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Neighborhood News

Recent news of neighborhood activities, local awareness and latest events.

September 20, 2013 in Neighborhood News

Houston Public Library Wants to Hear from You!

Houston Public Library Wants to Hear from You!

Houston Public Library logoHouston Public Library (HPL) has kicked off the Strategic Master Plan process to provide vision and direction for library services. To help improve their services, HPL needs your help to learn more about the communities it serves.

Houstonians are invited to participate in this process by completing a brief survey. It will take about five minutes of your time and will provide HPL staff with input for the future of the library. Even if you do not consider yourself a regular library customer, your opinion is valuable.

The survey is available online from Sunday, September 22 through Sunday, October 6, 2013 at www.houstonlibrary.org/survey. The survey may be accessed in Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DNKZG8K.

Thank you for helping to improve your library. For further information, visit HPL at  http://www.houstonlibrary.org/ or call 832.393.1313.

September 20, 2013 in Neighborhood News

Houston Public Library presents the Second Annual Houston LibroFEST Saturday, October 5, 2013

Houston Public Library presents the Second Annual Houston LibroFEST
Saturday, October 5, 2013

LibroFEST graphicMake plans to attend the Houston Public Library (HPL) book and arts festival on Saturday, October 5, 2013, 1 – 5 p.m. at the HPL Central Library, 500 McKinney Street, Houston 77002. Thisfree festival highlights Hispanic writers and showcases the vibrant culture of the Latino community!

Take in the sights and sounds of bilingual storytelling, poetry recitation, children’s activities, writing workshops, musical and theatrical performances and much more. LibroFest is part of HPL’s month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

For more information visit www.houstonlibrary.org/librofest or call 832.393.1313. To learn more about HPL, visit http://www.houstonlibrary.org/.

September 20, 2013 in Neighborhood News

2013 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipients

2013 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipients

As part of the City of Houston observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Mayor, with the help of her Hispanic Advisory Board, recognized five Houstonians with the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Awards in the following categories: Art in the Community: Macario Ramirez, Community Activist: Mario Martinez, Education: Nicolas Kanellos, Ph.D., Lifetime Achievement: Dolores “Lolita” Guerrero and Youth Activist: Nohemi Chavez.

All recipients will be honored at the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award Reception on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Caroline Weiss Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet, Houston 77005. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP by Friday, October 5 by calling 832.393.0815.

For more information on Hispanic Heritage Month events at the Houston Public Library, visitwww.houstonlibrary.org/hhm.

September 20, 2013 in Important RemindersNeighborhood News

The City of Houston is Watching and Will Prosecute Illegal Dumpers

The City of Houston is Watching and Will Prosecute Illegal Dumpers

The City of Houston (COH) is beginning a pilot project to catch those responsible for illegal dumping. Funding for the project, approximately $250,000, was provided by a budget amendment presented by District B Council Member Jerry Davis. Five surveillance cameras have been placed at undisclosed locations in Davis’ northeast Houston City Council district.

The exact locations of the cameras will NOT be made public. During the three-month pilot project, Houston Police Department’s (HPD) Environmental Investigations Unit (EIU) will monitor and maintain all activity captured by the cameras. When signs of illegal dumping are observed, EIU will send the information to HPD’s North or Northeast Divisions for follow-up. It is estimated 50 to 80 cases will be generated each month.

The following information will help in deciding whether or not the program should be expanded:

  • Number of violations
  • Number of people involved
  • Pounds, volume, or cubic feet of items dumped
  • Types of arrests and charges
  • Types of trash being dumped (furniture, garbage, tires, tree trimmings etc.)
  • Interviews with the suspects to determine why they dumped at this location, have they dumped before, do they know about the COH sites for legal elimination of items.

The COH offers monthly Tree Waste and Junk Waste collection and operates several drop-off facilities. Information about the Tree Waste and Junk Waste collection schedule for your neighborhood as well as the locations of the neighborhood depositories is available by calling the 311 helpline.

311 is also the place to call to report illegal dumping. Additionally, you can make a report online by downloading the 311 app or by visiting www.houstontx.gov/311.

September 20, 2013 in Important RemindersNeighborhood News

Mayors United Against Texting While Driving Campaign


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Text “ItcanwaitHou” to 464329 to Pledge Never to Text While Driving

Mayor Annise Parker has kicked off Mayors United Against Texting While Driving, a social media campaign challenging all Texans to take the pledge to not text and drive. In partnership with AT&T, Mayor Parker and the City of Houston launched the nation’s first citywide It Can Wait, Houston campaign in April 2013. Mayors United Against Texting While Driving will expand what Houston started all across Texas.

The Mayors United Against Texting While Driving campaign will run in Houston, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio and Fort Worth Thursday, September 19 through Monday September 30, 2013, with each city vying to get as many citizens as they can pledging to never text while driving. Each city will have its own city-specific texting code. Houston residents can take the pledge by texting “ItcanwaitHou” to 464329. Show Houston is the safest city in Texas and pledge now!

Those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash. In 2011, 13 percent of the over 3,000 traffic fatalities in Texas were due to texting while driving. Research released by AT&T indicates that 43 percent of commuters admit to a “habit” of texting while driving, even though they are aware of the risks. Take the no texting while driving pledge now by texting “ItcanwaitHou” to 464329.

September 5, 2013 in Important RemindersNeighborhood News

Citywide Positive Interaction Program – Sept. 10th

Chief’s Citywide

“Positive Interaction Program”

September’s program presentation topic will be:

“HPD Bomb Squad”

 

This informative presentation will outline the department’s highly trained unit that responds to all suspected explosive devices and suspicious items.

WHERE: . . . . . 1602 State St. (Auditorium)

Houston, Texas 77007

 Tuesday  September 10th 2013 7:00 p.m.

 From: Officer James Sobota

        Hope to see you there.

 

Voice # 713-308-9079   E-mail: james.sobota@houstonpolice.org

August 8, 2013 in Community NewsletterImportant RemindersNeighborhood News

Free Childhood Immunization Extravaganza

Free Childhood Immunization Extravaganza

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Houston Fire Department (HFD) and the Care Van Program are teaming up again to provide Houston area children with free childhood immunizations for children 4 – 18 years whose families have no insurance, are underinsured or are on Medicaid. Children with CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) or private insurance will not be accepted.

Back-To-School Immunization Extravaganza

Thursday, August 22, 2013 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

HFD Val Jahnke Training Facility

8030 Braniff        

Houston 77061 (just south of Hobby Airport)    

Important note: For each clinic, a parent or adult guardian must accompany the child(ren) and provide the updated immunization records for each child.

To download a printable copy of the 2013 Immunization Extravaganza that includes a map to the location, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/citizensnet/2013immunizationextravaganza.pdf.

For additional information visit www.houstonfire.org, www.carevan.org or contact HPD Public Affairs Division at hfdpaevents@houstontx.gov or 832.394.6633.

Working smoke detectors save lives. It’s just that simple. Test yours today!

 

                   

August 8, 2013 in Community NewsletterImportant RemindersNeighborhood News

Back to School Safety Tips

 

With students returning to school very soon, the Houston Police Department reminds all motorists to pay close attention when driving through school zones.  Officers will be out in school zones enforcing the speed limits.  Anytime you see a school bus, use extra caution since children may dart out into traffic either getting on or off the bus.  For some of these children, it is their first time going to school and they may not be familiar with guidelines they should follow.

Motorists can receive significant fines for speeding through school zones or passing a school bus with flashing lights.  Speeding citations in a school zone can result in a $220 fine.

Safety tips for children and parents include: 

1.      Children should not talk to strangers.  Advise children how to handle a situation in which someone attempts to lure them with prizes or tries to abduct them

2.      Teach children bicycle safety tips while riding to and from school

3.      Be aware of potential problems that can arise when children are home by themselves

4.      Whenever possible find qualified caregivers for before and after school care

For more “Back to School Safety Tips”, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/back2school.pdf.

To learn more about HPD, visit http://www.houstonpolice.org/

August 8, 2013 in Community NewsletterImportant RemindersNeighborhood News

Sales Tax Holiday Weekend August 9-11, 2013

Back to School Sales Tax Holiday Weekend; Safety Tips; Free Immunizations

Time for Back to School Shopping

Sales Tax Holiday Weekend August 9-11, 2013

It is important to making sure our kids are all prepared to start the year out right on the first day of school.   Being prepared is key to having an optimal learning environment. Mayor Annise Parker wants all Houstonians to take advantage of this weekend’s back-to-school tax-free shopping holiday to help ensure students are ready to learn. From clothing and shoes to school supplies, most products under $100 will not be taxed. Exceptions include anything bought by mail, online or by telephone.

Qualifying school supplies (if priced less than $100)

  • Binders
  • Book bags
  • Calculators
  • Cellophane tape
  • Blackboard chalk
  • Compasses
  • Composition books
  • Crayons
  • Erasers
  • Folders; expandable, pocket, plastic and manila
  • Glue, paste and paste sticks
  • Highlighters
  • Index cards
  • Index card boxes
  • Legal pads
  • Lunch boxes
  • Markers (including dry erase markers)
  • Notebooks
  • Paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board and construction paper
  • Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Pencils
  • Pens
  • Protractors
  • Rulers
  • Scissors
  • Writing tablets

More information may be found on the Texas Comptroller’s website, http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/taxholiday/d/, including a full list of qualifying clothing, shoes and other items that will be tax exempt.

 

For questions email mayor@houstontx.gov or call the Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance Office at 832.393.0955.

August 7, 2013 in Important RemindersNeighborhood News

Back 2 School Drive August 9th – August 21

BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE IN OAK MEADOWS
Drop off Location: 814 Ogilvie St.
August 9th – August 21
Mon – Fri after 5pm
Anytime on Weekends
     “All donations greatly appreciated!”
Every year, volunteers organizes Operation Backpack, a citywide effort to buy as many new backpacks as possible, to fill them with school supplies geared towards the needs of each grade and they set a higher goal of how many backpacks they want to fill.   Let us do our part and start this year off by assisting the needs and demand of our own community!

This year, starting August 9th, I encourage you to look at the checklist of what kids need for school, buy some supplies and/or a backpack and donate it to the cause so volunteers can stuff and sort the supplies and distribute them to kids in within our own neighborhood before the new school year begins.

Donating has never been easier, you can of course donate money directly to Oak Meadows Community and let us do the shopping for you. Or you can buy the supplies yourself and drop them off at the address below.

Any donation is greatly appreciated!  You may also register your child and be eligible to receive a donated back pack filled with the essentials needed to start school.

Do not hesitate to contact me to donate or deliver your donated supplies.  Together we can make a difference!

 

 

Thank you,

 Michelle Miranda – President             Valerie Luna – Secretary

814 Ogilvie St.

Cell: 713-584-3532                                    Cell: 281-818-1007

Text or Voicemail