Registration Ending Soon for Minute Maid Grand Slam For Youth Baseball! /  by Lori Bigler

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Boys and Girls Ages 4 - 18
No experience necessary

Minute Maid Grand Slam For Youth Baseball is a community outreach partnership of the Houston Astros, the Astros Foundation, and Minute Maid. Team shirts, baseball caps, and baseball supplies for league and instructional play are provided.

Houston Parks and Recreation Department staff organizes and oversees league play or instructional play opportunities based on number of youth registered at each site. Parents: Volunteer coaches are needed. Training is provided. Please complete Volunteer Application at your closest Community Center.

  • Registration: January 2 - February 14, 2020

  • Locations: HPARD Community Centers, visit www.houstonparks.org for locations

  • Ages: 4 - 18

  • Cost: Free

  • Program Dates: February 24 - April 4, 2020

  • Times: Weekdays after-school and Saturdays

  • More Info: 832-395-7261

Houston, We Have a Problem /  by Lori Bigler

That problem is the huge homeless pet population. Because it is such a huge problem, it requires people in the community to be educated on the issue and what they can do to help or at least not contribute to the problem.

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Always Spay and Neuter - By not spaying or neutering, pet parents are giving the animal a biological imperative to escape and procreate. Even with just a single escape, a male animal could impregnate multiple females. Each of those litters can be 10+ homeless animals. The animals will suffer and those that make it off the streets are the burden of the city or the countless rescue groups.

Fostering - Some cities, like San Antonio, are what you call "no kill", Houston is not. That means that county/city shelters must take in all animals that the community brings in but has limited kennel space. That means when the kennels are full, they have to start making space by euthanizing. By fostering, you can make space in the kennels and give the pet a chance to find their forever home. You can foster directly through the shelter or work with local rescues who prioritize the at-risk pets.

BARC - You can foster through them directly and participate in the adoption events and services they offer. It can also be a great opportunity to foster with the possibility of adopting.

Rescued Pets Movement - Saved over 40,000 lives since it was founded in 2013 all from BARC. They work with partners in Colorado who agree to take the pets and fosters in Houston to keep them until ready for transport.

They are only limited by the number of foster families they can get in Houston, not Colorado. So they could be saving even more lives if more people here at home get involved. They provide medical care and supplies and the animals are generally transported within a week or two.  Neighbors Lin Chamberlin, Alaina Hebert, and Kim Fesler among many others work with this group.

Animal Justice League, Houston Pets Alive, and Friends for Life are also local rescues that our neighbors love volunteering, fostering, and adopting with.

Lonestar Boxer Rescue - The dog pictured above is Layla who is currently being fostered by neighbor Stacy Rushton.

- Alaina Hebert, Animal Advocate

11th Street Project Update /  by Lori Bigler

The following message was recently received, offering the status of the 11th Street bike lane project that was discussed at the WHCA General Meeting in March 2019.

Hello,

We’re pleased to announce that the 11th Street safety project is proceeding into the design phase. Many thanks to all who participated in meetings and provided input so far.

This project will implement safety improvements on 11th Street between Shepherd and Michaux. The new street configuration will consist of 1 vehicle lane and 1 bike lane in each direction with a center lane for making left turns. A pedestrian island will be constructed at the Nicholson Street hike and bike path, to make it safer for people walking and biking across 11th street, and additional pedestrian island locations are being considered as well.

We are excited to bring these roadway improvements to the community, and we are convinced the new configuration with be safer, more efficient and enjoyable for all road users. Construction is estimated to start in Fall 2020 and we will continue to monitor the corridor’s traffic and safety performance after installation.

Your feedback has been integral to this project and it will remain that way during the next three months of the design phase. We look forward to continuing the dialog.

Please follow this link to find out more about the project.

Lauren Grove
Transportation Planner
City of Houston Planning & Development Department
611 Walker Street, 6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 393-6550
Lauren.Grove@houstontx.gov

Yard-of-the-Month: 3515 Oak Ridge /  by Lori Bigler

Alyssa and Jeremy Holub have done a spectacular job of incorporating their home with yard, making it a place to play and relax too. Working in architecture and a hobbyist woodworker, Jeremy has made their porch whimsical with details to showcase their plantings and salvaged and repurposed art.

The first eye-catching planting is their soft white dusty miller, looking glorious in our snowless climate. It is thriving and beautiful through the winter. Small lamb's ears counter on the other side of their swooshing and colorful steps. More include hydrangeas, foxtail fern, succulents, lilies, gardenia, white-blooming Katie Ruellia, and salvia for the bees. Color abounds with little orange bell flowers in cigar plants, snapdragons, and russelia (firecracker).

And a treat for the nose too! Society garlic at the steps and a rangoon creeper, which flavors their air of fruit punch all summer, guarded by Wallace the Lion, lofts over their trellised gate with a special feature for their pup - see if you can find her in the pictures!

Along the south side of their house and taking advantage of the little strip of land between driveway and home is a small transitioning garden with a hardy artichoke plant which gives generously. If you can keep from eating them, the bloom is amazing!

Giving them gentle shade through the summer are two tall cinnamon bark crepe myrtles, plus a little citrus tree.

All beautiful! Thanks for sharing your yard with our neighborhood!

- Stephanie Riceman, Dir of Beautification

Proper Handling of the Flag of The United States of America /  by Lori Bigler

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Hello Neighbors,

My wife and I are both U.S. Army veterans and have noticed a wide range of displays of the United States of American flag in the neighborhood. Some displays are in accordance with proper flag etiquette and others are not. Everyone is free to do as they please, but for those interested in the proper etiquette, we thought we'd share a few of the key points:

  • On same staff: U.S. flag displayed at peak, above any other flag.

  • Grouped flags: U.S. flag goes to its own right; flags of other nations are flown at same height.

  • Illumination: it is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

  • Half staff: on special days, the flag may be flown at half-staff. On Memorial Day it is flown at half-staff until noon and then raised.

  • Never use the flag for decoration. Use bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red.

  • Do not let the flag touch the ground.

  • Do not fly flag upside down unless there is an emergency.

  • Do not carry the flag flat, or carry things in it.

  • Do not use the flag as clothing.

  • Do not store the flag where it can get dirty.

  • Do not use it as a cover.

  • Do not fasten it or tie it back. Always allow it to fall free.

  • Do not draw on, or otherwise mark the flag

  • Flag disposal: Please contact your local VFW Post or the WHCA for additional information [note: WHCA can feel free to forward to us and we're happy to assist with proper flag disposal]

Sources: 
https://www.vfw.org/community/flag-etiquette
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/flagdisplay.pdf 

- Clayton Mealer, Woodland Heights Resident

Yard-of-the-Month: 1133 East 6 1/2th Street /  by Lori Bigler

Our Holiday/January yard of the month honors 1133 E 6½ Street, home to Chris Waggoner and Mary Vasquez for more than 20 years, and certainly recognizable to anyone who travels via Studewood regularly.  

Occupying the corner of 6½ Street and Studewood, their statue of a lovely figure on point, lofting a light above their yard’s entrance, also serves as a beacon to anyone returning home to the Heights through here. In Decembers it wears a festive red and white robe, but I always look forward to seeing how Chris and Mary dress it up for other holidays too. And, of course, all the figures along their second floor balcony, just for fun!
 
Their stretch along Studewood is made lively with mature oaks, crape myrtles, and an abundance of lantana. Then honeysuckle blooms orange on their short fence, lavender in front, and pops of yellow on the tall fence from giant leopard plant. New Maui ixora have replaced azaleas to accompany foxtail ferns, rangoon, lavandula and lily of the Nile. 
 
Thank you Chris and Mary for always bringing smiles and whimsy to our neighborhood!”
 
- Stephanie Riceman, Dir of Beautification

Announcing the Woodland Heights 100+ Club /  by Lori Bigler

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The 100+ Club is a recognition of the oldest homes in our neighborhood as we enter the new decade. One hundred years ago, the Woodland Heights was only 13 years old, having been established in 1907 by William Wilson.

The oldest and most historic homes in our neighborhood are primarily located on the east side of our neighborhood in the original Woodland Heights section. However, there was a significant building boom in 1920's and we have many homes that can claim 1920 as their birth year thus reaching the venerable age of 100 in 2020.

Much of the charm of our neighborhood comes from these older homes. As we arrive at this decade marker, the WHCA will be providing a special recognition of our neighborhood’s oldest homes in conjunction with our annual membership drive.

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The WHCA has created a yard sign (pictured above) to designate homes that have achieved 100 years or more. This sign is available at no cost to owners of such homes when they choose to join WHCA with an auto renewing membership.

If you are a current member (but not auto-renewal) you can purchase a sign for $15 by contacting Debbie Hall who will deliver your sign and collect payment. 

Part of the charm of our neighborhood is the architecture and age of bungalows and Queen Anne’s. WHCA sees 2020 as a good time to recognize our homes that have achieved this distinction.

- Debbie Hall, WHCA Historic Homes Committee

FWP: Wild & Scenic Film Festival /  by Lori Bigler

The Citizens’ Environmental Coalition has connected individuals and organizations within the Greater Houston environmental community for almost 50 years. On January 28 & 29, join the Friends of Woodland Park at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour, hosted by the CEC. At the River Oaks Theater, enjoy two nights of different, short films. We especially think you'll like the movie A New View of the Moon, which reminds us why dark, unobstructed skies and a sense of curiosity are important. Tickets and sponsorships available at cechouston.org.

Creature Feature: Hummingbirds /  by Lori Bigler

Click to play.

I know this isn't seasonally appropriate. Consider it an attack on the potential for seasonal affective disorder. Hummingbirds always brighten the day.

As I pointed out in the final bits of the November newsletter, I've been sitting on some video of hummingbirds. This was shot in our yard in September as the wee-winged-wonders made their fall migration to South America. In the spring we saw only a few of the little birds, but in fall was saw perhaps a dozen. We keep six hummingbird feeders in the yard to attract the little creatures. We have also planted some of their favorite comestibles.

I'm interested in how to photograph and record the little birds. The video from which the above frame was taken was shot with a Logitech Rally 4K PTZ camera. It's a glorified webcam intended for video conference use. It did a decent job capturing the action at a feeder mounted on on front porch, at least until the afternoon sun overtook the image sensor. This 3 minute clip was extracted from about four hours of continuous recording.

When the little birds return in the spring I hope to have some way to record them at a high-frame rate, so we can slow down their movement for closer study.

If you share our fascination with the little birds, you might also appreciate the Cornell University Birdcams. They include a West Texas location that's known for its hummingbirds.

New TxDOT Report on I-45: Public Comment Open Through 1/10/20 /  by Lori Bigler

The following is excerpted from the District H Weekly News on 12/19/2019.

“Learn about the biggest takeaways for the Preferred Alternative I-45 design based on TxDOT's newly updated draft of the Community Impacts Assessment Technical Report by visiting this link. Be sure to respond to TxDOT during the public comment period by 1/10/19. Read Council Member Cisneros' letter to TxDOT requesting an extension of the deadline for public comment on the new draft here.”

Lights in the Heights 2019 Winning Homes /  by Lori Bigler

The LITH judging committee toured the route the evening of Thursday, Dec 12 with the help of Jeff Trevino and his open-air art-mobile. The following are this year’s award winning homes:

  1. Most Colorful - 1020 East 7th

  2. Most Festive - 412 Highland

  3. Most Creative - 402 Omar

  4. Most Wattage - 946 Highland

  5. Most Religious - 616 Highland

  6. Best Theme - 803 Omar

  7. Best Single Color - 937 Omar

  8. Most Traditional - 714 Merrill

  9. Most Historical - 949 Omar

  10. Pick of the Night - 903 Highland

  11. Ho-Ho-Ho - 405 Highland

  12. Most Crafty* - 917 Omar

  13. Best Porch - 823 Omar

  14. Best Inflatables - 909 Highland

  15. Best Block - 400 block of Highland

  16. Kids Choice* - 904 Omar

  17. Most Edible* - 501 Euclid

  18. Most Patriotic Christmas* - 602 Highland

  19. Best Not Quite A Block* - 3000 block of Beauchamp

  20. Most Mystical* - 1021 Omar

  21. Most Existential* - 910 Omar

  22. Rookie of the Year* - 710 Redan

  23. Best Use of The Force* - 304 Bayland

400 Block of Highland: Best Block Panaramic Photo (click to see larger.)

Houses are either on the official route or nominated by neighbors for consideration. The judges start out with a list of categories that have been used for years, but have the ability to name ad hoc categories* based upon what they find on their tour.

Last year marked the first time the judges saw neighbors loft light strings that spanned the roadway for an entire block. It was part of what made everyone Feel The Byrne, winning them Best Block. This year the neighbors on the 400 block of Highland took the lesson, and to good effect. Does this mean that this is the new normal?

Best Not-Quite-A-Block: 3300 Beauchamp (click to see larger.)

Also, this editor would like to add one more. While not officially recognized by the judges, 406 Byrne with its “Santa 2020” theme deserves special recognition. In fact, the judges generally agreed that the 400 block of Byrne, while quite distant from the official route, still brought their A-game.

All photos by Michael Graves. Most taken using Google Pixel using “Night Sight.”

LITH Merchandise Pickup /  by Lori Bigler

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Did you miss picking up your LITH merchandise last Friday? If you were unable to pick-up your pre-ordered Lights in the Heights merchandise last Friday, additional pick-up dates are December 16, 18 and 19, from 2:30 until 6:30, at 529 Omar Street, or by appointment —call Beth Brock at 713-569-9277 to schedule.

Reminder: Guests who need a ride to WH for LITH can get a Lyft discount /  by Lori Bigler

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For the second year in a row, we are proud to partner with Lyft to help you get to and from Lights in the Heights safely. Share the promo code LIGHTSRIDE with your friends and party guests, and they will receive 50% off two (2) rides (up to $4 per ride) during Lights in the Heights. Otherwise, very limited parking is available in the neighborhood, including at Vineyard Church, Zion Church (fee applies), Woodland Park, and Stude Park.

Lyft Party Host Program /  by Lori Bigler

** Note that the deadline for this program has now passed **

Lyft is also generously offering a Woodland Heights Resident / Party Host Program for those hosting parties or residing in the neighborhood. Lyft will provide up to 50 households a set of exclusive promo codes to be shared with their friends, family and party guests.

Residents must opt-in to the program, at which point they will be contacted by Lyft with instructions and codes. Lyft will be donating a portion of the proceeds from every ride to the WHCA in support of the neighborhood!

This promotion includes the following:

  • Each WH resident will receive 10 promo codes

  • Each promo code is valid for $15 in ride credit (up to $7.50 on 2 rides)

  • Valid Friday, December 13 at 12:00pm until Sunday, December 15 at 12:00pm

If you wish to participate, please visit the link below and enter code lyftlights.

https://woodlandheightspartyprogram.splashthat.com/

Lights in the Heights Judging /  by Lori Bigler

The team of judges tour the neighborhood on Jeff Trevino’s unmistakable art car.

The team of judges tour the neighborhood on Jeff Trevino’s unmistakable art car.

Each year, the LITH committee hands out awards for a range of decorating categories, from most wattage to most traditional. This year judges will be rolling down the route the evening of Thursday, December 12th. Make sure to have your decorations lit!

If you’re ON the route, you’re automatically in the running. If you’re OFF the route, nominate your home (or a neighbor’s) by emailing robyn.klepper@nadel.com so the judges know to include you in the competition.

Good luck to you all!