01-07-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

Police ask for help finding suspects in fatal shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

While many celebrated Christmas in late December, Sandy Casillas was out looking for a burial plot for her brother Luis, who was shot and killed outside a Northside mechanic shop the day before Christmas Eve.

And she, along with the rest of her family and Houston authorities, are asking for help finding

the suspects who allegedly fatally shot her brother. He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 2 and 3, along with the rest of his family.

“We didn’t even celebrate,” Sandy Casillas said during a Tuesday press conference with Houston Crime Stoppers. “...And that’s not fair. No one deserves this.”

Police responded to a mechanic shop in a shopping center at 7676 North

according to the Houston Police Department, to find Casillas suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to the department.

Sgt. Blake Roberts, the lead investigator on the case, said Tuesday that police believe a dispute over a bill for a car that Casillas was working on at the shop led to an argument and him being

fatally shot. Roberts said police are looking for six Hispanic male suspects in their late teens to early 20s.

Police are also looking for two extended cab Chevy Silverado pickup trucks, one maroon and one a tannish color, Roberts said. Police do have surveillance video from the shop, but are not yet releasing the footage to

T.C. Jester Park playground delayed, slated for late February completion

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Officials in February 2022 broke ground on a new “state of the art” playground set to be installed at T.C. Jester Park, and set construction was tentatively and set to hopefully be completed by the time school rolled around in the fall fall.

Almost a year later, however, residents and families in Oak Forest wanting to use the new park for their and their families’ recreational needs are still waiting for it to be finished.

“This has been obscenely slow going. It has pretty much been torn up since 2021 it seems,” Tyler Longbotham said. “I feel bad, because it was always being used.”

Skip Nichols echoed the sentiment in a social media post.

“At the rate they’re going the Gulf Freeway could be finished before the playground,” he wrote Dec. 21.

Lisa Johnson, the division manager for the Houston Parks

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston authorities are searching for a man who has been accused of sexually assaulting a boy in the Central Northwest neighborhood, according to a news release from Houston Crime Stoppers.

There has been an arrest warrant issued for Gregorio Juarez, 73, who is accused of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14,

and Recreation Department’s general services division – which is overseeing the playground project – said Wednesday via email that final completion of the playground is now scheduled for next month.

Johnson said supply chain is-

sues and various weather delays over the last year have caused the project to be pushed back from its initial fall 2022 hope and projection.

“Final completion is scheduled

Turner tabbed to lead annual MLK Day parade

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston’s top elected official, who is also a native of the local neighborhood, will be the leading the city’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King Day this year.

On Dec. 29, the city announced that Houston’s Black Heritage Society has tabbed Mayor Sylvester Turner as the Grand Marshal for the 45th annual Original MLK Jr. Day Parade on Jan. 16. The parade will take place in downtown Houston beginning at 10 a.m., and will begin at the intersection of Lamar Street and Smith Street according to the city.

The Original MLK Day Parade was the very first MLK Day Parade held in the nation after being sanctioned by the King family in 1978 in Houston, according to a news release from the city. MLK Day is the annual celebration that “honors the legacy of Dr. King, focuses on civil rights issues, highlights the use of nonviolence to promote change, and calls people into public service.”

“I am honored and humbled to serve as the grand marshal and encourage all Houstonians to participate by lining up along the parade route or signing up to sponsor a float,” said Turner, a native of Acres Homes. “Houston is part of Dr. King’s legacy, and he came here during the civil rights movement, and his leadership on behalf of all people is something we should commemorate.”

The parade will showcase marching bands, decorated floats, dance teams, military and ROTC groups, first responders, city and county officials, and more. It will also feature a

in area

according to Harris County Court records. He currently remains at large, according to Crime Stoppers.

Juarez is a Hispanic man with a thin build, Crime Stoppers said, who has brown eyes and black hair.

According to Crime Stoppers, HPD officers responded to the 800 block of Martin Street on Aug. 12, 2022 after receiving a report of the alleged aggravated sexual assault of a child. During the investigation, Crime Stoppers said the victim accused Juarez of sexually assaulting

them.

Crime Stoppers may offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and/or arrest of Juarez in this case, the organization said. Information may be reported by calling Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

Those who believe they may have pertinent information can also submit their tips online at www.crimestoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.

Freeway in the Northside/Northline area just before 1 p.m. on Dec. 23,

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann

A construction worker moves dirt Wednesday morning at the site of the under-construction T.C. Jester Park playground. Initially scheduled for a fall 2022 opening, officials

supply chain issues and weather delays have

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann

of the art playground at T.C. Jester Park is now sched-

February.

Sylvester Turner

Woman charged in alleged attempted area shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Police have charged a woman who is accused of attempting to shoot another woman during an argument in the Acres Homes area on New Year’s Eve last weekend, according to the Houston Police Department.

Kyrie Andrus, 36, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the incident, according to police. The 34-year-old

woman she allegedly attempted to shoot was uninjured, according to HPD.

Andrus remained hospitalized in stable condition as of Tuesday afternoon and is not in custody, according to the department.

Officers responded to an apartment complex in the 700 block of West Little York Road in Acres Homes just after 3:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve day to discover Andrus had allegedly been taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound.

According to police, An-

Shorted circuit causes local small house fire

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A shorted circuit caused an unintentional small house fire in the Acres Homes area last week, according to the Houston Fire Department.

There were no reported injuries in the fire, according to the department, which arson investigators have deemed accidental.

Crews from 13, 4, 31, 50, 67 and 30 responded to a home in the 5500 block of Hohen Circle in Acres Homes just after 8:20 a.m. on Dec. 23 to find light smoke from the onestory house, according to the department. Crews

quickly entered, HFD said, and extinguished the fire, which the department said was coming from the attic of the home.

It was later deemed that a “short-circuit electric arc” caused the fire, according to the department. Experts say a short-circuit arc is an arc is “an electrical breakdown of a gas that produces a prolonged electrical discharge” that can be caused by operational malfunction and is often found in places containing electrical installations.

The department did not say how much damage was caused to the home.

Electrical malfunction causes attic fire in Acres Homes

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The malfunction of an electrical outlet was the cause of a small attic fire in the Acres Homes area last week, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Nobody was reported injured in the fire, according to the department.

Crews from stations 4, 67, and 30 responded to a home in the 700 block of James Franklin Street in Acres Homes just after 4:40 p.m. on Dec. 23, the department said, to find

light smoke emerging from the roof and eaves of the one-story house.

Firefighters discovered a small smoldering fire in the attic, the department said, which arson investigators determined was the result of what the department is calling “an electrical failure or malfunction.”

The fire caused an estimated $20,000 worth of damage to the house, according to the department.

drus and the woman got into an argument, during which Andrus allegedly pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot the woman but missed. The woman then allegedly shot Andrus, according to the department.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call HPD’s Major Assaults and Family Violence division at 713308-8800 or talk anonymously to Houston Crime Stoppers 713-222-8477.

REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST

it is not considered a separate entity for

A living trust is simply an agreement between a person known as the grantor, who gives assets to the trustee, or manager of the trust, to hold for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. During the grantor’s lifetime, he or she is typically all three of these parties. The reason there are no tax consequences is because the grantor can revoke the trust agreement at any time, and for any reason. The grantor could also change the terms of the trust, change the trustee, change the beneficiaries, or terminate the trust altogether.

Upon the grantor’s death, the trust becomes irrevocable. At that point, the successor trustee appointed by the grantor steps up and one of the first things he or she will do is apply for a tax ID number for the trust, and the trust then becomes a taxable entity. Any income that the trust earns, but does not distribute, becomes subject to tax at trust tax rates. If income is distributed to beneficiaries, however, those funds are taxed at the individual tax rates of the beneficiaries.

IRREVOCABLE TRUSTS

An irrevocable trust is created when a grantor gifts assets to a trustee for the benefit of a beneficiary, but cannot revoke or take back those gifts. These trusts can help reduce estate taxes, qualify for Medicaid, and provide protection from lawsuits, creditors, divorce, serious illness and accidents, and even bankruptcy.

Irrevocable trusts are created in two instances. They can be created during a person’s life, which allows the grantor to relinquish ownership of the assets so they are no longer considered part of the grantor’s estate. Alternately, they can be created at death through provisions left in a will or revocable living trust. When this type of trust is created, it immediately becomes a taxable entity, gets its own tax ID number, and is subject to tax on its earnings at trust tax rates, if income is retained in the trust, or at the rates of the beneficiaries, if income is distributed.

As of 2023, the income earned by an irrevocable trust is taxed at the highest rate of 37% when it reaches only $14,500. To avoid this high rate, it is critical to prepare the trust so that the income can be distributed to beneficiaries at his or her tax rates, which are typically much lower.

If you are trying to decide whether a revocable living trust, irrevocable trust, or other estate planning tool may be right for your family, please consult with Jennifer Solak at 713-588-5744 or jennifer@solaklegal.com. We will work with you to ensure that your estate can provide the maximum benefit for the people you love the most, while paying the least amount of taxes possible.

The information in this column, which was sponsored by Solak Legal as part of The Leader Expert Series, is intended to provide a general understanding of the law and not legal advice. Readers with legal questions should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Jennifer Solak provides legal advice for families and businesses and may be contacted at jennifer@solaklegal.com or 713-588-5744

Jennifer Solak, Attorney

Have you ever driven from Harrisburg to Wa terloo? Or maybe cheered for the Baylor Bears in La martine? Change planes at D/CW? These are all original names of Texas towns, counties and mud huts. Despite the miles and miles of nowhere, Texas is such a large place that we have a huge number of named places -- many have been named for people, battles and beautiful land scapes (Notrees). Some places have gone through several titles although Bug Tussle, Ding Dong not to mention Cut and Shoot remain with us. San Antonio was not named for Saint Anthony but for a river: the nearby San Antonio River, which, in turn, was named for the saint. Incidentally, Santone was generally known as Bexar until 1837 when John William Smith opened a post office and called it San Antonio.

There are 19 Sans from San Angelo to San Ygnacio, part of the more than 200 Texas names of Spanish origin.

We also like to name places for our Texas heroes. So we have Houston city and county (different places), named obviously for Gen. Sam Houston.

Then there is Crockett County and the city of Crockett which is in Houston County. Austin is in Travis County, but the town of Travis in Falls County. Oddly enough, that place was not named for William B. Travis, late commander of the Alamo, but for Travis Fleming Jones, who surveyed the site for a railway company in the 1880s. The town of Santa Anna was not named for the Napoleon of the West (as he liked to call himself) but for nearby mountain peaks which were, in turn, named for a local Comanche leader.

Of late there has been an effort to re-name anything touched by the Confederacy: schools streets and (almost) “The Eyes of Texas.” But what about the county and city named Stonewall after the Rebel general? Lee County was named for Robert E. Lee. We also have the town of Robert Lee. No need to change the city limits signs because the town was not named for the Confederate general (hence no E.) but for Robert Lee Cartledge, grandson of the town’s founder, Leasel Bobo Harris. Good thing he didn’t name the town Bobo.

We know all of this from a remarkable book one of my sons gave, me, Texas Place Names, put out by The University of Texas Press, authored by Edward Callary with Jean K. Callary. They note that something called the Geographic Names Information System “the nation’s digi -

Lynn Ashby Columnist

The Texas Almanac and The Handbook of Texas, then (still with me?) went through birth and death certificates, property deeds and a lot of other records. It comes to 411 pages, listed both alphabetically and by counties. I confess that I hadn’t read it all, not yet, but it is fun to check out places such as Old Glory. The town was founded by German settlers as Brandenburg in 1903, but given the anti-German sentiment during World I, in 1918, they changed the name to the more patriotic Old Glory.

You remember the joke about three Yankees driving through Texas and they come upon a road sign: “City Limits Mexia.” One says, “Let’s stop for lunch at MEX-eye-ay.” Another Yankee says ‘It’s “mex-eeuh.” The third says, “You’re both wrong. It’s MAXee-uh.” They stop and go into a café. One says to the waitress, “Excuse me, m’am, but we were having a discussion about how to pronounce the name of this place. What’s it called?” The waitress rolls her eyes and says slowly, “DAY-re-QUEEN.” Pronouncing various names of places around Texas can be difficult. It’s particularly hard for newcomers on TV. “Clouds will come down on Re-FUGE-ee-oh” and “There was a shooting in NACK-uh-diz.” Fortunately, this book gives the proper pronunciation of Coppell. It’s not COP-el but kuhPEL. The residents in Weid live in the town of Weed. Deaf Smith was Houston’s intelligence scout and was called Deef Smith because he was hard of hearing (although he probably didn’t know what they called him), but the county is usually called Deaf Smith.

The Callarys note some of the odd names and how they got them. In late 1882 Hanna Strobridge was reading a Jules Verne novel in which the lead character was named Marfa. And thus the town’s name. Good thing she wasn’t watching Star Wars. But Obi-Wan Kenobi, Texas, does sound original. Texarkana is pretty obvious, but there is a question as to who hatched the name. The town of Dime Box: Residents once paid 10

cents per week for postal service. DISH (all caps), a rural North Texas town formerly known as Clark, agreed in 2005 to become DISH as part of a publicity stunt with Dish Network to get its residents free satellite service. Brownsville was called Fort Texas but the U.S. Army, fighting the Mexican-American War, renamed the installation for Major Jacob Brown, who was killed by Mexican artillery. Sorry about that, but I like the name Fort Texas, sounds like a movie.

When a post office was placed in a settlement it was a big deal, and the locals petitioned the U.S. Post Office, as it was then called (today your mail is mis-delivered by the U.S. Postal Service) to be an official designation. Sometimes the Post Office officials rejected the name because it was already being used by another Texas town. So the residents simply spelled their town backwards. There was already a Waco so the second Waco became Ocaw. Walker became Reklaw. Lucas was rejected so it was resubmitted as Sacul and was approved. Harrisburg is in east Houston. Waterloo became Austin. Waco was originally named Lamartine and as for D/ FW, Fort Worth was Camp Worth. Dallas is named for someone, there are several versions, but I think it was named for the local NFL team.

Ashby is named ashby2@comcast.net

HS hoops recap: Booker T. Washington dominates VYPE holiday tournament

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

After a brief stumble earlier in the month, the Booker T. Washington Eagles boys’ basketball team is looking to prove that they are still among Houston’s elite high school basketball teams.

The Eagles did just that last week, sweeping through all four games of the VYPE Holiday Tournament to take home the tournament crown and taking down some public and private giants in the process. With the perfect week, Booker T. Washington improved to 12-7 overall this season ahead of Friday’s district matchup against Mickey Leland College Prep.

Booker T. Washington’s signature win came in the tournament championship, where the Eagles took down Pearland Dawson by a score of 70-55 on Dec. 30. Chris McDermott had a doubledouble with 21 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Eagles against Dawson – who entered the tournament as Class 6A’s 13th-ranked team by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches – while Andre Walker II had 14 points and seven assists.

Earlier in the tournament, the Eagles also defeated Houston Christian – the TABC’s 3rd-ranked Class 6A private school team – the previous day by a score of 81-60. Kenneth Lewis led all scorers with 22 points in that contest, and Odis Carter added 19 points of his own.

Lewis had a strong tournament on the whole, averaging 20.3 points over the course of four games. McDermott, meanwhile, averaged a double-double for

KuhLmAnn Editor

the tournament with 19.3 points and 13 rebounds per contest.

Elsewhere in public school action, the Heights Bulldogs went 1-2 in tournament play Dec. 29-30, falling to 8-10 overall. The Bulldogs lost 57-56 to Aldine and 4431 to Alief Taylor on Dec. 29 before bouncing back with a 44-37 win over Killeen Shoemaker on Dec. 30. Allen Rainey paced the Bulldogs in the win over Shoemaker, scoring a season-high 24 points in the contest.

Both Scarborough (0-12) and Waltrip (5-8) were idle last week.

On the private school side, St. Thomas won both games of the Texas vs. Louisiana tournament hosted at the school, beating St. Augustine 52-40 on Dec. 27 before taking down Landry 70-64 on Dec. 28. The Eagles moved to 13-1 on the season with the pair of wins, and will face Gonzaga Prep (Washington) on Friday.

Lutheran North Academy went 2-1 in tournament play last week to improve to 10-5 on the season. The Lions defeated Willow Park Trinity Christian 69-39 and the John Cooper School 59-52 on Dec. 29 before falling 9679 against St. Thomas Episcopal on Dec. 30.

Photo by Matthew Blue

Chris McDermott and the Booker T. Washington Eagles swept through and won the VYPE Holiday Tournament title last week.

LAndAn

special memorial tribute to the late John Bland, a Houston civil rights activist who passed away in 2020.

Turner’s co-grand marshals for the parade will be Rev. Dr. Derek King –Martin Luther King Jr.’s nephew –and Dr. Camille Cash, M.D., a prominent Houston plastic surgeon.

“The 2023 Original MLK Jr. Day Parade will be the last one during Mayor Turner’s administration. The Black Heritage Society believes he is a wonderful representation of Dr. King’s dream,” Black Heritage Society President Teresa

Brewer said in a news release. “Over the past seven years, Mayor Turner has led our city through natural disasters, pension reform, and creating a more resilient Houston for the future. He will leave a legacy of unity –bringing together diverse people in our city and putting Houston on the global stage.”

For more information on the Black Heritage Society or the 45th annual Original MLK Jr. Day Parade, visit the organization’s website at blackheritagesociety.net.

the public.

Andy Kahan with Houston Crime Stoppers called the shooting senseless, and said the public is authorities’ best eyes and ears when it comes to these types of crimes.

“We truly believe that somebody knows what happened to Luis. It’s time for you to step up to the plate and do the right thing,” Kahan said. “Grief is intensified when justice is lacking, and right now, sadly, justice is lacking for Luis and his family.”

Sandy Casillas said her brother was put on his knees and then shot in broad daylight before the suspects allegedly moved his car out of the way so that they could escape the shop. And though she and the family are angry, she said they don’t want revenge – they just want justice for someone who was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother.

“I’m not really sure where to start. I’ve always prayed for my family to be good and healthy. All I can say is what happened that day, and hopefully this hits someone’s heart and you can help us. That’s all I’m asking,” she said. “All I want is justice for my brother. I don’t want anybody to go through the same pain that we’re going through. The pain of losing your baby brother, your husband, your child. I don’t wish this pain on anybody.”

All they have now, she said, are their memories of him. And they are asking for the public’s helping in catching those who took Luis from them.

“That day, he was ambushed. He was put on his knees. I know that he prayed, I know that he begged for his life, and they didn’t care. They treated him like an animal,” she said. “...We need to join together and get these people off the streets.”

IN MEMORIAM

We are saddened to announce the passing of Barbara Ann (Hobizal) Stoever, 80. She left this earthly world

as dawn broke on Christmas morning, December 25th, 2022. Barbara passed away surrounded by loved ones after a battle with cancer. Barbara was born to James and Marie Hobizal in Houston, TX on August 8th, 1942.

She attended All Saints Catholic School through the 8th grade while her family lived in the Heights neighborhood. Her family moved to Garden Oaks where they became members of the St. Rose of Lima parish.

Barbara attended and graduated from St. Pius X High School. After high school she attended Business School in Houston allowing her to secure her first secretarial job with Texaco.

Barbara worked for Shell Oil for a few years before taking time off after her second child was born. Barbara and her husband joined the St. Ambrose parish in 1968 when she and her husband along with their first child moved to Forest Oaks. She began working for the Marek Brothers family of companies in 1974 where she worked in their accounting department until her retirement in 2001.

She enjoyed ballroom and line dancing with her husband & friends. Her greatest pastimes were spent at Candlelight Little League making lifelong friends while watching and coaching her children. She enjoyed snow skiing throughout New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah with family and friends for many years. Barbara treasured watching her grandchildren’s sporting events and getting the opportunity to travel the world. She is survived by husband H.C. “Smokey”

Wayne Stoever of Austin, TX

for late February,” Johnson said. Funding efforts for such a project began with District C councilmember Abbie Kamin’s predecessor – former Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen – who Kamin said was a major driver in helping to secure funding for the $1.02 million project. Efforts to get construction started had begun prior to the COVID-19

pandemic, according to Kamin, which delayed the start of construction until years after its initial planning.

Upon completion, officials have said the playground will include play units for various age groups such as swing sets, climbers, freestanding play components and a boulder water play element. It will also in-

clude sidewalk upgrades, decorative fencing and new picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles and a drinking fountain.

The project will redevelop and enlarge the playground with “state-of-the-art” equipment selected in hopes of promoting cognitive, emotional, physical and social development, according to city officials last

February. Completions to date include underground utilities; concrete sidewalks, plaza, and playground border; and playground equipment installation according to Johnson.

And residents are eager and waiting to be able to make use of the area’s newest potential amenity upon its final completion.

“I run through the park every (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) morning and I almost always see crews there,” Becky Buturovic wrote on Facebook.

“Hopefully it’s completed soon, the playground looks like it’s going to be awesome.”

Art Valet: Artists begin 19th year with a few surprises

Mitch cohen Art Columnist

Happy New Year! Did you commit to any resolutions? Mine was to reinvent my marketing for the market. Talk about challenges!

First Saturday Arts Market begins its 19th year this Saturday, so the press release for this month would number around 225. The two hundred and umpteenth time I have written about an outdoor popup art market … in a row.  That is a “writer’s block” inducer.

The real joy in writing about the market is not how many years it’s been around, or that the art, music and even food is all original, but the people. The people make the market. Here’s a few “you may not know this” things about the art market.

Potter John Delafield,

brings one red mug to most markets and sets it out among the rest of his wheel-thrown stoneware. That mug will stand out among the muted earth tones, for only a short time. The one red mug is the most popular item he brings. I managed to get my hands on only 2. The second replacing the first that I sadly broke.

Hiding in plain sight on tic Jewelry Designs display table, is a small letter board, whose message changes every month.

Cammie’s Handmade Soaps is one busy booth, and though the art of soap making is not exactly fine art, (I always say the market leans toward fine) Cammie and husband Larry have ventured into the art of fused glass and offer night lights and soap dishes alongside their signature soaps. They gifted me a nightlight likeness of me in my signature market hat! I mean, how cool is that? I’m a night light!

Arthur Deatly I’ve told you about here, he sets up his aisle randomly around town and paints what he sees. Your house might be in his collec-

tion. Jim Koehn snaps photos of the many restaurants, nightclubs and old theaters before painting his postcard sized watercolors. Notable in his collection are many favorite iconic Heights buildings.   Vincent Fink is a contemporary surrealist and he normally doesn’t attend markets this early in the year. Fink’s studio was at Winter St., and

he had to move out temporarily due to a fire that left smoke damage to the entire building. Fink’s work is mesmerizingly complicated and fun to just get lost in. His attention to detail amazes many and if his originals are out of your budget, he has prints and a fantastic t-shirt collection featuring his art.

There you have it, writer’s

block solved. I hope to see you at the first market of our 19th year, this Saturday. If not, try to go easy on those new year’s challenges.

The market is located at 540 W. 19th St. and open 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Details

at https://firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/ Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s

Nibbles and Sips: Cherry Block Smokehouse shutters

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A Garden Oaks steakhouse has served its last meal, and closed its doors last weekend prior to the start of the New Year.

In a message posted to the restaurant’s Instagram page on New Year’s Eve, Cherry Block Smokehouse owner Felix Florez said the restaurant has closed the doors on its location at Garden Oaks’ Stomping Grounds development, effective immediately.

Essentially, Florez said the restaurant simply did not have the financial capital with which to continue operating its Stomping Grounds. Cherry Block had just opened its doors this past September.

“An unfortunate accumulation of insurmountable losses and delays leading up to our opening consumed our operating capital, and these setbacks we experienced left us extremely short of our cash flow goal,” Florez wrote. “We pushed forward, but by the time we opened our doors in mid-September, our operations were plagued too much to overcome in a short time.”

However, Florez’s Cherry Block Butcher in Katy will remain open. Florez called the decision to close the Garden Oaks location “difficult” after years of working to bring it to life.

“We are so grateful to Revive Development for their constant support,

resources, and passion around this beautiful development,” he wrote.

“The Stomping Grounds is a special place and we were so lucky to be a part of it. We will always appreciate the neighbors and patrons who made us feel so welcome.”

Longtime executive chef leaving Gatlin’s The author behind many dishes served at Gatlin’s BBQ and Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers is leaving to embark on a solo

restaurant journey.

On Tuesday, Gatlin’s announced that executive chef Michelle Wallace is leaving after six years to start her own restaurant. Wallace has served as Gatlin’s BBQ’s executive chef since 2016, and was also behind much of the menu at the recentlyopened Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers in Independence Heights.

The restaurant said Wallace’s solo venture will be b’tween Sandwich Co., and will start as a pop-up later this month with an

eye on opening a permanent brick and mortar.

“From employing her professional skills as executive chef at Gatlin’s BBQ to bringing her creativity and ingenuity to the Fins & Feathers menu… we are so proud of her and eternally grateful for all that she has done for us,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

Wallace’s dishes have included sandwiches such as the H-Town Hot Sandwich at Gatlin’s, and her new venture will be in the same vein.

“The Gatlin family

wants to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts and cannot wait to see what you do next,” the restaurant said.

To keep up with b’tween Sandwich Co. and Wallace, follow her Instagram page @btweensandwichco.

stories.

Contributed photo

Vincent Fink stands in front of his mural at Sawyer Yards.

Contributed photo The letter board in the tic Jewelry booth changes monthly.

Contributed photo

Artist Jim Koehn visits with patrons at First Saturday Arts Market.

Contributed photo

Shoppers browse Delafield Pottery at First Saturday Arts Market.

Photo from Facebook

Gatlin’s executve chef Michelle Wallace is leaving Gatlin’s to embark on her own solo restaurant venture. Wallace had served in the position for the last six years.

Photo from Facebook

Cherry Block Smokehouse in Garden Oaks’ Stomping Grounds development has closed its doors barely three months after opening, citing financial issues.