Around the Neighborhood

Listed below are scheduled closures associated with the IH 610/US 290 interchange construction project, as of January 20, 2012.

Existing Closures:

– IH 610 NORTH LOOP eastbound frontage road from TC JESTER to ELLA, two inside lanes remain closed through March 1, 2012.

– IH 610 NORTH LOOP eastbound frontage road U-turn at W. T C JESTER BLVD. is closed until further notice. Traffic will detour through the signalized intersection.

– IH 610 NORTH LOOP westbound frontage road from ELLA TO DIRECTORS ROW, two outside lanes remain closed through March 1, 2012.

– IH 610 NORTH LOOP westbound frontage road from SHEPHERD to ELLA, one outside lane remains closed through March 1, 2012.

– IH 610 NORTH LOOP westbound entrance ramp from W. T C JESTER BLVD. is closed through October 30, 2012.  To access IH 610, detour on the frontage road to US 290 and U-turn at Dacoma, to the eastbound frontage to 18th Street, to the IH 610 southbound entrance ramp.  To access US 290, detour on the frontage road to US 290 westbound, and continue to the US 290 entrance ramp from Mangum.

– IH 610 NORTH LOOP east- and westbound frontage road at ELLA, the U-turns remain closed through March 1, 2012. Traffic will detour through the signalized intersection.

The White Oak Bayou Hike and Bike Trail along TC JESTER underneath IH 610 NORTH LOOP is closed through fall 2013. Pedestrians will have access to the sidewalk on E. T.C. Jester.  The signed detour for northbound bike trail is: Ella northbound to 34th Street, westbound to E. T.C. Jester.  Southbound bike trail detour: 34th Street eastbound to Ella and southbound to E. T.C. Jester.

US 290

– US 290 eastbound frontage road from 34th STREET to 18th STREET is reduced to one lane through April 1, 2012.

-US 290 eastbound ramp to IH 610 NORTH LOOP eastbound will have one lane on the ramp closed through July 1, 2012.

– 18th STREET westbound underneath IH 610 WEST LOOP, one lane is closed through Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

UPCOMING TOTAL CLOSURES

TOTAL Closure Alert – E. T.C. JESTER north- and southbound underneath IH 610 NORTH LOOP will be closed Friday, January 27 at 9 p.m. through 5 a.m., Monday, January 30.  Crews will begin demolishing a portion of the IH 610 mainlanes.

TOTAL Closure Alert – W. T.C. JESTER north- and southbound underneath IH 610 NORTH LOOP will be closed Friday, February 3 at 9 p.m. through 5 a.m., Monday, February 6.  Crews will continue demolishing a portion of the IH 610 mainlanes.

Stay tuned for more information and detour routes.

Please use caution while driving in work zones.  Note that all closures are subject to change. For more information on the US 290 Program, including up-to-date information regarding lane closures, please visit the US 290 Program website at www.my290.com or contact the US 290 Public Information Office at 1-866-958-7290.   For a complete listing of TxDOT lane closures on US 290 and in the greater Houston area, please visit www.houstontranstar.org.

Follow us on Twitter @my290houston.

http://us290houston.newsrouter.com

The year 2011 brought the major transformation of Jaycee Park.  We saw the installation of a beautiful new playground and the very popular H.E.B. Water Playground.  A once under-utilized and “shady” park, that was mostly avoided by the neighborhood, is now thriving with young families from all the surrounding neighborhoods.   With the increased traffic from families and individuals,  we have seen the disappearance of the once very prevalent undesirable element and the blossoming of a fun family neighborhood park.  This year will see the completion of all the major projects at Jaycee Park.

Maintaining our investment in Jaycee Park is important, so if you would like to see the maintenance of this park continue into the future, consider volunteering to host an event for the park or to lead a committee to maintain the park (trash clean up, splash pad cleaning, tennis coordinator, trees and plants) . If you are interested in helping with any aspect of Jaycee Park let us know–especially if you could lead a committee.

The new and improved Jaycee Park is proof of what can be accomplished when a group of individuals step up to lead and a community pulls together and works toward a common goal. Great job everyone!

Trees
Jaycee Park has been selected by Trees for Houston as one of a few parks to be the first to a receive a special treatment for the trees that will help increase their chance of survival from the damage caused by the drought.  We were selected based on the efforts the Friends of Jaycee Park has made to take care of the trees at the park since the first planting two years ago.  It is truly an honor to be recognized in this way and is a tribute to those in the community that have given their time (and sweat) to make this project as successful and worthy as it has grown to be.     We are grateful to Trees for Houston for supporting our efforts since the very beginning of this park project.  They have been there to answer tree questions, donate trees, plant trees and even showed up to shovel mulch with us.  If you feel helpless when you see so many of Houston’s beautiful trees dying, consider supporting Trees for Houston’s efforts to save them by making a donation to tree maintenance (it takes $75 to water a tree for one year).  www.treesforhouston.org.

Trail Completed
Thanks to a generous grant from the Kinder Foundation, the .4 mile trail is now complete.  It winds around the perimeter of the entire park and is out of the way of the busy traffic on Seamist and Grovewood.  Eventually, it will even feature several pieces of exercise equipment!

Basketball Court
The Mendenhall Foundation sponsored the renovation of the basketball court, which is now complete apart from awaiting the installation of the post and goals as well as the painting of the lines.  These should be complete any day. The new design features an oval court and a center goal with two half courts.

Tennis Courts
The tennis court renovation is funded! We received grants from Houston Tennis Association, United States Tennis Association-Texas, and we are awaiting the response from United States Tennis Association-National for a grant, which we feel we have a very good chance to receive.  The completed courts will feature: new smooth tennis court surfacing (no more grooves from where tiles once where), real nets (no more chain link fence nets), completed fencing, and wind screening.  The most exciting change will be the inclusion of 2 permanent Quick Start courts for kids on the practice court (making the practice courts dual purpose) http://www.tennisforlife.net/QST.html. These permanent QuickStart courts will be the first ones at a City of Houston park! The Houston Parks & Recreation Department will also offer FREE tennis lessons for kids through their Tennis in the Parks summer program!  We will forward the schedule when it is out.

Forming a junior tennis league in the neighborhood is the next step.  If this is something that you would like to make happen, please let us know and we can put you in touch with the right people (here is an opportunity for you neighborhood tennis pros or those with knowledge of the game to help out!).  Without someone to lead it, the team will not be formed.  If the team is formed, you will also have an opportunity to name it (Timbergrove Tennis Team?).

Thanks!
Thank you to those of you that have planted trees, spread mulch, watered trees (Ben), attended events, made donations, picked up trash while at the park, made calls to help enforce park rules, brought snacks for volunteers and to those that have taken the time to thank the volunteers and many organizations that have helped make this amazing park transformation become a reality.  We would especially like to thank Cheryl Erickson, Darlene Wayt, and Ben Crabb for contributing so much of their time to this project in different capacities over the last 2 1/2 years, as well as the many organizations that have partnered with us to make this project a success, particularly Houston Parks Board and Houston Parks & Recreation Department.

– By Birgitt Haderlein Owner of To Fit You, Wellness coach/Fitness Consultant

Happy New You! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season with family and friends. It is that time of year when we reflect on what worked and how to improve the areas that we didn’t get to. That is what goal setting is all about. You will take side trips and maybe what you thought the focus was last year changed and you went another direction. Don’t beat yourself up. Use what you learned and ask yourself how you can apply this to an area you need improvement in.

Having said that I hope most of you were able to stick to an exercise program regardless of the busy season. I know what some of you might be thinking. I didn’t do enough or who had the time. Regardless of your experience I hope you took care of yourself the best you could.

So one of my new years resolutions is to obsess on the good. So when my mind wonders to the negative or worst case scenario I start shifting the focus to what the best outcome can be. I am a work in progress and will commit to my well-being.

You have a clean slate with a brand new year spread out in front of you, filled with endless possibilities.

How will you harness your potential to be the very best you in 2012?

I recommend using the teachings of Dr. Maxwell Maltz in his legendary book ‘The New Psycho-Cybernetics’.

Dr. Maltz created the original science of self improvement and success. So who better to turn to when you’re ready to take your life to another level. His teachings have stood the test of time.

Take the following and get all that you want out of 2012:

1. Use Your Imagination
   If you thought that imaginations were only valued in preschool, think again. One of the key points in ‘The New Psycho-Cybernetics’ is the technique of using your imagination to reprogram and manage your self image.

   You may have been exposed to self improvement strategies that tell you to ‘act as if’ or to ‘fake it till you make it.’  Those typically don’t work because your self image is still the same.

   According to Dr. Maltz, your self image is the key to changing your actions and habits. If you want to lose 50 pounds, you first have to think of yourself as someone 50 pounds lighter.

   Spend time in your imagination. See yourself 50 pounds lighter. Experience a day in your life at this slimmed down size. Imagine everything down to the smallest detail.

   According to Dr. Maltz, this imagination time will begin to change your self image to that of a person 50 pounds lighter, and your actions and habits will fall into place.

2. Reject Negative Thoughts
   Negative thoughts will undoubtedly arise as you use your imagination to see your ideal self. “I’m not really going to lose 50 pounds.” “I’ve tried losing weight before and it never works. I’m always going to be overweight.” “This imagination stuff is bogus. It won’t work for me.”

   Dr. Maltz says that the instant you receive a negative thought simply dismiss it. Don’t spend any time on it at all.

   The quicker that you dismiss negative thoughts, the less impact they will have on your self image. Also you’ll find that fewer and fewer negative thoughts arise once you get into the habit of dismissal.

3. Be Nostalgic For The Future
   It’s so easy to be nostalgic for the past, especially when you only remember the good stuff. But what good does it do for you to wish for things that are long gone?

   Dr. Maltz recommends developing nostalgia for the future.

   In your imagination you’ve already lost the 50 pounds, so start pining for the future! Your self image will lock onto that picture and your nostalgic feelings will fuel the fire.

4. I’m The Kind Of Person That…
   What kind of person are you?
   I’m the kind of person that loves sweets.
   I’m the kind of person that hates exercise.
   I’m the kind of person that can’t lose weight.

   OR

   I’m the kind of person that eats fresh and healthy food.
   I’m the kind of person that keeps fit.
   I’m the kind of person that maintains an ideal body weight.

Your self image will fulfill any label that you put on yourself. The power is all in your hands.

What kind of a person do you want to be in 2012 it is closer than you think? If you are stuck and need some accountability call me at 713.410.3376 to coach you in the direction you want to explore. You can start today by signing up for one of my  fitness classes listed below.

2012 Strengthening and Walk fitness class. (Six weeks)
February 8
April 25
July 11
September 19

Gift certificates available and more information can be found at www.tofityou.com

The judges the Lazybrook Holiday Lights this year were Melodie Matlock and long time Lazybrook resident Lillian Blinka.  We offer Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to get their holiday lights out this year. There were many more lights in Lazybrook than in recent years and it was a wondrous sight to see. I hope everyone in the neighborhood had an opportunity to drive by and enjoy them.

Happy New Year!

Winners:

Prettiest 2406 Brookmere Best Front Door 2403 Brooktree Most Religious 2314 Brooktree Best Block 1800 Widdicomb Best Santa 1822 Watercrest

Best Nativity 2007 Greengrass Best Use of a Cartoon Character 1719 Guese Most Patriotic 1830 Crystal Ct. Most Childlike 1827 Salford Most Creative 2314 Lazybrook

Best Animation 2507 T.C.  Jester Best Lights in Motion 1802 Widdecomb Best Single Color 1822 Greengrass Honorable Mention 1814 Haverhill Honorable Mention 1822 Foxwood

HOUSTON, October 4, 2011 – Mayor Parker and the Houston City Council officially recognized the Lazybrook/Timbergrove Super Neighborhood Council. They successfully completed all the preliminary steps, which include gathering diverse stakeholder representation, creating an organizational structure and drafting by-laws. There are 57 recognized super neighborhood councils.

“With the creation of the first Lazybrook/Timbergrove Super Neighborhood Council, the hard work of numerous stakeholder representatives has paid off,” said Bill Morfey, president of the Super Neighborhood. “The stakeholders within the greater Lazybrook/Timbergove area are excited to employ the council framework to advance their common interests and tackle their common problems.”

At the recognition ceremony, the council was introduced to their city liaison. The liaison helps the council with their super neighborhood action plan, which identifies and prioritizes improvement projects, and helps the council shepherd priority projects through the appropriate city processes. Lazybrook/Timbergrove’s liaison is Ruben Vela in the Citizens Assistance Office.

“We appreciate the effort and talent the city of Houston supplied Lazybrook Civic Club to help in the organization of our Lazybrook/Timbergrove super neighborhood council to bring our combined neighborhood’s ideas to the city,” said Shane Davis, president of the Lazybrook Civic Club.

Lazybrook and Timbergrove are deed-restricted subdivisions located along the wooded banks of White Oak Bayou in the near northwest quadrant of the city. The Lazybrook/Timbergrove super neighborhood offer close-in housing in attractive settings. The area also includes the Brookhollow Business Park located along both sides of Loop 610 North and west toward Highway 290.

Super neighborhoods offer a great way for neighborhoods to implement projects and plan for the future of their area. For more information about the Super Neighborhood Initiative, call the Planning and Development Department at (713) 837-7701 or go to www.houstonplanning.com.