Events

LITH - The Final Wrap Up /  by Michael Graves

Lights in the Heights - The Bottom Line
It can take some time for the dust to settle, receipts to be submitted, and checks to clear. In the December issue I hinted that Lights in the Heights 2024 looked to be close breaking even. That would have been a big improvement, since it’s been run at a loss the past few years.

Now that all the accounting is in, I’m very happy to report that LITH 2024 actually made $1,950! Yes, it’s cast off the red ink! This is critically important since proceeds from special events support other WHCA activities, including the Constable Patrol Program.

Further, we look forward to even better results in 2025 resulting from our new partnership with the White Oak Entertainment District; EZ’s Liquor Lounge, Christian’s Tailgate, Bobcat Teddy’s Ice House, Little Woodrow’s Heights, and Onion Creek Coffee House Bar & Lounge.

Many thanks to the Lights in the Heights Committee Chairs Lauren Snead and Ashley Allison, the Porch Bands Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Frey, and especially our newly minted group of Sponsorship Wranglers Josh Shaner and Brad Snead who pinched in to help me with this effort. It takes a number of dedicated individuals to lock down all the details and get this event going. All your work is truly appreciated!

Friday Night Lights
In the December edition of the newsletter we somewhat spaced out and neglected to highlight Friday Night Lights. For those of you without kids, this is the event that’s held the Friday before LITH on the Norhill Esplanade. A family-focused event for just the neighborhood, it doesn’t draw the large crowd of the main event on Saturday.

This year’s event once again featured Santa & Mrs Clause backed by the White Oak Bayou Band. Boy Scout Troop 30 (the 3T0) was there fund-raising with holiday wreathes. Memorial Hermann Greater Heights was there, and Eureka Heights was pouring holiday themed beer. It's A Wrap and Wokker Texas Ranger food trucks was on-site for those who got hungry. WHCA Precinct 1 Constable Patrol provided security and support. Many thanks to the Norhill Families for their sponsorship of the Dinosaur Display Lights.
 
Neighbors were able to pickup WHCA merchandise ordered online. And there was some serious production of s’mores over the fire pit. Thank you to Pat Walzel for assembling all the s'mores kits!
 
The event started out on the damp side, with rain in the mid-afternoon while everything was being setup. Happily the rain cleared, allowing the event to go forward. Some quick-thinking volunteers provided tents for band, so no musicians were electrocuted over the course of the evening.
 
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in staging this event. In particular, Beth and Carl Sorensen and Alyssa Holub.

Lights in the Heights 2024 Winners /  by Michael Graves

Oh My Gourd! /  by Michael Graves

Halloween and Thanksgiving, holidays that bring to mind Jack O' Lanterns , pumpkin pie, and yes pumpkin lattes (though I'm not sure how much pumpkin is actually in that latte). So how many pumpkins are grown for these holidays? According to the United States  Department of Agriculture, in 2022 the U.S. produced 1.2 Billion (that's Billion with a B) pounds of pumpkins every year!

This week you may see a number of Jack O' Lanterns sitting out on porches to welcome trick or treaters. But did you know this Halloween staple traces it's origin to an old Irish Myth and was originally carved from vegetables like turnips and beets to ward off 'Stingy Jack' and other wandering evil spirits. Check out the link to read about the myth - migh make for some spooky tails this Halloween-and who knows maybe you'll be inspired to carve up a turnip or two.

And while you may think the pumpkin is a vegetable, according to botanists. the pumpkin is actually a fruit. That's because it is a product of the seed bearing structure of flowering plants - while vegetables are the edible part of plants like leaves, stems. roots, bulbs, flowers, and tubers.

Finally, one more fun pumpkin fact - pumpkins can be called both a gourd and a squash - no matter what you call it a pumpkin is part of the Cucurbitaceae family which includes a very large family of fruit. The Cucurbitaceae family include  over 900 species of food and ornamental plants, including pumpkins to honeydews to spaghetti squash to cucumbers to watermelon to those decorative gourds.

Regardless of what you call them vegetable or fruit pumpkin or gourd - the question arises - what do you do with all the leftovers from Halloween and Thanksgiving? Here's some ideas for what you can do when the holidays are over:

4th Annual Pumpkin Compost DropOff -  the COH Solid Waste Department is holding their 4th Annual composting of retired pumpkin drop off from Nov 1 - December 6, 2024. Visit the link above for details.

Lights in the Heights 2024: Call for Porches! /  by Michael Graves

Dear Byrne, Euclid & 7-1/2 Street Neighbors,

This December, Lights in The Heights (LITH) will be celebrating its 37th year as an annual Holiday Season tradition organized by the Woodland Heights Civic Association. Traditionally scheduled for the second Saturday in December, this year LITH will take place on the evening of December 14th. Byrne, Euclid and 7-1/2 streets are the streets which have been chosen for the official route for LITH this year.

During the celebration your streets will be closed to vehicular traffic so that neighbors, and visitors to our neighborhood, are able to walk these streets while enjoying the lights, decorations and music along the route. As per tradition, outdoor music is allowed from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. that evening and neighbors on the official route are asked if they would like to volunteer their porches to host performers.

We invite to let us know if you would like to volunteer your porch to host performers for this event. The LITH Entertainment Committee has a list of volunteer performers that we can pair up with willing hosts. These performers are volunteering their time and talent at no cost to perform for LITH.

If you prefer to arrange a performer of your own, we ask that you let the committee know as well. Knowing what homes are planning on hosting their own performers will help the committee arrange music to avoid one type of music overshadowing another so all the performers can be enjoyed by everyone walking the official route.

Thank you for supporting LITH!

The LITH Entertainment Committee
EntertainmentLITH@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATES! FWP - Annual Meeting October 10 Plus Halloween Concert October 17 /  by Michael Graves

Friends of Woodland Park - Annual Meeting
The Friends of Woodland Park will be holding their Annual Meeting, on Thursday,  October 10, inside the Woodland Park Community Center, 212 Parkview. There will be a Meet and Greet at 6 pm, followed by a members meeting with a report of accomplishments of the past year and future plans.  
The guest speaker for the evening will be Ranger Woodard with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, who will explain Urban Park Ranger responsibilities as well as what issues, wants, and needs he has for Woodland Park.

Friends of Woodland Park - Halloween Themed Concert!
You are invited to a family-friendly concert hosted by the Friends of Woodland Park on Thursday, October 17, 6-7:30 p.m., in the community center at Woodland Park. Jo Bird, the Fiddle Witch, is our guest musician and will provide the entertainment. Wear your Halloween costume – kids and adults. There will be candy, decorated cookies, and Halloween-themed coloring pages for the kids.  We will also enjoy several flavors of popcorn.
 
Jo Bird was born and raised in Pasadena, TX, where she grew up playing in the public school orchestra. She moved to Houston to perform and compose music for Two Star Symphony, Pecos Hank, I Am Mesmer and Fiddle Witch and the Demons of Doom in addition to many other musical groups and various projects. She has been residing in Galveston, TX, since 2019 performing her solo works for Art Walk, private events and many other random happenings.
 
Come join us at your park in our wonderful neighborhood!

Support LITH - Auction Items Needed! /  by Michael Graves

The Lights in the Heights Bash is not just a fun-filled evening, it's a crucial part of our fundraising efforts. The proceeds from the event help cover expenses such as city permits, street closures, police presence and security, porta-potties, and other necessary items to hold the event.

Your participation and support at the Bash are vital to the success of the event. We invite you to mark your calendars for this annual event and buy your tickets when they go on sale online. Early Bird ticket sales will begin at the WHCA Store on October 1 ($75) for one week only, and regular pricing will apply after that.

LITH is a community-driven initiative that relies on your support. The proceeds from the LITH Bash help cover essential expenses such as city permits, street closures, police presence and security, porta-potties, and other necessary items to make the event a success. Your support is vital to the continuation of this beloved community tradition.

As part of the Bash, there will be an Auction to raise additional money to cover costs associated with LITH. The LITH Committee is seeking your help securing auction items for the Bash. If you are a business or individual with connections and resources, a history of charitable giving, and a love for LITH, your help could make a significant difference and play a crucial role in the event's success!

Auction items like gift baskets, tickets to sporting or entertainment events, date night experiences, etc., are always welcome! If you love giving parties for kids or adults, you could offer to host a party as a donation. Let the LITH Committee know what you'd like to give to support LITH. Your donation and support will be recognized in multiple ways throughout the LITH season, and depending on the level of giving, your name could be featured on banners and signage for the event, the WHCA newsletter, social media posts, and more.

Ready to support LITH and donate an auction item? It's simple. Just email us at bash@woodland-heights.org. We appreciate and thank you for your support in advance for your donation, and continued support of the WHCA and Lights in the Heights!

2024 LITH - Join The Fun /  by Michael Graves

Lights in the Heights - Brief History
It all began on December 12, 1987, when the first Lights in the Heights event was held. The streets of Woodland Heights were adorned with 'luminarias', transforming the neighborhood into a magical 'Winter Wonderland '. Residents were invited to join in by adding luminarias to their streets, driveways, and porches, creating a mesmerizing display of light. The event also featured holiday entertainment and refreshments on the Norhill Esplanade, marking the start of a cherished tradition.

According to the WHCA 1989 November December newsletter, that first event drew 20,000 people to the Woodland Heights neighborhood to see the luminarias lighting up the participating streets and homes. The name we have all come to know the event by, "Lights in the Heights," appears to have been added in 1989, a testament to our community's enduring spirit and commitment to creating memorable experiences.

2024 LITH Schedule
This year, on December 14, our neighborhood will hold its 37th Annual Lights in the Heights. This year's featured streets will be Byrne, Euclid, and 7 1/2th Streets. They will be closed to vehicular traffic and become vibrant hubs of community activity. Neighbors and visitors alike are invited to stroll through the illuminated streets and enjoy the vibrant displays and holiday cheer.

Click to see larger image

2024 LITH Event Schedule

  • Friday, November 15 - LITH® Bash
    Early Bird Ticket Sales Begin Oct 1st
    Eureka Heights Brewing - 941 W 18th St, Houston, TX 77008

  • Week of December 8 - 12 House Decorating Competition
    Featured streets and nominated homes are eligible to compete

  • Friday, December 13 - Friday Night Lights - Norhill Esplanade
    Neighborhood-only event

  • Saturday, December 14 - Lights in the Heights®
    Featured streets - Byrne, Euclid, and 7 1/2th Streets

What LITH Committee and Volunteers Do
Lights in the Heights is more than just one night of festivities. There is the annual Ornament/Logo contest, coordination with the City Special Events Office to close certain streets and redirect traffic down adjacent streets for safety, judging homes to award prizes for everything from the Most Wattage to the best holiday-themed, planning and setting up Friday night lights (this event is for residents only), and the big finale of the public Saturday event Lights in the Heights.

Volunteers and neighbors like you donate their time to do all the planning and hard work for this event. Planning for the event begins in the summer and continues up to and after the event itself. The LITH Committee is always looking for neighbors who would like to assist in making sure all the details that go into making this event a success; your involvement is crucial to the success of Lights in the Heights.

Did I mention another item the LITH Committee is responsible for? That would be fundraising to cover the cost of putting on LITH. The annual ornament contest provides the logo for the ornaments, t-shirts, and other merchandise sold through the WHCA store, but additional fundraising is where the Lights in the Heights Bash comes into play.

National Night Out - October 1st /  by Michael Graves

"Won't you be my neighbor?"  Neighborhoods mean many different things to a lot of different people…ranging from a place denoted by boundary lines to a group of homes that are close to each other with people who may or may not know each other. The Woodland Heights, a neighborhood with a rich history dating back to 1907, like Houston has evolved over the years. With many neighbors working from home or choosing to live in the Woodland Heights for the schools and amenities offered by living inside the loop there are neighbors who may not have a moment to take advantage of their front porches or chat across their fences to meet their neighbors.

Today, we're inviting you to come out and meet some of your neighbors, friends, and future friends on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, for the WHCA National Night Out from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on the Norhill Esplanade.

Thanks to Joann Lammons with Sotheby's Realty, a fellow Woodland Heights resident and realtor, for generously sponsoring Dippin' Dots as a sweet treat for the kids! When asked why she contributes to the WHCA National Night Out event, Joann responded,

"I am proud to be a member of the Woodland Heights Community. It brings me back to my roots of uptown New Orleans with like architectural styles, legendary live oaks, walk-ability and wonderful neighbors. I love to support NNO as it honors our brave law enforcers and offers joint community programs for safety awareness. Not to mention a fun excuse for gathering our community!"

Parents be sure to come early to National Night Out as Dippin' Dots are available while supplies last.

In addition, the It's a Wrap food truck will be on site with its popular wraps ready for purchase. Guli Essa. The owner of It's a Wrap began her food truck career in 2011 when the retail store she was managing decided to close and gave her two days' notice. Instead of wondering what her next step would be, Guli followed her dream of owning her own business. Since then, she's been rolling out healthy food varieties that reflect what she likes to eat. The name of the truck is a nod to her LA roots and the movie business where "when you finish a movie, you say, 'it's a wrap." She's also carried the theme a little further by naming all her wraps after movies or something related to movies.

So, bring your lawn chairs, get your kids a Dippin' Dot, buy a wrap from It's a Wrap food truck, and enjoy a fun-filled night out with your neighbors while celebrating National Night Out.

What is National Night Out?
National Night Out was the brainchild of Matt A. Peskin from Philadelphia, but its success is a testament to the power of community. In 1970, Mr. Peskin was a volunteer working with the Lower Merion Community Watch program in cooperation with the Lower Merion Police Department. He patrolled his neighborhood, assisted in patrol dispatch, and ran the program's newsletter. In search of new content for the newsletter, he went to surrounding neighborhoods for assistance and noticed the need for a shared platform to connect citizens interested in safer neighborhoods. This was the seed for the next step in the development of the program that would become National Night Out.

In 1970, he established the National Association of Town Watch to provide community watch groups with information, resources, and assets to stay informed, interested, involved, and motivated within the community. Then, three years later, in 1984, the NATW organization held the first National Night Out with the simple goal of increasing participation in local crime prevention efforts by uniting entire communities for a single night. That first night, 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states participated. Today, communities celebrate National Night Out events on either the first Tuesday in August or the first Tuesday in October to take into account the difference in weather temperatures across the entire country. We opt for the first Tuesday in October here in Houston due to our weather temps!

What is the goal?
At the National Night Out program's core is the goal of connecting neighbors, promoting community, and raising awareness about police-community partnerships. For us, it's a chance to strengthen the bonds within our Woodland Heights neighborhood and show our support for local law enforcement by uniting our community on this one night in the hopes of uniting it for the future.

Volunteer Fair for High School Students /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Leonel Castillo Community Center will be hosting a Volunteer Fair for high school students who are looking to connect with agencies and organizations that need volunteers for the summer. This event will be held outdoors and snacks will be provided as well as other fun activities.

When: Sat, May 14th, 3-7pm

Where: Leonel Castillo Community Center, 2101 South St

Bike to Work Day - Friday, May 20 /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Bike to Work Day is Back!

Join us for the first in-person Bike to Work Day (BTWD) in two years. We're celebrating National Bike Month in May by bringing back our annual bike ride to Downtown Houston on Friday, May 20, at 7:15 a.m.

This year’s bike ride will begin at the visitor center at Buffalo Bayou Park at Lost Lake, 3422 Allen Parkway, with riders departing promptly at 7:30 a.m. The ride will end at the Hermann Square Reflection Pond at City Hall.

If you can't join us, we challenge you to ride your bicycle to work on May 20 or another day during Bike Month.

Take a picture and tag the Houston Bikeways social media with the hashtag #BTWD2022.

To help make your ride safe and enjoyable, we’ve listed some safety tips below. We’ll also be crowdsourcing some tips on biking on social media, so be sure to follow us and join the conversation.

Twitter @HoustonBikePlan

Facebook

Bike To Work Day website

April Member Meeting Tuesday, April 12, 6-7pm /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

https://www.woodland-heights.org/calendar-1/2022/3/8/whca-bi-monthly-member-meeting

Agenda

  • Houston Public Works will make a brief presentation on the North Main Bike Lane Extension, which will run from West Cottage to Airline.

  • WHCA will talk about our Curbside Native Tree Program.

  • We will be accepting nominations for board for May elections.

  • Pickup your 2022 Constable Patrol Sticker or your 100+ club sign.

  • There will be an open forum at the end.

Travis PTA Spooky Scavenger Hunt /  by Lori Bigler

Looking for something safe and fun for the family this Halloween? Join us for the Travis Frights in the Heights Scavenger Hunt. The event will take place Wednesday, October 28th through Saturday, October 31st at 5pm.

Registration is $20/participant. Each participant will receive a secret coded list of our Haunted Homes, decoder key, list of Halloween clues, clipboard, pen and Frights in the Heights t-shirt. **Must register by Friday, October 16, for t-shirt guarantee.**

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: http://www.travispta.org/shop-carnival

Each participant will navigate the mystery in the Woodland Heights neighborhood at their own pace. Put on your thinking cap and don’t forget to wear your Halloween costume. There will be a costume selfie contest and other fun-filled freaky activities to enjoy.

Lights in the Heights 2020 Update /  by Lori Bigler

LITH Generic Bulb Banner.png

The “cooler” weather is here and the holiday season is right around the corner!  With that, every year, comes the building excitement and anticipation for our beloved Lights and the Heights!  Interest and inquiries have been pouring in and the Committee has been hard at work in discussions about how it will be presented this year.

The LITH Chairs and the Civic Association Board have agreed that postponing all the live events would be the most socially responsible thing to do. Protecting the neighborhood and our wonderful residents is being prioritized this year.

However! The event will still be there in spirit since we’ll have the house awards and will also be supplementing with several social media and social distancing endeavors that we’re ironing out over the next few weeks.

We’re excited to redesign the event to fit the current climate and are looking forward to getting creative!  If anyone would like to submit an idea, or be involved, please reach out to Ashley Allison or Karen Stowers at lightsintheheights@gmail.com. 

2020 Online Merchandise Sale /  by Lori Bigler

Although the Covid Pandemic has changed the way we are doing everything, we are all looking for the reassurance of familiar and simpler things.  This year, Lights in the Heights will be simpler with no planned gatherings.  But the WHCA wants to keep the beloved LITH tradition alive with familiar items for sale on the WHCA website.  All orders will be through the WHCA Store Page and you can arrange contact-less pick up of your merchandise purchases.  More details about contact-less pick up will be announced.

Fearing the Pandemic would delay production of the popular and collectible tree ornaments, our Merchandise Committee started planning the hand-painted ornaments in February.  The 2020 Lights in the Heights cloisonné ornament was designed by a Hogg Middle School student in the Graphic Design Program during the 2019 spring semester. 

2020+LITH+ornament.jpg

NEW for 2020, is the Woodland Heights ornament!  The glass bulb has the familiar blue and white tiles spelling Woodland Heights with Houston, Texas on the opposite side. 

WH+ornament.jpg

Cloisonné LITH ornaments sell for $45 and glass WH ornaments sell for $30.

2019 Lights in the Heights ornaments are on sale!  The 2019 cloisonné ornament is $35, some have slight imperfections.  Complete your collection of LITH tree ornaments while supplies last.

More Lights in the Heights swag is still available! 

  • The original LITH bulb-logo has been beautifully embroidered on a white cotton apron for $25.

  • Red drink koozies, with the bulb-logo printed in gold, make great stocking stuffers.  A pack of 4 sells for $10.

  • Although there will not be a 2020 Lights in the Heights T-shirt, the iconic 30th anniversary T-shirt is available for $10, in unisex sizes. 

  • 2019 Lights in the Heights T-shirts are available in limited quantities for $10, in men’s and ladies’ sizes. 

  • In addition to the NEW Woodland Heights tree ornament, we have NEW Woodland Heights paper cocktail napkins.  The 5-inch-square, white napkins are printed with the familiar blue tiles spelling Woodland Heights, with Since 1907 and Houston, Texas below.  A pack of 50 sells for $15. 

  • The popular Woodland Heights cookie jar is available, while supplies last.  We do not plan to re-order and we have 5 in inventory.  It sells for $50. 

All profits from merchandise sales benefit our neighborhood through the Woodland Heights Civic Association.

In these uncertain times, we wish you and your family joy through the fall and holiday seasons, 

WHCA Merchandise Committee
Beth Allen-Brock
Melissa McKee
Robyn Klepper

Halloween on the 3300 Block of Beauchamp /  by Lori Bigler

Since 2002, we’ve put a vast effort into Halloween. It started one day when Stella came home with an 8-foot, purple, inflatable spider. I could not just plop this guy down in the yard. That lacked context. So, I dyed some sisal rope and built him a home, in the form of a 20 foot tall, illuminated spider web. A nice backdrop against which to give out candy to the kiddos.

Every year we’d tweak the presentation a bit. We added fog machines and lights. More fog machines. More lights. Better fog machines. Still more lights.

We added music! Loud, but not too loud. Enough skeletons to have our own baseball team. Bigger, badder fog machines with built-in dry ice chambers!

And there were pumpkins. Lots of pumpkins, artfully carved by friends and family.

Stella’s amazing pumpkin carving was met by Philips Hue color changing light bulbs and the amazing Hue Halloween app. That’s a fine solution adding dramatic lights sequenced to scary sound effects!

We did not do this alone. We had help in the form of our regular Beauchamp Street Boo Crew, many of whom came in costume. Some sweet. Others quite frightful.

Many families stop to take pictures of their little ones in the scary scene, with our costumed crew.

The idea is to be scary, but not too scary. We know we’re on target if, on that fateful night, one or two kids around 4 years old are simply too scared to enter our gate. Yes, one or two genuine screams from wee kiddos is the measure of it.

Stella has forbid me getting a fire-breathing dragon. A few years back I thought for sure she’s allow it, since she enjoyed Game of Thrones. But alas, I cannot.

The reward for those who are brave is candy, copious amounts of candy. We are not stingy on either quantity or quality. As my friends at Rodeo Houston always say, “…it’s for the kids.”

The result of all this effort, spanning over 15 years, is that we always draw a huge crowd. In the three hours from 6 – 9pm we are visited by 1500+ kids and their families.

That brings me to the reason for this post. We’ve been thinking about this a lot, and we simply cannot see a way to stage our annual Halloween presentation in a Covid-safe manner.

So this year, we’re just not going to do it quite the same. There’ll be decorations, but no trick-or-treating. Call it a drive-by Halloween. In some respect, not unlike Lights-in-the-Heights.

Every family has to make their own decisions about how to proceed in the era of Covid-19. We thought that sharing our decision about Halloween at this early stage might help others to work through their own thoughts on the matter.

Travis Brownies Conduct Food Drive /  by Lori Bigler

Travis Elementary-based Brownie Girl Scout Troop 122109 did a socially-distanced food drive for the Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry in May. They created flyers to distribute to their neighbors and collected donated food from porches. The girls were able to collect 16 bags full of canned and dried goods to support the neighborhood food bank. For their next community service project, they are spending the summer writing to seniors who are not able to venture out. Way to go Girl Scouts! 
- Melanie Gehman

The Great Flower Hunt /  by Lori Bigler

Our family of five (Lucy, Wesley, Gus, Christina and Dusty) had a great time cruising the hood looking for homes participating in the great flower hunt.  We had such a fun time looking for all the flowers in our neighborhood last week.  Since the beginning of the social distancing, we have loved riding our bikes through the hood and the different treasure hunts added a new element with something new to look for each week. 

We started with the rainbow hunt a few weeks ago, and enjoyed the sunshine, bear, and Easter egg hunts.  This one was especially entertaining because we looked not only at the handmade flowers people created, but also all the flowers in people's front yards and gardens. 

The most popular activity for our family is to yell out at the top of our lungs I FOUND A FLOWER - loud and proud.  We love our neighborhood so much and the fun, creative ways we can come together as s community while respecting the social distancing rules.    

  • Lucy (9) - "I liked getting out of the house, riding my bike and being with my family."

  • Wesley (8) - "I like to ride my bike by my friends' houses and look for their flowers." 

  • Gus (3) - "I like it because I pick them up and give them to my friends because I want to."  (He didn't do that, he's 3.  What he really likes is riding in the bike trailer with his snacks, water bottle and music.)

Christina Wilkerson
www.beautycounter.com/christinawilkerson