plays there as well. Having been in the Heights since 1978 I have watched so many places I love close and be torn down.

Time marches on....

Julie Oeshagwa

Dear Editor: Church attendance has been going down for many years... and then Covid-19 hit. Like any struggling business, a church may need to merge, change, or close.

Mike Busby Dear Editor: Please let it not be apartments, townhomes, or a strip center.

Sloane Pardue

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

By Adam Zuvanich

SUDOKU

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Amanda K. Edwards, a former Houston City Council member with ties to the area, announced Wednesday that she is running for mayor in 2023.

Edwards, an at-large city council member from 2016-20, joins a mayoral race that already includes two high-profile candidates: State Sen. John Whitmire, who has served the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas in the Texas Legislature since the 1970s; and Chris Hollins, who was interim Harris County Clerk during the 2020 election and implemented the practice of drive-through voting, which has since been made illegal by state lawmakers.

All three candidates in the nonpartisan mayoral race are Democrats, with Edwards having lost in the 2020 primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn. If she wins next year’s Houston mayoral race, she would be the first Black woman to serve in that role.

“Our city is at a pivotal crossroad,” she said in a news release announcing her candidacy. “Although we have made significant progress, it is time to take Houston to the next level. With our campaign, we are creating a plan that will keep Houston

Ashby is voided at ashby2@comcast.net

Edwards

thriving, growing and transforming into the greatest city in America.”

Edwards, a municipal finance attorney, is an Eisenhower High School graduate who attends St. Monica Church in Acres Homes, according to the news release, which said she holds a degree in political science from Emory University in Atlanta and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

During her time on city council, Edwards served as vice chair of the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee and also had roles on the Economic Development Committee and Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee, according to the release. She also is a former member of the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council.

ACROSS 1. __ Nui, Easter Island 5. Midway between south and southeast 8. Small mark 12. Small antelope 14. Protects from weather 15. Goddess of women and marriage 16. City in Washington 18. Independent voters association 19. Bird genus 20. Train line 21. Annoy 22. Waste matter 23. 41st President 26. Type of cracker 30. Remove 31. Looked quickly 32. The habitat of wild animals 33. Type of gene 34. Humble 39. Barrels per day (abbr.)

42. Respectful compliments 44. Star Trek: The Next Generation doctor 46. Pithy remark 47. Sums up 49. Tailless amphibian

50. American Gaming Association (abbr.)

51. After seventh 56. Czech River 57. Folk band __ Iver 58. Kids ride this 59. Ancient Greek City 60. Liquefied natural gas (abbr.)

61. Net 62. Colors clothes 63. Midway between east and southeast 64. Japanese beverage

DOWN 1. Island north of Guam 2. Biblical region 3. Scottish ancestor 4. Hills in northeast India 5. A way to cook by baking 6. Attacked ferociously 7. Furniture with open shelves 8. Burt Reynolds film 9. A way to examine 10. Plant of the goosefoot family 11. Job 13. Capable of being

thought 17. One seeded fruit 24. Largest English dictionary (abbr.)

25. Platitudes 26. Very fast airplane 27. Pet detective Ventura 28. Resinous substance 29. Explosive 35. Purse 36. Swiss river 37. Separately managed account (abbr.)

38. Electron scanning microscope (abbr.)

40. Fable 41. Mythical monsters 42. Whale (Norwegian) 43. Domed recesses 44. Member of U.S. Navy 45. Cause to be loved 47. Expression of surprise 48. Jessica __, actress 49. Drove 52. Commands to go faster 53. Chinese dynasty 54. Military vehicle 55. Chinese Muslim

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • The Leader

Partnership program introduces Heights HS students to engineering

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Young students at a local high school are once again getting an introduction to civil design and engineering through a partnership with a national engineering organization.

Since Feb. 18, students at Heights High School have gotten firsthand design experience as part of the Engineering Alliance of America’s (EAA) Student Impact Project, which the EAA says encourages students to collaborate as they would in a real-world work environment.

According to EAA Houston leader Ed Kile, this is the fifth year the program has been offered at Heights. The school is the only one in Texas offering the course, according to Kile, and one of just 20 high schools in the country.

As part of the course, local engineers and volunteers are paired with high school classes to share knowledge of their field while exposing students to engineering, design and construction-related concepts and careers.

“Hopefully they’ll take an

experience of having communicated and visited with engineers to have a better understanding of design and architecture,” Kile said.

More than 100 Heights sophomores who signed up for technology classes are participating in weekly courses for the program, which runs through May 5. Students have been divided into teams to research different types of bridges and learn about scale and presentations while building a scale model. At the end of the course, there will be a final competition where student projects are evaluated by a group of judges and given awards for the best bridge presentations.

Heights teacher Nathaniel Hudgins is in his third year helping teach the program.

He said his primary fulfillment comes from watching students work through a project start to finish by their own hands and seeing their vision come to life.

“I enjoy seeing the designs the students develop and watching them become more confident in themselves,” he said.

The students’ creativity, Kile said, is a crucial founda-

tion of the course. Though the model bridges students create must meet professional design standards set forth by the teachers and are ultimately judged on their viability, Kile said he’s seen many student ideas burst forth through the vision, creation and design of their projects.

It’s one of the ancillary benefits one might not expect to get out of an engineering course, according to Kile, who said the profession lends itself to more than meets the eye. “(The course) is not just engineering,” Kile said. “A lot of it is related to artistic value that the students put into their design. It gives them some background in engineering, but also understanding how art is related to engineering. The bridge is a model, so it will have some similarities to a bridge – but with a lot of the creativity, the students come up with on their own so it’s suitable to the location it’s being designed for.”

And even if the students do not choose to pursue a career in the engineering field, the course can still pay off down the line, according to

Contributed photo Heights High School students work on their bridge project as part of the Engineering Alliance of America’s Student Impact program. The local high school is one of only 20 schools in the country to offer the course, which pairs up volunteers and local engineers to introduce them to the concepts of civil design and engineering.

Hudgins. He said he has seen students grow into more selfassured and confident versions of themselves by the time they are finished, and that many skills utilized dur-

ing the program transcend any difference in profession or path students may take.

“Thinking logically helps us to make better decisions,” he said. “Learning how to

work to communicate and work with others as a team is a skill that is needed in many aspects of life.”

Prescribed fire planned for Houston Arboretum In last week’s edition, an unrelated article appeared next to a headline and photo regarding a prescribed fire planned for the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. The Leader regrets the error.

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston Fire Department, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will seek to minimize the risk of wildfires at the arboretum by intentionally setting fire to approximately 3 acres of the meadow area in the western portion of the sanctuary.

HFD and the arboretum, located at 4501 Woodway Dr. on the west side of Memorial Park. announced March 16 that a prescribed fire will be conducted on one day between March 21-April 21, depending on weather conditions. The date of the burn had yet to be determined as of March 16.

A previous prescribed fire

was conducted in March 2021 on 7 acres of the savanna area, according to the arboretum.

“Prescribed fires are precisely planned endeavors which safely mimic the essential fire cycle and are a common land management technique for improving resiliency and diversity of native habitat,” the arboretum said in a news release. “Periodic burns also mitigate the risk of destructive wildfires by reducing the ‘fuel load’ in the designated area - dead trees, leaf litter and other flammable vegetation.”

The meadow area to be burned, near the intersection of Woodway Drive and West Loop 610, will be closed to visitors during the prescribed fire. The fire department asked residents not to call 911 if they

see smoke or other signs of fire near the area on the day of the planned burn.

HFD asked drivers to reduce speeds and use headlights when smoke is present, and said fire and police personnel will be present during the fire.

The fire department also said it will be coordinating with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Houston Health Department to monitor air quality during the burn.

“We can assure the community that the prescribed burn will be conducted within predetermined boundaries and prioritizes the safety of the public and the firefighters,” Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena said in a news release. “The plan we are following also minimizes the effect of smoke in any residential and smokesensitive areas.”

For more information, visit https://houstonarboretum. org/prescribed-fire/.

Diversity in God’s Work

By Pastor Will Cover

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

Jesus loves everyone. Jesus died for the sins of the world. There should be great diversity in the work of God. In Nehemiah 11 the people gave themselves to the service of God. People from all different vocations, socio-economic levels, ethnic backgrounds, and ability levels came together to do the work that God called them to do.

While there was a great variety in the people doing the work, there was a great unity in their purpose, faith, and relationships.

God has given all believers the same purpose. In 1 Peter 2:9 He says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show

forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Each of us has a God-given purpose. We are here to bring glory to God with everything that we do. We will either glorify God as his obedient child, or we will bring glory to God when he one day shows his power and glory in judgment on those who reject him. God loves each and every person and he wants us to love him. His holiness demands that he has a perfect standard and his love is what caused him to send Jesus to pay for our sins so that the perfect standard could be met.

Are you a part of God’s work? Are you living out your God-given purpose? It doesn’t matter your background or level of experience. God can and will use you if you are willing!

Contributed photo The Houston Fire Department, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will seek to minimize the risk of wildfires at the arboretum by intentionally setting fire to approximately 3 acres of the meadow area in the western portion of the sanctuary.

CHURCH D I R E CTO RY

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St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with each •church below for updated Morning Worship ............... 10:45am Worship (English)..... 10:00 am - 11:00am Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm information about services and events.

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O

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

Judge not, not, and

The Leader • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Page 5A

Turner, from P. 1A

Park, from P. 1A

marketing director, Turner worked for the Houston Chronicle and served as the advertising director for the Conroe Courier. Before that, he held the roles of sports editor, editor, general sales manager and later publisher for a group of Houston Community Newspapers in Northeast Houston and Montgomery County.

After graduating from Dillard University in New Orleans, Turner got his start in journalism at the Times-Picayune, where he worked as a sportswriter covering high school and college athletics.

“I have been in almost every role you can have at various community newspapers and look forward to bringing that experience to this role,” Turner said. “The Leader provides relevant and useful information to a great community. We look forward to building on that relationship in new and innovative ways to help our community continue to grow and prosper.”

Turner will continue setting the marketing strategy for McElvy Partners in addition to serving as publisher of The Leader, which has served the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and another neighborhoods of North Houston since 1954.

“Corey has been a friend and colleague for almost 15 years, and asking him to help lead The Leader is important for our company, but also for the readers and advertisers who still view this newspaper as an important part of the community,” McElvy said.

reation Department as part of the city’s Neighborhood Partnership Program. The local park advocates are trying to raise $30,000 before the end of the summer to pay for the creation of a master plan for the park, which in addition to the playground features a baseball/softball field, a second backstop fence, trees and grassy areas, a few picnic tables and designated parking spaces.

The Friends of American Legion Park, which has raised about $6,000 to date, according to chairperson Andrea Rafiei, is holding its first big fundraising event this Saturday at the park. The Picnic in the Park Fundraiser is scheduled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and will feature food, craft beer, market vendors and giveaways along with kid-friendly attractions such as photos with the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt.

“I live right around the corner from there … and the other ladies who are co-chairing with me on the committee live close to the park as well,” Rafiei said. “We all have children, so most of us are thinking for the future for our kids. We’re also focused on sustainability for the park.”

No specific park improvements have been settled upon, according to Rafiei, who said community engagement will be part of the process as the Friends of American Legion Park lead the fundraising efforts while the city parks department and nonprofit parks board oversee the technical and strategic aspects of design and implementation. Among the ideas that have been kicked around are a new playground, community garden, walking trail and recycling bins, Rafiei said.

Amelie Fredland, a Candlelight Oaks resident who frequents the park with her two young children,

Photo by Adam Zuvanich The Shetland Nationals, a T-ball team with the Timbergrove Sports Association, huddles at the end of a practice Tuesday at American Legion Park. The team practices there once a week.

said she would like to see upgraded playground equipment, improved drainage and possibly an enclosed dog park.

“The little catch phrase I came up with is ‘Park for All Ages,’” Rafiei said. “We want an emphasis on all ages of people and all ages of time.”

The Friends of American Legion Park hope Saturday’s fundraiser provides a boost to the effort. The event is free to attend, but wristbands are required and available for a suggested donation of $10, Rafiei said.

There will be drawings for prizes, yard games, local vendors on hand, two egg hunts and photos with the

Easter Bunny from noon-2 p.m. For adults age 21 and older, there will be beer tastings from Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Karbach Brewing Co., Rafiei said.

Food will be available for purchase from Cockadoodle Crawfish and A Bayou City Picnic, which Rafiei described as a concierge picnic service that will drop off stuffed picnic baskets at the park and do all the cleanup afterward. Orders for A Bayou City Picnic must be placed online in advance, according to Rafiei, while advance purchases for crawfish are encouraged but not required.

More event details can be found

on the Facebook page for the Friends of American Legion Park, facebook.com/ALPfriends, along with a link to an Eventbrite page where wristbands can be secured, food orders can be placed, Easter Bunny photos can be scheduled and donations can be made.

Donations to help fund the park master plan also can be made through the Houston Parks Board website at houstonparksboard.org/ about/american-legion-park-revitalization.

“We’re hoping people come out for the event,” Rafiei said.

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The Leader • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Bayou City Art Festival returns to Memorial Park MITCH COHEN Art Columnist

The Bayou City Art Festival, one of the nation’s premier outdoor art festivals, returns to Memorial Park this Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day.

The 50th Annual Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, which is produced by the Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), features 300 artists from across the country including many Houston artists. For the 50th anniversary, the festival’s featured artist is Daryl Thetford, a mixed media artist from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Being chosen to participate in this event is a really big deal for Houston artists.

Competition for the 19 art disciplines that are featured in this festival comes from all over the U.S. I know that just choosing the right images to include in the artist application is a daunting task. As a former

juror, I know it’s also a big job reviewing so many applications.

Houston artist Johnny Van Slyke Summers (Booth E6) was chosen as an emerging artist, only a couple of years into his painting journey, too, Summers was thrilled. His evolving abstract expressionism has a focus on celebrities, wine and music with a muted subject highlighted by vibrant splashes of color. I bet his work is a hit.

Artists like Jennifer Lang and Bonnie Blue, meanwhile, can be found in the Active Imagination Zone, where guests of all ages can play with Lang’s oversized bubbles and visit with caricature artist Blue, and create art with the festival’s nonprofit partners.

There are hundreds of volunteers that keep this event a well-oiled machine, and many of them come from the nonprofit partners.

Remember a few weeks ago when I highlighted the promotion of Angela Carranza to the executive director position at Fresh Arts? Fresh Arts is a continuing nonprofit partner of ACA. A portion of the proceeds from all of the ACA’s festivals benefit the

Contributed photo “Dusty” is painting by Johnny Van Slyke Summers.

nonprofit partners like Fresh Arts and also ArtReach; A Cause to Give Us Paws; Orange Show For Visionary Art; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency.

The following week I told

you about the ACA’s 9th Annual Middle School Art Competition. The 30 finalists will have their art on display throughout the weekend. A ceremony for the students with awards presented for the first, second and third place, as well as recognizing the

winner of the 2022 “Dawn Clevenger Honorary People’s Choice Award” is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.

The fall festival held on Allen Parkway was met with great success. Looking ahead to the amazing expected weather this weekend coupled with a return to Memorial Park after a two-year absence, I expect this art event will be just what Houston has been longing for.

Patrons will find a food truck park, craft beer garden, La Crema Experience wine tasting, as well as entertainers throughout the festival. I spied a few musicians on the website that perform around the Heights, too; Charlie and The Regrets, Matt Harlan, Pablo di Lauro and Charlie Perez are part of the music lineup.

I can’t say that you’ll find me carousing in the VIP section, but I am happy to report about its return! The limited VIP Hospitality Lounge is presented by Frost Bank, and will include complimentary light bites, beer and wine.

The best part is parking is included with those VIP tickets, not for general ticketholder, though.

General complimentary

secured parking will be provided for all festival ticketholders at Northwest Mall located at 555 NW Mall.

Guests can purchase a parking shuttle pass for transportation to and from the festival site. A round trip shuttle ride is $5 when purchased online, and children 12 and under ride free. Masks are required while riding the shuttle bus.

General admission tickets are available online at www. bayoucityartfestival.com for $18 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. Children under 5 get in free.

Note that online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival. Tickets will not be sold at the gate and can only be purchased online.

All details mentioned, including about the artists, music, food and more, can be found on the website. www. bayoucityartfestival.com Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader

Review: Go wild at new restaurant at Houston Farmers Market

By Jennifer Caldwell news@theleadernews.com

I have long been a Chris Shepherd fan. His James Beard Award assures us he can cook. He hires the best staff, trains impeccably and consistently delivers excellence.

His Southern Smoke Foundation provides emergency financial support to service industry team members. As a lifer in this industry, you either work for Chris Shepherd or desperately want to work for him.

I squealed with delight when I realized he has ventured out of Montrose and opened Wild Oats in the newly revamped Houston Farmers Market, 2520 Airline Dr. Wild Oats offers an updated take on traditional Texas cuisine.

The space is built around the affectionately named “Grillie Nelson,” a unique smoker designed by Austin pitmaster Aaron Franklin.

Being a true Texas girl, I started with a bowl of chili.

We are particular about our chili, and this did not disappoint. It is filled with melty shredded smoked beef and very fine ground beef, and is pleasantly spicy without being overwhelming. It is simultaneously simple and delicate.

Main attractions are stacked with a variety of traditional southern features, ranging in price from $26 for Shrimp and Grits Diablo to $65 for a huge plate of Short Rib Fajitas. If you have sticker shock, keep in mind that these plates are as big as Texas, and are fit to be shared. The Wood Grilled Chicken with King Ranch Casserole is a generously portioned dish, with a smoked half chicken and layered King Ranch casserole, all set atop a spicy creamy cheese sauce. I would eat a bowl of this sauce alone.

Classic Texas desserts are featured, including Peach Cob-

bler, Texas Sheet Cake and a rich Tres Leches. I couldn’t leave without trying the banana pudding. Presentation here is adorable, served in a simple jar with a perfect little plume of toasted meringue atop a row of ripe banana slices. The Wild Oats banana pudding provided me something I did not know I desired in a pudding. The texture is so fluffy and creamy that the wafers underneath do not lose their character for being held under a moist pudding.

There are a wonderful variety of cocktails and beers. The wine menu is incredible and carefully curated. It features many amazing bottles that are likely making their debut on Airline Drive. If you enjoy wine, this is reason enough to visit Wild Oats.

As much as I enjoyed this meal, I regret missing their Sunday brunch service. Served buffet style, the menu rotates each week. Past features have

included smoked hog, or a whole smoked lamb, or prime rib. It is where the capabilities of Grillie Nelson are fully utilized, with luxurious sides and accompaniments that make it well worth the $55 cost of admission. It may well be the best brunch value in the area.

My only other regret was dining alone. The meal could have easily served two.

Wild Oats is a delicious reason to stop and enjoy the Houston Farmers Market.

Shepherd’s big entrée into the Heights is an amazing experience.

Wild Oats

Address: 2520 Airline Dr., Suite C-315 Dining options: Dine In, Take Out Hours: 5-10 p.m. TuesdayThursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday for brunch buffet

Photo by Jennifer Caldwell Pictured is the Wood Grilled Chicken with a layered King Ranch Casserole and a spicy cheese sauce from Wild Oats at 2520 Airline Drive, Unit C-315.

Entrée prices: $26-$65 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes. Healthy options: Salads

($12), rotating market veggies with house-made mole Star of the show: House chili (shot, cup or bowl).

Rating: 5 out of 5 bites

Nibbles & Sips: New patio bar coming soon to Heights still to be determined.

The steakhouse is the brainchild of chef Don Bowie, who also owns and operates Taste Bar + Kitchen in the Midtown area. Rare offers various cuts of meat, southern-inspired seafood

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Heights area has no shortage of spots in which to enjoy libations and good food, and there is another one likely joining the ranks in the near future.

According to a March 15 report from Eater Houston, Patterson Park – a new patio bar – is primed to make its debut in the Heights area next month at 2205 Patterson St., just south of Interstate 10 and right along White Oak Bayou. A message from the company to The Leader said a concrete opening date has not yet been set.

Patterson Park’s website says the 4,000-square foot, multi-level building will have skylights as well as large garage doors that open onto a 5,000-square foot patio deck that will overlook the trees along the bayou. The dogfriendly spot will also have more than 40 TV screens all around the patio for guests to watch.

“We like to think of Patterson Park as a treehouse escape for adults,” the bar wrote Monday on Facebook.

“With an expansive patio, treehouse views and comfy nooks, you’ll be sure to find your favorite spot to enjoy a few drinks with friends and family.”

For more information on Patterson Park and stay upto-date, community members can visit its website at pattersonparkhouston.com, email hello@pattersonparkhouston.com or follow it on

including oysters and barbecue shrimp, and various sides and desserts, per a report from Eater Houston.

“Rare aims to define the perfect dining experience complete with incredible food, world-class service

and the perfect ambiance,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook.

To find out more about Rare Steakhouse, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @RareHTX.

JoiN US For oUr

Saturday, April 23, 2022 11am - 4pm

Photo from Facebook Patterson Park, a new patio, tentatively plans to open its doors early next month.

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Saturday, March 26, 2022 Hours: 9AM-4PM Admission $5 for adults Under 12 FREE Kitchen will be open serving hamburgers, hotdogs & desserts!

SPJST Lodge #88 1435 Beall at 15th St.

Photo from Facebook Pictured are just some of the options available at Rare Steakhouse, which held its soft opening on Washington Avenue last week.

Facebook.

New steakhouse opens on Washington Avenue An upscale steakhouse has joined the hub of restaurants on Washington Avenue.

IN THE HEIGHTS

FREE PARKING

www.hgca.org • 713-981-6463

Page 8A • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • The Leader

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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Page 1B

Fate of ‘Friends’-themed rental up in air

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Arriving at a popular vacation rental in Shady Acres during the last six months might have been more like stepping onto a well-known television set.

Heights-area visitors who have stayed at the three-story townhome at 1706 Bevis St. have been transported to the late 1990s and early 2000s when they walk into the second-floor common area. There is a painting on the wall that looks like the front window of Central Perk, a fictional coffee shop in New York City, along with an orange sofa and a monkey doll sitting on a coffee table. The room also features a familiar-looking kitchen, a painting of a fountain at nighttime and differentcolored umbrellas sitting on the floor.

One might even expect people named Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe to knock on the room’s purple door with a gold frame around the peephole.

The second floor of the home was decorated last summer in the theme of “Friends,” the iconic sitcom that aired on NBC from 1994-2004. And during its six or so months as a rental on Airbnb, the online marketplace for lodging and homestays has been booked almost every weekend and often on weekdays, too, according to owner Frank Chance.

“It’s been very popular on Airbnb,” Chance said. “Pretty much every single weekend it was booking, averaging somewhere between $80 and $200 a night, depending on the weekend. I would say it’s been pretty successful.”

The fate of the “Friends”-themed rental is up in the air, however. Chance said Tuesday that he had listed the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home for sale and was accepting offers through the end of the day, and

by Wednesday morning it was listed as “under contract” on the Houston Association of Realtors website, where the list price was $330,000.

Chance said Tuesday that some of the prospective buyers he had talked to were interested in keeping the property as an Airbnb rental, although that will ultimately be up to the new owner.

“It really could go either way,” he said.

Chance said he and his wife, Alisha, who also operate a 1970s-themed Airbnb rental in the East Downtown area, decided to sell the Heights-area

Contributed photo The second floor of the townhome at 1706 Bevis St., which has been a vacation rental on Airbnb for the last several months, has been decorated in the theme of “Friends,” the popular former sitcom.

home because the market is “hot.”

And he said they previously decided to decorate it with a “Friends” theme not necessarily because they were huge fans of the show, but because it fit the vibe they were looking to create as well as the layout of the second floor.

Recreating the recognizable scenes came with an investment of less than $15,000, Frank Chance said, and included hiring a muralist with Houstonbased Salcreations. He said his wife did the upholstery on the orange couch to match the one at the coffee shop in the show.

The kitchen was dubbed “Monica’s Kitchen” after Courteney Cox’s character, Monica Geller, who worked as a chef. And the aforementioned monkey deal is an homage to Marcel, the pet monkey of Ross Geller, played by David Schwimmer.

The listing on Airbnb plays up the “Friends” connections in both photos and words. The written description for the rental starts, “If it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or

Contributed photo The kitchen at the Airbnb rental at 1706 Bevis St. is named “Monica’s Kitchen,” after the character on the TV show “Friends.”

even your year, you’ll love staying with F.R.I.E.N.D.S!” It’s a reference to the show’s theme song, “I’ll Be There For You,” by The Rembrandts.

The owners also supply season-byseason DVDs of “Friends” that renters can watch during their stay.

“I think what happens is people are

Contributed photo Each area of second floor of a local Airbnb rental is meant to recreate a scene from the sitcom “Friends.”

looking for something in the area and they see that it’s a ‘Friends’ theme, and then they want to stay there even more,” Chance said. “It was a really popular TV show and has a huge following, especially in my age group, which I would say is the elder millennial age group.”

Chance also said renters have helped keep the décor intact and in good shape.

“I honestly kind of expected the Marcel (monkey doll) to get stolen, and it didn’t,” he said. “I think people are respectful of the space.”

M. Solak Community for seniors hosting lunch for prospective residents Jennifer Attorney & Counselor at Law From Staff Reports The Watermark at Houston Heights, a new apartment community for seniors, is hosting a free lunch event next week for prospective residents.

The “Discovery Lunch” is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-1

p.m. Thursday, March 31, at Watermark, located at 1245 W. 18th St. in Shady Acres.

Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP by March 29 by contacting John Parker at 281241-5354 or jtparker@watermarkcommunities.com.

Watermark, which has not yet opened, is a seven-story

complex featuring 220 units and amenities such as a spa and pool, fitness center, golf simulator, wellness and educational offerings and a terrace deck with a view of Downtown Houston. Monthly rental rates range from $2,695 for a studio space to $7,545 for a 1,500-square foot unit.

Lunch attendees next week will learn more about the residences, amenities and activities offered at Watermark.

After the meal, there will be a guided tour and information presented about customized care options for senior living, assisted living and memory care.

ESTATE PLANNING PROBATE BUSINESS LAW

713.588.5744 jennifer@solaklegal.com 1305 W. 11th St., #3094, Houston, TX 77008

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP

Lower Heights adds new tenants

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Phase 2 of a mixed-use and retail development in the Heights area is continuing to add new tenants for future move-ins, including two more earlier this month.

According to a March 7 news release from Gulf Coast Commercial Group, the company has added two new tenants to the Lower Heights development, a 24-acre, mixed-use project fronting Interstate 10 between Studemont and Sawyer streets.

Coming soon to the development are Salon Lofts and Ideal Dental.

Salon Lofts is a deluxe hair salon that has leased 5,155 square feet on the second floor of the future two-story retail and office structure that will be across from Lower Heights’ luxury apartment midrise, 27Seventy Lower Heights.

Salon Lofts has five locations in the Houston area, according to its website, including one in the Heights at 1533 N. Shepherd Dr. Building delivery is anticipated this summer, and Salon Lofts is expected to open in early 2023, according to Gulf Coast Commercial.

Also on its way is Dallasbased Ideal Dental, which has executed a lease for 2,000 square feet for its fullservice and neighborhoodcentric dental facility at Lower Heights’ I-10 entry point. Gulf Coast Commercial said the

Contributed artist rendering Lower Heights, a mixed-use project fronting I-10 between Studemont and Sawyer strees, has added two new tenants to the mix for future buildout.

one-story, 6,000-square foot building in which the company will sit is slated for delivery this summer, and Ideal Dental has tentatively scheduled its opening for October.

HCAD seeing increasing property values Houston property owners who receive their property value notices in the near future might see an increased figure.

The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) is seeing increasing property values as it prepares the residential and commercial property value notices, according to a March 17 news release from the organization.

According to the appraisal district, residential properties have gone up 15-30 percent in value, depending on where they are located, and 95 percent of residential properties will increase an overall average of more than 20 percent

in value. Commercial properties, meanwhile, are following along the same lines with an average value increase of 18 percent.

“Value increases this year have been unprecedented,” HCAD chief appraiser Roland Altinger said. “In my almost 40 years in the real estate business, I have never, ever seen such large increases in market values.”

Property owners who receive their notices can begin the protest process immediately, the organization said, by filling out the form included in the mailed packet or by using HCAD’s online iFile program at www.hcad.org/iFile.

There is also a video explaining the increasing values and the measures homeowners can take to reduce their tax burden on HCAD’s website at hcad.org.

New mixed use project

coming to Independence Heights Per a report from the Houston Business Journal, Houston-based CJ Development has purchased a property at 124 Crosstimbers St. in Independence Heights, and has plans to build a mixed-use retail project that includes an apartment complex. The report said CJ Development has plans to break ground by the end of the year.

The purchase price of the site was not disclosed, according to the report. However, the 169,213-square foot property and its land – previously owned by Houston-based Gross Investments – has been valued at more than $3.7 million, according to the Harris County Appraisal District.

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Page 2B • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • The Leader

Washington Avenue area sees big jump in February home sales

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

It was another strong home sales month for the Greater Houston area, and local neighborhoods largely followed the pattern. Four of the area’s zip codes saw year-over-year increases, led by the Washington Avenue/Rice Military area (77007) at a 36.4 percent spike compared to last year, according to the most recent data from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR).

However, it wasn’t all rosy, as the Langwood area (77092) and Woodland Heights/ Norhill/Northside Village (77009) both saw sales dips compared to last February.

Average and median sales also continued to rise across the board save for the 77092 zip code, which saw both figures experience year-overyear dips of at least 2 percent.

77018 In the zip code that encompasses much of the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, last month saw a modest increase. The area saw 53 homes come off the market last month, a 10.4 percent

increase over the 48 homes sold in February 2021. Year to date, the 103 sales in the zip code is largely in line with last year’s total of 101 homes sold through the same time period.

On a pricing front, the average buyer paid $562,696 for a home here last month, a 10.1 percent year-over-year spike.

Meanwhile, the median home price was up 13.1 percent – the largest local spike – to $450,000 at month’s end.

77091 To the north, the zip code that includes much of Greater Inwood and Acres Homes was one of the area’s strongest year-over-year performers.

There were 26 sales closed in this area in February – the second-lowest overall total, but still a 30 percent yearover-year increase compared to the 20 homes sold in February 2021. Through the end of the month, its 39 total sales are marginally ahead of last year’s pace of 36 through the same point.

Pricing-wise, the 11.9 percent spike in average home price was the biggest among local zip codes as it rose to $317,024 compared to

$283,379 last February. Median home price also rose 10.2 percent year-over-year up to $322,450.

77092 The zip code encompassing the western edge of Oak Forest as well as part of Greater Inwood and Langwood was one of the local outliers last month, seeing a 12.5 percent year-over-year decrease in homes sold. Its 21 total sales marks the lowest figure among local zip codes, and down from 24 the previous February.

This area is also the only one locally to lag behind its 2021 pace thus far, having seen 38 sales through the end of the month compared to 43 in the same span last year.

Average buyers paid 3.3 percent less ($322,307) on a home in this area compared to February 2021, while median price dropped 2.1 percent to $315,000.

77008 It was another strong month in the Greater Heights. There were 93 sales closed in this zip code last month, the highest total among local zip codes and a 17.7 percent year-overyear increase from 79 homes

sold in February 2021. Its 165 home sales so far this year is also the most in the area, and 14.6 percent ahead of last year’s mark of 144 during the same period.

Average home prices in this area rose 10.2 percent (up to $605,646) compared to last February, while the median home price was up to $560,000 at month’s end – a 7.7 percent year-over-year increase.

77009 The area that includes local neighborhoods such as the Woodland Heights, Norhill Heights and Northside Village was the other local zip code to see a year-over-year dip – though not by much. There were 42 homes sold in the area last month, compared to 43 sales in February 2021. In total, 80 homes have been sold here so far this year – an 11.1 percent year-over-year spike compared to the same period last year.

On a pricing front, the average price was up 7.3 percent to $528,952 last month. Meanwhile, the median price for a home in this area rose 10.7 percent year-over-year, up to $465,000.

Photo from HAR website Homes like this one at 722 Ashland St. are currently on the market in the 77007 zip code, which saw the biggest year-over-year jump in February home sales among local markets.

77007 Moving down to the southern edge of the area, the Washington Avenue/Rice Military zip code saw the area’s biggest year-over-year increase.

The 90 homes sold in this zip code were the second-most among area zip codes, and the 36.4 percent year-over-year spike (66 sales last February) was the largest percentage

increase in the area. With 143 sales so far this year, the zip code is 30 percent of last year’s pace of 110 through the same period.

Pricing-wise, the average buyer paid 6.4 percent more ($585,140) for a home last month compared to February 2021, while median home price spiked 19.3 percent up to $525,000.

REALTOR SHOWCASE

Joanne Vest was instantly hooked on the history and charm of the Heights every single day, often going above and beyond to ensure the absolute best outcome for my clients.” Joanne’s been known to single-handedly landscape a listing’s entire front yard after a landscaper’s lackluster attempt to “freshen” things up. And don’t get her started on the trunk loads of paint she’s taken to the recycling center for client’s hurriedly cleaning out their garages.

Joanne leaves nothing to chance. When listing a home, one of her main goals is to make certain each space has one, clearly defined purpose and that there is a natural flow to the home that can be captured by the photographer. “Doing so allows me to tell a compelling story in the listing — enabling potential buyers to envision themselves living there.”

At the end of the day, Joanne believes it is her responsibility to ensure her clients have the best possible outcome with the least amount of stress and anxiety.

Joanne welcomes the opportunity to assist you with selling or buying a home. She can be reached via email at hello@joannevest.com or by phone at 832-752-8808.

For The Leader

Joanne Vest bought her first home in 1996, a 1920s pink bungalow in Woodland Heights. Joanne was simply tagging along on a friend’s home search and fell in love with the very first home they toured. While her friend purchased a large, new home in Clear Lake, Joanne was immediately hooked on the history and charm of the Heights.

Her friends and family questioned her decision, after all, in the ‘90s the Heights was a very different neighborhood.

“My mom was concerned about my safety; there were more than a few boarded up homes on my street,” Joanne recalls. A far cry from the neighborhood where she grew up in San Antonio. “I was more concerned with the lack of restaurant choices back then. There were only a handful of choices like 11th Street Café, King Biscuit, and Carter and Cooley Co. to name a few.”

Over the years, Joanne found herself going to open houses most weekends, eventually investing in other properties in the Heights, Oak Forest, and nearby neighborhoods. As prices began to climb, her mom changed her tune — no longer questioning why she was buying in the area, but when she would be buying again.

In 2004, Joanne obtained her real estate license and started to put her knowledge and love of the area to use for clients. “I have had a front row seat to the gentrification of the Heights and surrounding areas,” she says.

“This gives me unique perspective and understanding of the challenges and opportunities that may impact my clients.”

Texas Residential Specialists www.texasresidentialspecialists.com @joannetxrealtor

Joanne Vest While she considers her market knowledge a key differentiator, Joanne also attributes much of her success to her hustle, drive, and attention to detail. “I work hard

The home is just the beginning.

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JanetHartman & Cecil Schmidt Janet Schmidt

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HOME SERVICES PREMIER PROPERTIES • 713-686-5454

Your Walking Agent

MICHAEL SILVA michael@happenhouston.com 713.725.8748

C ONGRATUL ATIONS

to HLSR for the 90th Anniversary!

MARCIA LUZADER KYANKA

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Home Services Premier Properties • 713-686-5454

Elizabeth Villarreal Your Neighbor & REALTOR®

Ashley Day 504.237.6535 REALTOR® ashley.day@compass.com

Kristi Kolmetz Broker/Owner

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The Leader • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Page 3B

Let some vegetables take root early Amy Williams

G

arden uru

Dear Garden Guru, I’ve seen a wide variety of vegetable transplants at local nurseries over the past few weeks. I am wondering if I can start my garden with transplants for all crops, or if there are any plants that I shouldn’t buy as transplants.

Thanks!

Gardening Newbie

Dear Newbie, You have a great gardening intuition! There are certain plants that should be directly sown into the garden as opposed to being planted as transplants. The main reason behind this is that it will damage the root system.

On that note, root crops such as carrots, beets, radishes and turnips should always be sown directly into the soil.

Corn is another crop that should be directly sown into the garden as well as members of the cucurbit family, including cucumbers and melons. These plants have very shallow root systems and make it difficult to not

shock the plant during transplanting.

The exception to the cucurbit family would be squash. It does very well sown directly into the garden, but if you are limited on space it also transplants well.

Beans and peas thrive when sown directly into the garden, and have a hard time acclimating after transplanting. Once germination starts, they grow rather quickly.

Keep in mind economic value as well. Typically, in order to prepare a meal, you will need multiple plants to provide enough for a harvest. Buying a pack of seeds of the aforementioned crops will go a lot further in your

budget and on your plate than a few transplants. The same goes for okra, which produces well in our area, but multiple plants are needed if you plan to fry it up on a regular basis.

I would also suggest purchasing seeds for greens.

Lettuce does not transplant well, and depending on your appetite for greens, you will need more than a few plants.

I recommend sticking to tomatoes, peppers, herbs and pollinator flowers for transplants. They transplant relatively easily and provide a wide variety of options in your garden.

See you in the garden!

Do you have questions for the Garden Guru? Email Amy at underhillurbanfarmco@ gmail.com. Also visit underhillurbanfarmco.com and follow them on Facebook and

Instagram @UnderhillUrbanFarmCo. For a complete and simple guide to gardening, check out our book “City Seeds,” available on Amazon.

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Why doesn’t my cat like to have his belly rubbed?

Let’s find out why…

Dear Tabby, We have a cat who is funny about having his belly rubbed. Is this normal cat behavior or do we have a defective cat?

Beguiled by the Belly in Woodland Heights Dear Beguiled by the Belly, One of the many ways that cats differ from dogs is in their reaction to having their belly touched. For dogs, if you encounter one who has rolled over and exposed his belly, that typically means one thing: rub, please.

But, for cats, an exposed belly isn’t always an invitation for rubs--in fact, it can often mean the exact opposite.

Sensitive area The hair follicles on a cat’s belly are super sensitive. This sensitivity, coupled with sensitivity in other parts of their bodies, like their tail and cheeks, helps them to navigate in the dark and helps with depth perception. As a result, for some cats, being touched on the belly can overstimulate them and make them pretty angry. So, when petting a cat – especially one you aren’t familiar with – it’s safer to stick with the less sensitive parts of your cat’s body, like under the chin.

It’s the most vulnerable part The belly of a cat is the most vulnerable. If you think about it, all of their soft tissues and organs are located within the confines of that fluffy belly. An attack to that

body part can be fatal. Interestingly enough, when a cat exposes his belly, it can sometimes be a defensive maneuver. When on their backs, all of the cat’s defenses are in full effect – all four paws with sharp claws, as well as their teeth. So, when in this defensive stance, a cat will be hyper “punchy” and ready to attack.

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

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Page 4B • Saturday, March 26, 2022 • The Leader

NNMD’s virtual plant sale starts this Saturday For The Leader The Near Northwest Management District’s annual plant sale is virtual again for 2022. All proceeds from the annual fundraiser benefit the White Oak Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, along with the District Esplanade Gardens.

Shop online Saturday through April 3 at NNMD. org. Several varieties of hummingbird and butterfly friendly plants will be available – many native as well as adapted plants that thrive in Houston’s climate. Most are perennial, so plant once and enjoy for years to come.

On-site presentation by Heidi Sheesley, owner of Treesearch Farms and local horticulture expert, will be

held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr. Visit NNMD.org for more information about the sale and to register for the presentation, which is free.

One of the featured plants is Pavonia lasiopetala, commonly called rock rose. A Texas native, rock rose can handle sun as well as part sun and thrives in our summer, blooming nonstop from spring through frost. Butterflies and hummingbirds can’t get enough of this tough perennial. Other natives that will be available include Gulf Coast penstemon, Penstemon tenuis, and native red and pink turk’s caps, Malvaviscus sp.

Have you ever wanted to grow your own blueberries?

They’ll be available at the sale.

Need to cover an unsightly fence? Try the famous Peggy Martin climbing rose or Mexican Butterfly Vine, Mascagnia macroptera – both will be available at the sale.

The variety of plants offered will “blow your mind,” according to the management district.

Contributed photo The Near Northwest Management District’s virtual plant sale begins this Saturday. Community members can purchase plants like this one through April 3 on the organization’s

Local soccer powers streaking into playoffs

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As soccer playoff season gets underway this week, there are several local high school teams set to take the pitch as they begin what they hope will be deep postseason runs.

Perhaps the most notable regular-season stars were the Waltrip Lady Rams, who are 20-4-2 overall record with a 14-0 record in district play.

They enter Friday’s bi-district matchup against Angleton having won 15 consecutive matches, and will seek to avenge last season’s playoff loss to the Lady Wildcats in the same round.

Scarborough’s Lady Spartans are district champions for the sixth time in the past seven seasons after going 10-6 overall and 10-1 in Dis-

Photo from Instagram Members of the Scarbrough boys soccer team celebrate after Monday’s win over Booker T. Washington.

The Spartans entered Thursday’s bi-district playoffs against Needville as District 23-4A champions for a second consecutive season.

trict 23-4A. They will travel to Needville to face the Lady Blue Jays Friday night.

The Heights Lady Bulldogs will play Cy-Fair at 5:30 p.m.

Friday at the Berry Center

Boys Just like their girls counterparts, the Scarborough Spar-

tans are once again back in the postseason as champions of District 23-4A. They finished the regular season 17-12 overall and 13-0-1 in district play to win their second consecutive district title, including a 2-1 win over Booker T. Washington on Monday night.

The Spartans were scheduled to clash with Needville, District 24-4A’s fourth-place finisher, in the bi-district round Thursday night in search of the program’s first playoff win since 2015.

The Booker T. Washington Eagles defeated Mickey Leland College Prep on Tuesday night to earn District 23-4A’s final playoff spot. They were slated to play the Stafford Spartans on Thursday.

Waltrip is also headed to the playoffs after finishing 9-10-1 overall and posting a 9-5 mark in District 23-5A.

The Rams were set to clash with Richmond Foster on Thursday.

Bi-District Playoff Schedule Thursday Class 5A Boys Waltrip vs. Richmond Foster, 7:30 p.m., LCISD Stadium Class 4A Boys Booker T. Washington at Stafford, 6 p.m.

Scarborough vs. Needville, 7:30 p.m., Delmar Stadium Friday Class 6A Girls Heights vs. Cy-Fair, 5:30 p.m., Berry Center Class 4A Girls Scarborough at Needville, 7 p.m.

Class 5A Girls Waltrip vs. Angleton, 7:30 p.m., Dyer Stadium

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

Strong pitching paces Bulldogs in district-opening wins

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Heights High School’s baseball team is no stranger to the playoffs, having made postseason appearances in 16 of head coach David Petty’s 19 seasons at the helm.

The Bulldogs look to have designs on continuing that trend this season, using two strong pitching performances last week to get off on the right foot in district play. Heights swept two games from Chavez to open District 18-6A competition, winning 1-0 on March 14 before run-ruling the Lobos 14-0 on March 15.

Heights (7-5-2, 2-0 district) has ridden some strong pitching (4.4 runs allowed per game) to its solid start, and the trend continued last week. Christian Soto threw a complete game in the pitchers’ duel on March 14 before Jacob Gonzalez hurled his third complete game of the season on March 15.

The Bulldogs have allowed three runs or fewer in seven of their 14 contests this season.

Charlie Maddux had two hits for Heights in the March 15 victory, while R.J. Robinson had a double.

Heights was looking to extend its three-game unbeaten streak entering Tuesday night’s game against Carnegie.

In other public school action, the Scarborough Spartans split a pair of games against Wheatley last week. Scarborough dropped a 6-3 decision to the Wildcats on March 14, then came back with an 11-9 victory on March 15. They were slated to face Mickey Leland College Prep on Wednesday night.

Waltrip (5-4, 2-0) was looking to continue its strong start in District 23-5A with a game against Sharpstown on Wednesday.

On the private school side, the St. Pius X Panthers swept a pair of games from rival St.

Thomas last week to open up TAPPS district play. The Panthers (8-4-1, 2-0) won 9-5 on March 17 before run-ruling the Eagles 14-2 in five innings on March 18.

Austin Brown and Carson Hintz had two hits apiece for SPX on March 17, while sophomore Cason Evans hit a three-run homer. Evans then threw a complete game while striking out nine hitters on the mound on March 18, while Sam Houston State commit Kyle Winkler had two hits and four RBIs as a part of the 14-hit attack.

Jacob Cueva had two hits for the Eagles in the March 17 loss, while Anthony Equale reached base three times and drove in three runs. The Eagles then bounced back with a 4-0 win over Kinkaid on Saturday to improve to 8-9-1 overall and 1-2 in district play thanks to three hits from Jaden Deshautelle along with two hits and two RBIs from Billy Ther-

oux. Theroux also struck out four hitters in three innings of work on the mound, while Logan Duplantis had seven strikeouts in three innings.

Softball In public school action, the Heights Lady Bulldogs dropped their only game of the week, a 10-5 loss to Huntsville

on March 15. With the loss, Heights dropped to 16-8 overall. The Lady Bulldogs were trying to start a new winning streak with Tuesday’s non-district game against Splendora.

The Booker T. Washington Lady Eagles (5-1) were looking to extend their two-game winning streak entering Wednes-

day afternoon’s game against Yates.

St. Pius X (7-11) was idle last week, and was slated to return to action Tuesday night against Bellaire Episcopal.

Lutheran High North was scheduled to play Alpha Omega Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

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GAMES WITH PRIZES: • Plunger Throw • Stiletto Ring • Ringo the Flamingo • Chipping Challenge • Rubber Duck Fishing • Bean Bag Toss

BINGO (4 Games) in Activities Bldg.

Photo from Twitter A Heights player prepares to swing during a game last season. The Bulldogs picked up two wins to start District 18-6A play last week.

3 – 4:30 pm $10 for 9 card 4 game pack Snacks and drinks will be sold.

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