Fall 2014 Newsletter
Welcome to the Rice Military Newsletter for Fall 2014. Take a look at all the happenings within the Rice Military area and please don't forget to give us feedback on any of the points raised - we really like to hear back from people.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Tuesday, October 7th, 5.30pm - 7.30pm Nellie Keyes Park A Celebration of Our Neighborhood National Night Out is a night where law enforcement works with neighborhoods to promote safer communities. We believe that neighbors who know each other create better neighborhoods, and to encourage everyone to come and meet everyone else, we turn National Night Out into a festival! Local restaurants give away food. Local businesses who help pay for the event have booths. We have raffles that give away gift certificates, and we have lots and lots of kids' activities. Bring your families and your neighbors and have a great time! The following companies are generously sponsoring the Rice Military National Night Out. With their help, and the help of law enforcement and local residents, the event will be a huge success!
Providing yummy food at the event will be...
Beavers
Benjy's Black Wanut Cafe CoCo's Luke's Icehouse Molina's Saint Arnolds Brewery Shipley's Donuts 
Latest News
Latest News...
METRO have introduced a 5 year plan called 'System Re-imagining'. What is this plan about? ~ METRO realized that it needed to provide service in all areas and not just the highly used routes. ~ The focus of the plan is on improving the local bus network, not chopping services. ~ There is a draft plan that can be viewed to allow community feedback. ~ The plan will be Implemented June 2015. Why is this happening? ~ The Houston community asked for change. We wanted more frequent service , such as 7 days a week, and straightforward routes such as less transfers and service to more places. ~ Ridership has declined so METRO want to reverse this trend. ~ Houston is growing and the transit system needs to evolve: routes need to be matched to where people live and work. ~ METRO want to create an integrated network of bus and rail. For more information visit the below links: www.ridemetro.org www.transitsystemreimagining.com Questions asked by the audience at the Civic Club meeting: Q: Will there be new buses? A: The existing fleet will be used at the start of the plan. New buses might be needed towards the end of the 5 year plan. Q: How will the changes affect the fares? A: There will be no effect on fares. $1.25 will remain the base fare. Q: Are METRO considering natural gas or low emission buses? A: METRO have got federal grants to update some of the older fleet to clean technologies. They have been buying hybrid electric vehicles, totaling about 250 buses. METRO plan to go down the route of compressed natural gas buses (CNG). Q: How are METRO going to educate the community about the changes? A: PR campaign to let Houston know about the new services, the app etc. For example, METRO now has an app on bus schedules, giving real time updates, for example, if it's running on time or if it's running late by how many minutes. Large Green Recycling Trash Cans It's great that the City of Houston is doing more to get us to recycle and the larger green trash cans allow us to do that: throw more of our garbage away as recyclables. However, some residents have been given orange 'citation' tickets for not obeying the City 3 feet wide rule. For those who may not have seen this on the Rice Military Facebook page please take note that when placing your trash cans on the curb side all cans must be spaced 3 feet apart. Why you may ask? So the automated 'grabber' on the garbage truck can easily grab your can without getting tangled with any other cans. This has been causing issues for those residents with shared driveways. The response so far from the City regarding this has been to tell residents to share cans. This has received mixed feedback with some saying we'll see what we can do to others saying they are paying for a service that they are not receiving. I'm sure this issue will pop up again and this newsletter will keep you posted on future developments. |
Safety in Our Neighborhood
I'm sure many of you will have heard about the terrifying event when a Rice Military couple, walking home from an evening out, were held up at gunpoint by a car that stopped. Thankfully, the couple ran away quickly and made a lot of noise which helped in causing the gun man and accomplices drive away.
At the most recent Civic Club meeting the issue of safety was discussed with the presence of Sgt Mosley from HPD (Houston Police Department) who has been working this beat for 18 years. The following subjects were discussed:
Several years ago Rice Military had a citizens patrol throughout the City. There was a lot of paperwork, workshops etc involved in setting it up and to keep it running. It was very time intensive. Then the City told neighborhoods that the patrols could only be done by car so this basically ended the patrol.
Rented security is an idea that has been raised many times but does not appear to be a viable option for this neighborhood due to several issues including the free rider problem, in other-words, there is no way to get a majority of people to pay for private security and this makes the cost excessively high for those willing to pay. This situation creates resentment amongst any that do pay meaning that eventually they stop paying too.
Crime stats: The Rice Military area is the 250 beat, and covers Memorial to I-10/W loop/Heights.
Sgt Mosley said that being held up at gun point, thankfully, is very rare. In 2013 there were 32 robberies; so far this year there have been 11 robberies in the whole beat area (figures correct at time of meeting 7/8/14); 2 of those robberies occurred within Rice Military.
Burglary and motor crime are up but other crime has gone down. There are certain things we can do to protect our stuff such as not leaving anything in our cars and ensuring that all garage doors and side gates are locked.
Sgt Mosley did say that if you see something suspicious call HPD and also get to know your neighbors so you know if something seems odd.
Best # to call: 911
Non emergency #: 713 884 3131
To check out the crime stats in more detail go to: www.spotcrime.com
In addition to the above, HPD recently issued the following advice to all homeowners:
Many intruders enter through weak doors. Having strong doors and door frames, including garage doors, is essential to your security. Steel doors and frames provide enhanced security because they are harder to destroy. If you have hollow-core doors it is recommended you replace them with a sturdier type. There are wooden doors being manufactured to withstand a tremendous amount of pressure from would-be burglars. Secure windows and sliding glass doors can be secured with a locking device placed along the track. A broomstick or a wooden rod may work just as well if placed on the track between the door frame and the door. Glass sliding doors are usually secluded from public view and special care must be taken to secure them. Bolt locks can be installed to help prevent the door from being opened or removed from its track.
Burglars will sometimes log your departure and arrival times from and to your home. Help ruin their plot by:
~ Don't advertise you'll be out of town to casual acquaintances or in social media. Instead, tell a reliable neighbor and have him/her watch your property.
~ Leave a few lights on or use timers that will turn lights on and off periodically.
~ Leave drapes in a normal position. Drapes or shades fully closed give a deserted look.
~ Use an etching device to mark your valuables with an identifying mark known only to you.
~ Make an inventory list of all your belongings, include serial numbers.
~ Stop all newspaper deliveries and have someone pick up your mail.
~ Store an inventory of your valuables in a safe deposit box or fire safe, or file it with your insurance company.
~ Share this safety information with your neighbors verbally and through social media.
To see a home security demonstration by HPD crime prevention experts on best practices of protecting your home, go to the HPD YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0qtTORGII
For more information on scheduling an officer to perform a home security check at your residence, call HPD Public Affairs at 713-308-3200 or your local law enforcement agency.
I'm sure many of you will have heard about the terrifying event when a Rice Military couple, walking home from an evening out, were held up at gunpoint by a car that stopped. Thankfully, the couple ran away quickly and made a lot of noise which helped in causing the gun man and accomplices drive away.
At the most recent Civic Club meeting the issue of safety was discussed with the presence of Sgt Mosley from HPD (Houston Police Department) who has been working this beat for 18 years. The following subjects were discussed:
Several years ago Rice Military had a citizens patrol throughout the City. There was a lot of paperwork, workshops etc involved in setting it up and to keep it running. It was very time intensive. Then the City told neighborhoods that the patrols could only be done by car so this basically ended the patrol.
Rented security is an idea that has been raised many times but does not appear to be a viable option for this neighborhood due to several issues including the free rider problem, in other-words, there is no way to get a majority of people to pay for private security and this makes the cost excessively high for those willing to pay. This situation creates resentment amongst any that do pay meaning that eventually they stop paying too.
Crime stats: The Rice Military area is the 250 beat, and covers Memorial to I-10/W loop/Heights.
Sgt Mosley said that being held up at gun point, thankfully, is very rare. In 2013 there were 32 robberies; so far this year there have been 11 robberies in the whole beat area (figures correct at time of meeting 7/8/14); 2 of those robberies occurred within Rice Military.
Burglary and motor crime are up but other crime has gone down. There are certain things we can do to protect our stuff such as not leaving anything in our cars and ensuring that all garage doors and side gates are locked.
Sgt Mosley did say that if you see something suspicious call HPD and also get to know your neighbors so you know if something seems odd.
Best # to call: 911
Non emergency #: 713 884 3131
To check out the crime stats in more detail go to: www.spotcrime.com
In addition to the above, HPD recently issued the following advice to all homeowners:
Many intruders enter through weak doors. Having strong doors and door frames, including garage doors, is essential to your security. Steel doors and frames provide enhanced security because they are harder to destroy. If you have hollow-core doors it is recommended you replace them with a sturdier type. There are wooden doors being manufactured to withstand a tremendous amount of pressure from would-be burglars. Secure windows and sliding glass doors can be secured with a locking device placed along the track. A broomstick or a wooden rod may work just as well if placed on the track between the door frame and the door. Glass sliding doors are usually secluded from public view and special care must be taken to secure them. Bolt locks can be installed to help prevent the door from being opened or removed from its track.
Burglars will sometimes log your departure and arrival times from and to your home. Help ruin their plot by:
~ Don't advertise you'll be out of town to casual acquaintances or in social media. Instead, tell a reliable neighbor and have him/her watch your property.
~ Leave a few lights on or use timers that will turn lights on and off periodically.
~ Leave drapes in a normal position. Drapes or shades fully closed give a deserted look.
~ Use an etching device to mark your valuables with an identifying mark known only to you.
~ Make an inventory list of all your belongings, include serial numbers.
~ Stop all newspaper deliveries and have someone pick up your mail.
~ Store an inventory of your valuables in a safe deposit box or fire safe, or file it with your insurance company.
~ Share this safety information with your neighbors verbally and through social media.
To see a home security demonstration by HPD crime prevention experts on best practices of protecting your home, go to the HPD YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0qtTORGII
For more information on scheduling an officer to perform a home security check at your residence, call HPD Public Affairs at 713-308-3200 or your local law enforcement agency.
What's New: Rice Military Bars & Resturants
By Lauren M. Barrash of The Wave
A quick look at the all the new places you can try out in the neighborhood.
~ Little j's moved into the old blue moose.
~ Juilietta opened last week which is a club in between Brixx & Galway Hooker.
~ Glasshouse is open and is an upscale club/lounge.
~ Apparently the restaurant that was Saleo is now going to be Mascalzone, an Italian restaurant.
~ The Riviana Rice factory finally sold to the owner of Winter Street/Spring Street so look for amazing things to happen there.
~ Someone has purchased the old Reign night club next to Heights Lodge.
~ There is a new restaurant opening next to the fire station called Urban Eats.
~ Addix changed names/owners & is now called Darwin's Theory.
~ There is now a LaMadeline at Sawyer Heights!
~ Aura opened which is the old Nox on Nett.
Feedback
If you would like to contact the newsletter team, email us at: news@rice-military.org
