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Posts published in “Community”

San Jacinto College wins national award for STEM education

Oct 22, 2020
CHANCELLOR HELLYER

College recognized for programs that build career pathways for diverse populations

PASADENA – The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Siemens Foundation have awarded San Jacinto College with the Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award for the College’s associate degree nursing and process technology programs.

Eight winning programs from seven community colleges across the country are receiving this award for providing outstanding preparation for high-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, energy, health care, and information technology. Additionally, these community college programs are also being nationally recognized for their intentional outreach and support of diverse populations that typically are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. San Jacinto College is the only institution to receive the award for two programs.

Each winning program will receive $50,000, with half of the funds allocated for program development and the other half allocated as scholarships for outstanding students, known as Siemens Technical Scholars.

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Channelview Clean-up set for Saturday, October 24

Oct 22, 2020

By Carolyn Stone

Please come out and join us, we will be conducting our second Channelview Community Cleanup this upcoming Saturday 10/24/20 from 7:30 – 11:00 am. We kickstarted Channelview’s cleanup last month on 09/19/20 by removing trash from the roadside and medians of the south end of Sheldon Road from Market St. to I-10. and trimming the plantings and the curbsides of the Sheldon Rd. median at Lorenzo St.

This effort was a major improvement and our clean-up effort did not go unnoticed. On 09/24/20 Cindy Miller, Harris County Pct. 2 Community Liaison, shared a communication with C.H.I.C. from Jose Jimenez, Pct. 2 Director – Neighborhood Services & Economic Opportunity:

“We will begin cleaning Channelview esplanades on Oct. 6th with Gradall. Tree limbs will be picked up tomorrow. Next week we are using all dump trucks to haul ditching spoils from IT May to James Driver. Cindy, please let the local constituents know they have been heard! More to come.”

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Garcia proposes County tax cut

Oct 1, 2020

HARRIS COUNTY – Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia proposed this week a motion to cut Harris County property tax rates. The motion was approved by Commissioners Court unanimously. The Garcia plan proposes a rate that will save taxpayers 1.3 cents per $100 of assessed value on their homes. The plan not only saves taxpayers money, it also still funds crucial priorities such as Flood Control and Harris Health.

“This will be our first consecutive tax reduction in at least ten years, and I’m proud to have proposed the motion to put us on a path toward a rate cut. As we all deal with a pandemic and economic crisis, my hope is that property tax relief will help our neighbors who are struggling. At the same time, essential county services must remain a priority — to both support the local economy, as well as to keep us prepared for any future challenges. (more…)

Legacy Health Clinics open in two Galena Park schools

Oct 1, 2020
Pictured (left to right): Mr. Kenneth Bryant, principal of North Shore 10th Grade Center, Dr. Angi Williams, Retired GPISD Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Moore, Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Wiley Johnson, Deputy Principal of North Shore Senior High School

On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, Galena Park I.S.D. (GPISD) hosted the Legacy Community Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House at North Shore Senior High School and Green Valley Elementary School.

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was hosted by the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. John Moore, Galena Park I.S.D. Superintendent of Schools, was joined by Dr. Angi Williams, retired GPISD Superintendent of Schools, the Galena Park I.S.D. Board of Trustees, Senator Carol Alvarado, Legacy Community Health personnel, and the principals of Green Valley Elementary, North Shore 10th Grade Center and North Shore Senior High School to cut the ribbon.

Legacy Community Health (Legacy) is the largest federally qualified health center in Texas and a first-of-its-kind in our District with a clinic inside Green Valley Elementary School and North Shore Senior High School for students and their siblings to visit. Legacy is committed to providing access to affordable, high quality healthcare for children by providing a variety of pediatric and behavioral health services. The clinics have telemedicine options for students with special accommodations for in-person visits or on an as-needed basis.

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THREE NEW DRONES: Jacinto City’s Eyes in the Sky

Sep 24, 2020
ABOVE: A flying drone plane took this photo 150 feet up in the air of the two communication workers (center of photo) removing the obsolete equipment from the water tower. Workers used the crane’s hook and cable to take the equipment off the towers handrail and lower it to the ground. (Photo by Lt. Mark Longrigg, Jacinto City Police Drone Operator)

By Allan Jamail

September 21, 2020 – Jacinto City’s newest budget has provided for acquiring three drone planes to improve city services and to make it safer for emergency personnel.

City Manager Lon Squyres said the city’s police, fire and emergency management departments each has one. The drones have speakers, night lights as well as infra red night vision cameras, costing about $4,500 each.

Lt. Mark Longrigg one of the police department’s drone operators said, “These drones are and will be used for many purposes, such as assisting us in locating lost children, elderly and etc. Ariel surveillance to locate suspects, suspect vehicles, etc. We’ll use them to access locations that might be inaccessible to patrol vehicles and personnel.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restrictions on where drones can and cannot fly, rules regarding air space use and they cannot be flown over 400 feet high.

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THEA/SJRC Zoom meeting: Waste Pits schedule extended 160 days

Sep 24, 2020
Map of Southern Impoundment. Colors indicate the depth below the surface at which toxic material exceeding >240 ng/kg was found. Dark Green is the worst, at 4 feet. Red indicates the material is 10 feet below the surface. Market Street south of I-10 is the street shown.

HIGHLANDS – Concerns for the Coronavirus have put a temporary end to public meetings regarding the remediation of the toxic waste pits in the San Jacinto River.

But twice this month, Jackie Young Medcalf, the director of the San Jacinto River Coalition and THEA, held ZOOM meetings on July 1 and 15, to inform the public on the status of the remediation project for the pits.

The concentration of meetings was due to the release by the EPA of the 30% RD, or Remedial Design documents. There were over 30,000 pages of data and narrative, covering the Northern and Southern impoundment areas, and the Sand Separation area.

In addition to the report, EPA confirmed that the toxic material was deeper than first thought, and that remediation would take longer than announced.

The time line has stretched from a 2 year project, to now what is expected to take 7 years to complete, according to the engineering consultant, GHD Corp. On top of that, Jackie announced in the July 15 Zoom meeting that EPA had just granted a 160 day extension to the start of the project, moving it well into the year 2028. This will likely conflict with TxDOT’s plans to replace the I-10 bridge with a higher, wider highway.

Jackie said that in examining the RD documents, she was concerned about omissions and inconsistencies. She said that there was not enough “due diligence” exhibited in the work process, nor transparency. In the health and safety section of the RD, she said it was too generic and did not address the specific problems of this site, such as barge traffic and weather extremes such as hurricanes and floods.

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Pct. 2 provides “Study Zones” at Rotary Pavilion

Sep 10, 2020
STUDY ZONE at the North Shore Rotary Pavilion, behind the Fonteno Courthouse.

NORTH CHANNEL – Harris County Precinct 2 is now offering study zones with free wi-fi access for the community at the North Shore Rotary Pavilion located at 14350 1/2 Wallisville Rd, behind the Fonteno Courthouse.

Students and parents are welcome to study and use for virtual learning. The Study Zone is open daily, from 8am to 6pm. Additionally, the Harris County Public Library will be onsite every Tuesday from 12 noon to 4pm with their mobile library providing e-cards, support with their digital material and book give-away services.

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Public input by ZOOM meeting for Pct 2 Parks & Trails Comprehensive Plan

Sep 10, 2020
A map of Precinct 2 shows the extent of population density, and location of parks as indicated by colored dots.

Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia held a Zoom meeting last Monday night, to get the public’s input and ideas on how to develop a Comprehensive Plan for Parks and Trails in Precinct 2.

About 100 persons participated in the session, which lasted about an hour, exceeding the time planned because of the enthusiasm of the callers and the commissioner.

Adrian Garcia said that he wants Pct. 2 to have a reputation for outstanding parks, that attract people and publicity, and where people can have a good time. He noted that good parks also increase property values.

Garcia revealed that he has an experienced architectural landscape and urban planning firm working on the project. This is Asakura Robinson, headed by Keiji Asakura.

Also participating in the Zoom meeting and the planning for the parks are representatives from Pct. 2 and also the Harris County engineering department. Another consultant is Jose Eduardo Sanchez, a community engagement specialist.

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Area schools virtually reopen Sept. 8

Sep 3, 2020
Galena Park’s new Superintendent Dr. John Moore

NORTH CHANNEL – School districts in this area are planning on starting classes on Tuesday, September 8. Some had planned an earlier start, in August, but changed their schedule on the advice of health authorities.

Class instruction will open at first only virtually, or on the internet, and after a period of several weeks, will change to a hybrid model where parents can choose to continue at-home learning, or face-to-face in-person in school. In Sheldon and Galena Park, this change will occur in four weeks. In Channelview the change will be in three weeks. However, all districts have stated that they will evaluate the health concerns at the time of change-over, and the schedule may be adjusted further.

In Galena Park ISD a new superintendent will be in charge, Dr. John Moore.

Moore has been educator in the Galena Park ISD system for nearly 30 years. Dr. Moore is overseeing the unusual situation of starting school in the midst of a pandemic. He has instituted a number of practices meant to ensure the safety of students and staff when they finally meet in face-to-face classroom situations.

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