Friday              November 7, 2003

Rosenberg Renaissance Zone

Galveston Independent School District seniors in the Ball High BESTT program were paired with elementary school counterparts as part of the ceremony to kick off the Rosenberg Renaissance Zone this morning.

Renaissance Zone Chairman Anthony Griffin told the students that the Rosenberg Renaissance Zone, with activities planned within the school and the sixteen surrounding blocks, is an experiment in community collaboration.   

“The work done within the Rosenberg Renaissance Zone will have universal properties that can be applied consistently and seamlessly to other zones throughout the city, Griffin explained.  "The Rosenberg Renaissance Zone is the city and county’s first experiment in creative and fun collaboration on behalf of families, children and youth.”  

The Zone is a project of the City of Galveston Families Children and Youth Board.

Griffin recognized Island Graphs owner Health James and artist Claudio Solano for their $5,000 in-kind donation of a three dimensional portable map of Galveston Island, complete with schools and other island landmarks.

Griffin announced that Guidry News Service is working with the Education Task Force of the COGFCY Board by recording 150 volunteers who announce a word of the day each morning over the Rosenberg Elementary School public address system, in a program called “Good Morning My Friends”.

In addition to city and school board officials, the students were addressed by King Henry VIII, accompanied by a court jester and William Shakespeare, all from the Renaissance Festival.

Photos and a recording of the program will be posted on The Online News Station.

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Galveston Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee

The Galveston Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee on Thursday discussed revenue problems at Galveston Island Municipal Golf Course and Scholes International Airport at Galveston.

Members of the committee questioned the value of the golf course to the city.

"They budgeted $1.3 million and they took in $946,000.  That is a tremendous amount to be off of your revenue projections," said Steve Greenberg, who also questioned the value of the cost of the golf course's concession operation.  

"It took in $145,000 and spent $155,000," Greenberg noted.  "This would not work well in the Landry's system, spending more than you take in."

Ann Masel was concerned about the cost of consulting fees in the Island Transit Budget.

"The $246,000 to Berry Goodman, what do we get for it?" she asked.

"They manage the construction projects, they get us money for the grants," said Dawn Wahl of the Department of Finance.  "Basically planning is what they do."

"What you are really paying for is his political connections to get the money," Greenberg said.  It's not really any construction manager.  That sounds good, but that's not what you are paying for."

"It's political and it's understanding the process," added Richard Moore.  "It's not just who you know, it is understanding the process.  And he understands the process very well."

Finance Director Rick Glassett reported that the "due to due from" interfund loan to the golf course has been reduced considerably, thanks to Wahl.

The committee also reviewed the General Fund accounts and discussed the pending audit with Lydia Cook of Null-Lairson.

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Photos and Audio

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded a contract with a potential value of $145.1 million to Barrios Technology, Inc. for mission integration services in support of the International Space Station.

The Mission Integration Contract was awarded as part of the restructuring of the International Space Station’s contracts process, in order to consolidate work, increase efficiency and accountability, and to transition the work from development of space hardware to orbital operations.

Work under the contract will provide products and services that support mission planning, mission integration, mission operations, international partner integration, and Russian language and logistics services. 

TechTrans International, Inc. is a major subcontractor leading the international integration services.  Other subcontractors on the Barrios team include the Futron Corporation and Lockheed Martin Space Operations.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to expand our support to NASA’s International Space Station program and look forward to meeting our customer’s needs with high quality mission integration services,” said Barrios President Sandra Johnson. 

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United States Senate

United States Senator John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, was encouraged by news reports that new claims for unemployment benefits last week plunged to the lowest level in more than two years. 

“The American people, armed with tax relief, have done what no government program can do: renew confidence in the economy and grow jobs," Cornyn said.  "People are buying and hiring again and an economy, for too long moribund, is turning around. I'm encouraged to see that the economy is continuing to grow, and hope that gains in jobs will remain strong." 

Cornyn credited “the combination of well-timed tax cuts that empowered consumers, and a budget resolution that sets the priorities and limits for the federal government," for "renewed confidence in the markets and the employment sector" and said that it all will likely lead to stronger economic growth in months to come.   

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Galveston Fire Department

The winners of the Galveston Fire Department Fire Prevention Poster Contest have been announced.

Prizes in grades K-2 were awarded to Ben Evers and Megan Gala of Satori School and Peyton Musgrove and Joanna Gutierrez of Bolivar School.

Prizes in grades 3-5 were awarded to Justeen Prater and Alejandra Leyva of San Jacinto, and Joshua Perez and Marlon Ward of Scott.

Prizes in Grades 6-8 were awarded to Alex Rice, Angarag Enkh-Baapar and Kylie Arms of Weiss and Eloy Diaz of Austin.

Prizes in grades 9-12 were awarded to Jessica Antonelli, Lauren K. Smith, Hanna Wilson and Ariel Gonzales, all of Ball High School.

The Best of Show prize was awarded to Katie Aaron of Ball High.

The winning posters will be on display at the Central Fire Station during Saturday's Open House.

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Toys for Tots Drive

The Galveston Independent School District is assisting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in collecting for their Toys for Tots Christmas Drive during the month of November

Donations can be delivered to the GISD Communications Office, GISD Administration Building, 3904 Avenue T and through the Weis Middle School Student Council, 7100 Stewart.

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Sierra Club Galveston Group

Shawn Hardeman, a naturalist resources specialist from the Texas General Land Office will speak to the Sierra Club Galveston Group at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 20 at

Rosenberg Library in Galveston.

Hardeman will speak on "Dune Protection and Beach Access Policies".

The public is invited.  

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Scheduled Meetings
Meetings will be held in the regular meeting place of the city council or other governmental body, unless otherwise specified.

Today, November 7
7:00 Galveston Ballet, The Grand 1894 Opera House

Saturday, November 8
8:30 Democratic Party Precinct Chair and Grass Roots
Training Workshop, New Beginnings Conference Center, 322 Laurel, La Marque
12:00 St. Vincent's House Fourth Annual WelFair, 2817 Postoffice Street
6:00 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame 2003 Induction Gala, 2002 Terminal Drive, Galveston International Airport
8:00 Bruce Wood Dance Company, The Grand 1895 Opera House

Sunday, November 9
9:00 - 3:00 End of Season Fly Day, Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston International Airport
2:00 Don Sanders: "Sourdough Cowboy and Tales of the West" The Grand 1894 Opera House  

Monday, November 10
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building
11:00 City of Galveston Emergency Management Committee
12:00 Friendswood City Council Planning Retreat, Friendswood Public Library Conference Room
12:00 Space Center Rotary Club, Holiday Inn, 1300 NASA Parkway.  Jim Guidry will speak. 
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
4:00 Galveston County Navigation District 1 Special Meeting, 2121 Market, Galveston
4:30 Galveston Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for Diabetic Care Plus Pharmacy, 2115 61st St. (near Marble Slab in the Office Depot parking lot)
6:00 La Marque City Council
6:30 Friendswood Independent School District Board of Trustees 
7:00 Shoreacres City Council
7:00 Seabrook Eco-Tourism Committee

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Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties as well as regional news impacting the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.

Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent.  Dedra Black covers northern Galveston County and southern Harris County.  Jennifer Robinett and Carl Guidry cover Jefferson County.

Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service

Ivan Arceneaux is a special correspondent. 

Drew Gilbert, who covered the Galveston City Beat, was recently reactivated into the Coast Guard for the Iraq war.