Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Heights Happenings: September 29- October 6, 2010

Saturday, October 2, 10 AM: Blessing of the Animals at St Andrew's Episcopal Church
  • Bring your furry friends to the Blessing of the Animals, a wonderful ceremony honoring the gift of animals in our lives.
  • Please bring pets on leashes, carriers or other appropriate restraints.
  • In addition, bring a gift of pet food, treats or bedding to share with animals cared for by area rescue groups.

Saturday, October 2, 11 AM- 4PM: Immanuel Lutheran Fall Festival
  • Family friendly event with all sorts of activities for kids. Booths like Lollipop pull, fish pond, ring toss, cake walk and more.
Sunday, October 3, 7:30 AM- 4 PM: 5th Annual Heights Bicycle Rally and Scavenger Hunt
  • Rally participants may start their ride any time after 7:30 on the day of the event. Riders must finish by 4:00 pm.
  • An End-of-Rally Party, with live music, will be held in Marmion Park, starting at 4:00 pm.
  • For additional information check the Heights Association website or contact Rally Chairman, Paul Carr at 713-869-0505.
REMINDER: Heights 1st Saturday is back to day time hours this month!

OUTSIDE THE HEIGHTS:

Friday, October 1, 7:30- 10:30 PM: Charity Chicks Houston's BRAtober
  • This year's event supports Bright Pink, a national nonprofit organization that provides education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
  • Space is limited, so visit the link above for more information and to purchase tickets.
Saturday, October 2, 7:30 PM: Screen on the Green at Discovery Green - Where the Wild Things Are
  • The Screen on the Green Series presented by IKEA Houston features a new movie each month at Discovery Green. In addition to a free showing of Where the Wild Things Are, the event will feature pre-movie entertainment from DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives.
  • Enter to win “Best Seat in the House” seating for this event here.
Tuesday, October 5, 6 PM- 8 PM: Monte Beach Civic Club's National Night Out

  • Join Montie Beach Civic Club for a gathering in honor of National Night Out
  • Montie Beach Park, 915 Northwood
  • There will be live music, free food, finger printing for children, and much much more. Come out and meet some of our area neighbors. For more information contact Juleena at President@montiebeach.org

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Construction Notice: White Oak east

Notification of Emergency Repairs

White Oak Drive at Little White Oak Bayou Crossing

In order to repair damages to the roadway along the Hundred block of White Oak Drive at Little White Oak Crossing, the City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering is performing the following work:


Reconstruction of White Oak Drive at Little White Oak Bayou Crossing includes repairs to the existing roadway and embankment, installing sheet piling and metal beam guard fencing, new pedestrian sidewalk and other related items including anchoring steel straps to prevent further movement of the structure.

White Oak Drive at Little White Oak Bayou Crossing has been subjected to overtopping from recent floods causing roadway and embankment erosion.

Project Schedule:

Construction Plans completed by early to late fall 2010

Construction award is scheduled for Spring 2011

Construction Complete in Early Summer 2011


Motorist and residents in the area can expect some traffic delays and re-routing when construction starts. Traffic detour plans will be offered as the construction date approaches.

If you have any questions about the project, please contact Stephen Wright, City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering, 832.395.2057 or stephen.wright@houstontx.gov.

To see a map of the area, please click on either link:

http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/images/little_white_oak_bayou_crossing.jpg

http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/images/little_white_oak_bayou_crossing.pdf

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Your Neighbor Gets the Nits

One of the things I love about writing this blog is that I get to meet people I would not otherwise meet and I find out interesting things I would never otherwise know. There are some things in life you just never learn about if you never have a need for them...

Kim Jozwiak is a long time Heights resident. She grew up on the west side of Houston but moved to the West End when she got married. Her ex-husband was a 3rd generation West Ender and a member of his family still lives in one of the only remaining original homes on Center Street. After renovating a home and spending four years there, Kim headed in to the Heights. An interior designer by education, she was drawn to the aesthetic of the older homes in the area and, as an artist, she felt this was a community where she could settle in for the long haul. Twelve years later, the blue Norhill bungalow she and her twin daughters call home is quintessential Heights on the outside and definitely funky and all Kim on the inside. Purple walls, a mirrored dining room table and bold patterned furniture are the sure signs of someone with their own style.

Kim's blue bungalow is just the type of cute and tidy homes that make up our Norhill neighborhood.

But inside her home is anything but the usual...



A few years back, Kim never would have guessed that she would be an expert in a subject matter that would lead her to being a small business owner. Having 2 twin daughters with busy social lives can have some expected consequences, however. In the last year, Kim has fought not one but FOUR lice infestations. Her experience has taught her some very interesting things about lice and definitely changed her perception of how and why people end up with it. Like many people, I used to think lice was a product of poor hygiene. Then I had kids. I've been lucky enough to dodge the bullet where head lice is concerned, but I know many families who haven't been so lucky. Look around Kim's cute, clean, funky little house and you'll know it was just bad odds for her. With twins, she has double the odds. Having girls, who things like fix each other's hair, odds are even greater.


Kim's home is decorated with her own lively art work

How common is lice though? Is Kim's family an anomaly or is this something any mom can expect to have to deal with? According to Kim, head lice is the 2nd most common contagion that keeps children from ages 3-12 out of school. This statistic proves that the old school idea of lice being dirty or shameful just has to be wrong. Kim's experience certainly changed her perception and now she is working to educate other families on the reality of what head lice is and how to treat it. As soon as her girls had it the 1st time, Kim educated herself on lice and started helping other families she knew were being affected. However, by the 4th infestation, Kim was fed up with the treatments that weren't working and also of spending countless hours combing and combing to clear it out herself. She decided to see if she could get some help.

Kim's daughters are right: Girls definitely rock! But they are much more likely to bring home head lice from sharing brushes and even hugging more than boys.

Kim was surprised to find that in all of metro-Houston there was only one business treating lice infestations and that customers have go to them. Low on patience and time and presented with only one option, Kim took her girls to have someone else treat them. At this point, Kim knew a lot already about lice and how it works. She watched as they patiently combed her girls hair, talked about the products they use and, by the end, asked if they were interested in franchising. When they said they weren't, Kim decided she could do better for Houston families and took to researching solutions on her own. Now Kim is the only lice removal service in Houston who offers treatment in your own home.

In treating her own daughters' lice, Kim realized there was a lot of misinformation out there and that she initially wasted a lot of time doing things wrong. She learned from her mistakes and now knows that treatment is only one aspect of the lice issues that families deal with. There is the fact that lice breeds in phases and many chemical treatments only kill one phase. There is also prevention.

At this point, I haven't had to deal with lice personally so I haven't had to know much about it. After an hour with Kim, I know all kinds of things about lice that I never would have. Some facts are reassuring, like they do not carry disease. Some of are kind of gross, like lice needs a human "host." The upside of that is lice will not live on pets. I never would have known that the best way to check for lice is to spray a sort of mint extract that "stirs them up." Then there is the fact that most people are probably taking the wrong approach to ridding their kids (or themselves) of a lice infestation. The common, over-the-counter remedies are chemicals; they are poisons. Natural, non-toxic alternatives exist. In the end, however, it doesn't matter which treatment you use unless you are willing to put in the elbow grease to comb the lice out.

Kim, at home. But she'll also come to yours!

This is where Kim really wants to help you. It's a daunting task, combing hair almost strand by strand. So, if you don't have the patience or the time, she is the only person in town who will come and do it for you. You can feel good knowing that she will be treating your kids or you with a non-toxic, non-pesticide foam that loosens the nits up and then she will have the kind of patience I think you can only be paid for. Using a large magnifying glass that makes her "look like a scientist," Kim will go layer by layer using the Shepherd Method of removal. Don't want to have her come to your house? She is currently building out a "salon" for removal, as well. This will allow families to do whatever is most convenient for them and keep lice from being an overwhelming experience. Still, I know if/when it happens to my boys, I'll be glad to have someone who will come to me, solve the problem and help prevent it in the future. This is something I never would have taken the time to find out about unless I needed it. Luckily, we were connected via The Heights Life and now I feel like a more educated parent after speaking with Kim. I hope you do too!


WWW.STOPLICENOW.COM

713-455-LICE (5423)


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Heights Happenings: September 22- September 29, 2010

Friday, September 24, 7:30 PM: Heights Live! presents Graham Wilkinson
  • Doors: 7:30 Show: 8:00
  • Cover: $10
  • Heights Live! is a family friendly, BYOB venue. Snacks and set-ups are available for donation. They also offer child care for a nominal fee. Please contact them at info@nhtagency.net to make child care reservations.
  • 240 W 18th St

Saturday, September 25, 4 PM: Enjoy an afternoon of poetry at Heights Books-Libros.
  • Christopher Bear Beam, Diana X. Muñiz, Yvonne Zepeda (whose art will also be on display), and store owner/poet Blanca A. Alanis
  • Refreshments will be served.
  • The store is offering 30% off all new and used books
  • 502 E 20th
Saturday, September 25, ALL DAY: Celebrate the Centennial Birthday of Sunset Heights
  • A parade, small park festival and live music to celebrate Sunset Heights turning 100
  • Event flyer & schedule
  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUNSET HEIGHTS!
Also, for your viewing pleasure:


Friday, September 24, 8 PM: PBS presents "David vs Goliath: The Heights vs Walmart"
This event has been cancelled. Andy Icken told PBS he suddenly had a "scheduling conflict." I can't help but wonder if it has anything to do with documentation discussed in this story by ABC 13's Mya Shay.
  • "Some see it as a modern day David vs. Goliath story. Walmart, the super giant discount store, wants to build a new store in the Historic Houston Heights. David, in this version, is a community of groups joining together to try and stop this retailer. They feel this mega-store will bring traffic congestion, higher crime rates, and serious infrastructure problems to the area. But Walmart supporters feel this is a prime opportunity for the popular chain to establish itself right in the heart of the city, bring with it 24 hour shopping, discount prices and a host of new jobs. So who is right and who is wrong in this tale of urban growth and development? How do we move forward as a city, while still maintaining the charm, beauty and safety of our neighborhoods? And who will ultimately decide?"
  • Scheduled to appear: Nick Urbano, President, Responsible Urban Development Houston and Andy Icken, Chief Development Officer, City of Houston
Plan Ahead/ Outside the Heights:

Sunday, October 10, 2010: Houston's Historic 1st Ward First Bash
  • The First Ward Civic Council is hosting its first ever fundraiser on 10.10.10
  • The event will be hosted by Winter Street Studios and will showcase performances by Texas Johnny Boy and MECA; a silent auction of the work of local artists; samplings from area restaurants; and exhibits and information from area businesses. They anticipate attendance of around 500 friends, neighbors and supporters.
  • $10 at the door

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Trade Cat Food For Crafting 9/16-9/17

Local animal-loving Heights business Sew Crafty is bartering in pet food! Help support Interfaith Ministries AniMeals program and get a free drop-in crafting session at the same time.

"The program was started three years ago so that seniors on the Meals on Wheels program would not feel compelled to share their limited food and resources with their pet companions, according to Interfaith Ministries representatives.

The volunteer program serves 300 seniors and 750 pets each month." (Pets Chronicle Blog

Bring a donation of a bag of cat or dog food by the shop at 321B W 19th St before Noon tomorrow, Sept 17 to recieve your free drop-in session. They are open until 7 tonight if you want to drop by after work.

Even if you don't want to craft, you can still bring some food by to help needy seniors feed their animals. Thanks, Sew Crafty, for motivating the neighborhood to help seniors and their pets!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Heights Happenings: Sept 15- Sept 22, 2010

Thursday, Sept 16, 6- 8 PM: Sip and Shop at KAXM Galler
  • Enjoy wine and light snacks while browsing KAXM's collection of original artwork. More than half of the art at KAXM is from the local Houston artists. They will also have one-of-a-kind jewelry, and original designer handbags.
  • Joey Garza from Urban Therapy Massage will also be providing complimentary chair massages. If guests book a massage appointment, they will receive 20% off their first massage. Those who make a purchase during the Sip and Shop Event you will receive 50% off the first booked massage.
  • Additional Sip and Shops will be held on October 21, November 18 and December 16 so mark your calendar if you can't make this one!
  • 1135 East 11th
Friday, Sept 17, 6 PM: Opening reception for Dylan Francis and Kevin Jefferies at Hello Lucky
  • Celebrate the opening of a new Hello Lucky show for artists Dylan Francis's etch glass work and Kevin Jefferies's photos of our fair city!
  • RSVP on Hello Lucky's Facebook event page or just pop in.
  • Show is through October 16.
Friday, Sept 17, 11 AM- 6 PM, and Sat, Sept 18, 10 AM- 5 PM: Friends of Houston Public Libraries 10th Annual Children's Book Sale
  • Thousand of children's books will be available for $1-2! Proceeds benefit our public libraries.
  • Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 West 11th
PLAN AHEAD:

Tuesday, Sept 28 thru Tuesday, Nov 2, 6:30-8:30 PM: "Mindful Parenting" seminar at the Houston Zen Center
  • Play therapist Lynn Murphy will be leading this parenting course at the Zen Center.
  • "The course will focus on the cultivation of qualities including mindfulness, equanimity, acceptance, skillful means and loving--kindness will be applied to the practice of parenting from a Buddhist perspective."
  • 6 Tuesdays,
  • Register by phone at 713-869-1952 or in person at the Center, 1605 Heights Blvd