Inside Today: Pick of the Patch raises $2,000 for ThisIsHouston dog rescue. Page 2 Smart choices last a lifetime.
Christmas is Coming...
713.688.8669
Lane Lewis Agency Flower & Gift Shop 17500467
LLewis@FarmersAgent.com 2200 North Loop W Ste 136 Houston, TX 77018
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350
Saturday, October 28, 2023 • Vol. 68 • No. 42
ABOUT US (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/FromTheLeader
Suspect arrested, charged in fatal 2021 Heights shooting: “There is only one way to get this” By Stefanie Thomas editor@theleadernews.com
INSIDE.
Two years after a fatal shooting in the Heights that left 45-year-old Jose Mazariegos dead in the roadway, police have made an arrest. Investigators with the Houston Police Department identified the suspect as Jose Leopoldo Fortiz, 45, of Eagle Pass, who now faces murder charges in the 482nd District Court. At the time, HPD officers responded to a shooting call at 500 Oxford Street around 10:05 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2021, and discovered Mazariegos lying in
the street with a gunshot wound to his chest. Despite the immediate response of Houston Fire Department paramedics, Mazariegos was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Harris County district courts, investigators learned from interviews with the victim’s wife that the couple was about to go to the store that evening. “As she was upstairs putting on shoes, she heard her husband downstairs talking to someone on the phone. [She] said that she then heard multiple gunshots and went downstairs and then outside and found her husband.”
FORTIZ
Booking photo released by Eagle Pass Police Department
Eyewitnesses to the shooting described a harrowing scene, with Mazariegos standing outside his parked truck
Imbibing the holiday vibes Dia de los Muertos Festival in the Heights Oct. 28
Page 2
you show up, there is a sense of pride like, ‘Cool, I’m one of the cool kids.’ Houston is very similar in the sense that there are so many eclectic communities, so at times the event doesn’t fall far from that group and it stays within that community due to these invisible walls.” Calle added that popup events add to the appeal of our city. “Houston’s a cool place to be as long as your ear stays close enough to the scene to know what’s shaking,” Calle said. How about the world of fine dining, though? Why, in a city that prides itself with amazing restaurants would diners choose to enjoy culinary adventures at a secret location? Area chef Anamaris Cousins of Secreto, who organizes secret dining events, said that these events are popular with “foodies, people who are looking for more than a hot meal. They really want an experience that incorporates other elements – direct access to the chef, culture, etc.” Clearly, See EVENTS P. 7
See CO-OP P. 7
Love Park receives major overhaul
Page 8
Photos submitted by Johnny’s Gold Brick Johnny’s Gold Brick in the Heights has hosted a Miracle Cocktail PopUp for five years during the holiday season.
The Weekend: Spooky events galore!
Page 8
Local Culture: Archway Gallery features Tic-TacHobo
Page 8
THE INDEX. People/Topics ����������������������������2 Classifieds ���������������������������������6 Local Culture �����������������������������8
Central City Co-Op: A 25-year journey to nourishing Houston with organic goodness
In a bustling metropolis like Houston, home to over 6 million residents, Central City Co-Op stands as a unique beacon, being the only organic food co-op in Houston. Founded 25 years ago on a humble back porch by a group of individuals eager to share a batch of organic parsley, the co-op has evolved into a vital resource for local farmers and a hub for organic enthusiasts. Today, it is led by its passionate Executive Director Jessica Wilt, who is committed to nurturing both the co-op and the Houston food community. Central City Co-Op’s early days were marked by mobility and volunteer dedication, operating just one day a week at various locations. The co-op operated for a time at Grace Lutheran Church, now Kindred Lutheran Church in Montrose. This is when Wilt and her husband became co-op members. As time went on and the need for financial stability of the co-op came to the forefront, Wilt took the reins and began to structure the co-op for cohesion and growth. When the co-op needed more refrigeration than the church had to offer, they moved temporarily to a building in the Heights. All was well, challenging at times, but overall, the beginnings of a well-oiled, organic, and sustainable venture. Enter the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which catapulted the co-op times ten, turning the one-day-a-week operation into a six-day-a-week undertaking in need of a permanent home. When their temporary Heights location became unavailable and the need to be open six days a week presented itself, Wilt organized the purchase of their current location at 2515 Harvard with 28 other co-op members. Wilt’s goal had always been to make the coop truly community owned. The 28 founding investors realized this would be an opportunity to bring that dream to fruition. While most co-op business models have a member-only approach, Central City Co-op welcomes all to shop in their market. Membership does have perks, such as discounted pricing,
The annual Dia de los Muertos Festival creates an atmosphere of colorful immersion into one of Latin America’s most important traditions.
Page 5
See SHOOTING P. 7
By Lisa Morales The Leader News Contributor
Photo by Compean Group, submitted by Montie Beach Civic Club
Senior Expo delivers resources, education
on Oxford Street when a then-unidentified assailant opened fire on him, an HPD press release states. Following the shooting, the suspect reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle described as a white Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon. Notably, the vehicle featured a distinctive sticker with the letters “SLP” on the driver’s side rear window. Surveillance footage of the wanted vehicle was subsequently released to the public in hopes of identifying the vehicle and its occupant, who witnesses reportedly described as a bald Hispanic man.
Shhh...some of the coolest events around town are secret! By Elena Sandovici The Leader News Contributor Between the stellar food scene and the plethora of cultural venues, Houstonians are spoiled for choice when it comes to enjoying a night out on the town. But did you know that some of the most interesting events are secret ones accessible only to the initiated few? We’re talking about secret PopUps, events for which the location is kept secret until one commits and buys a ticket. Why the secrecy? And who would sign up to go to something without knowing where it is, especially given the distances in Houston? The answers are interesting, and will probably spark your curiosity for these exclusive events.
The Miracle Cocktail PopUp at Johnny’s Gold Brick will be in its 6th year this coming holiday season.
SECRET POPUPS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, ART, FINE DINING, AND BEYOND Jacob Calle of House Party Comedy told The Leader that secret PopUps oc-
cur frequently in the comedy world. “They’re fun and exclusive,” he said. “Like being a member of something that doesn’t exist. In L.A., the hush hush events are quite popular as this adds mystique to an event. So when
Waggy Wonderland fundraiser for Harris County Pets set for Nov. 5 By Stefanie Thomas editor@theleadernews.com Calling all dog enthusiasts and holiday merrymakers! It’s that time of the year when you can indulge in festive cheer while contributing to a meaningful cause. Oak Forest resident Rebecca Bridges and co-host Trisha Hrapmann, owner of Briggs ‘n’ Wiggles pet accessories, are thrilled to share an exciting event they organized as a fundraiser
for Harris County Pets, the municipalfunded animal shelter that tirelessly serves all of Harris County, just beyond the city limits. The proceeds from this event will be channeled into the shelter’s “Heal-A-Heart” program, which provides life-saving heartworm treatment for dogs adopted through Harris County Pets. “Waggy Wonderland is about creating joy, fostering community, and ensuring that heartworm treatment is accessible to dogs in need,” Bridges
said. “It’s a testament to the power of individuals and the community coming together to make a difference.” Bridges, one of the driving forces behind Waggy Wonderland, has been a dedicated volunteer at Harris County Pets for the past seven years. In collaboration with Hrapmann and her pure-bred good boy Briggs, who was adopted from Harris County Pets, they want to ensure that adopted dogs receive essential heartworm treatment, See WAGGY P. 2
Subscribe today! Get YOUR community news at your doorstep!
Call now! 713-686-8494
Steven Pedini, Steven Pedini Photography)
Get in the picture! Waggy Wonderland features professional photo-ops for doggies and their owners.