trymahjong

a friend who knows I'm in Manhattan for a while, sent this. . . . . . . interesting http://www.39online.com/newsfix/kiah-newsfix-were-1-20120306,0,7194980.story

Please join us for an education seminar Houston Recycling: Where Are We? Thursday, March 22, 2012 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Houstonians are talking about recycling these days. There are a lot of questions: How does it work? Who can participate? What can be recycled? How much does it cost? How does Houston 's program compare to other cities? What happens to the recycled materials? Why can't everything be recycled? This seminar (held in a recycled 1916 vintage warehouse) will provide access to people who can answer all those questions for both residential and commercial customers. Speakers: Harry Hayes, Director, City of Houston Solid Waste Department Mark Austin, proprietor, WeCanRecycle.org Amanda Beard, Sales Manager, Waste Management Recycling Services Keith Koski, Manager, City of Houston ReUse Warehouse Director Harry Hayes will talk about the City of Houston residential side, Mark Austin will cover the small commercial side, Amanda Beard will talk about the large commercial side and their new MRF (and explain what a MRF is) and Keith Koski will talk about reusing building materials in Houston. See http://www.greenhoustontx.gov/gbrceducation.pdf for more details and a map. Green Building Resource Center 1002 Washington Avenue Houston 77002 We welcome your participation in these events, and your interest and support for green building efforts across Houston. Please RSVP to Steve Stelzer at 832.394.9050 or email steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov. www.codegreenhouston.org <img border="0" />

Road to AIDS Town Hall Meeting The City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Community Education Group and the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS for Prevention Services, invites you to a national HIV prevention organization town hall meeting: The Road to AIDS 2012 Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., the Hobby Center Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby, Houston 77002. The Road to AIDS 2012 is a series of community mobilizing events in 15 U.S. cities leading to the XIX International AIDS Conference to be held for the first time in the United States . The local events will take the form of a listening session/town hall meeting and will include inviting people living with HIV/AIDS, governmental leaders, advocacy groups, community-based organizations, the faith-based community, healthcare providers, business partners, media and others. All discussions will include American Sign Language Interpretation. For more information, email Barry Barnes barry.barnes@houstontx.gov, City of Houston Bureau of HIV Prevention, call him at 832.393.4702 or visit http://www.roadtoaids2012.org/. To learn more about Health and Human Services, visit www.houstontx.gov/health.

I'm surprised. . . . . I live in Avondale (developed in 1907) since I've lived here 2 houses have gone for sale that had basements plus I've visited 4 other houses (on Stanford, Avondale, Stratford, Crocker streets) that all had basements. Only one of these was "finished". 1 "modified" partially filled in and fitted out for a bathroom/laundry room and the others just as they were when made. There is a historic home tour done in this neighborhood and basements are talked about and yes, some of the houses still have the original receptacles for oil delivery. But somehow basements became undesirable and the newer homes were built with out them.

Wish the "powers that be" would consider moving moving 1/2 price books into that old house next door to Katz's-- i think it would be a cool place filled with bookshelves. .lots of nooks to read in. . . it's a great ole house. .I'd settle for any business really. . . . . . . I'm always afraid that instead of renovating, those woeful houses will get torn down like the one by Indika.

got a few emails from family members suggesting I might want to reconsider always using google http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/privacy/232601809

I'm not sure how it would be accomplished, but I wish Universities could give a realistic idea of what degrees will offer the best chance of employment. You watch your kid pursuing their dream, but then ending up with an advanced degree that didn't translate into the job and career they hoped for.

Got an email the the Alamo Draft house rolling road show was hosting a screening of "Some like it hot" June 5th--- Is the Majestic to open permanently?

Read this editorial in NY Times--- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/opinion/what-college-students-need-to-know.html?_r=1&ref=editorials Thought it was interesting. . . . . . . . . .

seems like craft beer nirvana. . . . . . . . . . won't have a chance to try it out for a while. . . . . . . . . . anyone been there?

On the neighborhood yahoo group-- La Mexicana wanted to buy this property last year but owners of liquor store "weren't ready" but speculation is that it would be bought by LaMexicana for parking. Also speculation => the owners of Liquor store also own car wash by autozone and might reopen the attached small store offering liquor etc but on smaller scale.

! am hoping for a good BBQ place to go in-- we tried the one up on gray street--hmmmmmmmmmmmmm not what I was hoping for.

I had heard Bobby Heugal speak at last month's Neartown meeting about the "hoops" COH makes you jump thru to get permits etc this "hoop" . . . . . . makes me sad http://swamplot.com/restored-marys-mural-on-westheimer-painted-over-again/2012-02-13/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+swamplot+%28Swamplot%3A+Houston%27s+Real+Estate+Landscape%29

I asked because I had posted this last January on the Fbar thread and haven't heard anything since=> The owner of Pub Fiction brought renderings of the building to a Midtown Planning meeting awhile back. If plans haven't changed since then... the building is going to be awesome w/ a nice entrance on the corner w/ columns. It will be multi story (I think 2 or 3) with a roof bar thing w/ parking in the back I don't get to go to as many meetings as I did last year. . . . . .

the next morning early--maybe 6 am all the strrets were blocked off and you could tell the firman had gone all the way to avondale and helena to use that hydrant-- I guess the building was only cinder block-- but I liked the cylinder looking part, the front door and the vw in the wall-- whatever happened to the plans for the building across the street?

I agree about the shoes-- especially during summer and you see all those bare feet standing where all those bare feet have stood and think eeeeeeeew

HOUSTON GALVESTON REGIONAL PLAN Help make the vision for a better tomorrow a reality! Your input is important. The City of Houston along with regional partners and the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) are kicking off an ambitious two-year project to develop a regional plan for sustainable development. Attend any of the three meetings to share your vision for Houston and our region. Your input is important. Why Now? The 13-county region is expected to see 4 million new residents in the next 30 years. Where will those residents live? How will this change affect quality of life? How will people move around the region? The Houston Galveston Regional Plan is an important chance to look forward and find ways to keep our communities prosperous, healthy, and attractive for generations to come. Plan Focus: The plan explores opportunities to improve the region's most significant resources: - clean air and water - good jobs - safe and attractive neighborhoods - affordable housing - transportation choices - open spaces and parks Participate: Come share your ideas about what you would like your community and region to look like for future generations. Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Hiram Clark Multi-Service Center 3810 W. Fuqua Houston, TX 77045 Saturday, February 18, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon St. Martin's Episcopal Church 717 Sage Road Houston, TX 77056 Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Ripley House Neighborhood Center 4410 Navigation Houston, TX 77011 To learn more about the plan, share your ideas, and/or sign up for updates visit http://www.ourregion.org/ or send an email to ourregion@h-gac.com or contact Anna Sedillo at Anna.Sedillo@houstontx.gov. For further information, call 713.463.8200.

I heard Bobby Heugel speak at the Neartown meeting Tuesday---he said the Hay Merchant was about 5 months behind schedule to open because of all the hoops he had to jump through for COH permits. He was there to speak about article 26 (i think that's the #--it's about new parking requirements) He gave a good speech from the individual restaurant owners perpective.

I received this email from COH council Houston has the largest homeless population in Texas and the 8th largest in the United States, with more than 40,000 people experiencing homelessness in Houston annually. Results of the 2011 Homeless Census and Needs Assessment indicate that over 13,500 people are homeless in our community at any point in time. In addition, school reports show that over 11,000 students attending schools in Harris County were homeless during the 2010-11 school year. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) will conduct a countywide "Point in Time" count of the unsheltered homeless and need your help! The Homeless Count will take place on Tuesday, January 24 and Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Visit http://houstonhomelesscount.org to volunteer and for more information on this very important effort. For more information or to register, please contact: Gary Grier at ggrier@homelesshouston.org or 832-531-6006 The Point in Time count serves as the primary source of data locally and nationally to understand homelessness trends and to track progress on efforts to prevent and end homelessness for all communities. The count will be part of a nationwide initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assess the extent and characteristics of homelessness across the country.

the counting continues in January 2012 Roelant writes: "You are cordially invited to join "World Parrot Count 2012". We, Roelant Jonker and Michael Braun of the "extra-tropical department" of the Parrot Researchers Group of the International Ornithological Union (IOU), invite your to take parrot this global parrot census this January and February in order to get much needed scientific data about parrots living in cities around the globe. This count is a 2nd edition. For further information please visit the following website": http://cityparrots. org/world- parrot-count/ If you have any questions please contact us via the following E-mail-address: parrotcount@ cityparrots. org

I recently went on a tour to see the wild Quaker/Monk parrots that live in Brooklyn, New York http://www.brooklynparrots.com/ This peaked my curiosity about the San Leon, Parrots--- thanks for the info

The National Parrot Rescue Foundation has their annual convention in Houston the latter part of January. This year a tour of the Quaker Parrots of San Leon is offered. I was wondering what to expect. . . . . are there large nesting places? . . . . . are there that many birds? Just wanted to hear other peoples experience--thanks

I was wondering if anyone knew what was planned for the 2 lots next to Indika? The old house (that was on one of the lots) was demolished and removed.

Try the City of Houston's New Storm Risk Calculator Website The City of Houston is asking for your help to evaluate the city's new Storm Risk Calculator website. This website provides residents information about the risk they and their homes face from severe weather, like hurricanes. In the event of an approaching hurricane or tropical storm, the website will provide information by address on the risk of damage from rainfall flooding and/or surge, risk of damage from wind and the risk of power failure. To help us make the website ready for the 2012 hurricane season, please take a few minutes to visit the Storm Risk Calculator website, http://risk.rtsnets.com/ and use its different features. If you have any comments, email them to Professor Bob Stein, stein@rice.edu or Sharon Nalls, Office of Emergency Mananagment, sharon.nalls@houstontx.gov. Thank you for helping Houston be more prepared for next year's hurricane season. For more information on emergency preparedness, visit http://www.houstonoem.net or http://www.houstontx.gov/hec.

I appreciate all the information. I was worried and so I asked for info on the neighborhood yahoo group and got this back from one of my neighbors=> A couple of weeks back I sent an email to the author of the site, and I got back an angry email from him that basically said that he was being sarcastic on the site. I had to point out to him that the people that I had shown the site to did not catch the sarcasm. Basically, he is bashing the civic associations for not fighting development. This is the response that I got back: I am a resident living in the Montlew-Dearborn-Lancaster Place intersection of hell. I was threatened with a lawsuit from the local slum lords for publishing a different version of Montrose Slums with pictures of their buildings and comments about the properties. The website got their attention; the owners didn't like the public display of their names, money earned, 311 logs, and descriptions of their properties displayed to the public. My attorneys suggested for me to remove all entries that displayed their names, which I did. I later purchased blog insurance. The owners of the under maintained buildings approached the civic association and discussed possible improvements. Since that time, the neighborhood association abandoned communication with the owners and let the issue die in place. For that, it cost me 5K for the neighborhood association to give a nod to the owners. Yes, you're right that most of the owners of these buildings do not live in the area. These owners live in Missouri City and own dozens of building in the Montrose area, where they have devalued blocks of properties. They do nothing illegal and it is within their right to neglect these properties so maybe I shouldn't complain; however, I chose to find methods to make their work public as it should be. In this area, the local neighborhood association has done little to enforce deed restrictions or support homeowner properties. This is my opinion but the association has stated that they are primarily a social organization, with emphasis on ice cream socials instead of property protection. In my opinion, they have set up the neighborhood for failure with their vocal support of HEB, which is the largest development in the area. This created a target for developers; I believe this area has a new focus due to HEB and will create a new interest among developers. I also believe that they will view this area as pro-development, as a method to improve the area. Can you imagine a situation where homeowners were confronted with a huge grocery store and the president of the association published a website titled "PRHEBMONTROSE"? There's something wrong when a neighborhood association doesn't actively protect property values. And that's where we are. So if this website disturbs people, and makes them realize that they're vulnerable, hey might start to organize to fight a battle that is coming, and probably soon. Hopefully homeowners in this area might wake up. On the other hand, the website has a number of subtle undercuts in the language and pictures such as the Montrose Land Defense Coalition protesting the development of the HEB grocery store. Maybe some residents will realize that city council members are partly to blame for helping sell off the area to big business. Maybe the super neighborhood has been instrumental in selling off part of the area for personal gain and the associations are not getting proper representation. Maybe the civic association leaders are selling out their neighbors for personal gain. You might ask why David Robinson worked as a consultant to HEB during a highly controversial development that affected many residents quality of life. And he's literally on the TRAIN, coming our way down Richmond. Maybe the website advertises the obvious and some people or associations feel that tidbits of truth are being exposed to developers and their secrets can't be maintained. What will they do?