Gulf Coast E-news

"They will have air controllers that will move the aircraft when they are on the ground and when they are in the air and tell them when they can and when they cannot land, and where they can land" Hopkins said. "It will control the skies a little bit more and make the air a little bit safer than it already is." Listen Download

Hopkins said that six air traffic controllers will be employed by the Federal Aviation Administration at Scholes Field.

"We've actually had a few of them already come down here and take a look at homes," Hopkins said. "Hopefully there will be six new families on Galveston Island."

The new 72-foot tower should be complete in June 2005. The tower will give a clear view of the airport and surrounding area. The tower cab is where the controllers will work.

The total cost of the tower is $1.8 million. Ninety percent of the cost is funded by the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division and the remainder is from City of Galveston funds.

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Rabbi Henry Cohen Humanitarian Award

The Rabbi Henry Cohen Award committee has selected Dolly Warren as the recipient of the Annual Rabbi Henry Cohen Humanitarian Award. The committee chair is Neil Nathan and members are Armin Cantini, Lise Darst, Reverend John Donovan, Ellen Goldhirsch, Buddy Herz, Rabbi Jimmy Kessler, Sheila Lidstone and Dr. Mike Warren, husband of the recipient.

Warren submitted a letter in support of his wife. However the nominations were judged by a panel composed of Dr. Kevin Katz, Billie Hoskins and Sally Galbraith.

"The Webster's Dictionary definition of 'Humanitarian' is 'a person promoting human welfare and social reform'," Warren wrote. "While many individuals in our community perform daily acts of charity and support of those less fortunate, not all are true 'humanitarians' as is my wife, Dolly Warren."

"Dolly's brainchild is D'Feet Breast Cancer, Inc., an organization that started out with a few volunteers educating the high school girls, to a unique and the only organization in Galveston County that provides free mammograms for Galveston County women who have no insurance or are underserved," wrote Joyce M. W. Singleton, vice president of Project D'Feet Breast Cancer, Inc., in her letter of support for the nomination. "Though Dolly has never had breast cancer, her passion is that no woman goes without help or support for lack of money or insurance."

"Dolly is personally involved in the educational efforts, frequently attending school presentations she organizes with health care professionals," added Dr. Francoise T. Vandaele. "Women who call the breast cancer hot line in Galveston County often end up talking to Dolly in person."

Others who wrote letters of support for Warren's nomination included Olivia Meyer, Elizabeth Anderson of the UTMB School of Nursing, Jennifer Nitschmann, administrative director of the UTMB Division of Emergency Medicine and Ruth Kempner.

"Dolly not only organized this program, but also engaged the cooperation of UTMB in the use of its mammogram bus, The Oleander, to go to various public locations such as malls, supermarkets, churches, etc. so that the patients do not have the trip to UTMB," Kempner wrote. "Every year she organizes a drive to raise the money for the bus and the readings of the mammograms."

The award includes recognition of the recipients’ activities, a plaque and a $200 honorarium. It will be presented at a ceremony in the Harris Gallery at the Rosenberg Library at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2005.

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Houston City Council

Houston Mayor Bill White opened today's Houston City Council meeting with a briefing on the need for an ordinance requiring utilities to relocate their facilities at their own expense for all types of projects. Listen Download Photos

Houston Public Works Deputy Director Dan Krueger assisted White in the presentation. White said prior to the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Texas’ House Bill 1777, passed in 1999, telecommunications companies paid for such relocation through city franchises.

"What’s at stake is how large our Capital Improvements Program is," White said, noting that the telecommunications companies are no longer governed by the franchises.

"We have never, ever, ever, outside of some special projects for Aviation, paid for any utility relocation until Southwest Bell said that they would sue us to stall the Kirby Drive drainage project reducing the Medical Center flooding by 20 per cent unless we paid them an amount which continued to escalate," White said. "After we paid, they didn’t do the work for six months, until we called them into my office time after time."

The city council voted 13-1, with Addie Wiseman opposed, to approve a $2.2 million contract with the Washington, DC law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP. The law firm will provide legal and investigative services in its role as project leader to review the operations and procedures in the Houston Police Department’s crime lab.

Some other items were tagged, or delayed for one week, by individual members of the city council.

Wiseman tagged motions to amend contracts with Badger Meters, Inc. for water meters, and with Municipal Pipe & Fabricating Company for fire hydrants; an ordinance to amend the meet and confer agreement with the board of trustees of the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System; an amendment to the city’s Code of Ordinances relating to public official bonds and blanket crime policies for public employees.

Mark Ellis tagged a motion to amend a paint, solvents and painting supplies contract with ICI, Dulux; Sherwin-Williams Paint Company, Inc.; Southwest Paint Company; and Quality Paint & Decor.

M. J. Khan and Wiseman tagged a proposed agreement to provide fire protection services to unincorporated areas of Harris County.

Adrian Garcia tagged an item to authorize acceptance of grant assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration for various projects at the city’s airports.

The city council voted 13-1, with Wiseman opposed, to approve an agreement with Fairfax County, Virginia for procurement of $65 million worth of information technology products and services. Prior to approving the ordinance, the city council voted 12-2 with Wiseman and Michael Berry opposed, to add Shelly Sekula-Gibbs' amendment requiring that any contract purchase over $100,000 be approved by council and bid through the city’s purchasing office. Ronald Green withdrew his proposed amendment that also would have required a 24 percent MWBE goal for the contract.

All other items were unanimously approved. Mark Goldberg was absent

City Controller Annise Parker gave her monthly financial report for the period ending February 28, 2005.

"We’re now three-quarters of the way through our fiscal year. The Controller’s Office currently projects a budget shortfall of $2.4 million," Parker said. "This is nearly $4 million less than the January prediction. About half of that is due to our increasing our revenue estimate and the other half is from decreases in expenditures."

Parker added that although her office predicts a shortfall, if her revenue estimates prove correct, there is a sufficient fund balance to cover that shortfall.

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Port Arthur City Council

Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously, with Michael Sinegal abstaining, to approve a specific use permit for the construction of a new junior varsity stadium by the Port Arthur Independent School District on U.S. 69. The action included special conditions to address noise and lighting issues as well as anticipated traffic problems on Lucian Adams Drive.

The permit had previously been refused by the Planning and Zoning Commission, but was resubmitted and approved with the added special conditions.

The city council voted unanimously to appoint Linda Spears to the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

The city council voted unanimously to table an ordinance that would amend an ordinance to release a portion of the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction and disannex a portion of the city's land along Taylor's Bayou at the request of the Taylor's Landing Homeowners' Association.

The proposed amendment would grant the homeowners' association an extension until October 1 to reimburse the city for all public notices and to obtain a "no objection letter" from the Justice Department for the release of the land.

The city council voted unanimously to table a resolution authorizing Police Chief John Tyler to issue a wrecker business permit to American Towing located at 6120 Gulfway Drive.

The city council voted unanimously to table a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Port Arthur Industrial and Community Leaders Advisory Group for the operation of the Summer Youth Employment and Enrichment Program.

The city council voted unanimously to table a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board for the Summer Youth Employment Program.

All other agenda items were unanimously approved. Council Member Tom Henderson and Mayor Pro Tem John Beard were absent.

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Beaumont City Council

Beaumont City Council on Tuesday voted to eliminate the zoning category General Commercial Multiple Family Dwelling-3 from the city's zoning ordinance, but refused to eliminate halfway houses for delinquents and offenders as a permitted use, with a specific use permit, in the Central Business District and in Planned Unit Development districts.

City Manager Kyle Hayes had explained that GC-MD-3 has never been used since it was established as a zoning category by the city council in 1998. The vote to eliminate that category was unanimous.

However, the city council voted 2-5, with only Mayor Evelyn Lord and Council Member Andrew Cokinos in favor, to deny Hayes' recommendation that halfway houses be prohibited in the CBD and in PUD districts.

"We had requests in the past that were denied," Hayes said, explaining that his recommendation was to save time and money for applicants for halfway houses, as well as the Beaumont Planning Commission and the city council, which will likely deny specific use permits in the future.

"With the efforts that the city and others are making towards the revitalization of the Central Business District, the planning manager does not feel that the locating of halfway houses for criminals and delinquents in the CDBD is conducive to those revitalization efforts," Hayes said. "The PUD district is typically used in the development of new residential and commercial developments. Rarely would a halfway house be part of these developments."

The city council voted to award a bid for the mowing of property in violation of weed ordinances to Perfect Lawn Care of Beaumont.

"Since 1998, the Clean Community Department provided crews and equipment to mow property in violation of weed ordinances as directed by the Neighborhood Services Division," Hayes said. "After reorganization of the department last year it was determined that contracting for this service is more cost effective."

Hayes noted that four positions were eliminated from the Clean Community Department's FY05 budget. Those employees were assigned to other departments.

The city council voted to continue a lease with the Beaumont Association for Senior Citizens for space at the Best Years Center at 780 South Fourth Street for another two years.

The city council approved new solid waste collection and transportation service franchises for Arrow Waste, Inc. and Triangle Waste Solutions, LLC.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Port of Houston Authority

The Port of Houston Authority will hold a meeting with U.S. Senator John Cornyn on Thursday, March 31 at 2:45 p.m. to discuss Houston-Galveston port security funding. The meeting will take place in the Port of Houston Authority executive office building at 111 East Loop North in Houston.

Cornyn plans to introduce homeland security funding legislation that is expected to require the Department of Homeland Security to allocate grants based on risk and to require funding to meet "essential capabilities" by reducing vulnerability to attack and diminishing the consequences by effective response.

The legislation will also require states to quickly pass on federal funds to where they are needed and will address the "small state minimum" issue.

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, U.S. Attorney Mike Shelby, U.S. Coast Guard Captain Richard M. Kaiser, PHA Chairman Jim Edmonds and commissioners and staff executives from the ports of Galveston, Freeport and Texas City will also attend the meeting.

For additional information, visit http://www.portofhouston.com.

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Hitchcock Independent School District

The Hitchcock Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted to approve an agreement with Magellan K-12 to provide capital planning services to the school district. Magellan will conduct a facility assessment to finalize the school district's capital plan and will perform a demographic study to determine future needs.

The Board of Trustees discussed short- and long-term plans and the potential need facilities program consulting service. The board also considered the need for a 14-classroom modular building at Stewart Elementary School.

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Clear Creek Independent School District

The Clear Creek Independent School District on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the sale of $109 million in bonds for new facilities to Merrill Lynch. The bid of 4.78 percent was the lowest of ten proposals submitted for the bond issue.

"This was our second bond sale out of our Bond 2004 issue," Public Information Officer Carrie Ann Taylor said. "It was for $109 million."

The funds will be used to construct High School Number 4 and Elementary School Number 23, as well as other ongoing construction projects.

The school board has invited citizens to volunteer as members of a committee to recommend names for the district's stadium. The committee will be composed of members from the school district and from the administration. Superintendent Sandra Mossman will appoint a committee chair.

Citizens interested in serving on the committee may obtain an application form online at http://www.CCISD.net or in person at 2425 East Main Street.

All forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13. All naming recommendations must be received by 12 p.m. on Friday, April 15. The committee meetings will be held May 2 and May 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

According to board policy, all schools shall be named for distinguished, historical personage, distinguished educators or retired prominent local citizens or educators. Strong consideration will be given to those who donate the land for school sites.

The committee will submit three recommendations to the Board of Trustees to be considered for the name of the stadium. The Board of Trustees will make the final decision.

The District Stadium serves the three high schools in the district as well as numerous community sporting activities and events.

For additional information, contact the public information office at (281) 338-5803.

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Dickinson Independent School District

Dickinson Independent School District voters on Saturday will decide on two proposals to sell $85 million in bonds for facilities improvements.

One proposition would be to issue $72 million in bonds for a new elementary school, a junior high school, and other facilities.

The second proposition would be to issue $13 million in bonds for a new football stadium and improvements to the district’s athletic facilities.

School officials say the passage of both bond issues would increase the district's tax rate from $1.72 per $100 assessed value to $1.90.

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Lamar University

Lamar University's College of Education and Human Development will begin its second annual Education Research Conference on Thursday, March 31. Research topics range from research on using animals in early childhood classrooms and bullying on school campuses to the impact of Brown vs. the Board of
Education.

The conference theme is Education Today: Trends and Research.

Fourteen colleges and universities and five school districts will participate in the two-day event, which will include a keynote speech by Lamar graduate Randy Best, co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Voyager Expanded Learning.

Best will discuss “Entrepreneurship in Education” at a luncheon at noon Friday in the University Reception Center of the Mary and John Gray Library.

"The initial goal of the conference was to develop a regional venue to showcase educational research conducted at Lamar and other educational institutions," said Molly Dahm, chair of the event and director for the university’s hospitality management program.

Two pre-conference seminars will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. March 31 in the Family and Consumer Sciences building. Those sessions will include a panel on diversity among educators and a second session about identifying characteristics of quality teachers.

For additional information, contact Molly Dahm at (409) 880-1744. Late registration can be accessed online at http://dept.lamar.edu/education/edresearch/default.html.

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San Jacinto College

The San Jacinto College Central Wind Symphony will give a free concert on Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 18220 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay.

Karen Marston, the central campus' music professor, will conduct the symphony. Sharing the stage is David Bertman, who conducts the symphonic band at the University of Houston.

The event features the works of David Holsinger, Clifton Williams, Gordon Jacob, Karel Husa and Aaron Copland.

For additional information, call (281) 476-1501, extension 1772.

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Galveston Kiwanis Club

The Galveston Kiwanis Club will hold its sixth annual Las Vegas Night on Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m. in the Balinese Room at 2107 Seawall Boulevard.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Rainbow Connection, a nonprofit organization that works to send children diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders to summer camp.

Tickets cost $20 and include $2,500 in gambling money, one raffle ticket, a prize auction and hors d'oeuvres. A cash bar will also be available.

For additional information on the Rainbow Connection, visit www.rccamp.org.

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Bay Area Youth Soccer Association

The Bay Area Youth Soccer Association, a regional association of 16 clubs stretching from southern Houston to Galveston, selected Mark Roche of the Galveston Youth Soccer Club as its 2004 Volunteer of the Year. Photo and Details

The award was presented by BAYSA President Bob Maraia at the organization’s March membership meeting.

The soccer association cited Roche’s proactive efforts as GYSC’s Fields Chairman and his significant contribution to the development and ongoing operations at Galveston’s Sandhill Crane Soccer Complex.

During 2004, there were 8,900 children ranging in age from 5 to 17 playing on 873 teams in BAYSA. Mr. Roche was one of 1,550 volunteers assisting Bay Area youth soccer clubs and teams.

John Massey, president of the Galveston club, cited Mark as “the ultimate unselfish volunteer."

"Mark created the best of environments for players, coaches and parents to enjoy the game of soccer," Massey said. "His example for other potential volunteers is exemplary.”

In addition to his role as Fields Chairman for the Galveston club, Roche has also volunteered as a coach, assistant coach and club board member. Roche, a Galveston resident, is employed as captain of the M/V Texas by the Galveston/Texas City Pilots.

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William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth

Community members are invited to join the first Community Peace Walk on the William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth on Sunday, April 3 at 4 p.m. at 427 Market Street in Galveston.

"Gandhi and Martin Luther King successfully used walks to create change," a press release said. "There are others that have used walking as a spiritual practice to meditate and pray. Both of these activities will be blended as a new practice is initiated in the community in response to a myriad of threats to our global community."

Future walks will be scheduled the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. Trained facilitators will be available to explain this ancient spiritual tool and walking meditation practice. Participants may also choose to walk the meditation garden surrounding the labyrinth.

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On The Webio

Several items of interest to the Gulf Coast Region are posted in The Online News Station.

The schooner Juan Sebastián de Elcano will visit the Port of Galveston from April 6, 2005 through April 10, 2005. Photos and Details

On April 2, 2005, the City of Galveston will officially kick off the “Down in the Gutters and On the Sidewalks” program at the L.A. Morgan Renaissance Zone. Photo and Details

The Third Annual Laura's Legacy Golf Tournament and Fund Raiser benefiting the Laura Recovery Center - for missing children - will be held at Magnolia Creek Golf Links in League City on Friday, April 1st at 1PM. Photo and Details

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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, March 30
4:00 Galveston West End Land Use Policy Committee, City Hall Room 204
4:00 Galveston Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Council Chambers
5:00 Galveston Chamber of Commerce After-5 Business Mixer, Hotel Galvez
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Directors
7:00 La Marque Independent School District Board Workshop
8:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston

Thursday, March 31
12:00 FeatherFest Begins in Galveston Details
6:30 Kemah City Council Workshop, council chambers in City Hall
7:30 Morning Star, Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard in Houston
8:00 Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse located at 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
8:00 Bus Stop, College of the Mainland Community Theatre

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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.

Jim and Lynda Guidry are publishers of Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station.

Jim Young is Houston City Correspondent. Dana Patricia Burke is the Bay Area Houston Correspondent. Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent. Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County. Anita Donatto covers the education beat in Galveston.

Patty Mayeux is editor of Gulf Coast E-news.

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

We are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties.

Guidry News Service offices at 1818 Church Street, Suite 4, Galveston, TX. 77550 / P.O. Box 2130, Galveston, TX 77553
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