Winter 2013 Newsletter
Welcome to the Rice Military Newsletter for Winter 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
The latest Rice Military Quarterly meeting was held on October 8th.
Houston Police Department (HPD) came to talk with us and overall, despite a rise in car crime, the crime rate is not bad within the Rice Military area. What did HPD have to say? Thankfully, there were zero murders or serious sexual assaults within the area this year. There were 5 robberies in 2012 and there have been 5 this year, so this is not increasing. Petty thefts are up slightly from 46 in 2012 to 55 this year. The major increase has been in car crime. Car break ins/things stolen from cars increased from 129 in 2012 to 153 so far this year. HPD are aware that there has been an increase in car crimes and that they are trying to increase patrols but they have also had a decrease in manpower. However, they did point out that we live in a major city and that we also need to ensure that we keep our valuables safe and out of reach of potential thieves. So, do not leave anything in the car that can be stolen: no laptops, purses, wallets, clothing - if your car is being parked on your drive or the street take everything out. If a potential thief looks into the car and sees absolutely nothing inside they are most likely to just move on. In addition, if your car is not parked inside a garage, remove the garage door opener. If thieves break in they can use the opener to then steal things from your garage, and possibly also gain access to your house from there. HPD told us that you can make an appointment and they will come out to your home or business to give you free crime prevention advice. Not only is this a sensible thing to do but it can also save you money on your home owners insurance. The officers told us don't forget to strengthen your front and back doors. More often it's the back doors that are kicked in. Good things to install are double cylinder dead bolts, but do not leave the keys in the door! If you do, thieves can simply break the glass and then unlock the door. HPD runs a Positive Interaction Program: They are held on the first Tuesday of every month, at the Union Hall HPD building, 1602 State St, 7pm. Every quarter they also have breakout sessions where residents can talk one to one with cops. For more information about this, any general HPD questions, or to make an appointment regarding security, email: Our local HPD store front is located at 1127 N. Shepherd, open 8.00am - 4.00pm Mon-Fri. If you see an issue you can visit the police here, call them on 713 803-1151 (713 884-3131 is the number to dial if our local store front is closed) or fill in one of the alert slips: http://www.houstontx.gov/police/alert_slip/Alert slips are to be used in order to get HPD to increase patrols in our area for things such as speeding, excessive burglaries, etc. If it is a true emergency call 911! The issue of speeders was also discussed with HPD. HPD said they would gladly work with the Traffic Committee to find ways to tackle this ongoing problem. A question was asked about barking dogs. HPD said that for the barking to be considered a nuisance it has to be continuous for 5 minutes (and several times a day). If you have a problem with a barking dog you have to keep documentation of all the times the barking occurs in order to have evidence of a timeline. You will then have to file the reports. All of this does need to be witnessed by someone else. So, this could be another neighbor, who also wants to the barking to be dealt with. They insist upon a 'witness' to events becausethere have been occasions when people have made claims about barking just to be vindictive against a neighbor. You can take a look at crime statistics across the City of Houston by visiting: http://mycity.houstontx.gov/crime/optionPage.aspx and clicking on the interactive map. Some Neighbors Hiring Extra Security Keith Edgar, a Rice Military resident, is part of the Washington Avenue organization (www.washavenue.org), which is a neighborhood group specifically set up for the homes and businesses immediately around Washington Avenue. These homes and businesses have been having issues such as an overflow of parking, lots of cars from the pubs and clubs driving around their streets, and people creating lots of noise duringthe night. This organization has dealt with the problem by hiring HPD to provide extra security. Both homes and businesses contribute towards the payment and HPD provide extra patrols on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 10.45pm - 2.45am. The basic cost for doing this is $40 an hour for an HPD officer and you have to hire the officer for a minimum of 4 hours. With the increase in car crimethat has been occurring some neighbors may be interested in setting up something similar for their street/block. If there is enough interest neighborhood wide this is maybe something that could be looked into. However, the Civic Club is working with HPD to try and increase patrols throughout the neighborhood, without the need to hire extra security. This issue is something a committee needs to work on, and the civic club is looking for people to work on that committee. If anyone feels strong enough about this issue to volunteer their time please let us know. |
Why Don't You....
Why Don't You….?
Written by Cathy Parsons.
So here you are in the midst of the holiday and shopping season of fun. Feeling a bit frazzled yet? Shopping is basically unavoidable and while it can be exciting, it can get a little taxing for even the most devoted shopping diva. When family rolls into town and/or you need a break from the mall world, here are a few options guaranteed to put everyone in the holiday spirit:
Written by Cathy Parsons.
So here you are in the midst of the holiday and shopping season of fun. Feeling a bit frazzled yet? Shopping is basically unavoidable and while it can be exciting, it can get a little taxing for even the most devoted shopping diva. When family rolls into town and/or you need a break from the mall world, here are a few options guaranteed to put everyone in the holiday spirit:
- Head over to Bayou Bend and enjoy Yuletide: Holiday Time at Bayou Bend: http://www.mfah.org/visit/yuletide/
- Get in a fun workout by ice skating at the Galleria and then pop in Gigi’s Asian Bistro for delicious dumplings and hot tea or toddy in an exotic and inviting setting.
- Need a laugh? Then you must see David Sedaris’ Santaland Diaries at the Alley Theater: http://www.alleytheatre.org/Alley/The_Santaland_Diaries1.asp
- Want more theater action? Then you definitely need to see the naughty Trailor Park Christmas at the small and intimate Stages Theater: http://stagestheatre.com/shows/#trailer-park-christmas
- Line up a group of pals, get all dressed up and take in the Wave’s Holiday Light Tour. The lights throughout River Oaks are not to be missed! http://www.eventbrite.com/e/wave-holiday-lights-tours-tickets-8913264815
- Looking for a family friendly outing? You will love Zoo Lights. It’s open until 10 p.m. through January 3. http://www.houstonzoo.org/zoolights
- And don’t forget your furry friends. Bring in blankets, pet food, or cash to one of the many shelters around Houston. Any help you can offer would be extremely appreciated.
- Show your generosity by helping out someone less fortunate. Star of Hope does wonderful work in the community. http://www.sohmission.org/NetCommunity// There are many families you can adopt to provide them with a nice Christmas.
- Need a few last minute gifts? I love Kuhl-Linscomb. With mulitiple showrooms, this incredible store has something for virtually eveyrone on your list. Find it behind the Whole Foods on Kirby http://www.kuhl-linscomb.com/
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all of the fantastic Rice Military neighbors!
Other News....
How was 2013 in Rice Military?
End-of-Year Recap by Wendy Wilkinson
Rice Military Civic Club had such a successful year in 2013!
Our big events included the Garage Sale, the Hoopla Station, National Night Out, and Halloween, with our Holiday Party coming up! The speakers at our quarterly meetings often commented on how our attendance and participation far exceeded what they saw in other parts of the city. Our socials do such a great job at bringing everyone together!
Our Facebook page has grown and grown, and we have a new website. We have a determined and smart Traffic Safety Initiatve Committee working on our traffic problems. This is what a successful civic club looks like, and we are working to make it even better next year!
I would like to thank our many volunteers that have made us so successful!
Our board worked hard on many different aspects of our civic club, from helping individuals to working towards loftier goals. Paul Hesson worked closely with many specific problems and helped direct people to the right city official or department. Marilyn Myers did a fabulous job as Treasurer with consistently good work and sound advice. Lauren Barrash was wonderful at promoting our club at every chance she got. Sarah Harper, as our social chair, has been such an asset for us, working with the social committee to find all those locations, and helping out with many of our big events like the Garage Sale and National Night Out. Andrea DeBaldo created fantastic newsletters and chaired our new Traffic Safety Initiative. Cindy Bourne was a big help as a co-chair of National Night Out. Lucy Anderson ran the always-wonderful Halloween event. Nathan Vogt continues to work hard on raising funds to replace the trees in Nellie Keyes Park. I would also like to thank Julie Barnes, Juanita Egan, Karen Hesson, and Phyllis Thomason for their work. We had a ton of other volunteers I would like to thank who helped out with National Night Out, theSocial Committee, the Garden Committee, and people who wrote for our newsletter.
I couldn’t ask to work with better people. Thank you to everyone who did their big and small parts in making our neighborhood the best one in Houston!
Regards,
Wendy Wilkinson.
WOW Roundabout
The campaign to improve the roundabout at Washington and Westcott began in 2003. The idea is to improve the roundabout with plantings and artwork, and thus help in making the neighborhood more attractive.
The WOW roundabout has just been approved as a community partner with the Kroger community awards program. Simply link your Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card to WOW Roundabout, and every time you buy groceries WOW will receive points toward a generous donation from the folks at Kroger! To find out more about this program visit: http://wowroundabout.org/KROGER.html
The Trees Say ThankYou
$400 was raised at the National Night Out (NNO) to help with the planting of new trees in Nellie Keyes Park. The Association of Washington Avenue Neighbors (AWAN), the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Houston Parks Board and Trees For Houston are partnering to plant trees throughout Nellie Keyes Park.
On Saturday, December 7th, there will be a planting day at Nellie Keyes park.
We need volunteers to help plant 24 mixed native trees throughout the park. Trees For Houston will provide all materials, including gloves and shovels for the event. There will be an on site demonstration before the tree planting begins.
Volunteers should plan to arrive at the park at 8:45AM. We will kickoff the event at about 9AM with a safety moment and planting deminstration.
We will provide lunch for the volunteers after the planting at 11AM.
Please RSVP if you will be attending so we can make sure to have enough tools and lunch.
For more information, visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/548193418602253/
End-of-Year Recap by Wendy Wilkinson
Rice Military Civic Club had such a successful year in 2013!
Our big events included the Garage Sale, the Hoopla Station, National Night Out, and Halloween, with our Holiday Party coming up! The speakers at our quarterly meetings often commented on how our attendance and participation far exceeded what they saw in other parts of the city. Our socials do such a great job at bringing everyone together!
Our Facebook page has grown and grown, and we have a new website. We have a determined and smart Traffic Safety Initiatve Committee working on our traffic problems. This is what a successful civic club looks like, and we are working to make it even better next year!
I would like to thank our many volunteers that have made us so successful!
Our board worked hard on many different aspects of our civic club, from helping individuals to working towards loftier goals. Paul Hesson worked closely with many specific problems and helped direct people to the right city official or department. Marilyn Myers did a fabulous job as Treasurer with consistently good work and sound advice. Lauren Barrash was wonderful at promoting our club at every chance she got. Sarah Harper, as our social chair, has been such an asset for us, working with the social committee to find all those locations, and helping out with many of our big events like the Garage Sale and National Night Out. Andrea DeBaldo created fantastic newsletters and chaired our new Traffic Safety Initiative. Cindy Bourne was a big help as a co-chair of National Night Out. Lucy Anderson ran the always-wonderful Halloween event. Nathan Vogt continues to work hard on raising funds to replace the trees in Nellie Keyes Park. I would also like to thank Julie Barnes, Juanita Egan, Karen Hesson, and Phyllis Thomason for their work. We had a ton of other volunteers I would like to thank who helped out with National Night Out, theSocial Committee, the Garden Committee, and people who wrote for our newsletter.
I couldn’t ask to work with better people. Thank you to everyone who did their big and small parts in making our neighborhood the best one in Houston!
Regards,
Wendy Wilkinson.
WOW Roundabout
The campaign to improve the roundabout at Washington and Westcott began in 2003. The idea is to improve the roundabout with plantings and artwork, and thus help in making the neighborhood more attractive.
The WOW roundabout has just been approved as a community partner with the Kroger community awards program. Simply link your Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card to WOW Roundabout, and every time you buy groceries WOW will receive points toward a generous donation from the folks at Kroger! To find out more about this program visit: http://wowroundabout.org/KROGER.html
The Trees Say ThankYou
$400 was raised at the National Night Out (NNO) to help with the planting of new trees in Nellie Keyes Park. The Association of Washington Avenue Neighbors (AWAN), the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Houston Parks Board and Trees For Houston are partnering to plant trees throughout Nellie Keyes Park.
On Saturday, December 7th, there will be a planting day at Nellie Keyes park.
We need volunteers to help plant 24 mixed native trees throughout the park. Trees For Houston will provide all materials, including gloves and shovels for the event. There will be an on site demonstration before the tree planting begins.
Volunteers should plan to arrive at the park at 8:45AM. We will kickoff the event at about 9AM with a safety moment and planting deminstration.
We will provide lunch for the volunteers after the planting at 11AM.
Please RSVP if you will be attending so we can make sure to have enough tools and lunch.
For more information, visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/548193418602253/
Memorial Park Master Plan
Earlier this year, Memorial Park was annexed by the Uptown TIRZ. A TIRZ is a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, whereby tax revenue resulting from appreciation of Real Estate in a defined area is retained for use within that area primarily for transportation, infrastructure, and beautification projects. The annexation of the Park by the Uptown TIRZ will create a critical funding source for much needed long-range planning in the Park. The Plan will be developed through a collaborative process between Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Uptown TIRZ and will be informed by robust public input. After a long-range Master Plan is developed through this process, it will be subject to review and approval by HPARD and City Council. The TIRZ funding will support the execution of projects in the Park as determined by the Master Plan, including reforestation efforts and trail improvements.
The Master Planning process is now underway. Public forums were held in late October and mid-November. The next public meeting will be on December 10th. The event will take place at St. Theresa's Church from 6.30 – 8:00 pm. Additional public input is being received through the microsite http://memorialparkmasterplan.mindmixer.com/ where you can take brief surveys to convey your likes and dislikes as well as offer up ideas to be incorporated into the plan.
The Memorial Park Long-Range Master Planning Initiative will ensure a steady, methodical plan of action, developed and executed in collaboration between Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC), the Uptown TIRZ and Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) with input from stakeholder groups and the general public. The future Plan will ensure a healthy balance between conservation and recreation, and begin with a robust public input process.
The selected Award-winning landscape architectural firm, Nelson Byrd Woltz, achieves beautification and excellence through ecological revitalization, indigenous design, integrity of historical intent, and stewardship of space – hallmarks the Memorial Park Conservancy prioritized for Memorial Park’s Long-Range Master Plan. It is precisely this synergy of approach and vision that made Nelson Byrd Woltz the perfect partner for planning Memorial Park’s sustainable future. The firm’s philosophy centers on design that honors the local history and natural context of a site through a process of observation, creative interpretation, and construction.
The Master Plan will take as long as 20 years to fully implement, and costs will be based on the results of the planning initiative. Significant funding will come from the TIRZ, and some funding is expected from state and federal sources. The Conservancy will undertake fundraising efforts to implement components the Long-Range Master Plan, in addition to yearly fundraising campaign for ongoing Park maintenance.
Earlier this year, Memorial Park was annexed by the Uptown TIRZ. A TIRZ is a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, whereby tax revenue resulting from appreciation of Real Estate in a defined area is retained for use within that area primarily for transportation, infrastructure, and beautification projects. The annexation of the Park by the Uptown TIRZ will create a critical funding source for much needed long-range planning in the Park. The Plan will be developed through a collaborative process between Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Uptown TIRZ and will be informed by robust public input. After a long-range Master Plan is developed through this process, it will be subject to review and approval by HPARD and City Council. The TIRZ funding will support the execution of projects in the Park as determined by the Master Plan, including reforestation efforts and trail improvements.
The Master Planning process is now underway. Public forums were held in late October and mid-November. The next public meeting will be on December 10th. The event will take place at St. Theresa's Church from 6.30 – 8:00 pm. Additional public input is being received through the microsite http://memorialparkmasterplan.mindmixer.com/ where you can take brief surveys to convey your likes and dislikes as well as offer up ideas to be incorporated into the plan.
The Memorial Park Long-Range Master Planning Initiative will ensure a steady, methodical plan of action, developed and executed in collaboration between Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC), the Uptown TIRZ and Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) with input from stakeholder groups and the general public. The future Plan will ensure a healthy balance between conservation and recreation, and begin with a robust public input process.
The selected Award-winning landscape architectural firm, Nelson Byrd Woltz, achieves beautification and excellence through ecological revitalization, indigenous design, integrity of historical intent, and stewardship of space – hallmarks the Memorial Park Conservancy prioritized for Memorial Park’s Long-Range Master Plan. It is precisely this synergy of approach and vision that made Nelson Byrd Woltz the perfect partner for planning Memorial Park’s sustainable future. The firm’s philosophy centers on design that honors the local history and natural context of a site through a process of observation, creative interpretation, and construction.
The Master Plan will take as long as 20 years to fully implement, and costs will be based on the results of the planning initiative. Significant funding will come from the TIRZ, and some funding is expected from state and federal sources. The Conservancy will undertake fundraising efforts to implement components the Long-Range Master Plan, in addition to yearly fundraising campaign for ongoing Park maintenance.
What is a Civic Club and Why Should You Join?
The word civic is a description of something that belongs to a city and its citizens. Civic clubs are, simply put, organizations that belong to their citizens. Rice Military Civic Club serves in this spirit, as a club that benefits the Rice Military neighborhood. We work hard to promote our residents’ civic and social welfare.
But we are a club, not an HOA, which means that joining us is not mandatory. You make a choice to join and support us by paying dues every year. And so the question for you is whether our civic club is worth the $20 yearly membership fee to you.
Reasons to Join
How to Join
Dues are only $20 for a household each year. Any dues paid now will go to the 2014 memberships. You can pay your dues at any event we host, or you can pay your dues online through paypal at our website: www.rice-military.org/membership.
The following businesses kindly sponsor Rice Military Civic Club:
Body Rock Pilates http://bodyrockpilates.com/
Joseph J Earthman Generations: Memorial, Funeral & Cremation Services http://generationsfunerals.com/
Mint Dental Works http://mintdenthouston.com/
Simply By Design
The Wave http://www.thehoustonwave.com/
The word civic is a description of something that belongs to a city and its citizens. Civic clubs are, simply put, organizations that belong to their citizens. Rice Military Civic Club serves in this spirit, as a club that benefits the Rice Military neighborhood. We work hard to promote our residents’ civic and social welfare.
But we are a club, not an HOA, which means that joining us is not mandatory. You make a choice to join and support us by paying dues every year. And so the question for you is whether our civic club is worth the $20 yearly membership fee to you.
Reasons to Join
- Being a civic club gives us more clout and influence. The City of Houston works more closely with and takes more notice of a large civic club than it does with individuals.
- Our emails and Facebook page make it easier to know what’s happening, from city-wide issues to local social gatherings. Putting out this information helps us be better neighbors and better citizens.
- We secure great speakers on local issues in our quarterly meetings. These issues, often confusing and not easily explained by city websites, are explained by experts who can answer your questions.
- We put on events year-round: quarterly meetings, the garage sale, National Night Out, Halloween, the holiday party, not to mention all the great socials, and more!
- Your dues help us keep these events and activites going, from paying for our website to all the promotional costs.
- Being in a civic club helps you meet people who have the same local concerns and problems as you do. When people work together, we can accomplish a lot more than we can alone. Our new committee on Traffic Safety Iniative is a great example.
- We donate to other nonprofits that benefit our neighborhood, like the WOW Roundabout and replanting trees in Nellie Keyes Park, plus hosting our Holiday Park that benefits DePelchin Children’s Center.
- We are a nonprofit, so all money raised goesstraight back into the community.
How to Join
Dues are only $20 for a household each year. Any dues paid now will go to the 2014 memberships. You can pay your dues at any event we host, or you can pay your dues online through paypal at our website: www.rice-military.org/membership.
The following businesses kindly sponsor Rice Military Civic Club:
Body Rock Pilates http://bodyrockpilates.com/
Joseph J Earthman Generations: Memorial, Funeral & Cremation Services http://generationsfunerals.com/
Mint Dental Works http://mintdenthouston.com/
Simply By Design
The Wave http://www.thehoustonwave.com/
Feedback
If you would like to contact the newsletter team, email us at: