Webster Way Newsletter | July 2023

WEBSTER’S

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

If you’re looking for a fun and free Fourth of July celebration, look no further than Texas Avenue Park. This family-friendly event will be open to the public and promises a day full of excitement and entertainment. Located at 17100 Texas Ave, the festivities will kick off at 5 PM, featuring various activities for kids, food trucks, and live entertainment!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Event Begins

SVK Band Performance

Houston Highlanders Performance

K9 Demonstration

Mayor and City Council Introduction

Veteran’s Recognition Program

National Anthem Fireworks

The event will also include a special recognition of our community’s Veterans, so be sure to show your support for those who have served. And, of course, no Fourth of July celebration would be complete without a spectacular fireworks show, and our City boasts the best in the area. While you can bring your food and drinks, alcohol is not allowed on site. Additionally, pets are not permitted, except for service animals.

HEROES IN ACTION: A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF A WEBSTER FIREFIGHTER

Firefighter Christian Rivera began his career journey with one goal in mind—to help others. Now two years into his career, that is exactly what he is doing.

As a firefighter for the City, Christian runs a series of 911 calls, including medical calls, fire alarms, and car accidents. Christian’s duties at the fire station are to ensure that truck check-offs are complete and all tools function correctly.

“Our department is very driven, so we also get in some training during every shift,” says Christian.

Responding to fire alarms across buildings within the City is a common occurrence for the fire department. Additionally, Webster firefighters look for things that can be considered fire hazards, such as blocked-off exits, faulty smoke detectors, and electrical perils.

“We do our best to make everything a teaching moment for the citizens and educate them on why certain things may potentially be dangerous,” says Christian, “Educating the public is the best fire prevention there is.”

Christian recently obtained his paramedic certification, allowing him to perform advanced medical procedures and provide emergency pre-hospital care. Paramedic training equips firefighters with the skills to evaluate and prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries or medical conditions.

Handling the emotional and psychological aspects of dealing with traumatic incidents as a firefighter requires a supportive approach. One of the most effective ways to cope with these factors is through open communication with fellow crew members.

“One of the best ways to cope is simply talking about it with your crew because no one else is going to be able to fully relate or understand the stressors that come with the job unless you’re a part of it,” says Christian.

In the face of the challenges and overwhelming stress that can occasionally arise from his profession, Christian’s experiences have fostered a deep sense of selflessness as he constantly strives to refine his craft and personal development.

“My job has shaped me into a highly analytical and critical thinker. I do my best to perfect my craft because I know that there is always the potential that someone’s life can rely on my own mental strength & physical fitness,” says Christian. “I feel very blessed to have a career in something I love.”

THE PEOPLE OF WEBSTER

Webster resident Saad Nadeem made history this past May by being the first person in his family to obtain a higher education. His accomplishments, however, extend much further. Not only did Saad complete his undergraduate degree, he completed three majors and three minors while keeping a 4.0 GPA.

Saad was born in Pakistan in 2001 and migrated to the United States with his family in 2005.

“When my dad was more established in America, my younger brother, mom, and I came here. We sometimes go back during the summer to visit our family in Pakistan,” says Saad.

Growing up in the Clear Lake area, Saad attended Clear Horizons Early College High School at San Jacinto Community College South. Saad spent his high school career in as many extracurricular activities as possible.

“I was part of the Science Fair Club, the Robotics Club, the Math Club, etc.,” says Saad, “I just enjoyed being active.”

Because his high school is an early college program, Saad had the opportunity to take classes for dual credit. He was also eligible to skip his junior year of high school and graduate a year early in 2019.

“At 17, I graduated with a high school diploma and two associate degrees,” says Saad, “I transferred a lot of the dual credit and had a head start in college.”

Saad attended the University of Houston-Main Campus (UH) to do premed. Although he was originally a biology major, he quickly realized that he could major in anything and still be a premed student.

“If you’re true to yourself, you’ll make it, and that’s what I kept doing,” says Saad. “I was able to accomplish all of these goals, and if I could do it, certainly anybody else could too.”

“I changed my major that first semester to something I felt I could enjoy, which was Kinesiology,” says Saad. “I remember sitting with my advisor, and he mentioned that many premed students either major in Kinesiology or Nutrition. I asked if I could do both, and that’s where my journey started.”

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS WITH SAAD NADEEM

After his first year at UH, Saad was almost finished with one of his degrees, which inspired him to pursue a second degree. When he realized he was nearly done completing his second degree by his third year of college, Saad decided to pick up a third degree in Public Health.

“I wanted to go into the preventative side of medicine. I asked myself, ‘Why don’t we go to the root of the problem?’ which is preventative care,” says Saad, “Human nutrition, kinesiology, and public health all play a role. I did these degrees because I know I can use the knowledge as a doctor in the future to educate my patients better.”

Saad will begin medical school this fall. Although he is still deciding what college he wants to attend, his top choices are in Houston’s surrounding areas, including Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M-Galveston, and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.

“In the future, I plan on using the knowledge I’ve gained to open up my own clinic. I want to return to my country of Pakistan and serve there as a physician,” says Saad, “I’m also interested in world health and would ultimately like to be involved with Doctors Without Borders.”

Doctors Without Borders is a charity providing humanitarian medical care in conflict zones and countries affected by endemic diseases.

“I’m interested in world health because I know that not everyone has access to it, and even if you do, plenty can’t afford it,” says Saad, “When my parents migrated to the United States, they couldn’t afford medication. I want to serve a community of people and be there for them as a physician.”

Saad signed a petition every semester that would allow him to take an overload of classes. Throughout his four years of college, Saad took between 21 to 24 hours of courses per semester.

Although taking an overload of classes presented many challenges, the support he received from his family helped Saad push through the obstacles he faced. His biggest inspiration was his grandmother,

who always wanted Saad to pursue a medical career.

“My grandmother passed away three years back, but she always wanted me to be the first person in our family to study medicine and serve the community,” says Saad, “That’s been my motivation. I want to fulfill her dream.”

Saad completed his undergraduate degree with a triple Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Human Nutrition & Foods, and Kinesiology and a triple minor in Biology, Business Administration, and Management & Leadership. Saad walked across the stage twice for the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Education.

“For other students here in Webster, my advice is to be motivated and keep going. I know that life is a rollercoaster, but the most important thing is resilience,” says Saad, “I learned that there’s always a positive in every negative. Focus on that, and you’ll be fine. Just keep going.”

Saad Poses for a Picture With His Father, Khawaja Nadeem

We are thrilled to introduce the newest members of our Webster team! These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to their roles, and we are confident that they will make valuable contributions to our City’s development and well-being. Their passion for our City’s growth and commitment to service is evident, and we are excited to see how their unique views will enhance our collective efforts.

Public Works

Alma Contreras is one of our newly appointed Custodians for the City. Boasting a remarkable custodial experience spanning over 15 years, Alma has previously served as a lead custodian for the Pearland Police Department and Alvin ISD. In her current role, Alma is critical in upholding the cleanliness, safety, and general maintenance of various public spaces, encompassing City offices and community centers. Alma’s expertise and diligent efforts contribute significantly to creating a well-maintained environment for all individuals utilizing these facilities.

Human Resources

Valerie Martinez is our newest Human Resources Generalist. As the Human Resources Generalist, Valerie provides excellent customer service to City employees, uploads job announcements, processes employment applications, coordinates pre-employment testing, and verifies invoices. Before working for the City, Valerie worked for Texas City and Dickinson ISD. Valerie received her degree in General Studies at the College of the Mainland. Her dad, who retired from the City, is one of her main inspirations for working in Webster. Valerie looks forward to providing service-oriented work and creating great relationships with City employees.

Public Works

Introducing one of the City’s newest Custodians, Christiana Landry brings a wealth of custodial experience to the Public Works Department. Prior to joining the Public Works team, Christiana served as a custodial contractor at the Webster Fire Department since 2013. In her role, Christiana plays a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness, safety, and upkeep of public spaces, such as government offices and community centers. Christiana’s efforts contribute to fostering a pleasant and hygienic environment for City employees, visitors, and residents.

CITY COUNCIL RECAP

May Recap

• City Council held a Public Hearing regarding a Special Use Permit for a poker room at 20798 Gulf Freeway, Webster, Texas.

• City Council adopted an Ordinance amending the Nasa Parkway Zoning District Code of Ordinances Chapter 98.

• City Council approved a Resolution to deny the Distribution Cost Recovery Factor application proposed by CenterPoint to increase distribution rates for cities in their service area.

• City Council presented a Proclamation proclaiming the week of May 21-27 as National Public Works Week.

• Mayor Pro-Tem Gaines administered the Certificate of Election and Oath of Office to Council Member Martin Graves to Position 6.

• Mayor Donna Rogers was sworn in before the City Council Meeting.

• City Council approved Beverly Gaines as Mayor Pro-Tem for a one-year term.

• City Council accepted the Investment Report for the March 31, 2023 quarter.

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JULY

*Special meetings may be added, and meetings may be canceled if there are no agenda items. Check the City website at cityofwebster.com for meeting information.

Heidt Council Position

jheidt@cityofwebster.com

Beverly Gaines Mayor Pro Tem bgaines@cityofwebster.com

Chris Vaughan Council Position 3 cvaughan@cityofwebster.com

Martin Graves Council Position

mgraves@cityofwebster.com

Donna Rogers Mayor mayorrogers@cityofwebster.com

Edward Lapeyre Council Position 5 elapeyre@cityofwebster.com

bjones@cityofwebster.com