trymahjong

Most local neighborhoods have gatherings to meet neighbors, police and politicians and looks like COH has something also http://www.artshound.com/event/detail/441695253/29th_Annual_National_Night_Out

got this email from Ellen Cohens office but was wondering . . . . . which parks will be improved? Dear Friend, If you believe, as I do, that Houstonians should have better access to parks and green spaces, along with all that entails--improved health through exercise, safe places for children to play, improved water quality--then you'll be pleased to hear that Parks By You is hard at work! Parks By You is a coalition of citizens organizing to increase access to and improve neighborhood parks and bayous in Houston. By improving these parks and by completing the system that will connect parks and green spaces along our bayous, we can: build safer communities, improve flood control, and protect our natural resources. By enhancing our quality of life, this initiative will ensure that Houston is in an even stronger position to compete for the companies and workers of tomorrow. This is a cause I support because of what it means for all Houstonians - today and tomorrow. Please visit Parks By You to learn more, to get involved, and to help realize this vision. Sincerely, Ellen Cohen

Two Hearings on City of Houston Bond Referendums September 26 and October 3 There are two public hearings remaining regarding the $410 million worth of City of Houston bond propositions on the November 2012 ballot. The hearings will take place Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston 77002. The bond referendums as well as two proposed changes to the City Charter will be found near the end of what will be a very long ballot. For more information on these intiatives, visit www.houstontx.gov/2012bondreferendum.html. Note early voting begins Monday, October 22 and ends Friday, November 2. Election Day is Tuesday, November 6. www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/index.html. To learn more about HPD, visit http://www.houstonpolice.org/. www.houstontx.gov/police/chief/nno12/NNO2012.pdf or contact Officer J. L. Martinez of the HPD Public Affairs Office at 713.308.3200. To learn more about HPD, visit http://www.houstonpolice.org/. http://www.spirit.com/. For more information about Houston Airports, visit http://www.fly2houston.com/. Unsubscribe from CitizensNet Council Members: Helena Brown • Jerry Davis • Ellen R. Cohen • Wanda Adams • Mike Sullivan • Al Hoang • Oliver Pennington • Edward Gonzalez • James G. Rodriguez • Mike Laster • Larry V. Green • Stephen C. Costello • Andrew C. Burks, Jr. • Melissa Noriega • C.O. “Brad” Bradford • Jack Christie Controller: Ronald C. Green

something interesting from the neighborhood yahoo group apparently Ziggy's Montrose on Fairview was built from a Sears house kit http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/1921-1926.htm

from the City of Houston e-newsletter-- City of Houston Bond and Charter Amendment Information Houstonians are reminded to vote in the November election. It is a long ballot that includes five City of Houston bond referendums totaling $410 million and two proposed changes to the City Charter. Information about these initiatives is available at www.houstontx.gov/2012bondreferendum.html.

a "no go" on taxing but. . . . . . . http://thewall.com/topics/29113-here-he-goes-again-bloomberg-set-to-ban-all

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2012/09/openings_closings_81.php

http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/checking-out-cuchara I wonder what will be going into the space next door?

Facts about Voluntary Homeless Feeding Registration Program City of Houston Clarifies Misinformation Is the City of Houston trying to stop homeless food service? No! The City of Houston is trying to improve the quality, quantity and distribution of food for the homeless through training and coordination. Introduction: In the spring of 2012, the Houston City Council approved an ordinance establishing a voluntary program to coordinate outdoor food service operations for the homeless. The intent of the ordinance is threefold: 1. to improve the quality, quantity and distribution of food provided outdoors; 2. to expand the opportunities for the homeless to connect with service providers; and 3. to reduce the disproportionate environmental impact of food service operations on public and private property. The program consists of four basic steps: 1. Registration of the formal or informal food service organization. Registration includes contact information, proposed schedule, location and proposed food to be served. 2. Free food handling training for one or more members of the food service group provided by the Houston Department of Health and Human Services. The training also includes information from the Coalition for the Homeless about working with the homeless and referral information for additional services needed by the homeless. 3. The only mandatory step is a requirement to obtain owner consent before using either public or private property for food service of more than six people. This is required for both registered and non-registered food service operations. 4. Coordination of location and times of food service to maximize the distribution of food throughout the week. The ordinance was the result of months of discussion among various city departments, homeless service agencies, law enforcement, homeless food service organizations and private property owners and managers. To date, program managers at the Houston Department of Health and Human Services report: . 8 approved organizations/individuals (All eight of these groups are using city-owned property for their food service events.) . 11 pending organizations/individuals (awaiting property owner consent) . 18 organizations/individuals have made inquiries but have not submitted the Participation Form In addition, Mayor Annise Parker has designated the Central Houston Public Library Plaza , 500 McKinney , Houston 77002, as an approved charitable food service location for Food Not Bombs. Forms, procedures, the ordinance, class schedules and updated registrants can be found at <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/health/Charitable/index.html"'>http://www.houstontx.gov/health/Charitable/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.houstontx.gov/health/Charitable/index.html Frequently Asked Questions: Why does the City of Houston want to register charitable food service of the homeless? First and foremost, the City of Houston wants to ensure that homeless individuals have sufficient wholesome food to meet their needs. Because of the previous lack of coordination, too much food was distributed on weekend mornings to certain locations over-serving a group of people while no food was available at other times of the day and days of the week. Hopefully, enough organizations will register and, through coordination, the city can improve the safety and availability of more food for the homeless. In addition to coordination, participants in the voluntary registration program commit to manage their litter. Why do I need permission to provide food on public property? Public property belongs to all of us and it needs to be shared equitably. Large scale or recurring activities of all kinds already require permission for use of public property. It is unlikely that a food service organization will be denied permission to use public property, but it may need to be coordinated with other public activities. Do I have to participate in the voluntary program if on private property? No. Food service activity conducted on one's own property is not covered by the ordinance. There is no penalty for food service operations outside of the voluntary registration program. However, all feeders, in or out of the voluntary registration program must obtain permission to operate on public or private property. Does anyone support this ordinance? Participants have been surprised to learn in some cases their food service activities were being duplicated and their food was being discarded by the homeless. Organizations attending the food service training classes report that they never realized how complicated the problem of homelessness was and they are grateful for the training about food and services. Participants have also recognized that the opportunities to provide food are not restricted to downtown; their services are also needed in other areas of the city and county. Organizations that conduct food service inside their facilities appreciate the coordination of volunteers and the fact that the volunteers are more informed about referral possibilities. The homeless themselves report more confidence in the safety of the food from the registered providers. Property managers in some of the hardest affected areas of town report slight improvements since the initiation of the program July 1, 2012. How do I get permission for use of City of Houston property? Contact Carolyn Gray at Carolyn.gray@houstontx.gov or call her at 832.393.5100.

Read this in Daily Oklahoman this morning. . . . . . . . . http://newsok.com/gallery/articleid/3707218/pictures/1800724?title=article-gallery-committed-customers-receive-perks-at-oklahoma-winery

I heard a guy from www.parksbyyou.org at the Neartown meeting. He made a presentation concerning prop B on the NOv 6 ballot-a $166,000.00 bond initiative. $66mil to upgrade 13 Houston Parks, $100mil (there are matching funds also) to connect bayous with green space--a total of 150 miles. When talking about the benefits he cited a study from a UT professor that stated $70mil a year would be seen thru economic benefits (physical, mental environmental, and economic health) plus No tax rate increase to fund the project.

Will Southside Espresso by Uchi's be able to fill the gap?

Mayor's Proud Partner Awards Application Available Online Keep Houston Beautiful (the City of Houston's Clean City Commission), is now accepting entry applications for the 28th Annual Mayor's Proud Partner Awards. If your group has worked to support our city through awareness, beautification, conservation or enhancement activities, the City of Houston like to hear about it. Please note the deadline for entries is Friday, September 7, 2012. Any program, project or individual effort completed during 2012 to create a cleaner, more beautiful environment is eligible. See last year's Proud Partners. Examples of eligible entries: Beautification and landscaping installation, environmental education program, litter prevention, neighborhood cleanup, volunteer park improvement or waste minimization effort. Sponsoring groups may include: Business, civic organization, college or university, garden club, government agency, media, medical institution, non-profit organization, religious organization, youth group or classroom project and/or an individual. The Mayor's Proud Partner award application is available at www.houstonbeautiful.org/ and is due by Friday, September 7, 2012. Be sure to APPLY NOW! For more information, contact Keep Houston Beautiful at info@houstonbeautiful.org. To learn more about the City of Houston sustainability efforts, visit www.greenhoustontx.gov/, www.codegreenhouston.org, www.houstontx.gov/parks/ and/or www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/.

got this email and thought it might be worth bainstorming. . . . . . . The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) requests input from area residents about what makes a community more liveable. Your suggestions are needed for the Community Transformation Initiative, a joint Houston and Harris County project led by HDHHS. Community transformation is a movement across the country that seeks to improve the conditions where people live, work and play to help them make healthier choices. Community input is an important piece of the transformation movement. Your participation is appreciated no later than Friday, August 31, 2012, by completing a 12-minute online survey available in English and Spanish at www.gatewaytocare.org/survey. The goal of the initiative is to create healthier communities by making it easier for people to live a healthy lifestyle. The initiative is designed to address chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes, improve health, reduce health disparities and control health care spending. For more information about the initiative, email communitytransformation@houstontx.gov or contact Carra Moroni at 832.393.4944. To learn more about the HDHSS, visit www.houstonhealth.org.

Community Charrette on Homelessness Community Action Plan Meetings August 20, 21, 23 and 28 Experts from across the country will speak at a four-day Community Charrette on Homelessness to help develop a plan to prevent and end homelessness in Houston , Harris County and Fort Bend County . A Charrette is an intensive planning process that jumpstarts and streamlines how a community develops or updates its Community Action Plan. The public is invited to attend all of the free Charrette sessions which will address the causes and propose solutions to the multiple facets of homelessness. The four-day meetings will be held at the Harris County Department of Education, 6300 Irvington Boulevard, Conference Room 502 (located in the parking garage), Houston 77002 on Monday, August 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 21, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and the final report will be presented Tuesday, August 28, 10 a.m. - noon. (See full schedule below.) Free parking is available in both the Department of Education garage and its parking lot across the street. Mayor Annise Parker will give an opening address to Charrette participants on Monday, August 20 at 9:15 a.m. For information on how to participate in the Charrette, contact Mary Itz, City of Houston Housing and Community Development at mary.itz@houstontx.gov or call 713.865.9314, or contact Gary Grier, Director of Community Engagement, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County at ggrier@homelesshouston.org or call 713.739.7514. To learn more about the City of Houston Department of Housing and Community Development, visit www.houstontx.gov/housing/. The Charrette is sponsored by the Coalition for the Homeless, with support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing. For additional information visit www.homelesshouston.org. Charrette Schedule and Topics Monday, August 20, 2012 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Integrating Housing and Services 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Performance and Accountability 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Right Sizing Continuum of Care Housing Models Tuesday, August 21, 2012 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Prevention and Diversion 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Coordinated Access 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Building Political Will/Advocacy Thursday, August 23, 2012 10 a.m. - noon Open office hours for Community Feedback 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Presentation of Initial Findings/Community Feedback Session Tuesday, August 28, 2012 10:00 a.m. - noon Presentation of the Final Report

got this email-- Kicking off our 30th Anniversary as Houston's most daring multidisciplinary arts center, DiverseWorks is thrilled to announce a new organizational home! After 20 years in our warehouse space north of downtown, DiverseWorks is relocating this fall to 4102 Fannin Street in the heart of midtown. This move, the third in our history, signals a commitment to midtown as a geographically critical area for the arts in Houston. It also precedes the highly anticipated construction of the Independent Arts Collaborative, of which DiverseWorks is a founding member. Located at the intersection of Fannin and Cleburne streets, DiverseWorks' new home was once part of the original Cleburne Cafeteria (1941-1969) and, until recently, housed a small manufacturing facility. At just over 5500 square feet, the facility features a sizeable gallery for exhibitions and a flex space specifically dedicated to public programming, including performances, film screenings, special events, workshops, and other activities. Our last day in our current location at 1117 E. Freeway is October 31st. Stay tuned for more information regarding our fall programming and a close-down celebratory event! MOVING SALE! Friday, August 17, 9 am - 5 pm and Saturday, August 18, 9 am - 12 pm 1117 East Freeway, Houston, 77002

I'm glad this topic was revised-- I recommend trying the queso at El Paraiso ------------- it's creamy white with lots of green chillies and really spicy! As expats to West Africa we had to bring 6 months worth of supplies---I bought cases of canned Cheese Soup, cream of mushroom soup, canned milk, and cans of salsa plus canned chipolte peppers. The recipe was 2 canned cheese soup, 1 can cream mushroom, 1 can milk, 1 can salsa then only 1/2 can of the chipolte,chopped fine. It was devine smoky heat. All the expats loved it.

right! Trinity now owns the entire square block. The church doesn't have many resources so I hope the mansion can be preserved and restored. Apparently first owner, Frank Bering was relative of Berings hardware family

Actually Francis and Fannin street. It's the Frank Bering house, that I posted the picture of . Here's an advertisement I found.

I was invited to view the Frank Bering Mansion 3400 Fannin Recently purchased by Triinity Episcopal Church. The interior is fairly remarkable, considering it has been retail since at least 1979.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Grand-Parkway-project-uncovers-prehistoric-remains-3738699.php wondering where these "finds" go for display--

Not sure if you are a nearby resident or if the Sunday you were there didn't have as many cars as usual. But just my own experience. . . . . . Most of the street parking is used by residents--there isn't a lot of choice as not everyone has a garage or driveway. Many times it's an additional 50 cars or more trying to park close to that church. The church tried to offer off site parking at Taft and gray. There was a shuttle of sorts, but not many took advantage of it. A lot of the nearby streets, are quite narrow, some don't have curbs and sidewalks just a ditch, so it seems people park more into the street---on both sides of the street. So trying to just drive down those streets was a hassle. More than a few times, cars would park with bumpers protruding into driveways or park so close to a corner that visibility of cross traffic was compromised.The residents were fairly proactive to call HPD parking and tow trucks etc. Just an all around mess.

thanks for the info-- I was wondering if there were any pictures of the restaurant out there--I was curious what the old house looked like.

There is another thread that asks the question "what's up with Ecclesia church" it's about the parking and noise issues that drive the surrounding residents nuts. I knew they had purchased a warehouse http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Ecclesia-provides-service-for-the-least-of-these-1699889.php so I guess this is a new property?

I'm doing some research for Avondale Civic-- This ad appeared in Texas Montholy in the 70's-- Anyone have any memories of either of these places?