November 2012 - Hyde Park Civic Association

President’s Letter
I
n the poem “Autumn
Movement,” Carl
Sandburg wrote: ““I cried
over beautiful things
knowing no beautiful thing
lasts.” Take a moment to
cherish your “beautiful things” this month.
Hug your partner, pet your pets, and cherish family and friends. No beautiful thing
lasts.
Fortunately, no ugly thing lasts, either. I
am sooooo looking forward to the end of
election season.
I had a grand time at National Night
Out on Oct. 2 in Lamar Park and I hope
you did, too. A few of Houston’s finest,
including Officer Wayne Pate, visited with
us, reminding us that the police-citizen
partnership helps to keep Hyde Park safe.
Kudos to Vice President Macy
Bodenhamer for organizing our celebration, and thanks to Jim and Camille Bogel,
Bill Curry, susan ellis, Janet nichols and
Kathy schipper. Bill Curry helped hang
the Christmas lights in the trees – and
weren’t they pretty -- and Bill ellis took
them down. I got a double bill of helping
hands with those lights, which will serve
double duty on our Christmas tree by the
fountain.
These organizations and people contributed food, drink, tables and more to
make National Night Out a success: 1308
Cantina, the Acadian Bakery, Aladdin
Mediterranean Cuisine, Capitol Beverage,
Christy’s donuts, Grace Lutheran Church,
the Hay Merchant, Kroger on Montrose,
La Mexicana, Legacy Community Health
services, nidda thai, niko niko’s, real
estate Agent Mike spear, rivas, and
rudyard’s British Pub.
And an extra special thank you to
Capitol Beverage because we left them
off the “thank you” list printed in the last
newsletter.
I hope to see you next October for fun,
food and fellowship in the park.
The election is right around the corner (no, not that one). Hyde Park United
will elect officers for 2013 at our general meeting Monday, Nov. 5, at Grace
Lutheran Church. Our current board is
running for re-election, so that should be
pretty easy. We will also vote on moving our general meetings next year to
the secluded upstairs meeting room at
Rudyard’s on Waugh, which offered us
the space at no charge. Some opposition
to the move surfaced at our last meeting during general discussion. Come to
the meeting and express your opinion by
voting.
We won’t be voting on proposed revisions to our Bylaws until January. The
final review revealed a need to revise
them even more thoroughly to eliminate
inconsistencies and simplify the wording.
Copies of the revised Bylaws will be available at our Annual Holiday Party Dec. 3 at
Riva’s, plus online at our web site. We’ll
vote on the revised Bylaws Jan. 7, 2013.
If you buy your meal tickets for our
Holiday Party at the November meeting,
you’ll save $5. Meal tickets cost $10 in
advance or $15 at the door, payable by
cash, check or credit card. The day of our
party, Dec. 3, is also my birthday, so you’re
all invited to celebrate it and another successful year for Hyde Park United.
Next Meetings
Monday, nov. 5 – 7:15 p.m.
Annual election of 2013 Officers,
Vote on Meeting Location
“Make Mary’s Matter”
presentation
•••
Annual Holiday Party
Monday, dec. 3 – 6:00 p.m.
rivas restaurant
$10 in advance/$15 at the door
Purchase tix at november
meeting
Or using PayPal at
www.hydeparkunited.org
BOArd COntACts
President
George Sroka
[email protected]
ViCe President
Macy Bodenhamer
[email protected]
seCretAry
Janet Nichols
[email protected]
treAsUrer
Bill Curry
[email protected]
OtHer COntACts
deed restriCtiOns
Shane Wilson
deed [email protected]
MeMBersHiP
Susan Ellis
[email protected]
neWsLetter
George Sroka, President,
Hyde Park United Civic
Beth Cunningham
[email protected]
HPU Civic Association, PO Box 66422, Houston, tX 77266-6422
www.hydeparkunited.org
deadline for the december 2012 HPU newsletter is november 18. submit all materials and advertising inquiries to:
[email protected]
neiGHBOrHOOd
BLOCK CAPtAins
Bomar
Greg Jeu & Jim Hurst 281-541-6756
California / Westheimer
Cecilia Kammer 281-777-9861
Commonwealth
Liz Hudson 713-527-9852
Fairview (Montrose–Waugh)
Beth Cunningham 713-557-2567
Fairview (Waugh–yupon)
Peter Johnson 832-208-2918
Hyde Park / Hyde Park Apts.
Linda Carter 713-524-2952
& Alex Aranda 713-533-9474
Hyde Park Crescent
Susan Ellis 713-528-8289
Hyde Park townhomes
Daniel Posada 713-454-7834
indiana / yupon
Alice McCarthy 713-521-5807
Jackson
Brandon Bartee 832-866-1426
Maryland
Cathy Hanchett 713.542.4921
Michigan
Tom Whitworth 713-523-8035
Missouri
Jeanne Wallace 713-528-0834
Montrose
Bill Pesota 713-527-8026
Peden
Mike Lutomski 713-443-4380
Vermont
Sharon Lord 713-522-9427
Waugh
Sue Chin 713-522-3231
Welch
Scott and Lina Rigrod 713-528-2791
Cliff Jones, 713-524-3055
West drew
Mike McKann 713-526-6777
West Gray / Hazel
Sherry Waddell 713-524-7655
Willard
Camille Bogel 713-526-7625
yoakum/Van Buren
Macy Bodenhamer 713-201-5810
Block captains: notify
[email protected] of
any changes in contact information.
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Holiday
Party!
Monday, Dec. 3
6:00 p.m.
Rivas Restaurant
Missouri @ Yoakum
$10.00 in advance
$15.00 at the door
Purchase tix at the November meeting
by cash, check or credit card
or through PayPal at hydeparkunited.org
Holiday Party is for members of Hyde Park
United Civic Association. New members may
attend by paying 2013 membership dues at
the party.
HPU Board of Directors Candidates for 2013
elections to be held at General Meeting on november 5th
E
lections for officers to next year’s
board of directors will be held on
Monday, November 5 at our regularly
scheduled 7:15pm association meeting at
Grace Lutheran Church. Please plan to attend to cast your vote. Candidates are:
President – GeOrGe srOKA
George has served as president since
May 2011 and is running for reelection
in 2013. He also served as our newsletter editor during 2006–2008 and as
president of the now-defunct Montrose
Business Guild in 1994. George has lived
and worked in Hyde Park for 29 years. In
that time, he watched Hyde Park evolve
into one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in Houston. He is the co-owner of
Laser Ink, a toner supply and laser printer
repair company now celebrating its 25th
anniversary. In his spare time—of which
he has little—he practices and teaches
yoga. He is grateful to share his life with
his partner, David, and their color-coordinated gray cats, Jenny the “love puss” and
Joey the “stoner dude.”
ViCe President – MACy BOdenHAMer
Macy has served as vice president since
Important
Trash News
Changes to heavy trash/
tree waste pickup
schedule
H
yde Park’s heavy trash collection
day will change, but the month will
not. Pickup will now take place the FIRST
WEDNESDAy of the month. Tree waste will
still be collected in odd-numbered months,
and junk waste will still be collected in
even-numbered months. Also, the collection schedules for other Solid Waste
services, such as garbage and recycling, will
not change.
next tree waste pickup will be
november 7; junk waste will be picked
up december 3.
For more information, visit http://www.
houstontx.gov/
solidwaste/. ■
May 2011 and is running for reelection.
She served as secretary in 2009-2011,
and as newsletter and co-editor in 20092010, and as yoakum Blvd. block captain
since 2009. An 18-year Montrose resident, Macy has resided in Hyde Park for
the past four years. She is a principal of
Four22 Creative Marketing and Public
Relations, serves on the board of the
Museum of Cultural Arts Houston, and is a
Class XXVII Leadership Houston graduate
and former board member. Beyond her
appreciation for our awesomely livable
community, Macy is grateful for her wonderful neighbors.
treAsUrer – BiLL CUrry
Bill has served as treasurer since
January 2012 and is running for reelection. He has lived in Houston since 2008
and lived in Hyde Park since 2010. He
works for an oil company and enjoys
cooking in his spare time.
seCretAry – JAnet niCHOLs
Janet has been a Hyde Park area resident since 1993, and is glad to be be getting more actively involved with HPU since
her recent retirement from her massage
therapy business. She is looking forward
to serving as HPU Secretary.
MeMBersHiP CHAir – sUsAn eLLis
Susan has accepted reappointment to
her position, which is not an elected position. Susan moved to Hyde Park in 2001.
She was the Public Relations Chairperson
for the Houston Poetry Fest for a number of years before a five year overseas
assignment took her to Paris, France and
Aberdeen, Scotland. Since her return,
she has been volunteering at the Houston
Area Women’s Center on the Rape Crisis
and Domestic Violence Hotlines. She is
also on their Volunteer Resource and
Volunteer Redesign Committees.
The election is open, so any other
willing candidates may run by write-in
vote. All members whose dues are current are eligible to vote. Descriptions of
board positions can be found in the Hyde
Park United Civic Association bylaws,
posted here: http://hydeparkunited.
org/?page_id=55
Hope to see many of you there!
Submitted by Macy Bodenhamer,
Vice President
HPU Calendar & Announcements
Hyde PArK United MeetinG
And eVents sCHedULe:
Nov. 5, General Meeting (1st Monday)
Dec. 3, Holiday Party / General Meeting
(1st Monday)
Jan. 7, General Meeting (1st Monday)
HPU Citizen PAtrOL rePOrt
August 2012:
No. of incidents reported to police: 0
No. of arrests: 0
No. of hours patrolled by car: 48.75
No. of hours on foot: 137.75
No. of trained citizen patrollers: 30
september 2012:
No. of incidents reported to police: 0
No. of arrests: 0
No. of hours patrolled by car: 38
No. of hours on foot: 104.25
No. of trained citizen patrollers: 30
trAsH/reCyCLinG
The City of Houston collects recyclables
every other week on Monday, our regular
garbage collection day. When our collection day falls on a Monday holiday like
Veterans Day, garbage and recyclables
are picked up the following day. Here are
recycling pickup dates for the remainder
of 2012 (Schedule A, dual-stream):
nov. 13, 26
dec. 10, 24
For the next three months, the Heavy
Trash schedule is:
november 7 – tree Waste
december 5 – Junk Waste
neWsLetter deAdLine
Deadline for the November 2012 newsletter is October 21. Submit materials and
advertising inquiries to:
[email protected]
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Hyde Park United’s National Night Out • Oct. 3 in Lamar Park • Photos by Sara Fernandez
See more images on the Hyde Park United Facebook page.
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Grace Lutheran
Church
Annual Blessing
of the
Animals
Saturday,
October 20, 2012
Lamar Park
A
t Grace Lutheran, all people are
welcome, and blessed by God. Once
a year, we welcome animals of all kinds! In
jest and in seriousness, Pastor Lura Groen
agreed to bless dogs, cats, elephants, geckoes, imaginary puppies, sour dough starter,
and chia pets.
On October 20th, Grace members,
friends, and neighbors gathered in Lamar
Park with our animal companions. People
brought dogs, one brave cat, a hamster,
and pictures of animals unable to be present with us. We celebrated a brief worship
service, praising God with all creation,
renewing our promises to care for the
Earth and all creatures on it, and then
prayed for the pets with us and in our
hearts. Each animal received a blessing
from Pastor Lura, thanking God for them,
their love for their human, and asking
God’s protections upon them.
Pastor Lura and Grace members enjoyed the beautiful weather in the park
for another hour, offering blessings to
animals and humans who passed by.
Pastor Lura returned home covered in
doggy kisses, and wondering who had
truly blessed whom.
Submitted by Pastor Lura Groen
Photos by Sara Fernandez
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Put Your Old Cell
Phone to Good Use
T
he Houston Area Women’s Center helps individuals affected
by domestic and sexual violence in their efforts to move their
lives forward. We provide shelter, counseling and advocacy to support them in building lives free from the effects of violence. We
seek social change to end domestic and sexual violence through
community awareness and education. Our services are confidential and available to everyone.
PArtnersHiP
A
n opportunity exists to recognize and remember
a neighborhood icon that served as a cornerstone
within the foundation of Houston’s GLBT community.
Established during the freedom movements of the
Sixties and Seventies, Mary’s Lounge quickly became
the heartbeat within Montrose and greater Houston
and recognized worldwide for a segment of society
that was often shunned and disrespected. Mary’s represented exuberant celebration, dogged determination
and heartbreaking humiliation for a community and a
history that was unfolding before our eyes.
An idea is being developed to respectfully acknowledge the existence of this iconic establishment through
Public Art and Green Space. Garnering community and
neighborhood support is at the core of the success for
this proposal. The goal is to encourage new development within the area to consider our idea as a way
to maintain a unique part of Montrose’s character, by
preserving the past and informing the future.
An informal presentation is scheduled for Monday,
November 5 at 8:00 pm at Grace Lutheran Church,
in conjunction with the Hyde Park United Civic
Association meeting. ■
The Houston Area Women’s Center is one of Verizon Wireless
partners in an effort to increase awareness of domestic
violence and further prevention efforts. Together with the
Houston Area Women’s
Center, Verizon Wireless
works to use technology
to empower domestic
violence victims and
help change lives.
HOW tO dOnAte
Verizon encourages everyone who plans to give a phone
to HopeLine to erase any personal data on the phone before
donating it by erasing contacts from the address book, deleting
call logs, erasing messages, removing stored photos, videos and
other media. Donated phones are not tax-deductible.
dOnAte in PersOn
• Drop off phones at any Verizon Wireless Communications
Store. To find a store, visit the online Store Locator at www.
verizonwireless.com/storelocator.
• Bring your phone directly to the Women’s Center. HAWC staff
will package and send them directly to Verizon.
dOnAte By MAiL
• Print a postage-paid label at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel, adhere it to the box/envelope with the phone
and mail.
• Review all shipping instructions carefully and include a return
address on the label.
Houston Area Women’s Center
1010 Waugh Dr., Houston, TX 77019
713-528-6798 713-535-6363 FAX
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE:
713-528-2121
SEXUAL VIOLENCE HOTLINE:
713-528-7273
www.hawc.org
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Yard of the Month
T
he lovely garden at 1504 Hyde Park
Blvd is the result of a need for a
relaxing space for owner Neal Gordy.
After a day in the downtown glass and
concrete office environment where Neal
works as the Director of Commercial
Development at ExxonMobil Pipeline, he
felt he needed some stress and optical
relief. The yard is especially refreshing
at night from 8:00 until 10:30 when the
landscape lights are on.
Originally from SE Iowa, Neal moved
to Texas in 1975 and specifically Hyde
Park in 1996. He relates to the bumper
stickers that proclaim “Not a native, but
got here as fast as I could.” He was less
than pleased to see the destruction of the
three story Victorian home in Hyde Park
Crescent, but that’s a story for another
time.
Neal’s hobbies include golf, travel, and
regional dining. Like many Montrosians,
he and his friend Cathy consider Barnaby’s
as their default location for comfort food.
The experimental addition of goldfish
to the pond may prove to be another
hobby. The yard is carefully maintained by
Vicente and Joe Valverde (Neal had to give
credit where credit is due)
Stop by, the first thing you’ll notice is
the grotto-like feel of the front of the wall.
Peek in the gate and you’ll see the water
feature, roses and pathways that give the
yard its Zen appeal. ■
Submitted by Susan Ellis
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Positive Interaction Program (PIP)
Monthly forum facilitates info exchange between HPd and neighborhoods
T
he Houston Police Department has
had a Community Service Division
since the seventies. When a group of citizens requested a presentation on a crime
prevention topic, they would send one of
their officers to the group and advise them
what they could do to keep from becoming crime victims again. This is proactive
policing.
In 1982, the patrol division put forward
the idea that citizens also need to know
more about their police department
before a crime occurs in their neighborhood. From this came the concept of the
Positive Interaction Program, “PIP.”
The Positive Interaction Program holds
monthly meetings featuring speakers
from different divisions (Burglary and
Theft, Homicide, K-9, Helicopters, etc.),
units, law enforcement agencies, or public
assistance agencies. you may hear what
a judge, district attorney, state prison
warden, a county boot camp director,
or a representative from a local, county
or other nonprofit operation has to say
about what they are doing to fight crime,
help crime victims, or assist those who are
at risk for entering a life of crime.
The department was not sure how
citizens would react to coming to a police
station once a month for a presentation
on a different division, so the PIP was
started as a pilot project in one police station. It has proven to be an overwhelming
success.
PIP offers a chance to meet the officers
that patrol your neighborhood and get
to know them on a first name basis. you
normally also hear from the Captain of
your sub-station.
Each month a different person is chosen
to ride with a police officer on an actual
tour of duty. At some meetings, you’ll get
to hear from the “citizen-rookie” about
his or her experience. I made this ride one
night several months ago and found it
informative, to say the least. Perhaps eyeopening would be a more apt adjective.
Crime statistics are given out at the end
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of each monthly meeting. There are seven
categories of crimes listed, each including
the date, time, block address, and type of
location where the crime occurred. The
PIP Crime Statistics are also available on
the Internet at http://www.houstontx.
gov/police/cs/stats2.htm.
Before each formal meeting, an informal meeting is held (refreshments provided). you’ll have an opportunity to talk
to other citizens who are attending, as
well as officers from many beats around
the district.
The free flow of information and ideas
helps build a better understanding of each
other’s needs and expectations. This fosters trust and friendship between citizens
and the police department that serves
them. Cooperation between the Houston
Police Department and the citizens is
imperative in the reduction of crime and
enhancing the overall quality of life in
their neighborhoods.
Find out more about PIP online at
http://www.houstontx.gov/police/pip/ ■
Submitted by Rick Wannall
Neighborhood Crime Report – September 2012
Activity
Burglary
Street/Block
1000 Welch
Premises
Date/Time
Residence / House
9/19/2012 12
Rape
1000 Missouri
Apartment
9/11/2012 22
Robbery
900 Westheimer
Road / Street / Sidewalk
9/9/2012 15
1600 Van Buren
Road / Street / Sidewalk
9/20/2012 22
900 Westheimer
Bus Station
9/6/2012 05
1000 Fairview
Residence / House
9/8/2012 10
1000 Peden
Residence / House
9/17/2012 15
900 Westheimer
Bar / Night Club Parking Lot
9/20/2012 21
900 Westheimer
Bar / Night Club Parking Lot
9/24/2012 22
1000 Welch
Driveway
8/19/2012 00
900 Westheimer
Specialty Store (Non-Specific)
9/17/2012 21
1000 California
Other / Unknown
9/28/2012 11
1000 Gray
Clothing Store
9/18/2012 09
1000 Gray
Clothing Store
9/23/2012 16
1000 Gray
Commercial Building
9/18/2012 20
1000 Gray
Grocery / Supermarket
9/27/2012 17
1000 Gray
Strip Business Center Parking 9/12/2012 17
Lot
1000 Jackson
---
9/2/2012 20
1000 Nevada
Road / Street / Sidewalk
9/28/2012 23
1600 Waugh
Residence / House
9/15/2012 02
1600 Commonwealth
Apartment
9/23/2012 04
1600 yupon
Residence / House
9/8/2012 00
900 Westheimer
Restaurant / Cafeteria Parking Lot
9/3/2012 13
Theft
iMPOrtAnt nUMBers:
9-1-1 for emergencies Only
HPd dispatch line 713-884-3131 to report suspected criminal activity
3-1-1 City Help & info Or http://www.houston311.org/
We are proud to be
a part of Hyde Park!
Serving the food of Houston and delicious
craft beer to our friends and neighbors!
1100 Westheimer Road • Houston, TX 77006
Underbelly: 713.528.9800 • www.underbellyhouston.com
Hay Merchant: 713.528.9005 • www.haymerchant.com
9
Support Our Advertisers
10
MIKESPEAR.COM
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713.204.7653
[email protected]
Join the Hyde Park United Civic Association or renew your membership
Fill out this Membership Form, check “New Member” or “Renewal,” then mail the application with
your $30 check to: HYDE PARK UNITED CIVIC ASSN, PO BOX 66422, HOUSTON TX 77266-6422.
Date:
Lamar Park
Check one: ❏ New Member ❏ Renewal
$
☞
for these local projects
☞
Enforcement Fund
$30
$
Name:
Address:
Primary Telephone:
Secondary Phone:
Email Address:
Interests/Concerns (check all that apply): ❏ Membership ❏ Lamar Park ❏ Social ❏ Newsletter ❏ Citizens on Patrol
❏ Block Captains ❏ National Night Out ❏ Other ________________________________________________________________
Thank you for joining, and helping us all build a “Sense of Community.”
You can also join online using PayPal at www.hydeparkunited.org.
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