Leader06 08b

B • The Leader • June 8, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com

Historic Community.Legendary Care.

It may just be a game of posturing, but as of press time, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas says its will end coverage at all Memorial Hermann hospitals in the Houston market, including Memorial Hermann Northwest, effective July 1.

Both Memorial Hermann and BCBSTX are clear about the issue: Reimbursement. The insurance company is looking to ob-tain reimbursement levels as low as pos-sible. The hospital wants to be paid more.

“BCBSTX monitors our contracts closely to ensure we offer competitive rates to health care providers that also

help keep premiums affordable for our members,” said a release distributed to impacted business owners in Texas. “We have offered Memorial Hermann a fair and reasonable reimbursement rate.”

James T. Campbell, who works in the external affairs offi ce for the Memorial Herman Health System, countered that negotiations are ongoing because the lev-el of care at their facilities has improved, and those improvements must be factored into reimbursements.

“Memorial Hermann has worked very hard over the past years to create high quality, cost effective care for our patients,” Campbell said in a written response. “We are a recognized national leader in clinically integrated care. Therefore, any agreement with BCBSTX must embrace our clinically integrated care structure and provide appropriate reimbursement for our services.”

Many of the questions looming over such a separation are still unanswered. From what happens to BCBSTX patients admitted into the hospitals who may still be there on July 1, to if there is an ability to extend the current contract, cannot be answered yet.

What seems clear, among both parties, is that negotiations are still being held and both sides want to fi nd a solution.

“Memorial Hermann is hopeful that we will be able to come to terms with BCB-STX,” Campbell said. “However, if we are unsuccessful in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement over the next few weeks, Memorial Hermann... will no lon-ger be included in the BCBSTX network,

effective July 1.”Campbell did say access to Memorial

Hermann Emergency Centers will remain available to BCBSTX members.

And Blue Cross also said it wants to fi nd a solution.

“We are disappointed that our long-standing relationship with Memorial Hermann may soon end,” the written statement said. “It remains our desire to keep the health system as part of the BCB-STX provider network.”

Among health facilities that would con-tinue to accept BCBSTX patients in The Leader’s coverage area are Doctors Hospi-tal-Tidwell and St. Joseph Hospital in the Heights.

If you ever want to see your grocery store with new eyes, just tag along with Melissa Hawthorne.

A registered dietitian and wellness coach, Hawthorne is on the staff of Advice for Eating, a group of registered dietitians who help people eat — and be — healthier.

Formerly at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa for six years, Hawthorne started with Advice for Eating in Janu-ary of this year. The company was founded by Catherine Kruppa, who served as a dietitian for the 2004 and 2008 US Olympic Diving Teams and also worked with former President George H. W. Bush.

Advice for Eating conducts grocery tours for interest-ed parties every other month. People can also schedule a private tour anytime up to 10 people at your grocery store of choice.

Hawthorne visits Kroger stores around the Houston area, including the one on 43rd Street, for her tours as well as H-E-B, Central Market, Whole Foods and Rice Epicurean.

“Many Houstonians rush in and out of the grocery store and buy the same products every week,” she said. “My clients rave about the tours and enjoy spending the time in the store to fi nd out about new products and meal ideas.”

While Hawthorne enjoys the group tours, a larger portion of her work is one-on-one consultations with individuals. Nutrition is always a part of the discussion, but Hawthorne says she also focuses a lot on a person’s overall lifestyle and eat-ing habits.

Her clients are a di-verse group who come for a variety of reasons: weight loss, food al-lergies, Celiac disease, sports nutrition, heart disease, diabetes, and pe-diatrics, among others.

“I like helping the community in a well-ness setting,” she said. “When people are in the hospital, they’re often not in the right frame of mind to work on their nutrition. What I do helps prevent people from be-ing in the hospital to begin with.”

From an early age, Hawthorne was interested in nutri-tion. She grew up in the Sharpstown area and was a gym-nast before making the switch to cheerleading.

“I had a pretty healthy upbringing,” she said, “and an open palate for most foods.”

After a summer internship with a private practice, Hawthorne graduated from Texas A&M in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in nutritional science. She then earned her master of science in nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. During her master’s work, she com-pleted an internship of 1,200 hours and passed a national exam to become a registered dietitian.

As part of her job, Hawthorne says it is important to stay abreast of nutritional fads and trends, in order to put them in context for her clients.

“There will be a nutrition topic mentioned on a televi-sion show one day and I get questions about it the very next day,” she said.

Advice for Eating is located at 1911 West Alabama,

Preventive Medicine

Health begins in the grocery aisles

Blue Cross could end coverage at Memorial Hermann

by Betsy [email protected]

Ah, summer. Beaches and barbecues. Pools and playgrounds. Road trips and picnics.

And quite possibly a visit to the emer-gency room.

Part of the shift to summer’s pursuits is mental, as we remember how to safely enjoy the season’s activities. To help area residents gear up for a safer summer, the Emergency department at Memorial Her-mann Northwest Hospital has a few re-minders – including that the trained staff is there and ready if you slip up and need their care.

Simple awareness helps hinder accidents and injuries, says Harparminder Chadha, M.D., the Emergency department’s medi-cal director. ”We have to be vigilant about our surroundings. When we go out to en-joy our interests, we tend to forget com-mon sense.”

Such as:Wear insect repellent and long-sleeved

shirts if you can. Bug bites and stings send a lot of victims to the ER waiting room – as can insect repellent sprayed in your face or eyes. While you’re at it, empty out-door containers with standing water where mosquitoes can quickly breed.

Learn what poison ivy looks like and

avoid it if you encounter it. Skin reactions to it can be quite severe.

Note how a more crowded playground means more chaos. Watch the swings, for example. Make sure your youngsters don’t walk in front of them when they’re in use.

Pick a playground with soft surfaces by the equipment in case your child falls.

Check the sizzle of the slides. They can get scorching hot in the Texas sun.

Drink water and electrolyte-replenish-ing liquids to avoid dehydration, particu-larly if you are working – or working out – outdoors. Signs of dehydration include fatigue and confusion, then cramping, dizziness and nausea.

Refrain from leaving your children or pets unattended in the car. A hot car can kill them in minutes.

Use a grill mindfully. If at a park, keep at least 10 feet between fi re pits. If children are present, don’t leave the grill unattend-ed. And never use a grill inside your home or garage. Storing the propane tank in the garage is unwise. So is using gasoline to get your coals burning.

Be on the lookout at cookouts. They’re notorious sources of food-borne illnesses. Perishable food quickly goes bad. “It might not taste bad, but the bacteria are forming even though you can’t taste them,” says Dr. Chadha. Another picnic tip: Preheat the

Avoid the ER this summer

by Cynthia LescalleetFor The Leader

see Hawthorne • Page 2B

Follow tips to keep you and your family safe during outings“When people are in the

hospital, they’re often not in the right frame of mind to work on their nutrition.

What I do helps prevent people from being in the hospital to begin with.”

see Safety• Page 2B

by Jonathan [email protected]

At top, a day at the beach requires planning for sun protection, hy-dration and careful attention to water conditions. (Photo from state of Texas)Above, with plant life in full bloom in summer months, learning how to identify problematic growth, such as poison ivy, is essential. (Photo from Houston Arboretum & Nature Center)

Water, sun and heat are all factors that can turn summer fun into a health emergency. (Photo from Houston Arboretum & Nature Center)

B • The Leader • June 8, 2013 • @heightsleader

For physician referral, call 713.222.CARE (2273) or visit memorialhermann.org.

Ranked among Nation’s Top 5 Large Health Systems according to 15 Top Health Systems® study by Truven Health*

�Ranked among America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ by Healthgrades® four consecutive years (2010–2013)**

�Ranked among the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health* five consecutive years (2009–2013)**

�Recognized by Joint Commissions Disease-Specific

care certification program in joint replacement for hip and knee�

Cancer program accredited with commendationby the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer

�Awarded Maternity Care Excellence Award and Women’s Health Excellence Award by Healthgrades®

�Recognized as an accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers

*As part of the Memorial Hermann Health System**As part of the Memorial Hermann Health System: The Woodlands, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest hospitals.

CONTINUALLY RECOGNIZED FOR DELIVERING A

HIGHER LEVEL OF CAREIn our quest for healthcare excellence, Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital

sets the standard. And continuously striving to earn the most acclaimedaccreditations ensures we keep redefining that standard.

2400 N. Shepherd713-862-5958

Open Mon-Sat 6 am-4 pm • Breakfast 6 am-11 amCredit Cards

Wel come

��

Chef, Shrimp, Chicken, & Greek SaladsAll You Can Eat Catfi shLet Us Cater Your Event

Hearty Breakfast Specials From 6 AM Daily

• Choice of Entree• Fresh Vegetables• Salad • Roll

$550And Up

��

��

��We accept Care-Credit

Ad # BL-February

��7038 Antoine Drive

Houston, Texas 77088(e-mail) [email protected]

��

��

��

��

��

www.markelawtondds.com

��

��

��

� ��

��

M. REAGAN MCKEWEN, DDS

��

WE’VE BEEN PUTTING SMILES ON OUR PATIENTS

6915 Antoine - Suite C • (713) 682-6307

Since 1974��

��

We hear the warnings about how today’s sun exposure can lead to future skin cancers, but do we pay heed? Do we cover up and slather on the sunscreen – or, bet-ter yet, sunscreen?

Apparently not, despite frequent awareness campaigns, reports Alpesh Desai, D.O., a dermatolo-gist affiliated with Memorial Her-man Northwest Hospital. This time of year, acute sunburn is the most common reason patients visit the practice he shares with his brother and fellow dermatologist, Tejas Desai, D.O.

A sunburned patient’s symp-toms might range from redness in the affected area and tight skin that’s painful when touched to more serious signs of overexpo-sure and related dehydration, such as feeling tired and dizzy.

A severe sunburn might even land a patient in the hospital, Dr. Desai adds. That can happen when the sunburn affects a large area or when there’s significant blistering. The body’s chemical balance is disrupted and it responds systemi-cally, with swelling, for example. This is especially true for older persons and those with poor cir-culation, high blood pressure or congestive heart failure.

Meanwhile, the effects of sun-burn accumulate and linger far longer than the initial discomfort.

“Every blistering sunburn in-creases your chances of developing melanoma in that spot by 10 to 15

percent,” Dr. Desai explains.Melanoma is the deadliest of

skin cancers. It looks like a small brown or black stain and usually spreads out from a mole. Other skin cancers include the far more common and slowly growing basal cell carcinoma and more complex squamous cell carcinoma.

“If you have a spot or lesion that just doesn’t heal, it needs to be evaluated,” Dr. Desai emphasizes. He says non-melanoma skin can-cer can be treated easily if caught early, thus the need for bi-annual skin exams.

Given his specialty, Dr. Desai is understandably a big fan of sun-screen and sun-block clothing, in-cluding hats, which help, but can’t catch all the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

“Our hair is phenomenal pro-tection,” he notes, adding that bald men and people with thinning hair need to extend their sunscreen use into the exposed scalp and wear a hat.

While summer brings sunburns and skin cancer awareness to the forefront, it’s the year-round, day-to-day sun exposure that can add up to cancer.

Do the mathIf the possibility of getting skin

cancer doesn’t prompt your gen-erous use of sunscreen – or bet-ter yet, sunblock – then think of what you’ll save in future cosmetic procedures to mitigate the aging effects of sun damage, Dr. Desai says. A tube of sunscreen typically costs less than $10.

Protect now for long term skin health

A blistering sunburn increases skin cancer chances at that location by 10-15 percent, according to experts at Memorial Hermann Northwest. (Photo from MHNW/Facebook)

by Cynthia LescalleetFor The Leader

Hawthorne • from Page 1B

Registered dietitian and wellness coach Melissa Hawthorne leads a grocery store tour through the Kroger on 43rd Street in Oak Forest. (Photo by Betsy Denson)

Suite A. Visit them at http://adviceforeating.blogspot.com/ to sign up for a free monthly newsletter with recipes, success stories, and upcoming events, including upcoming grocery store tours.

Hawthorne’s tips for grocery shopping:•Start in the produce section where you get the best nutritional bang

for your buck. There is no one “super food.” Getting lots of different colors of fruits and vegetables means getting lots of different nutritional benefits.

•Walk the perimeter of the store first where the food is generally less processed. Then shop the aisles.

•Limit foods that have fat or sugar in the first three ingredients. Ex-amples of fat: butter, mayonnaise, hydrogenated oils. Examples of sugar: honey, sugar cane, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose.

•Look for food that has not been “enriched,” which means that during processing nutrients have been taken away and re-added. For instance, when shopping for bread, look for 100 percent whole wheat, or grain as the first ingredient on the ingredient list.

•When choosing a breakfast cereal, look for those that have at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Fiber will help you lower your cholesterol as well as keep you feeling satisfied longer.

Burn Notice

Safety • from Page 1B

UV-rays also cause damage to the eyes, experts say. Prevent Blindness Texas promotes the use of “sight-saving accessories,” meaning UV-blocking sunglasses, preferably wrap-around ones that protect the eyes and skin around them, and wide-brimmed hats.

The month of May was the organization’s UV Awareness Month. Related materials discussed how lower-energy UV-A can “penetrate deep into the eye and may injure the macula.” UV-B, meanwhile, “is mainly absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye and can damage those tissues.”

Like skin, eyes accumulate UV damage, possibly appearing later as tumors, cataracts and macular degeneration. People tak-ing medications like tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth control pills, diuretics and tranquilizers are at special risk.

For more information, visit http://texas.preventblindness.org/

Eyes also at-risk

grill to kill any accumulated bacte-ria left over from an earlier use.

Carry hand sanitizer. And use it.

Watch the water. Pools, swim parties and the beach demand ex-tra attentiveness in watching your children.

Wear a bike helmet. You, too, Mom and Dad. Anyone can topple and crack his or her skull. Ditto skateboard and scooter users.

Never attempt to work on a run-ning lawnmower.

They cause some of the most serious injuries the Emergency de-partment sees.

Watch your children, especially as summer kicks in. It takes them a while to get used to new behaviors as well.

“These are very common-sense things, and yet we get so many ac-cidents and falls and injuries,” Dr. Chadha says. “We are here to help them and at the end to remind them one more time to be care-ful.”

The Reagan High football team is looking to im-prove on its 7-4 season, and a big part of that is 7-on-7 summer passing league.

With temperatures that can rise into the triple dig-its, and humidity to match, the team’s coaches are pro-active when it comes to making sure the team stays hydrated.

“I recommend they drink a Powerade before they go to sleep,” Reagan 7-on-7 coach Jimmy McClure said. “(During the games), they should grab a water and go in the shade immediately.”

Reagan competed in the HISD Tournament last Saturday at Butler Stadium.

For University Interscholastic League schools, football coaches can’t coach 7-on-7 teams. McClure is a special education teacher at Hogg Middle School who played Division I football at Ohio University.

Seven-on-seven involves passing and pass defense with no tackling or running game. Players wear T-

shirts and shorts during the tournaments, which culminate with a state tournament in Leander next month.

“It gives the quarterbacks a chance to throw with-out pressure and to look at basic coverages,” McClure said. “The receivers learn different routes and cover-ages.”

Although they can’t coach, the RHS coaches attend the games and watch their players’ progress.

Bulldogs head football coach Stephen Dixon said it was important for his players to stay hydrated.

“At this point in time, it’s very important, especially with it as hot as it is,” Dixon said. “Every time they get off the fi eld, they get hydrated.”


Personal fi reworks are illegal in Leader communities, but that doesn’t always stop individuals from picking up a few popping or sparkly items from stands in outlying areas and bringing them home.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports the following fi reworks injury statis-tics, which should provide good reason to reconsider that practice:

• Fireworks devices were in-volved in an estimated 9,600 inju-ries treated in U.S. hospital emer-

gency rooms in 2011 (the latest year for which data is available).

• An estimated 6,200 injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms during the one-month pe-riod (June 17-July 17) surround-ing the Fourth of July.

• Eyes were the second most commonly injured part of the body, with an estimated 1,100 fi re-works-related eye injuries treated in the same one-month period of 2011.

• Sparklers accounted for 1,100

injuries, fi recrackers (800) and re-loadable shells (900).

• Males accounted for 68 percent of fi reworks injuries.

• 26 percent of fi reworks injuries were to children under age 15.

• Data from the U.S. Eye Injury Registry shows that bystanders are more often injured by fi reworks than operators themselves.

• Contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies were the most com-mon injuries to eyes.

• There were 4 fi reworks-related deaths in 2011.

Injury Treatment• Workers Compensation• 18 Wheeler Accidents• Personal Injuries

Northwest Injury & Wellness Center is a full-service company that prides itself in the

all-around care of its patients.

Specializing In:

2000 North Loop West, Suite 200 | Houston, Texas 77018

281-501-9461

Nor

thwest Injury

&W

ellnessC

enter

Northwest Injury & Wellness

www.northwestinjuryandwellnesscenter.com

Nutritional Counseling Detox Chiropractic Care Prenatal Chiropractic Care Rehabilitation Body Wrap Facials

Ad # 34651

(713) 880-40001714 W. 18th Street (At Ella Blvd)

Houston, TX 77008Se Habla Espanol

www.CompleteMedicalSupply.net

Bring this coupon for:

All Medical SuppliesNot Valid On Rentals, Uniforms, or Special Orders

Bring this coupon for:Bring this coupon for:Bring this coupon for:

All Medical SuppliesNot Valid On Rentals, Uniforms, or Special OrdersNot Valid On Rentals, Uniforms, or Special Orders

��

Monday - Friday (9am-6pm) Saturday (10am-5pm)

• Wheelchairs • Walkers • Canes • Ostomy • Wound Care• Diapers/Underpads • Pillows • Braces • Bath Safety

• Nebulizers • Support Socks • Scrub Sets $9.99

Bath/shower chairs

10% OFF

Starting atBIOFREEZE

All sizes in stock and 10% offwith the coupon below

��Without back.

With back (as pictured) $39.99

Also available bath benches with arms, transfer benches,

commodes and MUCH more!

MEMBERSHIPSSeason long membership

$110.00 for families $75.00 for individual

5335 Lost Forest | www.forestwest.com

POOL HOURSClosed Monday

Tuesday - Friday2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday12:00 noon - 8:00 pm

Sunday2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Private Community Pool Memberships Available

2013 SWIM SEASON

PRIVATE PARTIES rental rate is $100.00

an additional $25.00 if use of kitchen is needed along with a

$100.00 deposit

May 25th through September 3rd

Forest West Subdivision

Contact Brent Mon-Thur, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at 713-466-1204 for more information.

InQuicker™ is intended for use by individuals who have non-life and non-limb threatening medical conditions. Those with life- or limb-threatening medical conditions should dial 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.

Hydration fi rstBy Michael Sudhalter

[email protected]

Reagan High junior linebacker Emanuel Garcia takes a water break during a 7-on-7 tournament game last Saturday. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Leave fi reworks to the pros

Memorial Hermann sponsoring blood drive

Memorial Hermann Northwest will Sponsor a blood drive for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. June 13.

Location is classrooms A, B, E and F in the South Tower.

Appointments are not required but encouraged and may be made at 1-888-482-5663 or by visiting giveblood.org. The sponsor code for the event is 0710.

For questions, call Kimberli Morris, 713-867-4354.

Support groups meet at MHNW

Coping With Breast Cancer Support Group meets the fi rst Wednesday of each month, 1:30- 3 p.m., Memorial Hermann Northwest, South Tower, 1635 North Loop West, Classroom A. For questions or directions, call Angela Sisk, MSN, RN, OCN at 713-867-2062

June 12 - Memorial Hermann North-west Off ers Resource to Talk about Cancer EMBRACE: Cancer Discussion Group. The group is open to all cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, and meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1-2 p.m.,in the South Tower, Classroom C.

Free Freshstart Tobacco Cessation Program, Mondays 2-3 p.m. South Tower, Classroom A. Call 713-222-CARE to register.

Protect against mosquitoes

Mosquitoes not only prevent people from enjoying the outdoors, but they are a potential health risk.

The Texas Department of State Health Services recently confi rmed the fi rst case of West Nile virus in Anderson County, about 150 miles north of Houston.

In 2012, Texas reported 1,868 human cases of West Nile illness, including 89

deaths – the worst outbreak in the nation. With large mosquito populations pre-

dicted again this year, it is important for Texans to take precautions when spending time outdoors this summer. Coming off of a wet, mild winter and recent bouts of rain, mosquitoes are hatching and becom-ing active much earlier than usual.

Diabetics needed for medication study

Baylor College of Medicine is recruiting adult volunteers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past fi ve years for a multi-site study funded by the National Institutes of Health. It will compare the long-term benefi ts and risks of four widely used diabetes drugs in combination with metformin, the most common fi rst-line medication for treating type 2 diabetes.

Volunteers may be on metformin, but not on any other diabetes medication.

The study will compare drug eff ects on glucose levels, adverse eff ects, diabetes complications and quality of life over an average of nearly fi ve years.

For more information or to participate in the study at Baylor College of Medicine, call 713-798-3625.

Plan for sober summer driving

Whether attending a backyard barbecue, going to an outdoor concert or enjoying a lazy day on the river, Texans are planning for summer fun. As plans are made, more thought must also go into planning for a sober driver if drinking is involved.

Over the past fi ve summers, alcohol-related fatalities increased by more than 10 percent in Texas. To curb this trend and help reduce drinking and driving, the Texas Department of Transportation is reminding Texans to obtain a Summer PASS (Person Appointed to Stay Sober) and make a sober driver an essential part of their summer plans.

According to a National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration survey, 40 percent of drivers who consumed alcohol felt it would be safe to have three or more drinks within a two-hour period before driving. A portion of that 40 percent believed they could have fi ve or more drinks. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In the summer of 2012 (June 1 - Aug. 31), there were 6,576 alcohol-related traffi c crashes in Texas, resulting in 2,486 serious injuries and 302 fatalities.

For information about fi nding a sober ride home, visit www.soberrides.org. For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at [email protected] or 512-463-8700.

Could you or a loved one benefit from CareBuilders at Home? • Companionship • Homemaking • Overnight Care • Meal Preparation • Live-In care • Respite Care

Care Builders can assist you and provide you with peace of mind around the clock

832-209-8839 • carebuildersathome.com

Health BRIEFS

��

��

��

��

��832-661-4749

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Nor

thwest Injury

&W

ellnessC

enter


Mark your calendars for the Oak Forest Homeowners’ Asso-ciation’s Le Tour de Oak Forest Bike Ride on June 29 from 8-10:30 a.m. Open to Oak Forest residents as well as folks from surrounding neighborhoods, the Tour will begin and end at the Oak Forest Chill on Oak Forest at Judiway, and participants will ride through all 18 Sections of the neighborhood along a carefully planned route.

Registration will take place the Tuesday through Friday pre-ceding the bike ride at The Oak Forest Chill from 6:30-7:30 p.m. There is a $10 registration fee, and bike helmets will be required for all bike riders.

For non-bike riders, there are plenty of ways to be involved as a volunteer. Call Lucy Fisher Cain at 281-685-9829.

Happy 15th birthday to Gianni Luisi of Oak Forest, who cel-ebrates her special day on June 7 from Momo, Rochel and Alaric.

Sincere happy birthday wishes to Oak Forest neighbor Kristi Anders who blew out her candles on May 31 and celebrated over the weekend with an ‘80s themed party complete with 1980s style clothes and accessories, wine coolers, Care Bears, and AquaNet hairspray. Kristi’s husband Clint and sons Chace, Mikah, Noah

and Joshua wish her many more happy returns of the day.

Get well soon, Diane Tolley: Friends and family send great big bear hugs and loving wishes for a speedy recovery to Diane, one of our neighbors in Brookwoods Estates.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church’s own Deacon Sebas-tine Soja Okoye became Father Sebastine Soja Okoye upon his ordination to the priesthood by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on June 1 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Hous-ton. The cathedral was complete-ly fi lled with teachers, friends, and family ready to celebrate this joyous occasion. Father Okoye is the fi fth of six children born to his parents in Eastern Nigeria. He said that his mother named him “Soldier,” which is spelled “Soja” in his Igbo language and means “Soldier of Christ,” as she seemed to know even then that God was calling him. Father Okoye has been very active within the St. Rose Parish family, truly dem-onstrating a great joy for serving others, and one of his duties was teaching CCE at Garden Oaks El-ementary this school year. In ad-dition to numerous friends from the Igbo Catholic Community in Houston, several of the children in Father Okoye’s class (Brandon and Katherine Starovic, Charles and James Komarek, Emma and Hannah Maltbie, and Zachary

Villarreal) as well as neighbors from the St. Rose Parish includ-ing Louise Bratton, Anita and Rey Rodriguez, Susan and Rod-ney Meriwether, Sharon and Danny Dobbs, Vicki and Joe Guidry, Debbie Hoelscher, Ja-neal and Bill Whitefi eld, Pris-cilla Phillips, Joe and Cinda DeVet, Gladys Turney, Margie and John Hesse, Tony Ramos, Denise and Dennis Thiele, Col-leen Walkoviak, Larry Hernan-dez, Veronica Starovic, Chris Komarek, Jayne Maltbie, Mike and Susie Cutaia, Maritza Ar-cos, and Deacon John Murrell, were there to show their love and support. One of the things Father Okoye frequently told the chil-dren in his class in his quiet and earnest way was, “You may think I am teaching you, but really, you, you are the ones teaching me.”

The Oak Forest Homeowners’ Association hosted a festive din-

ner at Brothers Pizzeria recently for its new section leaders. Each of the 18 Sections of Oak Forest now has one to three co-leaders who will welcome new neighbors, organize block parties for Neigh-borhood Night Out, and in gener-al be a source of helpful informa-tion for residents of Oak Forest. Just a few of the many section leaders and their guests attend-ing were Julia Jones, Pat Walker, Goh-Lang Eng, Chris Lombar-do, Garrett & Maria Tyra and their son Titus, Darlene Jones, Carolyn Altomare, Erin Carter, Cindy Sonnier, Phil Simmons, Allison Virgadamo, John and Halcie Wethington, Craig Pow-ers, Nora Loera and Lucy Fisher Cain. With a neighborhood of 5,550 homes, it is a wonderful thing to have volunteers like these to make Oak Forest a fun and en-joyable community.Ad # 36774

No Deposit No Late Fees Controlled Access Lighted & Secure

Lowest Pricesin Town!

Aztec StoragesWest 34th St.

(Between Ella & T.C. Jester)

Call us and compare our prices to

ANY OTHERFACILITY!

713-681-1383

COVERED STORAGE NOW AVAILABLE 12'X30'

Ad # 36378

Adult & Childrens’ Foot & Ankle Disorders• Nail Laser Treatment • Sports Injuries• Ingrown Toenails • Corns • Calluses• Warts • Bunions • Heel & Arch Pain

• Hammertoes • Orthotics • Diabetic Foot Care

713-680-1979www.barryweinsteindpm.com

www.NailLaserCenterHouston.com

TOTAL FOOT CAREBarry P. Weinstein, DPMNail Laser Center Of Houston

4234 Ella Boulevard • Houston, Texas 77018

CURLSFOR GIRLSEdie’s

Ad # 26927

3712 AlbaGarden Oaks

between Shepherdand Ella

713-692-CURL713-692-2875

Becky Shane

HAIR STYLISTWe can help you

with the newest cuts, perms and coloring.

FEATURING

MollyDiaries

The

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s summertime in Houston. As the thermometer creeps higher and higher every day, so does the ani-mal population at BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care). The organization is taking in hun-dreds of animals a week and des-perately needs your help.

“We really need help right now,” said Chris Newport, BARC spokesman. “We have taken in 573 animals just in the past week, and more are coming in every day. Get-ting these animals into the homes they deserve must be a commu-nity-wide effort. Even if you can’t permanently adopt a pet, you can help by temporarily fostering an animal or even just by spreading the word to friends, family and co-workers.”

More than 5,600 animals have al-ready been saved at BARC this year through adoptions, fosters, rescue groups, returns to owner and the Trap-Neuter-Return program. If more Houstonians come forward to get involved in BARC’s efforts, more and more animals could be placed with new families. BARC’s facility, located at 3200 Carr Street, Houston 77026, is open for adop-tions every Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday from noon-6 p.m.

If you’re unable to adopt or foster but would still like to help, consider volunteering with BARC.

You can fi nd more information on BARC’s volunteer program at www.houstonBARC.com

The simplest, but most power-ful thing you can do to help BARC, and pets throughout our com-munity, is to talk to your friends, neighbors, and family about car-ing for pets responsibly.

Furry Heads Up Get snipped at SNAP!Free spay/neuter services offered

by SNAP (for qualifying, low-in-come dog and cat guardians) is going on throughout the month of June at locations all over Houston. Please call 713-522-2337 for more information. Please keep friends, relatives and neighbors in mind who might could take advantage of this valuable service!Polka For Pets!

Pick up your freshly-pressed Le-derhosen from the dry cleaners and hurry over to the Polka For Pets Slavic Dinner and Dance, benefi t-ting Smart Pets Rescue at SPJST Lodge 88 (1435 Beall St. 77008) on Saturday, June 29. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., and dancing goes from 8:30 p.m.-midnight. Music will be provided by Grammy-winning group, Brave Combo. Tickets are $20 each. Go to www.smartpetz.com for more info. Proceeds from this event will help fund Smart Pets Rescue’s animal sanctuary, located in Conroe.

Follow Molly on Twitter@TheMollyDiaries.

Summer Surge

by Elizabeth [email protected]

Reagan High language arts teacher Nancy Abrego, a 1976 graduate of the school, is the Bulldogs’ biggest sports fan. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog

If Nancy Abrego is wearing a color besides maroon, it’s a rare occasion.

The Reagan High language arts teacher and self-described “super fan” attends every Bulldog sport-ing event.

“The kids kind of look for me there,” said Abrego, a 1976 RHS graduate. “Win or lose, I’m there for them. I talk to the kids and tell them ‘good game.’”

She said it’s important to attend the games because often the ath-letes’ parents aren’t able to make it.

In addition to following the teams, Abrego makes scrapbooks for coaches to give to their ath-letes.

Abrego, who competed in track & fi eld, swimming and volleyball for the Lady Bulldogs in the mid 1970s, was born and raised in the Heights, one of six children.

“I used to live where I-10 is now, on 3rd Street,” Abrego said. “The neighborhood where I lived, the state bought it.”

She attended Harvard and Tra-vis elementary schools, Hogg Middle School and Reagan.

“I was all over campus (as a stu-dent),” Abrego said. “I followed ROTC and went to football games. Softball was my favorite sport. We’d play touch football at Hogg on Sundays.”

Abrego met her husband of 24 years, Steve, when she was 11 and he was 7. They attended the same elementary schools, but he gradu-ated from district rival, Davis.

“I tease him about it when we play Davis,” Abrego said.

After high school, Abrego earned a bachelor’s degree in gen-

eral studies/political science from University of Houston-Down-town. She worked at UHD and the Texas Medical Center where she was a conference coordinator, set-ting up educational programs for doctors and nurses.

From the late 1970s through the early 2000s, Abrego only followed Reagan athletics passively.

But in 2004, she went back to UHD for a teaching certifi cate and promptly returned to RHS.

“I jumped right in and started going to all of the games,” said Abrego, who even follows 7-on-7 football during the summer. “I’ve been all over the city and all the way to Tomball and Texas City. I enjoy watching them play.”

Abrego’s daughter, Elizabeth, played basketball and volleyball for the Lady Bulldogs, graduat-ing in 2009. Abrego even wrote a poem about Reagan when her daughter enrolled there, so she’d understand the uniqueness of the school’s tradition.

Last season, Abrego enjoyed watching the RHS volleyball and softball teams win outright dis-trict championships.

“I thought it was so neat – I was so happy for the girls,” she said.

Abrego counts the Reagan foot-ball’s team fi rst playoff win in a half-century in 2011 and the ap-pearance of RHS alum and former Astros shortstop Craig Reynolds as the keynote speaker at a Rea-gan sports banquet as two of the highlights since she’s returned to the school.

She also volunteered with the school’s Alumni Golf Tourna-ment, which raised $60,000 for scholarships in April.

“I think it’s wonderful they raise money to give to scholarships,” Abrego said.

by Michael [email protected]

BARC needs homes for petsby Molly Sue McGillicutty

For The Leader

Neighbors: Wheels up for Tour de Oak Forest

Publishes June 29

Contact your sales rep for details! | (713) 686-8494

Covering traditional 4th of July favorites and other culinary infl uences.

Freedom • Fireworks • FoodCelebrating all that is American

COMING SOON!


LOCAL BUSINESSROUND TABLE

NETWORKBUSINESS LEADER

The Leader and Lone Star College Small Business Development Center invites you to join us for a Free Networking event for local businesses

July 257:30am - 9:00 am

Lone Star College • Victory Center4141 Victory Dr. • Houston, TX 77088

Presented by Don Ball, CME, CGBD, Senior Consultant

The Business Leaders Network was created by The Leader and Lone Star College System as a free service to small business in the community. There’s no charge for the event,

breakfast is included, and we promise to have you out the door by 9am.

If local business is successful, we’re all successful

Reserve your spot today. Spots are limited.Call 713-686-8494

T.C. Jester

An

toin

e Dr.

W. Little York

Victory Dr.

LoneStar

College

An opportunity to discuss common questions all business owners have.

when & where


Ad # D

Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health. From the office of: Chase Baker, D.D.S.,

3515 Ella Blvd., 713-682-4406.

If you have a missing tooth, it is almost always recommended that the tooth be replaced. Without a full complement of dentition, your

other teeth begin to take on more force than they are designed for. This can lead to your remaining teeth’s chewing surfaces to wear more quickly and for fractures to begin to form as well. Finally, the adjacent teeth tend to shift into the space of the lost tooth, which can lead to problems with your teeth alignment. Whether you’re missing a single tooth, or multiple teeth, implants may be the best restorative option for you. In the past, a lost tooth would require a removable prosthesis or a bridge placed to close the space. Both of these options require drilling on adjacent teeth which may be perfectly healthy. Implants require no work on any other teeth. They are the most like your existing teeth and provide similar strength for functioning and chewing. If you’re in need of any teeth to be replaced, check with your dentist to see if an implant would be right for you.

Chase Baker, D.D.S.

ARE IMPLANTS FOR ME?

I am about to lose a child. Well, we will send this delightful child back to her family in her home country. Sure, she has been our child since Aug. 9, 2012, and we sure knew it was a temporary situ-ation.

Love is something quite amaz-ing, really. For most of my life I have said that I love everyone. I believe it is God that loves every-one, and I just express God’s love when I share my life with com-plete strangers.

I usually write about growing things and nature. I decided to submit this piece to The Leader because family is so important; but family is not always the people that you share genes with.

Luiza DeFreitas has been in our home now for more than nine months. She came to us through the American Field Service (AFS) exchange student program. This program was started by former members of the ambulance corps that served in Europe in World War II. They believed that if they simply brought people together, maybe the carnage of war that they witnessed could be a thing of the past.

I fi rmly believe that exchange student programs do create a more peaceful world. We have hosted students from China, Ka-zakhstan, and, most recently, Lu-iza from Brazil.

I tear up just looking at this de-lightful child who will leave soon but, will always be part of our lives. She will be on another conti-nent, but just like Bingjie and Eyla, we will think of her often and see her in cyberspace.

Our family is much richer for the experiences we have had with these three delightful people that we have shared our home with.

Bingjie was the fi rst exchange stu-dent that we hosted. She attended Waltrip and accomplished great things here by demonstrating academic excellence at Waltrip. Her peaceful presence was quite welcome in our often tumultuous home. Those wings cooked with a Coca Cola recipe were awesome.

Eyla (Yenlik Kadyrbekovna Beketayeva) is back in Kazakhstan. She attended Waltrip and played basketball there.

The coaches truly enjoyed her presence. Eyla aspires to be the U.N. Secretary General.

Usually young people change their long-term goals. This has been her goal for the last fi ve years. I am sure she will do well in what-ever she pursues.

Luiza attended St Pius X this year. She played soccer and has excelled academically. I have never

had to suggest that she might want to study. She has never required redirection. The young woman is an academic beast. I have never been able to understand how for-eign students can come in and rise to the top academically. There are always a few missteps at fi rst be-cause of cultural or language dif-ference. However, the students we have hosted have all risen to the top academically.

They have also improved our home because it is extremely diffi -cult not to be on your best behav-ior when in the presence of some-one that will be in your home for just a short while. Yes, 10 months can be very short.

Woodward is a resident of Shep-herd Park Plaza and a frequent contributor to The Leader on the fi eld of gardening and restorative planting.

Notices have been mailed to more than 105,000 delinquent property tax account holders across Harris County, and offi cials warn the longer the taxes remain unpaid, the higher the penalties.

If accounts aren’t paid in full by July 1 or if a payment agreement and fi rst payment haven’t been made by then, an additional 15-20 percent of the total tax, penalty and interest will be tacked onto the ac-count.

Arrangements can be made on-line at www.hctax.net, and pay-ments can be made by credit card, debit card and/or e-Check.

Delinquent tax bill payments and payment plan agreements may also be made at any of the 15 Har-ris County Tax Offi ce branches. A surcharge of 2.15 percent will be added to each credit card transac-tion, as well as MasterCard debit transactions. When using a VISA debit card, there is a fl at fee of $3.95, and there is no fee charged for e-Checks.

Taxpayers wanting to pay by telephone can call 713-368-2273 using a touch-tone phone. Pay-ments made via telephone are sub-ject to the same terms as online payments.

For information, call 713-368-2000 or visit the Tax Offi ce Website at www.hctax.net

��

Home and private duty in your own home.

Heights & Timbergrove area

Call 713-869-4374

Saying so long to our exchange friendby Dennis Woodward

For The Leader

The Woodward family-plus-one: From left, Robin and Catherine Woodward, Brazilian exchange student Luiza DeFreitas, Miles, front, and Dennis Wood-ward and Colleen Roberts. (Submitted photo)

SATURDAY LEISURE HANDS-ON COOKING /

Le��CHEF CLUB

The meter is running on overdue taxes

U THIS Small ads really do work

if they say the right thing

Try One - (713) 686-8494

E-mail [email protected]

832-641-5566

Barbara RainesREALTOR® CONSULTANT

D I R E C T

5003 BAYOU VISTA DR • CANDLELIGHT OAKS

Each offi ce is independently owned & operated

Welcome guests into a 2 story freshly painted entry. Recent ooring, including carpet & tile throughout. Formals, large den with replace overlooking sparkling pool. Updated down master suite with private entry to backyard & pool. Numer-ous other upgrades. Don’t miss this lovely house on a corner lot! $285,000

Recently Reduced

Call me to schedule your appointment

Make this home yours!4 - 2½ - 3

��Just because it’s old doesn’t mean you have to throw it out. Powder coating, which lasts longer and is more environmentally safe than just a fresh coat of paint, can restore almost anything

��Chairs - $60/ea.Tables - $100/ea.Full Set - $325

(4 chairs, 1 table)

��We handle more than just

furniture. For information on powder coating any item inside or outside your home, please call us at the number below.

��More than 150 colors available.

For more information, call (903) 723-2208

www.lonestarpowdercoating.com

��

��

��From patio sets to fences to old sinks or bath tubs,LONESTAR POWDER COATING is a perfect alternative to refurbishing items inside and outside of your home.

��AND, we don’t just specialize in small jobs. If you’re remodeling a home or have other metal products that need protection from the ele-ments, we have a commercial-strength shop with quick turnaround – pick-up and delivery available.

��

THE CLASSIFIEDS.THE CWanting to run a classifi ed ad? CALL 713-686-8494 Monday - Friday. We accept credit cards.

AUTOS & TRUCKS

AUTOSERVICES

MOBILE AUTO & TRUCK REPAIRS

7 Days a week, 35 yrs. exp.Low Prices, Sr. Discount.

“CALL ME, I COME TO YOU”DON DRAUGHON

832-641-9586

Ad # 6-08

LEADER PUZZLER SOLUTIONS

2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF: Ex-cellent condition. 109,000 miles, one owner. New transmission. Reduced $6,500, taking offers. 713-290-0411. (6-22)

CA$H

832-646-6103

For Unwanted Cars, Trucks, MTX & RV’s

Not running OK

TODAY

Birthday celebrations, anni-versaries, new babies? We love to share your family news with the neighborhood. Send it to your Leader columnist or e-mail it to our editor at [email protected]. SEWING

ALTERATIONS: Reasonable. Pick up and delivery. Charlotte, 713-694-0003. (TF)

Sell it fast with an inexpensive Leader classifi ed.

713.686.6622 FOAMthe store

Memory FoamMattresses

SLEEPBETTER

� Custom Cut � Memory Foam � Chair Pads� Couch Cushions � Mattress Foam

2217 W. 34th, Ste. A.713-686-6622Johnny & Rhea Danna, Owners

RETAIL CENTER WHOLESALE PRICES

THE FOAM STORE

www.thefoamstore.com

FOR SALE

GUNS & AMMO

REPUBLICARMS

713-682-5549www.republicarms.com

3344 E.T.C. Jester

FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE

MOVING IN/MOVING OUT? Call Frank to haul off trash/junk. 832-893-5697.

SKILL SAW WITH THREE BLADES, one for metal, $125; 220 V electric heater for work-shop, $60; compressor and tank, $60; large electric Kitch-enAid washer and dryer, $600; small refrigerator, $75; small jack with two stands, $100; large jack needing repair, $125; maple antique hall bench, $85; Hoover vacuum cleaner, $35; Kimball player piano, $45. 713-862-6594.

ATTENTION! LOST OUR LEASE: Everything must go. Wood and metal caskets, granite markers, urns, some furniture, etc. Up to 75% off. 713-290-0411.

BLUE MOON ANTIQUES: An-tiques and collectibles. We do estate sales. 3311 Ella. 832-286-7882. www.bluemoonantiques-houston.com. (TF)

WE BUY/SELL GUNS: Top cash paid. FFL concealed handgun classes. 713-694-4867. (TF)

TUPPERWARE AVAILABLE: Call JoAnn Lord at 281-923-3729. (TF)

ANTIQUES BY NANCY: Painted furniture, yours or ours. 832-282-8108, www.antiquesbynancy.com. (6-8)

We don’t charge for The Leader, it’s priceless.

No matter what it is you’ve got to sell, there are Leader readers out there interested in buying it.

��

��Be Your Own Boss!

��

��

Shop Online 24/7��

Will Treat Your Loved Ones As My Own

M&M PetSitting

Affordable Pet CareIn Your Home

Mitzi Cell (713)444-8517Bonded (713)682-5246

Dog Grooming

5229 Brinkman St.Houston, Tx. 77091832•654•7475

$5 Off1st Visit

[email protected]

Boarding

PETS & LIVE STOCK

Haute DawgsMobile Pet Spa

832-722-7367

We will meet or beat our

mobile grooming competitor’s prices

Royalty Pet Center

9900 N. Houston Rosslyn713-849-9000

• Grooming• Boarding• Pet Supplies

Since1976

www.royaltypetcenter.com

To Advertise Call A Local Sales Rep 713-686-8494��

3414 Ella Blvd. 713-681-6218

GROOMING

$5 OFF All Haircuts before 8:00 am

LEGALNOTICES

290

610

610

10

45

45

W. 34th St.

Ella Blvd.

N. D

urham D

r.N

. Shepherd Dr.

N. Shepherd D

r.

W. Tidwell Rd.

W. 43rd St.

N. Main St.

W. 11th St.

E. 11th St. Pecore St.

Pinemont

Yale St.Yale St.

Heights B

lvd.

White Oak Dr.

Washington Ave.

Post Oaks R

d.

Antoine D

r.

Silber Rd.

W. 18th St.

W. 20th St.

Ella Blvd.

Wheatley St.

Hollister R

d.

Antoine D

r.

W. 34th St.

Rosslyn R

d.

W. Little YorkW. Montgomery Rd.

Bingle R

d.

Wirt R

d.

Memorial Dr.

Watson St.

Crockett St.

E. 20th St.

Airline D

r.

Crosstimbers St.

Kempwood Dr.

Hammerly Blvd

Hempstead Hwy.

Katy Rd.

Fulton St.

Bingle R

d.

E. Parker

Longpoint Rd.

Pinemont

Tidwell Rd.

Berry Rd.

W. T.C. Jester Blvd.

W. T. C. Jester

Blvd.Hempstead Hwy.

E. T.C. Je ster Blvd.

Watonga

Blvd.

W. Tidwell Rd.

Westview Dr.

CandlelightPlaza

Langwood

LazybrookTimbergrove

GreaterHeights

ShepherdPark Plaza

Oak ForestGarden Oaks

GreaterInwood

SpringBranch

East

T.C. JesterPark

3

1

4

52

Go online for our WEEKLY map pagewww.theleadernews.com

Garage Sale ShoppingThis Weekend?

Lawn MaintenanceSupervisors & Helpers with experience needed.

Apply Now M-F in person at 5608 Hoover - 6:30 am

713-686-6470

��

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

Apply between 3-5pm at

NOW HIRING!

��465B T.C. Jester Blvd - 77007

EXPERIENCED PREP/GRILL COOK

Drivers: Want a Professional Career? Haul Flatbed/OD Loads for

Trinity LogisticsGroup! Earn $.425-.525 cpm!

CDL-A w/2yrs Exp. EEO/AA Call: 800-533-7862www.trinitytrucking.com

$2,000 SIGN-ON BONUS CRYOGENIC TRANSPORTATION LLC is hiring

Class A CDL DRIVERS out of Baytown, TX for our OTR positions (15 days out & return home for 5 days)! We offer competitive pay, medical benefits for you and your family, paid training on product handling, paid uniforms paid vacations, 401K & MORE! 2 years tractor-trailer experience, Tank & Hazmat endorse-ments (or ability to obtain) & safe driving record required.

APPLY NOW at TheKAG.com or call (800) 871-4581

WANT TO BUY

SPECIALOCCASIONS

For Taking orders and serving beer. Hourly rate plus tips.

CASHIER WANTED

Apply in person at Hupbcap Grill 1133 W. 19th St. 713-862-0555 • www.hubcapgrill.com

in a growing, modern office in Northwest Houston. Min 2 Yrs Experience. 401K, paid vacation,

travel and other benefits. Send resume 13280 Northwest Fwy. PO Box F368

Houston, TX 77040-6003

LAWN & GARDEN GUIDELET THESE PROFESSIONALS ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR LAWN & GAR DEN NEEDS

Al’sLAWN & TREE SERVICE

Experienced

Cell 713-416-1092Al Rojas 713-863-7310

Landscaping • InsuredSatisfaction Guaranteed

LUXURY LAWNSLawn Maintenance

Landscape & DesignSprinklers/Drainage Systems

Free Estimates

20 yrs. exp. 713-688-4244 David Bartula

Ranger Tree Service

713-690-TREE-(8733)

Specialize In Dif� cult Removals,

Trimming and Planting of New Trees

Free EstimatesInsured

Comm.-Res. • Trimming • Removal

• Stump Grinding • Planting• Pruning • Trash HaulingFree Estimate • InsuredLino 281-704-6828

TREE CARE PROFESSIONALSExpert Tree Services

281-866-8859

TREE CLIMBERS

10% OFF Labor w/ad

Fully Insured • Free Est.

• Removal • Trim • Prune• Spray • Feed • Top• Stump Grinding

• Landscape Design & Installation• Maintenance • Irrigation• Drainage • Lighting• Pool Design & Installation

We accept all major Credit Cards

U S Tree Experts• Tree Removal • Shaping & Trimming

Insured • Free Estimates

FRANK ZENIL713-681-4079 • 713-410-4265

Gilbert’s LandscapeLawn Care

Mowing • Edging • BlowingFlower Bedding • Fertilizing

FREE ESTIMATES – 17 Yrs. Exp.(281) 948-4879

TREE CUTTING & TRIMMING

Wilber’s Tree Service

w Trimming w Pruning w Toppingw Removal w Stump Grinding

(of� ce) 713-545-3677Free Estimates • Reasonable Rates • Insured

Res.Comm.

Complete Tree Service

• Weather Damage Replacement• Lawn & Bed Maintenance• Landscape Lighting• Organic Soil Amendments

• Landscape Installation• Tree Trim & Removal

��www.richtersservicesinc.com

��

• Design • Installation• Service & Repair

Frusco Landscape& Irrigation Co.

Since 1975

We specialize in Sprinkler RepairGardening Makeover Specialists

Heights ResidentLic.# 4876 Joseph Frusco

Consultant(832) 435-8685

• Sprinkler Systems• Drainage Systems

www.fruscolandscaping.com

Alfredo’s LandscapeLandscape Renovations

• Mowing• Mulching• Cleanups• Tree Trimming

• Seasonal Color• Wood Fences• Pressure Washing

832-563-9301

We service most major brands!

Mower Parts and Supply Co.4560 W. 34th @ Mangum (Next to Fiesta Tacos)713-686-8306

LAWN EQUIPMENT PARTS & REPAIR Lawn Mowers Chainsaws

Trimmers BlowersOPEN M-F 8-6 • SAT 9-2PICK UP & DELIVERY AVAIALABLE

RON'S YARD SER VICEGreat work at

competitive prices!• Mow • Edge • Weedeat • Fertilize

Ask for Ronnie281-468-2158

• Tree Trimming • Tree Removal • Stump Grinding

Credit Cards Accepted | Fully Insured 281-846-3779

• Tree Removal • Trimming• Pruning • Stump Grinding • Lot Clearing

www.medinatreeservicehouston.comhotmail: [email protected]

713-466-4612 713-301-8584

��

Free Estimates • Bonded - Insured

New Horizons

Residential/CommercialFree Estimates

Taylor Herrmann

713-298-4628

LawnMaintenance

Landscaping & DesignSprinkler Repair

��

��

Residential/CommercialFREE ESTIMATES/Credit Cards

Dennis Clooney - Manager25+ Years Experience

��

Insured Liability and Workman’s Comp

713-683-TREE(713-683-8733)FREE ESTIMATES

• Tree Trimming/Removal • Stump Grinding• Fertilization • Construction Preparation• Residential/Commercial

WORKWANT ED

QUICK TRASHHAULING

713-529-4174713-723-9689

7 DAYS

ASKFOR JAMES

• Garage Cleaning • Lots Tree Cutting • Fence

Debris Removal • DemolishFree Estimates • All Concrete

No Job Too Large Or Small

��Business or Home

• Appliances • Yard DebrisGarage Clean Outs

Free EstimatesCALL Manny Insured281-414-8698

PT - No benefits. Re-quires typing, invoicing, order entry, computer,

Quick Books & telephone skills. Fax Resume 832-230-8561

NORTHWEST OFFICE ASSISTANT

NOW HIRING!Assistant: Infant thru Preschool

College students/RetireesWelcome

Experience Preferred, but will train.

email resume to:[email protected]

or call: 713-686-5427

Drivers: CDL-A

Call Tony 1-800-999-6188

Family Oriented Company Serving Its Customers and

Drivers for Over30 Years!

Mostly Midwest Driving w/ Reliable Weekly Pay!

Looking to hire good local people? Leader classifieds get great response and cost less than the daily paper.

GIANT SALEDouble Decker

Flea MarketFRI • SAT • SUN

10AM - 9PM2602 Campbell Rd.

713-239-0291


COM PUT ERS

Home, Small Of ceComputer RepairUpgrades, Installation,

Con guration(Virus-Removal)

Home - NetWorking832-818-4970

We offer Mobile Repairs

COMPUTERPROBLEMS?

832.641.6786Mr. PC Computer

Friday & Saturday8:00 am - 4:00pm

966 BethlehemMulti-Family Sale

lots of goodies

GARAGE SALE

Saturday, June 87AM til ?

2023 BrimberryAntiques & much more...

Large 2 Family Garage Sale

HUGE GARAGE SALE: Satur-day, 8-1. 7925 Cedel, Hous-ton 77055. Furniture, dishes, glassware, household items, pictures.

You simply can’t find a better advertising value than The Leader.

NOTICE OF SEIZURE AND INTENT TO FORFEITNotice is hereby given that the United States Department of the Interior is hereby commencing a forfeiture proceeding against the following items of wildlife or wild-life products, which were seized in the Houston area of Texas on the date indi-cated because they were involved in one or more violations of any of the following law: Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)(A), 16 U.S.C. 1538 (a)(1)(G), l6 U.S.C. 1538(c)(1) and 16 U.S.C 1538 (e). These items are subject to forfeiture to the United States under Title l6, U.S.C. Sec. l540(e), 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1377, or l6 U.S.C. Sec. 3374 and Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Section l4.91(a) and 14.61. Any person with an ownership or financial interest in said items who desires to claim them must file a claim with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Law Enforcement office,16639 W. Hardy, Houston, TX 70060-6230. Such claim must be received by the above office by 7-24-13. The claim will be transmitted to the U.S. Attorney for institution of a forfeiture action in U.S. District Court. If a proper claim is not received by the above office by such date, the items will be declared forfeited to the United States and disposed of according to law. Any person who has an interest in the items may also file with the above office a petition for remission of forfeiture in accordance with Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, and Section 12.24, which petition must be received in such office before disposition of the items. Storage costs may also be assessed.

File No. Seizure Value Item2013202040 04/18/2013 $11,956.00 One (1) wooden desk with African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) ivory inlays, Twelve (12) Rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae)Leather chairs

Doctor Ernest F. Sears, Jr., Nuerologist, will close his

office at 427 West 20th Street, Suite 706, effective Friday,

July 5, 2013

OVERGROWN?Look For Help In Our

Lawn & GardenGuide

TOP CASH PAID FOR YOUR GUNS: FFL concealed handgun classes. 713-694-4867. (TF)

ATTENTION! WANTED: Child’s violin. Must be in good condition. 713-290-0411.

WE BUY JUNK CARS: Dead or alive. 832-468-7140; 281-272-0840. (6-15)

EUGENE HAULS TRASH: Cleans garages, trims trees. 832-890-5453; 713-631-5348. (6-29)

GENERAL LAWN CLEAN-UP: Yard and flower bed work. Henry, 713-686-4773.

FIND YOUR FRIEND FOR LIFE: Adopt or foster a shelter animal. www.nokill1.org. (TF)

MALTIPOO PUPPY FREE to good home. Neutered with shots, 9 months old. 361-484-9718.

CHARMING VENUE FOR YOUR NEXT GATHERING: Houston Heights Woman’s Club’s His-toric Bungalow, perfect for small events. Recitals, luncheons, fundraisers — events up to 100 people. Grand piano, stage, round tables, small catering kitchen. Call Lizz Martin, 281-217-6070, regarding this Heights landmark. (TF)

SEEKING INSIDE SALES PERSONGreat opportunity for Growth!

Ideal for College Students. Must have computer skills, meet & greet customers,

help with product selections, ship orders. 4 day work week M-W-F-S 9-5

Call 281-272-1875 ask for John

FACILITIES MANAGER

Please visit www.allsaints.us.com for full job description.Resumes may be turned in to the parish office or sent to

Michael Cooke, Business Manager/Bookkeeper([email protected])

The Facilities Manager provides leadership and direction to the overall plant maintenance. He/she directs duties

of part-time custodian. Ensures the continuity of produc-tion operations and collaborates with other departments/

ministries to ensure overall success of the parish.

Position Summary

All Saints Catholic Community215 E. 10th St. • Houston, TX 77008 • (713) 864-2653

��

Days & Evenings

Monday - Saturday Full Time & Part Time

Positions Available

��

Apply in person only - 2pm and 5pm

MECHANIC WITH EXPERIENCE on Econoline vans needed. Ex-perience with A/C, alternators, brakes and suspension. Tools required. Salary commensurate with experience. 713-681-3600. (TF)

OFFICE ASSISTANT: Full or part-time. Familiar with setup and use of spreadsheets required. Experience with photo editing, DTP, Joomla, cPanel, etc. ... is a plus. Apply in person. 3616 Pinemont Dr. M-F, 9-5. (S)

RECEPTIONIST FOR CPA OF-FICE: Permanent, part-time. 610 N. Loop area. M-F. Professional presentation required. Duties: greet clients, must be computer literate, know administrative clerical procedures, be able to prepare correspondence, receive/sort/send mail, update database, send mailouts, print and assemble reports. E-mail re-sume to: [email protected]. (6-15)

COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING COMPANY is currently looking for leadmen with minimum one year of experience. For more information, please call 713-688-2435 or apply at 2048 Johanna Dr. We are an equal opportunity employer. (S) (6-15)

COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING COMPANY is currently looking for a licensed chemical applicator with a valid Texas license. Good salary and benefits. For more information, please call 713-688-2435 or apply at 2048 Johanna Dr. We are an equal opportunity employer. (S) (6-15)

BUS DRIVERS NEEDED FOR CHURCH SHUTTLE: Approxi-mately six hours a week. Must have CDL and passenger en-dorsement. Call 713-681-3600.

24/7 ANSWERING SERVICE seeking a (Spanish) bilingual representative with call center customer service experience. Employment Line. 713-866-4490. (6-15)

EXPERIENCED GROOMER AND BATHER needed at Pooch-N-Dales. We groom up to 400/month. 713-681-6218. (6-8)

RESTAURANT COUNTER HELP and dishwasher needed. Monday-Friday. 713-466-6550. (6-8)

COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE COMPANY needs experienced crew leader with a good driving record. 713-805-3817. (6-15)

FAST LUBE NEEDS LUBE TECHS: Apply in person. 4615 W. 34th (77092).

COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING COMPANY is currently looking for English speaking foreman with one year+ of experience. Good salary and benefits. For more information, please call 713-688-2435 or apply at 2048 Johanna Dr. We are an equal op-portunity employer. (S) (6-15)

Northwest Houstonians have been getting results with Leader classified ads for more than 50 years.

713-686-8494Call Today To Place An Ad

USED CAR

SHOPPING?SKIP THE DRIVE.Turn To The

Leader Classifieds. Find great deals in the

neighborhood.

713-686-8494

Park your business here..To Advertise Call

REALESTATE

Your House CouldBe Worth A

Lot More ThanYou Think!

Do you wonder what your home is worth? Call your neighborhood Specialist for A

713-825-93971505 Heights Blvd

FREE MARKET ANALYSIS

Bob Medeiros, Realtor

[email protected]

FOR RENT

CARPET &FLOORING

GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS

PESTCONTROL

Cherokee

PEST CONTROL

®713-682-6801

Free Termite Inspection

• Termites • Roaches• Ants • Silver sh • Rodents

ELECTRICSERVICES

ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL SERVICES

713-864-4168 TECL 19210 713-864-2791

INSURED —RADIO EQUIPPED COMMERCIAL —INDUSTRIAL—RESIDENTIAL

For All Your Electrical Needs

BRAVENEC ELEC TRICSince 1953

HARBINGERelectric

Lights-Plugs-BreakersCover all electric needs

Licensed-Insured

713-721-5490 TEL.17823

ELECTRICIANAll types of new

wiring and repairs

D&E ElectricSince 1975Low Rates

TECL# 43460

(281) 448-8615

CRAVENS ELECTRICCommercial • Residential

Breaker Boxes • TroubleshootingUnderground Specialist

New Construction & Remodeling

281-701-9909FreeEst.

TECL23126

• Residential • Commercial • ServiceLicensed - Insured - 23 Yrs. Exp.

MASTER #178565 TECL #25670 Native Houstonian - 43 Yrs.

John Kuenstle Electric,LLCOak Forest Resident/Of ce

832-425-2152 - Free Estimates

�“A” ON ANGIE’S LIST

HEATING/AIRCONDITIONING

281-651-STAR281-651-7827

Sales ServiceRepairs Cleanings

Senior Discount Credit Cards

Air Conditioning

QUICK RELIABLEFREE Service Call w/Repair

TACLA 28719E��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Hardi Siding • Gutters• Windows

All Work Guaranteed - Free Es timates

CAMPOS Roo ng“The Residential Roofing Spe cialists”

Re-roofs • Repairs

919 Judiway • (713) 680-3530

www.camposroofing.com

• Room Additions • Baths & Kitchens• Hardwood & Tile Flooring• Painting • Window Replacement

Martin Gonzales 832-472-2427

HEIGHTS CUSTOM HOME REMODELING

FREE ESTIMATES Major Credit Cards Accepted

REMODELING

AMS RemodelingCOMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL

• Custom Homes • Garages• Room Additions • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Hardi Siding

Free Estimate713-680-2019

PRIMEROOFING

713-681-5001www.PrimeRoo ng.com

“Insured For Your Protection” All Work Guaranteed

GOT LEAKS? NEED REPAIR?Did you know you could still le a claim under Hurricane Ike? Call now for a FREE Inspec-tion with an insurance claims specialist.

• Commercial • Residential • New Roof • Re-Roof

� Painting � Drywall � Hardi Plank Siding � Any Type of Carpentry Work � Complete Remodels

281-272-6900 713-569-4199

For Your Home Repair Needs:J&D HANDYMAN SERVICE

CELL TEL

PLUMBING PLUMBING PLUMBING PLUMBING PLUMBING PLUMBING PLUMBINGPLUMBING

PLUMBINGJoe Petrovich

Repairs & RemodelsComplete Plumbing Services

Since 1977 Free Est.

Shop 281-442-7863Cell 281-831-2302Insured • Lic. #M8922

“I want to be YOUR plumber”

PLUMBERSONNY’S REPAIR SERVICE

832-465-5325Est. 1979 Ins. RMP #18131

ALWAYS UPFRONT PRICE$Independent Master Plumber

Call Sonny and SAVE!Single Homeowner Discount

IDEALPLUMBING

Residential - Commercial

• Plumbing • Water Lines • Gas Lines • Disposals • Faucets • Shower pans & doors • Sewer Service • Gas test

MASTER PLUMBER 713-466-8795ONE CALL – ALL PROBLEMS SOLVED

• Sheetrock & Painting• Tile & Carpet • Siding • Concrete• Fencing • Counter Tops • Roofing• Complete Remodeling

25 Years In Business MPL 12701

WALL TO WALL, WE DO IT ALL!

$35discount

w/ad

��

• Repiping• Water Heaters • Gas Test• Drain Problems• Sewer Camera Inspection• Faucet Installation and Repair• Water Leaks and Much MoreLow Price Guarantee

Licensed and Insured MPL #40046

$20OFF

peters-plumbing.com

Aaron’s

PLUMBINGDrain & Sewer Cleaning

Since 1974

#17773 - 7 Days a week

713-695-2222825 Curtin 77018

For All Your Plumbing Repair, Replacement

and Installation

MPL#40381 www.HoustonPremierPlumbing.com��

Specializing in Galvanized Pipe Replacement

Call 281-836-6414

• Drain Cleaning • Disposals • Tankless Water Heaters • Gas Test Free Estimates Senior & Veteran Discounts

� Quality Work � Low Prices �� Hand Nailed � Hardi-Siding �

Oak Forest Area Resident 40+ yearsFree Estimates

713-688-6463

Charlie'sR O O F I N G

HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING

Sr. Discounts • Free Est.

TACL 6413B

Call Your AC Friend 713-468-5359

LOST YOUR COOL?

MOUNTAIN AIR

Need a new high ef ciency condenser, an entire system or service on your exisiting equip-ment?

713-664-1815• Carports • Carpentry • Free Estimates

25YearsResidential & Commercial

• Shingles: Flat - Tile - Metal • 5" and 6" Seamless Gutters

HOWDY'S HANDYWORK

20 Yrs. Exp. - 30 Yr. Resident

• Carpentry - Cabinets to Patios & Decks• Painting, Interior/Exterior

• Sheet Rock Repair & Installation

DAVID OJEMAN 713-682-8033FREE ESTIMATES

Free Estimate

• Sheetrock • Shower Pans • Regrouting • Floor Refinishing • Fencing • Install Windows/Doors • Roofing/Repair

��

713-466-7703 10% Off with Ad

Residential Wiring & Repairs

Discounts available

REESE ELECTRIC

281-397-7411

Mastercard & VISA acceptedTECL 23960

OAK FOREST SPACE FOR LEASE

450 sq ft. Great location! $500 a month.

(832) 435-7734

COM MER CIAL PROP ER TY

GARAGE DOORS• Repair Specialist• Springs • Rollers

• Sections repaired &replaced • Cables

40 years' exp. • Low Rates

(713) 682-3528$10 off w/Ad

SIFUENTES SER VICESRoom Additions

• Ceramic Tile • Kitchen/Bath• Flood Damage Repair

• Painting • Sheetrock, Concrete

281-508-1718Small Jobs Welcome

Free Estimates

��Drywall FinisherTexture Match

Interior & Exterior Painting

FREE ESTIMATES713-965-3146

FENCEFully Insured

Free Estimates713-862-7320

Serving Inner Loop areasince 1978

www.riograndefence.net

ROOFINGby

SERNA BROS.Serving NW Houston Since 1973

FREE estimates

713-688-3277

Texture Work & RepairsDOCTOR

Call Billy, The

713-249-2140

SHEETROCK

DOCTOR

SHEETROCK

FENCES &DECKS

Repair & In stallationAll Type Fences

• Chain link • Wood• Ornamental Iron

Small jobs welcomeCall 7 Days

JoseCell (281) 221-0637

`

PAINT INGInterior/Exterior

Sheetrock • Power WashFree Estimates

Cell: 832-584-0725

FRANK’S

FENCE SALE• Chain Link • Wood

• Wrought Iron • Operators30 yrs. Exp. Free Est.

Tony 713-680-9353Cell 281-787-5942

[email protected]

GARAGE DOORSRepair or Replace

Doors/Openers

½ HPSears

OpenersInstalled281-807-5588

Choice DoorCredit Cards Accepted

Repair Specialist

713-545-3414

7 DAY SERVICE

$27000

At Reasonable prices •Patios •Driveways •Room Additions •Expedient Work American Made

713-703-8488 Jim “God Bless America”

QUALITY CONCRETE WORK

• Painting • Ceiling Fans & Lights• Drywall • Carpentry • General Repairs• Door Locks

References • Heights Home Owner

713-248-0763

LET��

HELP YOU WITH SPRING FIX-IT LIST

APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR

L&D Ap pli anceRepair

• Re frigerators • Ovens • Washers • DryersOff. 713-973-1263Cell. 832-526-8531

OAK FORESTREPAIR

Re frig er a tors • Dryers • Washers Ranges • Ice Makers

(713) 681-4343(713) 232-0045

APPLIANCE &TV REPAIR

OAK FORESTRefrigerator &

Appliance RepairGOFAR Services, LLC.(713) 681-4343(713) 232-0045

Same DayRefrigerator

Repair

Washers - DryersDishwashers - Ranges

KINARD’SAppliance Service

281-350-6255713-857-2050

Best AppliancesRepairs

• Refrigerators• Freezers• Stoves• Dishwasher• Washers• Dryers

Free TripCharge with

Repair

Don’t Throw It AwayCall Today!

1 yr. WarrantyOn Parts & Labor

713.263.7979

Since 1995

��

MostRepairs

$95

3511 PinemontSuite A-1

Houston, TX. 77018

If we can’t repair it, you don’t pay a dime.

Adam’s WOOD FLOORS

832-515-4214

Installation RepairSanding Finishing

GENERAL HOMEIMPROVEMENT

281-827-4447

• Painting • Sheetrock• Tile Work • Roo ng• Carpentry • Carpet• Concrete • Power Wash• Burglar Bars • Brick • TreesFREE ESTIMATES - Hector

HOMEREMODELING

KIKER & SONROOFING

29 yr. ConsecutiveLeader Ad vertiser

All Types Of Roo ng(713) 686-4954

Houston HeightsROOFERSRoo ng, Siding, Painting, etc.

Keep it localand call the pros.

713-385-1576www.houstonheightsroofers.com

• Openers • Cables • Springs • Sections

Repaired & Replaced

281-352-3350713-545-6162

24 Hrs/7 DaysSe Habla Espanol

GARAGE DOORSERVICE

��

��

High QualitySheetrock Repair

• Installation • Tape & Float • Match All Textures • Remove Wallpaper

713-480-8571

By Joe Lopez

Apply Tuscan Trowel Texture35 yrs. exp.

• Driveways • Sidewalks • PatiosFREE ESTIMATES

CallGregory

832-675-2485713-864-3755

BALDERAS CONCRETE WORK

Frank Montes

PaintingInterior/Exterior

Sheetrock RepairMatch any textureRoofing Work

CarpentryHandyman Services

Power WashingGood

References(713)

962-3474

Gilbert 281-948-4879

Repair & InstallPressure WashingPainting • Siding

WOOD FENCING

713-849-2727www.asap-roo ng.com

ASAPROOFING• ReRoof • Repair• Siding • Windows

��

��

832-208-4871Adam

• Cabinets• Sheetrock• Texture• Driveways• Gutters

• Paint• Trim• Siding• Roo ng• Flooring

30 yr exp - call Ron

Sell & InstallBlinds & Shades

713-899-5554Free Estimates

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

All Work Guaranteed25 Years in Business

Tommy Smith713-984-1849

WASHER/DRYER REPAIR

SAME DAY SERVICEHot Water Heaters Installed

A W APPLIANCE

• Refrigerators • Washers • Dryers

Sales & Service

713-697-0335(se habla espanol) OPEN 7 DAYS

400 W. Crosstimbers

��

��

��

��

��

��

House Painting• Interior/Exterior

• Sheetrock Repairs• Door Re nishing • Wood Repairs

• Pressure Washing

Ramiro Garcia

713.206.5965

��[email protected]

ROBNIX REFINISHING

ROBERT STALLCUP • NICK CIMINO

Wood Floors R’ Us

• Sand • Finish • Installation

281-763-0635New or Old Flooring

GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Need a little help around the yard? Our Lawn and Garden Guide has just the professionals you want.

Residential/Commercial713-691-6434 Mildred Holeman

Call us for all your Real Estate needs!!!

MILDRED HOLEMANREALTY

The O� ce with a Heart

Experience and Knowledge... A

Powerful Combination.DEBBIEELLIOTT

713-906-5481

Sales, Leasing &Property

Management

[email protected] Associates

Bobbie Jones REMAX–METRO

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

★

★

★

★

★ 713-681-5666 cell 713-203-2568

I have a BUYER looking for anOak Forest Fixer-Upper.

Call me TODAY if you are ready to SELL.

Charlee Peddicord

(281) 859-5159ON THE MARKET [email protected]

Call Charlee

Buying or Selling?

��

713.681.5575

Repairs • Replacement • InstallationFather & Sons Owned & Operated

FREE ESTIMATES ON MAJOR REPAIRS www.sunbeltairconditioning.com

TACL B010628

Since 1993Fiancing Available

Cooling & HeatingRes. - Com.

��

Check Up orService Fee

713-460-COLD(2653)www.acmanhouston.com

TACL B27781E

only $4995

American StandardAuthorized Dealer

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE


[email protected] Pesl 713-397-1916

PREMIERPROPERTIES

Been thinking about selling?Get off the fence and list your home today!

Now is the time to sell!

J&VA/C & Heating

Service Licensed & Insured - TACLB019197E713-628-2039

Call for our Summer Special3 Ton Condenser $1800 select unit

Don’t Wait Til It Breaks Down!

Seniors Discount • Most CC Accepted

ALL HOME REPAIR

35 Yrs. Exp. & Leader AdvertiserCall Sam 713-582-5500

713-686-2285

• Termite/Water Repair• Sheetrock • Painting• Roo ng Repair/Replace• Shower/Bath Redo • Tile• Flooring/Carpet @ Wholesale PricesSales & Installations

PRESSURE WASHING

Patios, Decks, Fences, Driveways, etc.Free Estimates

832-706-8161

RARE PROPERTIES UNLIMITED offers 6,000 sq. ft. building. Very good condition in the center of the city. Seven minutes from the Galleria. 610/T.C. Jester area. Great for law office, clinic, insur-ance agent. Includes ongoing casket and monument business. Fixtures and caskets included. Possible some owner financing. Reduced to $535,000. Broker. 713-290-0411.

12’X30’ CARPORTS: Perfect for boats, RVs, etc. Call 713-694-4647. (TF)

OAK FOREST APARTMENT FOR RENT: Two bedrooms with laundry room and private patio area. 713-213-4530, 713-686-3011. (TF)

DUPLEX: Yale at East 32nd. 1-1, $449 + deposit + utilities. 713-778-9522.

FAIR PRICES ON CARPET/FLOORING SALES, INSTAL-LATION AND REPAIR: Thirty-five years experience. Carpet, hardwoods, vinyl, ceramic tile. Carpet shampoo and restretch carpet. Dry cleaning now avail-able. 713-582-5500. (TF)

BURGLAR BARS: Custom made. Residential and com-mercial. Free estimates. 281-448-2759. www.burglarbar-sandmore.com. (TF)

EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN SAVES YOU MONEY: Carpenter, plumbing, electrical. 281-660-0350.

HANDYMAN: Build, repair fences, garage doors or decks. Carpentry — install Hardi-plank, cabinets, windows, doors, locks. Painting, home theater set up. 35+ year Oak Forest resident. Call David, 713-688-1839, leave name and number.

if you read this ad,

then you knowadvertising works.

The Leader “Help Wanted” classi-fieds are where good people and good jobs find each other.

Our advertisers bring you The Leader each week. Let them know that you saw their ad.

Your opinion is valuable ... share it with the community in our letters to the editor column.

Birthday celebrations, anni-versaries, new babies? We love to share your family news with the neighborhood. Send it to your Leader columnist or e-mail it to our editor at [email protected].

We have one of the highest rated delivery systems in the country, but mistakes can happen. If you don’t receive your Leader any week, we’d sure appreciate it if you’d call and let us know so that we can correct the problem.

We don’t charge for The Leader, it’s priceless.


The sport of Kickball often conjures up memories of fourth grade recess just before the bell rang.

But an entire generation of Houstonians, in their 20s and 30s, are rediscovering the sport as part of the Houston Sports & Social Club.

The Club’s president/founder, Oak Forest resident Omid Rafiei, met his wife, Andrea, in a similar kickball league in Austin.

The couple moved to Houston, and Rafiei decided to start the club in the summer of 2011. He said it’s grown “astronomically‚“ over the past two years.

“Everything we do is co-ed, it’s about meet-ing people and having a good time,” Rafiei said.

The 21+ Houston Sports & Social Club fields co-ed leagues in softball, bowling, beach, volleyball and flag football, but kickball is, by far, the most popular...account-ing for 30 to 40 percent of our business, said Rafiei.

“It’s the least intimidating sport -- whether you consider yourself an athlete or not,‚“ he continued.

The club has about 10,000 par-ticipants through all of its sports, and Rafiei has built partnerships with local bars such as Christian’s Tailgate where league members get discounts and drink specials.

“I just like to do something during the week,’ said Jay Hwang of Sugar Land, who like Rafiei, played in a similar kickball league in Austin. “It’s the easiest sport.

Softball takes some skill.”John Sidman of the Heights re-

cently moved to the area from the East Coast.

“It’s a nice way to meet people,” Sidman said. “It’s laid back and fun. The umpire is really nice. He has a good sense of humor.”

Jamie Holland of Midtown re-cently found out about the league, which plays most of its games at

Love Park at 13th and Shepherd.“My friends just asked me, and

I thought it’d be fun,” she said. “It’s good to do something differ-ent on Tuesday night other than watching re-runs.”

There are other adult sports leagues, but Rafiei said “none of them focus on the social side like (we) do.”

Each of the sports has playoffs, and the rewards for winning the league include a $100 bar tab for the team. In addition to the league, the club also hosts charity tournaments, including a recent one at Houston Beerfest. All of the proceeds from that tourna-ment were donated to the Pan-creatic Cancer Action Network.

Ad # ?????

5740 W. Little York ß 281-447-7648 Fax: 281-447-7740

WHY WAIT IN LINE?

Notary/Faxes/CopiesAsk for Maria

Postal ServiceAsk for Mary Lu

Let Us Deliver Your Medicine Directly To Your Door!

Pharmacy ServiceAsk for Gidgette or Sherita

Ad # 37199

In The Heights

Aurea I. Rivera, OD Therapeutic Optometrist, and her staff welcome you to come by their new, beautiful location.

550-B Heights Blvd.At the corner of White Oak (6th St.) and Heights Blvd. next to Revival Market

713.862.3149 [email protected]

Right In The Neighborhood

Caring for The Eyes of Texas

Since 1936

Call or email to schedule your appointment today!

For a Summer Food site near you, call

(713) 676-6832 or 2-1-1

FREE summer meals are available for youths ages 1-18.

No registration is required to eat;just show up at a site near you!

From June to August

Sponsored byHouston Parks and Recreation Department

In more than 460 operating sitesLunch 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Snacks 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

A member of the Houston Sports & Social Club competes in a weekly Kickball league. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)


Locals help Rice baseball advance to Super Regionals

The Rice University baseball team advanced to the NCAA Su-per Regionals thanks to the local battery connection of freshman catcher Hunter Kopycinski. a St. Thomas High graduate, and sophomore pitcher Zech Lem-ond, a Waltrip alum.

Kopycinski, who grew up in Shepherd Park Plaza, went 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored in the Owls’ 11-4 win over Oregon on Monday in Eugene, Ore.

Lemond improved to 7-1 on the season, striking out seven, walking one, and allowing four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 in-nings.

The Owls (44-18) began their Super Regional Series at NC State on Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Follow @HouSportsLeader for updates.

The winner advances to the College World Series, which Rice has reached seven times. They won in 2003 but haven’t been back since 2008.

St. Pius X senior cornerback Chase Fontana, left, defends junior teammate Matt Alexander during spring drills last month. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

The ‘Chase’ Is On

St. Pius X senior cornerback Chase Fontana always welcomes a challenge, and this fall, the sec-ond team all-state performer will be expected to lead the Panthers’ defense.

“(As a cornerback), you do a lot of things that are unexpected, and it’s rewarding,” Fontana said. “You’re covering guys that are a lot bigger than you, proving (your ability) to yourself and others.”

SPX third-year head coach Blake Ware is confident that the 5-foot-11, 175-pound three-year starter will continue to make things hap-

pen for the defense.“He was a great leader during

spring (drills),” Ware said. “He was doing it the right way, he was do-ing it through encouragement and actions. He allows us to do a lot of things that we wouldn’t be able to do -- different coverages and dif-ferent blitzes.”

Fontana, who’s also a three-year starting outfielder for the Pan-thers’ 5A state runner-up baseball team, is attracting attention from several college programs, includ-ing University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

“His grades are fantastic -- he does a great job in the classroom,” Ware said.

In the future, the 17-year-old senior would like to use his intel-ligence to help make the commu-nity safer. He plans on studying Criminal Justice in college.

“It’s a challenge, and you see in-teresting stuff day in and day out,” Fontana said. “You get to help people out.”

Before that happens, he’ll focus on improving his skills in 7-on-7 competition. The Panthers will play in a 7-on-7 Tournament to-day in Hitchcock.

“It helps you, lets you know what you’re doing well and what you have to work on,” Fontana said of 7-on-7.

The summer will be a welcome

time period for the Panthers, who begin the season with road games at Kinkaid and Sealy, respectively.

“We’ll be better on defense, and our skill guys are going to be bet-ter,” Ware said. “Some of the ways we’re going to approach the season are going to allow for patience and more consistency.”

Fontana, a Cypress resident, chose SPX over public school be-cause “it’s more of a home, and I felt like I’d fit in better.”

His goals for the football sea-son include “playing hard...getting better each week, improving indi-vidually and as a team and (ulti-mately) winning state.”


Senior cornerback expected to lead this fall

Ready Set... Heights Fun Run

More than 300 walkers and runners of varying ages and abilities streamed along the 3.1-mile course up-and-back along Heights Boulevard from Marmion Park in the 28th annual Heights Fun Run Saturday morning, sponsored by the Houston Heights Association. (Photo by Charlotte Aguilar)

PREMIER PROPERTIES

��[email protected]

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Kicking it up a notch


��

��

��

��

��

��

Darlene’s

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

FATHER’S DAY G I F T G U I D E

ODC Softball Tournament champions

The Oaks Dads Club 12U Softball All-Star Team won first place at an all-star tournament in Spring. Coach : Tony Cirillo Assistant Coach: Steven RuffinoTeam members: Justice Vasquez, Kailtyn Edwards, Ruby Silva, Abby McGee, Alyssa Holik, Valerie Fuentes, Gracie Wehr, Alyssa Cinadr, Hanna RodriguezMarissa Gonzalez, Abby Woods, Sara Olivares, Micaela Banda and Miriah Medina. (Submitted Photo)

Tourney wins notch national ranking for local archer

Mireille Murphy, 10, has received top honors at two major archery champion-ships, earning her a sixth-place ranking in the 10-12-year-old girls age group of the female recurve bowman’s category nationally.

The Oak Forest-area Scout repre-sented the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council at the 2013 Texas State Junior Olympic Archery Division (JOAD) In-door National Championship and the 44th Southern Region JOAD Indoor National Championship.

“She is very committed to her sport and every free time she has, after cover-ing academics and Girl Scout activities, is spent either shooting or watching vid-eos of Olympic archers,” said Rosa Mur-phy, Mireille’s mother. “She was very happy to have the opportunity to meet two of her favorite Olympic archers, Mi-randa Leek and Jennifer Nichols.”

Indoor tournaments require competi-tors to shoot 60 arrows 18 meters away from a 60 cm target face. In preparation for tournaments, Mireille shoots 100 ar-rows a day at home in her backyard, at Girl Scout camp or at an indoor range.

Archer wins regional, state tournaments

Mireille Murphy is now placed at No. 6 in the nation in her age group in the female recurve bowman’s archery rankings after winning two major regional archery championships recently. (Submitted photo)

Gridiron Classic Youth Camp returns to Reagan on SaturdayThe Gridiron Classic (GIC)

announced today an exciting re-lationship with Reliant to bring back the popular youth camps to the Houston area. The Gridiron Classic offers a one-of-a-kind sports platform for youth ages 8-17 to meet and play with pro-football players and celebrities. The event will take place June 15 at Reagan High, 413 E. 13th St., and will feature former Miami Dolphin Alphonso Roundtree,

current and former professional athletes, and local community leaders.

“I am very excited to once again partner with Reliant and key supporters in the city of Houston to increase the of-fering of quality youth sports camps in the Houston area,” said Roundtree.

First started in Houston in 2009, the Gridiron Classic suc-cess prompted the expansion

this year to Washington D.C. Each city’s activities will include, youth football and cheerleading camps, celebrity player meet-and-greets, a health fair, a High

School Stud Combine, and a ce-lebrity flag football game. Partic-ipants will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis, based on camp and event capacity.

��

PERFECT FOR DAD

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Free Wi-Fi

The Neighborhood’s Original Tex-Mex

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ��

��

Leader06 08b

Documents

Transcript of Leader06 08b