pineda

story about Larry Forehand and MRI from Houston Biz Journal

We used to be called the Westbury Rebels, complete with Confederate flag. It was even on our class rings. Our mascot was called Johnny Reb, guarded over by the Rebel Guards. Our drill team was known as The Rebelletes. I have no idea what their mascot is now. westbury77.com shows photo of Johnny Reb class of 1976 photos photo of the capture of the Bellaire Cardinal mascot, an annual tradition of days gone by

I attended Westbury in the late '70's. I thought it was a great school at the time also. But, even though the new building is beautiful and expensive-looking, I believe that the recent TEA rating for Westbury was Academically Unacceptable. What a sad legacy...

I think it was called Rumpleheimer's. (Thanks for the photo, Subdude. Of Westbury Square, not the weird robot-dude below... )

Wow, this same quote could have been said in the 1970's, when I moved to Westbury.

Yep, I'll be there. Will you? If I see you there, I'll let you know. (I actually like both candidates and I'm hoping that the forum will help me decide which one will be better for the board.)

I can't see the Klein district even considering the petitions of Northgate/Old Oakes. Number one; I agree with the poster that said it would be all residential, which is why Klein is considered a "poor" district already under the Robin Hood school funding plan. IF they could even consider annexing anything at all, I would imagine they'd want commercial/industrial/retail to up their tax base. We're already too loaded up with "rooftops" to consider taking in more of them. Number two; the Klein district is already so busy with its' own growing pains/possible solutions that I just don't see them realistically considering getting into a battle over neighborhoods with Spring ISD. Plus, Northgate/Old Oakes would be a heckuva long drive to Klein Collins! Klein Collins itself does not NEED more neighborhoods like this piling into it, it's filling up rapidly on its' own zoned neighborhoods up and down F.M. 2920 as it is. My own take on the Klein/Spring issue is that Spring is playing "catch-up" these days, dealing with problems on a reactive basis only and dealing with a recent parade of successive Superintendents for the district who only stuck around long around to collect a fat salary and screw up the district royally. I think Klein has been paying close attention to all this and is trying to deal with problems on a more proactive basis as a result. We have a very good Superintendent, Dr. Jim Cain, who makes it a point to consistently meet with not just administrators and school board officials, but also the teachers, students, parents and "community stakeholders", i.e. taxpayers. Also, I haven't heard any discussions regarding re-zoning between already established neighborhoods and already established schools, such as Greenwood Forest going to Klein High instead of Klein Forest. Both these schools are at capacity now, although Klein Forest just added a new wing to their school to accomodate more students. Klein Forest has been mentioned as becoming a magnet school in 2007. A few years ago, the Klein district considered re-zoning Spring Creek Oaks to Klein Oak, rather than keep them at Klein High. I attended that meeting as a parent from Klein Oak. Boy, that was soooo much fun, listening to all the parents from Spring Creek Oaks practically screaming that their child would attend Klein Oak "OVER THEIR DEAD BODY FIRST" and threatening lawsuits. Klein Oak had just lost a significant amount of their student population when the too-closely-placed Klein Collins opened, and the district school board saw the overcrowding at the rapidly deteriorating Klein High and thought people might like their kids at a less crowded school. Big mistake, turns out they'd rather have their kids at Klein High which is surrounded by strip shopping centers and high traffic rather than at "that hick school, Klein Oak"! What a hoot! Several people actually stood up at a podium to say that they couldn't imagine sending their children to a school "out in the middle of nowhere" with "no shopping at all(?)" and "all those cows in the fields" surrounding Klein Oak. I didn't understand this because I'd much rather have my kids at a school surrounded by fields filled with cows, rather than within easy walking distance of neighborhood bars and liquor stores, but to each his own. Needless to say, the measure failed and the Spring Creek Oaks kids got to stay at Klein High. Meanwhile, Klein Oak is already back up to capacity.

Revenues are up in Town Center according to story in today's Chronicle

Let's hope that this bodes well for poor, neglected Pinecroft Center. The new owners of that strip center still haven't announce any plans for revitalization. Have you heard anything, Bach?

Vintage Park info Call Matt Waller tomorrow, Polly, and get the scoop on the Central Market rumor.

I miss "Oxford's, A Civilized Restaurant" in downtown Houston. It lasted almost two years. The downfall came when the City of Houston decided to erect a bus stop directly in front of the restaurant. You'd think that would be good, but it killed the business almost overnight. Weird...

remember these fine, upstanding politicians when it comes time to vote again... and don't forget newly re-elected Bill White says he wants to step up "self-regulation"...

speaking of rodeo, check out the Texas Ranch House coming up in May on Channel 8

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is definitely one of the premier events held every year in Houston, and we always look forward to it. The music line-up is always interesting to hear about, but there are so many other parts to the show. The parade down Memorial, the trailriders arriving from all over the place, the animals exhibited at the show, the art contests for schoolchildren, the quilt contest, the educational programs put on during the show, the myriad of vendors, all the countless volunteers who love to help out, the chili cook-off, the bull riding contests, meeting people from all over the state, the animal auctions that help fund the scholarships for college, etc. There's so many different parts to love about the rodeo, the music is just one. If I had the chance to determine the line-up, I would pick all Texas artists, with Shake Russell and Dana Cooper as the rodeo opener singing "The Eyes of Texas"

from the Houston Business Journal

your dream house has quite a pedigree surrounding it! what mod looks like in the virtual tour..

In my opinion, you wouldn't be able to find any place better for a first date than the Spindletop in the downtown Hyatt Regency Houston hotel. First dates are tough to get through, and if you run short on small talk, the view is always there to enjoy together. Food is moderately priced and reasonable, nothing really stand-out, but you can save that kind of place for your first anniversary! Good luck to you!

From the article: "The memo acknowledged that Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, had to walk a fine line in restraining benefit costs because critics had attacked it for being stingy on wages and health coverage. Ms. Chambers, Wal-Mart's executive vice president for benefits, acknowledged that 46 percent of the children of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million United States employees were uninsured or on Medicaid. Under fire because less than 45 percent of its workers receive company health insurance, Wal-Mart announced a new plan on Monday that seeks to increase participation by allowing some employees to pay just $11 a month in premiums. Some health experts praised the plan for making coverage more affordable, but others criticized it, noting that full-time Wal-Mart employees, who earn on average around $17,500 a year, could face out-of-pocket expenses of $2,500 a year or more. The theme throughout the memo was how to slow the increase in benefit costs without giving more ammunition to critics who contend that Wal-Mart's wages and benefits are dragging down those of other American workers." A couple of questions: How does the fact that 46% of the children of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million U.S. employees are uninsured or on Medicaid stack up against other large retail corporations? Why is allowing employees to pay just $11.00/month a sensible way to handle skyrocketing health costs? This doesn't seem realistic to me, and the figure of $2500.00/year for out-of-pocket does not seem unrealistic either. How does this compare to other corporations? It will be interesting to follow this story, because as Wal-Mart leads, others will follow, good or bad. Open question: Have any of you ever met and talked with any Wal-Mart employee who is happy with their job, their pay, their benefit package, their company? I haven't yet, still searching...

inside katy blog

Steve Ray Vaughan's "The House is Rockin'" gets my vote...

Woodlands goes online with Houston Chronicle's help

(saw this on www.offthekuff.com this morning:) another opinion on what might happen now

I heard on Channel 11 tonight that it will officially close after Fright Fest this year. As for what the future holds for the land, I predict a big parking lot, or maybe another park-n-ride, something boring....

Wow! Just today I was looking at a flyer for Astroworld's Scout Day in October. I wasn't really interested in taking the kids (both Scouts) to Astroworld, but now that it's closing, I suppose we'll have to go just to take some photos and say good-bye to a Houston institution. Bummer for all the kids, though...