White Linen Night Heats Up The Heights

Discover The Heights’ treasures - markets, art galleries, shops, music, food, and more. Billed by the organizers as sultry, steamy, exotic, and artfully provocative, it’s coming again from 6:00 to 10:00 PM on Saturday, August 1.

Invite your friends to the best event in the Heights. Join one of the smaller pre-parties, or an after-party for a new experience. It’s the best thing happening in the Heights. And the only thing in August. Sign up online as a participant to get your own 3’x5’ White Linen Flag to fly at your home or business.

New this year: Parties! Get tickets online now. For the first time on WLN, there will be an exclusive pre-party at Glass Wall the Restaurant with multiple food and wine pairings by Lance Fegen and Shepard Ross from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Tickets are available online. Get them while they last! Another new pre-party will be at 2125 Yale, catered by Shade’s famous Claire Smith from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, by reservation online only. And for a fitting end to a great event, our first after-party at the new Block 7 from 10:00 PM to Midnight. Tickets are available online at www.WhiteLinenNightHeights.com.

The event: Visitors wear white linen, discover Heights treasures, and take to the streets of the Heights. The event, a celebration of art, culture, and community, will offer cooling summer drinks, entertainment, boutiques and shops, art galleries, some of the best restaurants in Houston, and eclectic bars -- with free pedi-cabs and shuttles for transportation. White Linen Night banners will identify the participating shops, restaurants, and galleries.

Questions? Email info@WhiteLinenNightHeights.com or Karen@karenmann.com. Houston Heights White Linen Night is a project of the Business Committee of the Houston Heights Association.

Director Election Schedule

Five of the fifteen positions on the HHA Board of Directors will be filled by election over the next few months. These five positions are opening due to normal expiration of terms; members elected to these five positions will have three-year terms.

The five nominees receiving the highest numbers of votes will fill the three-year terms. See the right column for a list of current Directors.

The schedule for the election of Directors to serve terms starting in 2010 will be as follows, in accordance with the By-Laws and Policies of the Association:

• September 14, Nominations for Board of Directors will be held at the General Meeting. Nominators and nominees must be current members of the Association. Nominators may speak for two minutes, seconders for one. Please be sure before you nominate someone that your nominee is willing to commit to serve. Nominees will not be allowed to speak on their own behalf during the September meeting.

• By September 16, the Election Committee will distribute to nominees election packets containing bylaws, policies, articles of incorporation, committee responsibility list, detailed election schedule, and a statement confirming that the nominee has read the bylaws and policies and agrees to serve in accordance with them if elected.

• By September 19, signed statements from nominees are due, as well as a 50-word statement from each nominee for publication in the October newsletter.

• October 12, nominees or their representatives may speak on their qualifications at the General Meeting for 3 minutes. They will also draw for ballot positions.

• On or before October 15, the Election Committee will mail a ballot with a control number to each member whose dues are current as of October 1.

• By November 7 at the close of the post office, ballots returned by mail must be received with control numbers intact.

• November 9, polls will be open for secret balloting in person from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM before the General Meeting. The Election Committee will tabulate ballots and announce the results during the meeting. The results will also be published in the December newsletter.

Heights Bicycle Rally & Scavenger Hunt

The 4th Annual Heights Bicycle Rally & Scavenger Hunt will be held on Sunday, October 4. This year’s rally will start and end at Marmion Park on Heights Blvd at 18th.

Riders can start anytime after 7:30 AM, but must finish the ride and check in by 4:00 PM to be eligible for prizes. There will be one combination checkpoint and water station near the mid-point on the ride. This year’s 20-mile rally route will pass through the East End of Houston and will include the Harrisburg “Rails-to-Trails” Bike Trail. There will be live music in Kaiser Pavilion in Marmion Park for the end-of-rally party.

Early registration for adults is $15.00, children (12 & under) $7.50. On the day of the event, registration will be $20 for adults $20.00 and $10 for children. You can register online until October 1 at Sign Me Up Sports or by mail to Houston Heights Association, PO Box 70735, Houston 77270-0735 (postmarked by September 30).

For more information, visit the Bike Rally page. You can contact the Rally Chairman, Paul Carr, at torturet@aol.com or 713-869-0505.

You Can Help Fight Graffiti

The Heights Anti-Graffiti Squad has been quietly working away in the background for the last six years reducing graffiti over 99%. From the North Loop to I-10 and from Durham to I-45, they cover 13 square miles of the city. This wildly successful program is all-volunteer by Heights residents who are honored to give their time to keep our community a beautiful place to live. The “Squad” will be hosting the 2009 annual paint drive and fund raiser on Saturday, August 22, from 8:00 AM to noon outside the Heights Library, which is located at 13th and Heights Boulevard.

You can help keep our community looking as wonderful as it does by bringing any gently used cans or buckets of latex paint, cans of spray paint, and empty clean 5-gallon buckets. Monetary donations can be made through cash, checks, and gift cards and will be graciously accepted on site. Those funds are used to purchase gasoline, filters and repair parts. You can also send donations to Houston Heights Association, Inc. at P.O. Box 70735, Houston, TX 77270-0735; please note “Graffiti Squad” on the memo line.

After six years of service, the paint sprayer is beyond repair and needs to be replaced. Advancements in technology and design have made it obsolete. The sprayer was 10 years old when it was first donated to the Squad, and has served its purpose well. A new sprayer will cost $1500 and is expected to give many years of faithful service, keeping the Squad going strong and the Heights a great place to live.

The Heights Anti-Graffiti Squad can be reached at CleanHeights@aol.com and at 713-880-4877. If you spot any graffiti, please contact 311 and the Squad so they can get to it quickly.

Constable Patrol Program

On May 23, 2009, the initial constable patrol program began in selected areas of the Heights. Very shortly, subscribers will receive their annual bill. We encourage you to pay promptly so we can fulfill our financial commitment on this project.

If you did not subscribe initially and wish to do so, please contact heightspatrol@houstonheights.org for information. Please see the brochure for more information.

Notes From Heights Area HISD Schools

Reagan’s Senior Class of 2009 had a whirlwind finish to their high school careers. There were finals, a senior picnic, recognition banquets, and a host of other senior events.

Then, just days before they crossed the stage, Reagan’s PTO treated over 350 seniors to the first Senior Breakfast ever held in the school’s 83-year history. Billed as a “five-star affair,” the al fresco event was organized by PTO President Hazel Willis and a team of dedicated PTO members and Reagan staff. Thanks to the generosity of the local business community, the event (right) was a huge success with countless donations of services, prepared food, volunteers, and even door prizes. The PTO’s goal - to make the event a memorable one - was prompted by anticipation that the new alumni will remember to give back to their community.

Now that graduation is over and the figures are in, Reagan grads did quite well again this year in the scholarship department. Seniors were awarded 261 academic scholarships totaling over $1.3 million. Project Grad scholarships were earned by 134 seniors and accounted for over a half a million dollars. As a Project Grad campus, Reagan students can earn a $4000 non-binding scholarship by attending Summer Institute and Leadership workshops. We wish the Class of 2009 continued success in their future endeavors!

In late May, Hamilton MS and the Heights community lost a dedicated teacher and long-time resident with the passing of Tamara Taylor, 39. A favorite teacher of many students, Ms. Taylor taught social studies for 13 years in Hamilton’s Vanguard program and also coached girls soccer and volleyball teams. This year, she taught the eighth grade Peer Leadership classes where she advised students in the completion of a variety of community projects. In recognition of her many contributions to Hamilton, the Hamilton PTO has established the “Tamara Taylor Memorial Fund” which will be used for student scholarships and activities. For more information, please contact the school office at 713-802-4725 or PTO@alexanderhamiltonms.org.

Heights CERT 102 Class

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training is coming to the Heights on September 29, 2009. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00, for eight successive weeks ending November 17, in the West End Multi Service Center, 170 Heights Boulevard. CERT is free and open to the community - Sign up Today!

Although disasters are relatively unexpected and unpredictable, their effects are not. We have seen, all too often, how quickly disasters (e.g., Hurricane IKE) can impact our “normal” lives. Roads become impassable, critical services are impacted or cut off, professional emergency response agencies quickly become overwhelmed, and people are left on their own for an extended period of time. Awareness and preparedness is the answer to how to keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe in emergencies of all kinds. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training will help you become more aware and better prepared to face the inevitable storm.

CERT offers free 24-hour training (in 3-hour modules - 8 sessions) taught by professional first responders, i.e., Fire, EMS, and Emergency Management Personnel as well as the FBI. Weekly topics include general disaster preparedness, fire safety and suppression, basic medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism awareness. CERT Team members learn how to organize as a team to do the most good for the greatest number of people. The training concludes with a mock search and rescue drill where CERT team members can practice skills introduced throughout the training.

Don’t wait until the NEXT STORM is approaching to think about your safety and that of your family. Sign up for CERT training today! To sign up for training, call Peggy Lindow (Heights CERT Team Coordinator) at 832-752-5285 or peatymarsh@hotmail.com.

Please tell your friends!

GHPA Opens Nominations For 2010 Good Brick Awards

Greater Houston Preservation Alliance (GHPA) is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. Updated guidelines and nomination forms are available online as a Microsoft Word document and in PDF format here. To qualify, projects must be located within Harris County and must have been completed within the last three years.

Although anyone may submit a nomination, the nominee must be the property owner(s). All entries must be received at GHPA’s office by 3:00 PM on Friday, September 11, 2009.

A jury of preservation and design professionals, community leaders, and past award winners will judge the entries. Former Houston Chronicle home design editor and GHPA Board member Madeleine McDermott Hamm is chairing the awards jury. The Good Brick Awards will be presented during GHPA’s Cornerstone Dinner on Friday evening February 5, 2010.

Greater Houston Preservation Alliance has presented the Good Brick Awards since 1979 to recognize outstanding local contributions to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of Houston’s architectural and cultural heritage. GHPA is funded in part by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Spotlight on Heights Business Member:

Nick’s Plumbing & Sewer Service

We continue with the newsletter feature “Spotlight on Heights Business Member,” this month spotlighting Nick’s Plumbing & Sewer Service, Inc. You may have noticed that recent newsletter issues have been focusing on local businesses. These businesses are drawn from business cards collected at the Houston Heights Association Business Committee Mixer.

Richard Saad owns Nick’s Plumbing and Sewer Service, Inc. Richard, a native Houstonian, grew up on the west side and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. He attended Southwest Texas State University and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with concentrations in accounting and economics. After graduation, he went to work for Morgan Stanley as a retail stockbroker. Following a four-year career, he took advantage of an opportunity and went to work at a software company as a territory representative. His earnings from that process opened up the entrepreneurial world. Richard transitioned from software to the service industry by purchasing Nick’s Plumbing & Sewer Service, Inc. in 2000.

Nick’s Plumbing opened for business in the Heights in 1979. When Richard purchased Nick’s Plumbing, he purchased an office on Ella and 24th Street and relocated the business from the original owner’s house. Facing the need to expand, Richard moved back to the Heights at 1420 Durham four years ago. He purchased a property that had been vacant since 1982 and renovated the property.

The Heights is the perfect location for Nick’s Plumbing because this is where it started and 85% of Richard’s business is in Heights, Montrose, West University, and River Oaks. You may see the new vans with sharp blue graphics driving around the ‘hood. These vans are portable, ergonomically designed workstations including cranes to lift out heavy equipment needed at the job site.

Nick’s employs thirteen who work in two divisions: Renovation and Service. Richard manages Renovation, and Lisa Loera manages Service. Richard’s dad serves as Nick’s purchasing agent. In addition to employing Master Plumbers, Richard became a Master Plumber himself. The state licensing process entails working five years in the field under a licensed plumbing company along with complete documentation, then passing an academic and practical exam in Austin.

Richard has restored many buildings, including his current building and a home in Norhill Heights. He currently lives in Timbergrove. He joined the Houston Heights Association to meet people and as a vehicle to give back to our community whether it be time or money. He attends the business meetings to meet and network with fellow business members. When time allows, he wants to become even more involved.

Richard enjoys spending his time away from Nick’s Plumbing by riding his Harley Fat Boy or hunting. He enjoys meeting friends and eating at Heights-area restaurants in his spare time.

Next time you need a plumber, please consider Heights business member Nick’s Plumbing for your residential and commercial needs. If you’re a business member, remember to check the calendar for the next Houston Heights Association Business Mixer and come and meet Richard and other business members at the meeting. Drop off a business card, and your business may be selected for a spotlight.

New Hours For Heights Police Storefront

At the June PIP meeting, it was announced that the Heights Storefront would be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM, Monday - Friday, effective July 1. The Heights Storefront is located at 1127 North Shepherd.

The Ana Maria Lopez Storefront, located at 1050 Quitman in the Carnegie Library, will be open 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The Lopez Storefront will be staffed with a Police Service Officer.

Calendar of Events for August-September 2009

HHA headquarters: The Fire Station is on the corner of Yale and 12th Streets.

Community Calendar

Events planned by other community organizations.

Every Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Historic Houston’s salvage warehouse is open (summer hours). Call 713-522-0542 or visit their web site www.historichouston.org.

Every Monday, 7:30 to 10:00 PM, Houston International Folk Dancers introductory lessons at Oddfellows Hall, 115 E. 14th.

Through August 16, collections for YMCA Operation Backpack continue at Harriet & Joe Foster Family YMCA (1234 W 34th), Garden Oaks Elementary (901 Sue Barnett), 37 other YMCA facilities, and more than 60 area churches. Operation Backpack is an effort to collect school supplies for children who would otherwise start the new school year unprepared. For more information, call 713-869-3378 or visit www.ymcahouston.org.

August 8, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Neighborhood Centers, Inc. is hosting a free family Back-To-School Community Health Fair at the Independence Heights Neighborhood Center, 205 W. Crosstimbers. For more information, call 713-669-5244 or visit their web site.

August 10-23 is Houston Restaurant Week. More than 75 of Houston's fine dining restaurants will participate in the event, which donates $5 to the Houston Food Bank for each $35 three-course meal purchased. For full details on the event or to make reservations (which are required), click here. For more information about the Houston Food Bank, click here.

Future History

October 4, Bicycle Rally

December 4-5, Holiday Home Tour

February 28, 2010, Awards Dinner

April 9-11, Spring Home Tour

April 17, HHA Camp-Out & Music Fest

June 5, Heights Fun Run