January 2009 Archives

Well.  I missed last week's post.  Sorry (to my loyal subjects... if there are any), I was out of town.  I was getting myself learned up at a workshop.  Woohoo!!  It was in Austin.  I must say.  The only thing I found weird about Austin is the fact that people live there and all they do all day is sit in traffic.  Hey.  Wanna do anything today?  Yeah.  Sure.  Let's go sit in traffic.  Sure did make me fall in love all over again with my lovely walkable city that is Galveston.

Quick.  Change the subject.  Anybody keeping up with the trial this week.  Sad, sad world.  Mommy's on trial for beating her kid so bad that the little girl died.  Well, she didn't act alone.  Mean step-daddy apparently ran the show.  Re-reading about the events that lead up to and eventually killed "Baby Grace" makes your stomach turn and your eyes water.

The Mrs. and I attended an HDGP event last night at the Masonic Temple downtown.  I must say, downtown sure knows how to party.  Who can beat food and drinks for only $10.  It was a great turn out.

Super Bowl Sunday this weekend.  Yay.  Go... um... who's playing again??  That's right.  Steelers v. Cardinals.  I'm pretty sure Galveston has some ties to the big game this year.  Ball High graduate and University of Texas standout Casey Hampton will be representing the Island Super Sunday.  Tune in and cheer "Big Snack" and the Steelers on to victory.

Well.  See ya later...

Updates on Gtown happenings the rest of this week:

Galveston Long Term Recovery Committee Tonight, Thursday, & Saturday

The Galveston Long Term Recovery Committee's Open Houses continue this week.  Please be sure to attend one to put in your 2 cents (or more) on the recovery and future of the Island.  These two-hour Neighborhood Open Houses are an integral part of the committee's information gathering process.  The public is encouraged to drop-by, review visual displays, join in discussions, and provide their input on recovery issues.  Materials will be made available to the public for those who prefer to submit written comments.  Remember, if you don't speak up, you can't expect your needs to be addressed.

Remaining Dates:

Wednesday, January 28th  
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Garten Verein
2704 Avenue O
Galveston

Thursday, January 29th 
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
League City Community Center - Johnnie Arolfo Room
400 West Walker
League City

Day-long Community Open House:
Saturday, January 31st  
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ball High School
4115 Avenue O
Galveston

Historic Downtown Galveston Partnership Annual Meeting & Celebration Thursday

The HDGP meeting and celebration of downtown friends and neighbors will honor George Mitchell and Family for their dedication to downtown Galveston.  Light food, beer, and setups provided or BYOB.  Attire: Island casual.  $10 at the door, cash or check.  IBC hopes to see you there!

Thursday, January 29
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Corner of 22nd & Church
Galveston

Preservation Resource Center - Galve-Scan 2009 Saturday

Galveston residents are invited to come to Galveston Historical Foundation's Preservation Resource Center (PRC) with their historic photos or documents that can be used to document the history of residential and commercial properties on the island. The documents will be scanned and added to the PRC's archives, safe from loss, and available to researchers and homeowners. Originals will be returned.  Hope to see you here too - at least come by and check out the new digs for the Preservation Resource Center.  Need more info?  Visit www.galvestonhistory.org

Saturday, January 31
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Architectural Salvage Warehouse
908 23rd Street
Galveston
 

First, I would like to say thank you to that anonymous person for the Mondo's subscription to Rolling Stone.  I don't know who the giver was, but thank you - whoever you are.  (Mom - if it's you, my bad).

More importantly, have any of you seen the February 5, 2009 issue yet?  (Issue #1071)?  WillThing's favorite, "The Boss," is on the cover.

If you have a copy, if you would please turn to page 64.  Do you see that?!

For those without your own copy, it is an image of a plastic bag - actually more like packaging you'd find your grocery meat wrapped in at the supermarket - filled with plastic products, toys, hair care accessories, bottle caps, etc. - allegedly culled from Galveston beaches.   The tag on the package is entitled "Galveston Beach, TX  Catch of the Day."  But, here's the confusing part, the text on the label then says "In regions of the Pacific, plastic particles outnumber plankton six to one.  Make waves.  Go to surfrider.org"

So, um, I know I've lost quite a few brain cells post-Ike, but, um . . . aren't Gtown waters part of the Atlantic, and technically aren't we the Gulf of Mexico?  I get that they're saying they (the "Surfriders" presumably) pulled this trash right off the Island's beaches, but are they saying that it comes around from the Pacific?  Surely I'm missing the point.  Surely they did not spend thousands on this full page, color ad in Rolling Stone (or utilize partner in-kind advertising worth thousands) and get their geography wrong.  Help me.

One more thing.  Dude, I know our beaches are far from clean - I mean forget the less-than-salt-white sand - the trash is unforgiveable.  But, seriously, I'm a little miffed that after Hurricane Ike, they still chose to run this ad.  Again, I could still be riding the sensitivity train, but is this the best way to "protect our world's oceans" or our part of the Gulf post-Ike?  If there's something I'm missing, please let me know.  I admit - I'm far from educated on environmental issues, but the advocacy seems a bit off right about now.

By the way, here's their Mission:

"The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide."
 

RSVP of Galveston County is a volunteer organization in the truest sense.  This group helps people 55 and over find volunteer positions throughout the area.  RSVP supplies needed volunteer hours to schools, non-profits, hospitals, and faith-based locations.  Some of the names you might recognize are:

- Galveston Seafarers Center
- The Ronald McDonald House
- Our Daily Bread
- Meals on Wheels
- Hospices

RSVP was negatively affected by hurricane ike with respect to number of volunteers involved.  If you would like to volunteer or recieve more information please contact Ritchie Adoue at raadoue@utmb.edu or call her at 409-772-5361.

Although RSVP is for volunteers 55 and older, they can also help younger people find a volunteer program that is right for them.

Fun story today from the AP. Anyone have any ideas who it belongs to? I was sent the link by a friend asking if I'd lost a box. I was sorry to report that this wasn't the box I lost. Mine was full of $100 bills and most likely had someone else's name on it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28772960/
 

Okay, so in 1911, air conditioning was invented and by 1936 so was the double rotor helicopter.  Wanna know something else that happened between those years?  A little thing called the Interurban... 

This thing scooted Galvestonians and Houstonians back and forth along the 50 mile corridor in under 75 minutes.  Have you SEEN the traffic lately between Gtown and Houston?  You could listen to practically the entire Twilight series on cd before you make it past the Clear Lake City Blvd exit!

We need this thing back.  Well, okay, not THIS particular train, but the concept anyhow.  Some people might argue that casinos are the quick fix for Galveston.  Some people might argue that gambling would bring more negatives to the Island than would support the benefits.  All a commuter rail would bring would be MORE PEOPLE.  THAT WANT TO COME HERE.  And I'm betting that a big system like that might fetch a job or two - huh?

I'm just curious.  You all out there that visit IBCGalveston.com, what do you think?  Would you ride the rail if we had one??? 

 

Four months later.  And the Island disappears from view.  It struck me last night as I watched a program on TV where a gentleman made a statement about people in America need to get out and volunteer to help around the nation.  Whatever it may be.  He even mentioned going to New Orleans and assisting in building a house for a Katrina victim.  It makes no sense.  To me.  I completely understand that Katrina devastated New Orleans, and it struggles to muster an existence post-storm.  Over three years later.

Has Galveston already fallen from the national, public eye.  Better yet.  Were we ever in it?  Were we ever given a chance?  I think we were.  Briefly.  Pretty much from the moment "imminent death" beckoned all non-vacaters.  Need I say this was a pre-storm media blitz?  Sure our local channels came through and focused on us after the storm, but what happened to the rest of the nation?

That said, this fine volunteer of a man promoting volunteerism throughout the nation could have focused his comment on something a little more time period specific.

I might just be bitter because I'm partial to this place.  Over-reaction may have got the best of me.  I might be hopped up on stats and probablies.  But at the same time, I'm not too proud to ask (beg) for attention.  Attention brings at least a chance to gain some much needed assistance.  WE NEED HELP!!!

Then again, we're Islanders.  We kind of chose to be segregated and a little different.  Thoughts?

Dear HMGP,
I thought I knew you.  Apparently I did not.  You had to have Brandon Wade and Jeff Ward tell me the truth last night because you couldn't do it yourself.

From what I understand, you and your new lady, FEMA, are all hopped up on statistics and probability.  You provide no glimmer of hope to help us elevate our homes.

What I do know is that I've found someone new - Sterling Patrick and his Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.  They seem to really have a lot going for them.  I think, for those of us in historic homes, we and you, HMGP, should make a clean break and move on.  Good luck with your buy-outs since I see now that's really all you were interested in from the start.

-Historic Galveston homeowner

So, if you couldn't tell by the above letter, last night's meeting proved useless for MANY (hopefully there are some homeowners out there that can qualify and best of luck to you!) of us to use the HMGP to elevate our homes.  FEMA seems to be set on only shelling out the big $$s if they see our area as flood-prone (like if our homes flooded every 5 years or every time it rains) and if they can make it worth their while.  Since IKE was such a unique storm, FEMA is likely to not see us as a "worthwhile" investment of their elevating dollars.

Fine.  Luckily, there is another hope: federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant program.  Ah, another acronym to try and remember and learn about...  No worries - we will stay on top of CDBG issues and post them here.  Please stay tuned!

PS.  Even though its "not bloody likely" that we (East Enders) will qualify for the HMGP, we are still encouraged to apply - doesn't hurt to ask, right?  Call the public works dept at (409) 762-8873 - ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 13th.

Sometimes (okay... most of the time) my brain is on recess.  But after hanging out at the monkey bars or the swings, it doesn't clock back in.  Instead it's kicking the kickball as far as possible.  Or getting pushed around the field by a bully.  But most of the time it's always asking itself seriously deep, irresponsible questions that have nothing to do with fun, tasks at hand, or anything for that matter.

I asked my brain, "Harold (yes.  my brain has a name.  and it's Harold.  not Harry-for-short.  Harold), would it be okay if I shared some of the obscure questions you ask almost daily?"  He figures it'll be okay.  So.  Proceed?

How long could I tread water for before I completely gave up and let myself drown?

Where did I exist before I was born?

Or did I exist?

If I did exist before I was born, can I remember it if I try really, extremely hard?

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

When I spank the step dog after he pees in the house, does he really know what's going on?

Or.  How do dogs have thought processes?  It can't be like humans because our thoughts are done through words, as if we're speaking to ourself in our heads.  You know.  Thoughts.  Well.  Since dogs don't speak words (they only bark), do they bark in their own heads in order to create thoughts.  For example: if a dog wants to think it's hungry, it can't say in its mind those words.  I think it can have the feeling of hunger.  But then does it think it wishes it had some food.  And then, to do all this thinking, does the dog hear barking in its head.  The same goes for all animals.  Or living creatures for that matter.

How come when I pee in my dreams I don't pee in real life?  Yet, in my dream, I feel relief.

And then, can you really feel things in your dreams?  Sometimes I think I do feel things while dreaming.

Why did cats get so lucky to get nine lives?

Why don't dogs get anything special?

Or is it because dogs get to be man's best friend?

Do we really have soulmates?

Would my dog attack someone if they were hurting me?

If I kept asking questions, would people really keep reading them?

Or, better yet, has anyone even read this far?

**Calling all parties interested in elevating their homes.  Please plan to attend this Wednesday's meeting at the Convention Center (San Luis) at 6:30pm.**
Learn More About the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Attend the Community Meeting on January 14th
January 8, 2009

The City of Galveston is hosting a meeting to educate island residents about the buyout and elevation program.  This is a voluntary program administered by the State of Texas to help property owners of residential structures reduce the loss of property due to natural disasters.  At the meeting, City officials will discuss the program's eligibility criteria, process, and answer questions from attendees.

WHAT: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Community Meeting

WHEN: Wednesday, January 14th 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort Ballroom A/B

To express your interest in participating in the City's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, for either acquisition "buyout" or elevation resources, please contact the City of Galveston 's Public Works Department by calling (409) 797-3630.
 

After the event that happened in our little area of the earth last september, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people asking the same question.  "How can I help?" was asked of me by friends, relatives, and acquaintances near and far.  After giving them my bank account and routing number, I started thinking about the local organizations and charities that not only got physically hurt by the storm but also suffered collateral damage as their supporters were hurt by time and financial strains as well.  So I've decided to make a list of local organizations that could use your support in either time or monetary donations. 

I'm not going to include national charities like the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.  It's not that these organizations don't deserve our support and thanks (they most certainly do).  The truth of it is that these large organizations have a much bigger "hat" than our local ones do.  So without further adieu:

The Seafarers Center of Galveston provides a sanctuary exclusively for mariners.  Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual support are provided to seamen of all origins, races, and religious backgrounds.

The Seafarers Center has been a part of Galveston for many years and with our growing port, we have a growing need for this support center.

Physical support ranges from leisure activities such as pool, music, and a place to relax to a commissary to buy needed supplies such as soap and batteries, to informational resources like televisions, internet, and telephones.

Emotional and Spiritual support are often needed by seamen who have been on the water for months at a time.  Karen Parsons, the chaplain at the Seafarers Center, along with staff members Wendy Majewski and Melissa Clarke, do their very best to make all visitors feel some of the welcome comforts of home.

Hurricane Ike severely damaged the center located at 221 20th St. in downtown Galveston.  The center is in the process of rebuilding both the structure and reestablishing the services and amenities that they provide.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Wendy Majewski or Melissa Clarke at seafarerscenter@yahoo.com

Do you know of any other local organizations or charities that could use our help?  Please let us know!
 

Okay 2009.  You officially have to show what you're made of.  You can no longer bask in the shadow of 2008, hiding your potential in dark seams.  2009, you must now drop everything and get to work.  It will be no menial task.  Unless someone has been in a coma or tied to a bedpost, everyone knows 2008 had more to handle than it ever asked for.  Sure, 2008 saw the election of the first African-American President, but it also dealt with one of the worst economic downfalls.

For Galvestonians, 2008 had a front row seat to watch the most damaging storm to cross our path in over a century.  I hope you enjoy your newfound local celebrity status 2008.  Is it really worth it?

All said, I welcome you 2009.  I applaud your brave stance so far against the struggles you've found forced upon yourself.  2009, you and you alone will oversee the next 363 days.  You won't be responsible for anything until your December 31st is X'ed off.

Happy New Year Galveston from IBC!!!  What's your relationship with 2009??