This month, Council Member Martin will host the annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) town hall meetings in the council district. Please save the date for the following two meetings:

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake

Thursday, February 16

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Space Center Houston, Destiny Theater
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, Texas 77058
 

Kingwood

Thursday, February 23

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
Houston, Texas 77345

Members of the public are invited to attend to hear from various city departments as well as community representatives about ongoing projects, issues and community news related to District E. Confirmed speakers include representatives from City of Houston's Public Works & Engineering Department, Parks and Recreation Department and General Services Department.

 

For more information, please contact Council Member Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or by email at districte@houstontx.gov. 

On Friday, January 20 the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Awards Extravaganza, a celebration of the past year's outstanding volunteer leaders and accomplishments. Council Member Martin and staff had the opportunity to join guests, as well as, business partners at the event, where the 2016 Dr. Haden McKay Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Scott Brady. Also honored at the extravaganza were Dr. Guy Sconzo, receiving the Spirit of the Chamber Award; Robyn Choiniere, receiving the Rising Star Award; and Corinn Price, receiving the Chairman's Award. The Chamber additionally recognized its outgoing board of directors, including outgoing Chair Robert Sitton, and performed the installation of its new board Chair, Pastor Jerry Martin.

On Saturday, January 21 staff from Council Member Martin's office had the opportunity to attend the FamilyTime Hearts of Gold Gala. Each year FamilyTime asks for nominations to recognize women in the community who have made a difference. Women of Achievement awards are given in the following categories: the Arts, Business, Community Activist, Education, Entrepreneur, Homemaker, Human Services, Medical, Women's Advocate, Visionary, Volunteer, and Special Recognition.  The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves.

 

Council Member Martin congratulates all of the 2016 Women of Achievement recipients and thank them for their continued work in our community. 

On January 26 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak to the Forest Cove Property Owners Association in Kingwood along with TIRZ10 Board Chair, Stan Sarman. The council member discussed the Kingwood Area mobility study in the Forest Cove area including a proposed improvement at the intersection of Forest Cove Drive and Hamblen Road. 

After hearing the concerns of the residents, a decision was made to cancel the Hamblen Road intersection improvement project. The funds designatedfor this project will go back into the mobility project plan and be used for another project down the road. 

Council Member Martin thanks Forest Cove for inviting him to speak and conducting a productive discussion. 

Lone Star College-Kingwood will be hosting a February Job Fair on Tuesday, February 7. This event will provide an excellent forum for area businesses to recruit a local workforce. The event will take place at the John E. Pickelman Student-Conference Center from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Participation is free, but registration is required. To register for this event, click here. 

Save the Date! From April 3 through Saturday, April 8 Lone Star College-Kingwood will host the Bayou City Festival, a diverse, multi-genre literary celebration. The Bayou City Book Festival is a new initiative coming out of Lone Star College's (LSC) Center for Civic Engagement. The Center desires to effectively and efficiently integrate literacy and literary works within the lives of their students and the wider Houston-area. BCBF seeks to create the venue for nationally and internationally known authors to speak to audiences about unique ideas, meet with attendees on an individual basis, provide free literary programming, promote diverse works of literature and their authors, and focus attention on literacy within the City of Houston.

 

For more information on the Lone Star Book Festival, to be held at Lone Star College-Kingwood, please click  here.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the State of Texas has designated Clear Lake Regional Medical Center (CLRMC) as a Level II Trauma Center. CLRMC along with Conroe Regional Medical Center (CRMC) are the first hospitals to be awarded this designation in the greater Houston area.

 

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center is a full-service hospital offering inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty services. The campus includes a Level II trauma center, The Brain & Spine Institute, The Heart & Vascular Hospital, a bariatrics program, an NAPBC-accredited Breast Diagnostic Center, a Commission on Cancer-accredited oncology program, a Level IIIb Neonatal ICU, the area's only pediatric emergency department and pediatric ICU, and a comprehensive range of services for patients of all ages. With a medical staff of more than 900, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center employs more than 2,100 medical professionals and has served the community for more than 40 years. For more information, call 281-332-2511 or visit online at www.clearlakermc.com.

Council Member Dave Martin and Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) invite residents to attend the Meadowcreek Village Pavilion Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ceremony will occur Thursday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. at the Meadowcreek Village Pavilion, 5333 Berry Creek, Houston, TX 77017. Cub Scout Pack 216 will be presenting the colors.

 

Since 2014, Council Member Martin has been working with HPARD and the Meadowcreek Village Civic Club regarding the design and construction of the new Meadowcreek Village Pavilion. The council member is excited to welcome the community members to the new pavilion and encourage them to get outside and active. 

On Thursday, January 12 staff from Council Member Martin's office had the opportunity to attend a monthly Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Division Lunch N Learn at Bay Oaks Country Club. At the luncheon, we heard from Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business as he briefed the audience on what state and federal issues we can expect to be discussed during the 85th session. Wallace touched on education, economic development, and healthcare, among many other issues. 

On Thursday, January 26 Council Member Martin, along with the General Service Department and Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD), hosted a follow-up Master Plan meeting for Sylvan Rodriguez Park at the University of Houston-Clear Lake campus.  

 

 

Council Member Martin thanks everyone who contributed their input and attended the meetings. 

On Thursday, February 9 the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2017 "A Taste of Space" Epicurean Evening at Space Center Houston.  Those in attendance at the event will sample tastings from over 40 area food establishments and enjoy entertainment from a variety of musicians. 

Each ticket will be good for food samplings, two drink coupons (more can be purchased at the event), parking accommodations and a silent auction. Kids tickets are also available and provide play time in the Kids Space Place. Ticket prices range from $10 for children ages 4-12 to $50 for early entry wristbands. Doors to the event will open as early as 5:45 p.m. for "Early Entry" purchasers and the Silent Auction will begin at 8:15 p.m.

 

For more information on Epicurean Evening 2017, and to purchase tickets, please click here.  

On January 19 Council Member Martin attended the Greater Houston Partnership's (GHP) 2017 Annual Meeting. Each year, the GHP's Annual Meeting provides Houston area companies the opportunity to showcase their goods and services to local and global business leaders, elected officials and the international consular corps.

This year's event featured a recap of 2016 from outgoing Partnership Chair, J amey Rootes, President of the Houston Texans. The annual meeting also provided an introduction for the GHP incoming Chair, Jeff Shellebarger, president of North America Exploration and Production for Chevron. Shellebarger will lead GHP's efforts for the 2017 Texas Legislative Session. GHP President and CEO Bob Harvey also  gave an overview of the GHP's accomplishments in 2016 and looked ahead to the challenges and opportunities facing the greater Houston region in the coming 12 months.

 

For more information on the Greater Houston Partnership, please visit www.houston.org.

On Monday, January 16 Council Member Martin attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast hosted by the North Houston Frontiers Club at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Mayor Sylvester Turner was the keynote speaker.  At the breakfast, the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award was presented to  Mr. Ricky Anderson.

Net proceeds from the breakfast are used to fund the scholarship program.  Over the past twenty-eight years, more than $1,000,000 has been awarded in scholarships.  Proceeds from the 2016 Breakfast were used to fund $25,000 in scholarships (25 awards of $1,000).  It is the goal of the North Houston Frontiers Club to improve the quality and/or quantity of scholarships awarded each year.

• ACCEPTED ITEMS: rechargeable, Lead Acid, NiCad and Lithium Ion batteries, used motor and cooking oil (15 gallon limit each), antifreeze (15 gallon limit), latex paint (15 gallon limit), appliances and scrap metal including refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.

• ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED: Alkaline batteries, electronic waste, oil-based paint, paint without labels, household hazardous waste/chemicals, business waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, PCB's, Dioxins, ammunition, explosives, compressed gas cylinders, smoke detectors, household trash or tires.

Residents may call 3-1-1, the City of Houston's Customer Service Hotline, for additional information or check online at  www.houstonsolidwaste.org. More information on the Solid Waste Management  Department and its services is also available on  Facebook

  and  Twitter.

 

With 89.79 million viewers, a wardrobe malfunction, and a three-point game at the 2004 Houston Super Bowl XXXVIII, what will Houston Super Bowl LI bring us? Only a few days away and several games to watch before knowing our two opponents, the only thing we can be certain of is our safety and how we can prepare for one of the most anticipated weekends of the year.

NFL stadium rules prohibit any alcohol to be purchased after the third quarter, allowing fans enough time to sober up before getting behind the wheel. At this time, begin consuming water to rehydrate. While outside alcohol is prohibited at NRG Stadium, all concessions will require photo ID's for alcohol consumers.

The cities population alone consists of 6.6 million Houstonians, increasing from 5.1 in 2004. Thus, there will not only be drunk drivers to avoid, but pedestrians as well. If you are the designated driver, ensure your passengers are buckled in and avoid any distractions or speeding. Traffic and specific road closures will be dreadful so allow enough time to get to your destination. BikeHouston will also provide a bike valet at Super Bowl LIVE to store your bike while you enjoy the Houston festivities.

If you're hosting the event, collect guest's car keys at the door and provide lots of water and nonalcoholic beverages for those driving. Do not serve anyone underage and remember party hosts can be liable "if the hosts knowingly serves alcohol to minors on their property, or if the hosts supply car keys to an intoxicated adult on the host's property," according to the Texas Social Host Law. Violation of this law leads to a Class A misdemeanor, $4,000 in fines, and up to one year incarceration.  

Consider having coffee and dessert served in the fourth quarter to allow guest's time to sober up and avoid making alcoholic beverage choices.

If you're attending the event, plan where you are going to sleep whether you stay overnight or have a sober ride in place. Don't leave anyone in your group alone or allow yourself to get pulled away. Also, never leave your drink unattended.

If you see any criminal activity or unlawful behavior, make sure to report! Crime Stoppers of Houston Tip Line, 911 or any law enforcement personnel.

 

 

All committee meetings are open to the public and held at the City Hall Annex Chambers. For more information and to find the committee schedules go to www.houstonplanning.com. 

Texans Recovering Together works under the auspices of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, through Texas Health and human Service Commission. The Crisis Counseling Program was developed to assist survivors and their families who were affected by the most recent flood disaster that occurred in April of 2016, which is also known as the "Tax Day" flood. The program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Our team consists of Crisis Counselors and Licensed Professionals that provide outreach, resources, referrals, linkages and crisis counseling to those affected by natural disasters free of charge within the City of Houston and Harris County. Services that are offered through Texans Recovering Together include but are not limited to the following:

 

·         Disaster Education and Awareness

·         Resource and referrals

·         Skill building

·         Grief and Loss

·         Common reactions to disasters

·         Psycho-Educational Groups

·         Crisis Counseling and Intervention

 

For more information click here.