As if all the hay fever coughs and sniffles I've been hearing these days was not evidence enough, I can tell that Spring is in the air -- or at least right around the corner.

Houston's annual rites of Spring are beginning to show themselves. We have put aside the Mardi Gras beads for Lenten disciplines, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing. This past Saturday, I had great fun  attending the Opening Day Ceremonies of the Bayland Little League at Bayland Park. The kids and coaches looked wonderful in their new uniforms, and the fields were primed for some great play. Kudos to League President Chris Martin and all the volunteers at Bayland. As if that wasn't enough, area schools are beginning Spring Break, and of course, St. Patrick's Day is on the horizon. 

But I most often associate the beginning of Spring with the change from standard to daylight savings time. This Saturday night, don't forget to move your clocks forward one hour and get to bed earlier. You don't want to risk missing church or being sleepy-groggy on Sunday.  Hopefully the extra daylight hours will give you and your family the needed time to catch up on yard work or just have fun outdoors!

Be safe in your travels and enjoy the beginning of Spring. 

Many thanks to those of you who joined Council Member Laster and your District J Team at last week's 2014 CIP meeting at the Sharpstown Community Center. The Finance, Parks, General Services, and Public Works Departments gave presentations about the Fiscal Year 2014 expenditure plans in our part of town. 

Some of the highlights included improvements to Crain, Lansdale, Sharpstown, and Braeburn Glen Parks.  Additionally, the Gulfton area will benefit from the first of a two-part drainage improvement project for which many in that area have long awaited.

Attendees received updates about ongoing projects, including the reconstruction of Beechnut from Wilcrest to Kirkwood, and the nearly-completed waterline replacement work in the Glenhaven Estates area. An outline of each project included in the 2014 Capital Improvements Plan is laid out at the end of this article.

Much thanks to all of you who came out to share your personal requests for future CIP consideration. Please remember to call both 311, for day-to-day service, and our office when public infrastructure problems arise in your community!

Non Public Works Projects

HBU Celebrates its Diversity

Ranked 6th Most Diverse in Nation

According to BestColleges.com, Houston Baptist University was recently named the 6th most diverse college in the nation. The university placed 4th in diversity on the list of regional universities in the West.

Having a well-represented and balanced student body also includes many international students, with some hailing from the Phillipines, Vietnam, Germany, Scotland, and Latin American and African countries, just to name a few.

As Council Member Laster has said before, District J is the "Ellis Island" of Houston, and we are proud of the fact that many recent immigrants choose to settle in and around our community.  Kudos to HBU for also aiming to foster a diverse and eclectic population in Southwest Houston.