District E welcomes its newest intern, Tashamee  Love! Tashamee is currently attending her first year of college at the University of St. Thomas and is studying Pre-Nursing.

Tashamee strongly believes in giving back to her community and has over 300 community service hours. She has worked with the Houston Food Bank by feeding the homeless, and has also volunteered at a transitional housing office.

In her free time she enjoys being with her family and friends.

Welcome, Tashamee!

Save the date! On Friday, October 14 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Kings Harbor will honor Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita law enforcement at the "Turn Kings Harbor Blue" event. The event, organized to show community support for law enforcement personnel in the Kingwood area, will feature a free concert, family entertainment and prizes for first responders. A number of local businesses and community partners are serving as sponsors for the event, and the Kings Harbor lights will be turned blue to honor law enforcement.

 

For more information please click  here.

On September 6  staff from Council Member Martin's office had the opportunity to attend the Kingwood High School Volleyball Salute to Veterans Game and present certificates to the veterans in attendance on behalf of the City of Houston.  

Council Member Martin thanks Kingwood High School for inviting the District E office to be a part of this event, and t hank you to all who are serving and have served. To those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, you are not forgotten.

The Lake Houston Family YMCA Miracle League Baseball season kicked off on Saturday, September 10 at Humble High School with staff from Council Member Martin's office present. The program is designed to give children and young adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball or softball in a safe and fun environment. By removing the barriers that traditionally keep them off the field, the YMCA Miracle League enables children with special needs to experience the joy and value of playing team sports.

For more information on YMCA Houston's Miracle League program, please click  here.

Throughout his career, Lt. Atkins has received 77 citizen's and employee letters of commendation, 23 supervisor commendations, 4 Chief of Police Commendations, 3 Mayor's Commendations, 3 Unit Citations and was named HPD's Supervisor of the Year in 2000.   

Lt. Atkins has earned the praise, recognition and respect of countless officers and citizens who have worked and served with him and will be missed in District E. Council Member Martin and all the District E staff wish him a happy retirement - it is well deserved.

On September 23 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to celebrate the career of Mark Fougerousse, Captain of the Kingwood HPD Station. Captain Mark Fougerousse retired from the Houston Police Department with just over 38 years of service.

 

Throughout his tenure with HPD, Captain Fougerousse has worked professionally, honorably and respectfully with the Chief of Police, HPD Command Staff, police commanders, supervisors, local and state politicians, civilians and the citizens of Houston.  Captain Fougerousse has been an extremely valuable asset to the Houston Police Department, the City of Houston and District E in particular.   

 

Captain Fougerousse has worked closely with Council Member Martin and his staff to ensure the safety and well-being of the community, and the council member appreciates his service both in Clear Lake and Kingwood.  

Council Member Dave Martin and the City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department are holding a Batteries, Oil, Paint (latex only) and Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) and Electronic Recycling Collection event on October 29, 2016. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kingwood METRO Park and Ride  located at 3210 W. Lake Houston Parkway.

The event will be free and open to all City of Houston residents. A valid Texas driver's license or other proof of residency will be required. Business waste will not be accepted.

In addition to the B.O.P.A, residents may drop off scrap metal and large appliances. Large appliances include stoves, refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.

Many common household materials are considered hazardous and need special disposal. When Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is disposed of in the trash, it can contaminate landfills and subsequently our groundwater. This event provides a free and safe alternative for residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous materials. Below is a list of acceptable and non-acceptable items for the November 7th collection event:

Residents may call 3-1-1, the City of Houston's Customer Service Hotline for additional information or check online at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.

For more information about the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department and its services, residents may check online here, on Facebook and Twitter or call 3-1-1, the City of Houston's Customer Service Hotline.

 

The Solid Waste Management Department provides solid waste service to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.

On Tuesday, September 27 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended a community meeting hosted by the South-Belt Ellington Chamber of Commerce. City of Houston Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives Marc Eichenbaum addressed the homeless issue that is of concern city-wide. 

In the Clear Lake and Ellington area in particular there has also been a great concern about panhandling. Over the past few months HPD has been trying to crack down on this issue through their panhandling initiative. There have been nearly 500 citations given since late June, and some panhandlers have been jailed. 

If you are interested in taking action regarding homelessness in the area, please click here.  

On Thursday September 8 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak at the September Meadowcreek Civic Club meeting and enjoyed conversation with many of the members. 

At the meeting, Council Member Martin was able to discuss recent issues that have been reported by the community and gather input from residents about potential projects for the area. 

Council Member Martin appreciates the invitation to speak to the civic club and looks forward to continuing to work together for the betterment of the community. 

On Saturday September 10 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the 9/11 Heroes Run at Ellington Field. 

Thank you to Houston City Council Members Jack Christie, Robert Gallegos, and Mike Knox for representing the City and showing our support for our first responders, military, and their families. Overall, approximately 3,000 Houstonians participated in Houston's 6th Annual 9/11 Heroes Run.   

Founded in honor of 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who gave his life while serving in Iraq in 2009, the Travis Manion Foundation assists American veterans and the families of the fallen in addition to organizing a number of charitable initiatives including the 9/11 Heroes Run.  For more information on the foundation click here.

Council Member Martin thanks HPD Captain Greg Fremin, Captain Bryan Bennett and all of the runners and volunteers for showing up to make this event a huge success.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation (CCEF) invites residents to "Dine Out to Donate" on Monday, October 3. Participating restaurants from Houston's Bay Area will donate a percentage of the day's sales from lunch and/or dinner to the foundation, which benefits all 41,000 Clear Lake Independent School District students through initiatives such as teacher innovative grants, technology education labs and many others. The elementary and secondary schools with the highest percentage of participation in the event will also each win $1,000.

 

For more information on the CCEF's Dine Out to Donate event and a list of participating restaurants, please click  here.

On September 20 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the monthly PIP meeting for Clear Lake and Southeast Houston residents. This month's guest speaker, Stephen Daniel from Houston Police Department's Public Affairs, educated the members on Active Shooter Defense. It was a great opportunity for members of the community to come together and engage in an important conversation. In an active shooter situation, remember: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.

 

HPD Clear Lake PIP Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Southeast Memorial Hermann Hospital's CES Classroom, room number E1031.3 A located at 11800 Astoria Blvd, Houston, TX 77089. 

On September 12 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the Space Center Rotary Club Meeting at Bay Oaks Country Club featuring speaker Mayor Sylvester Turner. 

Mayor Turner briefed the Space Center Rotary Club members on significant city items like transportation and infrastructure, and pension plans within the city. He concluded his speech by announcing his approval of the coastal spine and assured members that the County and City are working closely together. 

On Wednesday September 14 Council Member Martin and staff attended the celebration of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's 40th anniversary at South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center. The evening's program celebrated 40 years of working on behalf of the people of Bay Area Houston and featured four speakers who have contributed greatly to BAHEP's growth over the past 40 years: Robert K. Scott, Joe Barlow, Sandy Johnson, and current BAHEP President Bob Mitchell. 

Since taking office, Council Member Martin has worked closely with BAHEP on different issues in the region concerning aerospace, petrochemicals as well as coastal storm surge protection, and he  congratulates BAHEP on 40 successful years. He looks forward to continuing to work with them on these and other initiatives in the future. 

On Thursday September 15 staff from the District E office attended the Mission to Mars Luncheon benefiting Space Center Houston Youth S.T.E.M. Academies. The luncheon also honored Captain Gene Cernan who left his mark on history with three historic missions in space as well as being the last man to have left his footprints on the lunar surface. The program featured a presentation on S.T.E.M. by President and CEO of Space Center Houston, William T. Harris as well as question and answer portion featuring Johnson Space Center Director, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, and Program Manager for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders. Space Center Houston strives to immerse the youth in S.T.E.M. and encourages the youth the use those skills to solve problems. 

On September 22 Council Member Martin and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) hosted a public meeting at University of Houston-Clear Lake  to discuss proposed improvements to Sylvan Rodriguez Park and gather input from the surrounding community who utilize the park. 

HPARD will continue to gather community input until October 21. Public comment concerning Sylvan Rodriguez Park can be sent to: Askparks@houstontx.gov with the subject: SRP Master Plan Update/ Attn: Lisa Johnson.

Public involvement is essential to this process. Council Member Martin urges Clear Lake residents to please take some time to comment on Sylvan Rodriguez Park and tell us how we can create a plan that meets your needs, whether that includes more nature trails, upgrade existing park facilities, a community center, fields, or any other amenity you feel is pertinent to this park update.

Park master plans are regularly updated to ensure that the vision of the park reflects the changing needs of the community. As funding becomes available for the park, the master plan guides HPARD on what improvements should be implemented. 

Thank you all for your comments and input. This resident participation will allow the City of Houston to update this park and really make it a place for the community to enjoy.

On September 27 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the Open House and Ribbon Cutting for Webster's Memorial Hermann Urgent Care. The new facility, which features eight exam rooms, a small procedure room and an X-Ray lab, is located at the Northeast corner of Bay Area Boulevard and I-45 at 9419-3 Gulf Freeway, Webster, TX 77598. Although the facility is located in Webster, Council Member Martin appreciates the service it will be providing to our residents of Southeast Houston and Clear Lake. 

The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted their monthly general membership luncheon on September 28 at Lakewood Yacht Club. Mayor of Seabrook, Glenn Royal, Seabrook City Manager Gayle Cook, and Project Manager Larry Blackburn briefed the members on the TxDot SH 146 Expansion Project. This anticipated project will widen SH 146 from Red Bluff to FM 518, reconstructing a 4-lane to a 6 to 12-lane freeway with grade separations, access roads and expressway. Mayor Glenn Royal remarked that this expansion will have the "biggest impact on Seabrook since Johnson Space Center" but assured members that they are in good shape. 

As an ex-oficio Houston First Board Member, Council Member Martin was interested to hear about the projected numbers and economic trends for the next year and looks forward to learning more as he continues to serve on the board. 

Last month, Council Member Martin had the pleasure of joining  Mayor Sylvester Turner and  Council Member Dwight Boykins to distribute supplies to help the Baton Rouge flood victims get back on their feet.Thanks to a call to action by Mayor Sylvester Turner and faith leaders opening their churches, mosques, synagogues and places of worship as collection sites, the city was able to collect about 32 pallets of donations for residents.

More than 30 faith leaders participated in the collection process along with city departments including, HPD, HFD, Health, Neighborhoods, Parks, GSD, Solid Waste, Houston Airports,  Fleet and Public Works, who collected cleaning supplies, water, back packs, school supplies and other contributions  to bring to Baton Rouge.

As a native of Louisiana, it was important for Council Member Martin to be a part of this incredible relief effort that could not have been possible without all of the donations made by the City of Houston.

Council Member Martin was honored to participate in the historic trade mission to Cuba lead by Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Greater Houston Partnership. The trip came in advance of the start of nonstop commercial flights to Cuba from Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) before the end of the year. The three day trip provided opportunities for the delegation to discuss business development opportunities and build international relationships between Cuba and Houston. Mayor Turner also took the opportunity to ask Cuba for their support in voting for Houston to host the World Petroleum Congress in 2020. 

On October 7 the inaugural TWEF Financial and Career Expo will be held during the 10th Annual International Financial and Leadership Summit at the JW Marriot Galleria. Mayor Sylvester Turner will serve as this year's Honorary Chair and invites Houstonians to experience direct economic empowerment through prominent and influential individuals from all over the world.

The event will offer mentorship through workshops, networking opportunities and live job recruitment from vendors and event sponsors including Prudential, Microsoft, UPS, HEB, State Farm Insurance and Comerica Bank. Career opportunities will be available for sales, industrial, education, healthcare, technical, commercial and customer service industries. Attendees will also have access to the "One-Stop NOW" booth for the opportunity to get resumes reviewed and submitted to potential employers.

For more information or to register for the TWEF Financial and Career Expo, please click  here  or contact Deavra Daughtry at (832) 434-5325.

On Thursday, September 7 the Houston First Corporation hosted the second annual Houston Tourism Summit to provide opportunities for local tourism professionals to come together and brainstorm ideas on how to generate more tourism to the city.  While at the event, Council Member Martin was also able to tour the new Partnership Tower that Houston First Corporation offices are housed in. 

Council Member Martin thanks all those involved with coordinating a successful tourism networking event and looks forward to learning more about the ideas generated at the summit.

On Thursday, September 8 Council Member Martin attended Houston's Business of Sports: The Game Day Impact luncheon presented by the Greater Houston Partnership. 

The luncheon highlighted how Houston's professional sports teams contribute to the economic impact and image of the region, and featured a panel of sports professionals including Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans and Ric Campo, Chairman of the Houston Super Bowl Committee. 

Council Member Martin thanks the Greater Houston Partnership for putting on a fun, informative event, and Houston First for the invitation to sit at their table. 

On Thursday, September 15 Council Member Martin attended a breakfast hosted by the Houston Realty Business Coalition (HRBC) featuring remarks from Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton. By organizing public forums at its regular breakfasts and other events, the HRBC enables area elected officials and candidates for office to discuss their public policy priorities with leaders from Houston's business and development communities. For more information, visit https://houstonrealty.org.

Council Member Martin wants to inform District E residents that the Harris County Area Agency on Aging will be coordinating Medicare Open Enrollment activities throughout the City of Houston. Open enrollment runs from October 15, 2016 to December 7, 2016.

The following documents are needed to register during open enrollment: 

2.  List of Medications currently taking

3.  Award letter from Social Security or proof of income

4.  Proof of current health insurance

 

To schedule a face-to-face appointment with a benefits counselor call (832) 393-4301 or 1-800-213-8471.