Newsletter

Summer 2013 Newsletter
Welcome to the Rice Military Newsletter for Summer 2013. 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.

Latest News

Topics raised and discussed at the latest Rice Military Meetings included the Houston 311 number and traffic ordinance.

311
Jack Valinski, from the Mayors' Citizens Assistance
Office, came to answer questions from the audience and to talk about the 311
service. This number is one of those that anyone living within the City must
remember. 311 is Houston's non-emergency number to call whenever there is an
issue that you wouldn't call the police about, but you need to speak with
someone to get the problem solved.

You can call the 311 number for almost any non-emergency issue, including questions about garbage collections, water and drainage issues, traffic signals and road signs, parking violations (see article opposite), and the removal of items such as dead trees.

To find out more information about this service visit their website at: http://hfdapp.houstontx.gov/311/index.php

As well as giving general information, the website also allows you look at issues that have already been called in. This is very helpful because, for example, if you see a damaged road sign, you can go online to see if someone has already reported that issue.

In the past some people may have had issues getting through, but
the City has now resolved these issues and the service is available
24/7.

Houston now also has a 311 app for both apple and android smart
phones. It allows you to put a picture with your issue! In addition, the GPS on
the phone app means the city can better locate the problem. The app has a map
where you can find and track issues. Please report potholes, ditch problems,
graffiti, and traffic sign issues!

Some other useful numbers:
Non-emergency police:
Parking enforcement:

NOTE: If you have a true emergency please call 911.

Traffic Ordinance
One of the issues covered at the quarterly meeting was traffic ordinances. A traffic
ordinance must be undertaken if a developer wishes to build apartments or
retail. A survey is undertaken to see how many extra cars that development would
add to the existing traffic level. According to the city, the rule is that if a
new development would add more than 100 cars, at peak traffic times, then the
development cannot go ahead. Builders of townhomes do not have to undergo such ordinances. Many in the audience took issue with this as some of the new
developments contain 2/300+ apartments. Apparently, these new developments will not add more than 100 cars to the peak traffic levels. Even as an optimistic bunch of attendees at the meeting, most were dubious about this one….we shall wait and see.

The Building Goes On....& On....

It's great living in Rice Military. We are so close to all the amenities of the City of
Houston and there is plenty to walk to. However, sometimes it seems as though the building and redevelopment of this area never stops. When this development is happening very close to where we live this can be frustrating but when the new, attractive property is finished it then becomes easier to appreciate the work. In this article we take a look at the pros and cons of an ever changing Rice Military.

The Pros
~ As old buildings
are torn down and replaced by newer and nicer buildings this helps property
values for the whole area.

~ Increased building does mean more people but
one of the benefits is that there are more and more amenities, such as great
restaurants, coming into the area. Eventually, we may even get a grocery
store!

~ Another added benefit of more people is the opportunity to make
new friends. Whether you are originally from Houston, or not, making new friends
is always a fun thing.

~ All these new people are adding to an already
great community spirit, after all it’s the people that really make Rice Military
what it is.

The Cons
~ We couldn’t mention
the increased level of building without mentioning the traffic! This is a worry
we all have, both from the perspective of increased traffic levels, and with
that, the possibility of more speeding drivers.

~ Some residents have
been having big issues with the building trucks and all the other things that
come with construction projects. This is an unfortunate side effect of a rapidly
changing area. This can be frustrating when the trucks are blocking your drive
or roadway.

~ This brings us to the issues of parking. If you should have
problems such as a building truck blocking access, or someone visiting a local
bar who has decided to use your drive, call the 311 number. Not only does 311
deal with issues such as broken pipes but they will also help you with
persistent parking problems. If the parking matter is a little more urgent, such
as you cannot get out of your driveway, the number to call is the Parking
Enforcement people on . Yes, it is annoying to even have to
do this but, experience from other residents using these services has shown that
if you call (& maybe have a few residents call) the city will take
notice!

Overall....
When looking at an ever expanding Rice Military I think it helps to focus on the good over the bad. The construction noise and traffic that goes with that is a nuisance but eventually that will stop. The traffic is a concern but before getting too roused about it let’s see how bad things actually get. The Rice Military Civic
Club is already working with the city to look at resolving some of the issues
with regards to parking and speeding drivers. On the plus side, we live in a
fabulous area with great neighbors and fantastic access to lots of restaurants
and bars, Houston’s largest park is within walking distance and we are only a
short drive to Downtown. Let’s not fall out with Rice Military just yet, there’s
a lot to like!

Street Captains

As this neighborhood continues to grow there are new people moving in and out all the time. The Rice Military Civic Club would really like to welcome these new people. One way of doing this is for us to have a Street Captain for each block.
This Street Captain would be the person who would say 'hi' when in the driveway or knock on the door and welcome the new neighbors. It really is that simple, just say hello, let them know about the Civic Club and that you hope to see them
soon. By doing this we make our neighborhood better and stronger. It also helps in keeping an eye on crime and in case of any emergencies such as fire (as we talked about in the Spring newsletter). The Street Captain would only look after
their block, so for example, the 800 block of Malone, and not the whole street ~ that would be a bit too much! If you would be interested in becoming a Street Captain please email Wendy at:

Love Rice Military? Help Keep It Looking Good!

Over the years the Rice Military Civic Club has held neighborhood clean ups to help keep the area looking nice. Such clean ups included the Olivewood Cemetery, which is an abandoned and neglected historic African-American cemetery behind Grocers Supply. Several neighbors helped to plant the native gardens at WOW Roundabout on the Rice Military corner, as well as the Gulf Coast Muhly Grass in the center island and continue to help as the annual cleanup and planting events; and have held three Suit Drives for Dress for Success Houston, a non-profit that dresses women for interviews after they have finished training in a job skill, many of whom are sponsored by homeless shelters and homes. We have helped with RM Garage Sales, NNO, and started the RM Annual Christmas celebration benefiting Depelchin Children's Center.

What can we do next? Do you know of an area that is in need of some TLC? Have you and your neighbors been
talking about doing something like this? Let us know and we will put your hard work and efforts in this newsletter.
email:

Why Don't You....

As a relatively new resident of Houston (not quite 3 years), I made it my goal upon my arrival from Nashville to become a student of the city. To read and learn and experiment and enjoy as much as possible in this enormous, fascinating and ever changing city. Upon moving into the dynamic Rice Military neighborhood from the burbs (Kingwood to be exact), I now have the opportunity to really sink my teeth into the delights of Houston and am hoping to share a few of my finds with you.

Get on your bike or rent one from one of several bike rental kiosks around the park areas. The trails between Rice Military and downtown are easy enough for a novice, but have enough hills to give anyone a decent workout. Pack a picnic basket and stake out a spot along the bayou. In addition to your nosh items, throw in some wet wipes and a light weight blanket or towel to spread out.

Check out the Art Car Museum at 140 Height Blvd. This will definitely get you in the mood for the Art Car parade coming up on May 11 at 1 p.m. Pack a cooler and get down to Allen Parkway early and claim a shady spot. Photo opts galore. http://orangeshow.org/events/search/

Plan an excursion to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The wonders of 8 permanent exhibit halls-including the largest Hall of Paleontology in the entire
country are only a quick 15 minute car ride away. The hall is the length of a football field and 2 stories tall and is an ideal place to bring your out of town visitors. The new Hall of Ancient Egypt opens the end of May. Become a member and get the insider scoop. www.hmns.org

Set up an outing to the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. Lots to do for little ones and several paths including a woodsy 5 mile trail that winds through the
property. They have upcoming events that include many evening options like the Hawk Walk and Summer Solstice Wine and Cheese Celebration.
www.houstonarboretum.org

Gather a group of your pals and head over to Coppa’s on Washington to take advantage of their light bites and small plates offerings. Still hungry after your happy hour treat? Quite possibly the best pasta I have had in Houston was Coppa’s spaghetti lola. Divine! http://copparistorante.com/

Thoughts? Suggestions? Bring ‘em on… The more the merrier.

Written by Cathy Parsons.

Other News....

Farmers Market
Did you know that there is a almost year round farmer's market at City Hall, every Wednesday, from 11am - 2pm. If you want to stock up on locally grown, fresh
fruit and veggies why not go and check it out.

Pedestrian Pete
If you've not yet heard about Pedestrian Pete then you really need to take a look: www.pedestrianpete.com Pedestrian Pete is a man with a mission! That mission is to
make Houston a more walking friendly city. But there is a lot more to this man than that. Take a look at his website and you'll find some interesting stuff on there!

Rice Military Kids Group

The Rice Military Kids Group is a new group that's been created to let kids meet and play and to let parents meet up, chat and relax. The events held so far have been a great success and there are more events scheduled. One of the events will be a meet up at the Nellie Keyes Park next Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm, with the hope of making this a recurring event every week.

The goal is to have an active neighborhood group where all parents can share fun with the kids. Anyone that wants to join is very welcome.

Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/530124153674947/.

Keeping an eye on the neighborhood

There have been several cases where Rice Military residents have reported suspicious behavior within the neighborhood. As much as we all love living in this area, don't forget that we are still living within a large city. Please be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables safe.

Look out for your neighbors and if you see anything that doesn't seem quite right call Houston police on the non-emergency number .

Rice Military Community Garden Update

The summer heat is upon us and nothing is a more refreshing summertime dessert than sherbet.

When you hear sherbet, if you think of the artificially colored and flavored tubs of orange and rainbow sherbet from your childhood then you owe it to yourself to try fresh homemade sherbet. Once you try the real thing you will discover that sherbet is the fruity, refreshing, light, and not too sweet. In short…it is the perfect summer dessert.

The other great thing about sherbet, if you are new to making frozen desserts, is that it is easier to make than its cousins ice cream and sorbets. Frozen desserts are easy to make at home with a basic counter top maker (Cuisinart makes a good model) and once you start you will soon discover that by using good fresh ingredients you can make flavors better than anything you can buy in the grocery.

When making ice cream and sherbet I love to use fresh herbs from the garden because they add a refreshing twist to classic fruit flavors. The below recipe for lemon basil sherbet is the perfect ending to an Italian dinner, the lemon is bright and clean and is balanced with just the right amount of creaminess, and the basil adds a savory depth to the flavor. Try this recipe, I promise you will love it.

Lemon Basil Sherbet
1 cup of lemon juice
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of corn syrup

Bring above ingredients to a simmer in a pan to dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved, chill the solution.

2 cups of whole milk
1/4 cups of heavy whipping cream
Zest of one lemon

Warm milk and cream on the stove (don't boil), when the mixture is warm add about 1/2 cup of torn basil leaves.
Chill the milk mixture. You can let this sit as long as you like depending on how much basil flavor you like. I would start tasting the milk after 15 minutes.
Once you have achieved the basil flavor you want remove the basil and stir in
the lemon zest. Continue to chill the milk mixture until cold (an ice bath will do this quickly).

Once both the syrup and milk are cold, pour them both together into your ice cream maker and process according to manufactures directions.

Enjoy!

The community garden is located in Nellie Keyes Park, 801 Lester St. Everyone is
welcome at all times. For more information email:

Feedback

If you would like to contact the newsletter team, email us at:

Summer 2013 Newsletter Welcome to the Rice Military Newsletter for Summer 2013. 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.