© 2003, Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
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Story Links: Houston Downtown Aquarium Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Galveston Independent School District Galveston Peace Action Network West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Houston Downtown Management District Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
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Tilman Fertitta hosted a lavish party Saturday night to officially open the new Downtown Aquarium in Houston, at Memorial and Bagby where the central fire station once stood next to Buffalo Bayou. "What a great event," Fertitta said to a huge crowd of invited VIPs. "This is a family entertainment venue, which we felt like that the tourists, the conventioneers and locals needed to come to downtown Houston to experience the quality of life that we are all looking for." "This is another great day in the history of a great city," said Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown," thanking Fertitta for his investment in downtown Houston. "It will help us tremendously in our convention business. It will help us in the education of our children. They can come here and see life underwater." "I think this thing is fantastic," said Houston Convention and Visitors President Jordy Tollett. "It is just another piece of the puzzle to make Downtown the best downtown in America." Tollett noted that the new facility will complement the recent downtown theatre district and a resurgence in downtown residential living. "I believe this will begin the redevelopment of the bayou." The
evening's entertainment included numerous live bands,
plentiful food and beverage and a world-class pyrotechnics
display by Fireworks by Grucci of New York City. Galveston Independent School District Ed Clack announced Sunday night that he will run for the Galveston Independent School District Board of Education in the May 3 election against incumbent John Ford, who is president of the school board. Listen "I'm
running based on the fact that I think that all of our
children, regardless of where they are on this island
deserve an equal education that is going to benefit them as
they go through the school district," Clack said.
"I think, as a result of the bond issue and the issues
that were raised there, John Ford is not on the right page
when it comes to seeing that every child in this school
district gets an adequate education." Galveston Peace Action Network About 125 people turned out for an anti-war rally at Galveston's Federal Building on Saturday. "I know this war is imminent, but it's not unavoidable and that is why we are here today," said Mark Muhich of the Galveston Peace Action Network, who organized the event. "You know the pope is opposed to the war," said Father Paul Banet of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, a World War II prisoner of war who has demonstrated against war since the Viet Nam War. "This is a catastrophe about to begin. No one who has any idea of war has any concept that this is anything good for America." "I am here today just to add my opinion and to support all of this movement, which is anti-war," said Mamdouh Mahmoud, of the new Islamic Center on Broadway. "War is not something good. War does not bring peace to people." Other
speakers included a representative of Louis Farrakhan's
Nation of Islam and County Democratic Chair Mary Ellen
Brennen. A representative of the JRTC Enterprises of Richmond, Virginia appeared before Galveston City Council last week at the request of the Galveston Firefighters Union, to speak about Quints, a multi-purpose firefighting vehicle recommended by Shan English in his report to the city council. Listen "It is a common thing in this business for these things to be presented as some kind of elixir, some kind of magic 'cure all,' and this truck can come in here and do everything," said Jake Rixner, who said the trucks have been in use by the Richmond Fire Department for about five years. "We are stuck with some trucks for the next fifteen years that do not fit the community. They are not cost effective. As a matter of fact, they are a maintenance nightmare" Rixner urged the city council to be cautious before investing in Quints. "This is the third city I have been to testify on these particular pieces of equipment, and it's ludicrous. It's crazy." He said the Quints are not suited to the conditions of Galveston, with many houses facing alleys that the trucks cannot serve. "You've got some great people. Buy them whatever they need to protect you and your family," Rixner said. City
Manager Steve LeBlanc said he will schedule time at the next
city council workshop for the firefighters union to respond
to the English report. The new City of Galveston employees union, PACE Local 41 was notified last week that it could no longer hold union meetings in the city's police substation at 53rd and Avenue S. Gladys Jones, president of the union, who said Police Chief Bob Pierce had previously given permission for the group to meet at the facility, received notice from City Hall that last week's scheduled meeting could not be held just two hours before the meeting. City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the chief apparently was not aware of the prohibition against the use of city facilities for non-city business, thus he announced that the practice could not continue. "Even though I had a written approval, I chose to move the meeting because I did not want to add to Chief Pierce's and Captain Mack's problems," Jones said in a statement. Listen The meeting was moved outside to the parking lot. Jones said Firefighters Union President Charles Olsen called her when he heard of the incident, and offered the fire union hall on Heards Lane for future meetings of the municipal employees. "We
thank God for taking charge of our problem," Jones
said.
West Galveston Island Property Owners The West Galveston Island Property Owners Association elected its current slate of officers to a new term at the group's annual meeting on Saturday. Jerry Mohn will continue as president, Sydney McClendon as vice president, Dave Boyd as secretary and Al Birdwell as treasurer. “The nominating committee and the board felt the association has come a long way and we would like to continue on as it is,” Mohn said. The group also reelected Jim Steinbeck from Jamaica Beach, Bill Aimone from Terramar and Dave Boyd from Spanish Grant to the board of directors. Mohn reported that the CEPRA II program is continuing, and subdivisions will be visited in two to three weeks by representatives of the Texas General Land Office to design the sand nourishment project for each subdivision. The board unanimously approved a $500 contract with Kathy Barr to research, write and distribute a press release on the organization's fifth anniversary. “We
really would like to get more information out about the West
Galveston Island Property Owners Association to the
public,” Mohn said. “We feel that we are having more of
an influence on what is happening on the West End and to let
the people know that we are there and we have a voice.” The Port of Houston Authority was notified last week by the New York Board of Trade that it has been designated "a green coffee port". The decision means that Houston is an approved delivery point for the Coffee “C” futures contract traded on the NYBOT’s Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. "The Port of Houston's designation as a green coffee port will have a tremendous impact on our local and regional economy," said James T. Edmonds, chair of the PHA Commission. "Coffee traders from all over the world now have several incentives to do business here." “Our Texas legislators and voters all have a reason to beam with pride,” stated Alistair Macnab, executive director of the Greater Houston Coffee Association. “The exciting growth strategies envisioned by the association may now move confidently forward.” According to the GHCA, Houston’s coffee port designation will increase jobs in the coffee processing industry (e.g. roasting, blending, labeling, packaging, marketing, and retailing) as well as in the coffee servicing industry. The latter would most likely involve logistics providers thereby impacting business for coffee brokers/traders, warehouse operators, freight forwarders, customhouse brokers, road, rail and ocean carriers. The GHCA estimates an overall 15 percent increase in direct and indirect jobs related to coffee trading through the Port of Houston. Additionally, the GHCA estimates that Houston has the potential in the next few years to increase its coffee imports to approximately 3.7 million bags annually, more than double the 1.8 million bags imported in 2002, as a result of the amount of transportation/distribution warehouse space available locally. The GHCA is working with several banks and trade organizations to develop ways to help local small businesses enter the coffee industry and work with coffee sellers, buyers, retailers and transporters to help Houston become one of the major distribution centers for coffees imported from Asia, Latin America and Africa. “The Port has delivered the opportunity that poises Houston for continued economic growth,” stated Tom Kornegay, PHA executive director. “We’ve cleared the way for local businesses to take their enterprises to exciting new heights as dynamic key players in global trade and commerce.” Kornegay
noted Houston’s proximity to 20 million consumers in the
greater southwestern U.S. as an example of the importance of
the development “This is a vital component in the Port
Authority’s strategy.
We view this as a natural progression in our role as
a world class trading point.” Houston Downtown Management District Houston Downtown Management District Executive Director Bob Bradford informed the board of directors last week that the downtown district would likely lose most of the $15,000 it contributed to a downtown Super Bowl kick off party that was scheduled for February 1. The loss of the Columbia space shuttle that day forced cancellation of the event. Bradford said the losses might be recouped if the event is rescheduled, but that canceling the party was “absolutely the right thing to do.” Tom Davis, director of construction for the district, reported that the final pieces of steel would be placed in the George R. Brown Hotel buildings this month. He also noted that Main Street construction would be completed within the year and that the massive downtown road construction and sidewalk improvement project is more than halfway completed. He acknowledged that those projects are funded primarily by the city, but said the downtown management district has contributed millions of dollars to the effort. Bradford reviewed the group’s contributions and goals. Listen The board approved the purchase of a replica of the clock that used to be on Texas and Main. The $27,000 project was not advertised for bids because only the Verdin Company, the original clockmaker, owns the molds. Guy Hagstette, director of capital projects and planning, said the clock will “serve as a gateway into downtown.” The original clock is now at the Hobby Center at Bagby and Capitol. The board discussed the challenge of attracting residents into downtown. Bradford said that there are more incentives right now to build hotels and commercial buildings than housing. He said the district should look into providing incentives to build affordable lofts downtown. Board Member Bill Franks, developer of the Sam Houston Hotel, said that he had "looked at the numbers" on building housing on some downtown blocks. “The only way to make it work, is to go very, very high, which gets very expensive. It doesn’t work unless you go 26 stories high.” Franks
said a person making less than $40,000 a year would not
likely be able to afford to live downtown. “We need a good
low-rise product. We are forcing people to the suburbs
because that is where the affordable housing is.” Council Member Carolyn Alvarado, whose district includes downtown, agreed that for it to come alive, an economic cross-section of people needed to live there. She praised the group’s efforts in the refurbishing of downtown, and promised that the city council would continue to work with the management district. All
action items on the board's agenda were approved. Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network A beached dolphin discovered on Quintana Beach in Brazoria County on Friday is being cared for at rehabilitation facilities in Galveston. Members of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Dolphin Rescue Team, who responded to the stranding, named the six-foot one-inch, 158 pound juvenile bottlenose dolphin “Cupid” in honor of the Valentines Day. The mammal is estimated to be one to one and one-half years old. "Cupid is improving today but still not out of the woods," said Tammy Renaud, state operations coordinator for the network Sunday night. "He is still being supported by volunteers but trying to do a little bit more for himself. We attempted to introduce whole fish, and he was very interested in them—became instantly alert and eager to eat. We don’t want to move to quickly, so he is going to still be tubed fluids and then offered fish at alternate feedings. Blood results are still not showing exactly what is happening, but tonight was a little more optimistic than yesterday." The TMMSN is a non-profit volunteer organization that responds to sick and injured dolphins along the entire Texas Coast. The cost of caring for one animal can range between $200-400 per day, with the average rehab lasting between 2 and 3 months. For
questions or to make a financial contribution to the TMMSN,
please contact our State Office in Galveston at
(409)740-4455. Scheduled
Meetings Today,
February 17 Tuesday,
February 18
Wednesday, February 19
Thursday, February 20 Friday,
February 21 |
Story Links, on the left side of this page, is composed of "bookmarks" to the stories in the newsletter. Click on the link to go directly to the article. Print individual articles by first clicking on the "Print Version" link, then using your regular print program. On The Online News Station, if you click on an audio cut and the photos stop loading, click on Refresh or Reload and they will resume. Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties.
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