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Now Accepting Board Nominations /  by Guest User

The WHCA Board Nominating Committee are now accepting nominations for seats on the Woodland Heights Civic Association Board for the 2016-17 term, which starts April 1, 2016 and runs through March 31, 2017. Elections will be at the general meeting on Tuesday, March 8, at 7 p.m. at Hogg Middle School Cafeteria. 

The following positions are up for election: 

  • President-Elect (president in waiting for the 2017-18 term) 
  • Treasurer (handles the WHCA's accounting, must be proficient in accounting concepts and software) 
  • Secretary (prepares minutes of WHCA board and general meetings, maintains books and records of the WHCA) 
  • VP, Beautification (responsible for nominating yard of the month, proposing and executing other beautification projects) 
  • VP, Communications (responsible for maintaining the website and preparing and distributing the newsletter) 
  • VP, Deed Restrictions (responsible for monitoring land use and deed restriction issues in the neighborhood, must be a lawyer licensed in Texas) 
  • VP, Infrastructure (responsible for monitoring all infrastructure issues in the neighborhood, such as the recent sidewalk construction and METRO issues) 
  • VP, Membership (sign up new members each year, maintain database of members) 
  • VP, Security (responsible for managing the Constable program and contracts) 

If you would like to nominate yourself, please fill out this form and email it to us at president@woodland-heights.org. Thanks! 

Sincerely, 
The Nominating Committee (Allison Hartzell, JW Lodge, Glen Sementelli, Casey Ballard, and Tim McConn)

Sponsor: Four Square Design Studios /  by Guest User

Our thanks, once again, to Four Square Design Studio LLC for sponsoring this month's WHCA newsletter. The WHCA email newsletter reaches 425+ engaged neighbors. If you're interested in sponsoring please get in touch.

Historic homes, modern living, award-winning design

  • Renovations
  • Additions
  • Kitchens and bathrooms
  • Interior design and decoration

We have an abiding love of historic structures, but we enjoy juxtaposing old and new. We are skilled problem-solvers; when designing additions, we seek to accommodate the needs of modern living while respecting the original spirit and design of a historic building.

To see a sampling of our projects, visit us at foursquaredesignstudio.com or call us at 713-802-1699.

Our School Update /  by Guest User

Travis Elementary

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Hogg Middle School

  • Sixteen National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and Student Council members from Hogg Middle School volunteered to make luminarias last month's Lights in the Heights festivities. They spent an hour-and-a-half filling bags with sand and a candle, enough to fill two trailer loads full. Thank you, Razorbacks, for helping to light up the route.
  • The Hogg Library is undergoing a transformation. In its goal to become a library of the 21st century, they are building a Literacy Library for Language Art teachers and students. Students in middle school read at varying levels and Hogg is differentiating instruction to meet the needs of these students. Students take a test in the Myon program to determine their Lexile level. With this knowledge, students and teachers then select books that expand their vocabulary. Myon tracks students’ reading and growth by providing access to over 4,000 digital books. To compliment this digital library, the HISD Secondary Curriculum and Development Literacy Team helped Hogg process has over 2,000 books for its Literacy Library. Ten volunteers have logged in over 80 hours to label, barcode, cover, sort and shelve these books. A huge thank you to our HISD Secondary Curriculum and Development Literacy Team for showing Hogg spirit by wearing red on our big volunteer day.
  • Hogg art students are busy creating Hollywood/Academy Award themed props for the WHCA Home Tour Preview Event held April 15th. Tickets now on sale.

Reagan High School

  • The Reagan journalism class put together a very informative video about John H. Reagan and the current effort to rename the school because of Reagan's history as a Confederate.

WHCA General Meeting /  by Guest User

The next WHCA General Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at the Hogg Middle School Auditorium. Note that elections for WHCA Board positions will be held at the March 8 general meeting. In early February, the WHCA will notify the neighborhood (via NextDoor, the WHCA website, newsletter, and signs) regarding the details of how to submit nominations. Please remember that nominations cannot be accepted from the floor at the March 8 meeting.

Traffic Management Meeting /  by Guest User

The City is going to hold a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program meeting on February 3rd at 7 PM at the Hogg cafeteria. The City is going to outline the proposed traffic plan for the Woodland Heights, which includes speed cushions and neighborhood traffic circles on Watson, Bayland, Michaux, Beauchamp, Euclid and Pecore. We really need to have strong support for this plan so that the City will move forward with implementing the plan. The first stage of the implementation will involve the installation of temporary devices to gauge their effectiveness on the aforementioned streets, and confirm that traffic is not simply shifted to other streets in the neighborhood. Please make every effort to attend the meeting and ask your neighbors to attend as well.

Yard of the Month /  by Guest User

There is never a time when I drive by this house, that I don't love it! Donald Clay at 626 Omar has a knack for choosing plants that are not ordinary and they are beautifully maintained. His yard is manicured, well cared for and no matter the time of year, it looks splendid. I especially love the evergreen Wisteria on the arbor and the Weeping Crabapple tree in front of it. The Pride of Barbados planted next to the utility pole is the perfect way to enhance an otherwise eyesore. The hedge is Cuban Gold (Duranta).

Take some to walk by and see it for yourself!  You won't regret it.

Brigette Larson
WHCA Beautification

Lights in the Heights Wrap-Up /  by Guest User

While Lights in the Heights 2015 was a rainy one, it did not dampen the spirits of the neighbors. Attendance was lower than last year but Woodland and Euclid were still filled with merrymakers and all the bands played their hearts out.

The committee would like to express deep thanks to our Entertainment Sponsor, Memorial Hermann Greater Heights. They were gracious, easy to work with and were crucial to our success. We also had amazing Gala Sponsors, most of whom have been donating all three years. Please check out all these local businesses and show them some love! We also thank all the neighbors who contributed through our 3rd Annual Gala and all who purchased LITH2015 merchandise.

I cannot say enough about the dedicated volunteers of the LITH committee. Thanks to each of you for all your hard work!

— Jan Rynda Greer

LITHGalaPoster.png

Constable Patrol: November 2015 /  by Guest User

Newsletter readers: To view charts of crime stats please visit this article on the WHCA website.

Theft from vehicles was down for November, but please don’t leave valuables in your car especially at local businesses. The City of Houston lags in releasing summary monthly crime stats. To stay more current and to get details for our neighborhood, about once a week I monitor daily crime reports and accumulate the data to arrive at the report presented here.

WHCA Crime Statistics

  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.

WHCA Compared to Entire HPD Beat 2A30

  • WHCA
  • HPD Beat 2A30
  • WHCA
  • HPD Beat 2A30

We remind everyone for a crime in progress please call 911 first principally because we do not have 24/7 deputy coverage. If our deputies are on duty they should be monitoring those calls, though you can also call Precinct One dispatch after calling 911 for crimes in progress.

Our deputies are motivated to keep the neighborhood safe though one lap around the perimeter of our neighborhood is a bit over 3 miles so there is a lot of ground to cover. Feedback from you is an important tool so please do not hesitate to call Precinct One if you see something that doesn’t seem right.

Our deputies come to work in our neighborhood and remain through their shift unless they are called to respond to a nearby contract. The deputies spend their shift cruising the neighborhood.  When they stop to look at something or take some action they keep a log so we have a general idea of their activities. For November 2015 here is some of their activity:

Constable Patrol Activity

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Lights in the Heights /  by Guest User

The Woodland Heights neighborhood is again looking forward to Lights in the Heights 2015 on December 12th from 6PM to 9PM. Road closures of Euclid and Woodland begin at 5PM and will be blocked off for the festivities. As always, additional streets will have parking and driving limitations, some beginning early that Saturday. Please review the event on Nextdoor for further details and updates. There are about 20 performers on the route this year. Merchandise, including ornaments, koozies, luminaria and some prior year merchandise will be available at Friday Night Lights.

Updated (12/2/15): Fixed spelling errors.

Constable Patrol: October 2015 /  by Guest User

Newsletter readers: To view charts of crime stats please visit this article on the WHCA website.

Theft from vehicles is the most prevalent crime. Please don’t leave valuables in your car — 6 parking lot thefts this month were at local businesses equally split between bars and restaurants. Auto thefts in the 200 block of W Norma and 1000 block Euclid; robbery at business in 3200 block of Houston Ave. The City of Houston lags in releasing summary monthly crime stats. To stay more current and to get details for our neighborhood, about once a week I monitor daily crime reports, and accumulate the data to arrive at the crime data presented here.

HPD Beat 2A30 – Stats for WHCA Area

  • Oct.
  • Sept.
  • Aug.
  • Oct.
  • Sept.
  • Aug.

WHCA vs. Entire 2A30 HPD Beat

  • WHCA
  • Entire 2A30
  • WHCA
  • Entire 2A30

Constable Report

We remind everyone that for a crime in progress, please call 911 first, principally because we do not have 24/7 deputy coverage. If our deputies are on duty, they should be monitoring those calls, though you can also call Precinct One dispatch after calling 911 for crimes in progress. The most consistent feedback I get from our deputies is that they want us to call if we see something that doesn’t seem right. So don’t hesitate to call.

Our deputies come to work in our neighborhood, and remain through their shift, unless they are called to respond to a nearby contract. The deputies spend their shift cruising the neighborhood. When they stop to look at something or take some action, they keep a log, so we have a general idea of their activities.  For October 2015 here is some of their activity:

Constable Patrol Log for Oct. 2015

  • Oct.
  • Oct.

Ley Plaza Butterfly Garden – Yard of the Month /  by Guest User

This month I’d like to shout out special recognition to neighborhood volunteers who have, since 2007, put in many, many hours to create and sustain our wonderful butterfly garden at Ley Plaza Park. Jennifer Sanchez with Texas Fish and Wildlife recently donated lots of new native plants to our pretty garden and once again these neighbors stepped up to make sure they were planted.  Your dedicated neighbors are: Dan Rueda, Cal Sercu and her daughters Amalie and Leisl, Jayne Porter, Morgan Towsen and her infant son Noah, Pat Rutledge, Louise Moss, Thane and Nicole Wyman and Kathleen Boyd and her daughter, Persi AND their fearless leader Pat German. If it wasn’t for Pat’s initial suggestion to create a butterfly garden and her subsequent contact with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department back in 2007, this garden would not exist.

Thank you Pat and all of your volunteers who love and maintain our beautiful garden. The park is located on White Oak Drive between Thelma and Gladys Streets.

– Brigette Larson, VP Beautification

Lights in the Heights Gala /  by Guest User

Tickets are almost sold out for the 3rd Annual Lights in the Heights Gala, benefitting Lights in the Heights 2015. The Gala is November 7 at 7 p.m. at the beautiful home of Bill Baldwin on Bayland Avenue. Sponsors include delicious food from Shade, Liberty Kitchen, and Red Dessert Dive. Beer and wine from Town in City Brewing and Woodland Heights residents Emily Trout and Mark Ellenberger of Kagan Cellars.

There will be music and a silent auction/raffle with wonderful items donated by neighbors and area businesses. Join us for an evening with friends and neighbors as we usher in the holiday season! Purchase tickets online from the WHCA Store.

WHCA General Meeting /  by Guest User

The next General Meeting of the Woodland Heights Civic Association is scheduled for November 10, 7 p.m., at the Hogg Middle School Auditorium. Guest speakers will include Principal Angela Sugarek of Hogg Middle School, Joey Sanchez will discuss his work on the Blue Tile Project, and Brian Latham of HSPCA will discuss their upcoming iWalk fundraiser at Stude Park benefiting Houston's animal shelter.

Lights in the Heights /  by Guest User

Get ready to start decorating your houses for the holidays! Lights in the Heights is just around the corner. As always, it’s the second Saturday of December, so this year it will be Saturday, December 12. As we previously announced, the route this year will be on Euclid and Woodland, from Studewood to Houston Ave. Also remember that we’ll have a fun neighborhood gathering on the Norhill Esplanade on Friday, December 11. This will be when the neighbhood LITH festivities start, and it will be your chance to get your hands on this year’s fun LITH merchandise.

Constable Patrol: September 2015 /  by Guest User

Crime and Constable Patrol Statistics for September 2015

To view charts of crime stats please visit this article on the WHCA website.

As always, theft from vehicles is the most prevalent crime. Please don’t leave valuables in your car – 4 parking lot thefts this month were at local businesses. For September: Auto theft in the 900 block of Ridge. Burglaries of construction site in the 800 block of Usener, and residence in the 500 block of Redan. The City of Houston is usually months behind in releasing monthly crime stats. To stay more current, about once a week I monitor daily crime reports, and accumulate the data to arrive at the crime data presented here.

Crime Stats

  • September
  • August
  • July
  • September
  • August
  • July
HPD Beat 2A30 (Stats for WHCA area only)

Crime – WH vs. Beat 2A30

  • Woodland Heights
  • Beat 2A30
  • Woodland Heights
  • Beat 2A30
Stats only for the month of Sept. 2015

WHCA Constable Patrol Statistics

Our permanent night shift deputy and his new police dog are back to full-time duty in our neighborhood. We remind everyone that for a crime in progress, please call 911 first, principally because we do not have 24/7 deputy coverage. If our deputies are on duty, they should be monitoring those calls, though you can also call Precinct One dispatch after calling 911 for crimes in progress.

The most consistent feedback I get from our deputies is that they want us to call if we see something that doesn’t seem right. They are happy to sort it out, and don’t want us failing to call about something because we aren’t sure whether it is significant enough to warrant their attention.

Our deputies come to work in our neighborhood, and remain through their shift, unless they are called to respond to a nearby contract. The deputies spend their shift cruising the neighborhood. When they stop to look at something or take some action, they keep a log, so we have a general idea of their activities.

Constable Patrol Log

  • Sept
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Aug
Data per Constable's Log Books

SPONSORED POST: Four Square Design Studio /  by Guest User

Our thanks, once again, to Four Square Design Studio LLC for sponsoring this month's WHCA newsletter. The WHCA email newsletter reaches 425+ engaged neighbors. If you're interested in sponsoring please get in touch.

Historic homes, modern living, award-winning design

  • Renovations
  • Additions
  • Kitchens and bathrooms
  • Interior design and decoration

We have an abiding love of historic structures, but we enjoy juxtaposing old and new. We are skilled problem-solvers; when designing additions, we seek to accommodate the needs of modern living while respecting the original spirit and design of a historic building.

To see a sampling of our projects, visit us at foursquaredesignstudio.com or call us at 713-802-1699.

What's Happening @ Reagan High School /  by Guest User

lilShopofHorrors.jpg

The Reagan production of the Science Fiction musical Little Shop of Horrors premieres November 12th and runs for two nights at 7pm. Theatre at arts teacher Nina Garcia, alongside Mr. Miller and the students that form the production’s cast and crew are working hard to create a dazzling live performance.

The musical is based on the hit film about a bloodthirsty plant and its part in the change of fortunes for a struggling flower shop. The musical is open to the public and the Heights neighborhood is encouraged to attend. Tickets are $10, or $7 when you use the code word ‘Family’ at the door. The musical features mild, comic violence, but no vulgar language.

Cast members explained their reasoning behind joining the Reagan production and what they had hoped to accomplish through it. “I experienced Little Shop of Horrors when I was younger,” said Tyler Leftwich, who plays sadistic dentist Orin Schrovello in the musical. “My connection to acting is why I joined.”

Donald Peacock, in the role of monster plant Audrey II, auditioned to turn his private hobby into a performance skill. “I always had a passion for singing,” said Donald. “I wanted to be a part of Reagan’s musicals to share that passion through art.” Before participating in Reagan musicals, Donald never knew what to say when people asked him about his talents. He now has an answer.
“I love being able to entertain people through acting and singing,” said Jacob De Hoyos. Jacob, as well as other cast members, are excited to perform the musical in front of an audience. “The moment when the crowd roars with applause is what makes it all worth it.”

What's Happening @ Travis Elementary /  by Guest User

From Travis Elementary Principal Tom Day:

If you are out and about and see a Travis Tiger showing “grit” – perseverance and determination to keep going, even if at first you do not succeed – make sure to point it out. Displaying grit in the face of difficulty is one of several positive character traits that are being discussed in classrooms at Travis Elementary this year as part of the school’s new character education program, “Tiger Traits.”

On early dismissal days, students and teachers will engage in lessons, activities, and discussion designed to foster a growth mindset and self-esteem while creating opportunities to develop social skills and more bonds among blended peer groups.

“Tiger Traits” combines existing campus practices and programs with new character building lessons and activities to form an aligned school initiative. It creates opportunity for students to build bonds with more of their peers while engaging in thoughtful dialogue about character traits and making connections to behavior and choices.