TwiliteZone.com—Believe
it, or not, but I would’ve been the TSU point guard, instead of
Freddie Maura, when the Tigers won the NAIA Basketball Championship
for Edward “Big Ed” Adams in 1957-‘58, if I hadn’t been ensnared in
U. S. Army’s Korea Conflict. In addition, in as much as I knew his
wife Daisy Graham Maura, my Forward Time’s co-worker Travis Graham’s
little sister, I tried to rap first. Square business, although I
truly admire the Mauras, that’s not why I’d vote for Daisy over
Lawrence “Dooley” Marshall (in the Dec. 10, 2005 runoff election),
for his HISD’s District 9 Board of Trustee seat. Instead, since I
knew the Graham's parents, who lived in St. Augustine, Texas, I also
know that she was raised to always do the right thing. Ergo, Daisy
for sure will do her very best to get rid of that overpaid spin
doctor, Terry Abbott, who indirectly sets our kids back more than
those dubious tests. Hell, none of the incumbents deserve our vote,
since they pay Abbott over $150,000 annually to lie and cover up
HISD’s problems.
LostInSpace—
Unfortunately, one of the ‘hood’s greatest events has been Lost In
Space. Thus, I would be remiss not to note that Our Mother of Mercy
Catholic Church, 4000 Sumpter, honored their trailblazer, Sir Knight
Leonard Llorens, Sr., on Nov. 19 - 20, 2005. Interim Pastor, Rev.
Roger Caesar, presided over a big weekend that started with Sir
Knight Llorens serving as the Parade Marshal of their annual parade
with Pct 6 Constable Victor Trevino and culminated with the
dedication and ribbon-cutting for the new Credit Union Building and
board room, that’s named in Lloren’s honor. Llorens, a proud Post
Office retiree and pioneer Catholic layman, has been involved in
most of the church’s building projects. Llorens has served as the
Parish’s Business Manager for over three decades. His responsibility
was not only to oversee finance, but the day to day operations of
the (76-year- old church , 75-year-old school and the 40-year-old
Credit Union), annual bazaar and Stewardship/ Ministry Fair.
Since 1955, Llorens has served as Lector. In 1963, he and Jesse
Balthazar were selected as contractors to build the new Sanctuary
and Rectory. In 1965, they also established the Our Mother of Mercy
Credit Union. Today, there are 600 members and assets of over $ 3
million. Llorens serves as the Board's President. In 1966 he brought
international recognition to Our Mother of Mercy, when Pope Paul VI
honored and made Llorens the first Black parishioner to receive the
high honor of Knighthood of St. Gregory The Great (for outstanding
achievement for his parish work.) In 2003, Llorens was under the
spotlight and was saluted as "Man of the Year" at the Our Mother of
Mercy Parish. At age 82, he is actively involved in many church,
civic and community organizations in Houston, Harris County Texas.
Thelma Moran Llorens, Sir Knight’s wife of 53 years and the two
surviving (of three) sons and four daughters are justly proud of
him. The Llorens also has 14 grandchildren and two great-grand
children. Belated congats Sir Knight Leonard Llorens.
HoodWatch--Gulf
Coast Community Services Associa-tion (GCCSA) representatives are
asking the community to partner with them to ensure that more than
2,000 children receive toys this Christmas. The toy drive, set for
Nov. 28 through Dec. 2, will benefit children in Gulf Coast's 24
Head Start Programs and 12 Community Outreach Centers located
throughout Harris County, including Pasadena, South Houston and Deer
Park. The agency is seeking age-appropriate toys for its Head Start
children, ages 0-5; and children of clients registered through its
12 community outreach sites, ages 6 - 12. Persons interested in
helping are asked to call GCCSA at 713-393-4700….If any natives of
Goodlow, Texas, are reading this, be it known that Rev. Nathan
Carter, Pastor of M. M. Zion BC, 35-3 Goodlow Rd., invites you to
attend their Annual Christmas Banquet with his church family on Dec.
3, 2005, at The Cook Center on the Navarro College Campus in
Corsicana, Texas.
The keynote speaker will be Bishop K.D. Davis Sr., Pastor of Sixth
Avenue BC, in Corsicana. For more information please call (1-903)
396-2759….The Theatre Under The Stars' production of the Andrew
Lloyd Webber classic, Cats, will play from December 6-18 at the
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby @ Walker. The
production features the music of Webber and lyrics by T.S. Eliot.
Marc Robin will direct and choreograph TUTS' premiere production of
Cats. For more ticket information, call Amy Hernandez @ (713)
558-2600….You must see “A Pure Gospel Christmas Coming Home” at the
Ensemble Theater, 3535 Main. The brilliant play, by Leslie Dockery
and David A. Tobin, will run through Dec. 31, 2005. For information,
call (713) 520-0055….
Have you heard
that “friendly joke,” circulating in Black Houston that alleges that
Dr. I. V. Hilliard has christen former home of Lakewood Church, 7317
East Houston Rd., “Lake ‘Hood?” For real, Dr. Hilliard and Bridgett
are justly proud of the new facility that held its first service on
Nov. 20, 2005. He and Bridgett are extending a heartfelt invitation
to all who love the Lord and/or you sinners too, come and worship
with them at their newly acquired sanctuary. For information and/or
directions call (281) 876-5300…. The Dec. 4, 2005 “For the Kids”
Dinner and Silent Auction (to benefit Saku-rambo Institute, Texas’
only non-profit martial arts school), should be a fun outing. The
event will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Renaissance Houston Hotel,
6 Greeway Plaza East. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Tracy Andrus,
the first brother to receive a PhD in Juvenile Justice. The honorary
chairs are Council member’s: Ada Edwards, Carol Alvarado and term
limited Gordon Quan. For info., call Chairperson Rose Rougeau @
(713) 520-7774.
SportsWatch—Each
time I see Georgia Provost & Associate’s beautiful photo of Kaya
“K-Kay” Pickens in my files, I have cause to pause and ponder how
the Madison H. S. three star athletes is doing in college. K-Kay
chose the University of Missouri over a bevy of big time schools
that recruited her. Anthony Fields, her Madison basketball coach
says, K-Kay, who’s from an athletic family, creates a problem for
most kids her size (6’1”), because girls that tall usually aren’t as
athletic.” She lettered four years at Madison in two sports. Her
last year at Madison, she was first team All-District in basketball
and volleyball. She was first team in volleyball three consecutive
years and second team in basketball last year. She also received the
"Athlete of the Year" honors in volleyball. K-Kay also lettered two
years in track and field (in the hurdles/long jump) and received the
Most Outstanding Athlete, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP
Awards her last year at Madison.
Meanwhile, she played AAU ball with the Houston Insiders and the
Houston Elite. Off the court, K-Kay choreographs dance steps,
designs her own clothing, and loves role-playing (extracted from
different poems and Books), modeling and movies. She “digs” the way
Allen Iverson plays and her favorite movie is, of course, "Love and
Basketball". She is majoring in business, with emphasis on marketing
at Mizzou. She also plans to obtain a degree in physical the-rapy.
Hey, K-Kay!
tell your coach (Cindy Stein), that there’s an old African warrior
back in your hometown that’s Eyeview (ing) her, and knows she has
his African Warrior Princess playing behind that blond Missouri high
school girl baskterbll legend, Rachel Oswald, who also is rated
ahead of juniors: Carlyynn Savant and Charice Mack. For sure K-Kay,
I’ll be watching your career as if you were my granddaughter,
because This Bud’s For You.
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