Entrepreneur Vicente Salinas age 13 started his own business, PARACORD at the Market by Night in Jacinto City. His proud mother Irasema Salinas watching Vincente putting on one of his handmade custom bracelets on Linda Jamail. He makes custom key chains and bracelets of all shapes, sizes and of your favorite colors.
Jacinto City Market By Night is held every 2nd Saturday night, from 6 PM to 10 PM at the Town Center Plaza located at the 10200 block of Challenger 7 Drive and on the corner of Oates Road in Jacinto City. Venders prepare handmade crafts, hand paintings on rocks and canvas, salsas, jellies, local honey, cookies, cupcakes wreaths, bows, clothing, yard furniture and much more. Live music and refreshments available.
The next Market By Night is scheduled for Saturday, November 10th starting at 6 pm. The public is encouraged to stop by and experience this unique event.
Left to right: Jacinto City Police Chief Joe Ayala with newest police officer Nathan Frazier. (Photo by Allan Jamail)
By Allan Jamail
Jacinto City, TX. — On Thursday, October 25, 2018, the Jacinto City Council approved City Manager Lon Squyres’ and Police Chief Joe Ayala’s recommendation to hire Nathan R. Frazier as a patrolman.
Officer Frazier has an Advance Police Certification from the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Standards. He’s a resident of Houston and a 1980 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School. He completed his police certification education and training from North Harris Montgomery College System.
Josh Zigal, North Channel Chamber of Commerce, Laurie Crockett, Galena Park Elementary Assistant Principal, Margie Buentello, President, North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce, Wanda Heath Johnson, Board of Trustees President, Jaime Rocha, Principal, Ramon Garza, Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees Secretary, Dr. Angi Williams, Superintendent of Schools, Senator Sylvia Garcia and Dr. John Moore, Galena Park ISD Associate Superintendent for Operations attend new Galena Park Elementary ribbon cutting.
By Allan Jamail
Galena Park, TX. – October 17, 2018 — The Galena Park Independent School District (GPISD) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Galena Park Elementary School (GPES). The new school is equipped with the most modern and latest technological advancement s available for teaching elementary age students.
Allan Jamail, the NC Star writer, said, “It was an emotional day for me to witness the new facility which replaced the old building where I got my elementary school education 67 years ago. Just being there brought back so many childhood memories; I was thrilled to be in attendance. After all, once a Yellow Jacket always a Yellow Jacket.”
Ceremonial comments were made by many, but the one that received the loudest applause came from Marilyn Chavez, a fifth grade student. She said, “When I first came to Galena Park Elementary, I was four years old, and when I saw the school, I said to myself, ‘WHOA, THIS SCHOOL IS HUGE!’ As I walked into my kindergarten class, I was scared and wondered if I was going to do okay. Is my teacher going to be nice?”
Marilyn said the year passed quickly, and on her last day of kindergarten she cried because she was going to miss her teacher. The teacher gave her a big hug, and she went home for the summer. Through her school years, she attended at the old school building, then portable buildings, and now the new beautiful building, which she said looks like a palace with shiny floors.
Dr. Angi Williams, Superintendent of Schools, said, “This day has been a dream of so many. The students, parents and staff are off to a fantastic start this school year. To say this community is excited about this beautiful new campus would be quite the understatement.
“Galena Park Elementary is indeed a tribute to this community, our school board, and to the dedication, hard-work, planning and construction which has taken place over the past year.”
HOW MUCH AM I BIDDING FOR THIS SOMBRERO? This was one of many auction items at last week’s Galena Park/Jacinto City Rotary Club’s “Million Dollar Dinner.” Thanks to many sponsors and bidders, the club raised $10,000 for GP High School scholarships. MORE PHOTOS on page 3 of the print edition.
On Monday, October 15, North Shore Senior High 10th Grade Center hosted their dedication ceremony. The event was attended by students, parents, staff, alumni, elected officials and community members. North Shore 10, GPISD’s newest facility, is built to house over 1,200 Mustangs. The campus has state-of-the-art classrooms, complete with interactive panels and Google Chromebooks for the students, along with a secured storefront entrance and a safe walkway for students to walk to the Senior High.
The event began with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony hosted by the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Kenneth Bryant, North Shore 10 principal, was joined by Chamber of Commerce members, Dr. Angi Williams, superintendent of schools, and the Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees for the cutting of the ribbon.
The Grand Masonic Lodge of Texas held a cornerstone leveling ceremony as the signal of the building’s completion. The cornerstone will lie in the Northeast corner of the building with a time capsule placed behind the plaque.
Congressman Gene Green presented Mr. Bryant with a plaque in recognition of the Ribbon Cutting and Cornerstone Dedication Ceremony and he also presented an American Flag that flew over the United State Capitol on May 28 to be displayed on the campus.
Scholarship Recipients pose for a photo at North Shore High School during the ‘Paying for College Workshop’ hosted by Congressman Gene Green who is with them along with school Officials.
HOUSTON, TX – Congressman Gene Green hosted Houston-area students and parents at his Paying for College Workshop on Monday, October 15th at North Shore High School.
During this free event, a representative from The Sallie Mae Fund and Project GRAD Houston spoke to families about how to apply for scholarships, financial aid, and the important factors to consider when selecting the school that fits them. Students were also reminded that this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was made available on October 1st, three months earlier than the traditional January 1 date.
“I want every student to have the option to attend college, regardless of financial background,” said Rep. Green. “That is why I encourage students to apply for FAFSA early, so that more students can access the historic investment in financial aid and better information when they need it. It is my hope that every student who attended this event walked away feeling more confident that the cost of college can be made affordable.”
Students and families from North Shore Senior High, North Shore 10th Grade Center, Galena Park High, C.E. King High, Early College High, Channelview High, and Summer Creek High all attended.
Representatives from San Jacinto College, Houston Community College, University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance were available to students who were interested in applying to one of their institutions. Additionally, several universities awarded scholarships on-site to attending high school seniors:
Recipient of $1,000 Scholarship from San Jacinto College (more…)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Jacinto City’s original 1974 fire station gets a much needed remodeling and expansion of facilities, including day room, kitchen, sleeping rooms, showers, offices, equipment storage, and exercise room. L to R: Firefighter K. Dixon, Fire Chief Rebecca Mier, City Manager Lon Squyres, Firefighters C. Virgadamo, D. Magby and carpenter Cervando Acosta (red shirt). (Photo by Allan Jamail)
By Allan Jamail
Jacinto City, TX. – October 4, 2018 – Jacinto City already has many new projects under way or recently completed, and is now upgrading and expanding its Fire Station.
City Manager Lon Squyres said, “The original station was built in 1974 for a strictly volunteer fire department. The dorm quarters are not adequate and it lacks basic life safety measures such as a fire escape. The new addition addresses all of these issues by providing several small individual bunk rooms and adequate showers for the firefighters. Part of the older current facility will become a better exercise room than we currently have.”
Fire Chief Rebecca Mier said, “The new addition provides additional office space and training space that will be more conducive to our day to day operations.”
Plans include new wiring and lighting in the truck bays of the existing building. Future plans include replacing the rolling overhead doors, which are too old and require continued maintenance.
Planning for the new addition started last year, and construction will be complete before the end of this year 2018.
The two story addition will add about 3840 square feet to the building. The contractor for the work is Portfolio Builders of Houston. Council approved a contract for $755,500 for the project. The building was designed by Gilbert Hoffman of Hoffman Liu Design Associates, with the joint venture architectural firm of TDCK Architects.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS from the 3 local districts were the featured speakers at last week’s monthly North Channel Chamber Luncheon at the San Jacinto Monument Room. ABOVE, King Davis of Sheldon ISD, Angi Williams of Galena Park ISD, and Greg Ollis of Channelview ISD brought the audience up to date on activities at each of their districts.
Davis spoke about two topics, the devastation in his district from flooding after Hurricane Harvey, and the progress on new schools built under the Bond program. Sheldon is experiencing a tremendous growth in student population.
Williams spoke about results from the GPISD Bond program, and new and renovated schools. This month her district is holding cornerstone/ribbon cuttings on four new schools, three elementary and one 10th grade school.
Ollis spoke about the effort his staff, including the transportation department, made to help citizens after the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, and his pride in his staff.
SEE CHARLOTTE JACKSON’S COLUMN ON PAGE 6 FOR MORE DETAILS.
Wood Shadows II President Warren Lewis served chili hotdogs to his neighborhood crime fighters as they gathered at his home for an evening of mixing and mingling to discuss how to make their neighborhood safer. (Photo by Allan Jamail)
By Allan Jamail
Houston, TX. – October 2, 2018 – Sue Blackburn a resident of Houston’s Wood Shadows I and Warren Lewis, President of Wood Shadows II Civic Club went door to door, block by block handing out flyers inviting their neighbors to come to their house party for a meet and greet.
Block by block, house by house citizens gathered in their neighborhoods in a concerted effort to discuss ways they can help each other prevent falling victim to crimes.
The event has been held annually since 1984, simply with neighbors turning on their porch lights and sitting in front of their homes. The annual event focuses on the community and raising awareness in the United States and to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood friendship to make neighborhoods safer.
The events are typically organized by block leaders. They can be as simple as cookouts with food, games and music to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, neighborhood watch and other anti-crime efforts.
Jacinto City had five separate locations for citizens to go get crime prevention literature, food, refreshments and meet police officers. Galena Park had their event at the City Hall.
Concept for North Shore Park’s new playground sets.
NORTH CHANNEL, Texas – Commissioner Jack Morman is proud to announce the start of construction on September 26th for North Shore Park’s new playgrounds. This project includes the replacement of older playground equipment and installation of rubberized fall surfaces, shade canopies, and benches. The playground sets will be able to accommodate children from ages 2 to 12. Construction on the $350,000 playground set is expected to be complete in November. Park goers can visit Jim & Joann Fonteno Family Park as an alternate location with playgrounds until the construction is complete.
North Shore Park is a 46.4-acre park located at 14440 Wallisville Road in Houston. In addition to the playgrounds, this park also features numerous baseball and soccer fields, a large walking loop, and various picnic areas.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES Ana Hernandez and Mary Ann Perez helped Armando Walle hold his 10th annual Seniors Dance last week, at the Pct. 1 Hardy Seniors Center. Visiting guests included Congressman Gene Green and Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
Several hundred seniors attended this event, and enjoyed good BBQ food, good company, and even a chance to dance a little.
Walle thanked his staff, Myriam Saldivar and Rahul Sreenivasan, for making the arrangements, and Myriam’s family for the decorations.
All attendees had their picture taken in the Wanted Frame.
