Archives

2003 Archives

Friday              February 6, 2004

Texas City City Hall

Texas City Mayor Carlos Garza has announced that he will not seek election to another term on May 15.  Listen

Garza was elected to the city commission in 1984.  Beginning in 1994, Garza's law firm served as city attorney for almost three years.  He was elected mayor in 2000.

Garza said he is proud of his years of service to Texas City.  He cited improved living conditions, as well as economic expansion including the Texas City International Terminal, the new containerized cargo terminal.

"We have changed a number of perceptions that we had about ourselves as a city, and now we see ourselves as a community," Garza said.  "We have worked hard to create quality of life amenities that people look for in selecting a community as their home and a place to raise their children."

Garza said that he chose to make his decision known now, in order to give potential candidates for the office time to prepare their campaigns.

"My heart belongs to the city, but I have some obligations also to my law firm, as well as my family," Garza said.  "It has been a tremendous opportunity for me; one that I will always cherish."

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Galveston Chamber of Commerce

Outgoing Galveston Chamber of Commerce Chair Garry Kaufman passed the ship's wheel to incoming Chair Marshall Stein at Thursday's Annual Banquet at the Tremont House Davidson Ballroom. Listen

"During the last two years we have experienced success in education, business development, as liaison to the city on numerous issues, on business retention and on forging stronger partnerships with organizations such as the GEDP," Kaufman said, thanking chamber members and staff, as well as his wife and business associates, for assisting with his chairmanship.

"The Chamber, under the leadership of Garry, and before him Johnny Smecca, has done a great deal for the business community, and all I can hope is to continue that," said Stein, pledging to work to make it easier to do business with the city, to improve the education system and to bring about community development.

The main event was a “roast and toast” of Mayor Roger “Bo” Quiroga. Listen

"Whereas Roger Quiroga came to us from a career in high finance," said Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough, reading a proclamation from the commissioners court. "During his tenure, he went through more bank jobs than Bonnie and Clyde."

"I think it is a good thing to have a banker on city council, because he can count to four," said Kathy Barr.   

City Manager Steve LeBlanc, teamed with Galveston Economic Development Partnership President Jeff Sjostrom, roasted Quiroga on "his Hispanic heritage and humanity, secondly his being a family man, the third is his charisma and competitive nature and then finally, his political acumen or lack thereof."

"We figured out one word that summarizes Roger's leadership style," LeBlanc said.

"Dictatorship," said Sjostrom.

"LeBlanc, the Aggie in you came out tonight," said Quiroga in his response to the roasters.  "You can't count to four now, can you?"

The event also featured special awards:

• The Christie Mitchell Beachcomber Award - Roger Quiroga

• Business Expansion Award, Commercial - South Land Title

• Business Expansion Award, Institutional - Port of Galveston

• Business Expansion Award, Industrial - Martin Midstream Partnership

• Business Expansion Award, Small Division - The Curiosity Shoppe

• Renaissance Award - Galveston.com

• Renaissance Award - Galveston County

• Business of the Year - The University of Texas Medical Branch

• Golden Division Volunteer Of The Year Award - Amelia Collins

• Chamber Service Award - Jerry Mohn

• Community Service Award - Garry Kaufman

• Volunteer of the Year Award - Betty Massey

Photos and a recording of the meeting will be posted on The Online News Station at www.guidrynews.com. 

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Galveston Planning Commission

The Galveston Planning Commission Tuesday night voted to amend the Galveston Zoning Standards regarding maintenance regulations for landscaping.

Staff has reviewed the landscaping requirements and considered the elements of the ordinance that are causing the most enforcement problems," noted Urban Planner Andrea Madison.  "In order to obtain a certificate of occupancy, new businesses are required to install landscaping, in accordance with the regulations. However, once the business is opened, some fail to maintain the plant material in compliance with the adopted regulations."

Madison said that the amendment to the landscaping requirements will more explicitly describe the on-going maintenance responsibilities of the property/business owner.  Galveston City Council will consider the amendment at next week's regular meeting.

The commission approved a permanent license to use city right-of-way for the placement of a concrete access ramp at 1801 Broadway.    

The commission approved the replat of Port of Houston-owned property on Pelican Island in conjunction with the previous abandonment of West Bradner Loop, North Bradner Loop and East Bradner Loop.  

The commission deferred action on a request for a permanent license to use the city right-of-way in conjunction with an access ramp at the Original Mexican Cafe at 1401 Market until the February 17 meeting. 

The commission deferred action on a general land use plan and preliminary plat in conjunction with a single family development in an area north of Stewart Road, east of 11 Mile Road and west of 10 mile road.

The commission deferred action on a planning department request to amend Galveston Zoning Standards regarding “Parking lot or structure, commercial – auto” to consider “Parking, Incidental to Main Use,” “Parking Lot, Commercial,” “Parking Structure, Commercial,” and “Parking Structure, Mixed Use Commercial” as new and unlisted permitted land uses.

The commission deferred action on a request for a permanent license to use city right-of-way for the placement of outdoor seating at Beach Break, Inc., adjacent to 2101 Strand.

All other requests were approved.

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University of Texas Medical Branch

Best Doctors Inc., a company dedicated to keeping consumers informed about the best medical care available to them, has named 75 members from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston among the top specialists in their respective fields in the U.S.  News Release

In an annual peer review survey, Best Doctors Inc. asked 35,000 physicians, "If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them?" The results of the survey showed that a great number of UTMB physicians in various fields are considered the best in their field. 

"This recognition reflects UTMB's commitment to the highest standards of clinical care," said Stanley M. Lemon, dean of the UTMB School of Medicine. "We have many equally outstanding physicians who were not included in this list, but those who were named to the list can be especially proud of this honor. This recognition reflects not only their technical excellence but also their dedication to the health of their patients."

For more information about Best Doctors Inc., visit www.bestdoctors.com.

UTMB will participate in a new season of courses through the Academy for Lifelong Learning beginning February 11 at Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 2803 53rd Street in Galveston.

Tuition is $25 per course, and classes meet once a week for eight to 10 weeks.  No tests are taken or grades given--the courses simply allow seniors to learn together and discuss issues of interest with guidance from a local expert. 

The Academy is a collaboration of UTMB's Sealy Center on Aging and its Institute for the Medical Humanities. The program is affiliated with the Institutes for Learning in Retirement. For more information, contact Academy director Michelle Sierpina at (409) 747-4657.

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Galveston Politics

Mark Muhich, a longtime civic activist, has announced that he will seek the City Council District 2 position in the municipal election next May.  Release

University Area Association

The University Area Association Roundtable will feature a series of candidate forums at the next three meetings.

On February 16, candidates for Galveston County Commissioner Precinct 1 will be featured.  Candidates are Patrick F. Doyle, Larry Edrozo, John Ford, Tom Butler and Dianna D. Puccetti.

On March 15, candidates for mayor of Galveston will be featured.  The candidates who are scheduled to speak, thus far, are Abdul-H Amin, Johnny Smecca and Lyda Ann Thomas.

On April 19, candidates for Galveston City Council District 3 will speak.  Incumbent Joe Jaworski and challenger Allen LeCornu are scheduled.

The UAA Roundtable meets at 5:30 p.m. at the William Temple Foundation Community Room, 427 Market in Galveston.

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United States Senate

United States Senator John Cornyn, chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on the Constitution, called for hearings Friday to address a recent “startling display” of judicial activism by the top court in Massachusetts. Listen

Cornyn made the comments in a Senate floor speech in response to the decision by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts this week requiring that state’s legislature to provide for same-sex marriage despite the legislature’s opposition. Cornyn outlined how the court’s ruling demonstrated contempt for both democratic and traditional values by, among other things, calling traditional marriage a “stain” on our laws that must be “eradicated.”

“The time has come for the appropriate committees in this body to convene hearings to determine how best we can respond to this startling display of judicial activism that so threatens our fundamental institutions and our values. As the chairman of the Constitution subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, I intend to work with Chairman Hatch to do just that."

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United States Congress

United States Representative Nick Lampson voted on Wednesday to extend federal unemployment benefits to millions of workers across the country, bringing relief to 702,897 workers in the state of Texas who would not otherwise receive additional aid.  The amendment, offered by Representative George Miller of California, passed in the House by a vote of 227-179. 

"This extension is critical given that 8.4 million Americans are now unemployed - 702,897 in Texas alone - and it is taking longer and longer for them to find work," said Lampson.  "For months we have heard claims that the economy is strong, that an extension of benefits was not needed. With nearly three million jobs lost nationwide, this extension is overdue."

The federal unemployment program expired at the end of the year.  Lampson said that the expiration of the program left approximately 80,000-90,000 people nationwide each week since December 21 without benefits.   

"This extension was critical for the families of Texas," Lampson said.  "Individuals who had exhausted their regular unemployment benefits in January without qualifying for any further assistance are receiving neither a paycheck or unemployment benefits.  For the many families struggling to make ends meet and keep food on the table this winter we had to fight hard to restore these benefits."

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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, February 6
6:00 Galveston Home and Garden Show, Moody Gardens Exhibit Hall 
6:00 North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet, Marker 1 Marina Ball Room, 3101 NASA Road 1
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Saturday, February 7
7:00 - 7:00 Clear Creek Independent School District Bond Election 
7:00 - 7:00 Port Neches Groves Liquor by the Drink Election
10:00 - 6:00 Galveston Home and Garden Show, Moody Gardens Exhibit Hall 
12:45 Galveston County-Texas Department of Transportation Status Meeting, South Shore Harbour Resort
6:00 Artwalk, Downtown Galveston
6:00 - 8:00 The Culinary Salute to Mardi Gras! 2004 "Rock N Roll," Trolley Station Building at 2021 Strand.
6:15 Bay Area Republican Women's 13th Annual Lincoln Dinner, South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center. Senator John Cornyn will speak
7:00 League City Volunteer Fire Dept. 2003 Awards Banquet, Johnny Arolfo Civic Center 400 West Walker
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Sunday, February 8
11:00 - 4:00 Galveston Home and Garden Show, Moody Gardens Exhibit Hall 
2:30 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre
3:00 Galveston Musical Club African Heritage Composers Concert, Reedy Chapel AME Church, Galveston

Monday, February 9
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building
9:00 2004 Economic Development and Housing Initiatives Conference, Holiday Inn-Beaumont Plaza 
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
6:00 La Marque City Council
6:30 Friendswood City Council
7:00 Nassau Bay City Council
7:30 El Lago City Council 

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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.  Carl Guidry covers events in 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.