Leader0720a

SATURDAY | July 20, 2013 | Vol. 59 | No. 38 | www.theleadernews.com | @heightsleader

Inside Today: Waltrip High School has a world champion team • Page 4A

7B4A

THE INDEX.Public Safety 2AHipstrict 7ATopics 3AObituariesCouponsPuzzles 3ASports 4BClassifi eds 4B

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Durham Elementary School parents and teachers expressed their disappoint-ment and frustration during a meeting with Houston ISD trustee Anna Eastman and two district administrators last Thurs-day.

The emotionally-charged meeting took place at Oak Forest Elementary because Durham, a 500-pupil school in Shepherd Park Plaza, is being renovated.

Durham has had three principals in three years, and the school’s parents and teachers made it clear during a two hour-plus meeting that they wanted an experi-enced principal who would have a longer tenure at the school.

The new principal will have 14 new staff members as many of the teachers left to go to other schools or districts, according to parents.

U.S. Marines Ret. Cpl. Nathan Kemnitz, who grew up in Oak Forest and Candle-light Plaza, garnered national headlines re-cently when security workers made things diffi cult for the injured soldier.

Kemnitz, 29, was being honored as California’s Veteran of the Year at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Due to the signifi -cance of the honor, Kemnitz was wearing his dress uniform.

Kemnitz, who was awarded a Purple Heart and lost vision in his right eye and use of his right arm in a 2004 IED blast in Fallujah, Iraq, was told by a security offi cer that he was wearing too much “metal.”

Another security guard stepped in, quick patted Kemnitz down and let him through.

On the return trip to Burbank, Calif., Kemnitz faced extra scrutiny at the Sacra-mento airport for about 15 minutes.

He later received a formal apology from the deputy director of the TSA, who told

40Years & Counting

Certainly someone remembers the teen-age boy, recognizes his distinctive cloth-ing, recalls him vanishing –– likely during a sticky summer of 1971 or 1972 when he might have thought he was joining other young men for a swim –– never to return.

That’s the hope of Dr. Sharron Derrick. Attaching a name to the scraps of evidence from the last known yet unidentifi ed vic-tim of the “Candyman” mass murders in the Heights has become her passion, her mission.

And now she’s taking her investigation to Waltrip and Reagan high school re-unions and the pages of The Leader, think-ing that’s where she’s most likely to fi nd a lead that will close the case. With both schools holding 40-year reunions for the class of 1973 this year – a class the victim might have been part of – she’s hopeful.

“He’s very likely to be from the area, un-likely to be from someplace else,” she said.

Derrick, a Garden Oaks resident, is a forensic anthropologist with the Har-ris County Institute of Forensic Sciences – known more commonly as the county coroner’s offi ce.

Since joining the offi ce in 2006, Derrick has had uncanny success through a blend of specialized science, her own detective work – and her devotion to the cases. She’s “given closure” to fi ve more families

whose young men disappeared, identify-ing them as victims of the late Dean Corll and his two surviving and incarcerated accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks. She’s met with both men in prison and calls them “helpful.”

Here’s the information that Derrick thinks could jog someone’s memory:

•The victim was probably between 16-18 years old.

•He had dark brown hair. “It wasn’t real

long, but it was probably over his ears,” ac-cording to Derrick.

•He was 5-feet-5 or -6 inches tall.•He had “beautiful teeth, no fi llings, well

cared for.”•He appears to have had some kind of

developmental problems with his lower spine that would not have been visible to the casual observer but may have resulted

Can you help identify a victim of the Heights mass murders?

by Charlotte [email protected]

The victim was wearing a beige colored shirt with blue buttons at the neck with this distinctive USA-peace symbol logo on the back. Derrick is hoping someone may recognize it and the handwritten letters – possibly ‘L84MF’ – at the bottom.

(Submitted photo)

Durham parentsare livid

3 PRINCIPALS, 3 YEARS

by Michael [email protected]

Local hero harassed

due to his war injuries


This is the actual photo of U.S. Marines Ret. Cpl. Nathan Kemnitz being patted down by security on his way to being awarded California’s Veteran of the Year. Kemnitz grew up in Oak Forest. (Submitted Photo)

see Hero • Page 6A

see Durham • Page 6Asee Unsolved • Page 6A

Forensic anthropologist Sharon Derrick examines the swim trunks carried by the last known victim of the 1970s Heights mass murders. She’s hopeful the trunks, along with a recreation of how he might have appeared (shown at top of page), his boots and other evidence will jog someone’s memory and lead to an identifi cation. (Main photo by Charlotte Aguilar)

A • The Leader • July 20, 2013 • @heightsleader

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c/o: Robert A. Wisnoski13850 CR 318Navasota, Texas 77868

JULY 6Theft 12:00 PM 3400-3499 12TH STTheft 11:50 PM 300-399 E 14TH STTheft 11:53 PM 1300-1399 CORTLANDT Theft 10:00 PM 700-799 TULANETheft 06:20 AM 3500-3599 KATY FWYAssault 07:30 PM 4400-4499 SHER-

WOOD LNTheft 12:00 PM 100-199 32ND STTheft 09:30 PM 200-299 W 22ND STTheft 10:00 PM 1700-1799 DE MILO DRTheft 10:00 PM 3200-3299 MANGUM

JULY 7Theft 06:00 PM 1100-1199 HERKIMERBurglary 07:00 PM 1000-1099 ROSE-

POINTTheft 07:00 PM 800-899 VICTORIA DRRobbery 10:45 PM 300-399 CROSSTIM-

BERSTheft 12:00 AM 1900-1999 WASHING-

TON AVEBurglary 11:20 PM 1900-1999 MAINTheft 09:15 PM 2100-2199 MAIN STBurglary 09:30 AM 400-499 15TH STAssault 04:57 AM 7500-7599 MAINAssault 01:30 AM 800-899 LOUISE STRobbery 12:00 AM 1300-1399 NEYLANDTheft 12:00 AM 5400-5499 NOLDATheft 02:49 AM 1200-1299 CAVALCADERobbery 04:45 PM 1500-1599 NORTH

LP WAssault 05:00 PM 700-799 43RD STTheft 04:00 PM 4900-4999 SHEPHERD

JULY 8Assault 01:00 AM 4400-4499 SHEPHERD

DRTheft 05:15 PM 100-199 YALETheft 05:00 AM 4700-4799 ELLA BLVDTheft 04:50 PM 4100-4199 MANGUM

JULY 9Burglary 06:00 PM 2100-2199 SHEP-

HERD DRBurglary 09:15 AM 1100-1199 14TH

STTheft 07:30 PM 0-99 HEIGHTS BLVDBurglary 09:00 PM 2500-2599 NORTH

LP WBurglary 06:30 PM 2500-2599 NORTH

LP WBurglary 05:15 PM 2500-2599 NORTH

LP WBurglary 12:18 PM 3700-3799 DACOMA

STBurglary 06:00 PM 3700-3799

PINEMONT DRTheft 10:30 PM 4200-4299 SHERWOOD

LNTheft 09:00 PM 4200-4299 SHERWOOD

LNTheft 10:00 PM 4400-4499 LIBBEY DRTheft 11:00 PM 4600-4699 LIBBEY DRTheft 06:00 PM 3600-3699 WILLIA STTheft 12:00 PM 5400-5499 NOLDATheft 06:30 PM 3500-3599 PINEMONT

DRTheft 04:30 PM 4700-4799 AIRLINE DRBurglary 06:00 PM 2500-2599 NORTH

LP W SERTheft 01:20 AM 200-299 PATTON ST

JULY 10Assault 07:45 AM 4300-4399 ROGERSTheft 12:00 AM 4000-4099 34TH STAssault 09:55 PM 5300-5399 PETTYTheft 01:15 AM 3900-3999 FLOYD ST

Burglary 02:00 PM 1400-1499 ANSBURY DR

Burglary 05:00 PM 600-699 W DONO-VAN

Theft 01:00 AM 800-899 SHEPHERD DRTheft 07:20 AM 3900-3999 AIRLINE DRBurglary 01:00 PM 2300-2399 KEENETheft 11:30 AM 4400-4499 TULSA0Burglary 02:30 PM 2300-2399 LIBBEY

DRTheft 08:00 AM 900-999 STONECREST

DRTheft 03:58 PM 600-699 CROSSTIMBERSTheft 09:00 PM 5600-5699 WASHING-

TON AVEBurglary 11:00 PM 1300-1399 W 43RD

JULY 11Assault 05:20 PM 1100-1199 HARVARD

STTheft 05:45 PM 1700-1799 26TH STTheft 07:25 PM 3800-3899 FEAGAN STBurglary 01:10 AM 500-599 19TH STRobbery 02:00 PM 1600-1699 NORTH

LP W SERTheft 10:00 PM 3900-3999 NORTH FWY

JULY 12Theft 09:00 PM 5500-5599 ALLEN STTheft 05:00 PM 2800-2899 WHITE OAK

DRBurglary 02:36 AM 1400-1499 NORTH

LP WTheft 04:00 PM 2200-2299 JUDIWAYBurglary 02:09 AM 2600-2699 NORTH

LP W

JULY 13Theft 07:00 PM 400-499 HEIGHTS BLVDAssault 02:30 AM 3500-3599 MANGUM

Reports from recent days in Leader neighborhoods are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data

from the Houston PoliceDepartment.

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Houston police called the grisly death of a worker at a West 34th Street business July 11 a “tragic accident.”

Investigators said the 43-year-old man was placing dry Styrofoam into an indus-trial shredder at Consolidated Distribu-tors, Inc., 1247 W. 34th St., when he ap-parently reached too far into the machine with his right hand, causing the blades of the shredder to pull him in.

The man was apparently working alone at the time, feeding the machine, which melts the material into a foam that is packed in bags and stored on site.

According to HPD, it took a rescue crew about two hours to extricate the worker from the machine, which was mounted on the back of a box truck.

Man dies in shredding machine accident on 34th St.

HPD investigators at the scene of the industrial accident in the 1200 block of West 34th Street that killed a worker who was pulled into an industrial shredder. A passerby who posted this photo online said the victim was in the large black truck (next to the white truck) at the rear of the picture. (Photo from Facebook)

Garden Oaks man arrested for assaultGarden Oaks resident Mel-

bin Argueta, 36, was arrested and charged with aggravated as-sault with a deadly weapon at 1 a.m. July 8 at Garden Oaks Villas Apartments, 4411 N. Shepherd.

At 11 p.m. on July 7, neighbors called the Houston Police Depart-ment to report arguing. Argueta said he came home and said the deadbolt was locked. An officer knocked on the door and Argue-ta’s girlfriend said she was asleep. The officer then asked if everyone was OK and left.

Two hours later, neighbors called again because they heard fighting and objects being thrown. The victim left the apartment in tears, with bruises, cuts and a wrist that is either dislocated or broken, according to HPD. Ar-gueta was charged for allegedly holding a knife to her throat.

The girlfriend was treated at a local hospital, released and pro-vided resources for a domestic violence center, police said.

Robbery arrest madeNicolaus Anthony Villalobos,

32, and Ernest Joseph Villalobos, 24, were arrested and charged with a robbery that occurred at 2 p.m. July 11 at 1627 North Loop West.

A 25-year-old female was tak-ing items out of her vehicle when one of the assailants grabbed her by the neck, according to a Hous-ton police spokesman, and said he had a knife. The man allegedly took her purse and ran away. The woman was not injured.

A witness followed the assailant and a companion and contacted police, leading to the arrests.

Assault at Mangum businessA 25-year-old male was at-

tempting to buy something through the overnight window at the Conoco station at 3502 Man-gum at 2:30 a.m., July 13, when a suspect allegedly approached him with a knife and took his wallet.

Police arrested Agustin Gar-

cia, 26. There was a delay in filing charges because Garcia was sent to the hospital for an injury un-related to the crime, according to Houston police. The victim was not injured.

Attempted robbery at SonicTwo suspects drove up to the

Sonic, 3000 Durham, at 3 p.m. July 5 and ordered food. Once the waitress brought it out, they took the food and allegedly pointed a gun at her and demanded money.

She didn’t give them any, be-cause she didn’t have any.

The two suspects, described as a white male and a white female ages 20-25, drove off in their gray Ford F-150

There were no injuries.

Police Reports, July 6 - July 13

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THE READER.


One of the hallmarks of a good community newspaper is that readers don’t come here for

national news. I also hope it’s clear that, every week, we do our best to be one of those “good community newspapers.”

That’s a pretty crummy way of telling you that there are always exceptions. When the issues created by national news impact every one of us, I believe a good community newspaper can be part of that conversation.

You didn’t come to The Leader today to read about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. In fact, there’s a good chance you opened your local newspaper with excitement because you knew we wouldn’t have coverage of this exhausting story that has divided parts of our nation and created a media circus for which every journalist should be ashamed.

I’d humbly ask you to give me just a couple of minutes to share a perspective about this issue that maybe, just maybe, you’ve never heard. The perspective, obviously, comes from someone who has worked in media for nearly two decades. The perspective also comes from someone who spent the formative years

of his career as the editor of a newspaper in Selma, Ala. – a place where diversity was (and maybe still is) the city’s most important industry.

If you stayed awake during your U.S. history classes, you know Selma is considered the birthplace of our nation’s Civil Rights Movement. On March 7, 1965, around 600 folks gathered in Selma, and as they attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge toward Montgomery, Ala., they were met with the infamous images of Alabama State Troopers swinging billy clubs and sling-ing tear gas.

In some ways, those images from Selma, where Martin Luther King Jr. had arrived, literally changed the debate

on civil rights. In less than 10 days, as marchers attempted to leave Selma for the third time, they had an escort of 2,000 U.S. Army soldiers, nearly as many members of the Alabama National Guard, and a host of other law enforce-ment officials. No more state troopers to beat them away.

I give you that brief history lesson to tell you that Selma, for the way it changed our nation, never actually changed, itself. It’s been a decade since I’ve worked as the paper’s editor, and I imagine (I hope) things are much better today, but I remember how sad it was to see black residents who didn’t trust a white editor – 35 years after Bloody Sunday. I remem-ber how sad it was that whites in the city still counted how many pictures of black people we ran on the front page.

My problem was that I didn’t grow up in the era of “Colored” signs over water fountains. I didn’t see folks walk to the back of any buses – except for the misbe-having children of my youth. So you can understand why I was so disappointed that black readers judged me as an editor based solely on pigment, and why white readers always seemed skeptical that I was selling out to the folks who made up

70 percent of our town.Then everything changed – and I

believe it’s still relevant today as we talk about diversity and the tragedy of the Martin-Zimmerman story.

After all my disappointment in both races in Selma, I became close friends (professionally) with a man named J.L. Chestnut. If you do an online search of Chestnut, you can find out some of his life work and the role he played in the Civil Rights Movement. He was the first black attorney in Selma, and he wrote a great book called Black in Selma.

Chestnut and I used to spar over racial issues, but neither of us ever grew mad at the other. I’d run his diatribes in the paper when I could, and I’d let him pub-licly scold me whenever he liked (usually around election season).

During one particularly tough racial situation in Selma, I remember sitting with Chestnut and trying to explain how I felt. In his beautiful prose, borne through his musical background and years fighting in small Alabama courts, Chestnut said something that finally made sense about the racial tension we so often feel in this country.

“Jonathan,” he said. “Try to see it from

my side.”That seemed like a simple sentence,

and in a lot of ways, it was. But this came from a man who walked with Martin Luther King, Jr. This came from a man who fought his own demons during the Civil Rights Movement. This came from a man who the New York Times famously wrote “was in a privileged position to see into the souls of white folk.”

I was stunned with silence. I had never stopped and tried to look through the eyes of J.L. Chestnut. I had only looked through mine.

We live in our own diverse city – some would say Houston is the most diverse of them all. No, we don’t have the struggles of a Selma, Ala., but we aren’t immune from stereotypes and subsequent anger.

The conversations about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman have reminded me, this week, about the les-sons I learned a decade ago. We usually have heated discussions only through our own eyes. Emotion quickly follows. And as we’ve seen in the horrible story that has gripped our nation this week, we’re all the worse for it.

Email [email protected]

Conversations about diversity start on the other sideJONATHAN

MCELVY

Publisher

Scaled-down White Linen NightDear Editor:I was so happy reading your article regarding the

White Linen Night. I for one would be thrilled to see WLN go back to what it originally was intended, the local celebration of this wonderful community. I saw a vast improvement...last year just with having the street closed and additional police presence. But I cringed every time I saw people openly pouring liquor and handing out jello shots while pushing children around in strollers..really? And the poor shop owners having to deal with some of those folks.

Ms Jackson obviously understands and I hope she continues making this a fun event.

Andya

Turmoil at Durham ESPosted to www.theleadernews.comThe principal gets new office furniture, students have

to bring their own toilet paper, and teachers can’t get copies. Then the principal leaves after one year. Did she take her new office furniture with her?

Durham E.S. is in disrepair yet the superintendent has time for a photo-op at North Forest in which he calls the sorry condition of the North Forest schools “a damn

shame.” Ouch.The first-year SSO says he’s ready to earn the trust of

the parents and teachers; how long will he be around to keep that promise? Will he leave for a better job like the principal? Or will he be promoted or relieved of his duties before he can make an impact?

Dr. Grier and his ever-changing band of administrators are committed to no one but themselves. Buyer beware. They are mercenaries solely interested in their next bonus, not on developing a culture of success and accomplish-ment in our schools.

I must admit that I particularly enjoyed the one parent’s comment about”torches and pitchforks.” Dr. Grier, meet Dr. Frankenstein.

Thomas Iocca

Posted to THE LEADER on FacebookNot sure if Anna Eastman can be trusted. Sorry this is

just my opinion and what I think of her.Grace Hernandez

Posted to THE LEADER on FacebookI hate this for that neighborhood. They deserve better.

And it must really sting to see Oak Forest thrive while Durham withers.

Kara Rutledge Hagen

Posted to THE LEADER on FacebookI blame HISD! They completely let the school down, and

continue to do so. They should have key people over there in MASSES trying to get things rolling before they lose any more fantastic teachers, great kids, and supportive families! The inequalities in the area public schools truly baffles me!!!

Laurie Pitzer

NW Mall club challengePosted to THE LEADER on FacebookIdeal definition of insanity is this club opening up

under a different name!Jeanne Gebo

Second Yale St. apartment complexPosted to THE LEADER on FacebookThis location is better than having the development in

the heart of the The Heights.Joshua Jones

McDONALD’S – We are here to see if we can turn a quick buck, maybe 100,000 of them or even 2.7 million. I can tell that you need filling in, so here goes: Helen Julian of Galveston County is su-ing the parent company of Sonic Drive-In Restaurants for damages after, she claims, the lid of a cup of scalding coffee popped off, spilling the contents onto her inner thighs, causing second and third degree burns. According to her lawsuit, the restaurant chain is negligent due to the employee’s wrong placement of the lid and “lack of due care” when serving the bever-age, and because of management’s improper training of employees. The lawyer wants an award of “at least” $100,000 but will leave the total up to the jury.

Helen Julian, meet Stella Li-ebeck. Liebeck is the famous, or infamous, woman who was award-ed $2.7 million from McDonald’s after a cup of hot coffee spilled on her lap. ABC News called her case “the poster child of excessive lawsuits.” There was even a web-site called the “Stella Awards” for people who filed “outrageous and frivolous lawsuits.” The settlement was trotted out as Example A as the need for tort reform.

But hold on there, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Do you want to hear the rest of the story (thank you, the late Paul Harvey)? On Feb. 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck (the “poster child” was 79 years old) was a passenger in a car driven by her grandson. At a McDonald’s in Albuquerque she bought a cup of coffee to go. When the car stopped nearby, she attempted to hold the cup between her knees and remove the lid. The coffee spilled on her, she was burned and sued, seek-ing to settle her claim for $20,000. McDonald’s offered $800, so Li-ebeck got a lawyer, Reed Morgan of Houston. Morgan offered to settle for $90,000, then $300,000. Big Mac refused.

That was a bad decision, be-cause in the trial Liebeck’s treat-ing physician testified Liebeck had third degree burns over 6 percent of her body. The surgeon also tes-tified it was one of the worst scald burns he had ever seen. (She was in the hospital for eight days and lost 20 pounds.) A professor from UT-Austin, a burn expert, testified the risk involved was unaccept-

able. Jurors learned that McDon-ald’s, according to corporate rules, sold its coffee at 180-190 degrees. Other establishments sell coffee at substantially lower temperatures, and coffee served at home is gen-erally 135 to 140 degrees.

This was not the first suit over McDonald’s hot coffee -- the com-pany’s own records showed that from 1982-1992 it had received more than 700 reports of people burned by McDonald’s coffee to varying degrees of severity, and had settled claims arising from scalding injuries for more than $500,000. Still, a McDonald’s ex-pert witness testified the number of burn victims was statistically “trivial.” McDonald’s quality con-trol manager, Christopher Apple-ton, testified that this number of injuries was insufficient to cause the company to evaluate its prac-tices. He argued that all foods hot-ter than 130 degrees posed a burn hazard, and that restaurants had more pressing dangers to warn about.

The jury found for Liebeck and awarded her $2.86 million. Why that specific amount of money? This point is most important: the judge didn’t award those mil-lions, the lawyers didn’t do it. The amount was set by the jurors. They awarded Liebeck $200,000 for compensatory damages, reduced by 20 percent for her own negli-gence to $160,000. McDonald’s sells 1 billion cups of coffee a year. It generates $1.3 million a day for the company. So the jury fined McDonald’s two days’ coffee sales, or $2.7 million in punitive damag-es. It all came to about $2.86 mil-lion, minus $50,000 in expenses not counting legal fees.

Hold that outrage. The judge cut the $2.7 million punitive award to $480,000 or three times compen-satory damages. When the dust had cleared, that $2.86 million wound up as $640,000. The judge

said the amount was appropriate for McDonald’s “willful, wanton, reckless and what the court finds was callous” behavior.

The jurors said the company’s stance and attitude were appalling. Both McDonald’s and Liebeck ap-pealed the decision, but the parties settled out of court for an undis-closed amount less than $600,000. So take from that her medical and legal bills, cost of going to Houston time and again, pain and suffering, and that undisclosed amount may not have amounted to much.

Companies constantly have to defend themselves against phony nail-in-my-doughnut and beak-in-my-omelet charges. In 1994 an elderly couple in Tacoma, Wash., claimed that they found a syringe in a can of Pepsi. Soon everyone was finding syringes in cans of Pepsi. They found horseshoes in their popcorn, hair in their hot-dogs, John Deere tractors in their butter. All of a sudden, our food was contaminated by bed springs, toxic waste and embalmed ro-dents. But most proved to be total falsehoods and were found out. The U.S. Food and Drug Adminis-tration said that after the so-called Pepsi scare, at least 23 people were convicted of state and federal charges related to soda cans and false tampering reports. Liebeck’s accusation was pretty straightfor-ward, but in many similar hot-cof-fee cases since then, judges have thrown out the charges. So Helen Julian in Galveston County and her lawyer may have to settle for 100 percent of nothing.

As for us, let’s cool our indigni-ty over “the 2.7 million dollar cup of coffee.” No one got near that much. Never happened. It’s an ur-ban legend.

I notice on the rim of this cup of coffee I just purchased at the McDonald’s drive-thru, it reads: “Caution I’m hot.” Same thing in Spanish. The indented, small let-ters are black on black. I’ll just take a sip and....oops!

Ashby scalds at [email protected]

Korrectshun: A few weeks ago I wrote: “Obama smashed Romney in the popular vote by one and a half million nationwide.” Actually, the margin was almost 5 million votes (4,980,387). Close enough for government work.

SUDOKU

CLUES ACROSS

The Puzzles.Solutions in this issue’s classsi ed section.

22. Fundamentally important 23. Fishing implement 24. Hamilton’s bill 25. An adult female hog 26. Emergency broadcast network 27. Transcending national boundaries 34. Applied by spreading 35. Lower in esteem 36. Entered the noneating larval stage 37. Nears 38. Woke up 39. Selfs 40. Parts 41. Dry: esp. of vegetation 42. Knot in a tree 43. River in NE Scotland

ACROSS Cont...

1. Drive-in server 2. Kiss 3. Red fruit eaten as a vegetable 4. Foot and legwear 5. Changes 6. Wind deposited silt 7. Formerly (archaic) 9. Gold neness measure 10. Military snack bar 12. Capital of Uzbekistan 14. Old Tokyo 15. Heat in a microwave 17. A waterproof raincoat 19. Stared sullenly 20. Slang for cool 23. Revolves 24. Don’t know when yet 25. Sports shoe 26. Opposite of beginning 27. Chevy sedan model 28. Communist nickname 29. 007’s Flemming 30. Drama awards 31. Badgered 32. Towards land 33. Leaseholder 34. Capital of Gyeonggi-do 36. Yellowstone or Central

13. The Pitt Family artist, Wm. 15. Most buffoonish 16. A group of 8 17. Overlords 18. Camera artists 21. Resinlike substance in shellac

1. Chicago time 4. And hearty 8. In a murderous frenzy (var. sp.) 10. Substance that imparts a hue 11. Italian’s capital 12. Oral avors

CLUES DOWN

Grounds for a suit: Legend, meet reality

ASHBYAT

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once week.

Waltrip High School’s robotics team placed fi rst in international competitions in Washing-ton State and Oklahoma in recent weeks.

The wins came after notching a state title and after another accomplishment – raising the money for the trips in less than one month by running a robotics camp, selling chocolate bars and popcorn and requesting donations. Contributions came from Houston ISD and other sponsors, including Chase Bank.

Members on the Washington trip were Sean Russell, CEO and Pilot; Brooke Welch, CCO and Tether; Joshua Benton, CWO and Loads SIA; Andrew Kain, CSO and Monitors; Jer-emiah Miller, CIO; Joseph Townsend, COO; Nayjeah Pridgen, CFO; Amanda Edwards, CMO and Temp; and Alyssa Murrell, CTO and Co-pilot. Chaperones were Waltrip’s Stepha-nie (“Spoony”) Witherspoon, fundamentals of engineering and robotics automation teacher, and team sponsors Tyler Townsend and Leigh Edwards.

Recently graduated Senior Sean Russell re-ceived an engineering evaluations MVP award, presented to students who excelled during their teams’ engineering presentations. Russell plans to attend Lone Star College and study fi re sci-ence.

The next leg of the team’s adventure took them to Norman, Oklahoma, where they com-peted in the International Botball Tournament in a simulation of a robotics trip to Mars to Participating were Josh Benton, Team Captain; Brian Ramirez, Building & Design; and Marvin Saines, Programming and Problem Solving; and Reagan High School student Shelby De-

saulos, mentor. Witherspoon and Veronica De-saulos accompanied the team as chaperones.

Team members staged a come-from-behind victory in the global alliance championships, overcoming a team from Austria.

“Robotics is the ultimate STEAM subject (STEAM – Science Technology Engineering Art, and Math),” said sponsor Witherspoon. “It

is where all these subjects meet and collide and expand on each other. In addition to using all these subjects to solve real world simulations, students also develop marketable skills includ-ing communication, time management, team work, budgeting, project management, and cooperation.”

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Participating in the International Botball Tournament in Norman, Okla., with the Waltrip High team were Joshua Benton, Phillip Lutge from team Amazeing, Shelby Desaulos (a Reagan High student), Coach Harald Haberstroh from team Amazeing, Clemens Jung from team Amazeing, sponsor Steph-anie ‘Spoony’ Witherspoon, Brian Ramirez, Patrick Podest from team Amazeing, Marvin Saines, and Steve Goodgame from KIPR (KISS Institute for Practical Robotics). (Submitted photo)

Waltrip High’s robotics team racks up wins in two different statesby Elizabeth Villarreal

[email protected]


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Area residents were happy to see the new and improved Collier Library, 6200 Pinemont, when it re-opened midday Monday after a year of renovations.

“This is a wonderful day,” Gar-den Oaks native Rebecca Shan-non said. “It’s so clean and fresh. It’s got a great set-up for children. I used to bring my grandchildren here. I’ll have a new grandchild in two weeks and bring her here when she’s big enough.”

All of the improvements -- new children and teen/young adult sections, as well as new computers -- were orchestrated by John Mid-dleton, Houston Public Library’s assistant director for planning and facilities.

“It’s brighter, lighter and more welcoming to our customers,” Middleton said. “It has infi nitely more color. Our buildings are unique to the neighborhoods. Our goal is to fi t the libraries to the neighborhoods.”

Middleton said the renovation, which fi nished under the estimat-ed cost of $400,000, has one of the largest children’s sections among HPL’s 42 libraries.

Ernesto Rodriguez, a senior in Aldine ISD, spent part of Mon-day afternoon looking at potential books to check out.

“I like the improvement -- it’s cool the way they organized every-thing,” Rodriguez said.

There are several more comput-ers and newer ones. Business own-er Rodney Burger called it “clean and refreshing” as he watched off-road trucking videos on one of the computers.

When school is back in session, there will be an after school zone. And a book club that has been meeting at Oak Forest Library, due to the renovations, will return to Collier.

The library already has several

children’s programs planned --Claude Sims will host a juggling

program at 2 p.m. Tuesday and there will be a “Dinosaurs Rock”

program at 2 p.m. Wednesday. At 2 p.m. Friday, Jean Kuecher will have a puppet show of Rumpel-stiltskin.

THE CALENDAR.SONS OF LEGIONAIRE STEAK NIGHTAmerican Legion Post 5606-10 p.m. July 193720 Alba Road

Come support a good cause and enjoy a steak dinner and entertainment. Steak, baked potato and salad will be served.

LIBRARY ORIENTATION Clayton Library Centerfor Genealogical Research10:30-11:45 a.m. July 205300 Caroline St. 832-393-2600

Learn about the vast resources and how to effi ciently utilize genealogical research materials.

TED POE LUNCHEONGreater Heights Area ChamberSheraton Brookhollow Hotel11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 263000 North Loop West713-861-6735 [email protected]

This networking event with business leaders is an opportunity for their clients and vendors to attend luncheon with U.S. Rep. Ted Poe. A single table of 8 is $300, multiple tables are $250 each, and individual seats are $50. A display booth is $125 and includes luncheon attendance for one.

THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF Express Children’s Theatre Through July 27446 Northwest Mall713-682-5044www.expresstheatre.com

O. Henry’s literary classic comes to life in this musical adaptation. Visit the website or call the box offi ce for ticket information. There will also be a free performance at 11 a.m. July 26 at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

DNA DAYClayton Library Centerfor Genealogical Research

10:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. July 275300 Caroline St. 832-393-2600

Register for any or all classes for DNA Day. Debbie Parker Wayne, certifi ed gene-alogist and lecturer will be presenting. Call for information on the various classes.

FINGERPRINTING EVENTHouston City Living10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 32211 W. 34th

Have your children fi ngerprinted.

CURBSIDE APPEAL AND PRACTICAL GARDENING SEMINARHeights Plant Farm10 a.m. Aug. 31422 Yale St.713-868-7990www.heightsplantfarm.com

Smart and easy solutions exist when preparing the sale of a home or buying one with a challenging yard. Realtor and landscape designer Kay Harnden will be the guest speaker at this free seminar.

KIDS FITNESS AND FUN FESTNew Beginnings for Women of Houston 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 3 White Oak Conference Center 7603 Antoine Dr. 77088281-414-8416www.newbeginningsforwomen.net

New Beginnings for Women of Houston, Inc., a nonprofi t organization that serves the needs of disadvantaged women and children, will host the event to promote awareness and provide solutions for the critical issue of childhood obesity. Children can participate in Tae-Kwon-Do, kids yoga, jumprope, hula-hoop and line dancing.

LITTLE NELL, THE ORPHAN GIRLTheatre SuburbiaThrough Aug. 244106 Way Out West Dr.713-682-3525www.theatresuburbia.org

This “mellerdrammer” by Nelson Goodhue will be performed Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 24, with 3 p.m. Sunday matinees July 28, Aug. 4, Aug. 11 and Aug. 18. Tickets are $14 adults, $13 students and seniors, and $12 Sunday matinees. Reservations are recommended.

REUNIONSWALTRIP CLASS OF 1973 REUNIONAug. 9-10www.waltripclassof73.com

There are many activities planned for the weekend including a golf tourna-ment and casual mixer Aug. 9 and the main event Aug. 10. Visit the website for information.

REAGAN CLASS OF 1963 REUNIONAug. 16-17Omni Galleria Houston Hotel4 Riverway 77056832-642-1393

[email protected] Reagan High School Class of 1963

will hold its 50th class reunion and is seeking graduates. Contact Sandy Potter Reagan for registration information.

WALTRIP CLASS OF 1963 REUNIONSept. 20-22713-466-9030, [email protected] 713-937-3019, [email protected]

Many activities are planned for the reunion weekend including golf tourna-ment, casual happy hour and get together Sept. 20. A tour of the school and a seated dinner and dance is Sept. 21. The reunion concludes with a goodbye breakfast Sept. 22.

Cost for the dinner is $60 per person. Payment must be received no later than June 1. Checks or money orders should be made out to: Waltrip Class of ‘63 50th Reunion. Call or e-mail for payment mail-ing information.

Redone Collier Library worth the waitby Michael Sudhalter

[email protected]

Rodney Burger watches off road trucking videos on one of the new computers at Collier Library. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Garden Oaks native Rebecca Shannon stands in the new teen/young adult section of the Collier Library. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Ernesto Rodriguez looks at the Collier Library books on the fi rst day of its re-opening, on Monday. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

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

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When asked what a patient’s least favorite thing about a dentist visit, a very common answer is lingering numbness following the appoint-

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Chase Baker, D.D.S.

SMILE SOONER RATHER THAN

LATER

Kemnitz he hopes to work to make matters easier on military veterans traveling through airports.

Kemnitz said a representative from the Capitol called, presum-ably to apologize, but he hasn’t had a chance to speak to them yet.

The 2003 Lutheran High North graduate said he never complained during the whole process. Howev-er, he hopes that the situation he experienced leads to better treat-ment and more respect for his fel-low veterans.

“I’m the type of person to go along with everything,” Kemnitz said.

He doesn’t think the security of-

ficers acted with malice but rather they were low-level employees who were unfamiliar with the situation of a soldier in a dress uniform.

He said the security personnel at the Burbank Bob Hope Airport treated him with respect and cour-tesy.

Patricia D’Orange-Martin, the coordinator for the Veterans Re-source Center at Pasadena City College in California, made the trip with Kemnitz. She was out-raged with the way the security of-ficers treated Kemnitz.

D’Orange-Martin wrote a 1,450-word letter to United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric

Shinseki, a retired four-star Army general.

“Through it all, Nathan never said a word,” D-Orange-Mar-tin wrote in the letter. “He is too much of a good Marine for that. I can only say that every passenger who was there and saw this was horrified that a Purple Heart re-cipient in a United States Marine dress uniform was patted down as if he was a probable, and not just a possible, terrorist...when veterans are viewed on the same level as the terrorists they are fighting against, then it feels as if, between 9/11 and 2013, we lost everything that America stood for.”

The district is currently inter-viewing candidates for the princi-pal position, which became open after Onica Mayers, a first-year principal, resigned in June and ac-cepted a position in Cy-Fair ISD.

Durham PTO president Tonia Whitney is on the principal search committee and said the four can-didates all have administrative ex-perience.

“I’m aware of the frustration,” Eastman said at the beginning of the meeting. “The school needs attention and needs attention quick.”

Still, the words and assurances of Eastman, Chief Elementary Schools Officer Karla Loria and School Support Officer Dr. Fran-cisco Penning didn’t soothe the concerns of the parents and teach-ers, who are fed up with the ad-ministrative turnover and what they described as the overall ne-glect of the school.

Kathy Froehlich, Durham Kin-dergarten teacher who’s been in education for the past 25 years, said she’s “extremely concerned” about the situation at Durham.

At one point, Lucinda Kurtas, a concerned parent, asked Eastman if her children had to bring toilet paper to school. Kurtas said her son had to do that at Durham, be-cause there wasn’t any in the boys’ bathroom, which she and many other people at the meeting de-scribed as unsanitary.

“If we don’t see an improve-

ment by Christmas, we’re out, we’re gone,” said Kurtas, who said she would enroll her son at St. Rose of Lima.

Other parents expressed similar sentiments, saying they’d move their kids into private school if the situation doesn’t improve.

“We’ve been at this meeting before an hour before we heard the word ‘accountability,’” parent Mario Childs said. “Next year, it’s going to be torches and pitchforks, because that’s where it’s going.”

At one point, a parent said to Eastman, “you need to be more passionate about this, I can’t be-lieve you’re not.”

Eastman addressed the issue after the person left, saying she is passionate about it, even if her

personality doesn’t “emote.”Eastman said she’d address the

facilities issues, through “Capital/Deferred Maintenance” funds and see that the situation improved, calling it “unacceptable.”

Teachers also said the lamina-tor didn’t work all year and copies couldn’t be made, but Mayers had new office furniture, while parents expressed frustration that their tax dollars aren’t going to use.

Another issue that came up was the concern that school equip-ment may going to North Forest schools, instead of existing HISD schools such as Durham. HISD absorbed the North Forest ISD on July 1 under orders from the state.

Other issues included making sure Durham has updated tech-nology and a principal who could handle a budget.

Penning, a first-year SSO, said he’s ready to earn the trust of the parents and teachers. Whitney said the addition of Penning as Durham’s SSO is a step in the right direction.

Still Bryan Treadway, a parent, contacted Houston City Coun-cilmember Ellen Cohen after the meeting, regarding the situation.

“We are writing you this is in sort of desperation,” Treadway wrote to Cohen. “Our children’s elementary school is having major issues…I should note we are turn-ing to you because the top people at HISD are failing the children and the school.”

Durham • from Page 1A

Hero • from Page 1A

in him complaining about pain at times.And there is clothing: distinctive striped Catalina

swim trunks, size 10 1/2-11 pointed-toed cowboy boots, a rawhide wrist or ankle bracelet, and a “beige-y” T-shirt-material shirt with blue buttons at the neck and a unique peace symbol on the back, with hand lettering below that may read L84MF (or some close combination). Military personnel have suggested to Derrick that could stand for “late for my funeral.” She’s hoping it will jog someone’s memory.

The 29 victims (Derrick’s figure) of the mass mur-der were seized, raped, tortured and killed at Corll’s homes – first in the Heights, later in Pasadena -- and buried in mass graves in a boathouse in southwest Houston and on High Island on the Gulf Coast.

Derrick believes this victim likely died in the sum-mer of ’71 or ’72 because of the presence of the swim trunks – the killers liked to take their prey to the beach – and because of the position of his remains in the boathouse, between two identified victims whose approximate dates of death are known.

“Some of the victims were dropouts, such of them were very mainstream,” said Derrick. “It was a crime of opportunity.”

For those who find it hard to understand how a young man could disappear without public attention, Derrick reminds them that the early 1970s were a very different time.

“It was a time when there was a lot more freedom for teenagers, and many times it was thought a boy was a runaway or out doing drugs,” Derrick explained. “If there were reports, they were not followed through to the extent that they would be today.”

There was no DNA, poor keeping of dental records in that era, and the Houston Police Department did not have a missing persons unit. Local television news was coming into its own, but there was no social me-dia, no Amber Alerts.

She’s ready to use all the most modern methods – and her own savvy – to close this last case. Anyone believing they may have information on the identity of the young man can call Derrick’s office at 713-796-9292. If a relative gets in touch, a simple non-inva-sive DNA test would be performed – a swab inside the cheek. “They can even do it themselves,” Derrick said.

The DNA would be used only for identification in this case and would not going into any criminal iden-

tification database, she promised.Derrick was only slightly younger than the victims

when she began reading about the murders, especial-ly attentive because of her family’s deep roots in the Heights. The poignancy of the cases haunts her.

“These parents never saw their child again,” she said. “They may feel like he ran away and ‘didn’t love me and didn’t want to come back and talk to me.’ And I would much prefer that they knew that he just couldn’t come home.”

The families whose young men she’s identified “have been so grateful,” she said. “They look for these boys, they still look at people on the street and think, ‘could that be him grown up?’ It haunts them for-ever.

“You never really have closure when you lose a loved one that way. But you have something that gives you a little more peace, I think.”

Unsolved • from Page 1A

The city of Houston is of-fering a new, interactive web application that offers easy access -- and understanding -- of the city’s budget for the next fiscal year.

Budget Bootcamp, http://www.houstontx.gov/finance/budgetbootcamp/, offers a walkthrough of the 2014 bud-get adopted in June, as well as budgets dating back to 2010.

The project came from Houston’s first 24-hour “Hackathon” in May, which offered software developers, designers and data analysts the chance to collaborate on projects to address commu-nity and city problems in a user-friendly way.

“Budget Bootcamp has something for every budget policy-wonk,” said Houston Finance Director Kelly Dowe. “Whether you want to break down our revenues for FY14, see the trends over time, or see how the city’s taxpayer-sup-ported General Fund trans-forms from revenues into de-partment expenditures, this application is a terrific step in terms of financial education and transparency.”

The city is hoping to imple-ment more “Hackathon” ideas in the next few months.

Some members of the Oak Forest Hom-eowners Association are concerned with the impending opening of Slots of Fun, a new game room, at 3436 Ella.

A Google search of the address shows that several game rooms have opened and closed at that location, including BT Fun Room, Jack Pot Game Room and Leblancs.

Under Texas Law, eight-liner slot ma-chines are legal as long as they dispense non-cash prizes valued at less than $5.

A representative from the game room, which bears Houston Police Officers Union supporter stickers on the door, said owners are working on receiving a permit from the city.

In the past two years, HPD told The Lead-er that officers have visited the address three

times, but there’s never been an offense re-port filed. Visits were to respond to a panic alarm and for a game room inspection and an inspection investigation.

HPD does inspections on game rooms, es-pecially if they’ve received information that the site isn’t in compliance with the law.

Local residents want to see that the game room is “opening within the constructs of the law.”

Alicia Nuzzie of the Oak Forest HOA con-tacted Councilmember Ellen Cohen’s office to address the neighborhood’s concerns.

“If need be, we can help them with an issues they’re having,” said Traci Eisner of Cohen’s office.

– Michael Sudhalter

Planned gameroom raising suspicions along Ella

Slots of Fun, a new game room, is slated to open at 3436 Ella. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Online boot camp will help make sense of Houston budget

Durham parents and teachers con-fronted Houston ISD leaders during a meeting last week.

The collection of evidence that Derrick believes could help identify the last known victim of the Heights mass murders. (Submitted photo)

Come join other local business owners along with Don Ball, senior consultant with Lone Star College Small Business Development Center and The Leader for a Free Round Table Networking Event to discuss

challenging questions that all businesses face.

Thursday, July 25 7:30am - 9:00 am

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

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

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IS YOUR BUSINESS FACING CHALLENGES?

BUSINESS LEADER NETWORK

Down House will be serving Heming-way-inspired craft cocktails at Brazos Bookstore’s HemingDay Celebration from 2-8 p.m. July It will be a day-long aff air celebrating all things Hemingway for his 114th birthday.

There will be sugar-free cocktails crafted by Down House bartenders to indulge in (Hemingway was a diabetic). Attendees can expect the Hemingway-style gin and tonic, a Hemingway daiquiri and more.

There will be a Hemingway look-a-like contest, with a chance to display your hunting skills in a safari challenge and show off your knowledge with Heming-way trivia. The release for the event says, “It’s going to be a literary blowout with Papa’s favorite cocktails!”

Brazos Bookstore is located at 2421 Bissonnet St. For more, visit www.brazos-bookstore.com.

Christmas in July at Buff alo Bayou Brewing

Buff alo Bayou Brewing Company, 5301 Nolda St. (near I-10 and Shepherd, inside the Loop), will be celebrating Christmas in July from 6-9 p.m. July 25. Nick Gailan & the Umbrella Man will be there, along

with tons of tasty beers, food trucks, silly photos and an ugly sweater contest. “So dust off your ugly sweater, we’ll start fi ring up the margarita machines for the frozen hibiscus shandies and get ready to taste some beers you’ve never even dreamt of. Plus a few kegs of nitro ginger-bread stout,” said the event page.

Admission is $25 before July 22 and $30 after. Tickets will cover admission plus all the beer you can drink responsibly. Food, snow cones and cigars aren’t included in the ticket price. Must be 21 or over. To purchase tickets, visit http://buff brewx-masinjuly13.eventbrite.com/. For more, visit www.buff brew.com.

Winston’s on Wash.is pooch-friendly

Winston’s on Washington, 5111 Washington Ave., is Houston’s newest dog-friendly bar. Winston’s is so support-ive of pets that a portion of the proceeds are donated to partner organizations that work to save lives of animals in need. The venue is even named after the owner’s

bulldog, Winston.Happy Hour features $2 wells and

domestics, $2 off Texas liquors and beers and $10 pitchers, all day Wednesday and Sunday and Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Party on the patio Satur-day nights with the sounds of Mistr Remix and the kitchen open until midnight. Throw-Back Thursdays feature Steak and Lobster.

There’s a full menu plus specials, including Blackberry Chipotle Pulled Pork Quesadilla with caramelized onions, Fried Chorizo Goat Cheese with Red Pepper Couils and Karbach Chili and Fried Oreos made with Shortbread Agave Crumbs and Firestone & Robertson Texas Vanilla Whiskey Sauce. There are also $2 dog treats with 100 percent of the proceeds benefi ting local animal organizations.?

For more, visit www.winstonsonwash-ington.com or fi nd them on Facebook.

Evolution Tuesdays at Los Cucos

Los Cucos Mexican Cafe Houston Northwest, 10690 Northwest Freeway, hosts Evolution Tuesdays Live Karaoke weekly from 7:30-10 p.m. Enjoy dining, drinking and dancing featuring Mixologist and Producer Yoyo (www.highpressureen-tertainment.com), mixing non-stop hits with Giovanni on the mic and non-stop happy hour.

Los Cucos has drink specials all day Monday and Tuesday and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. For more, visit http://loscucos.com/ or fi nd them on Facebook.

–Ivee SaulsFollow @ThirstyExplorer on Twitter for

the latest on nightlife in the area.


It is busy out there in the art world. I’ve been talking to people about the fall and holiday shows already, so I felt almost out of the loop on this week’s roundup. The artists participating in the Aug. 3 White Linen Night event should be online by they time you’re reading this –– check them out at FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com.

Friday, July 194th Juried Invitational Exhibition. 6-8 p.m.,

1201 Louisiana Houston, Texas 77002. Join Visual Arts Alliance for a celebration of art and volun-teerism. The works, from 20 artists, were selected by Ken General who had 120 pieces from 30 art-ists from which to choose. Awards will be given at 7 p.m. http://visualartalliance.org.

TRANSPLANT 6 - 8 p.m. Ecclesia Houston, 1100 Elder Street, 77007. Community artist Tay-lor Gahm has created an art show honoring our community’s life at 2115 Taft. https://www.face-book.com/events/555342464527720. Thankfully this is more about the move from a coffee shop on Taft and excellent art than an actual transplant of some gruesome sort. Great new location under the downtown Houston skyline.

Art as Sacrifi ce, 7 p.m. The Hardy & Nance Street Studios, 902 Hardy St, 77020. Stephanie Darling, Pete Gershon and Hardy and Nance Stu-dios are dedicating this exhibit to the memory of the late Anthony Pala-sota to give thanks for his unwavering dedication to the Houston art community. More than a hundred gifted artists sacrifi ced their work in the spirit of this event, including established, emerging, student and child artists. https://www.facebook.com/events/211341725683723

Saturday, July 20Hardy & Nance Studios 3rd Saturday Open Studios 902 Hardy Street

77002 http://hardystreetstudios.blogspot.com Discovery Green Flea Now at Night – 6-10 p.m. Recycled/up-cycled,

eco-friendly art market, 1500 McKinney St. http://www.discoverygreen.com/fl ea

Christmas in July-Houston 2013, 11 - 5:00pm Georgia’s Market Downtown, 420 Main St. 77002 Sponsored by The Barnabas Society, a local non-profi t organization founded in Houston in 2006. Donations

to this event are tax deductible. Highlights include a vendor’s market, silent auction, bake sale and wine tasting. (www.TheBarnabasSociety.org) https://www.facebook.com/events/493346484070794

Hey Brother Where is Thou Art? 12 noon at JoMar Visions, 902 Har-dy St. 77020. Everything Americana This show should prove pretty cool. More artists than I can shake a paintbrush at will be there and display-ing their art. https://www.facebook.com/events/481919151894992

Monday, July 22Watercolor 101 Part 2 with Kim Kaiser, 6:30 pm. Come learn more

amazing techniques from Kaiser at Thread Houston 249 W. 19th St. Suite C. https://www.facebook.com/events/566294100075843 One of my favorite artists teaching? I might have to check this out - RSVP on Facebook and then show up.

Thursday, July 25Artist Reception, 6-8 p.m. at 1939 W. Gray in the River Oaks Shopping

Center. Features April Murphy, Linda Hardy and Virgil C. Robinson

Friday, July 26Thank You Houston! Group Show - 6 -9 p.m. East End Studio Gal-

lery, 708 Telephone Rd. Suite C 77023. Celebrating the culturally diverse and rich art scene in Houston, this show is their way of saying thank you to this wonderful art community. https://www.facebook.com/events/534902736569686 *Great group shows in a fashionable nook near the University of Houston’s main campus.

Saturday, July 27Avenue Gallery Artists Reception – 6-9 p.m. The new Avenue Gallery

is located at 3219 Houston Ave. 77009. Featured artists are Toria Hill, Billy York, April Murphy, Andy Gonzalez, Vivian Mora, Brett Hall, Ri-cardo Gomez, Marcia Gomez, Sam VanBibber, Debbie Clendennen, and Taylor Clendennen. Www.AveGallery.com Art classes are available, too, listed on the website.

Cohen is founder and manager of First Saturday Arts Market. Contact him at [email protected] or visit him on the web at ArtValet.com.

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We Love Houston’ sign welcomes, reminds at the same time

The man whose roadside art has included the giant Sam Houston statue on I-45 in Huntsville, the presidential busts along Highway 288 and other local images has now given Houston its own ver-sion of the fabled Hollywood sign.

Renowned sculptor David Adickes had that iconic sign in mind when he created Houston’s newest landmark, at Thompson Street and the Katy Freeway east-bound feeder earlier this year.

The sign reads “We Love Hous-ton” in block letters with a heart symbol, created in varied colors.

“Everybody loves color, and a lot of people agree with (the mes-sage),” said Adickes, who com-

pletely the project in four months.It was dedicated during a brief

ceremony last Friday where Hous-ton Mayor Annise Parker and Councilmember Jack Christie were present.

“I appreciate art in unexpected places and art that is accessible to folks,” Parker said. “It’s a wonder-ful gift. I hope people see it and smile when they go by.”

Parker said she thinks a lot of people will take photos by the sign, and there were several who did that Friday afternoon.

The entire project was privately funded by Adickes, an 86-year-old Huntsville native who’s lived in Houston since 1951.

Adickes sold his studio on Sum-mer Street and will be moving to a new one downtown.


Renowned sculptor David Adickes, left, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker look at Adickes’ latest work, the We Love Houston sign. Parker was there to dedicate the sign and to congratulate Adickes.

Mitch CohenArts Columnist

Heights has new food co-op with established roots

Seed2Plate is a new partner of the original Central City Co-op, now offering pickup of fresh local, organic and sustainably grown produce and eggs right in the Heights.

It’s an offshoot of a co-op op-erated for families at Travis El-ementary for the past two years.

Those participating place their orders by Thursday morning, based on seasonal availability, and pick up their orders on the

following Wednesday.The new pickup location is

Heights of Health, 540 Frasier St., off White Oak and across the street from Onion Creek Cafe. It will be open from 3-5 p.m. Wednesdays.

Seed2Plate also has affi liates in Lindale Park and in Sugar Land.

The Lindale Park location is offering a free children’s cook-ing class at 2 p.m. July 30 at the Lindale Park Civic Clubhouse,

218 Joyce St. Youngsters explore new and delicious foods,learn common cooking terms, how to measure, mix, and how to pre-pare quick and easy snacks, muf-fi ns, homemade pizza, salads, smoothies and more.

To register, email the names and ages of children to seed2platecoop@gmail .com. For information, go to www.seed2plate.org.

Celebrate Hemingway’s birthday

Thirsty Explorer

Thirsty Explorer

Down House is providing the drinks for a celebration of Ernest Hemingway’s 114th birthday. (File photo)

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��NICK GREER

Adickes was interviewed in front of his newest project, the We Love Houston sign, minutes before its dedication last Friday. (Photos by Michael Sudhalter)

Art a la Carte: Future planning and current events

It was a tough selection process for Ken General, who had to choose from 120 pieces for Friday’s Visual Arts Alliance Exhibit downtown. (Submitted photo)

Th irsty Explorer is sponsored by


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