Gulf Coast E-news

The cafetorium of the new Crenshaw School on Bolivar Peninsula was packed on Tuesday night for a public meeting with the Texas Department of Transportation regarding a proposal to issue priority boarding passes for the Bolivar Ferry. Photos and Audio

TxDot Assistant Deputy Director of Maintenance Joe Graff said the installation of priority boarding lanes on both sides of the ferry landing will cost about $3.8 million, and will require about $400,000 a year to operate. He said TxDot is proposing to charge $400 per year for a motorcycle or a passenger car and $800 for a large truck for priority boarding passes that will be available to all Texans.

State Representative Craig Eiland, who co-sponsored legislation with Senator Kyle Janek to permit the priority boarding program, complained that the annual price may be too high, and also suggested that "week only" and "weekend only" passes should be available. Listen

Galveston County Commissioner Patrick Doyle delivered a resolution in support of priority boarding by Galveston County Commissioners Court. Listen

Carla Carnes, representing AARP Chapter 1591, noted that the Bolivar Peninsula is populated year-around by many senior citizens. Listen

"Due to a reliance on medical and other critical services in the Galveston and Houston area, access to the Bolivar Ferry is a very important aspect of life," Carnes said. "We don't feel that $400 is a reasonable rate."

Darlene Leal of the Bolivar Ferry Access Project argued that the $400 fee is too high and insisted that if the program is open to all residents of the state that the program will not solve the problem. Listen

"I just don't think that you can tell somebody that they can buy a $400 pass, or whatever pass, and then they get down here and they are in line for hours of wait anyway," Leal said.

Leal posted a commentary on the meeting, which has been published on the Forum Page of The Online News Station. Commentary

Houston City Council today confirmed Mayor Bill White's appointment of Mike Nichols to the Civil Service Commission for Municipal Employees and the Firefighters and Police Officers Civil Service Commission.

The city council approved a $6,998,468 contract with EAS Contracting, L.P. for miscellaneous airfield lighting improvements, generators and generator buildings at Ellington Field.

The city council approved a $3 million "sole source" contract with Infax, Inc. for flight information display systems at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The city council approved a $1,050,000 contract with Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc. for professional architectural, engineering, construction management, and program management services for special airfield improvement projects at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The city council approved an ordinance clarifying several definitions, including the words "animal" and "livestock".

“Animal has the meaning ascribed in Texas Agricultural Code section 141.001 which states an animate being that is not human and has the power of voluntary action,” the ordinance states. “Livestock has the meaning ascribed in Texas Agricultural Code 1.003 means cattle, horses, mules, asses, sheep, goats, and hogs, unless otherwise defined.”

The ordinance also provides that "it shall be unlawful for any person to ride, operate, leave unattended any animal and/or livestock or park any vehicle on, over or across any esplanade, median strip or traffic island".

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

A recommendation to approve the final contract amount of $983,503.36 and acceptance of work on a contract with Parallax Builders, Inc. for Alief Park was tagged by M.J. Khan.

A proposal to increase spending authority awarded to DXI Industries by $2,108,660, to $2,635,825, and Altiva Corporation by $1,742,311.39, to $2,177,889.24, for a chemical, liquid chlorine contract for the Department of Public Works and Engineering was tagged by Khan.

An amendment to a professional environmental consulting services contract with Quantum Environmental Consultants, Inc. was tagged by Ronald Green.

A proposed $100,000 contract with Howell Mims Associates, L.L.C. for project management services was tagged by Gordon Quan.

A proposed amendment to the ordinance related to the solicitation of funds for charitable purposes was delayed for one week on a motion by Michael Berry.

A proposed amendment to the ordinance that regulates parades was delayed for one week on a motion by Addie Wiseman.

All other agenda items were approved.

Beaumont City Council on Tuesday was visited by Santa Claus and representatives from several organizations to promote this weekend's Downtown Winter Wonderland.
Photos and Audio

The official Holiday Tree Lighting Festival, "featuring hands-on art activities from area museums, a visit from Santa and entertainment from Lamar University's Jazz Band" will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on December 3.

The Downtown Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Honorees will include "Defenders of Peace", Rita First Responders and Beaumont City Employees.

The Beaumont Junior League will sponsor "a Very Merry Main Street Market Shopping Extravaganza" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Beaumont Botanical Gardens' Annual Christmas Tour of Homes, featuring "three beautiful homes and the Garden Center decorated for the holidays and filled with wonderful items for sale" will be held on Friday.

The Beaumont Founders Lions Club will present Pancakes With Santa from 7 a.m. until Noon on Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Beaumont at 900 Calder.

Beaumont Community Players will present "Ruthless, The Musical" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Beaumont Community Playhouse.

Charles Burger, deputy program manager for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, updated the city council on the debris removal in Jefferson County. Listen

"Of the 900,000 cubic yards estimated in Jefferson County, we have removed about 468,000, so we are a little over halfway," Burger said.

The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors will hold a special meeting tonight to discuss several items related to the Port Arthur Spur 93 Business Park, including the park's Master Plan and proposed deed restrictions and covenants.

The board will discuss several items in executive session, including incentives for business prospects and "possible property acquisition as to the location of the EDC office in Port Arthur".

In a brief interview on Tuesday, Floyd Batiste, who was named permanent director of the EDC, said he hopes to "enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Port Arthur, Texas". Listen Photo

Work on the Port Arthur International Seafarers Center, a replica of the Kansas City Southern terminal at the western end of Procter Street, which had begun construction just before it was halted by Hurricane Rita, has resumed. Photos and Interview

"Rita came to town and everybody left town," said Father Sinclair Oubre, presiding chaplain of the center. "The good news is that we had nothing 'in the air'."

Thus, none of the structure that will be built was damaged. Work is resuming on the foundation this week.

"We've got the money for Phase 1, which will be the entire exterior of the building," Oubre said. "We've got some promises out there and moving the people from promise to reality is certainly going to be my mission once we start seeing some things happening again."

A "Cigar Evening" fundraiser will be held at Andrews on Procter Street at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 9.

The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a $3.7 million Public Assistance grant to the State of Texas to reimburse the City of Houston for emergency protective measures related to sheltering evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.

The grant includes costs for extra security and patrol in and around shelters from August 28 to September 30. The State of Texas administers FEMA’s Public Assistance program under which eligible disaster-related costs are reimbursed to state and local government units.

“Houston has been in the front line of disaster assistance,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman, FEMA’s top official for disaster recovery in Texas. “These funds are taxpayer dollars well-spent.”

“Houston continues to wrestle with one of the major disasters of our time,” said State Coordinating Officer Frank Cantu. “We thank the city for its efforts.”

The reimbursement follows $140.8 million in reimbursements granted earlier to the State of Texas for Houston sheltering, interim housing and other hurricane-related expenses.

Representatives from Galveston’s sister city, Niigata, Japan, will be honored at a reception at City Hall, Room 100, Thursday, December 1, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

"Sister Cities International is a non-profit diplomatic organization created to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation worldwide," said Public Information Officer Mary Jo Naschke. "Representatives from Niigata will include Mr. Kataoka, vice president of Airline International, and Mr. Hoshia, director of placement, Resort College."

Galveston has sister cities in Japan, Mexico, India, Norway, Armenia and South Africa. The purpose of this visit is to establish a student exchange program with colleges in Galveston and to develop a pen pal program with 4th grade elementary schools.

“We are very excited to have our sister city, Niigata, visit the Island," said City Council Member Patricia Bolton-Legg, who represents the city council on the committee. "Our cities are similar in many ways. The Sister Cities program is a wonderful opportunity for participants to learn about other cultures, encourage a broader education for our youth, and to explore economic development."

Bolton-Legg said another group from Niigata will visit in February for Mardi Gras.”

The Better Business Bureau of Southeast Texas, that serves eight counties of southeast Texas and the Bolivar Peninsula, has announced the recent election of ten new members of its board of directors.

The list includes Dennis Alter, Dan Bell, Carlo Busceme, George Crawford, Todd Dunkleberger, Eric Lawrence, Steve McGrade, Bill Munro, Gail Shook, and Brenda Van Dyke.

“We are very pleased to have this caliber of business leaders at the helm of our regional Better Business Bureau, which is locally governed and funded,” said Michael Clayton, BBB president and CEO. “Each are sensitive and committed to our mission to making southeast Texas a better place in which to live, work and do business through encouraging honesty, integrity and proper business ethics in our growing marketplace.”

Advance tickets for the Mardi Gras Galveston 2006 celebration will go on sale online on Thursday, December 1 and at Moody National Bank on December 16.

"The festivities will kick off on Friday February 17 and will last through Fat Tuesday, February 282006," said a news release. "During that time more than half a million people will descend on Galveston from neighboring cities, states, and countries to celebrate the 22^nd annual tradition of merrymaking and revelry."

"It will be a traditional Mardi Gras with a touch of New Orleans style," said the release. "The Park Board of Trustees is projecting this to be the biggest and best Mardi Gras in the country this year, as we honor the strength of the gulf coast."

The Strand Theatre in Galveston will produce Santaland Diaries during the month of December.

Adapted from David Sedaris' essays on the Christmas season for National Public Radio, the play tells the story of a young writer who accepts a job as Macy's elf to pay his rent. The program is advertised for adult audiences.

The one-man show stars local actor Tony Salinas and will be directed by Brandon Dinklage, who recently directed Ruthless! The Musical and The Strand.

For tickets and additional information, call The Strand Theatre box office at (409) 763-4591.

The Lamar Theatre’s fall season, which was interrupted by Hurricane Rita, resumed operation on November 17 with performances of Anna Deveare Smith’s award-winning play Fires in the Mirror and will finish off the fall semester with theater faculty member Randall Wheatley’s production of Billy’s Last Broadcast, a comedy written and directed by Wheatley, which will be performed as a staged reading at 8 p.m. December 8, 9 and 10 and at 2 p.m. on December 11 in the Studio Theatre.

“As a gift to the people of the Golden Triangle, admission to Billy’s Last Broadcast is free,” said Adonia Placette, director of theatre at Lamar.

For additional information call Wheatley at (409) 880-8154, the Lamar Theatre office at (409) 880-8037, or the Lamar Theatre box office at (409) 880-2250.

Port Arthur's Fifth Annual Las Posada and Bethlehem on the Boardwalk will take place this year on Saturday, December 10 at 6:00 p.m.

"Everybody is encouraged to meet at Goyo’s Restaurant, 711 Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur to participate in the candlelight procession led by a Roman soldier on horseback," said Maria Block, event coordinator. "Angels from St. Catherine’s Catholic School and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church will lead Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where they will make two stops in their search for lodging."

The stops are at the Port Arthur Police Station and the Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse.

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

Today, November 30
4:00 Galveston West End Use Policy Committee, City Hall Room 204
5:30 Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Special Meeting, 4173 39th Street
6:30 Festival of Lights Ribbon Cutting, Paul Hopkins Park
7:00 - 9:00 Festival of Trees Open House, South Shore Harbor Resort

Thursday, December 1
12:00 Galveston Impact Fee Advisory Committee, City Hall Room 204
12:00 Galveston Island Pachyderm Club, Gaido's Restaurant. Mike Skiles and His Galveston Island Musicals Troupe will provide the program.
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees Special Meeting, Lovenberg Administration Library, 3904 Avenue T
6:30 League City Tree Lighting Ceremony, Helen Hall Library
7:30 Margin for Error, Main Street Theatre, Rice Village, Houston

Friday, December 2
9:00 Governor Perry's Task Force on Evacuation and Logistics, San Antonio City Council Chambers, 103 Main Plaza
12:00 Galveston Island Redevelopment Authority, City Hall Room 204
12:00 Houston Audubon Society, Upper Texas Coastal Prairie Grasses Lunch Seminar by Flo Hannah, Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road in Humble.
7:30 Margin for Error, Main Street Theatre, Rice Village, Houston
7:30 Ruthless! the Musical, Beaumont Community Playhouse
8:00 Hobo and the Miracle, Clear Creek Country Theatre
8:00 Santaland Diaries, Strand Theatre, Galveston (Adult Entertainment)

Saturday, December 3
7:00 Beaumont Founders Lions Club Pancakes With Santa, First Baptist Church, 900 Calder
9:00 - 10:00 League City Holiday in the Park
10:00 - 9:00 Dickens on The Strand
2:00 Ruthless! the Musical, Beaumont Community Playhouse
3:30 Beaumont Holiday Tree Lighting Festival, Art Museum of Southeast Texas
6:00 Beaumont Christmas Holiday Parade
6:30 League City Christmas Parade
7:30 Margin for Error, Main Street Theatre, Rice Village, Houston
8:00 Hobo and the Miracle, Clear Creek Country Theatre
8:00 Santaland Diaries, Strand Theatre, Galveston (Adult Entertainment)

Sunday, December 4
10:00 - 6:00 Dickens on The Strand
12:00 - 5:00 League City Holiday in the Park
2:30 Hobo and the Miracle, Clear Creek Country Theatre
2:30 Santaland Diaries, Strand Theatre, Galveston (Adult Entertainment)
3:00 Margin for Error, Main Street Theatre, Rice Village, Houston

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.

Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County. 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
(409) 763-NEWS (6397), or email us at News@guidrynews.com

Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax.

This electronic newsletter replaced, and expanded on, the mission of the Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on Galveston Island in July 1996; and Clear Lake Area E-news, begun on January 2, 2002.


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	© 1996, Guidry News Service Guidry News Service -- Dedicated to rapid, accurate presentation of area news since 1996.