President’s Message Volunteers needed to help new Board Members. Page 2
Nov. Membership Meeting Thursday, Nov. 15th, 6:30 PM Sharpstown Comm. Center. Page 2
Safety & Security Update Committee interviewing vendors for Patrol Program. Page 4
Prohibited Yard Parking SCA working to ban yard parking in Section 5. Page 3
Sharpstown Today Issue 8, volume 37
The Official Publication of the Sharpstown Civic Association
November-December 2012
Bellaire Mobility Project Construction Underway on Ambitious Renewal Project
Revised Patrol Program Safety & Security Committee Is Developing New Program
New Heavy Trash Day Revised Schedule effective November 1st, 2012
NOVEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING THURS., NOV. 15TH, 6:30 P.M.
YARD OF THE MONTH - OCT. 2012 -M/M WIECKOWKSI CALADIUMS, NANDINA, AND AZALEAS ARE BEAUTIFUL
Cover Photo: Bellaire Blvd. reconstruction in progress near Mary Bates.
SHARPSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER HARBOR TOWN DR. @ BELLAIRE 1/2 BLOCK FROM MARY BATES
Join Us!
President’s Message BY PETER ACQUARO
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all is underway here in Sharpstown as the cool air is a fresh change from the sultry, humid conditions of the late summer. The holiday season is almost upon us and it’s great to see the fall decorations go up around the neighborhood. This is one of my favorite seasons of the year. For the SCA this is an important time as we look to the new year; coming together at our Annual Membership Meeting on Nov. 15th to elect a new group of Officers & Directors. In the mean time we’ve taken action to strengthen our governing body with new volunteers. In September, the Board voted to add four Directors to interim terms through December 2012. Paul Rafferty (CCT2), former Director and security liaison, rejoined the Board and leads the new Safety & Security Committee, along with new Director and Co-chair Charmaine LeBlanc (SEC 5). Our Finance Committee was strengthened with the addition of Jodi Ogden (CCEE3) with the UT Health Science Center, who holds an MBA. And long time neighbor Dee Bond (CCEE3), a sales engineer in the oil & gas sector, joins as Co-chair Deed Restrictions Committee. This is a very strong group of talent and we will surely see the impact of their knowledge, enthusiasm, and tenacity. This brings the current Board roster to seventeen, the largest group in some years. As was noted in the last issue, the committees were reorganized and consolidated earlier this year to better focus on our core mission. The six core operational committees include 2|
Sharpstown Today
Sharpstown Today The official publication of the Sharpstown Civic Association (SCA).
Architectural Control, Deed Restrictions, Safety & Security, Beautification, Activities & Events, and Government Relations. The support committees include Administration, Finance, Communications, and Membership. The volunteers on these committees are the backbone of this organization and they need your help to provide the services our neighborhood needs. Currently, we have about 60 members that are involved, or have expressed a desire to participate, in this renewed effort. The plan is to start 2013 with a team of 100 active volunteers to jump start the organization and start down a fresh path. If you have experience in any of these areas or can volunteer your time at any level please contact the Committee Chairs directly or through the office. In addition we are working to broaden the representation on the Board of Directors to better reflect the diversity of our neighborhood, not the least of which is geographic. If you or someone you know would be interested in Board service, especially if they reside in Section 3, we’d love to chat. Don’t miss our Thanksgiving Dinner on November 15th. We’ll provide the Turkey & Fixings. Bring a dessert or side, and a friend or neighbor!
November-December 2012
EDITORIAL Jim Bigham Contact: Editor@sharpstownscan.com Ph: (713) 568-8124
Government Relations Committee
Update: Prohibited Yard Parking
PHOTO CREDITS Jim Bigham, Jeanette Kew
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS Peter Acquaro; President Section 5 - 713-301-0653
Linda Schmidt; Vice President CCEE3
Jeanette Kew; Treasurer CCT3 - 713-772-0175
Jim Bigham; Chair, Communications CCT2 - 713-568-8124
Dee Bond; Deed Restrictions CCEE2 - 713-614-2199
Pat Felder; Chair, Deed Restrictions Section 2 - 713-774-3205
Vanessa Golden; Finance Section 2 - 713-515-3429
Mike Laster Section 1 - 713-272-9556
Charmaine LeBlanc; Safety & Security Section 5 - 281-687-1323
John Lorenz; Chair, Architectural CCT2 - 832-265-3219
Liz Mendiola; Beautification CCEE3 - 713-702-5422
Jodi Ogden; Finance CCEE3 - 713-962-1069
Paul Rafferty; Chair, Safety & Security
SCA Director Paul Schooley and representatives from CM Mike Laster’s District J office were in City Council chambers on October 3rd, 2012 in response to a hearing on prohibited yard parking for Section 5. The City of Houston received a protest from a property owner opposed to the creation of the Prohibited-Yard-Parking (PYP) area for Section 5. The property owner was not in attendance so the proposal remains unopposed. The Hearing Officer will send the proposed ordinance to City Council for a final vote. Currently parking on the grass is prohibited in Section 1,1A, 2,and 3. Complaints should be directed to COH 311, and reported to the SCA through the Deed Restriction complaint form on our site: sharpstowncivic.org.
Editor’s Note BY JIM BIGHAM BIGHAM C H ABY I R, CJIM OMMU N I C AT I O N S
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Sharpstown Today
ur inaugural issue of was well received, although it was not without hiccups. Condolences go to the family of Winston Johnson who, along with his business partner Sam Trotter, delivered the SCAN newsletter for many years. Winston tragically passed away on the day our last issue was ready for pickup from the printer. In the midst of a funeral for a great friend, Sam committed to delivering our magazine, and while it didn’t go perfectly, his efforts are truly appreciated. Thanks to Monica Velez with Printing-X-Press for her expertise in transitioning to the new format. Our September General Meeting included a frank discussion of the COPS program and featured candidates for public office, including Gene Wu and a rep for MJ Khan. They’re running to fill Rep. Hochberg’s seat in HD 137 as he retires this year. We were also pleased to have several judicial candidates such as Judge Theresa Chang, candidate Don Self, and Joni Bain on behalf of her spouse Bruce Bain. Special thanks to HPD Midwest Division’s Sgt. Matthew Hong, present to accept a donation of $650 from SCA members to support their newly formed Bike Patrol. The October General Meeting featured reports by the Finance and Safety & Security Committees, updating members on our current financial position, our results year-to-date, and the progress of the revised patrol program. In addition our special guest was George Greanias, President and CEO of METRO, who provided remarks about transit authority projects, and took questions about resources and the bond referendum. Jose Pulido, METRO’s Community Outreach Rep, was very helpful in arranging for Mr. Greanias to visit us. It should be noted that we had many new attendees at this meeting and we appreciate their comments, questions, and support. As always your feedback is vital. Contact me directly at 713-568-8124 or by email: editor@sharpstownscan.com.
CCT2 - 713-882-8426
Paul Schooley; Govt. Relations Section 2 - 281-802-8304
Frank Thomas; Mosquito Control SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. 7211 Regency Square Blvd., Suite 117 Houston, Texas 77036-3137 PH: 713-789-2311 FAX: 713-789-2311 Email: scaoffice@att.net Web: Sharpstowncivic.org
CCEE3 - 713-977-7382
Loletha Thomas; Administration Section 5 - 713-977-7382
Tony Tuckwiller; Chair, Administration CCEE2 - 713-784-3122
Copyright © 2012 Sharpstown Today November-December 2012
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Safety & Security Committee
COMMITTEE WORKS ON NEW PATROL PROGRAM
T H E NEW SAF ET Y & SECURITY CO MMIT TEE I S AC T I VELY WORK I N G TO L AU N C H A REVI S E D PAT R O L P R OG R A M, W HI LE BUI LDING RELATIONSHIP S WIT H HOU S TON POL I C E M I D WES T D I VI S I ON .
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he safety and security of our neighborhood remains a top priority for the SCA, and the Board of Directors is committed to maintaining a neighborhood patrol program. The newly launched Safety & Security Committee, led by Chair Paul Rafferty and Co-chair Charmaine LeBlanc, have been hard at work developing options for 2013. The committee collected crime data from HPD, as well as the Sharpstown Management District, to evaluate the types of crime in our community, and when they are most likely to occur. There is very little crime within our SCA Boundaries, with virtually all violent crime and most property crime hitting the apartments, commercial businesses, and pedestrians outside our single-family home neighborhoods. However property crime, such as burglaries, thefts, and auto thefts still happens inside our community. A highly visible, responsive, and costeffective patrol program will go a long
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Sharpstown Today
way in helping deter and discourage crooks looking to operate inside our boundaries. The committee developed a request-for-proposal (RFP) for a contract patrol program, selected eight candidate vendors, and requested responses by Wednesday, October 17th. Seven of the eight provided detailed bids, including a group of off-duty, Harris County Deputy Constables. The quotes include options for multiple patrol officers, in highly marked vehicles, patrolling the community during periods of high risk for property crimes, which is generally Monday through Friday during business hours. The committee is considering many factors in the evaluation process, not the least of which is cost, but also size, services (such as vacation watch and dispatch), as well as communication and the tenure of the business organization. In short, we’re looking for experience, professionalism, service, and a reasonable cost.
November-December 2012
Directors Rafferty & LeBlanc are conducting interviews and making site visits to evaluate first hand which vendor will be the best fit for the SCA. They will conclude their work in early November and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, who will make the final selection. We hope to have a signed agreement and a formal announcement at our November general meeting, with the revised patrol program beginning in mid December.
CRIME ALERTS & OTHER INITIATIVES Members (and the community) may now subsribe to crime alerts via email from the SCA through our new web site, www.sharpstowncivic.org. Urgent, timely, and important information will be delivered to subscribers through email. This will allow a more effective way to communicate urgent crime issues to residents, like the request from HPD Detectives in a recent case, where they had a suspect description and needed the community’s help in
apprehending the perpetrator. Crime alerts via text message and or recorded phone message are under consideration as well. Many larger university communities including Houston Baptist use these types of tools to keep student and faculty residents apprised of serious safety and security issues. We’re exploring the use of a suspicious activity web form and hotline to collect and share information among residents. In addition, we are evaluating the feasibility of providing neighborhood specific crime reports that can help measure the effectiveness of our various programs.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2012 On Tuesday, October 2nd, the committee attended the National Night Out event (pictures on left) held at Diho Square on Bellaire & Ranchester. This event was well attended and the visitors appreciated the participation of the Sharpstown Civic Association. Guests included United States Congressman Al Green, CM Mike Laster, and Management District Chair Kenneth Li. Attendees from the SCA also included Jeanette Kew, SCA Treasurer and Peter Acquaro, SCA President (along with his family), who provided remarks to the crowd of about 200. Diho Square management provided food for the guests and the SCA provided soft drinks and water. The committee will develop plans for a major “National Night Out” event in 2013 inside our single family home boundaries.
HPD POSTIVE INTERACTION PROGRAM On Wednesday, October 17th, the committee, along with Jeanette Kew attended the PIP meeting (Positive Interaction Program) held monthly at HPD’s Midwest Division HQ, on Regency Square near the SCA office. This event was a great opportunity to meet and talk with HPD leaders and other members of the community. The program was led by Sgt. Hong, who leads the Storefront operations for the division, and included remarks by the Division Commander Captain Jennifer Evans. Two awards were presented for Officer-of-the-Month and we were informed that a serial robber, who was the primary suspect in as many as 21 recent area robberies, was apprehended by Midwest Division Officers. The alleged perp appeared to be on his way out of town as he was stopped for a traffic violation and the arresting officer noticed a packed suitcase in the backseat. It was noted that he was linked to 14 robbery cases which caused a slight spike in recent crime data. The committee came away with the impression that the Officers of the Midwest Division are smart, proactive, effective, and responsive. They very much appreciated the contribution of $650 donated by members to support the new Bike Patrol unit. Captain Evans related some news about their progress to date, including interrupting an armed robbery in progress (arriving on bikes before marked HPD cars) and the ability to “roll up” on suspicious activity
within apartment communities, where much of the local crime occurs.
GENERAL SAFETY AND OTHER ISSUES SCA residents have experienced a number of house fires over the last few months, with a major fire occuring on Bellaire near Mary Bates. The fire stretched all the way from the detached garage to the front door of the two-story home. House fires also occurred on Carvel, Leader, and Barberton. Fortunately no one was injured in these tragic events but they are frightening to say the least. The SCA is working with these owners as they progress through the insurance claims process and will assist in any way to expedite approval of repairs and rebuilding. We are considering a Fire Safety program and hope to work with the Houston Fire Department to learn more about what is causing these fires, and what residents can do to help address them. Director LeBlanc has experience with Citizens Patrol - Crime Watch programs and will be laying the groundwork for a pilot program here in Sharpstown. We also plan to develop other safety intitiatives like a child ID and child car seat program, crime prevention clinics through Crimestoppers and HPD, and emergency preparedness - disaster training through Harris County. If you have experience in any of these areas or can volunteer your time on this committee please contact us!
November-December 2012
Sharpstown Today | 5
BELLAIRE MOBILITY PROJECT UNDERWAY THE L ON G AN T I C I PAT E D RE C ON S T RU C T I ON OF B E L L AI RE BLV D FR O M OS AGE TO ROGE RD AL E I S A T WO Y E AR PROJ EC T T HAT W IL L BR ING I M PROVE D I N F RAS T RU C T U RE TO OU R N E I G H BO R H O O D.
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he Bellaire Boulevard Reconstruction Project is a joint project between the Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority (SHRA) and the City of Houston (COH). The SHRA was responsible for the design of the project. The COH will be responsible for the construction of the project. The project will consist of several types of improvements along the Bellaire Boulevard corridor from Rogerdale Road to Osage Road. Here is a summary of the different types of improvements and upgrades that will be constructed with this project:
Roadway Improvements
Estimated Project Schedule
• Rebuild the roadway, Dedicated left turn lanes • Addition of one westbound lane to the roadway • Dedicated turn lanes at Beltway 8 frontage roads
September 2012 => Begin Project Construction
Utility Improvements • Install new storm sewer system to increase capacity of existing system • Replace existing water Lines and services • Replace Existing wastewater Lines and services
Hardscape and Landscape Improvements • Replace old sidewalks with new concrete sidewalks with paver insets • Pavers, Benches, Over 250 Trees Planted, Traffic Signal Planter Rings • Planter Walls, Irrigation Systems, Planter Pots, Street Lights
Traffic Management Improvements • • • • • • • •
Install new Traffic Signals - Pedestrian communications Beltway 8 northbound and southbound frontage roads Pella Dr Corporate Dr Ranchester Dr Gessner Rd Mary Bates Blvd Harbor Town Dr
Construction costs • • • • • •
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Water & sewer = $4.2 M Drainage = $3.1 M Roadway = $5.7 M Landscape/Hardscape = $2.4 M Other General Items = $6.5 M TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS = $21.9 M
Sharpstown Today
November-December 2012
September 2012 to December 2012 => Improvements to Beltway 8 frontage roads and construction of temporary asphalt pavement in the current median (for future use) will be completed. February 19, 2013 to July 2013 => Reconstruction of Bellaire Blvd eastbound lanes and installation of some segments of proposed underground utilities (storm water, water distribution lines and wastewater collection lines) will be completed. August 2013 to December 2013 => Reconstruction of Bellaire Blvd westbound lanes, including the addition of the 4th westbound lane and installation of remaining segments of proposed underground utilities (storm water, water distribution lines and wastewater collection lines) will be completed. February 11, 2014 to September 2014 => Installation of hardscaping elements, landscaping elements and other miscellaneous items throughout the project limits will be completed.
PHASE I CONSTRUCTION: PROJECT STATUS UPDATE FR O M TH E G R E ATE R S H A R P S TO W N M A NA G E ME NT DIS TR IC T
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he Bellaire Boulevard Access Management and Widening construction project held an official ground breaking ceremony on September 20, 2012, and construction activity has been steadily progressing for approximately one month now at various locations along the boulevard. The primary work zone is currently in the median of the boulevard, and the number of travel lanes in the eastbound and westbound directions has been reduced from three lanes to two lanes between Corporate Drive and Mary Bates Boulevard. In the median area, the contactor is installing large storm sewer boxes between Ranchester Drive and St. Agnes Academy. The contractor is also working in the median between Osage and Waldo Streets installing large storm sewer pipe. As part of the ongoing coordination to install proposed utilities while working around existing utilities, there have been scheduled water service outages, which are kept to the shortest duration of time necessary. In addition to this coordination, the contractor will continue to close median openings temporarily for approximately one to two weeks as utilities are installed underneath the existing pavement. These minor inconveniences are required for construction, however every effort is being made to make the disruptions as minimal as possible. At the intersection of Bellaire Boulevard and Beltway 8, the contractor has roadway pavement crews working at the southwest and southeast corners. This construction will add dedicated right turn lanes at the intersection. It is anticipated that the proposed pavement at these corners will be complete near the end of October. In preparation for the future phases of construction and for shifting the travel lanes to the north half of Bellaire Boulevard, the contractor has already placed temporary traffic signals at each intersection along the boulevard and is excavating the median so that temporary asphalt pavement can be installed. As this traffic switch approaches, more updates will be provided to alert the general public of this change.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATIONS! September 2014 => End Project Construction
Anyone interested in receiving construction updates is urged to provide their contact information at the project website: www.bellaireconstructionproject.com
CALL THESE REPRESENTATIVES FIRST Contractor Representatives - Total Contracting Ltd. Project Manager: Project Superintndt: Superintendent: Community Liaison:
Moises Ayala 832-262-0221 (c) Luke Morganti 832-265-7470 (c) Jose Diaz 832-265-7434 (c) Yuzhen Liang 832-955-8608 (c)
November-December 2012
Sharpstown Today | 7
COMMUNITY NEWS
CITY OF HOUSTON Solid Waste Schedule NEW HEAVY TRASH SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE NOV. 1ST.
THE MARKETPLACE
The 2nd Monday for homes WEST of Fondren and the second Tuesday for homes EAST of Fondren. REGULAR GARBAGE, YARD WASTE, AND RECYCLING IS UNCHANGED.
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SECTION 1 & 2- Garbage & Yard Waste: Tuesdays Heavy Trash: 2nd Tuesday (TREE: 11/13; JUNK: 12/11) Recycling: Every other Tues. (11/6,11/20,12/4,12/18) SECTION 3 - Garbage & Yard Waste: Tuesdays Heavy Trash: 2nd Monday (TREE: 11/12; JUNK: 12/10) Recycling: Every other Tues. (11/6,11/20,12/4,12/18) SECTION 5, CCT-1 & CCT-2 Garbage & Yard Waste: Tuesdays Heavy Trash: 2nd Monday (TREE: 11/12; JUNK: 12/10) Recycling: Every other Tues. (11/6,11/20,12/4,12/18) SECTION CCT-3 - Garbage & Yard Waste: Tuesdays Heavy Trash: 2nd Monday (TREE: 11/12; JUNK: 12/10) Recycling: Every other Tues. (11/6,11/20,12/4,12/18) SECTIONS CCE-E & CCE-W Garbage & Yard Waste: Mondays Heavy Trash: 2nd Monday (TREE: 11/12; JUNK: 12/10) Recycling: Every other Monday (11/5,11/19,12/3,12/17)
Associate Members B-10 Vietnamese Cafe/ Thuy Tran Century 21 Southwest Realty / Kenneth LI Commquest Insurance / Wen H. Tu MAK Development / M.J. Khan NYT Property Management / Jeanette Kew Pawvillion - A Pet Salon / Elizabeth Bialoski RE/MAX Southwest / Betty Townes Third Space LLC / Michael Prentice St. Paul Presbyterian Church / Lynne Ruth Santhoff Plumbing / Joe Santhoff Scott Hochberg / State Representative Sharpstown Baptist Church / Mike Jeter Southwest Fertilizer / Bob Patterson Sutton Elementary / Sarah Cripps-Rain Vita-Living / David Leatham Gene Wu for Texas / Gene Wu 8|
Sharpstown Today
November-December 2012
AARP Chapter 4418 Meetings are held on the first THURSDAY of each month at 1 p.m. at the Bayland Park Center.
Sharpstown Rotary Club Meetings are Tuesdays at 11:45 AM Hilton Houston Southwest • Savoy Drive @ SW Freeway
AARP Chapter 50 Monthly meetings on the second TUESDAY of each month at 1:30 PM at the Bayland Park Center.
Houston Area Wood Carvers Meetings on the third SATURDAY of each month from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at Bayland Park Center. November-December 2012
Sharpstown Today | 9
THE MARKETPLACE
THE MARKETPLACE
Sharpstown Today Magazine Advertising and Editorial
Circulation: 7,000 2013 schedule: Six Issues: Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, May-Jun, July-Aug, Sep-Oct, and Nov-Dec. Submission Deadline: 4th Thursday of prior month Ph: 713-568-8124 Email: editor@sharpstownscan.com 10 |
Sharpstown Today
November-December 2012
November-December 2012
Sharpstown Today | 11
Think South west for Se niors The only destination in Houston delivering comprehensive senior care. At Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, we recognize that seniors are unique and deserve specialized services dedicated to meet their needs. That’s why we are proud to be the only destination in Houston delivering comprehensive senior care. • First dedicated Senior Emergency Center in Texas • Senior Treatment and Recovery Unit for Behavioral Care (S.T.A.R.) • First hospital in Houston with a dedicated senior unit • 24-hour intensive care physicians • Specialized nurses, physicians and clinical staff • One of HealthGrades® America’s 50 Best Hospitals • Inpatient Hospice Unit and Palliative Medicine Program • Specialized Geriatric Acute Care Unit For a primary care physician, call 713.456.5348. To reach the Senior Emergency Center, call 713.456.6603.
memorialhermann.org/seniors
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Sharpstown Today
November-December 2012