LA VENTANA DEL LAGO - El Lago, Texas · Page 8 El Lago Proud… ... . The file is ... September 2014 La Ventana Del Lago Page 2

Volume 33 Number 6

A Newspaper for El Lago September 2014

LA VENTANA

DEL LAGO

September 2014 La Ventana Del Lago Page 1

Letter to the Editor: Coyote Roaming El Lago

We had a neighbor cat disappear about 3 months ago and this

week one of our cats was slaughtered in our front yard. We

now understand a rash of such attacks started being reported to

the city and/or the police several months ago. Apparently they

are coyote attacks and they have occurred in other neighbor-

hoods also.

The purpose of this note is to urge a response by the city to

alert its citizens by robocall and posted signs as is done for city

events. Had this been done, how many attacks might have

been prevented by owner’s awareness? Certainly ours would

have been. The obvious suggestion is to not allow unattended

small pets outdoors especially at night. Since most residents

may continue to be unaware, please publicize the risk.

Ralf Toennies

2nd Annual El Lago Invitational

Fishing

Tournament, Oct. 12, 2014 Joe Neigut

Attention El Lago Anglers! It’s time for the

2nd Annual El Lago Invitational Fishing Tour-

nament on October 12, 2014! All citizens or

those employed by the City of El Lago, Lakeview Police Depart-

ment, WCID #50, Seabrook Volunteer Department, postal carriers

or other El Lago businesses within the city are eligible to partici-

pate, along with their invited guests. Please see the El Lago City

website <www.ellago-tx.gov> for the complete rules and to

download an entry form.

This event is for the El Lago community to engage in some

friendly competition with bragging rights (and awards) for the

winners. The youth of the city (14 and under) will have the op-

portunity to compete in their own division and show off their an-

gling skills. Boats are not required to participate. Fishing begins

at 7:30 AM on Oct. 12, and the weigh-in station will close exactly

at 3 PM. Following this hard day of fishing, there will be an

award banquet for tournament participants. All El Lago citizens

are welcome to come out to McNair park to see the winning an-

glers receive their awards and their due recognition. The entrance

fee charged will provide awards for the winners, a great meal at

the awards banquet as well as a commemorative T-shirt. To make

this event successful, volunteers and sponsors are needed! If you

are interested in assisting, please contact Joe Neigut at 281-326-

5213 or email [email protected].

Act Now to Save the La Ventana from El Lago

Budget Axe! Jeff Tave

At the September 3rd El Lago City Council meeting, Mayor White

submitted an initial proposed FY’14-‘15 budget that ZEROES OUT

the City's financial support ($1,250) of the non-profit La Ventana

del Lago newspaper. This donation covers approximately 19% of

the La Ventana's annual expense budget and 0.07% of the City's

annual expense budget (approx. $1,800,000). This financial support

allows the City Secretary's "CityBeat" and Mayor's "From the

Mayor's Desk" to be published (when submitted) prominently and

supports the cost of the space allocated to City business (City Coun-

cil minutes, Lakeview Police Department statistics, etc.) and City

events.

After initial negotiations with Council, the Mayor's proposed FY'14-

'15 budget at the current NUMERICAL tax rate ($0.614200 per

$100 property valuation) generates a $42,000 surplus with that

amount going into reserve (but may get spent in other ways as the

budget has yet to be finalized). Even with a $42,000 surplus, fund-

ing was NOT allocated to support the La Ventana. Unfortunately,

Council did not support my amendment to restore the La Ventana

funding, voting it down 3-2 (Councilpersons Skelton, Youts, Kumar

-Misir voting "against" and Tave and Stanley voting "for").

As a result of this loss of financial support, the La Ventana will not

distribute hardcopies for at least 2 (out of 9) and up to 3 issues in

the coming year, depending upon advertising, luminarias sales, and

donations.

The La Ventana is the only communication going direct to El Lago

resident doors via paper copy. Some feel the City's website and/or

electronic communication methods are sufficient, but based on what

readers tell me, many still prefer a hardcopy or do not have or have

only limited internet access. You will be affected! Remember that

the La Ventana is produced by volunteers (at least 200 uncompen-

sated labor hours per year) and distributed by the children of resi-

dents and are paid only $10/month for each of the 10 routes cover-

ing El Lago.

If you feel the City should continue supporting the La Ventana fi-

nancially, please send me a note and also contact the Mayor

([email protected], 281-630-8680) and Councilmembers Skel-

ton ([email protected], 281-761-9231), Youts (myouts@ellago

-tx.gov, 713-408-9670), and Kumar-Misir (rkumar-misir@ellago-

tx.gov, 281-381-4861) to let them know how you feel.

Better yet, come and speak during the Citizen's Forum section of an

upcoming City Council meeting. The dates for the next Council

meetings are Thursday, September 11th @ 7 PM (public hearing on

tax rate), Wednesday September 17th @ 6:30 PM (public hearing on

tax rate) and 7 PM (Council Meeting), and Wednesday September

24th @ 7 PM (to adopt budget and tax rate).

Published monthly by

the first Saturday

EDITOR: GENERAL REPORTERS: Jeff Tave (326-5098) Ann Vernon, Brenda Klingle,

email: [email protected] Donna Ward, Janice Makinen

ADVERTISING: LAYOUT & DESIGN: Jeff Tave (326-5098) Laurie Fuller (281-513-4833)

email: [email protected]

BUSINESS MANAGER: CIRCULATION/FLYERS: Carolynn Stanley (326-5066) Kimberly Campos (832-232-2672)

email: [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS: Shirley Brasseaux, Rebecca Collins, Sabrina

Herod, Mark Kramer, Cindy Kuenneke, Heather Millar, Joe Neigut,

Erlinda Stevenson, Milagros Tanega, Sally Wrobleski

Article Deadlines

Issue To Editor (electronic) Earliest

La Ventana Delivery

October

September 19 October 4

November October 24 November 7

December November 21 December 6

In this Issue…

Save the La Ventana………...………………….…………..……...Page 1

Fishing Tournament………………………..……………………...Page 1

Letter to the Editor………………………………………………..Page 1

Advertising Policy…………………………………………………Page 2

From the Editor………..…………………………………………..Page 2

El Lago City Council Minutes 6/4/14………………………...…...Page 3

WCID No. 50 Minutes from May 23……………………………...Page 4

Trowels and Tribulations………...………………………………..Page 5

WCID No. 50 Minutes from June 19……………………………...Page 5

Nutcracker Shoppe………………………………………………...Page 5

Dig ‘n Design……………………………………………………...Page 6

LPD Stats……………………………………….……………........ Page 7

El Lago City Council Workshop Minutes 7/28/14……………..….Page 7

Orchids by the Shore…..…………………………………………. Page 8

El Lago Proud…….………………………………………………..Page 8

Neighbor Line…………………………………………………….. Page 8

Classified…………..…...……………………….…………………Page 8

El Lago City Council Minutes 6/18/14…………………….………Page 9

El Lago City Council Minutes 7/2/14….………………………... .Page 10

Pianist Stephen Beus Concert……………………………………...Page 11

Freeman Library 3D Printing……………………………………..Page 11

Freeman Library Teen Schedule…………………………………..Page 11

Armand Bayou Nature News……………………………………...Page 12

Water Hyacinths on the Bayou…………………………………….Page 12

CERT Update……………………………………………………...Page 12

Freeman Library Adult Events…………………………………….Page 13

Freeman Library Children’s Events……………………………….Page 13

Freeman Library Senior Trip—Port of Houston………………….Page 13

Submissions: If electronic format ONLY Microsoft

Word (version 98 for Mac OS or 1997-2003 for

Windows OS) formats to “[email protected].” No

hard-stop format; let text wrap, please. If you send

any photos, we prefer B&W (or color converted to

grayscale) and 300 dpi resolution (or size no greater

than 100 Kb).

From the Editor

Dear Readers –

Welcome Back! Hope you had an

enjoyable summer off.

The latest issue of the La Ventana is

available for electronic download at:

<http://home.earthlink.net/~laventana/lvweb.html>. The file is

in pdf format (you will need Acrobat Reader, a free utility al-

ready installed on most computers). Just click on the “Current

Issue” button and the file will be downloaded (or displayed if

you have an Acrobat Reader plug-in installed in your web

browser application). A link to the La Ventana location has also

been provided on the City’s website <www.ellago-tx.com>.

By the way, if you ever have any issues with the delivery of

your paper, whether it be late, lost, found in the gutter, etc.,

please be sure to contact our Circulation Coordinator, Kimber-

ley Campos. We are only able to correct problems if we are

aware of them.

Please support your community newspaper! How? Volunteer

some time to write an article or two. We’re in need of general

reporters to cover miscellaneous El Lago and community activi-

ties. Another way is to give us some feedback. What do you

like? What are some suggestions for improvement? This is your

paper; help us satisfy your needs. Thanks for reading ...

Jeff Tave


ADVERTISING POLICY

La Ventana will accept personal ads from City teenagers for lost and

found items at no charge. Commercial ads must be camera ready or an

additional charge will be added to the prices below:

Business card ad (3 1/2” X 2”)…………..….$39

1/8 page (3 1/2 X 2 1/2”) …………………….$45

1/4 page (3 1/2” X 5”)……………….……….$50

1/2 page (7 1/2” X 5”)………………………..$61

1/2 page (3 1/2” X 10”)………………………$61

Full page (7 1/2” X 10”)……………………...$100

Classified ad charges are: $5 for the first three lines; $1 each additional

line. Flyers will be inserted and delivered for $85.

Deadline for the ads is the 19th of the month. For further information,

call: Advertising/Flyers: 281-326-5098. La Ventana is distributed

monthly except January, July and August by the first Saturday of the

month, with a circulation of 1015.

The La Ventana is a 501C-3 registered, tax-exempt organization.

Donations are gratefully accepted and exempt from taxes to the

full extent of the law.


Significant Items from the Minutes of the El Lago City Council Meeting on June 4th Jeff Tave

Direct excerpts from the official minutes deemed to be of interest and edited for space. Full minutes available on the cite website <www.ellago-tx.gov>.

Citizens Forum

A resident of Loch Lake Dr. told Council he would like to have speed bumps installed on Loch Lake to help show traffic down, estimating some cars

speed down Loch Lake at 40 to 50 mph. A resident of Seaway Dr. passed out a copy of an email she sent to Council asking for help with the pool prices.

She would like prices for both the day and season passes lowered so that all can afford to join.

New Buisness to Consider and/or Approve

Nominate and Approve Mayor Pro Tem to Serve Until the Next City General Election on May 9, 2015 – Councilperson Youts nominated John

Skelton as Mayor Pro Tem until the next General Election on May 9, 2015. Councilperson Kumar-Misir seconded the motion and it was approved

by a vote of three in favor; Councilperson Skelton abstained from voting.

Special Use Permit Request by Zulfigar Ahmad for Video Game Machines at One Stop – Mr. Ahmad told the Council that he has all required

permits from Harris County and the State of Texas to operate the gaming machines currently located at the One Stop. He then presented copies of

his licenses for Council’s inspection. He also stated that there have been no incidences of problems or fighting regarding the gaming machines and

that when he put in the machines 10 years ago he did not know that any type of permit from El Lago was required. Council asked some questions

including what type of games were under consideration and were told they were card game machines. Councilperson Kumar-Misir stated that he

had never heard about any complaints and did not see any reason not to let them continue as usual. Councilperson Kumar-Misir motioned to ap-

prove the Special Use Permit and Mayor Pro Tem Skelton seconded it. Councilperson Tave motioned to amend the main motion by including a

three-year expiration on the permit. The amendment to the motion was seconded by Councilperson Skelton and approved by all. The motion to

approve the Special Use Permit with a three-year expiration was approved by a vote four in favor.

Items for Discussion

City Council Members’ Areas of Responsibility – Mayor White designated the following areas of responsibility to himself and Council:

Mayor White: WCID #50 Liaison, City Personnel, General Government

Councilperson Kumar-Misir: LPD Commission, EMS Liaison

Councilperson Youts: Community Events, Solid Waste & Recycling, Media & PEG funds

Councilperson Stanley: HGAC Representative, BAHEP Liaison, Parks & Recreation Liaison

Mayor Pro Tem Skelton: Court Liaison, Ordinance Liaison, Building & Standards Commission, Finance Officer

Councilperson Tave: Planning & Zoning Liaison, Public Utilities Liaison, Streets & Sidewalks

Council Reports

Mayor Pro Tem Tave to report on the following:

Parks Board Meetings on May 28, 2014

A resident spoke about perceived high swim pass costs for her family

Sign at Pebblebrook entrance – The City Maintenance Supervisor said he believes there are utility lines in area to where the sign may be

placed

Potential Entrance colors – In work, but Mayor says “No gray”

Light out @ 98 Lakeshore illuminating flags

Armstrong Park - electrical issue @ breaker for sprinkler system controller

McNair Park swing set – swing chains rusted & need to be replaced

Witty Park – proposal/plan for phase I new play set in work

Judging for El Lago Proud "Yard of the Season" complete:

Taylorcrest: First place - 1603 W. Hedgecroft, Jim & Shirley Kelly - (Runner-up Fall 2013); Runner-up - 306 Lake View Cir.,

Clarence Sams, Peggy Whitson

El Lago Estates: First place - 1514 Lake Bank, J.S. & Thamer Millsap; Runner-up - 510 Seaway, David Bernosky

El Lago Section Three: First Place - 430 Woodvine, William Trump; Runner-up - 314 Hickory Ridge, Susane & Marty Covey

El Lago Section Four: First Place - 426 Terrace, Kurtis & Ruth Wagner; Runner-up - 220 Bayou View, Kenneth & Barbara Varner

Start identifying budget items for next FY (including phase II of Witty Park playset)

WCID #50 Board of Directors Meeting on March 23, 2014

Conducted public hearing on adoption of impact fees for new development on NASA Parkway - Proposed fee is in the middle of fees sur-

veyed for area

Draft budget for FY ending 06/30/15 at $1.2M

District property tax collection @ 98% collected

El Lago Fire Marshall inspected District facilities & found several “minor” deficiencies (nothing unexpected): fire extinguishers needing

inspection, needed a flammables cabinet, exposed wiring @ pump house, holes in sheetrock, some electrical breakers needed labeling

After meeting, I asked about research on bond cost/tax rate & Davis Bonham quoted (from memory) a $4M bond would yield tax rate of

$0.166 to 0.17/$100 valuation [current rate is $ 0.19740/$100]

Continued on page 4


Continued from page 3

Seabrook P & Z Meeting on May 15, 2014

Two items on agenda were to address requests to change zoning classification to 2 tracts of land off the Repsdorph traffic circle: a) 20 acre tract

from C1 to C2 that borders on El Lago residents living on Loch Lake, the east end of Whitecap, and east of Ed White Elementary and b) 12 acre

tract north of circle bordering on Oak Ridge Meadows subdivision from R1 to C2

Seabrook Zoning Ordinances state: C1 (light commercial) is designed to be compatible with adjacent neighborhoods (“neighborhood friendly”)

with buildings no taller than 40’, low traffic volume, not intended to produce noise/light/glare abnormal to residential environment; C2 (medium

commercial) allows standalone businesses up to 74’ in height and heavy arterial street traffic is characteristic of the district.

Developer spoke provided some historical background (7 or so years ago, previous City Manager Kelly Templin requested developer hold off

on development of properties as Hwy 146 widening would displace many businesses along Hwy 146 corridor and city needed a place for them

to relocate). Developer mentioned draft plans for large grocery store on 12 acre tract & other businesses on 20 acre tract, but all subject to

change. Developer said Seabrook at risk of losing its only grocery store if change not approved.

About 10 people spoke against proposed zoning change including an El Lago resident living on Loch Lake and myself (asked for Seabrook’s

consideration of El Lago residents & Ed White students with respect to light, noise, traffic, impact to property values). Also asked that should

development be approved, that traffic control be examined at Repsdorph/Loch Lake intersection as it is at times difficult to make a left hand

turn from Loch Lake onto Repsdorph.

Seabrook P&Z members deliberated voted unanimously to deny both requests to re-zone the tracts

Councilperson Skelton to Report on Progress of New Website – Councilperson Skelton, Mayor White and City Secretary Vernon had a teleconfer-

ence with Shane Pope who is the City’s Project Manager with CivicPlus. A full timeline of the project was presented with a 4 to 6 month development.

A significant amount of information is being required by CivicPlus and we must also ensure the current website is up to date for information migration.

Councilperson Skelton said he is very impressed with how the entire project was laid out with the full timeline. It seems evident that the new site

should be able to accomplish Council’s goals without incurring additional costs. There will be a mockup of the site which will be unveiled for Council

with an opportunity for input before it is finalized.

Mayor’s Comments on the Status of the City – The Dive-In Movie is scheduled for July 7th, Councilmembers are needed to help with the set-up of

equipment. There will be a parade going through the city on July 4th starting at 9 AM at Ed White and ending at the pool. Councilperson Youts agreed

to head up the Council float on that day. After the parade, the pool will be open for all residents to enjoy. The impeller on the spray ground pump was

replaced and a backflow preventer was added to help with keeping the pump primed.

Approve the Minutes of the May 14, 2014 City Council Meeting – Mayor Pro Tem Skelton motioned and Councilperson Kumar-Miser seconded ap-

proving the minutes. Councilperson Tave said he wished that the Council’s list of website priorities had been captured. The minutes were approved

with a vote of three in favor and with Councilperson Tave voting against.

Other Items Council Would Like to Suggest for Consideration on a Future Council Agenda – Mayor Pro Tem Skelton said he would like to review the

financial report after the 3rd quarter and Councilperson Tave said he would like to get a start on the FY'15 budget.

WCID No. 50 Minutes for the May 23rd Board Meeting Sabrina Herod & Jeff Tave

The following are highlights of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors that took place on May 23, 2014. Complete minutes are available at

the District office at 1122 Cedar Lane, and on the WCID No. 50 website at <www.wcid50.com>.

Citizen Comments – Ms. LaRue Burbank addressed the Board with regards to the proposed 12” line to be installed along Lakeshore Dr. and the Impact

Fees. Mr. Bonham explained that the proposed line would only be installed if necessary to serve development in the District. The Impact Fees would be

paid by the developer for any improvements that are required to handle service to that particular tract of land. Ms. Burbank thanked Mr. Bonham for the

clarification. Mr. Francisco Vargas addressed the Board with regard to a sewer issue at his property located at 201 Cedar Lane. Mr. Vargas presented

pictures showing the blockage of his lines by tree roots that have grown into the existing pipe on his property. Mr. Baker addressed the Board explain-

ing how this could have happened and that he has been working with Mr. Vargas to provide guidance on how to clear up the blockage. The long stand-

ing District policy is that sewer truck lines are the responsibility of the District and individual property sewer lines that tap into the District’s trunk lines

up to and including the tap are the responsibility of the property owner.

Conduct Public Hearing on Adoption of Impact Fees – Ron Anderson reviewed the costs for the recommended improvements to the District’s facilities

should a request for service be received on any new commercial development. Mr. Anderson noted that the costs include an annual 4% adjustment for

inflation over the next (5) five-years. The meeting was opened for public comment. There were none.

Office Manager’s Report – Sabrina Herod discussed: a) 2013 Tax Levy is at a 98% collection status; b) The office has received an inquiry regarding

online bill payment submissions being sent electronically instead of manually. Office personnel are looking into this. At this time, online bill payments

through a customer’s personal account are being sent via paper check and taking anywhere from 7-18 business days to reach the office.

Superintendent’s Report – David Baker discussed: a) Annual service was performed on all three generators at the water and wastewater plants. All are

functional; b) David Baker attended a chlorinator maintenance and identification of microorganisms class for continuing education credits; c) El Lago

Fire Marshall inspected water district’s buildings and noted items needing attention; d) Repaired the cedar gate at the end of Huntercrest Dr.

Engineer’s Report – Ron discussed: a) There were no changes in status with respect to annexation of the South Taylor Lake Village Water Supply Com-

pany since the last meeting. Mr. John Ellor addressed the board regarding any additional items needed from his side. At this time, there are none.

The Board President executed Certificates of Election for Directors Crum, Brown, and Eisenbarth, who were declared re-elected by virtue of the cancel-

lation of the May 10, 2014 director election. Upon unanimous vote, the Board approved the Certificates of Election as presented. Directors Crum,

Brown, and Eisenbarth executed letters of qualification confirming that they were not disqualified from serving on the Board of Directors. These direc-

tors then executed statements of elected officer and oaths of office. Upon unanimous vote, the Board approved the letters of qualification as presented

and accepted the statements and oaths. Directors Crum, Brown, and Eisenbarth were declared to be included under the directors’ position blanket bond.


Trowels & Tribulations in a

Suburban Garden Donna J. Ward, Certified Texas Master Gardener

It's September and we're looking forward to cooler

temperatures. We can help it along with a bit of planning.

Shade equals cool, or at least cooler - considering our semi-tropical

climate. If you're new to gardening or just want some detailed info on

trees and their planting, you can go to our city website <www.ellago-

tx.com>, or you can cut out this article and tape it to the refrigerator.

Fall is the time to give serious thought on planting more trees. Trees

are the highest order of plants and an important part of our landscape.

They increase the value of our property and are a visual asset to the

neighborhood.

Shading our home from the summer sun, trees help to lessen our air

conditioning expenses. Deciduous trees (those that drop their leaves

in the fall), planted on the south or west side of a home can reduce

our cooling expenses by as much as 20-25% during the hottest

months of summer. Not to mention it's more pleasant to sip lemonade

on a shaded patio or deck than a sun-drenched one. Toward the end

of the year when leaves begin to fall, the winter sun's rays will warm

our homes. After you have established the planting location and the

variety of tree(s) suited to that location, visit a reputable local nurse-

ry. Avoid the mail-order catalogs from distant states with dissimilar

climates, as their offerings are not suitable to our locale. Drive

around the neighborhood and see what types of trees are doing well

for your neighbors. You may have your heart set on a particular vari-

ety, but if you don't see any of them growing in our neighborhood -

they probably won't.

Container-grown trees are the easiest to plant. Their roots are often

coiled around one another in the container, so you will need to split

the lower half of the root system and spread the roots horizontally to

encourage new root growth. Dig the hole twice as wide as the con-

tainer diameter, but no deeper than the soil level in the container.

Place the top of the soil ball at a slightly higher level than the sur-

rounding soil. The finished planting depth after the soil settles should

be such that the plant is the same depth or slightly higher after plant-

ing than it was when grown in the container.

Our soil tends to be very clay-like, and if it was damp when you dug

the hole you will notice the wall of the hole is glazed and almost

impermeable. Roots will have a difficult time penetrating the wall

unless you rough it up a bit with a spading fork, hoe or hand-held

cultivator.

Once you have positioned the root ball in the prepared hole, backfill

with the soil taken from the hole. Do not add organic matter. By

backfilling with native soil, the plant is immediately forced to estab-

lish new roots in the backfilled soil and beyond. Do not fertilize at

the time of planting as delicate root hairs are easily burned by ferti-

lizer. A root stimulator would be beneficial when planting, but hold

off any feeding until the tree's second growing season, and then feed

lightly.

After planting, water deeply. It is essential that the soil settle around

the tree roots and eliminate air pockets. Consistent moisture is criti-

cal, especially during your tree's first growing season. Each leaf on

our tree has its own personal root hair 12-18 inches below the soil

line. These are the roots dedicated to taking up moisture and nutri-

ents. If this root hair is allowed to become dry, its corresponding leaf

withers and dies.

Our temperate winters allow newly planted trees to spend winter

months establishing a healthy root system before spring makes de-

mands for top growth. So start planning now, and by October when

the ideal window for tree planting opens you will have picked a

planting spot, a variety suited to that spot, and your shovel will be

sharpened and ready to go. Now where did you put those overalls?

Nutcracker Shoppe Sally Wrobleski

Mark your calendars! The Nutcracker Shoppe, an El

Lago arts and crafts guild, will host its 34th annual

Christmas Bazaar on Friday, October 31st from 9 AM - 5

PM and Saturday, Nov. 1st from 9 AM - 3 PM at Taylor

Lake Christian Church, 1730 Old Kirby Rd., Seabrook

area. Free admission. Cash & Checks only. Check out

<www.NutcrackerShoppe.org>. Contact us at Nutcracker-

[email protected] (281-326-3831).

WCID No. 50 Minutes for the June 19th

Board Meeting Sabrina Herod & Jeff Tave

The following are highlights of the minutes of the meetings of the

Board of Directors that took place on June 19, 2014. Complete

minutes are available at the District office at 1122 Cedar Lane, and

on the WCID No. 50 website at <www.wcid50.com>.

Order Adopting and Imposing Impact Fees – Mr. Bonham pre-

sented the order for review and approval. The Board then consid-

ered the Order Adopting and Imposing Impact Fees. The Board

noted that all procedural requirements have been met for adoption.

Upon motion by Director Restivo, seconded by Director Crum, the

Board voted unanimously to approve the Order as presented and to

adopt impact fees in the amount of $5,238 per equivalent single

family connection.

Superintendent’s Report – David Baker discussed: a) Flushed all

of the fire hydrants located in the District; b) Received inquiry

from resident regarding the width of the utility easements in Sec-

tion 1 of Taylorcrest; c) The items needing attention from the Fire

Marshall’s Inspection were addressed and brought into compli-

ance.

Engineer’s Report – Ron Anderson discussed: a). South Taylor

Lake Village Water Supply Corporation has not had any change in

status since the previous meeting; b) Request for authorization on

preparation of the bond application. A discussion was held and a

motion to authorize the District’s Engineer, Ron Anderson to pro-

ceed with preparation of the bond application was made by J. L.

Restivo. The motion was seconded by M. B. Eisenbarth and ap-

proved by all. The Board has requested a proposal for costs asso-

ciated with the preparation of the bond application to be presented

at the next meeting; c) Request for authorization to start on the

water plant rehabilitation project. A discussion was held and a

motion to authorize the District’s Engineer, Ron Anderson to pro-

ceed with the water plant rehabilitation project was made by M. B.

Eisenbarth. The motion was seconded by Earl Crum and approved

by all.


Dig 'n' Design Erlinda Stevenson

It is the beginning of our 2014-2015 Dig 'n' Design

Garden Club season. Our first meeting of the sea-

son will be held on September 11, 2014 at the El Lago Community

Center at City Hall, 411 Tallowood Drive, El Lago, Texas. There

will be a coffee/social time from 09:30 - 10 AM followed by a

business meeting, program, and pot luck lunch. The topic of the

day will be on the many varieties of ferns presented by Pat Stillers.

Visitors are welcome!!

Join the La Ventana

Team !

We are looking for a new

Editor

and

Advertising Coordinator

Call Jeff Tave

at (281) 326-5098


LAKEVIEW POLICE ACTIVITY

Jun - July 2014 combined TOTAL CALLS—372

CALLS ANSWERED

ALARM CALLS 37 HUMANE CALLS 15

AMBULANCE CALLS 22 ORDINANCE VIOLATION CALLS 24

ASSIST OTHER AGENCY 21 FIRE CALLS 3

ASSIST CITIZEN 23 JUVENILE CALLS 4

ASSAULTS 2 SUSPICIOUS PERSONS/VEHICLES CALLS

30

ROBBERY CALLS 0 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES CALLS

12

VEHICLE THEFT CALLS 1 TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CALLS 10

PROPERTY THEFT CALLS 3 TRAFFIC INCIDENT CALLS 11

FRAUD CALLS 2 INVESTIGATION / FOLLOW-UP CALLS

6

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF CALLS 12 DEATH INVESTIGATION CALLS 1

FAMILY DISTURBANCE CALLS

10 FOUND PROPERTY CALLS 2

FIGHT/ DISTURBANCE CALLS 7 UNSECURED PROPERTY CALLS 2

NOISE DISTURBANCE CALLS 20 WELFARE CONCERN CALLS 20

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS 1 MISCELLANEOUS CALLS 8

EXTRA PATROL REQUESTS 7 SETCIC / DPS WARRANTS SERVED

14

INFORMATION CALLS 24 ARRESTS 9

BURGLARIES 2 AUTO ACCIDENTS 8

RESIDENTIAL 2 INJURY 0

BUILDING 1 NON-INJURY 8

BUSINESS 0

MOTOR VEHICLE 0

BOAT 0

ATTEMPTED 1

06/02/2014 4001 NASA Parkway Attempted Burglary

Resident at condos reported that the lock on her storage unit was

damaged from an unknown suspect attempting to break into the

storage unit. No entry made. No property taken.

Other calls of interest this month included an attempted suicide by

firearm, an investigation of a natural death at 3802 NASA apart-

ments where the son of the deceased came over to check on his

father and found him expired in the living room, and a coyote sight-

ed in the back of the Taylorcrest subdivision who may be responsi-

ble for the deaths of some pets recently. When the night shift of-

ficer saw the coyote, it was chasing somebody’s cat and almost

caught it before the officer interfered and chased it away.

07/29/2014 4001 NASA Parkway Stolen Vehicle

Resident at condo property reported that an unknown suspect had

stolen his 2007 4WD Jeep from the parking area below his condo

during the night. The vehicle was paid for and was not repossessed.

Value of the stolen truck is $18,000. The truck has been entered

into TCIC/NCIC.

Significant Items from the Minutes of the

El Lago City Council Special Meeting on July 28 Jeff Tave

Direct excerpts from the official minutes deemed to be of inter-

est and edited for space. Full minutes available on the cite web-

site <www.ellago-tx.gov>.

Citizens Forum

Councilperson Stanley offered her compliments to the pool

staff as she and her grandchildren were treated kindly and

courteously on their recent pool visit.


The purchase of a new condenser/compressor unit for the

98 Lakeshore Building for an amount not to exceed 8,300,

and to decrease Account 71100-Legal Expenses and in-

crease account 70310-Maintenance Equipment Operations,

each by $8,300 in the end of the year Budget Adjustment

Ordinance to cover the expense - Mayor White reviewed the

agenda item form and then also the quotes from Weeks, Dr.

Cool Professor Heat, Bob’s A/C options 1 and 2, and Maxx A/

C highlighting the warranties and part prices. The Mayor re-

marked that both he and Maintenance Director Aaron Jordon

were most comfortable with Maxx A/C’s quote and that Maxx

A/C had done quite a bit of diagnostic and repair work on the

city’s HVAC system in the last year and they were pleased

with their work. Councilperson Tave said he would like to

know the efficiency rating of the system. He noted that there

were three quotes using the older style Freon and one using the

new making those non-comparable quotes. He also stated that

it might be a good time to look at the furnace and see what

kind of condition it is in; that it may be more efficient to re-

place the whole unit rather than just a part of it. Mayor White

stated that the furnace was recently serviced and is ok and that

Maxx A/C’s quote includes the new Freon style which is a

better and greener option. Additionally, it is priced for the

whole unit and not just the compressor so they are not piecing

together the unit. Councilperson Tave asked if it was possible

to wait to get a comparable quote from Bob’s, but it was point-

ed out that the 98 Lakeshore building had already been without

air conditioning for over a week making working conditions

intolerable. Councilperson Stanley motioned to approve the

purchase of a new condenser/compressor unit for the 98

Lakeshore building for an amount not to exceed 8,300, and to

decrease Account 71100-Legal Expenses and increase account

70310-Maintenance Equipment Operations, each by $8,300 in

the end of the year Budget Adjustment Ordinance to cover the

expense. Councilperson Youts seconded the motion, and it

passed unanimously.


El Lago NeighborLine Jeff Tave

Here again is the updated El Lago Neighbor Business Line, a list of

business owners who desire to promote their services to fellow El

Lagoans. The La Ventana in no way endorses these businesses, ra-

ther we are reporting their availability. With that in mind, here is

our current list by type to date. If you are interested in adding your

name/business to the list, please contact Jeff Tave (281-326-5098 or

via email: [email protected]) by September 19 (for the October

issue). The listing fee is $4 per issue or $30 for a full year (9 is-

sues). All fees go towards supporting the operations of your com-

munity newspaper.

Academia

• Borde, Jenny: Alpha-Montessori School (1908 Hialeah), tod-

dlers, pre-school, elementary, summer camp, before/after school.

We match prices. Call 281-474-2222.

Visit <www.alphamontessoriseabrook.com>.

Computers/Networks & Home Automation

• Wohrer, Rob: OutBackRob.Com, Owner & El Lago resident. We

can fix things the Friends & the Geeks can’t. Over 30 years in the

business. We come to you! Call 713-OUT-BACK

CPA

• Coggin, John: John F. Coggin CPA PLLC, El Lago Resident

since 1985. Full service CPA firm offering individual/corp. taxes,

bookkeeping, payroll & monthly financial statements. 713-408-

1318 or www.jcoggincpa.com

Home Improvement

• Lehnertz, Tim: Rugmasters Carpet & Floors, Visit our show-

room at 4903 NASA Parkway (across from Clear Lake Forest).

Family business, 20+ yrs. @ the same location. 281-326-1724.

Realty Services

• Musgrave, Patricia: Edmondson & Associates, will meet all your

real estate needs with excellency, El Lago residence since 1967, 281

-326-5544 (w), 713-206-3375 (cell), 281-326-1763 (h).

Sailing School, Kayaking, Standup Paddleboards

• Coggin, Laurie: All Points of Sail Sailing School and Kayak/

Standup Paddleboard Rentals, On the water @ Pier 1 West

Lakeside Yachting Center. El Lago Resident since 1985. For info,

call 281-532-1518, www.allpointssailing.com.

Classified*Classified*Classified

Join the El Lago Baby-sitting Co-Op. It’s a great way to

exchange baby-sitting at no cost. We just exchange tickets; for

example,two tickets pays for 1 hour of baby-sitting. Plus, we

have monthly kid and parent fun activities. Please join us or call

Peta at (281) 326-1340 for more information.

Join the La Ventana Team! We are looking for an Adver-

tising Director. Call Jeff Tave at (281) 326– 5098.

Need a babysitter? Give Eve a call @ 281-326-2377. For a

responsible, caring babysitter who loves kids.

Will gladly care for your pets. Call Kelly Flanagan (281)

326-3735.

Baby-Sitting 14 year-old who loves kids. Call Alicia (281)

291-0942.

Residential House Cleaning - Thorough & in-depth clean-

ing. Move-outs and make readies; references available. Crystal

Angel Cleaning Service. Call Linda (281)-922-0044 & (713)-

947-8930.

Pet-sitting - For the best pet-sitter, give Skyler a call at

(281) 326-2377.

Baby-sitting: 14 year old, 9th grader at CL High, complet-

ed American Red Cross baby-sitting course. Experienced. Call

Tara Powell at (281) 532-0964.

Baby-sitting: 15 year old teenager experienced with kids.

713-906-4351

Pet-Sitting and Plant Care—Will responsibly care for your

pets or plants while you are away. Give Eve a call at 281-326-

2377.

The Galveston Bay Orchid Society presents its

"Orchids By The Shore" Show and Sale Shirley Brasseaux

The Galveston Bay Orchid Society "Orchids By The Shore"

Show and Sale will be held on September 6 - 7th, 2014 at the

South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center. This is a

SWROGA (Southwest Region Orchid Growers Association)

Show. SWROGA has member societies in Arkansas, Kansas,

Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. The

show times are Saturday, September 6th from 8 AM to 5 PM,

and Sunday, September 7th from 9 AM to 4 PM. The Confer-

ence Center is located at 2500 South Shore Blvd. in

League City, Texas. There will be raffle drawings

and beautiful Orchid displays. We will have many

vendors selling orchids. Admission is Free. Parking

is free. For additional information visit us at <http://

www.galvestonbayorchidsociety.org/> or call 281-

326-2895.

Start Spiffin' - Again El Lago Parks Board

As we said last fall, "According to the dictionary 'SPIF' means to

make attractive, stylish, up-to-date." What needs spiffin? - our

landscapes, that's what. The El Lago Proud Committee is still in

business, and we encourage you to put your neighbors' landscapes

to shame. Many of you did a great job improving your home's vis-

ual attractiveness during last fall's rivalry, and you had an 'El Lago

Proud' sign to prove it. The rest of you are still in competition. Put

in some colorful flowers or foliage, plant more trees and shrub-

bery, group colorful planted containers around your front door -

I'm sure you can come up with plenty of ideas to enhance your

home's curb appeal. Judges will view each street in October, and

the winners will be announced in November. You just might arrive

home some day and find an El Lago Proud sign on your front

lawn. If you have won in the past, you can rest on your laurels for

two years, then you're back in the running - but continue to give

your neighbors a challenge.

P.S. To be sure that the judging is fair, the judges will not be El

Lago residents, so be sure your address

is clearly visible from the street - either

on the curb or close to your entry. If

the judges have to guess at an address,

a possible winning residence will not

be considered. Dust off the sharp-

shooter or trowel and get planting.........


Significant Items from the Minutes of the El Lago City Council Meeting on June 18th Jeff Tave


Mayor’s Comments on the Status of the City – Coming events include the Dive-In Movie on Saturday, June 21st at 7 PM and the 4th of July Parade starting at

9 AM at Ed White Elementary. Also, the city has been contacted by Diana Herrera, our Community Rating System representative with FEMA, and the CAV

inspection has been scheduled for the week of August 11th. This inspection is the next step in improving the City’s CRS rating which should allow for better

insurance rates for homeowners.

Citizens Forum – A resident of Hickory Ridge commented on the Inner Strength exercise class instructor, Denise Cooper, stating that she is exceptionally

good.

City Officials’ Reports

Chief T. Savage to Report on Police Activity in the City - Chief Savage said that he had not yet seen a spike in activity which usually takes place dur-

ing the summer holiday. Police calls for The Dwell Apartments, previously known as Harbor Point, are virtually non-existent. The Speed Sentry placed

at Loch Lake was prevented from getting consistent readings due to many residents’ cars parked on the street.

Emergency Management Coordinator T. Merchant to Report on City Emergency Preparedness – Emergency Management Coordinator Merchant

reminded everyone that it is hurricane season. It is expected to be a light season with only 11 to 12 named storms; 5 to 7 are expected to turn into hurri-

canes and only 2 are expected to become major hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. The City’s mitigation action plan has been submitted to and accepted by

Harris County. The Emergency Management Committee has been busy putting together a product which includes reference manuals, standard operating

procedures, organizational charts, etc. Mr. Merchant said he plans to produce several hard copies of this product and then also place it on the city web-

site. A meeting is being planned for June 30th for recent CERT graduates with the hopes of creating an El Lago CERT Team. Frank Coppola has been

working on putting together an Emergency Operating Center at 98 Lakeshore.

Building Official Aaron Jordon to Report on Recent Building Permit Activity – Building Official Jordon reported that 23 permits have closed since

the last report on April 17th, including the house that burned on Bayou View. Currently there are 34 on-going permits including The Dwell which is

about 50% renovated at this point. A new business is going in between Island Furniture and Maverick Remodeling called the Cut and Color Bar. A per-

mit has been pulled and renovations have begun on the HVAC system at Ed White. Mr. Jordon said that he and the Fire Marshall are beginning the last

of the third inspection visits to the commercial district in the next week.

Workshop Items for Discussion – The following items were discussed but no decisions were made at this time.

Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Process

Ordinance Amending Chapter 11, Article III, Section 11-33(b) of the Code of Ordinances Prohibited Acts, Conditions; Confirming that Dead or Signifi-

cantly Declining Trees are Included Among the Items that Constitute “Objectionable, Unsightly or Unhealthful Vegetation” as Prohibited Therein

Ordinance Amending Chapter 9, Article V, Section 9-80 of the Code of Ordinances, Abandoned or Junked Vehicles; Amending the Definition of Junked

Vehicle

Resolution on Collection of Outstanding Parking Tickets


LPD General Order 200-14 Regarding Leave with and Without Pay – Chief Savage explained to the Council that previously the LPD did not pay an

officer their regular wage when called for jury duty. After an LPD Officer collected data reflecting that most all other local police departments do pay

regular wages when an Officer is called for jury duty, the LPD commission voted to include this benefit which is reflected in General Order 200-14.

Councilperson Stanley motioned and Councilperson Tave seconded approving General Order 200-14 and the motion was approved unanimously.

Ordinance Amending Chapter 11, Article III, Section 11-33(b) of the Code of Ordinances Prohibited Acts, Conditions; Confirming that Dead or

Significantly Declining Trees are Included Among the Items that Constitute “Objectionable, Unsightly or Unhealthful Vegetation” as Prohibited

Therein – Mayor Pro Tem Skelton motioned to approve the Ordinance Amending Chapter 11, Article III, Section 11-33(b) and Councilperson Kumar-

Misir seconded it. Councilperson Tave suggested this ordinance should be amended for safety reasons rather than just visual and so it should state as

much in the preamble. Councilperson Tave motioned and Councilperson Stanley seconded amending the main motion by adding the following as the

third paragraph of the ordinance:"Whereas the City Council desires to protect its citizenry and their property as well as visitors to the city from exposure

to potential hazardous conditions (e.g. falling limbs, branches, or tree trunks) resulting from dead or significantly declining trees." The motion did not

pass; Councilpersons Tave and Stanley voted in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Skelton and Councilperson Kumar-Misir voted against, and Mayor White broke

the tie by voting against. The main motion of approving the ordinance amending Chapter 11, Article III, Section 11-33(b) passed unanimously.

Ordinance Amending Chapter 9, Article V, Section 9-80 of the Code of Ordinances, Abandoned or Junked Vehicles; Amending the Definition of

Junked Vehicle – Councilperson Kumar-Misir motioned and Mayor Pro Tem Skelton seconded approving the Ordinance amending Chapter 9, Article V,

Section 9-80. Councilperson Tave expressed concern about changing the definition in that it might have a negative effect on a hobbyist. Mayor Pro Tem

Skelton stated that the code seems to have ample opportunity for the homeowner to argue their case if they are being negatively affected. The motion

passed with a vote of three in favor and Councilperson Tave voting against.

Resolution Directing the Procedure for the Notification of Outstanding Parking Violations – Mayor Pro Tem Skelton motioned and Councilperson

Stanley seconded approving the Resolution directing the procedure for the Notification of outstanding parking violations. Councilperson Tave stated the

he thought the number of citations for a vehicle to qualify as a scofflaw vehicle and the number of violations before sending a summons to court should

be the same. Councilperson Tave motioned to amend the main motion by changing the number of violations of when a letter or summons is sent from 3

to 5. The motion failed due to the lack of a second. The main motion to approve the Ordinance amending Chapter 9, Article V, Section 9-80 was ap-

proved by a vote of three in favor; Councilperson Tave voted against.

Council Reports

Councilperson Kumar-Misir to Report on LPD Commission Meeting on June 9, 2014

Chairman Gary Bielat reported that they were at the point to issue Chief Savage the list of goals they would like him to achieve.

Chief goal list was presented to Chief Savage

It was mentioned that both mayors had given their support of goals as well as promised to support efforts in next budget.

Warrant was issued for male who threatened to kill his girlfriend, he claimed cartel affiliation

Suspect did not live in area and claimed chest pains when he was apprehended and was allowed to go to hospital, he was discharged from hospital

Chief reported that Officer Robert (Nelson or Smith) in healing properly and is doing rehab. continued on page 10

Continued from page 9

Chief Savage reported he is almost 1/2 way through second stage of Police Grant application

He was not too confident that we would get a large part of that grant

New computer equipment is not installed yet, Officer Howard is in Dallas

Loch Lake Speed Sentry box was not too effective due to their being a lot of cars parked on the road most of the time. Forces drivers to slow down to go

around cars.

Only two speeding violations noted

Sentry is recording even when it does not display speed. Sentry is now on Les Talley

Commission found big disparity between the amount of tickets issued between Officer Newton and Hayward. Chief replied that the type and amount of

tickets depends on what shift they are doing. More speeding during the day and more parking violations during night.

10mph above speed limit is generally industry standard of when an officer writes a speeding ticket but it is at officers’ discretion.

Traffic survey done 30 years ago said the posted speeds in both cities could be 30 MPH

Sargent and Detectives are not held to the same standards as patrolman for writing tickets because they have more things to do.

Officer Beaton was talked to about the small amount of tickets she had written

Police car trackers are working good but only send our signal every 30 seconds

Trackers are used to see if officers are doing their routes and staying in area.

Chief also reported that we are doing well on finances, 8% under budget so far

Each vehicle is on a 5 year rotation

Chief presented new policy to commission on paying officers for Jury Duty, tried to mirror both cities policies as close as he could

Presented standard inter-local agreement to be signed, was signed

Presented COBRA Administration document to be signed, was signed

Chief reported that some of his officers asked when retirement plan will mirror that of other agencies

Chairman Bielat asked for city council help in getting that item in budget

Chief feels rate of reimbursement for education should be based on grade achieved.

Mike O’Brien felt we should just pay a stipulated amount for getting a degree.

Salary survey of local departments is being done by Chief Savage

LPD is close to Kemah and Nassau Bay in personnel size

Had a 3% increase on TML but a 29% increase on workman’s comp due to all the injuries this year.

Other Items Council Would Like to Suggest for Consideration on a Future Council Agenda – Mayor Pro Tem Skelton asked that a call list be established for

making decisions on special events when the Mayor is not present. Councilperson Tave asked that a long range plan be established for major city improve-

ments.

Significant Items from the Minutes of the El Lago City Council Meeting on July 2nd Jeff Tave


Consent Agenda

Councilperson Tave requested that item #1, the Minutes from the June 18, 2014 meeting, be moved off the Consent agenda and so they were moved under

New Business as item D2. Councilperson Tave motioned that remaining items #2 through 5 on the Consent Agenda be approved as presented. Councilperson

Kumar-Misir seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

1.Minutes from the June 18, 2014 City Council Meeting – MOVED TO ITEM D2

2.Texas MultiState Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool Interlocal Agreement

3.Texas MultiState Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool Health Reimbursement Service Agreement for Plan Supervisor

4.Texas MultiState Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool Health Reimbursement Arrangement Plan

5.COBRA Continuation of Coverage Administrative Agreement

New Business to Consider and/or Approve

Texas MultiState Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool Rerate for Employee Insurance for FY2015 – City Secretary Vernon explained that the

increased rates on the re-rate for the next fiscal year were not due to loses by employees of the city, but because of a pool-wide loss. The increased rates

were summarized as a 7% increase in medical coverage and a 3% increase in dental resulting in a total of approximately $60.62 more each month. Coun-

cilperson Kumar-Misir motioned to approve the rerate for FY2015, the motion was seconded by Councilperson Stanley and approved by a vote of five in

favor.

Minutes from the June 18, 2014 City Council Meeting – Councilperson Stanley motioned to approved the minutes for the June 18, 2014 City Council

Meeting and the motion was seconded by Councilperson Kumar-Misir. Councilperson Tave said he wanted to again raise the issue that he is not in favor

of not recording discussions in the minutes during Council workshop sessions. The minutes were approved by a vote of three in favor; Councilperson

Tave voted opposed and Councilperson Youts abstained since he was not present at the June 18, 2014 meeting.

Workshop Session

Items for Review and/or Discussion - The following items were for review and/or discussion only and no motions or decisions were made.

Video Equipment Purchased with PEG Funds

FY2015 City Budget

May FY2014 City Bill

Compile List of Priorities for Planning & Zoning Commission to Consider

Other Items Council Would Like to Suggest for Consideration on a Future Council Agenda - Councilperson Kumar-Misir said that after having been requested

by numerous people, he would like to consider adding some type of dog water fountain system to McNair Park. Mayor Pro Tem Skelton stated that he would

like to make sure budget discussions are kept on the list and he also suggested that the P&Z list of priorities be reviewed at a future meeting. Councilperson

Tave reported that there has been some re-zoning of property around the Repsdorph area which could have repercussions for El Lago possibly necessitating

future discussions for some type of noise abatement such as masonry fencing.


Bay Area Music Teachers And

Gulf Coast Music Association

Present The 2014 Autumn Artist

Pianist Stephen Beus Cindy Kuenneke

Friday, October 17, 2014 at the Clear Lake Presbyterian Church,

1500 El Dorado, Houston, Texas 77062. Concert begins at 7:30

PM. Refreshments served following the Recital. Works by Men-

delssohn, Ronn Yedidia, Samuel Barber & Liszt-Horowitz.

Tickets: Students $8 (any age); Adults $12 For more info, con-

tact Norene Emerson <[email protected]> or 281-286

-5050, or purchase tickets at door.

“Mesmerizing…explosive…intelligent…he belongs on the

world stage” (Salt Lake Tribune). “We had just about given up

hope that America would soon again produce a great native-born

pianist. Then….Stephen Beus stepped onto stage to present a

remarkable performance of one of the most beautiful and diffi-

cult works in the piano literature, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concer-

to No. 3. Beus dived into the titanic difficulties of Rachmani-

noff’s 3rd without breaking a sweat – and what’s more clearly

had an emotional vision that extended beyond just playing the

thousands of notes. He’s lean, tall, and has a disarmingly unas-

suming stage presence – inevitably bringing to mind the young

Van Cliburn.” (Fort Worth Telegram).

In the space of four months, American pianist Stephen Beus won

first prize in the Vendome Prize International Competition

(Lisbon), and he was awarded the Max I. Allen Fellowship of

the Amreican Pianists Association (Indianapolis). As a result of

winning the Juilliard School Concerto Competition, Mr. Beus

made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Juilliard Orchestra and

James DePreist, playing the Prokofiev Concerto No. 3. Equally

active as a soloist, Mr. Beus has given solo recitals across the

United States, as well as in Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Den-

mark, Switzerland, Germany and Morocco.

Mr. Beus was born and raised in eastern Washington. After

showing unusual talent at an early age, Mr. Beus began lessons

at age 5 and made his orchestral debut four years later. He went

on to win numerous national and international competitions

throughout his youth, capturing the attention of both audiences

and critics. Mr. Beus holds degrees from Whitman College and

The Juilliard School, where his teachers have included Leonard

Richter and Robert McDonald. He has recorded on the Endeav-

or Classics and Harmonia Mundi labels. Stephen Beus is a

Steinway Artist. For more details, visit

<www.stephenbeus.com>.


3-D printing coming to Freeman Library Milagros Tanega

Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library now has a

large-format 3-D printer, the Gigabot, created by re:3D, whose

workshop is based near Johnson Space Center. Local engineers

Brian Sande and Jeff Doi have volunteered their time and exper-

tise to develop curriculum for a 3-D printer orientation class,

which will soon be offered free to the public. Individuals will

soon be able to register for orientation and through it will learn

how to use the library’s 3-D printers, either the Gigabot or Mak-

erBot’s Replicator 2. This 3-D printing service is in anticipation

of construction of the Lee Innovation Lab, a community mak-

erspace in the library that will feature a variety of maker activi-

ties and equipment. For more information, please call or visit

the library at 16616 Diana Lane, 77062, 281-488-1906.

Teen September Events @ Freeman Library Milagros Tanega

9/15 Make It! Monday: Engineering Challenge at 4:30 PM - We

provide the challenge and supplies. You provide your ingenuity.

Will your design be the winner?

9/17 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Movie & Craft at 4:30 PM -

Drop into The Zone to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a

movie and themed craft.

9/22 Teen Advisory Board Meeting at 4:30 PM -Let your voice

be heard! Gain leadership experience working with other teens on

special projects and developing teen programming.

9/24 Freeman Teens Read at 4:30 PM -Tell us about everything

new and old! Share your favorite books, songs, movies or TV

shows while enjoying snacks.

9/25 Gamers Unite! at 4:30 PM - Join us in The Zone for tabletop

and video games. Have a favorite game? Feel free to bring it with

you to share.

9/25 Microcontroller Basics at 7 PM at Children’s Activity

Space - Registration starts 9/1. To register go to <http://

bit.ly/1sRrqpr> or call 281-488-1906. Learn the basics of the

Arduino Microcontroller in this free two-part class and find out

how you can design your own interactive devices and experi-

ments. Presented by CreatorSpace member and former NASA

engineer Dave Overland. Sponsored by United Space Alliance.

Registration is required. Ages 16 and up.

Armand Bayou Nature Center News Heather Millar

September 11, 2014 ABNC Volunteer Meeting

Join fellow volunteers at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium. Our pro-

gram starts with a 30 minute social (snacks are available) and

then continues at 7 PM with our speaker, Chariss York present-

ing a WaterSmart Park talk. A brief business meeting follows.

Volunteers and friends are encouraged to attend. Call 281-474-

2551 or visit <http://www.abnc.org> for more information on

how to become a volunteer.

Registration for Fall Volunteer Orientation is Now Being Ac-

cepted

September 13 and 20, 2014, ABNC Volunteer Orientation 9

AM - 12 noon. Open to all potential and current volunteers who

would like a refresher. The 13 will focus on the Forest and the

Bayou and the 20 will focus on Facilities, the Gardens, Prairie

and Farmhouse. These programs will consist of classroom and

outdoor activities. Full details can be obtained from

<[email protected]> or 281-474-2551 x14. If staying for lunch,

bring a brown bag lunch.

Evening Photo Walk at Armand Bayou Nature Center

September 13, 2014 5 - 7 PM. Join us for a sunset photo walk at

Armand bayou Nature Center. This walk will be guided by vol-

unteers who are photographers familiar with ABNC's history,

ecosystems and trails. During the walk, guides will identify flo-

ra and fauna, and give you a new appreciation of the magnifi-

cent scenery and photo opportunities. Registration is required

and there is a charge for this event. Call 281-474-2551 x10 to

make reservations.

"Mission to Marsh" fund raiser for Armand Bayou Nature Cen-

ter

October 4, 2014 is the date to save for an exciting evening at

Armand Bayou Nature Center as we celebrate 40 years in the

area. This event is held at the center including dinner, musical

entertainment and a silent auction. Tables may be reserved by

contacting 281-474-2551.

Prairie Pandemonium at Armand Bayou Nature Center

October 18, 2014 from 8 AM - 12 noon, brings the annual Prai-

rie Pandemonium event to our community. Join other enthusias-

tic volunteer groups and individuals to take part in a mass plant-

ing experience. One of our 700 acres of prairie is mowed in

readiness for planting prairie grasses such as Eastern Gamma

Grass and Swich Grass. Prior registration is required . See the

website or contact Zach <[email protected]> for more infor-

mation.

Water Hyacinth on the Bayou Mark Kramer, Armand Bayou Nature Center

Armand Bayou Coastal Preserve (ABCP) is one

of four Coastal Preserves located in Texas. The

ABCP captures some of the best aquatic habitat

and tidal marsh habitat remaining in Harris Coun-

ty. ABCP is also among the favorite paddling

destinations in the Houston area. For this reason the Texas Parks &

Wildlife Department designated one of the first Paddling Trails in

Texas along ABCP. Osprey, otters, bald eagles and alligators pro-

vide a unique paddling experience located in the most densely popu-

lated county in Texas. The bayou is a thriving estuarine environ-

ment, rich with aquatic life which promotes outdoor urban recrea-

tional activities.

Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) is a not-for-profit corporation

which manages land adjacent to the ABCP and is committed to eco-

system health and the recreational opportunities it provides. For this

reason, we wish to answer some of the questions that are prevalent at

this time concerning the green plants blanketing the waters of Ar-

mand Bayou.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a native of the Amazon

basin in South America. This highly invasive aquatic plant was first

recognized in the Armand Bayou watershed in 1994. Water hyacinth

is a floating plant, and has one of the most rapid growth rates of any

plant on Earth. During ideal growing conditions the plant has

demonstrated the ability to double its surface area every ten days.

Left untreated the plant will totally blanket the water surface. This

complete coverage compromises recreational values and has the po-

tential to cause ecosystem collapse. This level of invasion prohibits

boats from pushing through the material. Additionally the growth

suppresses atmospheric oxygen from diffusing into the water column

creating vast areas of hypoxia and the collapse of aquatic life.

This year has produced far above average rainfall rates which have

lowered salinity levels in the ABCP. These low salinities have pro-

vided very favorable growing environment for water hyacinth which

have now reached their highest population since the plants were first

documented in 1994. The current population expansion poses a sig-

nificant threat to the recreational and ecological values of the water-

way.

For further information on invasive species or on our paddling and

pontoon trips, call 281-474-2551 x10 or visit <http://

www.abnc.org>.

CERT Update Art Richard

Here's an update on our El Lago Community Emergency Response

Team (CERT) Although responding to emergencies in and around our

community is our first priority, it is also of note that we are here to

help out the City of El Lago by assisting at civic functions, large gath-

erings, and other events within our community.

With that said, here is our latest event that we were glad to be of assis-

tance At the request of the Lakeview Police Department (LPD) Chief

Tom Savage and the Mayor of the City of El Lago, Robert White, the

El CERT was called on to assist LPD at Edward H. White Elementary

School and the Bay Area Charter Elementary School due to all the

new students signing up for classes this year. We assisted with crowd

control, answering questions, and giving directions to facilitate the

flow of foot and car traffic in and around the two schools during the

first three hectic days of this school year. This is another fine example

of the CERT team’s involvement in civic assistance as well as their

commitment to being ready to help if there is an emergency in our

community.

Thanks to all our CERT members and LPD for their help!



Adult September Events @ Freeman Library Milagros Tanega

Job Search Skills Series With Workforce Solutions – Thursday at 2 - 4

PM

Register at http://bit.ly/1kXh8Et or call the library at 281-488-1906

9/18 Making the Connections-Networking & Using Social Media

9/25 Interviewing

Creator Space-Monday at 7 PM (9/15, 9/22 & 9/29)

Join us every Monday evening for innovative presentations and demon-

strations by CreatorSpace.

CreatorSpace exists for the purpose of creating a network of resources to

facilitate and inspire the sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas

among its members and the general public. Meetings are free and open to

the public. All levels of experience are welcome. To learn more, go to

<http://creatorspace.org/>.

MWA Retirement Series: Wednesday staring 9/10 - 9/24 at 6:30 - 8 PM

Presented by MWA Advisors, Inc. in cooperation with NAPFA Consum-

er Education Foundation. Gain the confidence needed to make informed

retirement decisions with less stress. Topic varies each week.

9/17 - Social Security, Medicare & Long Term Care Planning

9/24 - Estate Planning for Retirement

Classes are free, open to the public and for educational purposes only.

Register at <http://bit.ly/1sIFikZ>

Family Search -Tuesdays starts Tuesday 9/23 - 10/28 @ 1:30 to 3 PM

Learn from Family Search representatives how to use their free genealo-

gy research, education & tree building site. This class will run for 6

weeks - 1 day a week for 1-1/2 hours. Registration required due to lim-

ited number of computers. Register at <http://bit.ly/1sOAfkX> or call the

library.

Microcontroller Basics 9/25 at 7 PM at Children’s Activity Space

Registration starts 9/1. To register go to <http://bit.ly/1sRrqpr> or call

the library. Learn the basics of the Arduino Microcontroller in this free

two-part class and find out how you can design your own interactive

devices and experiments. Presented by CreatorSpace member and former

NASA engineer Dave Overland. Sponsored by United Space Alliance.

Registration is required. Ages 16 and up.

Small Business Counseling (SCORE) - Tuesdays & Wednesdays by

Appt. only

Get the help you need to grow your business. SCORE Counselors are

available at the library. Call the library or go to <http://bit.ly/1dntyhV>

to schedule your appointment today.

TGIF Series- Friday Mornings @ The Community Room

9/19 - "Geriatric Care & Successful Aging" Andrea Wirt, Nurse Practi-

tioner, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine

of UTMB, will speak to us about health concerns for senior adults as

well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle

9/26 - Friday Film Series - We will be showing a 1995 film set in the

post-World War II California vineyards. This film stars Keanu Reeves,

Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, and Anthony Quinn.

Our next Senior Trips is for Thursday, October 1st at the Sam Houston

Boat Tour | Port of Houston Authority. Registration is free and opens at

10 AM on Tuesday, 9/16. To register call or go to <http://

bit.ly/1mIZQ95>.

On-going Programs - Bookclubs, Writer’s Club

9/25 at 7 PM – Great Books Club, Conference Room

Crafts

9/16, 9/30 Freeman Needlecafters meets starting at 10 AM at the Confer-

ence Room

Computer Classes are offered at Freeman Library

Classes are offered on a variety of topics including computer basics, MS

Office Suite, Internet, and Email and are conducted by Technology

Training Assistant. See our Events Calendar for a list of all computer

classes this month. Find us at <http://bit.ly/1lqCdmF> or call us.

Children's September Events @ Freeman Library Milagros Tanega

Monday, September 15, 22 & 29 - Toddler Time at 11:15 AM

Tuesday, September 16, 23 & 30 - Toddler Time 10:15 & 11:15

AM & Preschool Story time 1:30 PM

Wednesday, September 17 & 24 - Book Babies 10:15 & 11:15

AM & Preschool Story time 1:30 PM

Book Babies

For infants up to 18 months along with a caregiver. The program

is designed so that caregivers, together with the librarians, create

a fun early literacy experience using songs, rhymes, movement,

books and bubbles. Free tickets are available 15 minutes before

each session.

Toddler Time

For children 18 months to 3 years and their parents or caregivers.

This program features books, songs, finger plays, music and

movement free tickets are available 15 minutes before each ses-

sion.

Preschool Storytime

For children 3 to 5 years old. This program is designed for chil-

dren who are ready to sit and listen to stories in addition to enjoy-

ing songs, finger plays and action rhymes. Free tickets are availa-

ble beginning at 1 PM.

Monday Afternoon Activities

At 4:30 PM. Tickets are free. Space is Limited.

Tickets are available 30 minutes prior to programs. For children

age 5 and up.

September 15 Snap Circuits

September 22 Lego Free Play

September 29 Apple Craft

TGIF Senior Adult Trips Program – Registration

for the Port of Houston Authority Sam Houston

Boat Tour | Milagros Tanega

Freeman Library's TGIF Programs and Harris County Pre-

cinct2gether continues its partnership, Senior Adult Trips, in Oc-

tober. People fifty years of age or more are invited to join us on

Thursday, October 1 for a Sam Houston Boat Tour of the Port of

Houston. We will meet and board the Precinct2gether bus at

12:45 PM and take the 2:30 PM boat tour. All boat passengers

will be required to have and show their photo ID's for entry into

the Port of Houston and prior to boarding the boat.

Registration is free and opens at 10 AM on Tuesday, September

16. To make your reservation, please visit or call the 2nd Floor

Reference Desk at the Clear Lake City - County Freeman Branch

Library at 16616 Diana Lane, Houston, TX 77062 or at 281-488-

1906 to register. Space for this Senior Adult Trip is limited.


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