Leader0524b

12
When Heights homebuilder Joe Petruzzi is designing and building a new home, he tries to consider what he’d want in his own home. “When you build something for yourself, you put more en- ergy into it,” said Petruzzi, a Heights resident. Petruzzi takes that strategy to heart because he builds a home for himself, lives there for 2-4 years, puts the home on the market and sells it. He currently lives at 634 Rutland, a 3,675 square foot home that he put on the mar- ket last week, which is ex- pected to sell for somewhere between $1.1 million and $1.2 million. Since it listed, Petruzzi has had two showings for the home. Petruzzi, 45, builds about 25 homes per year, and as a small builder, he does ev- erything from designing the homes, marketing them and selecting designs that make the homes unique. “I don’t list houses until they’re almost finished be- cause everything sells ex- tremely fast,” Petruzzi said. In his current home, there’s a brick wall made of 100-year- old Chicago bricks, hand- carved stone, a Theater room, a retro yet modern bathtub, a 27-foot-stairway and several classic chandeliers. Sometimes, Petruzzi comes up with ideas that clients se- lect for their custom homes. One of the themes that rings true with his homes is that they fit into the Heights culture. “The best thing about the Heights (as it’s been revital- izing ) it’s stayed true to the little town neighborhood it was,” Petruzzi said. “People are building a product that looks indigenous to the area. What happened in the last year and a half is amazing with the new construction. There have been builders such as David Weekley and Urban Living that wouldn’t have been here before, that have come in.” Petruzzi builds homes be- Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Page 1B OPINIONS EXP ERT PREMIER PROPERTIES [email protected] WOODWIND LAKES•• ����� ����MLS# 8538283 NORHILL•• ����� MLS# 86841654 BAMWOOD•• ����� MLS# 56511184 �� �� �� �� ��� Most of my listings are selling before they ever reach the market... ask me how!! ��832.419.9969 www.allenSOLDit.com ��� ��� ��ALLEN SOLD IT! ALLEN SOLD IT! ALLEN SOLD IT! Question: What is the most important factor to look for in determining which mortgage institution to choose for you Mortgage process and why? These days, mortgage lending is still quite conservative and with the slight differential in interest rates and underwriting fees you ultimately may be charged to close on a loan (or loans) – they all operate quite similarly – and the experience itself should be pretty close to the same no mat- ter who you use – but which one is the most appropriate one for me you ask? Of course, it will de- pend on the kind of funding you will need – are you purchasing or refinancing? Will you qualify for a conventional, FHA, or VA loan on paper with no expected hitches in this lending environment? Are you trying to pursue hard money for real estate investment (Houston is absolutely booming at this moment) as this is becom- ing extremely popular. With any lender for whatever purpose, the better your credit and financial profile looks on paper (in under- writer standards), certainly the more options you will have. But if you are a first time homebuyer or are thinking about being one – it all starts with your middle credit score – the higher the better of course, as this is the first criteria they all use. This number opens the floodgates for the interest rate you (market is constantly moving the entire time) will ultimately lock in on. A solid loan officer should help you navigate through the paperwork and the process – as should your real estate agent. Lenders prove themselves to agents and in return sometimes earn a (hope- fully long) pipeline of business referrals based on the quality of the service they provide. Are their loans closing on time? Are their closing costs and interest rates in check with Truth in Lending requirements before closing? How is their communication? Are they guiding you through the process and clearly explaining the status of the loan? All of these things are traits of a great lender. Experi- enced Realtors should all have a small collection of proven lending comrades and should put you together with the one that best suits your situation and based on an established history of success. Bryan Craft Craft Texas Properties I would say the most important factor is without a doubt, the service you receive. Most of the big banks have become known in the industry for providing very poor service to their clients. From lack of communication, Powering Up for a Zero Energy Lifestyle DO-OVER By Cynthia Lescaleet For The Leader Renovations to a long-and-lean Heights property transformed the quirky, 1984-built home into a modern and sustainable environ- ment for the “zero energy lifestyle.” As owner-architect Palmer Brooks School- ey explains, that lifestyle means “Live well and offset as much of your existence as you can. Take the long view and care about the long term,” he said. ‘That’s what really mat- ters.” Even before its modifications, the single- story home at 409 W. 8th St. was a pretty cool property, he says. The linear footprint set up a unique arrangement of spaces and a rela- tionship between them and the side garden. The property’s lore was also intriguing, he said. The home is attributed to a former neighbor, a “creative pragmatist” who recy- cled, re-purposed and re-used materials. He subdivided his corner lot to accommodate his project. Serial remodelers since 1991 and long- term Heights residents, Schooley and wife Merry bought the property in 2012. They knew it well since its garden was adjacent to See Expert, P. 4B See Do-Over, P. 2B Renovations transformed a 1984 home in the Heights with sustainability in mind. (Photos by Cynthia Lescaleet) Oak Forest home selling for $1.4 million sets growing trend A Tuscan-style home locat- ed in the 1200 block of Althea is being sold for approximately $1.46 million, according to Brett Hartman of Hartman & Associates Realtors. Hartman and the home- builder, Justin Gordon of Jus- tin Gordon Homes, are not listing the exact address due to privacy of the purchaser. The home is a little over 5,100 square feet with a pool, grotto and basketball court, and the lot is close to 11,000 square feet. “They’re going to be top notch finishes,” Gordon said. “with 12 foot ceilings up and down. I imagine that will be an Oak Forest first. The house will be digitally automated with sound, security and lights.” Gordon expects the trend of houses over $1 million to con- tinue in the area. “The dirt alone is worth $300,000,” Gordon said. The study will have a 25- foot ceiling, there are two out- door fireplaces and the wine room will be able to hold over 2,000 bottles. Oak Forest homes have ex- ceeded the $1 million mark, but this is believed to be the prici- est one. It could exceed $1.46 million once final fixtures and finishes are determined. Regardless of the home’s size or prize, Hartman and Gordon have been working hard to boost the quality of custom homes in Oak Forest. “We cater to the clients’ needs and what they would want in a property,” Hartman said. “We encourage the cus- tom aspect of a home and make the possibilities end- less as far as a custom home builder goes. Justin lives in Oak Forest and has a won- derful reputation for helping out the neighborhood as well. We have several lots available right now ready for other cus- tom home clients.” At home in the Heights By Michael Sudhalter [email protected] See Petruzzi, P. 2B Heights builder Joe Petruzzi stands next to the 27-foot staircase in his own home at 634 Rutland. Petruzzi has put the home on the market for $1.2 million. An artist’s rendering of a $1.46 mil- lion home on Althea, which is believed to be the most expensive home in Oak Forest. (Submitted visual)

description

May 24 section B

Transcript of Leader0524b

Page 1: Leader0524b

When Heights homebuilder Joe Petruzzi is designing and building a new home, he tries to consider what he’d want in his own home.

“When you build something for yourself, you put more en-ergy into it,” said Petruzzi, a Heights resident.

Petruzzi takes that strategy to heart because he builds a home for himself, lives there for 2-4 years, puts the home on the market and sells it.

He currently lives at 634 Rutland, a 3,675 square foot home that he put on the mar-ket last week, which is ex-pected to sell for somewhere between $1.1 million and $1.2 million.

Since it listed, Petruzzi has had two showings for the home.

Petruzzi, 45, builds about 25 homes per year, and as a small builder, he does ev-erything from designing the

homes, marketing them and selecting designs that make the homes unique.

“I don’t list houses until they’re almost fi nished be-cause everything sells ex-tremely fast,” Petruzzi said.

In his current home, there’s a brick wall made of 100-year-old Chicago bricks, hand-carved stone, a Theater room, a retro yet modern bathtub, a 27-foot-stairway and several classic chandeliers.

Sometimes, Petruzzi comes up with ideas that clients se-lect for their custom homes.

One of the themes that rings true with his homes is that they fi t into the Heights

culture.“The best thing about the

Heights (as it’s been revital-izing ) it’s stayed true to the little town neighborhood it was,” Petruzzi said. “People are building a product that looks indigenous to the area. What happened in the last year and a half is amazing with the new construction. There have been builders such as David Weekley and Urban Living that wouldn’t have been here before, that have come in.”

Petruzzi builds homes be-

Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Page 1B

OPINIONSEXPERT

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ALLEN SOLD IT!

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Question: What is the most

important factor to look for in determining which mortgage institution to

choose for you Mortgage process and why?

These days, mortgage lending is still quite conservative and with the slight diff erential in interest rates and underwriting fees you ultimately may be charged to close on a loan (or loans) – they all operate quite similarly – and the experience itself should be pretty close to the same no mat-ter who you use – but which one is the most appropriate one for me you ask? Of course, it will de-pend on the kind of funding you will need – are you purchasing or refi nancing? Will you qualify for a conventional, FHA, or VA loan on paper with no expected hitches in this lending environment? Are you trying to pursue hard money for real estate investment (Houston is absolutely booming at this moment) as this is becom-ing extremely popular. With any lender for whatever purpose, the better your credit and fi nancial profi le looks on paper (in under-writer standards), certainly the more options you will have. But if you are a fi rst time homebuyer or are thinking about being one – it all starts with your middle credit score – the higher the better of course, as this is the fi rst criteria they all use. This number opens the fl oodgates for the interest rate you (market is constantly moving the entire

time) will ultimately lock in on. A solid loan offi cer should help you navigate through the paperwork and the process – as should your real estate agent. Lenders prove themselves to agents and in return sometimes earn a (hope-fully long) pipeline of business referrals based on the quality of the service they provide. Are their loans closing on time? Are their closing costs and interest rates in check with Truth in Lending requirements before closing? How is their communication? Are they guiding you through the process and clearly explaining the status of the loan? All of these things are traits of a great lender. Experi-enced Realtors should all have a small collection of proven lending comrades and should put you together with the one that best suits your situation and based on an established history of success.Bryan CraftCraft Texas Properties

I would say the most important

factor is without a doubt, the service you receive. Most of the big banks have become known in the industry for providing very poor service to their clients. From lack of communication,

Powering Up for a Zero Energy Lifestyle

DO-OVER

By Cynthia LescaleetFor The Leader

Renovations to a long-and-lean Heights property transformed the quirky, 1984-built home into a modern and sustainable environ-ment for the “zero energy lifestyle.”

As owner-architect Palmer Brooks School-ey explains, that lifestyle means “Live well and offset as much of your existence as you can. Take the long view and care about the long term,” he said. ‘That’s what really mat-ters.”

Even before its modifi cations, the single-story home at 409 W. 8th St. was a pretty cool property, he says. The linear footprint set up a unique arrangement of spaces and a rela-tionship between them and the side garden.

The property’s lore was also intriguing, he said. The home is attributed to a former neighbor, a “creative pragmatist” who recy-cled, re-purposed and re-used materials. He subdivided his corner lot to accommodate his project.

Serial remodelers since 1991 and long-term Heights residents, Schooley and wife Merry bought the property in 2012. They knew it well since its garden was adjacent to

See Expert, P. 4BSee Do-Over, P. 2BRenovations transformed a 1984 home in the Heights with sustainability in mind. (Photos by Cynthia Lescaleet)

Oak Forest home selling for $1.4 million sets growing trend

A Tuscan-style home locat-ed in the 1200 block of Althea is being sold for approximately $1.46 million, according to Brett Hartman of Hartman & Associates Realtors.

Hartman and the home-builder, Justin Gordon of Jus-tin Gordon Homes, are not listing the exact address due to privacy of the purchaser.

The home is a little over 5,100 square feet with a pool, grotto and basketball court, and the lot is close to 11,000 square feet.

“They’re going to be top notch fi nishes,” Gordon said. “with 12 foot ceilings up and down. I imagine that will be an Oak Forest fi rst. The house will be digitally automated with sound, security and lights.”

Gordon expects the trend of houses over $1 million to con-tinue in the area.

“The dirt alone is worth

$300,000,” Gordon said.The study will have a 25-

foot ceiling, there are two out-door fi replaces and the wine room will be able to hold over 2,000 bottles.

Oak Forest homes have ex-ceeded the $1 million mark, but this is believed to be the prici-est one. It could exceed $1.46 million once fi nal fi xtures and fi nishes are determined.

Regardless of the home’s size or prize, Hartman and Gordon have been working hard to boost the quality of

custom homes in Oak Forest.“We cater to the clients’

needs and what they would want in a property,” Hartman said. “We encourage the cus-tom aspect of a home and make the possibilities end-less as far as a custom home builder goes. Justin lives in Oak Forest and has a won-derful reputation for helping out the neighborhood as well. We have several lots available right now ready for other cus-tom home clients.”

At home in the HeightsBy Michael [email protected]

See Petruzzi, P. 2B

Heights builder Joe Petruzzi stands next to the 27-foot staircase in his own home at 634 Rutland. Petruzzi has put the home on the market for $1.2 million.

An artist’s rendering of a $1.46 mil-lion home on Althea, which is believed to be the most expensive home in Oak Forest. (Submittedvisual)

Page 2: Leader0524b

Page 2B • Saturday, May 24, 2014

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their yard.“Though structurally sound,

the original home was a bit ‘tired and simplistic,” said ar-chitect Schooley, who later added “gunched up” to his project description.

SUSTAINABLE WITH STYLETheir initial plan was to ren-

ovate the home into a com-fortable, but highly perform-ing sustainable space, furnish it accordingly and rent it to tenants aware of their carbon footprint.

“We didn’t think we’d go as deeply into the redo as we di-din terms of detail, labor and finishes,” he said. “We reno-vated it as if we’d like to live there ourselves.”

While the couple still might move in someday, the re-vamped home is leased for the foreseeable future – at a rate north of $4,000 per month. Schooley says that confirms there’s a market for (attrac-tive) sustainable housing.

Regardless of who lives in the home, however, the power bill is likely to be negligible, even non-existent; the project installed an 8.5 kilowatt-hour solar panel array designed to meet the home’s power de-mand. In fact, it exceeds it, Schooley reports, so the home is both off the grid and con-tributing to it.

Helping that ROI result are a dozen bifacial panels that form a ‘solar porch’ over the home’s courtyard entry. Another 20 solar panels, equipped with micro-inverters, are mounted on the adjacent metal roof.

Other energy efficiencies in-clude the white-coated metal roof, motorized sun shading, LED lighting and insulation that was significantly boosted by spray foam and radiant barriers. To harness natural light, the project kept the orig-inal three-sided clerestory and added a glass-and-aluminum garage door.

SIMPLE SCOPEThe exterior’s stained cy-

press siding gives the mod-ernized home a fusion vibe. Schooley has heard the prop-erty described as a having Southwest-, Japanese- or Cali-fornia-style – “or a blend of all three.”

Much of the project’s in-terior work was related to improving lighting and insu-lation. Substantial repairs to the drywall preceded a skim coat, sanded, to finish out the entire house “so it would feel essentially new,” Schooley’s account says.

Original birch cabinetry and doors carried over into new birch millwork. The origi-nal oak parquet flooring just needed sanding and refinish-ing.

Completed in 2013, the updated home kept its open plan layout and three bed-rooms. There’s a combo living and dining area. The adjacent kitchen sits behind a counter-height divider so that space also shares any views through the common area’s trio of slid-ing doors to the porch.

Slight increases to the home’s square footage add-ed a hallway to connect the house to a toolshed-turned-studio behind the garage. And, at the far end of the original porch, a portion was enclosed to accommodate an office and closet in the master suite.

Most of the rooms still have some sort of view of the Zen-like garden.

SOLAR PUNCHESIf designed and installed

correctly, energy-saving choic-es will pay for themselves over time, Schooley says. Some of the easiest, most cost effective ways to reduce the energy a home consumes are to:

– Add more natural light and ventilation.

– Shade windows at the right time of day.

– Enhance the insulation.– Check if windows and

doors seal properly.– Ensure that HVAC duct-

work is sound and not leaking air into unconditioned spaces.

– Use LED light sources and lamps wherever possible.

– Put more simply: Con-serve.

Schooley challenges home-owners to make an attempt to offset a portion of their home’s carbon footprint. “Make it as high-performing, low-energy as possible,” he said.

The solar house on W. 8th is a successful example of doing that - with style.

Do-Over, from P. 1B

tween $350,000 and $1.2 million but said that his per-sonal touch on each project is one of the things that sets him apart from his competi-tors.

Seven years ago, Petru-zzi bought three lots in the Heights, where the city’s bicycle trail was proposed. When the trail was built, the demand for the homes took off.

“I’m not going to buy un-less I can build within two to three months,” Petruzzi said.

Petruzzi is relatively new to the real estate industry, but he’s always had an entre-preneurial spirit.

At age 16, he started his first business, a pizzeria in the Florida Panhandle.

He learned a great deal about management during

three years as a high school social science teacher in Florida.

“If you can manage 40 high school kids, you can manage anybody,” he said.

Petruzzi was traveling through Texas seven years ago when he decided Hous-ton was the right place. Shortly thereafter, he sold his T-Shirt business, acquired his real estate license and began learning as much as he could from builders in the area.

“I work very hard, but I don’t feel like it’s work - I en-joy what I do,” Petruzzi said.

Petruzzi is building several homes in Shady Acres and sees that area, along with Brooke Smith, as two hot, up-and-coming neighbor-hoods.

Petruzzi, from P. 1B

Heights resident Joe Petruzzi builds about 25 homes per year, including this one at 634 Rutland where he currently lives (Sub-mitted photo)

Page 3: Leader0524b

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Page 4: Leader0524b

Page 4B • Saturday, May 24, 2014

Purchase of a home Refinancing or home equity loans

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3 bedroom, 1 bath home in Oak Forest, close to 290, 610, restaurants & schools.

Great details on this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage Heights area home. Crown molding, wood floors throughout. Covered balcony off main living area for enjoying nice evenings. Wrought iron fenced yard/patio, NO maintenance fee, double wide driveway. Great location close to major access roads, restaurants and Heights shopping.

1130 23rd $295,000

Home has been beautifully maintained, 2 bedrooms with 1 bath and updated kitchen & baths; custom cabinets, shelving, crown molding & bull-eyes frames around many doors. French doors lead into formal dining room. Beautiful hardwoods; tile in kitchen & baths; new carpet in bedrooms.

427 Pecore $425,000

Nicely updated three bedroom, one bath home in Oak Forest. Updates per seller include roof, electrical panel, bathroom, double paned windows, furnace, & water heater.

1831 Latexo $345,0002-1-0 with den and one car carport. Nice lot, 7140 sq. ft. Utility in house. New windows and new A/C and Heat.

1913 Dubarry $279,000

5017 W. 43rd $236,892

Lindale Park is the ‘’Hidden Jewel’’ of Houston! Enjoy the convenience of urban living in this 2 bedroom, 1 bath home that is ‘’just around the corner’’ from the Metro rail. This cottage-style home has a ‘’Home Sweet Home’’ feel with a nice front porch and beautiful mature trees in the front yard. The patio area is custom made and perfect for entertaining! There’s also a 1 bedroom garage apt in the back with plenty of storage underneath. Definitely a MUST SEE and MUST HAVE!

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215 Canadian St $200,000

missing closing dates, to poor ap-praisals. It’s extremely important that our clients know who they are dealing with, what to expect during the process, and that they are not just a loan number in an enormous stack of fi les. A mortgage is not just a “one size fi ts all” product. Every client is diff erent and has diff erent needs. We tailor our process, approach, and presentation to each client and their needs. My team is in constant communication with

our clients and their realtors from pre-approval to post-closing. Our underwriters are literally around the corner from us.

Shane DavisEnvoy Mortgage

The most important factor in determining which Mortgage institution to use in my opinion is professionalism and trust. You want to make sure that the company you’re working with communicates in a professional

manner and explains all aspects of the process and that someone you feel confi dent about is doing right by your client. My mortgage professionals at OnQ Financial mortgage are amazing! The loan offi cers are honest, hardworking and always close on time. In this tough market, closing on time is crucial.Leann SalmonsMartha Turner/Sotheby’s International Realty

Expert, from P. 1B

Acres Homes, real estate hot spot?

Kara Hagen and her fam-ily are not unique in that they were looking to capitalize on a robust real estate market in Oak Forest. They sold their one-story house on Cheshire, zoned for Oak Forest Elemen-tary, to a builder who has since torn it down for a rebuild. It was what they did next though that set them apart.

“We looked for six months around Oak Forest and Tim-bergrove for another house,” Hagen said. “Even the ones we could afford, we didn’t think were worth it.”

The Hagens wanted a big yard for their two dogs and enough house to accom-modate two middle school children. Driving between Pinemont and Tidwell off Ella one day, the family found a po-tential winner. The house, in Acres Homes, was only about a quarter of a mile from their previous house.

“We liked the house, and we liked the neighbors,” said Ha-gen. “When we got right down to it, it seemed to be the best choice. We thought if it didn’t work out we could always sell it.”

Two months into their new digs, there is no buyers’ re-gret.

“I’m really happy,”said Ha-gen. “We back up to someone’s huge multi-acre property. My husband says it’s so quiet he can’t sleep.”

Another benefi t – no door to door salespeople. “When we lived on Cheshire, we had them all the time. Nobody ever knocks on the door here.”

An area with rootsA community that goes back

to World War I, Acres Homes is named for the size of the lots that landowners sold to new homeowners, many of whom used their property to raise livestock and plant gardens. The area, which is a little less than 10 square miles, is bordered by West Mount Houston Road to the north; Pinemont Drive to the south;

North Shepherd Drive to the east; and Antoine Drive to the west.

According to a 2010 article by the Rice Design Alliance, Acres Homes was once the largest unincorporated Af-rican-American community in the Southeastern United States.

Even for people who didn’t care about a rural lifestyle, the area was appealing to people who wanted to live close to downtown. However, public transportation was spotty and the schools weren’t incorpo-rated by the city. This changed in the late 1960s and early 1970s when Houston annexed a large portion of the com-munity. Ironically, or maybe not, this is about the time that some think the appeal of Acres Homes took a dip.

The current affordability of the area is a plus to many. According to HAR’s neigh-borhood information fi nder, the average house price for zip codes 77088 and 77091 is $70,400 and $60,400, respec-tively. It is not unusual for some properties to sit on the market for months. The Ha-gen’s house for example was a foreclosure.

As a point of comparison, the average house value - not property value -- listed by HAR.com for 77018 (Oak Forest and Garden Oaks) is $97,200 and for 77008, which includes the Heights, it’s $119,700.

The draw of Acres Homes

For Ken White, an employee of the Houston Fire Depart-ment who also serves as the Acres Homes Super Neighbor-hood president, the allure of Acres Homes was family. He now lives in the Garden City Park subdivision.

“I grew up there and came back ten years ago from Spring,” he said. White has noticed a trend in others re-turning as well. He thinks that the movement on the real es-tate front is equally split be-tween new builds and existing homes.

“The number one reason

people are moving back are the schools, and number two is safety,” he said, noting his group’s partnership with the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Consta-ble and the increase in patrols.

Potential crime was a con-cern for the Hagens too. “When we looked at the crime stats though, they were no dif-ferent from Oak Forest,” she said.

At the same time Ken White was moving back, Michael Galbreth was driving around the area looking for property. Galbreth, who is one half of the collaborative artist team The Art Guys, was renting in the Heights and was looking for land to buy. “I was just greedy,” he jokes. “Land is land.”

Galbreth and his wife bought property in Highland Heights section of Acres Homes where they live and where The Art Guys have established their “world headquarters,” a steel framed barn which architec-tural historian Stephen Fox highlights in his Architectural Guide to Houston.

“It’s beautiful here. The houses are spread out where we are, a lot of the area feels pastoral,” said Galbreth. “We are fortunate to have a fair amount of land.”

He says there are other artists who have moved into the area as well. “There are a number of people up this way, scattered about.”

In the last fi ve years, Gal-breth says he’s noticed in-creased development in the area and hopes it’s done re-sponsibly, but isn’t holding his breath.

“With no zoning, people can pretty much do anything,” he said. “I love it just the way it is.”

Future growthIn a city which is growing as

fast as Houston, Acres Homes is bound to change. For now, most of the growth is happen-ing near the southern bound-ary of Acres Homes. There are several new subdivisions popping up. One of the build-

ers, Contempo, was in the news last year for their work in the Leland Woods subdivision, a development project initi-ated by the City of Houston in northeast Houston.

In 2008, Contempo bought eight acres for $150,000 off of Rosslyn Road. Co-owner Julio Fernandez said the plan then was to build 24 homes but they ended up purchasing a few more acres and building more than 90 homes.

The Marbella community at 5402 Rosslyn Road is a gated one. Homes are at least 2,000 square feet and built to Energy Star standards. Fernandez said that sales were “pretty slow for a couple of years, but in 2013 it really picked up.” Now they are sold out.

Contempo bought an addi-tional nine acres on the other side of Rosslyn for “a lot more money” in 2013. They plan to build another housing commu-nity, perhaps called Marbella II. Fernandez said they’d be interested in purchasing more land in the area but that “it’s a little more diffi cult now” due to rising prices.

For now, Acres Homes re-mains a little bit of a secret to those to the south. “I feel like we got away with something,” said Hagen.

In the future, area real-tors might have to play catch up. Realtor Pat Walker said she once sold a “really nice” house on Creekmont several years back, but that the area is mostly commercial now. She took a drive recently in the area where the Hagens bought and noted that there were some good deals to be had, including some additional foreclosures.

“My opinion is that one should ease their way in right now,” said Walker. “Maybe buying on border streets such as TC Jester or Ella.”

By Betsy [email protected]

The Hagen Family moved to Acres Homes from Oak Forest two months ago. (Photo by Betsy Denson)

Page 5: Leader0524b

Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Page 5B

Only fi ve short years ago, Jaycee Park – located at the corner of Grovewood and Seamist in Timbergrove – was described with words like “eyesore” and “blight” by community members.

Homeless people stayed in the park, and local residents did their best to avoid it.

But the Friends of Jay-cee Park, headed by former Timbergrove resident Ileana Desalos, partnered with the Houston Parks Board to revi-talize the park, turning a neg-ative into a positive by 2012.

In addition to being a great place for a family picnic or a walk, it’s had an impact on the local real estate market as well.

“People are telling us they wanted to live in Timber-grove because of the parks,” said Lorraine Cherry of the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club. “It became one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city, with property values go-ing through the roof. Part of that is we have beautiful parks here.”

Cheryl Erickson, who start-ed the revitalization efforts with Desalos, said she’s seen people renovating old houses in the area – something that wasn’t going on before the re-vitalization.

While past improvement projects in the park focused on signifi cant fundraising ef-forts, Timbergrove residents have managed to secure city funding for the next phase. What actually happens in the

next phase will be determined by the City’s Parks & Recre-ation Department.

Last week, the Timber-grove Manor Civic Club met to discuss funding for future improvements to the park through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, of which $250,000 has been designated to improve the park.

The Civic Club board re-quested that homeowners make recommendations, so the city can evaluate, and ad-ditional lighting and increased areas of shade were at the top of that list.

“The park is very open – it’s very visible,” said Darlene Wayt, who is spearheading the current project to upgrade the park. “It’s a very highly used park, and the neighbors are taking care of it.”

Jaycee Park improvements have boosted Timbergrove’s real estate market value

By Michael [email protected]

Is the grass really always greener on the other side?

Spring has spring and I have seen numerous people in the neighborhood working in the yard. Some work harder than others trying to get the grass to green up and fl owers to bloom. I always try to stop and compliment those on my Oak Forest neighborhood street, who seem to go the extra mile. Who knows, they might just share a secret on how they got that extra green yard.

Here are a few tips I have learned on how to get that lush yard.

Mow your grass at its high-est setting. This allows the grass to recover faster when you only take off the top 1/3 of the blade. You end up water-ing less, and the blade shades out weeds wanting to pop up. Talk to your yard man, and ask him to mow it high.

Mow once every week dur-ing the growing season – since your mowing high it takes off the top of the weeds that did germinate, causing less weed seed.

Water no more than one inch a week, all at once. By doing it all at once you get the water down deep, beyond just the top surface. If you do short watering stints, you train the roots to stay shallow. This is an issue for those who have a sprinkler system. Try turning the system to manual, and wa-tering only when it needs it.

You should vary when you water, and on occasion, do it at night – you know it does rain at night, so don’t worry about issue on the off chance that’s when you have time to do it

Never use any weed & feed product – if you took the time and read the whole label you would understand. Every true professional will tell you how bad some of those ingredients are. One ingredient is so bad, if your pine tree absorbs it, it will die, and there is nothing you can do once it happens. The label even says it’s not for trees and bushes, but it’s stacked on the end of every isle at the box stores.

Stop using high nitrogen synthetic fertilizers. They

contain high amounts of salt, which dry out the surface, causing you to water more. Do you see the vicious cycle we are trying to break?

The very best thing you can add to your yard is com-post or just the clippings from your mower. Compost helps fi ght disease like brown patch and gets the grass real strong. There are other great prod-ucts found at our numerous local nurseries that are better suited. One organic fertilizer I like is made by a local compa-ny named Micro-life. It works wonders.

By Bryan TreadwayFor The Leader

Veterinarian seeks to donate schoolhouse

Dr. Ken Williams of the Heights Veterinary Clinic has a schoolhouse he’d like to give you.

Williams and his wife, Nan-cy, own a 1,000 square foot one room schoolhouse built in the 19th century that preceded Love Elementary School.

It’s known as the Lowell Street Schoolhouse, as Shep-herd Dr. was called Lowell St. around the beginning of the 20th Century.

The schoolhouse is current-ly on the property of the vet clinic at 1431 N. Shepherd Dr.

Williams currently uses it for storage but said he needs the space to “expand the park-ing lot or to do something else with the land.”

“The main thing is to pre-serve the schoolhouse,” Wil-

liams said. “I would like to keep it in Houston. I don’t want to see the wrecking ball or bulldozer. I’d be very dis-heartened.”

Williams has run into road-blocks in having the school-house preserved.

He’s approached the Hous-ton Historical Society and the Heights Association about taking it as a historical piece. He said the Historical Soci-ety wasn’t interested, and the Heights Association said it didn’t have a place for it.

When Williams acquired the schoolhouse a few years ago, he paid back taxes on it, painted it and tried to preserve it.

Now, he’d like to see it in a place where the entire public would be welcome to enjoy it.

Oak Forest / Garden Oaks area Super Neighborhood to discuss city budget, nuisance bars

The Central/Northwest Super Neighborhood Coun-cil, better known as the Super Neighborhood for the Oak Forest/Garden Oaks area, will host a meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. on May 28 at the Can-dlelight Community Center.

The main topics of discus-sion will be the city’s pro-posed $5.2 billion budget, and how residents can work with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and lo-cal law enforcement to report issues that arise from bars in the area – from noise to park-ing and suspect illegal activ-ity.

City council member at-large Stephen Costello will speak about the budget (which is proposed for the upcoming fi scal year, which begins on July 1. Costello is chair of the city’s budget and fi scal affairs committee.

TABC agent Christopher Rodriguez will address nui-sance bars. In January, Gar-

den Oaks residents and busi-ness owners unsuccessfully contested the beer license of La Villita, a nightclub at 829 W. 34th St.

“This is a great opportunity to hear fi rsthand knowledge from experts on two impor-tant issues for our neighbor-hoods – the city’s annual budget and nightclubs people consider to be nuisances,” said Super Neighborhood president Mark Klein.

Klein said many of the pro-posals in the city budget will interest local residents.

“The new budget addresses potholes and, to some degree, street conditions and that’s important,” Klein said. “More

enforcement of traffi c speeds along main thoroughfares in residential areas are needed, particularly during school zone times.”

Klein said another impor-tant issue to discuss with the city will be the 34th Quiet Zone, which would decrease noise in OF/GO by allowing safeguards to be put in place, so freight trains won’t make as much noise while passing through the neighborhood.

“Noisy railroad traffi c has grown substantially since the Quiet Zone made the list, and it’s expected to grow even more as the oil industry con-tinues to turn to rail,” Klein said. “We’re next on a list of Quiet Zones that now has no funding source.”

The Central/Northwest Super Neighborhood had been dormant for a number of years, but it was revitalized last fall under the leadership of Klein, and Alicia Nuzzie of the Oak Forest Homeowners Association.

By Michael [email protected]

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Page 6: Leader0524b

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Page 6B • Saturday, May 24, 2014

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“He who has something to sell and whispers it into a well, is not as apt to get the dollars as he who stands up tall and hollers.” Advertise!

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A long established automotive repair and maintenance facility with strong community ties, is now interviewing. We are looking for a friendly people-oriented individual to join our team. This sales/management position re-quires someone who is honest, ethical, a self-starter, and a strong leader. We want someone who is passionate about the automotive business and wants to make this their career. The right candidate will cultivate long term relationships with our clients and be professional in working with our great technicians and owners. Solid communication skills, being proce-dure oriented, having a good driving record, and strong computer skills are a must. This job requires someone who can work gracefully under pressure, since the job involves multi-tasking and frequent interactions with many people. If you have a strong desire to succeed and are looking for a long term career, don’t let this opportunity pass you.

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Garage Sale838 Lamonte Lane

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Garage SaleFundraiser for Save The Children in Guatemala

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Monday - Saturday Position Available

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Page 7: Leader0524b

GARAGE DOORS• Repair Specialist• Springs • Rollers

• Sections repaired &replaced • Cables

40 years' exp. • Low Rates

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

FENCES &DECKS

Repair & In stallationAll Type Fences

• Chain link • Wood• Ornamental Iron

Small jobs welcomeCall 7 Days

JoseCell (281) 221-0637

`

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

713-703-8488 Jim “God Bless America”

QUALITY CONCRETE WORK

• Openers • Cables • Springs • Sections

Repaired & Replaced

281-352-3350713-545-6162

24 Hrs/7 DaysSe Habla Espanol

GARAGE DOORSERVICE

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• Driveways • Sidewalks • PatiosFREE ESTIMATES

CallGregory

832-675-2485713-864-3755

BALDERAS CONCRETE WORK

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Gilbert 281-948-4879

Repair & InstallPressure WashingPainting • Siding

WOOD FENCING

PAINT INGInterior/Exterior

Sheetrock • Power WashFree Estimates

Cell: 832-584-0725

FRANK’S

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

FREE ESTIMATESMartin Gonzales 832-472-2427

MJG HOME REMODELINGHEIGHTS CUSTOM HOME REMODELING

SHEETROCK REPAIR & TEXTURE

832-885-4939��������������

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

� 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

ROOFINGby

SERNA BROS.Serving NW Houston Since 1973

FREE estimates

713-688-3277

GARAGE DOORSRepair or Replace

Doors/Openers

½ HPSears

OpenersInstalled281-807-5588

Choice DoorCredit Cards Accepted

Repair Specialist

713-545-3414

7 DAY SERVICE

$27000

REMODELING

AMS RemodelingCOMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL

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

Free Estimate713-680-2019

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

25YearsResidential & Commercial

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

Adam’s WOOD FLOORS

832-515-4214

Installation RepairSanding Finishing

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

ASAPROOFING• ReRoof • Repair• Siding • Windows

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

References • Heights Home Owner

713-248-0763

HELP YOU WITH YOUR HOME REPAIRS

��������

Frank Montes

PaintingInterior/Exterior

Sheetrock RepairMatch any textureRoofing Work

CarpentryHandyman Services

Power WashingGood

References(713)

962-3474

Complete Pavers

Gilbert

• Patios • Decks• Driveways

• Brick Columns

281-948-4879

DB Drywall

Small JobsWelcome

Speaks English Only

713-466-6008

713-249-2140 Sheetrock Dr.

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

SIFUENTES SER VICESRoom Additions

• Ceramic Tile • Kitchen/Bath• Flood Damage Repair

• Painting • Sheetrock, Concrete

281-508-1718Small Jobs Welcome

Free Estimates

GENERAL HOMEIMPROVEMENT

281-827-4447

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

HOMEREMODELING

Handyman Services & General Contracting

Residential/Commercial

Call for Best Prices in Town!

281-580-2671family owned & operated

Remodeling Plumbing Electrical

We accept CC

Mention Leader Ad for 10% Discount

est. 1984

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

HEATING/AIRCONDITIONING

10 Year Warranty

www.713-gogreen.com

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• Commercial• Residential

• Commercial RefrigerationTACLB010963C

713-660-0370713-GO-GREEN

Cooling & HeatingRes. - Com.

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

TACL B27781E

American StandardAuthorized Dealer

with this ad$20 OFF

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

Will Treat Your Loved Ones As My Own

M&M PetSitting

Affordable Pet CareIn Your Home

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

PETS & LIVE STOCK

�������������������Call for appointment

713-682-11585800 N. Houston Rosslyn

Houston TX 77091Tues. & Thurs. 7am - 6pm Wed., Fri. & Sat. 8am-5pm

One FreeDog Walk

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Royalty Pet Center

9900 N. Houston Rosslyn713-849-9000

• Grooming• Boarding• Pet Supplies

Since1976

www.royaltypetcenter.com

PETS / LIVESTOCK PETS / LIVESTOCK PETS / LIVESTOCK PETS / LIVESTOCK PETS / LIVESTOCK PETS / LIVESTOCK PETS / LIVESTOCK

One Story House...$599Two Story House...$950

Painting - Exterior

281-999-149510% Discount - Interior Painting

Includes: Pressure Washing, Caulking-Labor Only

Rotted Wood - Extra Charge

Sheetrock Repairs, Carpenter, Tile, Doors, Interiors/exterior, ETC25 yrs exp - Dwight ClineLifetime Oak Forest Resident

Call @ 832.654.9898

MANHANDYHome Maintenance

We have a small staff here at The Leader, so sometimes we don’t know about everything that’s going on in our area. If there’s something of concern in your neighborhood, please let our editor know and we’ll follow up on it.

Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Page 7B

House Painting• Interior/Exterior

• Sheetrock Repairs• Door Re nishing • Wood Repairs

• Pressure Washing

Ramiro Garcia

713.206.5965

Re-roofs • Repairs

3308 Ella Blvd • (713) 680-3530All Work Guaranteed Free Estimates

CAMPOS Roofing“The Residential Roofing Specialists”

www.camposroofing.com

Hardi Siding • Gutters• Windows

713-956-0115713-829-4618 (afterhours)

• Free Service Call w/repair only • Senior Discounts • 100% Financing Avail. • We accept all Credit Cards

TACLB #18126E

$49 SPRING CHECK UP SPECIAL

ATEX AIR AC & Heat

AIR CONDITIONING

713-862-7320Call For A Comparison

ITS NOT JUST A FENCEITS AN INVESTMENT

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Free Estimate 25 Yrs. Exp.

Wood Starts @ $9 per ft. • Ornamental Iron @ 11 per ft.

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

WANT TO BUY

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

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

Sr. Disconuts • 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?

Advanced Fence & Gates

www.advancedfences.com

SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR• Ornamental Iron • Access Gates & Equipment

• Wood • Chain LinkCall Frank Direct281-236-6774

Window Decor Sell & Install

30 yrs exp - call RonFree Estimates

[email protected]

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Installation & RepairFree Estimates

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33 yrs. ExperienceCall Gerald

281-827-5136

�����������������������������������������–��������������–���������

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281-651-STAR281-651-7827

Sales ServiceRepairs Cleanings

Senior Discount Credit Cards

Air Conditioning

QUICK RELIABLEFREE Service Call w/Repair

TACLA 28719E��

J&VA/C & Heating

Service Licensed & Insured - TACLB019197E713-628-2039

Spring Special $1,500 Rebate - Select UnitsDon’t Wait Til It Breaks Down!

Seniors Discount • Most CC Accepted

3 Ton Condensor Replacement R=22 Freon (Ameristar) $1,950

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

����������������������

We have a F/T opening at our dentistry office and the candidate must have experience in customer service, basic

computer skills, phone skills and to speak English and Spanish would be a plus.

They need to be a quick learner, be able to think outside the box, solution oriented, ambitious and have a positive attitude.

If you meet these requirements, please email us at

[email protected]

PART-TIME BOOKKEEPER• Must know QuickBooks

• Minimum 3 years experienceFax Resume 713-683-7077

or call 713-683-3817 Ask for Kelly

LaundryAttendants

Starting Pay $8.25/hourlyApply Within

4211 N. Main St.

Full Time - Part Time

Maintenance Man NeededPart Time Weekends

Apply Within4211 N. Main St.

Part Time Job290 & Mangum Rd. Export company looking

to hire a part time, bilingual office worker.

Great for Retired PersonMust be able to read and write english and spanish.

Flexible hours, basic computer skills needed.

For information call 713-553-3556

BUS DRIVERS NEEDED FOR CHURCH SHUTTLE: Approximately six hours a week. Must have CDL and passenger endorsement. Call 713-681-3600. (TF)

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

REGIONAL DRIVERSWANTED!

E.W.Wylie Offers• $1,000 Sign On Bonus

• Percentage Pay • $50 Tarp Pay • Home Weekly • Great Benefits

*Req’d: CDL-A, 1 yr exp, 23 yrs old

¡Se habla español!

Call 855-826-6593 888-884-4292

www.drive4ewwylie.com

Part Time • Good PayCall Dennis Adams

713-702-0895

Semi Retired Licensed

Journeyman Electrician

email resume [email protected]

CLERICAL HELP WANTEDWith:• Basic Bookkeeping• Excel and Word Data• Data Entry• Customer Service Skills• Bi-Lingual required

WANTED PAINTERS

Exp OnlyCan you do carpentry,

electrical, plumbing, etc?Top Pay - Call Keith832-885-4939

ATTENTION: Handyman needed. Part-time for small offi ce. No experience need-ed. Texas Drivers license and drug test required. Start $10 hourly. Seniors and veterans welcome. 713-290-0411.

NOW HIRING FOR HY-DRAULIC 5TH WHEEL OPERATORS to load trucks with steel plates in the Baytown area. Great ben-efi ts (medical/dental/vision insurance), holiday pay, va-cation pay, fi ve days/week, eight hour shifts, possible overtime. Contact Adams Industries at 800-525-6958, x3. (5-31)

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

AUTOS & TRUCKS

COM PUT ERS

Home, Small Of ceComputer RepairUpgrades, Installation,

Con guration(Virus-Removal)

Home - NetWorking832-818-4970

SPECIALOCCASIONS

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

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

Excellent references. 20 plus years experience,

honest & dependable. 832-798-4475

A TRASH HAULER: 832-388-7084. Garage cleaning, house cleaning. Demo: sheds, small garages. Resi-dential, small businesses. On time! Calvin Edwards. (TF)

HANDYMAN SAVES YOU MONEY: Plumbing, electri-cal, carpentry. 281-660-0350.

TOO BUSY TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE? Call Pam, 713-204-6298. (5-31)

HOUSECLEANING: Honest, dependable. Will customize clean. Years of experience. Love pets. Call Rhonda, 281-948-8590.

Call Claudia @I can clean yours too!

832-964-4892Free Estimates

Good References

I CLEAN HOUSES...

CA$H

832-646-6103

For Unwanted Cars, Trucks, MTX & RV’s

Not running OK

TODAY

2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF: Good condition. One owner. $6,500 or best offer. 713-290-0411. (6-14)

2000 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CARTIER: Only 47,800 miles, beige, excellent condition. $5,800. Origi-nal owner. 713-252-6363. (5-31)

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

Free Estimates • Seniors 10% Discount• Kitchen • Bathrooms • Siding • Windows

713-377-1262

BURGLAR BARS: Cus-tom made. Residential and commercial. Free es-timates. 281-448-2759. www.burglarbarsandmore.com. (TF)

SEMI-RETIRED HANDY-MAN: Carpentry, paint, roof repairs, power washing. Don Ruthstrom, 713-754-0923.

NEED ANEW COAT?

From a new coat of paint to a total remodel. Turn to the Leader

Classifi eds to turn your home improvment plans into a reality.

Page 8: Leader0524b

Page 8B • Saturday, May 24, 2014

A direct connect from farmer to consumerMore of a commitment

than visiting a farmers mar-ket, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or farm sub-scription allows a family guar-anteed delivery of produce direct from the farmer.

A CSA program that has taken root in the Oak Forest and Heights areas is the one started by HOMEsweetFARM in Washington County. They launched their CSA farm in 2004 with 26 members, and have grown to become the largest CSA serving Houston with over 350 members each season.

HOMEsweetFARM’s Jenny Stuffl ebeam said that they have 59 acres, 37 of which they lease and 22 they farm themselves. Around ten acres are in production for veggies and fruits. The rest is reserved for livestock: sheep, goats, cows, and horses.

HOMEsweetFARM’s CSA program is sometimes con-fused with co-ops that buy from distributors to get cheap produce which is very differ-ent than their farmer direct model.

One advocate for the CSA program is Oak Forest’s Cara Ramelow who with friend Christine Gorman worked together to bring a drop site to Oak Forest by gathering the requisite 15 members. They currently have 16 offi -cial members with a few who split shares. Ramelow’s house has been the drop site for four years.

Members who sign up pay $32 a week, or $384 for the sea-son and can pick up a weekly supply of what’s in season.

According to Stuffl ebeam that should include squash, zuc-chini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, okra, green beans, melons, watermelons, black-berries, arugula, basil, and eggplant.

“CSA has completely changed how we eat,” said Ra-melow. “Not only do we eat more veggies, but the kids have developed a more accepting palate when it comes to them, although this has been a grad-ual process for sure. When she shops, Ramelow designs the weekly menu around what she’s received for the week.

“It takes a mindset shift, which requires dedication,”

she said.New member Amber Caver

has picked up four deliveries so far and is currently experi-menting with cooking vegeta-bles that she doesn’t normally prepare at home, like turnips, beets, greens and cabbage. So far the turnips and the beets are winners.

Kathleen McNamara has been the drop off point in the Heights for the last six years. She was a member of an on-line group and learned about HOMEsweetFARM’s CSA pro-gram as well as their need for a Heights volunteer.

McNamara said that both for her and the members she talks

to it’s “drastically changed” how they eat. Like Caver, they learn how to prepare items they wouldn’t necessarily pick up in the grocery store.

There are also new twists on old favorites: “I’ve learned that okra is really good if you grill it,” said McNamara.

She shares recipes with other group members and has also started fermenting left over vegetables in order to in-crease their probiotic delivery potential. “It’s a way to keep vegetables if you get a lot,” she said. “I make sauerkraut out of cabbage and it keeps all year.”

In addition to Oak Forest

and the Heights, HOMEsweet-FARM delivers to the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Commu-nity Center at Braeswood, the ERJCC’s The Bertha Alyce Center, Katy, Cypress, Spring, and The Woodlands as well as to chef Monica Pope at Spar-row Bar + Cookshop.

For more information, or to sign up for the CSA program, visit http://www.homesweet-farm.com/. They also have a blog at http://homesweet-farm.blogspot.com/search/label/Recipes where readers share hit recipes. Here is one that uses squash, zucchini and eggplant:

By Betsy [email protected]

Christine Gorman picks up her weekly share of veggies at Cara Ramelow’s house. (Photo by Betsy Denson)

Heights resident turns wine hobby into a careerHeights resident Stephanie

Earthman Baird has had an appreciation for wine since she was a college student at Texas A&M.

Twenty years ago, Baird be-gan a path that would transi-tion her career from Oil & Gas to Wine Distributor.

While employed by Exxon, Baird started moonlighting with the Houston Wine Mer-chant.

“It just kept snowballing,”

Baird said. “I started learning about wine from a project man-ager I was traveling around the world with. I helped to run Fri-day tastings, and assisted with a few wine classes.”

In 2002, Baird was confi dent enough in her wine expertise that she started BevCo Inter-national LLC, a wine import company which is based near Oak Forest.

She started with fi ve em-ployees and has since expand-ed to 20.

Baird travels around the

world, looking at the right wines for her clients, which include restaurants and super-markets throughout Texas.

“Once you get in the wine business, you actually have UPS and FedEx stopping on your door,” Baird said. “I had 12 bottles delivered this week. Wine fi nds you...you don’t have to make as many trips.”

BevCo is licensed as a winery and will begin selling its own wine within the next year.

While Baird considers el-

egant, understated “Old World Wines” from European coun-tries and South America to be among her favorites, she’s been a dedicated promoter of Texas Wines.

“I love Texas Wines,” Baird said. “I was part of the origi-nal membership at Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the former chairperson of the Wine Committee. Each year, we see how well the Texas Wines do and see how they stand up to wines across the world. It’s amazing.”

Baird said the future of wine is bright, given the fact that the up-and-coming Millennial generation is more to open to trying different wines.

Baird, a Conroe native, has lived in the Heights twice, and has called the area home since 1999.

“Now what I love about it is you have all of these cool res-taurants,” Baird said. “I could not have said that when I lived there in 1989.”

By Michael [email protected]

Stephanie Earthman Baird

Almond Chicken Stir Fry

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 large onion cut into wedges

2 large stalks of celery cut into slices at an angle

3-4 cloves of garlic minced or crushed

1/2 cup Braggs Amino Acids or Soy Sauce

1/2 to 1 pound hormone and antibiotic free chicken, diced into medium sized pieces

2 Japanese eggplants, sliced

1 large yellow squash (or 2 small), sliced and halved

1 large zucchini (or 2 small), sliced and halved

2 large carrots sliced very thin or shoestringed

1/2 cup almond butter (crunchy or smooth)

Red Pepper fl akes to taste (I like it really spicy!)

Vegetable or chicken broth (if needed to thin sauce)

In a large wok, place coconut oil, and heat on high for about two minutes. Lower heat to medium-high, toss in chicken and stir fry for fi ve minutes. Add soy sauce and let cook for another four minutes. Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic and stir. Continue stirring occasionally for about three minutes. Add squash, zucchini and eggplant and continue stir frying for another three to fi ve minutes until veggies are beginning to get tender. Add almond butter and stir it into dish. Add Braggs, soy sauce or broth as needed so that sauce is not pasty. Add pepper fl akes and cook for another fi ve minutes on medium heat. Serve over brown jasmine rice.

FOR RENT

Classifi eds Continued

APARTMENTS

ANIMAL LOVERS NEEDED to volunteer at no kill animal shelter in the Heights. Download volun-teer application at www.nokill1.org or visit us in person at 107 E. 22nd Street, Tuesday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. (TF)

Our Guide To Northwest Hous-ton is packed with local informa-tion you just can’t fi nd anywhere else ... elected offi cials, civic associations, entertainment venues, youth sports leagues and much more. Just visit www.theleadernews.com and click on Special Attractions.

Sell it fast with an inexpensive Leader classifi ed.

REALESTATE

REAL ESTATE

Charlee Peddicord

(281) 859-5159ON THE MARKET REALTY

[email protected]

Call Charlee

Buying or Selling?

Nobody delivers to more homes in our area than The Leader.

LEADER PUZZLER SOLUTIONS

FOR SALE BY OWNER - SHEPHERD PARK PLAZA: 3-2-2. Detached garage with pool. Call 713-254-8616. (5-24)

HOUSE FOR LEASE: Nice 3-2-2 at Yorkwood Subdivi-sion, $1,300. Pets case by case basis. Interested call, 832-483-9865.

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

APARTMENT FOR RENT: Two bedroom, large tile shower, laundry room, se-cure fence patio. Santa Fe style. Oak Forest near 290/610. $950 monthly. 713-213-4530, 713-392-8392.

ELECTRICSERVICES

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

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

• 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

Since 1953 - TECL 19210

[email protected]

BRAVENEC ELECTRIC

Res./Comm. Wiring713-864-4168

cc accepted

RAYCOPEST CONTROL

TPCL#13462Termites • Bees • Rodents

Spiders • Fleas • Roaches • Ants

281-444-3525WWW.RAYCOPEST.COM

PESTCONTROL

Cherokee

PEST CONTROL

®713-682-6801

Free Termite Inspection

• Termites • Roaches• Ants • Silverfi sh • Rodents

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

Est. 2005

MP#37717*Drain must have appropriate

accessible clean out.

713-464-1921

www.A1discountplumbing.com

$99 HOME OF THE

DRAIN CLEAN*

Aaron’s

PLUMBINGDrain & Sewer Cleaning

Since 1974

#17773 - 7 Days a week

713-695-2222825 Curtin 77018

ASTRO PLUMBING & TILE

Same Day Service

Heights • Garden Oaks • Oak Forest

DT HUGHES PLUMBING

MPL# 15665

APPLIANCE & TV REPAIR

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

All Makes & Models

I Buy cracked Flat Panel TV’s1622 W. 23rd

David’s

“We Make House Calls”

$15 OFF REPAIRS W/AD

APPLIANCESERVICESAL’S

• All Major Brands• Written Warranty• No Service Charge w/Repair

832-894-8824

• Refrigerators• Ovens• Washers• Dryers

832-526-8531

Ice makers, Disposals & Water Heaters

Washer/Dryer Repair

• Same Day Service• 6 Days A Week• All Work Guaranteed

Tommy Smith713-984-1849

Sales & ServiceWasher • Dryers Ranges & Stoves

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Page 10B • Saturday, May 24, 2014

The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Com-merce will present its 2014 Education Lun-cheon on May 27 where outstanding area stu-dents will receive schol-arships, outstanding teachers will be reward-ed and the Educator of the Year will be recog-nized. Four scholar-ships in the amount of $1000 will be awarded, eight scholarships of $500 will be distributed, eleven outstand-ing teachers will be rewarded with grants and the Educa-tor of the Year will receive a grant. In addition, a meritori-ous Chamber intern will also be receiving a grant.

Keynote speaker for the event is U.S. Congressman Gene Green who represents the 29th Congressional Dis-trict in Texas. Congressman

Green was elect-ed in 1992 after serving twenty years in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate.

E d u c a t i o n Committee Chair Cindy Reiben-stein and her committee re-

viewed 1206 applications from students representing Jef-ferson Davis, Memorial Hall, John H. Reagan, Scarborough, St. Pius X, St. Thomas, S.P. Waltrip, Booker T. Washing-ton, Lutheran High North, KIPP and YES academies. Candidates were judged on the basis of a written essay, assessment of fi nancial need, and personal interviews. Since its inception, the Chamber has awarded over

$350,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors. The educational scholarships and teacher awards are made pos-sible through the generosity of luncheon attendees, sponsors and donors. Donations are be-ing sought and are fully tax de-ductible. Checks can be made payable to the Greater Heights Community Fund.

Luncheon sponsors as of this date include: Comerica Bank, Cindy Reibenstein, Me-morial Hermann Northwest Hospital, Members Trust of the SW Federal Credit Union, Adams Insurance Service, Inc., Fiesta Mart, Allegiance Bank, Fred Nevill, Houston Community College NE, Sign-Ups and Banners Corp., Tom-mie Vaughn Ford, C & D Scrap Metal Recyclers, Co., Inc., the Women’s Power Network and Alan Rosen, Harris County Constable Precinct 1.

Congressman Green keynote speaker at GHAC 2014 Education Luncheon

Timbergrove resident Lor-raine Cherry thought the call would never come.

Cherry was interested in fi nding out information on how Southwaste Disposal Compa-ny’s grease plant, located at 6407 Hurst St. near Ella Blvd. and W. 11th St., would work to eliminate a foul odor when it expands its maximum limit of waste at its Timbergrove plant.

Cherry called Texas State Rep. Sarah Davis (R-Houston), who contacted Southwaste offi cials and quickly set up a meeting.

“I wasn’t somebody they really thought they needed to put at the top of the list of pri-orities,” Cherry said. “Getting Rep. Davis involved re-priori-

tized things for them.”Davis protested South-

waste’s application for expan-sion, with the Texas Commis-sion on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The plant hopes to to expand from 36 million gallons of production to 46 million if the application – which is still pending – is approved.

Davis spoke at the Tim-bergrove Manor Civic Club meeting on May 13 and co-ordinated a meeting between Timbergrove residents and Southwaste offi cials on May 21.

Davis said the meeting was initiated so the stakeholders could work together mov-ing forward. Log on to lead-ernews.com for more informa-tion about what transpired at the meeting.

Southwaste held a meeting

last October at the Sheraton Brookhollow, in which its rep-resentatives explained their desire to expand the plant with safeguards that would elimi-nate or greatly decrease odors produced by the plant.

They were met by strong disapproval from the Timber-grove community, and even other businesses in the area that said not enough was be-ing done.

Cherry requested odor abatement information at the meeting, and Southwaste nev-er got back to her after saying it would.

Southwaste Vice President of Operations Tim Cox said in hindsight, he wishes commu-nication with Cherry, and the community at large, had been better.

“We had a very good meet-

ing with Rep. Davis,” Cox said. “She wants us to work it out with neighborhood commu-nity. Hopefully, we can satisfy the neighborhood.”

Cox said Southwaste will install an industrial scrubber that will seriously alleviate the odor for area residents before the proposed expansion takes place.

Currently, there’s an open pit where the grease is placed, but soon a building will be built around the pit.

“We’re going to eliminate the pit and put tanks in there, so (the waste) won’t be sitting in a pit,” Cox said. “Ninety percent of what we suck out is water, and 10 percent is grease trap waste, which has a rotten

egg smell.”Cox said Southwaste, which

has been in Timbergrove since 1974, hasn’t received many complaints – odor or otherwise – from the community until it held its mandatory meeting to announce expansion of the fa-cility last October.

Timbergrove residents, Southwaste look to resolve issues over grease productionBy Michael [email protected]

Congressman Gene Green

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Page 11: Leader0524b

THE SPORTS.Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Page 11B

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Former D-I Coach to Lead St. Pius X girls basketball teamMary Gleason – a former

NCAA Division I women’s basketball head coach – was named head girls basket-ball coach at St. Pius X High School.

Gleason comes to St. Pius X after three seasons at the helm of Houston Baptist University. There, she transitioned the Huskies from an NAIA pro-gram to the NCAA Division I level. In doing so, Gleason led HBU to its first postseason win in a conference tournament and developed 10 players to all-conference or all-newcom-

er honors.“Coach Gleason is a great fit

for our school community as an educator, mentor and coach,” Athletic Director Jason Kim-ball said. “Her experiences as a player and a collegiate coach provide our program with an excellent leader who will pro-duce the high-level results we expect at SPX.”

Prior to HBU, Gleason served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Dartmouth, helping to engi-neer back-to-back Ivy League titles in 2008 and 2009. Glea-

son coached numerous All-Ivy selections for the Big Green, including the 2009 Ivy Player of the Year and 2008 Ivy Rookie of the Year.

“I am very excited to be a part of the St. Pius X fam-ily,” Gleason said. “The girls and I are very enthusiastic for the road ahead and ready to work to make St. Pius X into a championship-level program. I am beyond blessed to be able to impact the lives of young ladies and prepare them not only for basketball, but more importantly to succeed in the

game of life. I am glad to be able to do that here in Hous-ton, near my family, and par-ticularly in the warm, welcom-ing community at St. Pius X.”

Before her time at Dart-mouth, Gleason was an assis-tant and recruiting coordina-tor at Princeton, winning one Ivy League title and setting a program record for most wins in both a single season and in conference play in 2006. While at Princeton, she coached nu-merous All-Ivy honorees and the 2005 Ivy Rookie of the Year.

Gleason began her coaching career as an assistant at New York University (2000-03), where she reached the NCAA D-III Elite Eight and won a pair of conference champion-ships. Her final recruiting class at NYU reached the Final Four as seniors.

Gleason lettered four sea-sons as a player at Southern Methodist University. She set the record for most career 3-pointers made and helped lead the Mustangs to the WNIT Championship game in 1993. In 1994 and 1995, SMU made

its first appearances in the NCAA tournament, includ-ing earning the first tourna-ment win in program history. Gleason received a bachelor’s degree in history from SMU in 1995.

Gleason spent three years playing professional basketball in Europe for Division I teams in Switzerland and Spain. In 1998, she was an invited par-ticipant to try out for the WN-BA’s Houston Comets.

A native of Houston, Glea-son is a graduate of St. Agnes Academy.

Dailey resigns,Waltrip to name new coach soon

Waltrip High will announce the selection of its new head football coach next week, said WHS principal Andria Schur.

The new coach will suc-ceed Milton Dailey, a well-re-spected coach, who resigned this month for health reasons after suffering a stroke earlier this year.

Dailey, who played football at Prairie View A&M, was a longtime assistant to WHS coach Anthony Zuccarini.

He became head coach in the 2012 and led the Rams to con-secutive trips to the UIL Class 4A playoffs. Waltrip clinched the playoffs both times by winning their regular season finale against Milby. Both times, the Rams lost to Waltrip.

In 2012, Dailey guided the Rams to a win over Class 5A Pas-adena High, and last season, the Rams were the only team to play 4A-21 champion Reagan within four touchdowns, in a 28-14 Homecoming loss.

In the interim, defensive coordinator Brandon Salinas is serv-ing as the head coach. The Rams start practice a week earlier, instead of holding spring drills and will open the 2014 season on Aug. 29 at Waller.

Schur said Zuccarini, who still lives in Oak Forest, is one of the members of the selection committee.

-Staff Report

Timbergrove baseball in full swing

Timbergrove Sports As-sociation (TSA) T-Ball and Baseball players enjoyed the beautiful weather last Saturday with a competi-tive morning of baseball at the TSA complex on T.C. Jester Blvd. (Photos by Michael Sudhalter)

Milton Dailey

Page 12: Leader0524b

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