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Greetings!
Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays! As I look back over the busy year we've had in Precinct 4, I am grateful for all we accomplished together and excited for our many projects yet to come.
We plan to begin this new four-year term by providing the same commitment and dedication to good governance and solid project management.
While you read in this month's Commissioner's E-Corner about our Precinct 4 projects, people, and provided services, I hope you'll reflect on the talented Precinct 4 employees who work hard every day to make Harris County Precinct 4 the best place to live, work, and play.
Don't forget that you can access past issues of Commissioner's E-Corner on the Precinct 4 website. When you visit Precinct 4 online, you can also learn more about the road projects taking place, as well as the upcoming events at Precinct 4's community centers and parks, and Senior Adult Program activities through Fun4Seniors.
Sincerely,
Commissioner R. Jack Cagle
Harris County Precinct 4
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| Precinct 4 Introduces New Community Calendar |
 Want to reach a larger audience for your non-profit event?
Harris County Precinct 4 recently introduced an all-new online community calendar perfect for promoting blood drives, fundraisers, educational conferences, festivals, and more.
Ideal for chambers of commerce, churches, and schools, this new tool helps keep the public informed about the events that most matter to them.
Access the Precinct 4 Community Calendar and submission policies from any device at http://community.hcp4.net/events/calendar.
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Harris County Precinct 4 Welcomes New Justice of the Peace
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 | | Judge Ed Emmett delivers the Oath of Office to new Justice of the Peace Lincoln Goodwin, who appears with his wife, Priscilla. |
Harris County Precinct 4 welcomed local attorney Lincoln Goodwin as its new Precinct 4, Position 1 Justice of the Peace following an appointment by Commissioners Court Dec. 16.
Goodwin has practiced as a civil attorney with the Lanier Law Firm since 2007 and served in the felony division of the Harris County District Attorney's Office for five years, where he managed the dockets of more than 200 cases. He served as president of the student bar association while at Texas Tech University School of Law and graduated from Baylor University in 1994.
He has provided significant pro bono work for underprivileged clients and serves as a deacon at Houston's First Baptist Church. A Spring resident, Goodwin is married with two daughters.
Goodwin was recommended by Harris County Commissioner R. Jack Cagle following an exhaustive interview process. He will serve at the Cypresswood Annex, one of Harris County's busiest courts, located at 6831 Cypresswood Drive in Spring.
Goodwin will serve the remainder of Judge Kent Adams' four-year term, who passed away in October.
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| Helms Elementary School SPARK Park Receives Upgrades |
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Helms Elementary School Spark Park recently received upgrades.
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Helms Elementary School SPARK Park in the Heights introduced newly renovated public amenities in November that will serve both the school and community.
Improvements include a labyrinth design at the entrance to the park, decorative tile, picnic tables, and trash cans. The park was designed by local artist Reginald Adams who worked with art teacher Che Rickman and his students to adorn the seat wall around the play equipment and add mosaic artwork to the pillars at the entrance to the park.
Funding for the project included $5,000 from Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4 R. Jack Cagle's office, $2,200 from the school, $5,000 from Houston ISD, and $10,000 from Shell Oil Company.
The park was eligible for the upgrades as part of the SPARK Park program, which helps communities develop public parks on school property. The program started in 1983 to expand the number of public parks in the Houston area after a report showed Houston would need at least 5,000 acres of additional park land to compete with other major cities.
Thanks to the program, more than 200 school parks in 12 districts are now connected to their community.
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| Birnamwood Drive Serves as Model for Nation |
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Birnamwood Drive is serving as an ecologically friendly model
for Precinct 4 roadways.
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Harris County Precinct 4 is gaining national attention for an environmentally friendly roadway design that improves water quality and saves taxpayers money.
Birnamwood Drive opened in 2012 between Cypresswood Drive and Spring Creek Drive as Harris County's first roadway built using low-impact design (LID) principles to manage storm water runoff.
The design includes four lanes separated by a 32-foot depressed median that incorporates native plants, engineered soil, gravel, and underground rain tanks to filter and release water into regional storm water systems as needed.
Benefits of the design include eliminating the need for off-site detention, reducing maintenance costs, and providing natural water filtration. LID projects can also reduce construction costs as much as 15 percent and cut the cost of mowing in half.
With the design's success, Harris County became the first in Texas to adopt LID guidelines into their storm water design criteria in 2011. Now, the project serves as a model for all Harris County roadways.
Current LID projects underway in Precinct 4 include Holzworth North in Spring, a new four-lane roadway modeled after Birnamwood, which will include a natural filtration system, native grass seed, wildflowers, and plants. Bioretention features are also planned for Riley Fuzzel and Louetta roads, which are in the design phases.
The landmark project has attracted attention from local and national agencies interested in creating their own guidelines, including the Bayou Preservation Association, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, and the Chesapeak Bay Program whose members include the EPA, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, District of Columbia, and Chesapeake Bay Commission.
Since its completion, Birnamwood Drive has won several environmental awards including the inaugural Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 Green Infrastructure Award (2014), the American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas Gold Medal Award in Water Resources (2013), and the American Public Works Association - Texas Chapter Project of the Year in the Environmental Category (2013).
We're proud to lead the way with low-impact design principals that benefit both the county and its residents!
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Get Your Garden in Shape for the New Year
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 | Mercer's Education Director Jennifer Garrison teaches TGCG participant Naixuan Gan how to make a healthy plant cutting.
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Learn how to take your landscaping design to the next level during the Tier-III Gulf Coast Gardener (TGCG) course at Mercer Botanic Gardens, located at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road in Humble.
The six-week course offers participants tips and techniques for analyzing and designing successful home landscapes in the Gulf Coast region.
Classes include guest speakers who will present on topics ranging from permaculture and effective irrigation to tropical design and restoring native habitats.
Tier-III meets on Mondays, starting Jan. 26 through March 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a one hour lunch break.
Presentations will take place during the morning portion of class from 9 a.m. to noon, and hands-on landscape design sessions will follow in the afternoon from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Registration is open now through Jan. 20, 2015. Enrollment is $100 for members of The Mercer Society and $115 for non-members. Refunds will not be available after the close of the registration period. Enrollment is limited to 30 people. To register, please call Mercer Botanic Gardens at 281-443-8731. For more information, contact Mercer's Education Director Jennifer Garrison at jgarrison@hcp4.net.
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100 Acre Wood Becoming Popular Biking Destination
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GHORBA trail steward Scott Moran flies over hilly
terrain at the100 Acre Wood Preserve.
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Precinct 4's 100 Acre Wood Nature Preserve is becoming a top destination for hikers and bikers seeking thrills on nature trails along Cypress Creek.
Located near the Hewlett-Packard building and D. Bradley McWilliams YMCA at Cypress Creek, the preserve contains nearly two miles of trails through rolling, forested terrain that connect with the nine-mile Cypress Creek Mountain Bike trail system.
Precinct 4 opened the preserve in 2013 in partnership with Bayou Land Conservancy and the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association.
After purchasing property in 2012, Bayou Land Conservancy created a conservation easement to protect the land from development and then donated the acreage to Precinct 4.
Now, Precinct 4 is working to develop a one-mile paved trunk line trail that will run from the existing Cypresswood Hike & Bike Trail at Cypress Creek and Jones Road to the YMCA facility at SH 249.
GHORBA also officially adopted the trails, opening the area to GHORBA hosted biking events and maintenance projects. One of the most recent events occurred in November when GHORBA hosted a Post Turkey Day Ride that attracted more than 80 participants. The organization also regularly hosts trail clean-up events and works with the Boy Scouts to create improvements such as bridges and walkways over muddy terrain.
While the preserve has no parking lot or official entrance, hikers and bikers often enter through a water treatment plant road at Normont and Balcrest or the D. Bradley McWilliams YMCA at Cypress Creek.
The preserve's terrain includes an upland forest, mature post oaks, and a forested wetland with overcup oak. For more information about 100 Acre Woods, visit http://ghorba.org/trails/100-acre-woods.
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Upcoming December/January Activities
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Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center:
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Critters Christmas. Sat., Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. Have you thought of decorating a tree outside just for the critters? Learn how to make decorative edible treats for the birds and other wildlife that visit your yard this time of year. All ages.
Bicycling. Daily, 8 a.m. to dusk. The Jones-Bender, Judy Overby Bell, and Spring Creek Greenway trails are open for bicycling. All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Winter Bird Count. Sat., Jan. 3 at 7:45 a.m. Join fellow birding enthusiasts for an informal count of wintering and resident birds of Jones Park. Birders ages 12+.
Webelos Naturalist. Sat., Jan. 10, 9 a.m. to noon. Webelos scouts can learn about birds, snakes, and trees while earning their Naturalist activity pin during a fun morning of activities. Reservations required beginning Fri., Jan. 2.
Second Saturday Settlers: Lye Soap. Sat., Jan. 10, 1-3 p.m. Visit Redbud Hill Homestead to learn how early Texas settlers made this old-fashioned all-purpose cleaner and watch as demonstrators bring the homestead to life.
Pioneer Campfire. Sat., Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Spend an evening around the campfire while listening to storytelling and sing-a-long songs by Jawad performing "Jojo Git Your Banjo!" Reservations required beginning Wed., Dec. 31.
Second Sunday Pickers. Sundays, Jan. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy an informal folk concert or bring your instrument to join in the music!
Arbor Day Celebration. Sat., and Sun., Jan. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate Texas Arbor Day by adopting a tree! Take home a free sapling, and get tree planting and care information. Exhibits and activities highlight local forest plants. Webelos can fulfill all requirements for the Forester activity pin by completing a self-guided activity.
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Lunch Bunch: North Carolina Garden Safari. Wed., Jan. 14, noon to 2 p.m. Join Mercer's own Jeff Heilers and Chris Ludwig as they recount their experiences from an official tour of public and private gardens in the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas of North Carolina. Commonly known as the "Triangle Area," it is internationally renowned as a plant lover's paradise. To register or receive additional information, contact Mercer Botanic Gardens at 281-443-8731.
Children's Story Time in the Garden. Mon., Jan 19, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mercer volunteer Sherry Cruse shares some favorite nature books with children and their parents in the Mercer gardens. A craft project is included. Check in at the Visitor Center for the specific location. Free
Cypress Creek Daylily Society. Sun., Jan. 25, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Meet in the Visitor Center to learn about gardening with daylilies.
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Community Centers/Senior Adult Program:
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Mangum Howell: Telecommunications Assistance Program. Wed., Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Anyone that has difficulty using their telephone due to hearing, vision, mobility, cognitive, or speech impairments should attend this informative seminar.Visit the Center or call 281-591-7830 to register and learn more about this program, including the eligibility requirements to receive free assistive equipment.
Big Stone Lodge: Winter Trip Sign Up. Fri., Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. Sign up to attend the Heritage Village Pioneer Museum in Woodville Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. A Harris County Precinct 4 bus will pick up and drop off participants at Spring Baptist Church.
Big Stone Lodge: Mistletoe Magic Luncheon. Fri., Dec. 19 at 11:30 a.m. Experience the enchantment of the season as the Spring High School Choir performs a variety of holiday songs. Ben's Chuck Wagon will provide smoked pork loin, glazed carrots, scalloped potatoes, rolls, dessert, iced tea and coffee. Come by the Center Monday through Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get your tickets no later than Wed., Dec. 17. An $8 per person suggested donation is required and payable in advance when you register in the office.
Mangum Howell: Blood Pressure Check. Thurs., Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. A volunteer retired nurse measures and records your blood pressure at Mangum-Howell Center.
Mangum Howell: Line Dancing Course. Fri., Jan. 9 through Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. Get "in line" to learn the basics of line dancing with volunteer-instructor Gordon Small during this eight-week course at Mangum-Howell Center. Small draws on nine years of experience teaching line dancing to create a class perfect for beginners with little or no prior experience. A partner is not needed.
Big Stone Lodge: Dog Talk: Behavior, Training & Communicating. Tues., Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. Join Marie Devaney Conyers from The Fundamental Dog as she provides tips on house training, polite greetings and meeting other dogs on a leash. Marie is a member of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and the owner of The Fundamental Dog, a dog training facility. She uses positive reinforcement in her training and has worked in this field for over a decade. Call Big Stone Lodge at 281-350-1029 to register for this free seminar, or to receive additional information.
Mangum Howell: New Beginnings Luncheon. Tues., Jan. 13 at noon. Let the sounds of the Salvation Army Harbor Light Choir inspire you for the New Year during a special performance at Mangum-Howell Center The scrumptious lunch includes chicken spaghetti, salad, vegetable medley, garlic bread, and pineapple upside down cake for dessert, along with all the iced tea and coffee you can drink! The deadline to purchase tickets is Fri., Jan. 9.
Mangum Howell: Sassy Red Hatters. Tues., Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. The Red Hat Society is a global society of women that connects, supports, and encourages women in their pursuit of fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment, and fitness. The
Mangum-Howell Sassy Red Hatters meet the second Tuesday of every month, immediately following the Center's monthly luncheon, to plan a variety of day trips and social events.
Mangum Howell: Sensible Eating Club. Wed., Jan. 14 at 1 p.m.Join Mabel Bryant, Texas Master Naturalist candidate, as she hosts a cooking demonstration and presentation on the benefits of using homegrown herbs. This month's menu includes Mabel's taco soup with homemade bread using herbs right out of the Center's own container garden. Please bring a pencil and paper to jot down the recipe. Class size is limited, so be sure to stop by the Center or call 281-591-7830 to register.
Mangum Howell: AARP Safe Driving Course. Thurs., Jan. 15 from noon to 5 p.m.Designed for those ages 50 and better, this course helps drivers refresh their driving expertise, reduce the risk of traffic violations and accidents, and qualify for an auto insurance discount up to 10 percent. This class is for insurance reduction only and cannot be used for ticket dismissal. Certificates are awarded upon completion. For more information or to sign up, please call 281-591-7830 or visit the Center.
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Commissioner R. Jack Cagle
Harris County Precinct 4
1001 Preston, Suite 950
Houston, Texas 77002
By phone: 713-755-6444
By fax: 713-755-8801
Email: commissionercagle@hcp4.net
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