The City of Seabrook’s
e-Update June 2010 Volume 2, Issue 6
From the Mayor’s Desk: Time to Prepare for Hurricane Season… Again! The City of Seabrook is prepared for the next hurricane; are you prepared? The City reviews the checklists annually to ensure that the training is complete, looks for improvement opportunities and, lastly, hopes that we do not have to use the plan. Our citizens should do the same thing. Each year we all should review our last year’s plan and look for opportunities to improve it. Since many of you did not have the opportunity to attend the city’s annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop, I thought I would discuss two important areas for our hurricane plans. These are: communication and preparation. The most important communication tool our city has is our Blackboard Connect-CTY Emergency Notification System! (Blackboard) Connect-CTY is a free service to residents that provides emergency information via voice messages and emails. Residents who sign up get important information on storm preparation and evacuation and when it is safe to return. Other important messages regarding boiling water or FEMA or Red Cross locations were updated frequently after Ike. Residents can register up to a total of three phone numbers: business, home phone or cell phones. You may also register up to two email addresses. Realize that after a storm your cell phone may be the best way to get information, so registering your cell phone is the best way to get emergency information post-hurricane. Communicating any special needs is important for hurricane evacuation planning. By calling 2-1-1 in advance of hurricane evacuation, a resident who is not able to evacuate themselves can obtain assistance. This can be critical for our disabled and elderly residents. So, even if you do not need help, make sure you look after your neighbors so they are not looking for help at the last minute.
From the Mayor’s Desk, continued: In addition to the Connect-CTY notification system, residents can get emergency information via several other ways. After a hurricane, call 281-291-5712 for a prerecorded message. Also, KTRH 740 AM is the official radio station for emergency communications. However, I would take information from the radio or TV with some caution, as during Ike the stations did not always differentiate between Houston and the small cities in the Bay Area. Verifying information heard from the media is best done by going to the home page for the City’s website, www.ci.seabrook.tx.us if you have access to a computer and power. Hurricane preparation checklists can be found on many websites, including in the Hurricane Workshop Presentation on the City’s website. Residents are encouraged to do the following: •Prepare a kit of essential food, drugs and important papers, •Plan essential elements ahead of time like what to do, where and when to go, house preparation needs, and informing family and friends of plans, and lastly, •Staying informed using information from Connect-CTY, the city website and local media. This year’s hurricane planning presentation by Jeff Galyean, our Emergency Management Coordinator, from the May 11 workshop can be found on the city website under the Emergency Management tab. Make sure you take the care to prepare yourself and your family. We hope that we are able to enjoy a hurricane- free season, but we know from Ike that we have to be prepared! Mayor Gary Renola
The City of Seabrook was recently recognized for its outstanding financial transparency. In December 2009, the Comptroller of Public Accounts launched the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle program to recognize local governments across Texas that are striving to meet a high standard of financial transparency online. Local governments are spotlighted that are: •Opening their books to the public •Providing clear, consistent pictures of spending •Sharing information in a user-friendly format Following a scoring process, local governments are awarded their Circle Award level (Gold, Silver or Bronze) based upon the amount and format of information provided to the public via the government's website. The "Gold" Award level highlights those entities that are setting the bar in their transparency efforts. On May 3, 2010, the Texas Comptroller’s office notified the City of Seabrook that it had been awarded the “Gold” Leadership Circle Award by earning the highest number of points, 15 out of 15, for its financial transparency. You can view the City’s budgets, financial reports and check registers at www.ci.seabrook.tx.us under the News and Information section.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary will present Boating Safely Classes at the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Dept. on July 17 and Sept. 18. Topics include Equipment for Your Boat, Trailering Your Boat, Handling Your Boat, Your "Highway" Signs, and Knots and Lines. Contact Penny Williams at 713-351-8286 or Fred Steves, 713-351-8202 or fsteves@myronsteves.com for more information.
Evelyn Meador Library Summer Activities for Children Schedule: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. - Story time at Seabrook Community House Mondays, 10:30 a.m. – Story time at Bay Elementary through June & July except for July 5. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – Story time at Ed White Elementary through June & July except for June 3 and July 29. June 4 - Summer Reading Program Begins. Start signing up today at your school library or the Freeman or La Porte libraries. June 7, 3 p.m. - Julian Franklin Magician at Seabrook Community House June 15, 2-4 p.m. - Library Birthday Party with Happy the Clown at Seabrook Community House June 21, 12:30 p.m. - Button/Pin Craft at Seabrook Community House June 28, 10:30 a.m. - Saltgrass Science Dragonfly Program at Bay Elementary
Evelyn Meador Library Summer Activities for Children Schedule, continued: July 7, 12:30 p.m. - Bead Craft at Seabrook Community House July 8, 10:30 a.m. - Saltgrass Science Hidden Life in our Soil Program at Ed White Elementary July 12, 2-4 p.m. - Petting Zoo at Seabrook Community House July 22 - (Free) Library Night at Farpoint Theatre's Snow White, Seabrook Community House. Reception at 6:30 p.m. and show at 7 p.m. July 26, 3 p.m. - Mad Hatter Stories at Seabrook Community House July 26, 3 p.m. – Annual Variety Show by the Library Staff at the Community House. August 7 p.m. - Summer Reading Program ends.
KID’S JULY 4TH PARADE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JULY 3. Children are invited to participate in our Independence Day Parade on July 3rd. Come by Meador Park by 9:45 a.m. on July 3rd dressed in red, white and blue or in your Scout or baseball uniforms. The parade will follow the trail around Meador Park . After the Parade there will be face painting, a moon walk, a hayride, and water balloons. Mayor Renola will be cooking hotdogs for everyone and there will be drawings for prizes. Also, everyone will receive a pool pass good for that day only. Don’t miss out! Mark your calendars for this event.
2010 City Pool Hours Pool Hours are: Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The City Pool will not be open July 4th.
The Farpoint Theatre is proud to present its tenth Dramatist Academy. This community project is dedicated to bringing safe, quality dramatic education to children five years old and up. We emphasize confidence building activities, problem solving skills and communication enhancement techniques, all designed to promote self confidence, awareness, creativity and appreciation for fine arts. This year the Dramatist Academy will be conducted at the Seabrook Community House. Our Summer Drama Production will be an original adaptation of Snow White. The workshop and rehearsal schedule for the Summer Play will be Monday through Friday afternoons from 3PM to 6PM. Go to www.Farpointtheatre.org for details. PERFORMANCE WILL BE THURSDAY JULY 15 THROUGH SUNDAY JULY 25. Cost is $150 per student.
It's Great To Volunteer! Are you a resident of the Seabrook or El Lago and are interested in volunteering a few hours a month in support of your community? We are looking for volunteers. No experience or prior training is required; we provide all the required training. If you are not interested in firefighting activities, we also need volunteers in many different areas of our department. If you have a desire to help, we can find a place for you. Examples include: apparatus operators, marine operations, office and computer support, building, equipment, and apparatus maintenance, special event planning, and public relations. If you are interested, please stop by Station One located at 1850 East Meyer Road in Seabrook on any Monday night at 7:00 PM during which we host our regular Department activities. We look forward to meeting with you and hope to see you there.
PICNIC BY THE GAZEBO Sponsored by the Seabrook Community Events Committee Come enjoy music and fireworks by Galveston Bay on Friday, June 11 at the gazebo on 2nd Street in Seabrook. The City of Seabrook will hold a free concert by Janet Z beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:30. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own refreshments, blankets and chairs.
Your Recycling Service Day is either Wednesday (west of Highway 146) or Thursday (east of Highway 146) depending on your address. What Items Can We Recycle? Newspapers only – no phone books, mail or other papers. Glass bottles and jars – all colors may be mixed together. It’s not necessary to remove labels, but please remove all metal caps, rings and lids. Aluminum cans – beverage cans only. It’s unnecessary to crush the cans, but it will save room in your containers. Steel cans – rinse cans but there is no need to remove ends or labels. Steel lids from glass or plastic (continued) jars are recyclable too. No scrap metal. Plastic – only clear plastic milk, juice or water bottles. All caps and rings must be removed; paper labels may be left on. No Colored plastic.
Click here to watch our YouTube Video of Historic Seabrook.
The End