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October 9, 2007

2007 GREEN THUMB NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION GRANT

Keep Houston Beautiful is excited to offer a new neighborhood grant focusing on community beautification projects. They will award a total of $10,000 (ranging from $500 to $2,500) to neighborhood groups for projects completed during this fiscal year (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008). Applications may be submitted by civic associations, homeowners associations or 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations.

Applications must be completed and returned to Keep Houston Beautiful before 5 p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2007. Winners will be announced Monday, December 14, 2007.

For more information and to download an application, visit www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/greenthumb.pdf.


HOUSTON HOPE
Own Your Own New Affordable, Energy-Efficient Home!

Do you want to own your own affordable new home or know someone who is looking for a home? Your dream can become a reality! Through Houston Hope, the Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority (LARA) is working with experienced builders and community development corporations to build new affordable, energy-efficient homes.

You can live in a new home that is truly affordable in a close-in neighborhood! You may qualify for up to $30,000 to buy your own home; $40,000 for police officers, firefighters, and teachers.

Houston Hope is Mayor Bill White's initiative to reinvest in Houston's established neighborhoods. The goal of Houston Hope is to build strong communities that meet the needs of current residents and are attractive to new and returning families.

To find out if you qualify, call 713-522-HOME (4663) or visit www.houstontx.gov/houstonhope.


FLEX IN THE CITY 2007 GAINS MOMENTUM

Flex in the City 2007 is underway. The program encourages employers to try flexible work options for two weeks and measure the difference in productivity while the City of Houston measures the difference in mobility. With 198 employers participating in the last two years, Flex in the City has had great success getting employers to try flex options such as compressed work weeks, telework, and flexible start and end times while having their employees eliminate peak time commutes on Houston’s roads.

On Tuesday, October 30th Mayor Bill White and When Work Works will be hosting a luncheon for all Flex in the City participants as well as the fourteen Houston-area employers who qualified as semi-finalists for the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. This will be a chance for all the employers who participated in Flex in the City and the Sloan Award Committee to come and be recognized for all of their outstanding work in getting Houston moving. For more information about Flex in the City, visit www.houstontx.gov/flexworks.


THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT REMINDS CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO FOLLOW HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Halloween is a fun time for children and can be for parents as well. The Houston Police Department reminds parents and children to follow their safety tips to help ensure a safe and fun Halloween for trick-or-treaters and their parents.

To view The Houston Police Department's Halloween Safety Tips, visit www.houstontx.gov/police/crime_prevention/images/halloween_safety.pdf.


THE DOs AND DON'Ts OF PARKING
City Officials Spread the Word to Help Ensure Convenient, Sufficient Parking

The Parking Management Division of the Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department plans to present an interactive discussion, “Parking Street Smarts,” to several neighborhood associations throughout Houston who request it. It is an effort to get feedback from and explain to area residents the City's official guidelines for parking in residential areas.

To schedule a presentation for your neighborhood, please call 713-853-8158.

For more information about the Parking Management division, please visit www.houstonparking.org.


FIREFEST 2007

The Houston Fire Museum presents FireFest 2007, Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Houston Fire Department's Val Jahnke Training Facility, 8030 Braniff, just behind Hobby Airport. Meet your Houston Firefighters, learn valuable fire safety tips, see live fire and rescue demonstrations, hear live music, see antique fire trucks, experience the Kids Zone and so much more. Admission is FREE!

For more information please visit www.houstonfiremuseum.org, or call 713-524-2526.


 

TRASH FACTS NEWSLETTER

The Houston Solid Waste Department invites you to view its newsletter, which highlights heavy trash collection notices, recycling program information and much more.

To see the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department newsletter, visit www.houstonsolidwaste.org and click on “Trash Facts Newsletter”.

 


HOUSTON CRACKDOWN ANNOUNCES THE 20th ANNUAL DRUG PREVENTION MONTH

Houston Crackdown LogoHouston Crackdown is the anti-drug division of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Houston Crackdown, the anti-drug office since 1987, is observing its 20th annual Drug Prevention Month this October.

Houston has been a model city in support of initiatives designed to reduce the demand and consumption of illegal drugs, and to expand the capacity to provide treatment services for Houstonians and Harris County residents in need of help.

For more information please visit the Houston Crackdown website at www.houstoncrackdown.org.


MAYOR WHITE ANNOUNCES 2007 – 2008 MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mayor Bill White announced last month the installation of the 2007-08 Mayor's Youth Council. These 31 outstanding high school students, who either reside or attend school in the City of Houston, were chosen after a competitive written application and personal interview.

The Mayor's Youth Council emulates City Council with a Chair (Jr. Mayor), City Secretary, Chief of Staff, 14 council positions and 14 senior aides. They hold a public meeting monthly in the City Hall Annex Chambers and town hall meetings at various high schools. They also participate in citywide community service projects.

For more information about the Mayor's Youth Council, please visit www.houstontx.gov/houstonyouth or call 713-437-6165.


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