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832.393.3015
City Hall Annex
900 BagbyHouston, TX 77002
PO Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251-1562
Leah Olive-Nishioka, Communications Director
Matthew Brollier, Constituent Services Director
Jeremy Brown, Agenda & Policy Director
Sharon Shanahan, Administrative Services Director
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City Contacts
HPD (non-emergency) 713.884.3131
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Renewal and New Beginnings
Dear Friends of District J,
It is not unusual for the Jewish feast of Passover and the Christian observance of Holy Week and Easter to occur on or near the same dates. In fact, the events of Holy Week and Easter spring forth from the Passover observances described in the Gospels. As you receive this newsletter, countless of our Jewish and Christian friends are preparing to observe these two holy celebrations. Both festivals are rooted in the ancient stories of captivity and freedom, exodus and release, renewal and remembrance. Gratitude is the cornerstone of both. These two festivals have in many ways become synonymous with the much anticipated rites and joys of spring.
But leave it to us Houstonians to add a new wrinkle to these rites of spring --- Astro's Opening Day and our Welcome Home Parade for Returning Iraqi Veterans.
This weekend marks the much anticipated return of Astros baseball. Opening Day Festivities will be held at Minute Maid Park at 6:05 p.m. on Friday, April 6th with the start of the Astro's three day series against the Colorado Rockies. Games are also scheduled for Saturday at 6:05 and Sunday at 1:05 pm. We welcome the return of our boys of summer with high hopes for a great season.
Houston will also be celebrating the return of our heroes during the "Welcome Home Parade for our Iraq Veterans." Please see the article below for parade details. All are encouraged to wear patriotic clothing for this wonderful event.
So, in gratitude.....
CHAG KASHER V'SAME'ACH -- HAPPY PASSOVER...
HAPPY EASTER...
GO ASTROS...
WELCOME HOME!
- Mike Laster, Council Member - District J
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We Hope You Had a Happy April Pool's Day!
April  1 celebrated April Pool's Day in the City of Houston and Harris County. Pools are a lot of fun and a great way to cool down in a Houston summer. But pool safety is no laughing matter. Every year, nearly 3,000 Americans drown. In May of 2005, Deonesia Grays lost her daughter Bria when she drowned in a pool accident. Ms. Grays founded Bria's House as a part of her mission to prevent other drowning deaths and to promote "RACE":
Raise awareness of pool safety Assist low-income families with the cost of swimming lessons and safety equipment CPR certification Encouraging parents to educate themselves on pool supervision and accident prevention
This year, don't be a pool fool! Make sure you and your family know about pool safety. We encourage you to learn more about pool safety by visiting the following website:
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Mosquitoes are Here!
 A mild winter and wet spring mean that Mosquito Season has started early. Mosquitoes can carry many different diseases, including the West Nile Virus.
Here are a few tips to help keep the 'skeeter population from biting:
- Use repellants with DEET, the most effective repellant on the market. DEET works by overpowering skin odor and carbon dioxide from our breathing - essentially what attracts mosquitoes to us. It is most effective when sprayed on skin or clothing. Follow all product label instructions for use.
- Check for standing water in your yard and other outdoor areas, such as tire swings, wheel barrows, roof gutters, plant containers, and drainage ditches. Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs at a time in still water, which will hatch in 7 to 10 days. By eliminating standing water weekly and after rain, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding in the first place.
- Use mosquito dunks in bird baths, rain barrels, ponds, or other water features on your property to discourage a mosquito breeding environment and kill mosquito eggs and larvae. Mosquito dunks with BTI contain no poisonous chemicals and are completely harmless to birds and ornamental pond fish.
- Avoid mosquitoes by staying indoors at dawn and dusk when they are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors.
For Sharpstown residents, mosquito spraying with an environmentally friendly product will be every Thursday from May and through October. If you have any questions, please contact the Sharpstown Civic Association office at 713-789-2311.
If you are not a resident of Sharpstown and have a question about mosquito spraying in your area, please contact your local Civic or Homeowner's Association.
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Community Champion - Estefany Galdamez, Camp Houston Fire Graduate
Sharpstown International School senior Estefany Galdamez is on fire! Well, not literally, but she is one of Southwest Houston's rising stars.
At the start of this month, Estefany graduated from Camp Houston Fire, the HFD Siren's camp for high school girls to introduce them to the firefighting career and teach empowerment and leadership. Estefany applied to the camp as an opportunity to try something new and experience something that had initially seemed out of her reach. "At first, I doubted the camp because I wasn't ready for such a challenge. But then I thought, why not give it a try? There's always a first time for everything."
After rigorous work outs, physical training, and simulated emergency situations, including Search & Rescue, Estefany learned, "I can accomplish anything I want as long as I believe in myself and as long as I am committed. I learned that I'm strong enough, brave enough." She encourages other girls to sign up for future camps. "It's very rewarding! It changes your perspective of seeing life." Estefany is now interested in pursuing a career in firefighting and in neonatal maternal nursing. "I'm so ready to start college and take the classes required to become a firefighter, to start to create a bond with what will be my family, my Fire Department crew. I want to thank all the sponsors that made this experience possible, to all the dedicated firefighters and volunteers that made the weekend unbelievable!"
Estefany, District J is proud of you!
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April 7 - Parade Honoring Iraqi Veterans
 Mayor Annise Parker and Houston Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane invite you to come downtown on Saturday, April 7, for a welcome home parade honoring Iraqi veterans.
The parade will begin at the corner of Texas and San Jacinto at 4pm and then proceed east on Texas to Crawford and then turn north (left) on Crawford to Congress, ending at Minute Maid Park.
At the end of the parade, the troops will proceed inside Minute Maid Park for a special on-field ceremony just prior to the Astros 6:05 PM game.
The Astros will provide free tickets to the uniformed parade participants and their immediate families. Ticket distribution will be coordinated through the Mayor's Office of Veteran's Affairs. Additionally, the Astros are offering discounted tickets to friends and extended family members, parade participants and veteran's organizations through the link www.astros.com/troops. Discount ticket information will be posted to this page in the coming days.
Click here for more information on the event and a map of the parade route.
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April 14 - Global Care Day
 LyondellBassell Industry, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, and Houston Parks and Recreation Department / Adaptive Sports and Recreation division celebrate LyondellBassell Global Care Day - Changing the World All in a Day's Work and honor our troops in Afghanistan.
On Saturday, April 14th, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., 200+ volunteers will converge upon the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (MMSC) at 1475 W. Gray to restore, refurbish, refresh, and renew. They will build multi-sensory gardens, a library for MMSC program participants, assemble care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan, clean, paint, and more.
The River Performance Company will begin a concert at 11:00 a.m. and all volunteers are invited to attend.
The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities asks everyone to bring a non-perishable item for the Houston Food Bank drive.
For more information, please contact the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities at 713-284-1990.
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April 14 - Free Community Health Fair
Congressman Al Green, Community Health Choice, and the Chinese Community Center invite you to attend a free health fair on Saturday, April 14, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Chinese Community Center located at 9800 Town Park Drive, Houston, TX 77036.
Receive assistance with CHIP, Medicaid, and CHIP Perinatal Applications. You can also get a dental screening, total cholesterol screening, health education, and financial assistance information. Have a fun filled day with your entire family!
For health fair inquiries and questions, please contact Bessie Swindle at 713-383-9234 or 281-438-3141.
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April 20 - First Annual Pa'ina Fundraiser
 Join the Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i hula school for it's First Annual Pa'ina Fundraiser on April 20 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Chinese Community Center, located at 9800 Town Park Drive.
Proceeds will be used for purchasing materials for the construction of implements and costumes for students to enter in a hula competition in Orlando, Florida. Students learn to make their own implements, drums, gourd rattles, Polynesian "pompoms" and Maori poi balls as well as headdresses, skirts, hip belts and leis all in the traditional and customary ways of the Polynesians. They also will also learn traditional songs and dances, and how to play ukulele, guitar and different gourds and drums.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, call 773-946-1466. If you are interested in learning hula, your first lesson is free! Visit houstonhalau.org for more information and class schedules. |
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April 21 - Senate District Conventions
 Both the Republican Party and Democratic Party will be hosting their Senate District Conventions on Saturday, April 21. City Council District J is primarily in SD 13, but the northern most precinct (0272) is in SD 17.
All the Republican Senate District Conventions will be held at the Grace Community Church at 14505 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77034. Registration opens at 8:00 am and the Call to Order is scheduled for 10:00 am.
The SD 13 Democratic Convention will be held at the Texas Southern University Health and Physical Education Arena located at 4500 Ennis Street, Houston, TX 77004. Registration opens at 7:00 am; Call to Order at 9:00 am.
The SD 17 Democratic Convention will be at Spring Branch Middle School at 1000 Piney Point, Houston, TX 77024. Registration starts at 8:00 am and Call to Order will be at 9:30 am.
If you have any questions, please contact your SD Chair, Precinct Chair, the Harris County GOP at 713-838-7900, or the Harris County Democratic Party at 713-802-0085. |
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SPECIAL NOTICE - Service Line Protection Programs
 In the next few weeks, homeowners may receive a letter from American Water Resources, Inc., offering their Water and Sewer Line Protection Program as a means to protect homeowners from the expense and aggravation of service line repairs.
Please be aware that that the City of Houston does not endorse any particular service line program or contractor.
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