01-14-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

Forever young

Watermark

Houston Heights

Mealer contesting county judge election results

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The race for the county’s highest elected position will have one last wrinkle to it before all the dust has settled.

In an effort to overturn the results of November’s election, Republican candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer announced Jan. 6 that she is planning to contest the results of the Nov. 22 election that saw her narrowly lose to incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo.

resident

staying vibrant by following passion

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Almost 20 years ago, Heights resident Arnold van Ek’s family gave him a welding machine as a gag gift upon his retirement from the petrochemical business. Little did they and van Ek know that such a gift would pave the way for van Ek to stay forever young.

It gave him the idea to follow his long-time dream of sculpting, he said, and his sculptures have since been featured around the area as he pursues his passion to create works of art that bring joy to those who see them.

van Ek, 82 has since created dozens of sculptures as gifts, auction items, and to enlighten visitors to the Woodland Heights and the Sculpture Garden in the Heights, and many are on display at the Watermark at Houston Heights senior living community – where he and his wife Adriana are currently residents.

According to van Ek, he worked more than 30 years in a large worldwide chemical company, working as a chemist for decades. And though it was fulfilling in a certain manner, van Ek said there was still something lacking.

“(Being a chemist) was very satisfying work but (there was) absolutely no room for artistic behavior,” he said. “So when I retired, I decided it was time to give my interest a chance.”

Earlier in his life, van Ek said he had lived in a small town near the Belgian capital of Brussels, where his neighbor created sculptures of people using thin copper plates, spurring his interest in the subject. So upon receiving the welding machine, he began taking art classes at the Glassell School of Art in the Houston Museum District for three semesters.

And while many of his classmates were at least 20 years younger than he was at the time he took

New STEM learning program opening in Oak Forest

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

When Joy Jones thought about how to funnel her passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) into a way to help a younger generation have more access to the curriculum, she was thinking small.

Now, it has manifested in a way she could not have imagined. On Saturday, Jones will host the grand

opening of Code Whiz – Oak Forest, coding and robotics school for children ages 7-17, at 2015 W. 34th St. Suite G.

Jones, a longtime Houstonian for more than 20 years, has spent much of her professional career doing IT and training in the oil and gas industry. In her spare time, she has conducted outreach programs around Houston to get students interested in STEM projects and learning. She even went so far as to become

an FAA Part 107 Certified Drone Pilot. And she originally looked at franchising opportunities as a way to help fund STEM programs in schools after she said she noticed a lack of all-encompassing access But she soon found something even better. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Jones came across Code Wiz and had the opportunity to meet CEO Ruth Ag-

In the initial election, del Moral Mealer lost to Hidalgo by about 2 percentage points, or about 18,000 votes. Mealer said she is choosing to contest the results after the county’s post-election assessment revealed issues she says could have contributed to voter suppression on Election Day.

“I do not have the weight of government behind me to investigate the matters with the gravity and effort that reports of voter suppression justify but I do have the ability to exercise my legal rights as a candidate,” Mealer said in a statement Jan. 6.

As part of its post-election assessment, the county has reported issues such as ballot paper shortages at its 782 polling locations throughout the county.

Elections administrator Clifford Tatum has said the county’s internal investigation into those reported problems have been “inconclusive” to this juncture.

“It is inexcusable that after two months, the public is no further along in knowing if, and to what extent, votes were suppressed,” Mealer said. “…There were serious operational issues that occurred throughout Election Day that call into question whether the county’s failures denied voters their right to vote.”

Mealer is one of 12 losing candidates in Harris County races who are contesting their race results, according to a news release from the office of Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee. And Menefee said in a statement that the attempt to contest the results were “frivolous” attempts to overturn the will of the voters.

“For them, it’s not about improving elections or making sure our elections are secure, it’s about

Contributed photo

Arnold van Ek, 82, paints one of his sculptures. van Ek, currently a resident at Watermark of Houston Heights senior living community, is staying young by following his passion for sculpting.

Contributed photo

Some of van Ek’s sculptures such as “Lazy Atlas,” pictured, have been inspired by mythology, while others are inspired by his personal impressions.

Mealer

Photo from Facebook

Children ages 7-17, will have the chance to learn about coding and more at Code Whiz - Oak Forest.

Man charge A man has been arrested and charged in connection to a fatal shooting in Acres Homes

Still strong The St. Thomas Eagles capped off a road trip through Washington last week. See how they did inside today.

Kicking off Several area high school soccer squads started off the New Year with big victories

Helping

local art market will host Winter Street artists displaced by the studio fire.

THE TOPICS.

Wheee! The People are still growing

THE STORE – I am in a long line at this grocery store with my six-pack, waiting be hind a crowd that includes a man buying enough food for the 82nd Airborne Division behind a woman who, when given her total, starts rum maging through her purse for her checkbook. Malthus was right. There are too many people on this Earth and it’s getting worse. To refresh your memory, in the late 18th century British economist Thomas Malthus warned the world’s population would outstrip its capacity to feed everyone. Malthus was wrong because he didn’t figure on the Texas Aggies feeding the planet.

Or was he? There are now more than 8 billion people on the Earth, and many are in this grocery store line. As CBS News reported, the number of humans has spiked in recent decades, growing by a billion in the last 11 years alone. Researchers expect the global population to hit 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in the 2080s. They forecast it should then remain level until at least 2100. Even so, in recent years population growth has been

Lynn Ashby Columnist

we’ll have more older people who do not work but need healthcare and other services. By 2030, for instance, more than 15 percent of the people in the world will be 60 or older. AARP’s membership will boom. So will the need for Disability Parking slots.

cording to CNBC. (As you can tell, I am getting all this info from other people’s research.) But India is expected to surpass China as early as next year as the world’s most populous nation. Scientific American said most population growth is occurring in the world’s poorest nations. More than half of the new births between 2020 and 2050 will happen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.

More people drives fuel consumption that pumps out carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Also, the population will age, meaning

Closer to home, according to The New York Times the pace of population growth actually picked up in the U.S. in 2022, but mostly by immigration. You’ve seen those TV shots of thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of wannabe Americans coming in, with that many more waiting for Joe Biden to let them in.

Except for our immigrants, our overall growth remains near historically low levels.

The U.S. population as of July 1 stood at 333.3 million, up about 0.4 percent compared with 12 months earlier, one of the slowest growth rates in the nation’s history. The overall population gain was 1.26 million, of which immigration accounted for 1 million.

One speed bump is – tada! – COVID -19. While the pandemic has killed off about 1 million Americans, pushing the death rate above normal levels. (In 24 states, the

number of deaths exceeded births). Nationally, births grew by 106,000 — the first increase in that category since 2015 and the largest since 2007. With all these folks staying at home rather than heading out to work — particularly highly educated women — we might be seeing a further jump in the birthrate. Experts say it’s too soon to know.

Where is America’s population growing and going? Let’s look at the true yardstick: The U-Haul Factor. That truck rental business knows exactly how many customers rent its vehicles, where they are and where they are going to drop off their trucks. Its stats show Americans have GTT – Gone To Texas. Texas is Number 1 in the population explosion. Indeed, some guy just blew up at a refinery in Port Arthur. It is the second consecutive year that Texas topped the truck rental company’s list. One-way moves to Texas increased by 1 percent from 2021, but departures from the state also rose about 1 percent from the previous year. Texas gained 471,000 residents to lead the nation in population growth, fol-

PUBLIC.

Man charged in fatal Acres Homes shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Police have arrested a man who is accused in the shooting death of another man at an Acres Homes apartment complex on October 2022, according to the Houston Police Department.

Jalon Whitley, 21, has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting death of 25-year-old Jonte Grant, according to Harris County court records. He remained in jail as of Tuesday, accord-

Motorcyclist dies in crash near Shepherd Forest

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man died after falling off his motorcycle and being struck by a tractor-trailer near the Shepherd Forest area last week, according to the Houston Police Department.

The man’s identity is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department.

Police said the man was driving his motorcycle east at 1600 North Loop West around 6:50 p.m. last Friday, when he collided with a white car of unknown make and model. The man then fell off his bike near the axel of a

baji, and she said she immediately knew it was the right fit for the Oak Forest community.

“We have a chance to teach young learners in Oak Forest and the surrounding central Houston area, the language of the future – coding – in a language they already understand in games and robotics,” she said.

Code Whiz – Oak Forest utilizes a Montessori-style approach, the school said, and classes are project-based allowing students to explore at their own pace while building confidence and interest. During classes, students will be learning how to build multi-level video games and create animation, and will are introduced to popular programming language Python while building websites in HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Classes include Roblox, Minecraft and Unity, where students can create their own versions of these popular games. For those interested in robotics competitions, Code Wiz also enables students to participate in its teams for the national FIRST LEGO League Challenge.

department said, and was struck and killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to HPD.

The white car drove off, police said, while the driver of the tractor trailer truck was questioned at the scene and released. No charges have been filed, police said, though the department said the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who might know who was driving the white car and their whereabouts is asked to call HPD’s it-and-Run unit at 713-247-4072 or talk anonymously to Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

What gets her most excited, she says on Code Whiz’s website, is giving kids “a piece of their path to the future.” She said she wants the area’s children to have a fun space to define their path and get exposure to STEM principles in a way that makes it fun to learn.

“It doesn’t have to be just an after school thing to do, it doesn’t just have to be something they’re experiencing in school,” Jones said in an introduction video for the school. “This is them creating their own path and opportunity to put their stamp on their own curriculum.”

The celebration on Saturday will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. with interactive coding and robotics programming for kids, photo booth, games, raffles and giveaways.

For more information on Code Whiz – Oak Forest and what the school has to offer, community members can visit its website at https:// thecodewiz.com/oakforesttx.

ing to court records, with his bond set at $200,000.

Two other suspects remain at large, according to HPD.

Officers responded to an apartment complex in the 9600 block of West Montgomery Road in Acres Homes at 12:25 p.m. on Oct. 6, the department said, to find Grant between apartment buildings having been shot one time. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Police have identified three suspects, according to the department, one of which is

The Leader is YOUR Newspaper! 713-686-8494

alleged to be Whitley. He was arrested on Jan. 3, according to police.

Anyone with additional information about the shooting or the whereabouts of the two remaining suspects is asked to call HPD’s Homicide division at 713-3083600. They can also speak anonymously with Houston Crime Stoppers by calling 713-222-8477.

lowed by Florida (417,000), North Carolina (133,000) and Georgia (125,000). While

Florida experienced the highest percentage change, a 1.9 percent growth, smaller states like Idaho (1.8 percent) and South Carolina (1.7 percent) ranked among the leaders in percentage growth. A single large family moving to Boise doubles the head count percentage.

New York, which lost 180,000 residents, California (114,000) and Illinois (104,000) lost the most people. Obviously, folks in the north are moving south. Since 1990, the population has grown by nearly 50 percent in the American South and West, but is up by just 12 percent in the Northeast and 15 percent in the Midwest. Texas and Florida, which comprise 16 percent of the nation’s population, accounted for 71 percent of the population growth last year. To reverse the lyrics in “West Side Story,” “Everyone up there is down here.”

With all these newcomers arriving in Texas, where did they go? Mostly to the suburbs. According to the U-Haul Factor, the Texas cities that experienced the largest net

growth in 2022 were Missouri City, Richardson and Conroe. Other cities that experienced growth include Roanoke, Porter, Pharr, College StationBryan, Cypress, Mesquite, Katy, Magnolia, Huntsville, Longview, Prosper, North Richland Hills, Baytown and Kingwood.

This growth in the Lone Star State is not new. Texas recorded the largest population growth in the nation over the past decade, adding 4.5 million people for a total of 25.1 million. But no one moves to Pecos or San Augustine. Indeed, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, 79 of Texas 254 counties actually lost population. All but a handful of them were west of Interstate 35. Even more counties would have lost population if not for the decade’s huge Latino growth; the number of Anglos declined in 162 Texas counties, including much of West Texas and the Panhandle.

So what’s in it for you? Drive U-Hauls back to California, learn Spanish and find a short line at your grocery store.

Ashby lines up at ashby2@comcast.net

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

With the private school soccer season in full swing and headed down the home stretch into the regular season’s final month, two of the area’s best private school boys’ soccer teams started the 2023 portion of their schedules with big wins to continue their momentum.

St. Pius X bounced back from its final game before the break, a 3-1 loss to San Antonio Central Catholic that was its first loss of the season, with a 1-0 win over Homeschool Christian Youth Academy on Jan. 6 to move to 8-1 on the season and 1-1 in TAPPS district play.

Preston Kyle scored the lone goal for the Panthers in the win over HCYA, his team-leading 11th time to find the back of the net this season, while Diego Guandique was perfect in net to help the Panthers’ defense earn its third clean sheet of the season.

SPX was slated to be back in action Tuesday night against Cristo Rey Jesuit.

Elsewhere, the St. Thomas Eagles scored a pair of non-district wins last week to snap a twomatch losing streak, beating Barbers Hill 4-1 on

Jan. 3 before shutting out Houston Christian 1-0 on Jan. 6. Alejandro Tello scored the game winner in the victory over Houston Christian off an assist from Caleb McClure, and also scored twice more in the win over Barbers Hill. Baker Day and David Giulian also found the back of the net for the Eagles (8-4-2).

St. Thomas is scheduled to play in the Celina Tournament this Thursday through Saturday.

On the public school circuit, the Scarborough Spartans took down area foe Waltrip 4-2 on Jan. 3 before going 0-2 at the Katy ISD Mojo Tournament, moving to 2-2 on the season. Josue Amaya and Brayan Jiminez both found the back of the net for the Spartans against Waltrip, while Jesus Gamez and Chris Meza each created an own goal.

Heights split a pair of matches last week, losing 8-0 to Alief Elsik on Jan. 5 before taking down Brazoswood 4-1 on Jan. 6

Waltrip dropped all three games in tournament play last week, falling to 0-4 on the young season ahead of Tuesday’s match against Austin.

Girls Heights is off to a strong start on the season,

winning 2-1 against Magnolia West this past Saturday to open up their 2023 campaign.

Waltrip’s Lady Rams went 0-2 at the Waller Tournament last week, falling in penalty kicks to Dickinson on Jan. 6 before losing 3-2 to host

Waller on Jan. 7

Scarborough dropped its opener on Jan. 6 against Livingston, and the Lady Spartans will look to get their first win of the season on Wednesday against Booker T. Washington in the Lady Eagles’ opener.

Freightliner tractor trailer truck, the

Whitley

Photo by Wayne Donnelly

Youth Academy last week

schedule.

THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in the

Texas Medical Center

At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in the Texas Medical Center.

Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal.

the courses, he did not let that stop him. Many might think that once they retire or turn a certain age, it’s time to slow down and take no more chances. But that’s not the case for van Ek.

Influenced by many different artists, van Ek has taken on his own personal impressions in his sculptures. He uses a mix of materials for his sculptures such as metal, granite, wood, glass and a plasterlike material called hydro stone. Several of his pieces, such as one entitled “Lazy Atlas” – which shows Atlas laying on top of the world instead of carrying it –were inspired by Roman, Greek and Aztec mythology.

He and his wife also like the outdoors and nature –birds, lakes, gardens, and

nature parks – so he has since found himself creating such effects of nature.

“Because I didn’t have to live from (the) sales of my work, I could make what I liked,” van Ek said. “But (I) was pleased when others liked my work.

And though his work in the petrochemical industry gave him great satisfaction, he said there is little that gives a satisfaction or fulfillment as truly following one’s passion like his desire for sculpting. And he plans to continue sculpting until he can do it no more.

“It gives me great pleasure to do these sculptures,” van Ek said. “I get so much satisfaction from doing each piece.”

playing games with our democratic systems and refusing to accept the will of the voters,” he said.

Further, some experts say that there might not be much of a legal case to be made for those reported problems to have had a significant enough impact on voter turnout that would result in a monumental overturning of its initial outcome.

“I do not think the issues raised by the Republican Party about Election Day voting has consequential effects on the voter turnout and candidate voter shares sufficient to change the outcome of the County Judge election or other down ballot contests,” said Professor Robert Stein, a political science

professor at Rice University.

Stein also suggested that any potential issues could be mitigated, at least in part, by condensing the sheer volume of polling places in the county. The county said voters could cast a ballot at any of its 782 polling locations on Election Day, something Stein said results in under-resourcing at those locations.

“The problem is not too few locations, or locations skewed to one area of the county. The problem is the county is attempting to support too many Election Day polling locations,” he said. “…When properly implemented, election day vote centers increase turnout by reducing problems at

all polling locations.”

In order to overturn the election results, a report from the Texas Tribune said Mealer’s legal team now needs to find evidence that at least 18,000 voters who were unable to cast their ballots on Election Day and had planned to cast their vote

for Mealer.

“My decision to file an election contest is fundamentally about protecting the right to vote in free and fair elections,” Mealer said.

Dr. Stephanie Fulton

Houston Methodist Hospital For The Leader

Year three of the pandemic continues and many of us have resumed our prepandemic routines, give or take some alterations such as mask wearing and social distancing, which remain critical in the fight against COVID-19.

While day-to-day life looks a little different, it’s important to take care of yourself and revisit items on your to-do list such as regular check-ups and health screenings.

Being proactive, identifying health risks and following through on treatment plans should be a priority. It’s essential to continue with preventive care, including health screenings, vaccinations, medications and treatments, as recommended by your doctor.

Not sure where to start?

Follow these simple steps to determine how to get back on track with your health this year, particularly when it comes to cancer screening and prevention.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Cancer prevention starts with living a healthy lifestyle. Exercising daily, consuming a diet full of nutritious foods, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular cancer screenings will give you peace of mind knowing

you’ve taken actions to prevent and detect cancer.

While you can’t control every risk factor you have, such as family history, you can make healthy choices when it comes to diet, exercise, sun protection, avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption.

Check cancer screening guidelines

A study published in the June 2021 issue of JAMA Oncology noted sharp declines in screening for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer with an estimated deficit of 9.4 million screenings associated with the pandemic.

Postponing doctor visits or treatments may hurt your health in the long run.

Whether you missed a yearly appointment out of fear of COVID-19 exposure, or you simply pushed it to the bottom of your to-do list, it’s time to reclaim your health.

Houston Methodist suggests the following guidelines for early detection of cancer. Depending on your family history and other risk factors, your doctor may recommend a different screening schedule for you.

Schedule a screening

Delayed cancer screenings may lead to later diagnoses of cancer and additional poor health consequences, because cancer in later stages can be more difficult to treat. Screening is not possible or practical for

By Shana Tatum RD, LD, IFMCP www.shanatatumrd.com

Cardiovascular diseases, CVD’s, are reported as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization an estimated 17.9 million people die annually from heart disease. These diseases of the heart and blood vessels include:

Coronary heart disease – affecting the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle often result in heart attacks.

Peripheral arterial disease- affecting the vessels supplying blood to the arms and legs.

Cerebrovascular disease –affecting the vessels supplying blood to the brain that can lead to strokes.

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism –blood clots in the veins of the legs that can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs.

Important risk reduction for CVD’s are diet, physical exercise, tobacco cessation and alcohol reduction. Outcomes of other behavior choices related to CVD’s may be signs of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, an increase in blood glucose, overweight and obesity. Other determinates relate to poverty, stress, and

hereditary factors.

Important factors that may regulate heart health are now being shown in the research through the gut microbiome. This term microbiome relates to the collection of microorganisms living in the body, sometimes called the microbiota. We are learning what a pivotal role the trillions of bacteria, archaea, viruses, protozoa, and fungi play in our health. There are four main groups of bacteria Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroides which are continually adapting to lifestyle changes. Of note is the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Increased or decreased F/B ratio is regarded as imbalance.

High Firmicutes is usually observed with obesity and high Bacteroidetes is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.

These bacteria perform many beneficial health functions for us. Because of the many health benefits, some consider the microbiome the “forgotten organ”. Specifically in the gut, they help maintain the integrity of the lining of the intestinal tract, keep the protective mucous lining, and inhibit disease causing bacteria from binding to the lining of the tract. If the lining becomes disrupted, resulting in intestinal permeability, swelling or edema may present decreasing blood flow. This disrupted barrier also contributes to toxins and other microbial elements moving into the bloodstream. These toxins called lipopolysaccharides or LPS have been correlated with both CVD and chronic kidney disease. In addition, these toxins cause the immune system to be amplified and creates inflammation.

Research from the Journals of the American College of Cardiology has highlighted a substance called TMAO, trimethylamine Noxide, produced by certain gut bacteria may increase the risk of CVD, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.

Higher TMAO levels in the arteries increases cholesterol deposits in circulation, contributing to atherosclerosis, or thickening and hardening of the arteries with a buildup of plaque. Strategies to reduce high intake of foods that lead to higher concentrations of TMAO would include minimizing foods that are very high in choline and l-carnitine. This may be why some recommendations support limiting red meat consumption. It can become a balancing act as moderate choline intake is necessary for cell membrane health and for balanced neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Over reliance on red meat, high fat dairy and eggs should be avoided if TMAO levels are high. Your doctor can perform a blood test to check levels of TMAO.

High intake of nonstarchy vegetables can help prevent things like high TMAO production but also and more importantly provide the necessary fiber, prebiotics, for the commensal or beneficial bacteria to thrive. Think of it as fertilizer for your garden. With balanced intake, improved intestinal barrier function also exists. We don’t digest these fibers, but the microorganisms do. Foods that

are considered prebiotics, or food for the microorganisms include:

• Steel cut oats

• Asparagus

• Leeks

• Garlic

• Bananas

• Chicory root

• Dandelion greens, including dandelion tea

• Onions

• Apples

• Flaxseed

• Cocoa

The good news with diet is that changes can affect microbial composition relatively quickly. And it tastes good! Research is demonstrating that a diet high in polyphenols, also known as eating the rainbow, and including Omega 3 fatty acids can significantly increase gut microbial diversity. A Mediterranean style diet has been shown to improve the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio which may contribute to the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

So, as you consider your weekly meal plan, think about ways to include more foods that provide prebiotics and fiber for those trillions of microbes that are working hard to keep your heart and vessels healthy.

all cancers, but for those that can be detected with screening, it can be lifesaving. Connect with Your Doctor

Remember, early detection often gives you better options to defeat cancer, so talk to your doctor about a screening schedule based on your age, health history and other factors. If you’re unsure if you’re due for a screening, ask your doctor during your next yearly physical or send a message to your health care provider in Houston Methodist MyChart. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you can find one by visiting houstonmethodist.org/pcg/ central or call 713.394.6724.

Chiropractic Care

George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com

Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com

Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000

memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com Dr. Lindsey Fogle Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com Vision Source-Grove

memorialhermann.org/ccc

Art Valet: Outdoor crafts market hosts artists displaced by fire

Winter St. Studios.

The Market at Sawyer Yards returns Saturday, Jan. 14, from 11 a.m - 5 p.m., on Art Alley at Sawyer Yards, 2101 Winter St.

Art Alley is between The Silos at Sawyer Yards and Silver Street Studios on the former rail line that serviced the Mahatma Rice Company before being converted into art studios. The market takes place 2nd Saturdays in conjunction with Sawyer Yards Open Studios, providing a festive outdoor contrast to the more serene, aesthetic of the hundreds of art studios indoors.

In late December, a fire at Winter Street Studios, started by an arsonist, displaced all of the nearly 100 studio artists that were tenants in the building. Market manager and founder Mitch Cohen invited the tenants to join the outdoor market if they were able. Seven artists plus the welcome center for Arts District Houston, also a tenant in the iconic building will join the artisans this Saturday.

Winter Street Studios is the original building in the area that became the sprawling multi-acre creative area known as Sawyer Yards. The diverse area is in the heart of Houston’s First Ward and is a State of Texas recognized arts district, Arts District Houston. The market shares a parking lot with

Many of my artist friends were among the first tenants at Winter Street Studios and quite a few more attended The Market at Sawyer Yards before getting their studios. Watching so many of my friends first learn of the damage or total destruction of their art and then to have no place to go, even if temporary, has been heartbreaking. Like many others, I wanted to do what I could to help. I’ve got this market right outside their studio, it was literally a no brainer.

Damage from smoke and soot affected all of the artists’ artworks. Instead of preparing for this weekend’s monthly Second Saturday Open Studios, which has taken place since 2005, many are splitting their time between moving out of their studio to temporary storage and cleaning their artwork. The cleaning process is a daunting, time consuming and very smelly process.

Collage artist Lisa Morales shares her Winter Street Studio A4 with artist Stacy Gresell, a mixed media painter, and Monique Weston, a jewelry artist. All three artists have undamaged art they will have available at the market this Saturday.

“What is so wonderful about the broad support of artists in Houston is that there are many opportunities to pivot in times of disruption,” Morales said.

“There always seems to be someone who says ‘how can I help,’ and then goes into overdrive and takes action.

Having the opportunity to show at The Market at Sawyer Yards is a great example of that real time action play -

ing out.”

Other Winter St. tenants attending the market include Crystal Wreden, Angela Walling, Teresa Staley and Vincent Fink.

Vincent Fink, an eightyear tenant at Winter Street Studios, is a contemporary surrealist. I wrote about him here last week too. Fink has attended The Market at Sawyer Yards off and on since it began in 2016, and can always be found in front of the murals he himself painted when Art Alley was first opened.

“This has been a challenging time for all of us at Winter St. and although we are suffering different levels of damage one thing is certain: a setback is a setup for a comeback,” Fink said in an

email statement.” We’re not going to let this madness ruin our lives, not for too long at least.”

“Hard times make strong people,” Fink continued. “We’ve seen this with Harvey, the Winter Apocalypse of 2021, and now a terrorist attack on Winter Street. Each time we pull together, put aside our differences, and become stronger as a result. This is the way forward. Remembering that we all process grief differently and some of us are dealing with a lot more than just this incident underneath the surface. So we can’t expect everyone to react with the same level of confidence. I just hope all my fellow artists hang in there long enough to get through this.

Surely there is something better waiting on the other end…”

“Although the soot is not yet cleared, this new year holds some amazing gifts in store. With the outpouring of support from collectors at the 1st Saturday Arts Market, I’m looking forward to the Market at Sawyer Yards. Even though I don’t have a studio to open right now, the community is still there. People are donating to us and buying the remaining works, and that just means the world to us.”

The Market at Sawyer Yards has always leaned towards artisan crafts that do not compete directly with their neighboring studio artists. Visitors typically will find handcrafted ceramics,

woodcraft, fiber and folk artists alongside package food vendors that bring everything from salsa, chocolate, tea to packaged to-go Indian food, popsicles and of course there is always a food truck on site.

Learn more about The Market at Sawyer Yards and preview the full roster on the website, https://sawyerstreetmarket.com/ . Resources for artists and donation opportunities are listed on the website as well.

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.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Rainbow Lodge is kicking off the 2023 Houston Rodeo season with their annual game and ranch dinner, Bison, Bourbon, and Brims. This year, Chef Mark Schmidt has created a New Mexicoinspired dinner featuring freerange meats and wild-caught seafood sourced from Beck & Bulow in Santa Fe and their team of butchers, ranchers and fishers.

Guests can dress in festive rodeo attire and enjoy a bourbon reception showcasing Buffalo Trace straight bourbon whiskey. There will be a tasting of the bourbon, a signature cocktail, and tasty bites followed by a curated four-course menu featuring New Mexico Wagyu beef, bison, elk, wild caught Alaskan sablefish and sustainable caviar.

Tickets will be $195 per person all inclusive. Ticket price includes reception bites, Buffalo Trace taste and a signature cocktail during the reception, a four-course seated dinner, sodas, tea, coffee, tax and tip. Additional beverages can be purchased separately.

A limited number of tickets are online at www.rainbowlodge.com/bbb-dinner.

For more information on Rainbow Lodge, visit their website at rainbow-lodge. com.

Coltivare release Dry January cocktail menu

According to PBS, more people are participating in what’s known as “Dry January,” taking a month-long break from alcohol after the “indulgences” of the holiday season. And a Heights bar is going to be right there for the ride with local residents.

Coltivare announced Jan. 1 that it will be partnering with Sipple, Texas’ first non-alcoholic bottle shop, for a special

- New Fashion “Dry January” began as a campaign in 2014 to improve the health of U.K. residents, according to Henry Ford Health, which also said the campaign has taken off in the United States over the last

several years as well.

”Using the same level of craft and care, along with premium ingredients, we’ve got a Dry January drink menu that will surely get you excited,” the bar wrote on Facebook.

selection of drinks. According to the bar, the selections offered will be:

Lord Tennyson’s Tonic

SoHo (South Houston)

The Perfect Storm

Not & Tonic

Sipple’s Margarita

Nibbles and Sips: Rainbow Lodge hosting rodeo dinner

Mitch cohen Art Columnist

Contributed photo

Contemporary Realist artist Vincent Fink will attend The Market at Sawyer Yards Saturday, steps away from his studio at Winter St.

Top: Lord Tennyson’s Tonic is one of the drinks that Coltivare will have during Dry January.

annual Bison, Bourbon, and Brims Rodeo Cookoff dinner on Jan.

Contributed photo

Teresa Staley, Crystal Wreden and Angela Walling in their Winter Street Studio before the fire.