Patricia Thomas, Principal

The next meeting of the Ridgecrest Civic Club will be held on Monday, May 21. We are honored to have Mrs. Patricia Thomas as our speaker for this meeting.

Mrs. Thomas is the Principal at Ridgecrest Elementary School. She has been in that position for seven years and has overseen the school’s move into its beautiful new building. A native Houstonian, Mrs. Thomas earned her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M and completed her Principal’s Certification at the University of Houston.

Ridgecrest Elementary School

As Principal she oversees a staff of 43 classroom teachers, 10 teacher assistants, four office staff, four custodians, eight cafeteria workers, several teacher specialist and two crossing guards. Ridgecrest Civic Club is honored that she is willing to take the time to speak to our group.

After an official governing board vote on April 11 by KIPP Houston leaders, all three parties involved in creating charter campus programs at two Spring Branch ISD middle schools have now given formal approvals to an innovative pair of start-up programs. The partnership between SBISD, KIPP and YES Prep is being called the SKY Partnership for general reference purposes.

In March, the SBISD Board of Trustees approved the granting of campus program charters at Landrum Middle School for KIPP and at Northbrook Middle School for YES Prep. Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., was authorized to negotiate and execute final versions of charter program contracts. YES Prep’s board also approved the program in March.

The SKY Partnership brings new educational choices to families in high-needs areas in SBISD. The partnership is the result of shared dreams, strategic visions and comprehensive planning to give new options to students, provide more charter school options for families who are now on district lottery waiting lists, and better utilize building resources in the district.

For SBISD, a new five year plan known as The Spring Branch Plan, 2012-2017, was a driving force in the partnership and campus program charters.

Said Superintendent Klussmann, “Spring Branch has a very aggressive goal for the future to double the number of students over the next five years who complete some form of higher education – a technical certificate, or two-year associate’s degree, or four-year bachelor’s degree. We need to do everything that we can to develop strong partnerships and provide educational options that allow that to happen.”
“We believe in this partnership and its ability to benefit all our students. We’re able to offer these great experiences to our students by bringing in two proven public charter systems like KIPP and YES Prep, and by combining all three high-performing systems – Spring Branch, KIPP and YES Prep schools. I’m very excited about this new partnership and this innovative approach to providing new alternatives to students within their own home campus,” the Superintendent also said.

Visit the SBISD SKY Partnership Website for more information.

Likely to be sent April 16-25, Voter Registrar Sumners says

HOUSTON – (April 3, 2012) — After months of delay caused by the dispute over redistricting, Harris County voters will be getting their voter registration certificates pretty soon, Don Sumners, the county’s voter registrar said.

“The federal court action appears to be over for now and the party primaries are scheduled for May 29. The court’s deadline for mailing the certificates is April 25. We expect to beat that by several days, perhaps mailing them as early as April 16,” he said.

Normally, in mid January of every even-numbered year, persons registered to vote in Harris County get their new voter certificate in the mail. When the certificates were delayed by the dispute, incorrect rumors began circulating on the Internet.

At that time, Sumners said, “The delay in mailing the registration certificates will not interfere with anyone’s right to vote. I and my Voter Registration Department will support and protect the rights of every qualified voter. We will prepare and mail every certificate as soon as we can after the federal courts decide this case,” Sumners said.

The certificates – yellow and white – will get a workout in May. In addition to the May 29 primaries, there is a Limited Uniform Election on May 12, with early voting beginning April 30. The last day to register in time to vote in that election is April 12.

Many jurisdictions have elections scheduled that day, including the cities of Deer Park, Galena Park, Katy and Tomball, school districts such as Clear Creek and Spring Branch, and a host of emergency service and municipal utility districts.

The last day to register in time to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary is April 30. Early voting starts May 14. Each party will be choosing candidates for a range of offices, from constable to president of the United States.

For more information, see http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/2012dates.shtml

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Joe Abbate was 96 years old. He passed away April 3, 2012, and is survived by his wife Rosemary Abbate. Joe was a long time resident of Ridgecrest and was very active in the civic club.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 5,2012, at Woodlawn Funeral Home from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 6:30 PM. Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Friday, April 6,2012 at Woodlawn Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Garden of Memories.

Obituary was in the morning paper, Thursday April 5, 2012.

Note: was told by the funeral director the family is planning on a luncheon after the funeral at Terrace Methodist Church. Ridgecrest has contacted the family to help with the food.

Our prayers go out to this family in their time of need.

Woodlawn Funeral Home
1101 Antoine 713-682-3663
www.woodlawnfh.com

Three Minutes with the Mayor in Spring Branch

Mayor Annise Parker understands that many Houstonians are unable to bring their questions and concerns to her personally, so she is coming to you. After her first successful stop in February 2012, the Mayor is taking her quarterly Three Minutes with the Mayor neighborhood office hours on the road again to Spring Branch Saturday, April 14, 2012, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Hillendahl Neighborhood Library, 2436 Gessner Road, Houston 77080.

Three Minutes with the Mayor offers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the mayor on a first-come first-served basis. It is recommended that attendees prepare ahead as each conversation will be limited to no more than three minutes.

For more information, call or email the Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance office at 713.803.1062 or ruben.vela@houstontx.gov.

Al Wortham passed away on March 21, 2012, and we just found out about it today in the newspaper.  Al is the one that started our esplanades for us.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Memorial Church of Christ, 900 Echo Lane, Houston, Texas 77024. Interment will follow at 11:45 at Woodlawn Garden of Memories.

In lieu of flowers it is requested donations be sent to World Bible School at http://www.worldbibleschool.net/give-to-wbs

PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA

Hosted By:
COUNCIL MEMBER HELENA BROWN
DISTRICT A

Spring Woods High School
2045 Gessner Drive
Houston, TX 77080

Date: Tuesday-February 28, 2012
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Council Member Helena Brown/Mayor Annise D. Parker
Council Member Brown will arrive early to visit with constituents
Please come prepaired to submit CIP ideas

REBUILD HOUSTON UPDATE
Department of Public Works Representative

OVERVIEW OF C.I.P. PROCESS & CIP PROJECTS STATUS
Finance Department Representative (Process)
Public Works Department Representative (Status)
General Services Department Representative (Status)

CONSTITUENT SUGGESTIONS AND QUESTIONS
Department Representative respond

This series of public input meetings has been corrdinated by the Citizens’ Assistance Office Department of Neighborhoods

An important date is coming up. On March 19, the Civic Club will be honored by the appearance of Mr. Luis Pratts, Principal of Landrum Middle School. Mr. Pratts has graciously accepted the request that he speak to the group on that date.
Mr. Luis Pratts Mr. Pratts has been principal at Landrum for five years and he has many interesting stories to tell about the school. The school has the technology that allows the students to visit with students from other states and other countries and he can explain some of the projects they have done in Social Studies with that capability.

Another interesting development that we will all want to hear more about is that Landrum will contain a KIPP school within the school next year. Funding for this exciting program is provided by Bill Gates and it is a real coupe for this area to get this program.

Mark this date on your calendar now for this must-attend meeting. If you have questions for Mr. Pratts, he will be able to address them after his presentation. See you there.

Update: More Chapter 42 information located here

The City of Houston Planning Commission is holding four (4) public meetings on the proposed changes to the City’s Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 42. The public is invited to attend any of the meetings and learn what these changes will mean for their community. The proposed ordinance can be found on the Planning Department’s website, www.houstonplanning.com under Development Regulations.

All meetings are from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The meetings are:

Monday, February 13
Sunnyside Multi-Service Center
4605 Wilmington
Houston, TX 77051

Thursday, February 23
Northeast Multi-Service Center
9720 Spaulding
Houston, TX 77016

Thursday, March 1
Sharpstown Community Center
6600 Harbor Town Drive
Houston, TX 77036

Thursday, March 8
Trini Mendenhall SOSA Community Center
1414 Wirt
Houston, TX 77055

Amendments to Chapter 42 will address the following topics:

• Average lot size/lot width in new subdivision plats
• Creation of guest parking for certain single-family residential units
• Redefining the width and length of shared driveway developments
• Requiring sign posting in residential subdivisions w/certain reserves
• Establishing a protocol on naming of partial replats
• Extending the Urban Area beyond the 610 Loop to the Beltway
• Building line overhangs encroach 30 inches, five foot for outside stairs
• Require surveyed site plans for single-family residential plats
• Resolve the conflict between Chapter 42 and the Design Manual for Lift Station Sites

These ordinance amendments will also result in changes to the Building Code and PWE Infrastructure design manual.

The primary reasons to expand the urban area out to the Beltway are to allow for obsolete commercial and multi-family areas to be redeveloped and to provide a variety of housing styles and prices for close-in housing. Neighborhoods with deed restrictions that prevent the further subdividing of lots, establish minimum lot size and restrict to single family residential uses are not impacted by this provision.

With areas outside the city limits continuing to develop and build affordable housing, there is a concern for the loss of middle income families and neighborhoods. In order to remain competitive with the far suburbs, we have to create additional products that compensate for higher land prices and other impediments.

Dear Ridgecrest Residents:

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for all the many, many things you are doing to make our community recognized by other civic clubs within Spring Branch.
I was at a meeting, Spring Branch East Super Neighborhoods, last month and the discussion came up about the improvements the various civic clubs in Spring Branch had made. One of the persons in attendance said “The Ridgecrest Civic Club is to be commended for the terrific improvement of Hammerly”. “It is remarkable to see how the residents have made the driveways larger to accommodate the “Cars in the Yards Program” as well as the nice brick driveways and planters”. “Doris, you have done a great job!” I said “thanks, but I did not do the work, the residents of Hammerly did the work”. We must always give credit where credit is due.
As we all know, our most important project, for all of us, is the Deed Restriction Project. Weldon Tiedt, Alma West and I will be meeting shortly with an attorney to get his opinion as to what the best way for us to go. Do we keep 8 separate deed restrictions, or do we do 1 deed restriction for all of Ridgecrest. For the newcomers, and perhaps some that have lived in Ridgecrest for awhile, Ridgecrest is make up of 8 different sections, each having a different set of deed restrictions. For the most part, they are pretty much alike, except for perhaps a sentence or two.
As soon as we meet and get the attorney’s opinion, we will call a “community meeting” and we will all meet and discuss our findings.
This will be the MOST IMPORTANT MEETING you will ever attend in perhaps your lifetime. Decisions will be made in regards to what can happen to your property now and in the future.

Please plan on attending this meeting.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Doris Hinson-President