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Recently in Island Recovery Category
Not sure how many NPR addicts we've got out there (I'm assuming quite a few) but for those interested I heard a good piece today on my drive up to the Oklahoma Territories and thought I'd bring it to show and tell. Give it a listen here and let me know your thoughts. I actually wasn't aware about a lot of these issues.
For those of you who haven't heard yet, local Galveston Daily News reporter Rhiannon Meyers and ex-reporter Leigh Jones have written a book detailing certain accounts and aspects of Hurricane Ike and it's aftermath. Infinite Monster (the name of the book) hit stores this week and already seems to be garnering praise. It promises to delve into the storm in ways other Ike books have yet to do, after all, it's from a local's perspective.
I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. And better yet. You can buy the book and get it signed this evening at the Galveston Daily News main office (8522 Teichman Road) from 4-7 p.m. And if you miss that, stop by The Admiralty (2221 Strand) tomorrow from noon-4 p.m. for another chance to meet the authors and get a signed book of your own.
Locally, the book has been well received so far with spots on the morning TV show for Houston Fox 26 as well as a radio interview on KUHF Conversations.
So Islanders, be sure to support local and get yourself a copy of Infinite Monster. Read it. And stand even taller for being able to call yourself an Islander By Choice.
This is the second edition of IBC's monthly column for Galveston Monthly. You can pick up a Galveston Monthly free at many local locations across the Island.
With green energy and sustainable living all the rage, sometimes it's hard to imagine how these trends apply here in Galveston where an estimated two-thirds of the Island's buildings are historic. But living "green," conserving energy, and having a healthy and historic home is totally possible. In fact historic homes have many sustainable features already built into their design!
To illustrate that energy efficient and healthy historic homes are possible and affordable, the Galveston Historical Foundation embarked on its Green Revival project in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the 1772 Foundation. Back in February, GHF moved a small Ike-damaged cottage across town to its new home at 3101 Avenue Q. This project is transforming an Ike-damaged 19th-century cottage into a public show house that conforms to the highest national standards of the "green" building movement. Specifically, this project will "demonstrate how the energy efficient properties inherent in historic design and original fabric can work in tandem with sensitively planned modern systems to conserve resources as well as heritage."
As an owner of an Island home built circa 1870 (that the Mr. and I are still working on), we've tried to be diligent in our renovation to maintain the historic integrity of our cottage but also figure out ways to maximize our energy efficiency. For example, we knew that removing our original 140 year old windows would severely damage our home's aesthetic and was far too costly. After some research and visiting GHF's Preservation Resources Center, we found out that various affordable options are available.
While specifics may differ for each building, we had issues with heat gain and air infiltration. Options to combat these problems include exterior or interior shutters and transparent films (not tinted) that line the glass panes to reduce heat gain and block up to 90% of infrared heat. Did you know that compared to the performance of brand new energy efficient windows on the market today, historic windows with basic weather stripping and treated with a heat gain film can match the efficiency of a new window and preserve the look and the integrity of your historic home? And of course the best piece of news - this is much cheaper than new windows!
Overall, now is a great time to take advantage of Galveston's gorgeous spring to tackle some of these projects on your home here on the Island. Even better: the Green Revival home will be open this month where you can find out even more ways to improve the health and efficiency of your historic home!
The project's unveiling will be at this year's GHF 36th Annual Homes Tour held the first two weekends in May. Once the renovation is complete, the house will be opened to the public again this summer for various educational opportunities. For more information on GHF and the Green Revival Project, visit www.galvestonhistory.org. For more information on Islander By Choice, visit www.ibcgalveston.com
Don't forget that this Saturday, Nov. 21 is the Free Tree Giveaway for 2,000 trees! See the announcement below. Also, here's a link from the GCDN regarding a new ordinance for plantings in the right-of-ways. Galveston Re-leaf: Free Tree Giveaway on November 21stFree trees will soon be available to Island property owners who lost trees to Ike's salty surge last year. Nearly 2,000 trees will be given away to Galvestonians on Saturday, November 21st. The trees were donated by the Tree Folk of Austin, Apache Foundation, and Randalls. WHAT: Galveston Free Tree Giveaway WHEN: Saturday, November 21st - 9a.m.-4p.m., and Sunday, November 22nd (if there are remaining trees) 1-4p.m. WHERE: Galveston City Hall parking lots 823 Rosenberg Stipulations: Trees will be given away on a first come, first serve basis. Limit two trees per address. Identification and a city utility bill with a Galveston address are required. Recipients must sign an agreement to plant in Galveston and care for the tree. Trees may only be planted on private property; not in the city's right-of-way. A variety of tree species, selected especially for Galveston, will be available at the giveaway. Large species include live oak, Mexican white oak, Mexican sycamore, and sweet gum. Smaller species include mountain laurel, Mexican plum, loblolly pine, and a fruited pear. Each tree is potted in a 5-gallon container. Planting and care instructions will be provided. Additionally, mulch from the City's recycling center will be available for free. Members of the City of Galveston's Tree Committee and the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy will be on hand to load trees and offer planting advice. More volunteers are needed. Please contact David Schuler at (409) 599-7578 to help with the giveaway. Donations to assist with replanting Galveston will be gratefully accepted. Contact: Ken StebleinPhone: 772-3500
Claire and Ashley, fantastic job on the traditional dunking of the Aggie ring this weekend. We were proud to witness it. Whoop!
This is a different kind of chug I'm talking about now, though.
The kind that goes "chugga chugga, chugga chugga - cho cho"!!!!
Tomorrow, Tuesday - 6-8pm at the G-town Convention Center - be there!:
Mobile Society: Attend Galveston-Houston I-45 Corridor Mobility Open Houses this Week
The public is encouraged to attend and participate in a series of open houses to discuss mobility issues along the Galveston-Houston I-45 corridor. These meetings are a part of the planning process and an important local step in the pursuit of federal funding to address growing traffic congestion. Three workshops will be held to solicit public feedback:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
§ 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
§ Galveston Island Convention Center , Ballroom A
§ 5600 Seawall Blvd. Galveston , TX , 77551
Four potential transit alternatives have been identified for consideration. Over the next nine to 10 months, the project team will evaluate public comments provided at the public meetings and through the project website, www.galvestonrailstudy.com. Additionally, comments can be sent via email to: info@galvestonrailstudy.com.
This study is sponsored by the City of Galveston , Galveston County , and the Federal Transit Administration and is being coordinated with Harris County , the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the 11 cities in between Galveston and Houston .
For those of you who don't subscribe to the Houston Chronicle or who don't read it online (I just scan & utility-read it myself), check out today's edition!
Bistro LeCroy owner, Tommy LeCroy is featured among others . . .
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2009/09/ike_back_on_the_strand.html
You know, I've been curious to see what media coverage was going to look like - will the coverage highlight how far we've come as Islanders or will it showcase devastation and how far we've still to go? But the big day will be Saturday. What are you hoping for in terms of media this week?
With so much going on this upcoming week and weekend for Revival & Reflections, I'm a bit overwhelmed. So, I'm trying to look at each activity one-by-one so I don't miss a thing.
 The first annual Artist Studio Loft Tours is going on, put on by the Artist Homestead Galveston Island and sponsored by the Galveston Historical Foundation. AHGI is a local organization comprised of Galveston artists, friends, neighbors, local business owners, real estate agents, and community leaders who seek to attract artists to live and work on the Island. You can check them out at www.artisthomesteadgalvestonisland.com
Here's the info on the tour coming up:
Artist Homestead Galveston Island Presents 1st Annual Artist Studio Tours
September 12 from 1:00-5:00 PM. Admission is $5.
You can purchase tickets in advance online or at the studios themselves. Studios on Tour: - Janet Y. Hassinger, MFA 3510 Ave. S 1/2
Watercolors Investigating a Unique Perception of the Coral Reef - Stephanie Thomas, Artist 1109 25th Street
Works in Clay for Homes and Gardens - Sallie Anderson 1605 24th Street
Watercolors Reflecting the Excitement of Everyday Things - Jul Kamen 1506 21st Street
Contemporary Quilts Add an Extr Dimension to a Renovated Galveston Corner Store - Gayle Reynolds, The Water's Edge Studio & Gallery 1302 21st Street
Paintings which bring you the charm that is Galveston - René Wiley Studio/Gallery 2128 Postoffice Street
Colorful Oils Presenting Galveston's Abundance of Alleyways, Birdlife and more - V. Starke/Art Market 2001 Postoffice Street
Expressionist Art touching on women's issues and creating mood in abstract - Martha J. Terrill 1214 14th Street
The Art of ArrangingThings in New and Interesting Ways- Fantasy in Assemblage - Beachtown Open House- East Beach Drive
Exhibit of Pre and Post-Ike Photography
To showcase Galveston's incredible resiliency and progress just one year after Hurricane Ike, a series of "Revival and Reflections" events will take place beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 on the 109th anniversary of the Great 1900 Storm and continue through Sunday, Sept. 13, as Galvestonians, friends, visitors and supporters come together to celebrate "Revival and Reflections... Marking the first anniversary of Hurricane Ike, September 8-13, Galveston Island, Texas."
For more information about "Revival and Reflection" events to be held, call the Galveston Island Visitors Center at 888 GAL ISLE (888.425.4753), visit online at www.galveston.com, www.recoverygalveston.org, or email to info@galvestoncvb.com.
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009
To download the official press release, click here.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
- "A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13.
- Remembrance Concert: 6:30-8pm. Music by the Lance Aldridge Band. Saengerfest Park, 23rd and Strand. Throughout the concert, the multi-media presentation of Ike's wrath and destruction, as well as scenes of Galveston's rebirth and redevelopment will again be presented. The concert is free and open to the public.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009
- "A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13.
- Remembrance Concert: 6:30-8pm. Music by the Galveston Beach Band. Saengerfest Park, 23rd and Strand. Throughout the concert, the multi-media presentation of Ike's wrath and destruction, as well as scenes of Galveston's rebirth and redevelopment will again be presented. The concert is free and open to the public.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
City of Galveston-sponsored "Revival and Reflections" events continue on Friday, Sept.11 with a
To download the official press release, click here.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
Saturday, Sept.12 will feature a full-day of "Revival and Reflections" activities that will include a solemn ceremony and documentary showings on the eve of the first of anniversary of Hurricane Ike. In addition, throughout the day a variety of ancillary events are planned to commemorate Ike's one year anniversary.
To download the official press release, click here. To download additional information regarding the Artist Studio Tours, click here.
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009
The 6-day "Revival and Reflections" events, ceremonies, and commemorations marking the first anniversary of Hurricane Ike conclude Sunday, Sept. 13 with several events:
To download the official press release, click here.To download additional information regarding additional fundraising / ancellary events, click here.
To highlight the many "Revival and Reflections" events and activities planned to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Ike, a 4-page full color newspaper "pull-out" supplement will be included in the Galveston County Daily News' Sept. 6 edition.
So, for shame, I must admit that my mind slipped yesterday while writing about events going on during ArtWalk. How I forgot this, I'll never know. Great IBC's and friends (who moved from Las Vegas roughly 5 years ago), Clyde & Kimberley Wood, will reopen The Witchery on Saturday, August 22! Previously the shop which offers metaphysical books, gifts, and more was housed at 2510 Market Street. Post-Ike, they are now among the great retailers and restaurants along Postoffice Street at 2116 Postoffice Street (a couple of doors down from Mod Coffee & Teahouse). You may have noticed ongoing renovations at the building all summer along, including a great new paint job, but the inside workings have remained a secret behind brown paper lining the windows. All we get to see for now is a "coming soon" sign. But, if I know the Wood's and judging from the shop's previous location, the items will be awesome, unusual, and plentiful, and the interior will be incredible - no detail is ever left untouched. Definitely check them out - there is something for everyone and plus, I've heard, bagpipers will be welcoming back this great local business Saturday evening.
So lots going on this Saturday during ArtWalk that I thought I'd pass along. . . 1st - check out the still new art gallery, Local Color Galveston "Where Local Artists May Expose Themselves." Mondo and I visited the owners, Katy & Darren Cleveland a while back. Loved the new space and really enjoyed meeting these new IBCs and their children. Great addition to the art scene and the great people scene on the Island. You can find them at 120 20th Street in downtown Galveston (down from Somewhere in Time).  2nd - the Galveston Art Center (who are sponsors of ArtWalk) will be in their temporary new location on 25th St. in the old Maceo Spice storefront. Remember to go check them out too. 3rd - Did you know that a few weeks ago in the beginning of August, 18 teams of architects and designers from the Houston area got together at Rice University to look at Gtown's Seawall? Their task was a design competition around a site along the Seawall that is a "hingepoint" between downtown and the beach. Competitors had 8 hours to come up with a design idea that works for locals and tourists! The 18 designs are going to be on display for one night only during ArtWalk! Go check it out! Apparently many of the designers and judges will be there. It's from 6pm to 9pm (during ArtWalk) on this Saturday, August 22 at 2326 Strand (in the fantastic Sealy-Hutchings Building next to Luigi's) Check out the group who organized this awesome idea, Rice Design Alliance at www.ricedesignalliance.org
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