TxDOT Crews Go 24/7 for Westheimer Resurface Project

An asphalt paving machine covers a lane on Westheimer and Tanglewilde.

With fewer cars traveling on one of the state's busiest roads due to the stay-at-home order, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) seized an opportunity to shift the Westheimer Road resurfacing project to a 24/7 operation.

Phase one, beginning at IH-610, began on April 2 and the project is near completion on the stretch within Westchase District's boundary between Westerland Drive and Woodland Park Drive. Phase Two of the project is the eventual completion to Dairy Ashford.

Together for WHAM: WDCF Donates $10,000, Grace Issues Challenge Match for $50,000, Call for Volunteers
Pictured from left (in WHAM's food pantry) are Mark Brown, CEO of WHAM; Tim Johnson, vice chair of WDCF; Blair Johnson, WDCF board member; Louis Jullien, projects director for Westchase District, and
Lisa Iparrea, director of client services for WHAM. 
The Westchase District Community Fund (WDCF) presented WHAM with a $10,000 donation on April 27.  WHAM provides social services including food donations, rent and utilities assistance and employment assistance to individuals and families who have nowhere else to turn.

The need for WHAM's services, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, has surged. WHAM has seen an enormous increase of serving 200 families a day, in addition to first responders. Joining WHAM's call for support is Reverend Chris French, Pastor of Missional Living for Grace Presbyterian Church. Rev. French encouraged the community to support WHAM. An anonymous donor will  match financial  gifts up to $50,000 received by May 11 . Use the code word "Grace" in your check memo line or in the comments section of online giving. Read More


Phase One Sees Restaurants Reopen, Outback Steakhouse Prepares for Updated Operations

Phase one of Governor Abbott's reopening Texas includes restaurants, perhaps the hardest hit businesses by the COVID-19 crisis. Restaurants of all categories, from franchise-owned and operated, corporate-owned to independent saw dine-in customers come to an abrupt stop.  The crisis affected staffing levels and resulted in lost revenue streams. When dining rooms open, there'll be reduced capacity and food service guidelines in place.

Outback Steakhouse general manager Lyle Hart shares how his operations adapted to the crisis and the path ahead as restaurants gradually reopen under new guidelines.

Westchase District boasts a diverse, robust array of dining establishments. Outback Steakhouse has been firmly rooted in the District since 1993. As Outback Steakhouse at 10001 Westheimer reopened to a promising lunch rush, Lyle Hart, general manager, reflected on the past two months and his path forward. Read More

  Thursdays @ 3 p.m.  *Rain or shine* St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church
10503 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77042 (at Rogerdale, just west of Beltway 8)


Pick Up Something for Mom at the Farmers Market


Mom would love jars of delicately flavored  cilantro with happy snack plantain chips from Avila Flavor and Experiences.
Mother's Day is May 10. Your mom would love nothing more than to let her know you are thinking of her. There are many ways to express your love and appreciation for all the grandmas, mothers-in-law, daughters, sisters, sisters-in-law, step moms, aunts, and godmothers in your life.  

Start at the Farmers Market. You'll find remarkable designs by independent jewelry craftsmen. We have goodies in jars, locally-made by producers who put their heart and soul into all they do, like moms do for their children.

Honoring mom with a home-cooked meal made from the best, freshest vegetables from PEAS Farms brings the comfort of comfort food she's cooked you through the years. Anything you pick at the market will have a personalized touch. Farmers Market vendors sell a variety of items that would make her smile: tamales, honey, jelly and jam, bbq, coffee, salsa, sauces, wines, bread, baked sweets, treats for pets, and more. So, prepare a basket for your mom or a mother you know. Fill it with comforting goodies they'll all enjoy.

 

Can Your Location Host a Blood Drive? Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Needs Host Sites


Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is a local non-profit blood bank that supports more than 170 hospitals and health care facilities in the Texas Gulf Coast region. To meet the needs of the area community, The Blood Center must collect about 800 - 1,000 donations every day. Closures of churches, businesses, government offices, gyms and schools in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortage of collection sites. The Blood Center must find enough sites to host blood drives and is looking for partner community organizations to host blood drives. 
 
Due to the social distancing standards, The Blood Center needs interior building spaces to set up a blood drive with adequate room to space out the donor beds and screening booths by the 6' spacing requirement. This could be a Fellowship Hall at a church, a conference room at an office or a main meeting room at a community building. 
The Blood Center has stepped up all sanitization and safety guidelines in the midst of this virus and is working with the CDC, FDA, FEMA, and the US Surgeon General to ensure that blood donations continue to be a safe process. Enhanced safety measures include:
  • In addition to disposable gloves worn by staff, all staff are also now wearing masks.
  • Beds and screening booths are set up more than 6' apart, all waiting areas are spacing donors 6' apart.
  • Donations are taken by appointment only to ensure crowd sizes remain small.
  • Thorough sanitization of all surfaces between every donor - tabletops, beds, etc.
  • Only single-use items are utilized at this time. Brand new, personal squeeze balls are used for each donor and the donor is asked to take it with them when they leave.
  • All staff are screened and temperature checked before leaving our site each day. All donors are also health screened and temp checked at the blood drive.
  • Hand sanitizer is abundant at all check-in tables for donor use, and each staff has personal hand sanitizer to keep on them and utilize constantly throughout the day.

If interested, contact Victoria Tidwell with the Gulfcoast Regional Blood Center at 832-602-9350.

Meet Officer Cody Thomas With Westchase District Patrol

Officer Cody Thomas takes a community approach to keeping Westchase District safe. 

Houston Police Department officers working for Westchase District have continued to patrol our area to protect businesses and residents during the COVID-19 crisis. Meet officer Cody Thomas, one of the newest members of the Westchase District Patrol . 


About Westchase District
Westchase District is a municipal management district funded by local property owners in a 4.2 square-mile area centered on Sam Houston Tollway between I-10 and US-59 on the west side of Houston, Texas. 

The district promotes growth by enhancing: 
  • Mobility
  • Beautification 
  • Public Safety
  • Planning and Development

 

Have District-related news on how your business or organization is responding to COVID-19? 

Send it with your contact info to:[email protected]. 

 

Approved items may be altered for clarity, length and style, and will appear as our editorial calendar permits.  

 
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