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Get ready for the annual ice cream social, updates on the local parks, Southwaste expansion effort and more.
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Annual Independence Day Ice Cream Social Will Bring Patriotic Festivities to Jaycee Park
JULY 2014 TIMBERGROVE MANOR CIVIC CLUB ○ PO BOX 70977 ○ HOUSTON, TX 77270-0977 WWW.TIMBERGROVE.ORG
Read about the newest developments in the proposed Southwaste Disposal expansion.
Nuisance BarkingSometimes our four-legged friends just can’t seem to keep their mouths closed. Find out what to do when the dog next door becomes a headache.
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The Timbergram
Mark your calendars for July 4th at 4:00 p.m. Before the fireworks go off downtown, Timbergrove residents will be cooling down in Jaycee Park with sweet treats from Amy’s Ice Cream - thanks to the generosity of event sponsor Sharon Ettinger of Keller Williams Metropolitan Realty.
After you make your own ice cream sundae, join in the kids and pets parade at 4:45 p.m. Last year’s festivities brought decorated bikes, wagons, trikes, scooters and strollers. Residents of all ages - and their adorable furry friends - adorned themselves in patriotic garb.
The TMCC stars and stripes festivities wouldn’t be complete without a tour of the firetruck from the Seamist Fire Station. It’s a great chance to meet the first responders who care for our neighborhood - and imagine the thrill of
r o a r i n g t h r o u g h t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d , s i r e n s blaring!
As if the fun and camaraderie of the day isn’t enough of a reason to join the party, sponsor Sharon Ettinger is hosting a generous $500 raffle on site. Don’t miss your chance to win!
save the date
General MeetingTuesday, September 9, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Sinclair Elementary School
Our speaker will be Abby Taylor
principal of Sinclair Elementary School
Just a friendly reminder: the next Timbergrove Manor Civic Club’s regular general membership meeting will be in September. TMCC holds a general meeting five times per year: mark your calendar now for the second Tuesday of January, March, May, September and November.
Traces of Timbergrove
Recipe submitted by Angie Greak
Former TMCC President and Pineshade Ln. block captain Angie Greak is leaving Timbergrove. On top of everything else she’s done for our community over the years, Angie is now sharing a sweetly named variation on traditional meat loaf, perfect for your next fast, healthy dinner.
Love Loaf
Naturally Good:Fast Food from Your Kitchen
✤ 1 lb ground turkey✤ ½ bag of frozen mixed
veggies✤ 1 cup Panko crumbs
(prefer flavored)
✤ 1 egg, slightly scrambled✤ 2 t s p o f d r y Ca jun
seasoning✤ ¼ cup milk
1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Shape into the outline of a heart.
3. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until no longer pink.
Submit your fast, tasty, healthy recipes for the next edition of “Naturally Good”. Email your favorites to
Like much of Houston, Timbergrove Manor is a neighborhood steeped in a rich history. From it’s original settlement by German farmers in the late 1800s to the abundant “Eureka” oil discovery in the 1930s, there is a wealth of cultural history among our streets and homes. When Timbergrove Manor was developed in the 1950s, it was named for the bountiful pine trees sheltering the houses.
Though much has changed since the neighborhood first developed, the care with which neighbors treat each other, their homes and our streets remains remarkably similar. In a new Timbergram feature, we’ll highlight moments from Timbergrove’s past as told through photos and stories of yesteryear.
Special thanks to former Timbergrove resident Chris Daigle whose dedicated research has inspired this column. Hopefully his fun submission at left will inspire you to send your own pictures and memories of Timbergrove past to [email protected] or by mail to 6310 Pineshade Ln.
Long time Timbergrove resident Chris Daigle sends this memory of his days in section six, at Wister and Shelterwood, November 20, 1968. Pictured are Suzanne Daigle, Michael Williams, and Chris Daigle, all age 10 - 11 at the time. “Along with the cool fall air, we had Scwinn bicycles and three channel televisions,” reports Daigle. This corner is now the site of West 11th Street Park.
By Lorraine Cherry, TMCC Environmental Chair
A t t h e r e q u e s t o f S t a t e Representative Sarah Davis, who has worked closely with us on the Southwaste Disposal issue, a special meeting was called to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information between Southwaste Disposal and members of the surrounding community. The meeting was held on Wednesday, May 21, at Kojak’s Café on West 18th Street. Attendees included Representative Davis, two executives from Southwaste, Mr. Mark Nini (a local businessman and owner of property adjacent to the Southwaste site), representatives from the TMCC board of directors and the Super neighborhood 14 board of directors, and residents from the surrounding area.
Mr. Tim Cox, vice-president of operations at Southwaste, reported that they were going to apply to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for permission to begin the odor mitigation process now, as a separate project from the plant expansion. He described the new construction and equipment that would be needed to control the major sources of odor. He admitted that the current site is extremely small for this type of operation, and predicted that a new site would have to be sought in the future, perhaps 5 years down the road. A member of the audience asked why they didn’t relocate now, rather than spending money on refurbishing a plant that they planned to
leave within a few years. M r . C o x said that a re l oca t i on h a d b e e n d i s c u s s e d and decided against. He a l s o s a i d t h a t Southwaste would not c o n s i d e r withdrawing their current application.
C o m m e n t s from attendees focused on three main points, about which there appeared to be some consensus:
1. Since we have been provided with no good information about the efficacy of the proposed odor abatement activities, we would not be willing to withdraw opposition to the expansion until we had some assurance that the odor abatement would be successful.
2. We felt that the current site for Southwaste was totally inappropriate, and that they should consider moving now, rather than in 5 years.
3. The timelines that Southwaste was proposing for new construction and potential relocation of the facility did not make good business sense.
As of the first week in June, the TCEQ has not yet finished technical review of the Southwaste expansion proposal. When that happens, if the ruling is positive, there will be an opportunity for interested parties to pursue a contested case hearing in opposition to the proposal.
Note at press time: Southwaste Disposal has been owned since May 2009 by a private equity firm called Rock Hill Capital. Per their website, Rock Hill’s business model is to purchase companies that are basically strong but in need of an infusion of capital, hold them for a number of years, and then liquidate.
Update on the Proposed Expansion of Southwaste
State Representative Sarah Davis and TMCC President Bill Morfey.
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ElizabethMcCormickNeighborhood realtor®
832.661.7300elizabethmccormickrealtor.com
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2013 - 2014TIMBERGROVE MANOR SALES STATISTICS
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By Lorraine Cherry
“Outta my way; I’m goin’ back for more!”
You will hear that a lot at the huge multicultural buffet that modestly calls itself Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet. In fact, I hear it a lot from my husband, who is a big fan of buffets. Unless you climb utility poles for a living, you may not have eaten here before. On the other hand, from the number of Comcast trucks in the lot, it looks like everyone who does climb utility poles for a living is swinging by for lunch every day.
I’m not a big buffet person myself, but the selection here is so large that I am amazed every time. Over 100 different items, stretching out in a vast array of stations. The first time I went, I wandered around in a daze for about 20 minutes—there was just so much! You can choose
from Chinese stir-fries, various soups, fresh fish, boiled shrimp and crawfish, salt & pepper crabs, sausage, clams, mussels, chicken skewers, pizza, tacos, ham, French fries, and salads….you’ve got it all, including that traditional Chinese favorite, banana pudding with vanilla wafers. If you can resist all this temptation and move to the back end of the restaurant, you will find a sushi and sashimi bar and a cook-to-order hibachi bar where you can pick your own raw vegetables, protein, and sauce and have them cooked in front of you. The hibachi bar appears to be available only in the evenings.
Each time we’ve gone for lunch, I’ve seen a lot of Asian people piling their plates high with salt & pepper crabs and boiled shrimp. I do the same with chicken skewers in peanut sauce and coconut shrimp. If you are blessed with one of those rare kids who’s a picky eater,
there are sure to be one or two things here that will solve that problem.
Understand going in that this is not a haute cuisine/gourmet restaurant kind of place. It’s a buffet, with all that that implies. The food is reasonably priced, and it’s good if you catch it at the right time. Don’t go on weekends. Reports online indicate that it can be a real zoo, and replenishing and cleaning up stations may suffer a little. We’ve had good luck going at lunch time during the week. All of the dishes have been freshly made, and it’s not too crowded. You can eat until you can’t eat any more for under $10 at lunch (a little more for dinner) and there are special rates for seniors and kids.
Hibachi Grill is located on the south side of Highway 290 at 5601 West 34th, just around the corner from Academy.
by Lorraine Cherry, Friends of West 11th Street Park
As we discussed in the last issue of the Timbergram, we are embarking on a project to complete construction of the half-mile main loop trail at West 11th Street Park. Our goal is to finish construction of the last third of the trail, so that there will be a complete loop that can be walked comfortably every day of the year. The trail will be constructed with compressed decomposed granite over a geo-textile fabric base; culverts will be laid at low areas to prevent ponding of water.
We have received the following cost breakdowns from the Houston Parks B o a rd , wh o w i l l b e ove r s e e i n g construction:
• Completion of the loop trail: 695 linear feet @ $22/ft = $15,290
• Extension of trail on Shelterwood side to the street: 145 linear feet @ $22/ft = $3,190
With money that we have already set aside for this project, we need to raise just $1,090 to be able to complete the loop trail, or $4,280 to complete the loop and extend the trail out to the street. If you’ve entered the park after a heavy rain, you know that the grassy perimeter areas get pretty boggy, and it would be great to have at least one place to enter the park where you can keep your feet (and your dog’s feet) dry.
If you use the park trails every day or every week or even every month, please consider donating to this important project. Donations can be sent to:
Friends of West 11th Street ParkP.O. Box 7679 Houston TX 77270-7679.
Foresters from the Houston Parks & Recreation Department will be in the park intermittently during July to do some additional tree work. Two trees will be taken down, and an addition 4-5 trees will be topped off. If you are using the park and come across a trail blocked with a safety cone, please turn around and use another trail.
If you ever shop on Amazon (and who doesn't?), you can help support the park every time you shop, and it doesn't cost you a cent! Go to smile.Amazon.com to register Friends of the West 11th Street Park as the charity you would like to support. Then every time you shop, just go to smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com, and a percentage of each purchase will go to help support the park. Tel l your fr iends (Facebook and otherwise) about this, too. The more the merrier!
Update from West 11th Street Park
Young Homeowners: Leading by Exampleby Jennifer R. Vickers, Timbergram Editor
Recently appointed TMCC treasurer Campbell Sasser and his wife Virginia and two-month old Campbell Jr. were featured in a photograph on the front page of area newspaper The Leader a short while back. Sasser was just one of many civic club leaders and volunteers in their twenties profiled. In the past few years, Timbergrove Manor has seen an influx of new volunteers claim positions on the board of directors and help out with everything from the website to events.
In The Leader article, Sasser said, “we’re trying to help out and make the community a little bit better.” He’s not alone in his desire to make sure Timbergrove Manor remains a great place to live. Civic club work requires the support of the community at large.
If you haven’t taken time to come to a civic club meeting, please join us for our next on September 9. (Details on the cover.) Moreover, please consider volunteering your talents. Block captains are often needed. Citizens Patrol welcomes new volunteers all the time and are looking for homeowners willing to host National Night Out gatherings in their driveways in October. (See “Crime in TMCC”, next page.) Volunteers to coordinate specific events or just help set up and break down are in short supply. And new ideas are welcome! Want to get involved? Email me and I’ll make sure you can connect with the right person: [email protected]. As for Sasser and the other new volunteers who help make Timbergrove Manor a great place to live: THANKS!
Find an archive of The Leader article online at http://issuu.com/burge/docs/leader0614a/1
Connect with SN14Super Neighborhood Council 14
meets bi-monthly on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. The next 2014 meeting dates are: August 13, October 8 and December 10. C o n t a c t M e g a n J a c k s o n , a t [email protected] to get on the e-mail list to receive the prior meeting’s minutes, that meeting’s agenda and location information and visit the website at www.snc-14.org. Current issues: Bryce Chemical Feed Station,
SouthWaste expansion application; Jaycee Park CIP.
Donations NeededOak Forest Vet is in need of gently
used bath sized towels. Donations can be dropped off at 2120 W 34th St. Mon - Fri, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sat, 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and are greatly appreciated.
Summer Time VBSLazybrook Baptist Church, 1822 W.
18th Street, is having Vacation Bible School July 7-11, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. No cost. For more info, call (713) 864-1470.
Timbergram OnlineCheck out past issues, advertising
rates and more: bit.ly/TMCCNews
Crime in TMCCby Lillian Jolliffe, Chair, Citizens PatrolNeighbors may think this request is premature, but it isn’t. National Night Out will be October 7, so please be thinking about your block parties. The addresses in Timbergrove must be submitted by September 1, and that is oh so close. BMV still the most preventable, don’t encourage a thief by leaving valuables in your vehicles.
TYPE OF CRIMEAPRIL 2014APRIL 2014 MAY 2014MAY 2014
TYPE OF CRIMEDIST. 2 TMCC DIST. 2 TMCC
Aggravated Assault 4 0 2 0
Auto theft 8 0 6 1*
Burglary of Motor Vehicle 22 1# 35 1**
Burglary 12 2## 8 0
Theft 23 1### 17 0
Robbery 3 0 0 0
TOTALS 72 4 68 2
# 2700 Haverhill ### 6400 Pineshade## 6300 Kury, 2499 Droxford * 6400 Wister ** 6400 Grovewood
(note: blocks, not specific addresses)
I f yo u ’re p l a n n i n g a h o m e renovation, do it for your own enjoyment. But if you might move in a few years, know that some projects won’t generate the return you hoped for. Here are some do’s and don’ts.
Do consider these upgrades:
R e p l a c e y o u r k i t c h e n countertops with stone or granite (check material cost calculators at www.homewyse.com). Paint your cabinets and add new handles.
Modernize the bathrooms. A total renovation can cost thousands, but just replacing the vanity in one bathroom with a granite top and dark-wood cabinets will make a huge difference. For example, you can find one at Costco for about $600.
Make your home more energy efficient. Buy energy-efficient appliances, insulate your attic, seal air leaks around the house, and install a programmable thermostat. While these upgrades may not be obvious, they will save you money and buyers will appreciate them.
Enjoy these, but you may not get a return on your investment:
Installing a pool. A pool is entertaining, but it can be a liability when you sell. Buyers worry about safety and maintenance.
Creating a dedicated home office. It’s appropriate if you work at home and use it everyday, but if you just use it to pay bills, make sure the room can also be used as a den or spare bedroom.
Over-renovating for your neighborhood. If you spend $25,000+ on a new kitchen, you may price yourself out of the local market when it comes time to sell.
Have A Laugh…
Six-year-old Susie complained, “Mother, I’ve got a stomach ache.” “That’s because your stomach is empty,” her mother replied. “You’d feel better if you had something in it .” That afternoon, her father complained that he had a bad headache all day. Susie perked up. “That’s because it’s empty,” she said. “You’d feel better if you had something in it.”
D o n ’t Yo u Ju s t H a t e P u s h y Salespeople?
If you’re like me, you can live without the pressure and hassles from aggressive salespeople. That’s why I treat my friends and clients with helpful, healthy respect. So if you or someone you know ever has questions about real estate, please feel welcome to call me at 7 1 3 - 8 2 2 - 8 5 5 5 o r e m a i l [email protected].
Think Twice Before RenovatingSpecial Feature for Timbergram readers by Pamela Efferson Properties
by Darlene Wayt
Jaycee Park May 13 CIP Meeting Summary
Thanks so much to all of you who attended the May 13 meeting about the CIP allocation for Jaycee Park. Per Ms. Johnson, a program manager will be assigned very soon and the park will be evaluated by design architects using your input as guidance. The potential projects that seemed to be the most desired by attendees were: landscaping to address the loss of so many trees; more shade; and park lighting improvements for increased security. The need for porto-potty units and their maintenance was strongly communicated to Ms. Johnson.
SN 14’s Parks & Beautification Committee and TMCC’s Environmental Affairs Committee will continue to follow up with Ms. Johnson and will submit reports at the general and board meetings of these organizations, all of which are open to the public. They will also continue to submit written reports to The Timbergram and The Lazybrook News
as well as post on our neighborhoods’ FB sites and the TMCC website. When Ms. Johnson is ready to speak to our community again, another meeting will be arranged. If you would like to work with us on the Jaycee Park CIP project, please email me at [email protected].
Ms. Johnson left business cards and invited direct communication with her at [email protected] and (832) 393-8081.
Jaycee Park Seamist Trees
Regarding the Seamist trees planted in 2010, it is important to allow nature to take its course and let this area thin out for a number of reasons: safety and visibility looking into and out of the park; security so that a police car coming down Seamist can see through the trees to the back and far corners of the park; and integrity of the sidewalk and trail from the root systems of potentially huge trees.
When the Seamist trees were deliberately over-planted in 2010, it was known and expected that the area would
naturally thin out from year five to about year ten and then stabilize.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department, at this time, has not given permission to any person or group to install more trees in the park. Doing so without HPARD permission, may result in removal by an HPARD crew. For questions and information, contact Victor C o r d o v a , C i t y F o r e s t e r , a t [email protected] or (832) 395-8454.
Trees for Houston
If you would like to help with trees, visit the Trees for Houston (TFH) website. Trees for Houston offers all kinds of educational experiences like their Urban ForesTree Keeper class and volunteer opportunities like tree plantings in parks and schools like the ones we’ve had in our parks and at Sinclair. Trees for Houston works closely with HPARD to ensure that trees are planted at the right time of the year and in locations where they can thrive and benefit the area in which they’re planted.
Update from Jaycee Park
E X E R C I S E C L A S S AT JAYCEE PARK
Mon, Wed, & Fri: 5:30 AM
Get back in shape
Look better
Feel better
Non-intimidating atmosphere
Your fitness solution to a busy life
John Neundorfer Certified Personal Trainer Timbergrove Resident (713) 553-7653 [email protected] 1st Class is Complimentary
Did you know that the City of Houston allows a maximum of three dogs per address? Could your dog be a nuisance to your neighbors? A dog who barks for more than twenty minutes per day is a nuisance. If enough neighbors complain, the owner will be given a citation and 30 days to fix the noise complaints or the animal will be removed from the home. Perhaps your dogs are angels and your neighbor's animals disrupt your enjoyment of your home/yard? You can take one or more of the following actions:
• Talk to your neighbor. They may be unaware their precious pooch spends the day scaring away squirrels while they are at work or on the night shift.
• Call BARC 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at 713-837-0317. BARC will accept telephone calls only, not emails.
• Call Houston Police Department, non-emergency line at 713-884-3131, ext 1.
• Make a report through to TMCC and request a le t ter informing the dog o w n e r o f t h e problem and of the local noise ordinances be sent.
To win Yard of the Month you must be a current dues-paying TMCC member and cannot have won a YOTM award within the past year. Congratulations to the following neighbors for their attractive, well-groomed yards!
May
2415 Droxford – Mariam & Mark Holt
6315 Lindyann – Karen Howard
June
6323 Kury – Sharon & James Freeman
2330 Tannehill – Nancy & Kenneth Williams
831 Shirkmere – Barbara Lane
Timbergrove Manor Civic Club LeadershipOFFICERS AND DIRECTORSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
President Bill Morfey 832-651-0112 [email protected]
VP Leslie Hillendahl 281-236-6345 [email protected]
Secretary Peter Davies 713-861-1550 [email protected]
Treasurer Campbell Sasser 210-844-2581 [email protected]
Director Michael Thompson [email protected]
Director Darlene Wayt 713-385-4465 [email protected]
Director Lorraine Cherry 713-869-4445 [email protected]
Director Allen White [email protected]
Director Patrick Valentz 713-545-1308 [email protected]
Past Pres Angie McKinney 713-894-2317 [email protected]
Yard of the Month
CHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEESCHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEESCHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEESCHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEES
Activities Michelle Ray 832-715-5819 [email protected]
Beautification Leslie Hillendahl 281-236-6345 [email protected]
Block Captains Carolyn Bryant 281-723-9810 [email protected]
Citizens Patrol Lillian Jolliffe 713-869-1079 [email protected]
Deed Restrictions Enforcement
Design Review Dana Whitney [email protected]
Environmental Affairs
Lorraine Cherry 713-869-4445 [email protected]
Membership Tim LouqueGary NordstromTim LouqueGary Nordstrom
Timbergram Jennifer Vickers [email protected]
Timbergreeters Carolyn Bryant 281-723-9810 [email protected]
Web Site Chris Ochterbeck
Yard of the Month
Leslie Hillendahl 281-236-6345 [email protected]
Tree Waste:
Wednesday, July 16Wednesday, September 17
Junk Waste/Heavy Trash:
Wednesday, August 20Wednesday, October 15
Recycling - every other week:
Thursday, July 3Thursday, July 17Thursday, July 31Thursday, August 14Thursday, August 28Thursday, September 11
Solid Waste Collection Schedule
Rough Ruff !
