March 4, 2013 Three Items of Interest from the City of Houston
Mayor Annise Parker Launches Make Safe Saturday Houston Mayor Annise Parker kicked off a brand new city program in Sunnyside over the weekend. Make Safe Saturday, which will occur every quarter, targets cleanup projects with city code violations for which the owners have received notices and have failed to take action to correct the problems. Many such properties are not only neighborhood eyesores but also often serve as havens for crime. At the kick off for Make Safe Saturday, city crews and community volunteers cleaned up seven blighted properties in the 5100 block of Mallow Street in Sunnyside. A total of 96 blighted properties will be cleaned by the end of March 2013 as apart of this quarter's effort. Make Safe Saturday is a collaborative effort between the Department of Neighborhoods Inspections and Public Service division (IPS), Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE) and Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) to board abandoned homes, clear weeds, mow overgrown lots and remove heavy trash and debris. BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions (BARC) is assisting with stray animal control in the targeted areas. The Houston Police Department (HPD) is handling security at the work sites. Keep Houston Beautiful is providing equipment, materials and supplies for the cleanup. The next Make Safe Saturday is scheduled for June 2013. Residents, civic groups and local businesses are needed to help with to help with beautification projects, de-littering, mowing and the removal of trash and debris from abandoned buildings. Donations of supplies and materials by local businesses are welcome. To find out how you can help, contact Andrea Jackson-Taylor at andrea.jackson@houstontx.gov or 832.394.0660. For more information visit BARC at www.houstontx.gov/barc, IPS at www.houstontx.gov/ips, HPD at www.houstonpolice.org, PWE at www.houstonpublicworks.org and SWMD at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.
Mayor Annise Parker has partnered with the Texas Medical Center, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston Museum District, Hermann Park / Houston Zoo and METRO to create easy access to Houston's hottest spring break destinations - the rodeo, museums and zoo. For Spring Break Houston, Saturday, March 9 - Sunday, March 17, 2013, more than 350,000 visitors are expected to join Houstonians in enjoying the many attractions Houston has to offer. Residents and visitors are urged to use suggested routes and parking plans, which will help provide a continuous flow of vehicles coming and going throughout the week. Visit https://www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/springbreak2013traffic.html for recommended driving directions and parking information. For regular updates visit www.houstontx.gov. Free College and Career Preparatory Mentor Program Sign your child up for the Spring 2013 "After School Zones with the Graduation Game Plan" Mentor Program. The program conveys the importance of higher education and offers career planning to youth by connecting them with mentors who help make students aware of available resources and the educational support in their lives. More than ever, students today need guidance and support on their pathway to success. This includes being prepared for success in high school, college and beyond. This free after-school mentor program exposes students to higher education and career path options and teaches them skills that can contribute to success. Through this program, your child will be guided through the steps to graduate from high school, prepare for life after graduation, gain the workforce skills needed and learn about personal management skills. The Spring 2013 program begins on Monday, March 25 and runs through Thursday, April 18. The program sessions will be offered once a week at any of the library locations listed below. No preregistration is required.
For more information or to place your child on the participants list, contact Anne Lohoues, OEI at anne.lohoues@houstontx.gov, or 832.393.0901 (office) or 832.231.5503 (cell). The Mentor Program is a partnership between the Mayor's Office of Education Initiatives (OEI), a division of the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the Houston Public Library (HPL). To learn more about OEI, visit https://www.houstontx.gov/education/, DON visit www.houstontx.gov/neighborhoods, HPL visit https://www.houstonlibrary.org/ and for more information volunteer opportunities in the City of Houston, visit https://www.houstonservice.org/.
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