The Guidry News
© 2003, Guidry News
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The Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
Service
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Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston County Economic Development Alliance |
Galveston County Economic Development The Galveston County Economic Development Alliance announced today that long-time Galveston county resident, Don Gartman, has been named president and chief executive officer. “I
am looking forward to working with local government economic
development organizations, educational and civic
organizations, as well as local businesses to help facilitate
growth in this dynamic area,” said Gartman.
“It is becoming increasingly important that we work
together to efficiently manage revitalization - expansion - of
Galveston county. We
will need to use various means, including tax increment
reinvestment zones, tax free zones, tax abatements and
private/public partnerships to assist in the relocation of
industry to our area, the expansion and retention of existing
business and start-up assistance for small business owners.” “I am excited and welcome Don as leader of the Alliance," said Galveston County Judge Yarbrough. "I have had the opportunity to work with Don on different projects. Don brings with him a positive energy and I am confident he will be an asset to economic development growth for the county”. Prior to retirement two years ago, Gartman worked for CenterPoint Energy (formerly Houston Lighting & Power Company) as the Galveston district manager for 23 years and most recently, board chair and president of two companies in Argentina. In all, Gartman and his wife, Sandy spent eight years living and working in South America. Gartman
has served as president, board member or officer of many local
organizations, including the Galveston Chamber of Commerce,
the former Galveston Economic Development Corporation, the
Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves, the United Way of
Galveston, Inc., the City of Galveston Parks and Recreation
Board, the Galveston and Texas City Rotary Clubs, the
University of Houston at Clear Lake Development and Advisory
Board and the local United States Selective Service Board,
among many others. Galveston Park Board of Trustees The Galveston Park Board of Trustees has rescheduled a meeting to release the results of a recent Seawall Urban Park Vision Meeting. The meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12 at the Galveston Hilton Ballroom at 5400 Seawall Boulevard. "The park board held earlier community meetings gaining input on their desires and expectations concerning Seawall improvements," said a park board news release. The meeting to announce the results of those meetings had been scheduled for last week, but was postponed when former president and CEO Gil Langley resigned. Several people have written the park board and The Online News Station Forum Page urging that the meeting be rescheduled prior to the May 15 election, which includes a proposed charter amendment requiring an election before a paid parking plan can be implemented on the Seawall. Galveston
Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson has announced that the fire at
Seaside Village Apartments at 4925 Fort Crockett Boulevard on
April 22 was an accidental electrical fire. “It
started in a concealed space between the floor and the ceiling
in an area occupied by electrical wiring,” said a news
release. “Four
investigators completed the investigation on the cause of the
fire.” “The
investigators spent numerous hours conducting interviews with
tenants, residents, management, and an insurance
investigator,” Robinson said. “They
reviewed evidence and determined that the fire was caused
accidentally.” Upon
arrival of the Galveston Fire Department, heavy fire and smoke
were showing from the south side apartments. Some
tenants had tried to extinguish the fire using a garden hose. The
fire appears to have started above the balcony of unit 312 and
below the unit 329. The fire quickly spread to the other
apartments. The
occupants quickly evacuated the building. The entire Number
Three apartment building was engulfed in flames. The
fire broke into the attic and spread throughout the building. “Considering
the factors that the firefighters faced upon arrival at the
location, coupled with strong winds from the south, I believe
the firefighters did an excellent job in containing the fire
to Building Three only,” said Fire Chief Michael Varela. “Since
the next building was about 15 feet in distance, in close
proximity, I give credit to Battalion Chief Dave Whitton, who
made a quick decision to go to a defensive mode and called in
additional firefighters. Through
the efforts of firefighters the rest of the buildings were
saved. After the fire, the bulk of the work began for the fire
marshal’s office. Considering the extent of the damage, they
did a fine job in completing a thorough investigation to
determine the cause of the fire.” The
Seaside Village Relief Fund, started by Mayor Roger Quiroga,
has raised nearly $1,500 in cash and received many donations
of clothing and household goods. “I
am proud of all the Galvestonians who stepped up to the plate
to immediately help their neighbors,” Quiroga said. “It
was a wonderful response.” The Gulf Coast Water Authority Board of Directors held a special meeting on Thursday to approve the purchase of a new pump for the Thomas Mackey Plant. "Per the capital improvement schedule, the Clearwell Transfer Pump P552 was pulled for inspection, preventative maintenance and rebuilding as needed," reported Nancy Matthews, manager of the Thomas Mackey Water Treatment Plant. "This pump was last repaired in 1991." The cost of the repair was $19,423.50. Chuck Lawrence covered the meeting. Listen City of League City offices will close Tuesday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during the memorial service for City Librarian Susan Mathews at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center, 400 W. Walker. The public is welcome, and friends are encouraged to attend. The Helen Hall Library will be closed until 1:00 p.m. Mathews passed away last weekend in her home. She was the city’s first and only librarian for thirty-two years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Helen Hall Library. Friends are encouraged to bring photographs and stories to share with Mathews’ family. San Jacinto College Commencement Graduates from the three San Jacinto College campuses are joining their counterparts across the nation for commencement ceremonies this week. Graduation week at San Jacinto continues tonight when Chancellor Dr. Bill Lindemann addresses 252 graduates in the 43rd Annual Central Campus Commencement Ceremony. Photo and Details The 7 p.m. ceremony will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center, 7902 Fairmont Parkway. Due to the availability of seating, attendance is limited. Each graduate received seven tickets for friends and family. On Monday the South Campus honored 183 graduates during its 25th Annual Commencement Ceremony. State Representative Rick Noriega served as the special speaker. The North Campus will graduate 126 students tomorrow, during two different ceremonies in the John W. Nichols Health and Physical Education Building, 5800 Uvalde, Houston. The North Campus tradition of using students as a commencement speaker continues, with Karla Villarreal and Atmu M. Samin speaking at the 9 a.m. ceremony and Patricia L. Cortez and Cedric Dwain Hall speaking at the 11 a.m. graduation. A Nursing Pinning Ceremony was held in Slocomb Auditorium on Thursday night, an event involving 76 Central Campus graduating nurses. Another nursing graduation takes place at 6 p.m. tonight at South Campus, 13735 Beamer Road in Houston. Density by Design, a conference that will explore urban development, land use and the environment, will be held Wednesday, May 19th from 8:30 - 4:30 at the Rice Hotel in Houston. "The growing trend toward urban development in the nation’s younger cities promises to have a profoundly beneficial effect over the next few decades," said an online notice of the meeting. "At the core of the urban concept is density, the close proximity of people to each other and the places they go each day. But the word density conjures up negative images for many people. The answer, say the experts, is in design." The conference hosts are The Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas Sea Grant/Texas Cooperative Extension and the Gulf Coast Institute. Visit http://www.densitybydesign.com for more information and online registration. Coast Guard fishing vessel safety examiners are scheduled to conduct free voluntary dockside examinations of commercial fishing vessels next Tuesday through Thursday in several ports in Texas and Louisiana. Examiners plan to be in Cameron, Louisiana, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and in the Port Arthur, Texas, area from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Examiners will also be available as needed on Thursday at both locations. Coast Guard examiners will be checking primary lifesaving equipment on vessels while in port. These exams are meant to ensure that critical safety items are ready for use should an emergency occur at sea. Similar checks in previous years have found that between one-quarter and one-third of emergency radio beacons and life rafts are installed improperly. Most of these deficiencies are easily corrected on the spot. U.S. Department of Labor statistics indicate approximately 152 of every 100,000 fishermen are killed on the job each year. That's the highest fatality rate of any occupation, slightly higher than that of loggers and more than nine times the rate of firefighters and police officers. This outreach effort is part of the Eighth Coast Guard District's initiative to reduce the number of lives and vessels lost at sea. Last year, 18 fisherman died and 15 fishing vessels were lost at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing vessel examiners are scheduled to be available to conduct free courtesy inspections, giving local fishermen the opportunity to discuss safety equipment requirements and safety procedures. For additional information call Mark Jones at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Port Arthur at (800) 422-3762. Scheduled
Meetings Today, May
7
Saturday, May
8 Sunday, May
9
Monday, May
10 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. Jim and Lynda Guidry are publishers Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station. Jenna Ware is editor of Gulf Coast E-news. Chuck
Lawrence is
Galveston City Correspondent. Carl Guidry covers
events in Jefferson County. Joe Grasso
covers the education beat in Galveston. Sonja Faughn
covers Texas City and La Marque. Michael Durisseau
covers the Clear Lake area entities, in addition to special
assignments elsewhere. Ivan
Arceneaux
is a special correspondent.
We
are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to
expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties. |
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