2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Wednesday               November 9, 2005  

United States Congress

Today the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Conference Committee issued its report which provides nearly $16.5 billion to fully fund NASA and the space shuttle program.

"The history of our space program has shown that money spent by our taxpayers on NASA is an investment in the technologies that drive not only our exploration of the unknown, but our economy here on earth," said Congressman Tom DeLay.  "The $16.5 billion is more than an impressive dollar amount - it represents the trust and confidence of the American people in NASA and the president's vision."

In addition to the nearly $16.5 billion for the agency, the legislation fully funds the ongoing work of the space shuttle program and includes more than $3.1 billion for the other first-stage components of the president's vision for space exploration.  It also provides the NASA Administrator with the flexibility needed to manage the agency's shifting needs and challenges.

"Fully funding NASA means fully trusting the courage and brilliance of NASA's people, from astronauts and engineers to support staff and contractors, all who are focused on completing the first stage of work in the president's vision," DeLay said.  "I have that trust, and this funding shows that the American people do, too."

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, which includes funding for beach projects, has been reported out of conference committee and is expected to receive final approval by the United States Congress this week.

Greg Burns, vice president of Marlowe & Associates, reports that the legislation provides $122.88 million for beaches, which is 56 percent greater than President George W. Bush proposed in his budget request. Listen

"The Texas coast did fairly well," Burns said.  "Obviously, you have a lot of operations maintenance needs along the coast.  Those were fairly well taken care of, so credit has to go out to Congressman Poe and Congressman Paul and the two senators."

The conference bill provides $778,000 for the Sabine Pass to San Luis Pass Feasibility Study.  Beach Funding Table

Burns said that the legislation should reach President Bush's desk before the end of the year.

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Election Day in Texas

The two incumbents in Tuesday's Galveston Independent School District election were defeated.  Returns

Andrew “Andy” Mytelka defeated incumbent Barry Rochkind and Mary Jo Urbani unseated Terry Dick in the GISD race.

Friendswood ISD incumbent John Ring handily defeated a hard-fought challenge by Deborah Winters Chaney; and Rebecca Hillenburg defeated Kathy Rogers, who had campaigned with Chaney.

Two incumbents were reelected to the Bolivar Peninsula Special Utility District Board of Directors, Eddie Oehlers and Harold Guidry.  They will be joined on the board by Roger Welch and Lynette Johnson-Hardcastle.

Corey Cricchio was elected to the Groves City Council.

Two propositions dealing with expansion of the sale of alcoholic beverages to previously "dry" parts of Pasadena were approved.  Proposition 1 provided for the sale of beer and wine for consumption not on retail sale premises; and Proposition 2 provided for the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders.

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Dickinson City Council

Dickinson City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to select six architectural firms to give oral presentations to the city council on November 29 related to the new City Hall/Library Complex.  The firms are Page Southerland Page, Hall Barnum Lucchesi, Morris Architects, 3B/I Architects, Edwards Associates and Natex Corp.

The city council voted to approve the second and final reading of an amendment to the city's sign ordinance that would allow certain religious emblems up to 20 feet in height.

The city council voted to commit ten percent of the cost of the Texas Department of Transportation's project to replace the wooden bridge on Cherry Drive over Bensen Gully.

The city council voted to purchase a police patrol car and two half ton pickup trucks for criminal investigation use with a lease-purchase agreement from McRee Ford.

The city council tabled action on election of a member of the Galveston Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.

The city council took no action on a proposal to increase the speed limit on FM 517 East between Benson Gully and Kansas Street from 30 miles per hour to 35 mph.

All other agenda items were approved.

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League City City Council

League City City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to retain Null Lairson to conduct an independent audit of the Big League Dreams Project.

The city council voted 4-2, with Jim Nelson and Tommy Cones opposed, to continue to pursue the city's interests related to litigation filed by the Houston Chronicle and the Galveston County Daily News regarding the newspapers' sale of their product in city streets.  The vote came after a 2-4 vote to not pursue the issue failed, with only Nelson and Cones in favor of dropping the matter.

The city council voted unanimously to name Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark to chair the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 4 Board of Directors; and to name Tommy Cones, Rusty Tidwell, Javier Morales and Maria Morales as members.  The TIRZ was formed to develop the West Oak project.

The city council voted 4-2, with Katie Benoit and Tidwell opposed, to rezone 13.3 acres to facilitate a development in the 2600 block of FM 518.

The city council voted 5-1, with Benoit opposed, to rezone approximately 0.4 acres to facilitate a development at 304 East Walker.

The city council voted 4-3, with Mayor Jerry Shults casting a tie breaking vote, to declare certain city property surplus.

The city council voted 5-1, with Tad Nelson opposed, to alter speed limits on FM 528.

The city council voted 5-1, with Benoit opposed, to grant a petition by League City Investors, Ltd., Englewood Land Investments, L.P., and Samuel P. Boyd, requesting the city to annex 222.7 acres of land and to develop a service plan for the development.

The city council voted 5-1, with Tidwell opposed, to schedule a public hearing on December 13 for a zoning overlay application for a development on approximately 1,993.7 acres north of FM 517 and west of IH 45.

The city council voted unanimously to authorize city staff to pursue the acquisition of real property for the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The city council voted unanimously to take action on an "economic development project" that was discussed in executive session.

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes.  Mike Barber was absent.

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Port Arthur City Council

Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted 7-0-1, with Martin Flood recusing himself, to participate in an estimated $222,070 planning study and feasibility analysis by Dikita Engineering for the Westside, including road improvements for West 7th Street, also known as Ransom Howard Street.  The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation will pay one half of the cost of the projects. 

The city council voted to hire Floyd Batiste to serve as a consultant "to provide temporary, short-term oversight, daily coordination and management activities" of the PAEDC.

Gary Ratcliff of Reliable Polymer Services appeared before the city council to discuss establishment of a waste materials refining operation in Port Arthur that will create about 30 new jobs.

A representative of the United States Army Corps of Engineers announced that more than 60 trucks are picking up storm debris in Port Arthur; and that the Corps is developing a site north of the Southeast Texas Regional Airport to dispose of the debris.

The city council voted to purchase 1,000 stop signs from Newman Signs of Jamestown, North Dakota for $18,950 to replace signs destroyed by Hurricane Rita; and to purchase 500 sign poles and anchors from Allied Tube of Cedar Park, Texas for $10,070 for the missing or damaged stop signs.

The city council voted to approve a professional services agreement with Arceneaux & Gates Consulting Engineers, Inc. in connection with the Waterline Replacement Project; and to approve a contract with Arceneaux & Gates for engineering services related to repairs to the reservoir baffle system.

The city council voted to cast its 136 votes for Fred L. Mitchell for the Jefferson County Appraisal District.

The city council voted to divide its 60 votes for the Orange County Appraisal District evenly between the six candidates for the five positions: Hughie J. Allen, Nancy Gray Ashworth, Virginia Fawcett, Laura Floyd, Lynda Gunstream and George Woodrow.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous, although one, two or three members were out of the room during several of the votes.

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State of Texas - Governor's Office

Texas Governor Rick Perry today awarded $440,665 in grants to four programs that focus on reducing crime and are intended to improve the Texas criminal and juvenile justice systems. The grants are awarded under the State Criminal Justice Planning Fund and are distributed by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division. Release

“Through these funds, Texas can better support its citizens and provide them with necessary resources to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Perry.

The awards include:

• $285,787 to Capital Area Council of Governments to provide basic, in-service, advanced, and specialized training courses to law enforcement officers in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties.
• $26,316 to Ft. Bend County Child Advocates, Inc., to recruit and train volunteers to assist children who are transitioning out of the foster care system.
• $78,582 to Harris County Domestic Violence Coordination Council to provide supervision and coordination of program committees involved in the planning of services to victims of family violence in Harris County.
• $49,980 to The OneStar Foundation, Inc., to design and develop a statewide networking system that increases collaboration and partnership between faith-based organizations and regional councils of governments with an emphasis on criminal and juvenile justice programs.

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University of Texas Medical Branch

University of Texas Medical Branch scientists have announced research that they say determined that first and second trimester Down syndrome screenings are equally effective.  Release

"As screening for fetal Down syndrome becomes a part of every pregnancy and its new forms are being developed, physicians have remained uncertain whether first trimester, second trimester or a combination of the two provide the most accurate results," said a news release.  "In a new study released in the November issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and 14 other research institutions have determined that screenings done in either of the first two trimesters provide accurate results of fetal Down syndrome risk. The first-trimester test is slightly better than second-trimester test when performed early at 11 weeks of pregnancy."

The majority of pregnant women choose to take the optional screening, said Dr. Radek Bukowski, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UTMB.  If the screening is positive, then a diagnostic test can be performed to determine if the fetus has Down syndrome.

“What the results of this study mean is that women can choose when to take the test," Bukowski said.  "We have learned that the screenings show accurate results in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.  If you want to have the test done early on in the pregnancy you can take the screening in the first trimester.  If, for whatever reason, you missed taking the test in the first trimester, you can have it done in the second and still expect accurate results."

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Meeting Professionals International

The Texas Hill Country Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, a group of about 113 meeting planners, will meet in an educational and networking conference on Thursday and Friday at Galveston’s Moody Gardens Hotel this week, in search of “the perfect meeting.”

The event is called CAMP, which stands for Committed to Achieving Meeting Perfection. 

“This organization is important to Galveston because its members are responsible for meetings that generate $1.2 billion worth of business in Texas every year,” said Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Regional Sales Director Dottie Bossley.  “This is the very first time they have ever held CAMP outside the Hill Country, and it’s a great opportunity for the Island.  About 40 percent of the attendees will represent Texas associations and corporations who are very good prospects for conducting more future meetings in Galveston.”

Bossley said MPI is the world’s largest association serving the $102.3 billion meetings and events industry. 

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Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade

The City of Houston will host a Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony and Parade on Friday.

Mayor Bill White will preside over the ceremony at Hermann Square in front of City Hall at 10 a.m.  The Parade Procession will begin at 11:30 at Smith and Texas, and will proceed down Smith to Lamar, will turn right at Lamar and will conclude at Bagby.

In addition to White, other dignitaries will include Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas Hall, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients Clarence Sasser and David McNerny, Congressional Members Gene Green, Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, and French Consul Patrick Berron.

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Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church

Two events related to the recent hurricanes have been scheduled at Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church in Galveston this weekend.

At noon on Saturday, Alex McLeod of Trading Spaces and Lisa Wilson of Moody Memorial will preside over the delivery of $50,000 worth of furniture to 15 families who have relocated to Galveston after Hurricane Katrina.

"These people are now our neighbors and we want to show them how glad we are to have them here with us in Galveston," Wilson said.  "We need the communities help again!  We need muscles, trucks and trailers to come out and help us deliver this furniture."

Moody Memorial will host a "Thank You Celebration Event" on Sunday, November 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the church grounds.

"This is a family event," Wilson said.  "There will be free food and entertainment. The Lighthouse cooking team will provide barbecue. We want the community and our new neighbors to come out and celebrate the hard work of Galveston and the new lives of our new friends."

To volunteer, or for additional information, call Wilson at (409) 744-4526 extension 187. 

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Greater Houston Partnership

The Greater Houston Partnership will honor Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, City of Houston Mayor Bill White and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, along with 10 local businesses, at the Partnership’s second annual Houston’s Greatest Awards ceremony on Nov. 17, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the InterContinental Houston Hotel.

Eckels and White will be honored "for their unwavering leadership, joint focus and support" while assisting Hurricane Katrina survivors.

“The Houston region is blessed with world-renowned businesses and dedicated leaders who continue to steer Houston into an even brighter future,” said Jeff Moseley, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership.

Additionally, the Partnership will honor The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for nearly 65 years of “making cancer history.”

"A pillar of the Texas Medical Center, M. D. Anderson continues to be one of the world’s most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention," said a news release.  "In spring 2006, M. D. Anderson will become the only treatment center in the Southwest that will have a new radiation treatment available at their newly constructed Proton Therapy Center."

The Proton Therapy Center will be one of only three hospital-based centers in the United States and will offer the complete range of proton therapies as well as research opportunities that will allow M. D. Anderson faculty to maximize the capabilities of proton treatment on a variety of cancers.

In addition to the individuals and the institution, the Partnership will recognize 10 local businesses, one of which will be named “Houston’s Choice.”

The Houston’s Choice Award will be determined through public, online voting available until Nov. 14, 2005, at www.houstonsgreatest.org. 

Tickets to the event may be purchased through the Greater Houston Partnership for $175 each or $2,000 for a table of 10. For more information, call (713) 844-3606 or visit www.houstonsgreatest.org.

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The New Kid Care

Houston Attorney Jay Hirsch of Kroger, Myers, Frisby and Hirsch is donating 750 turkeys to The New Kid Care through the Hirsch-Levine Charity to feed approximately 3,000 hungry children over the holidays.

"The turkeys will be delivered to 750 families with an average of four children per household," said Tina Laningham, executive director of The New Kid Care, a 20-year-old Houston charity, which she says is the nation’s first meals on wheels program for hungry children.

“The New Kid Care is my favorite charity,” said Hirsch.  “No one on this planet could ever argue the good deeds that have been offered by The New Kid-Care to feeding our future. There are many causes that are out there fighting for one's attention, but I truly believe that feeding our future through the efforts of The New Kid-Care is one of the most important projects that folks in this city should recognize and support.”

Houston Mayor Bill White said he is supportive of the program.

“The children of Houston have been given the awesome responsibility of shaping our city’s future,” White said.  “We can’t ask them to face that responsibility hungry.  The New Kid Care is doing important work by helping to fuel the learning that must take place to develop that next great leader, teacher, astronaut and healthy Houstonian.“

The New Kid Care is a member of the Houston Food Bank and partner of Neighborhood Centers, Inc.  

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Smooth Jazz Festival at Moody Gardens

Galveston Island's first Smooth Jazz Festival will be held at the Moody Gardens Resort and Convention Center this weekend.

"These concerts feature the hottest names in music today," said a news release.

Friday night Grammy winning singer Al Jarreau will perform.  Saturday afternoon, Rick Braun and Peter will perform along with Brian Culbertson, Euge Groove, Mindi Abair, Craig Chaquico, Nick Colionne, Michael Lington, Joyce Cooling, Marion Meadows and Eric Darius.

Saturday evening Grammy-nominee sax player Boney James will perform.

"All of these events lead up to the maiden voyage of the All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise 2005, an AAI Events production, sailing on Sunday November 13th from Galveston on the Carnival supership, the Conquest, on a seven day Smooth Jazz Cruise to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel," said the news release.  "With each headliner performing their show solely for the smooth jazz cruisers on board ship, this unique jazz experience is the premiere music event of 2005."

For tickets or additional information visit www.WaveDays3.com. 

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Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word

Catholic Nuns are joining forces with motorcycle riders to help a group of needy youngsters in Houston.  The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and the Retreads Motorcycle Club have teamed up to host The Nun Run, a motorcycle ride from Houston to Galveston that will help buy Christmas presents for 500 children as well as gift certificates for food for their families.

Scheduled for Saturday, November 12, The Nun Run hopes to raise funds to support the annual Children's Christmas Party at CHRISTUS Southwest Community Health Center.  The center serves an indigent multicultural population in Southwest Houston and each year at Christmas holds a party for the children served by the clinic.

“We wanted to do something fun and different to raise money for the presents, and the idea of a motorcycle ride seemed like a lot of fun and very, very different,” said Sister Rosanne, the medical director at the clinic.  “The Sisters have really gotten behind the event and in fact, there may be some riding along with the bikers.”

“We want to provide a quality event,” said Vince Hefly of the Retreads, who has been working with the Sisters to help plan the event, “one that is successful and will help bring many smiles to the children who will be receiving toys for Christmas.”

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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 9 
4:00 Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment
5:00 Galveston College Board of Regents
6:00 Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers' Association, Haak Winery, 6310 Avenue T, Santa Fe
7:30 El Lago City Council Special Meeting with the Ad Hoc Planning Commisson

Thursday, November 10 
Cancelled 8:30 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Special Meeting
10:00 Galveston City Council Workshop
12:00 Houston Downtown Management District, 909 Fannin, Ste 1650.
12:00 Galveston Island Pachyderm Club, Gaido's Restaurant. Danny Mayer, will speak on Saluting American Heroes (On the Marine Corps Birthday)
5:30 Galveston City Council
5:30 Kemah City Council Workshop
7:00 Kemah City Council
7:00 Santa Fe City Council
7:00 La Marque Independent School District Board of Trustees
8:00 Noises Off, College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Friday, November 11 
10:00 Houston Salutes American Heroes Veteran’s Day Parade
11:30 San Jacinto School Renaissance Zone Kickoff, 1110 Moody Avenue, Galveston
12:00 Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 14 Board of Directors, Galveston City Hall Room 204
8:00 Steel Magnolias, Clear Creek Country Theatre
8:00 Noises Off, 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.

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