July’s Snapshot Tracks Escalating Threat Environment for Holiday Weekend
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Homeland Security Committee
Congressman Michael McCaul
Chairman Michael McCaul released his July Terror Threat Snapshot today in a continuing effort to highlight the growing threat America, the West, and world face from ISIS and other terrorist groups.
Chairman McCaul: “We need to take the sharp increase in ISIS and other Islamist terror activity more seriously. I commend our law enforcement and intelligence professionals for disrupting so many plots recently, but we cannot rely on our defenses alone. Extremists are radicalizing and recruiting new foot soldiers around the world at broadband speeds, yet the Administration is responding at bureaucratic pace. It’s time for the President to listen to these wake-up calls and to lay out a credible offensive strategy to defeat what is a global—not regional—menace.”
Key takeaways in this month’s Terror Threat Snapshot include:
With the recent attacks in France and against tourists in Tunisia, ISIS has now been linked to 47 terrorist plots or attacks against the West, including 11 inside the United States.
The total number of ISIS arrests in the U.S. has increased five-fold in 2015 with 55 ISIS supporters detained, ten of which have been arrested in the last month. ISIS followers have now been arrested in at least 19 states.
The Terror Threat Snapshot is a monthly feature that tracks the escalating and grave threat environment facing the United States. The Terror Threat Snapshot will be kept up to date on the Committee’s website. Additionally, monthly summaries will be available.
The complete July Terror Threat Snapshot is available here.
Many of us celebrate our nation’s Independence Day barbequing and relaxing with loved ones. When the sun goes down, it is a tradition to gather together to admire and enjoy the bright-colored flashes of fireworks that light up our night sky. You might not think twice about taking the necessary precautions to have a safe and fun-filled holiday with your family and friends, but have you ever thought about the proper safety measures to ensure your pet has a safe holiday, too?
The 4th of July might be a day of celebration for people, but for pets it is a day of potentially hazardous situations. Dr. James Barr, clinical assistant professor for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained that pets are at an increased risk for several dangerous scenarios during our holiday celebration.
“Most of the injuries or sicknesses that happen around the 4th of July in dogs have to do with an increased amount of outdoor activity,” Barr said. “There are more dogfights, car accidents involving dogs and heat- related illnesses than any other time of the year.”
Barr also discourages owners from feeding table scraps to their pets. “Because dogs and cats have exposure to a lot more food from barbecues and parties, they tend to get upset stomachs from eating things they shouldn’t,” he said. Sometimes it is seen as humorous for owners to share an alcoholic beverage with their pet, but Barr includes alcohol on his list of dangers for pets on Independence Day. “Pets have much smaller bodies than we do and it can be quite dangerous to have them drink alcohol. It can even be fatal in severe circumstances,” he said.
If you plan on bringing Fido to an outdoor party, be cautious of the dangers of mosquitos, fleas and ticks. Spraying your pet with insect repellant may seem like a reasonable solution to the bug problem, but some sprays are not safe for animals. Instead, Barr recommends using an effective flea and tick repellant prescribed by your veterinarian. Since heartworms are transmitted to pets through mosquitos, a common summer nuisance, Barr also reminds owners to make sure their pet is taking heartworm preventative before they enjoy the holiday outdoors.
One of the most exciting traditions of the 4th of July holiday is fireworks. Although we might fall into a trance of admiration at the loud popping noises and flashing of colors in the sky, our pets might not enjoy the show so much. If your dog typically becomes frightened during thunderstorms, chances are it will react the same way to fireworks. “If your dog is frightened by the fireworks, you need to minimize the exposure that they have to the loud noise of the fireworks,” Barr said. This can be done by finding a safe and quiet room in your home where your dog can stay relaxed. If Fido is in attendance at your outdoor firework show, keep him or her on a leash to prevent it from running away or jumping a fence in an attempt to find safety. Remember, it is always important to properly identify your pet just in case it becomes lost.
Although Independence Day is a fun-filled holiday for people, it might not be the same case for our pets. As a pet owner, it is important to consider all dangerous situations your pet may experience during the holiday. If you are concerned about the dangers your pet may face and want to fully protect them, the simple solution is for Fido to sit this party out in the safety of your home.
Sugar Land, TX – Rep. Pete Olson’s (TX-22) district office staff will
Representative Pete Olson
host a mobile district office visit in Fulshear on Wednesday, July 8th from 2:00-3:30 pm at Fulshear City Hall. Mobile office hours provide an opportunity for constituents to speak directly with representatives from Congressman Olson’s district staff on a variety of issues. The District Mobile Office provides our constituents with greater access to federal services by bringing the office right into their community. Olson staff will be on hand to listen and provide assistance to those with federal issues or casework.
For more information, please contact Olson’s Pearland district office at (281) 485-4855 or visit his website at http://olson.house.gov. Mobile office hours are open to the public and an appointment is not required to attend.
What: Olson Staff Mobile District Office in Fulshear
Date: Wednesday, July 8th, 2015
When: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CST
Where: Fulshear City Hall
30603 FM 1093, Fulshear, TX 77441
AUSTIN, Texas–Texans may have many questions as they recover from the flooding and severe storms that battered the state May 4 to June 19. Am I eligible for aid if I’m a renter? How do I replace my lost documents? What can I do about mold? Where can I go to talk in person with people who can help me?
Information for disaster survivors may also be found on the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Information about low-interest disaster recovery loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes can be found at www.sba.gov/disaster. State and federal officials urge Texans to visit these websites and share them with their neighbors.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY, call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6.
The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
Garth Brooks was on-site to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated and expanded Child Life Zone at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas on June 26, 2015. Funded through the Teammates for Kids foundation (which Brooks co-founded in 1999), the Zone provides a fun, safe and procedure-free environment for Texas Children’s in-patient population and their families. A video of the event can be found at: https://youtu.be/4CcD8Y86RwA
“The vision for Teammates for Kids is the same as it was when we started. The kids in this hospital, and hospitals around the world, have a harder climb than a kid who is not. Our job is to remind them and remind all of us that they are kids, let them be kids,” said Brooks. “I love being part of Child Life because they understand the greatest healing principle we can bring children is to let them be children.”
Texas Children’s Child Life Zone originally opened in 2001 and now features a completely renovated and expanded play space. The Zone offers a variety of video gaming choices thanks to the new Microsoft Media Wall and Surface Pro tablets. Patients can challenge their friends to a game of pool, air hockey or race car driving on the Zone’s arcade games. An expanded kitchen offers unique programming for patients and families to learn more about healthy lifestyles while cooking with the hospital’s chef. When the kitchen is “closed” the 24-foot kitchen counter doubles as an arts and craft bar. The Zone also includes an expanded production studio which offers patients the opportunity to explore and create music as a part of the hospital’s music therapy program. Kids can go “on air” each week as Radio Lollipop broadcasts their radio program throughout the hospital. With the new closed-circuit television system, patients on isolation will now be able to see what’s happening in the Zone and participate in live shows being broadcast from the studio.
The Zone, located in the hospital’s West Tower and adjacent to other support services, is available to patients ages 6 and up and their families. The focus of the Zone is as much on the family (in particular siblings of patients who can often feel overlooked) as it is on the patients themselves who greatly benefit from the therapeutic play the Zone provides.
“Providing patients and families with the opportunity to play normalizes the hospital environment,” said Mary E. Tietjens, child life manager at Texas Children’s. “Play is a wonderful therapeutic tool that supports a healing environment and promotes positive coping. We can’t thank Teammates for Kids and Microsoft enough for all they have done to make the vision a reality.”
More than 100 patients and their families attended the grand opening event and were given the chance to meet Brooks. Representatives from Teammates for Kids and Microsoft were on hand to show families the activities and resources available at the Zone. Brooks chatted with patients and families, signed autographs and posed for pictures leaving many happy smiles at the end of the day.
“Kids are what it is all about for me. They are the greatest gift God has ever invented and they should be happy,” said Brooks. “If there is one thing I can say, it is when you walk into a room and tell others that 100 percent of the money goes to the kids, everyone is in. I am very, very proud to be a part of this.”
ICE Medical Card Is The Most Important Card You Can Carry
The Woodlands, TX June 10, 2015-The ICE Medical Card is a tool used by first responders and ER personnel to assist those who have been severely injured in an accident. The two main uses are Quick Notification of Loved Ones and Medical history of an injured patient.
Quick Notification of Loved Ones- First Responders and medical personnel work hard to track down next of kin Cell phones are often broken or lost in a serious accident and are usually passcode protected. According to a Delaware State Police Spokesman, “it can can take many hours or a day to contact someone.” With an ICE Medical Card in a wallet or purse, emergency contacts can quickly be found and notified when an individual is involved in an accident or medical emergency.
First Responders and Doctors Can Access Important Medical Information-At the scene of a serious accident, and in the ER, time and information are critical. The more those who are entrusted to save a life know about a person, the better the outcome can be. The ICE Medical Card System allows an individual to store all of critical medical information for easy access by the professionals when needed. Only the cardholder can control this important information. The medical history, allergies, prescriptions, as well as location of legal papers and other considerations are all on the card. This information can be updated over the lifetime of the membership.
The ICE Medical Card is available at Priority Emergency Room for $49.95. http://www.priorityer.com/special-programs. Discounts are available for multiple cards. Purchases can be made online at or at one of our two locations.
Priority Emergency Room is a free-standing emergency center with locations in The Woodlands and Katy, Texas. Staffed with ER physicians and ER nurses, Priority ER is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with minimal wait times. Priority ER accepts most major health insurance plans. To find out more, please visit www.priorityer.com
Richmond, TX… OakBend Medical Center employees celebrated July 4th early with a Sweets & Treats Bake Off held on July 2nd.
The Sweets & Treats Bake Off included a dazzling display of cakes, cookies, cobblers, and other delicious desserts. Entries were judged based on taste, creativity and presentation. The volunteer judges were Collin Cook, Janell Kucera, Cathey Oleneck, and Bobbie Scott.
The employee’s entries were impressive; the following were the top three winners:
Felipa Velasquez from Radiology took both 1st Place and the Employee Choice awards
Kelley Drabek from Physical Therapy took 2nd Place
Jessica Hickman and Cathryn Oliver from the Senior Behavioral Health Unit took 3rd place.
The winners received gift baskets in appreciation for their entries. And, while the entries were devoured by the dayside employees, Old Main Street Bakery generously donated tasty treats for OakBend’s night staff.
On Sunday, July 5th a playground burned in the Fort Bend M.U.D. 124 Recreation Park located off of Falcon Landing.
The Willowfork Fire Department responded to the call around 6 p.m. When crews arrived they found black smoke billowing into the sky. The smoke was generated by the burning, rubberized playing surface.
There was some concern that the fire might jump to two homes that bordered the park. However the fire department was able to keep that from happening. In the photo gallery you will see photos of the aftermath
of this blaze and just how close it came to one home.
While there were no injuries the fire burned extremely hot. The Fire Marshal commented that the fire is still under investigation.
The fire department was still on hand this morning checking for hot spots and moving the playgrounds base around.
As of 11:30 there were crews on the scene demolishing what was left of the structure.
Low impact development practices shown to reduce stormwater runoff, pollutants
DALLAS – The results of stormwater practice demonstrations at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas demonstrate the potential benefits for using such practices in urban areas statewide, an expert said.
A stormwater bio-retention area and rain garden at the Dallas center collects runoff from a 37,000-square-foot parking area on the facility’s grounds. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo courtesy of Dr. Fouad Jaber)
“Because much of the land in urban areas is paved or covered by other impervious structures, typical filtration and purification done by soil and plants has been sidestepped,” said Dr. Fouad Jaber, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist in integrated water resources management. “So bacteria, sediments, oil, grease and chemicals from yards, roads and parking lots and elsewhere end up running off directly into watershed areas.”
Jaber said to help address this problem, he has been testing low impact development practices, including permeable pavements, green roofs and a bioretention-rain garden area.
Low impact development, or LID, is a stormwater management approach using innovative planning and engineering in concert with conservation and nature to protect water quality. In testing these practices at the center, Jaber established methods to monitor and measure their effects on hydrology, nitrogen, phosphate, total suspended solids, bacteria and other pollutants.
Evaluation was done in a field setting with soil comparable to that of the Blackland region and much of the southern U.S.
One of the low impact development practices testing sites at the Dallas center involves green roofs covered with plants native to North Texas. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns)
“Up until now, there hasn’t been much data to show how adopting LID practices on a watershed scale in urban areas may help reduce flooding and improve overall water quality,” Jaber said. “Now, after two years of testing, we have initial data demonstrating the value of these practices.”
Jaber said data gathered from early 2013 to the end of March 2015 and applicable to the Upper Trinity-White Rock Creek Watershed would also translate to other urban U.S. watersheds.
“What we found was that if there was a rain event of 1.5 inches or less, which is typical in this area, by using these practices, 50 percent of the water stays in the soil and either infiltrates or evaporates, 40 percent leaves through a drainage pipe after being filtrated by the soil and only 10 percent overflows untreated.”
One of Jaber’s tests was to determine how effective permeable pavement would be in reducing runoff water volume and pollutants. In a simulated parking lot area at the center, he installed various pavement types, including interlocking concrete blocks, grass pavers, pervious concrete, permeable asphalt and regular concrete.
Twenty-five experimental stalls, each measuring 8 feet by 10 feet, were installed among 52 total functional stalls. Each permeable pavement was 16 inches thick with a gravel layer and perforated under-drain pipes. Stalls were hydrologically separated by concrete curbs.
“Our data showed a stormwater runoff reduction rate of 71 percent for permeable interlocking concrete pavers, 74 percent for pervious concrete, 78 percent for grass pavers and 93 percent for gravel pavers,” Jaber said. “Additionally, there was a 57 percent reduction in total suspended solids in the pervious concrete and a 48 percent reduction in total suspended solids in the gravel pavers. Nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations were also generally low.”
At another center site, Jaber has been testing green roofs — roofs covered by a growth medium and planted with vegetation — each with a waterproof membrane, root barrier and drainage area. The site has four green roofs, each 100 square feet in area and divided into four sections, with three of the roofs covered with native North Texas plants.
“For a 1.5 inch rainfall, 77 percent of runoff comes from the house and 23 percent comes from the lawn. The average load in one milliliter of ambient water is 2,098 E. coli count. Due to the volume reduction from the green roofs, the average load per millimeter for the entire house would be 485, which would be a 77 percent reduction in the amount of E. coli bacteria.”
At another site, a bioretention-rain garden area collects runoff from a 37,000-square-foot parking lot at the center. Using 4 feet of a mixed medium, the retention area has been populated with native plants. A 4-inch perforated pipe has been placed at the bottom for drainage. An adjacent rain garden bed is planted with perennial and annual natives to promote water absorption and filtration.
Jaber said data from the past two years shows the bioretention-rain garden area has provided an average of a 45.52 percent reduction in stormwater runoff. It also shows it was responsible for a 78 percent reduction in nitrogen, 36 percent reduction in orthophosphate, 41 percent reduction in total phosphorus, 66 percent reduction in ammonium, 64 percent reduction in total Kjeldahl nitrogen — the total concentration of organic nitrogen and ammonia – as well as an 83 percent reduction in total suspended solids.
“The large number of storms that occurred in Texas in March through May resulted in flooding that caused loss of life and property damage across the state,” Jaber said. “And while individual storm events were not very large, the frequency of these events was very high. This saturated the soils and caused flash flooding from even small subsequent rain events.”
He said despite the fact that LID practices at the Dallas center were designed to handle small rain events, during this three-month time period they were able to prevent a large portion of the water runoff from leaving the property.
“From Feb. 28 to May 30, the center received approximately 23 inches of rain,” he said. “Approximately 84 percent of the total runoff that entered the LID practices was held in the soil and eventually percolated or evaporated. Only 16 percent of the total runoff left the property.”
Jaber said these results show that if similar practices were widely adopted in Texas cities, the loss of life and property from frequent rain events could be considerably reduced.
Richmond, TX… Because it’s difficult to fit everything into a workweek, OakBend Medical is now offering weekend imaging services at the Jackson Street Campus and the Williams Way Campus.
CT Scans can be done at both campuses every Saturday from 8:00am to 12:00pm. All other services will be done at the Jackson Street campus as follow:
Ultrasounds are available both Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am to 12:00pm;
MRIs are available both Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am to 12:00pm; and,
Mammograms are available the 2nd Saturday of every month from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
To schedule an appointment for weekend imaging services, call 281-633-4022 or fax the physician order to 1-888-341-4803. OakBend’s Admissions Department will take care of the pre-certification process and scheduling upon request.
Breakfast – August 19, 2015 – Pine Forest Country Club – 18003 Clay Road
Lunch – September 18, 2015 – Lakeside Country Club – 100 Wilcrest Drive
Social – October 22, 2015 – Vallone’s – 947 Gessner Road
HOUSTON – July 6, 2015 – After a momentous decade of recognizing area businesswomen, the Houston West Chamber of Commerce enters its 11th year of the annual Women Driving Business (WDB) Series presented by Women’s Memorial Hermann Memorial City, and sponsored by Wunderlich Securities, Texas Children’s Hospital – West Campus and Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon, this three-part series is sure to be one of Houston’s most-talked about 2015 events.
Women’s Memorial Hermann at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center – west Houston’s only dedicated Women’s hospital – is proud to announce its sponsorship of Women Driving Business, a series of events designed to promote and encourage business and comradery among women executives and business owners. “We’ve been actively involved in the Houston West Chamber’s Women Driving Business series for the past five years and have seen firsthand the success of the series,” said Rhonda Elmore, marketing director, Memorial Hermann Memorial City. “When the opportunity arose to be the presenting sponsor, it was a no-brainer. Through our sponsorship, we hope to support and encourage women in business, but also in their daily health choices. We want to remind them that while they take care of those around them – families and employees alike – they also need to care for themselves,” added Jenn Todd, the hospital’s women’s and children’s service line director. Women’s Memorial Hermann Memorial City has a wide array of services tailored to women. From well-woman care, including a state-of-the-art breast center and a pelvic floor program, to gynecology, obstetric and neonatal services, women can expect high-quality and safe treatment from head to toe. To learn more about Women’s Memorial Hermann Memorial City, visit womens.memorialhermann.org or call (713) 242-3000.
The “WDB Breakfast” will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Pine Forest Country Club. Sponsors and guests will welcome keynote speaker Dr. Sonya M. Sloan, a woman on the rise in the male dominated field of orthopedic surgery. After receiving her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Sloan became the first ever African-American female Orthopedic Surgical resident at Baylor College of Medicine. Sloan is certified to practice medicine in five states and she travels frequently to perform surgery and hold office hours across the country. In addition to her medical practice, she is founder of ME & WE, Inc. (Motivating and Empowering Women to Excel), a non-profit focused on advancing women through economic empowerment, spiritual enrichment and health awareness.
HWCOC Women Who Empower Luncheon 2014
Over lunch September 18th at Lakeside Country Club, guests will enjoy Texas legend Mary Sue Koontz-Nelson, author of the cookbook Stolen Recipes, and the very first WDB speaker. Mary Sue travels the country, charming groups of 50 to 5,000 with her tales of life at The HK Ranch in Placedo, TX. Mary Sue grew up in Victoria, the daughter of a small –town doctor, before finding herself living 25 miles from town at the HK Ranch, where she has entertained everyone from working cowboys to European royalty with her own special brand of brash, brassy humor and southern hospitality. Her ability to paint pictures with words make her the first repeat speaker in WDB history. The luncheon is hosted by Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa; GBH, CPA’s, and The Wink Law Firm, PLLC.
The series concludes with “Social in the City” on October 22, at Vallone’s. Gallas Plastic Surgery and Granite Properties will sponsor this networking social aimed at creating “High Heel Connections.” Guests can look forward to being treated to hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and music, while they mix and mingle with high-powered Houston women from a variety of industries.
The Houston West Chamber of Commerce is home to an area of more than 8,000 businesses responsible for West Houston’s exponential growth in industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, technology, retail, medical, engineering and service firms; and employs more than 100,000 people. Women Driving Business is a series of uniquely inspirational business events intended to provide opportunities to connect and promote key West Houston women business owners and “C” level corporate executives. A limited number of tickets are on sale for “Ladies Who Lunch” and “Social in the City.” For more information on this event and the Houston West Chamber of Commerce, please call (713) 785-4922 or visit www.hwcoc.org.
Houston, TX — (June 6, 2015)– Rover Oaks Pet Resort just wrapped up its fifth annual Operation: War Dogs fundraiser for non-profit organization Mission K9 Rescue, the Houston chapter of the United States War Dogs Association (USWDA). The fundraiser began on Memorial Day and ended on July 4, 2015. This year, Rover Oaks raised a total of $34,575 for Mission K9 Rescue through Operation: War Dogs.To date, Rover Oaks has raised over $70,000 for this amazing organization.
Mission K9 Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to the service of War Dogs, including retiring and retired Military Working Dogs and Contract Working Dogs. They provide monetary, transportation, adoption, and professional assistance for these retired hero dogs. Over the past year, Mission K9 Rescue has reunited many hero dogs with their handlers, and worked tirelessly to find adoptive homes capable of meeting the needs of a retired military working dog. Videos of some of these reunions can be viewed on their website.
“Rover Oaks is in a unique position to help an organization like Mission K9 Rescue because of the types of clients that utilize our services” said Steve Smith, Owner of Rover Oaks Pet Resort. “Our clients believe that pets are members of the family and should be treated as such. Their overwhelming response to this fundraiser shows that they feel the same way about the War Dogs who have loyally served to protect our country.”
During the fundraiser, Rover Oaks encouraged their clients to donate by giving away a free night of lodging to anyone who donated $100 to Mission K9 Rescue. They also encouraged other pet care facilities to participate in the fundraiser. As a result, a group of ten other pet industry leaders from across the country launched fundraisers of their own to benefit War Dogs.
When asked what this fundraiser means to Mission K9 Rescue, their founder Bob Bryant said, “Rover Oaks stepped up to the plate and hit a home run for War Dogs everywhere. These donations provide for care, boarding, transportation, and development. Without organizations like Rover Oaks, we would be very limited in our ability to effect positive change for United States War Dogs.”
“We are so grateful to Rover Oaks for this amazing fundraiser,” said Kristen Maurer, President of Mission K9 Rescue. “This money helps us continue to rescue and care for more War Dogs and achieve our mission. These dogs do so much for mankind, and this fundraiser allows us to continue to give back to them,” she added.
To learn more about Rover Oaks or for directions, visit www.roveroaks.com. For more information on Mission K9 Rescue, visit missionk9rescue.org.
Alec Michael Ryan and Audrey McKee, the 2015 Tommy Tune Awards Best Leading Actress
Theatre Under The Stars’ (TUTS) is proud to announce that the 2015 Tommy Tune Awards Best Leading Actor, Alec Michael Ryan, finished as one of the top three Best Leading Actors at the seventh annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards/Jimmy™ Awards in New York City on June 29.
“Working with professionals in the business and performing on a Broadway stage with 52 of the most talented high school performers in the nation made for an incredible learning experience that I will never forget as I venture into the craziness that is a life in the theatre,” said Ryan.
While in New York, Alec Michael Ryan and Audrey McKee, the 2015 Tommy Tune Awards Best Leading Actress, received coaching from Broadway stars and industry professionals in addition to rehearsing for the awards show. They were also treated to a performance of the Tony-nominated musical, An American in Paris, and participated in a post-performance discussion with the cast and other Jimmy™ Awards nominees.
Ryan was recognized for his performance as Lawrence in Klein Oak High School’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. He, along with the other runner-up for Best Leading Actor and the two runners-up for Best Leading Actress, received a $2,500 scholarship toward his future education from the Barry and Fran Weissler Foundation.
Jimmy™ Award winners were selected by a panel of Broadway professionals including Kent Gash (Associate
Arts Professor; Founding Director, New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama), Rachel Hoffman C.S.A. (Telsey + Company), Alecia Parker (Executive Producer, National Artists Management Company), Tara Rubin C.S.A. (Tara Rubin Casting), Nick Scandalios (Executive Vice President, The Nederlander Organization), Thomas Schumacher (President, Disney Theatrical Group) and Bernie Telsey C.S.A. (Telsey + Company).
The Jimmy™ Awards are a national celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theatre that recognizes individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance, and honors teachers and their schools’ commitment to performing arts education. They are named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer.
AUSTIN, Texas – Flood insurance claims can be complicated, and Texas policyholders may have questions as they move forward on the road to recovery.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program call center is staffed with specialists who can assist Texas policyholders with servicing their claims, providing general information regarding their policies, and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery.
To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CDT) Monday through Friday.
Call center staff are available to answer questions, such as “How do I file a flood insurance claim? What type of documentation is needed? Can I still obtain disaster assistance even though I have a flood policy?” Staff can also answer more complicated insurance questions about the extent of coverage and policy ratings. The call center serves disaster survivors who have general questions about the National Flood Insurance Program.
Statewide organizations to celebrate Navigate Life Day August 1
AUSTIN – The Interagency Task Force for Children with Special Needs, supported by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, today launched a new website — NavigateLifeTexas.org — to help families who have children with disabilities and special health care needs.
NavigateLifeTexas.org was built for anyone who needs to find relevant, comprehensive, and accurate information about services in Texas for children with disabilities and special health care needs. The site was designed by parents, for parents, but it’s a valuable resource for caregivers, clinicians, professionals, and support groups as well. A Spanish version of the site is at AvancemosJuntosTexas.org.
The website streamlines the process caregivers take to find information they need to help their loved ones who have special health care needs, and it covers subjects that range from early diagnosis to adulthood.
“Easier access to current and reliable information will empower more parents to be effective advocates for their children,” said Donna McCamant, who serves on the task force. She is also the mother of an adult daughter with multiple disabilities. “While the website is not an end-all, it does provide a wide range of information, from how to talk to your doctor to what transitioning to adulthood looks like. It can act as a roadmap.”
“NavigateLifeTexas.org provides relevant and reliable information for parents as well as HHSC staff who are helping parents research information,” said HHSC Deputy Executive Commissioner Patricia Vojack.
The Texas Legislature created the task force and directed it to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency for the delivery of services for children with disabilities and special health care needs. The task force’s top priority is helping parents become more informed and empowered, which led to the creation of NavigateLifeTexas.org.
Categories on the website include “Diagnosis and Healthcare,” “Insurance and Financial Help,” “Family Support,” “Education and Schools,” and “Transition to Adulthood.” Visitors can enter their ZIP code to search for support groups, services, and events that are specific to their region. The data provided on the site has been vetted by parents, physicians, parent organizations, subject matter experts, and state agencies.
The task force also has launched a statewide education campaign designed to inform people about the new site. The campaign will culminate August 1, which has been designed “Navigate Life Day.” On that day, families, businesses, local governments, hospitals, health advocacy groups, and faith-based organizations across Texas will celebrate children with disabilities and special health care needs and their families. These agencies and organizations will also host community outreach events to spread the word about NavigateLifeTexas.org.
KATY, TX (July 7, 2015) – The Katy master-planned community of Cane Island has named Olivia Montagna as Lifestyle Coordinator where she will plan resident-only activities including movie nights, wine and cheese events, fun runs, walks and holiday festivals.
“Having Olivia on board as the community’s Lifestyle Coordinator is like having a personal assistant round out a family’s schedule,” notes Dan Naef, president of Rise Communities, developer of the 1,000-acre master-planned community. “It’s one more reason families are going to love Cane Island.”
Montagna joins Cane Island as the master-planned community’s first residents make plans to move into their luxury homes by the end of summer.
Moreover, construction continues on the community’s Welcome Center, Recreation Center, family pool with adjacent splash pad and poolside cafe. Crews also are busy with the construction of a glass-walled conservatory for exhibits and private events, two-story fitness center, yoga studio and multi-purpose room commercial kitchen.
Cane Island’s first phase also includes the build out of an amphitheater, adult pool and two spacious tree houses with decks offering elevated views of the amphitheater and a $1 million mobile projection system. Open green spaces, pocket parks and play areas which pay tribute to the area’s rich history in railroads, oil and gas, farming and other industries also are planned.
“Many of these amenities will serve as the settings for our resident events,” says Montagna. “That’s the beauty of Cane Island – everything a family needs is right here.”
The amenity-rich, master-planned community will offer new homes from the $200’s to the millions from Coventry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Perry Homes, Ryland Homes, Shea Homes, Toll Brothers and Trendmaker Homes.
Most recently, Perry Homes opened Cane Island’s first model home, now open daily, with model homes from David Weekley Homes and Coventry Homes opening later this summer.
Future plans call for the addition of Cane Island Elementary School, part of the Katy Independent School District, and the build out of the Cane Island Parkway interchange at I-10. Families currently can reach Cane Island from First Street in Katy.
Cane Island is located minutes from the Energy Corridor, Katy Mills and Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital.
Demarquis Rogers was sentenced to 45 years in prison on June 15, 2015 after a jury found him guilty of Burglary of a Habitation with the Intent to Commit Robbery. The 27-year-old Houstonian and two other men brutalized their victim during a home invasion of a Fresno residence in 2013.
According to Assistant District Attorney Thomas Pfeiffer, the victim’s neighbor called the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office the afternoon of November 20, 2013, after arriving home and hearing the victim’s cries for help. The victim was severely beaten with his hands and feet bound with plastic zip ties.
The victim explained that he had opened the front door after Rogers knocked on it, stating he was a neighbor who had a package for him. The defendant forcibly entered the home along with two additional suspects unknown to the homeowner. The three men assaulted their victim by repeatedly striking his face with closed fists and choking him while using a taser. Rogers and his accomplices then dragged the man from the foyer to a bedroom after which they searched the home. Several items of personal property were stolen along with the victim’s vehicle.
The prosecution called Dr. Mirnat Sami as a witness in the trial, who testified that she performed surgery to repair the victim’s face. Dr. Sami testified that the man’s facial bones were significantly broken, requiring surgical intervention using screws, an artificial mesh implant, and bone grafting.
During the punishment phase of the trial, a woman testified that she was the victim of Demarquis Rogers in a violent 2007 robbery of a McDonald’s in Harris County. The woman recounted how she was a cashier when a gun-wielding Rogers rushed in, grabbed her by her hair, and pistol-whipped her to the ground. The woman testified that she still has a raised bump on her head and suffers lasting effects from the injury she received eight years ago.
“Demarquis Rogers is a victim factory and the reason why we lock our doors at night,” said lead prosecutor Thomas Pfeiffer.
Rogers was tried in the 268th District Court before Judge James H. Shoemake. Burglary of a Habitation in this case is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 – 99 years, or life, in prison. The minimum was then increased to 15 years due to the defendant’s prior felony conviction. Additionally, because the jury found that his hands were used as a deadly weapon to commit the crime; Rogers must serve one-half of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.
Assistant District Attorneys Thomas Pfeiffer and Alison Gottlieb prosecuted the case. Attorney D. Chris Hesse represented the defendant.
Former Hobby Lobby attorneys appeal HHS Mandate on behalf of prominent religious schools forced to violate faith or pay millions in IRS fines
Washington, D.C. – Today two private universities and a seminary are asking the Supreme Court to protect them from millions of dollars in IRS fines that will be triggered if they refuse to comply with the infamous HHS mandate. Filing the petition today are the same two firms that won the Hobby Lobby case against the government’s HHS mandate one year ago.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and former Solicitor General and leading Supreme Court advocate Paul Clement are filing the petition on behalf of Houston Baptist University, East Texas Baptist University and Pennsylvania-based Westminster Theological Seminary. The Supreme Court has already granted interim relief from the HHS Mandate to religious groups five times. The schools’ appeal makes it highly likely that the Court will decide whether religious universities will be required to provide contraceptive coverage in violation of their faith in the upcoming term.
“The government has already told thousands of businesses they don’t need to comply with the HHS Mandate,” said Diana Verm, Legal Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. “So why is it bullying nuns, religious schools, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters unless they comply? It makes no sense.”
In December 2013 a Houston federal court ruled in favor of the schools, yet last month the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied relief to Houston Baptist and East Texas Baptist Universities, and Westminster. Westminster is separately represented by Ken Wynne of Wynne & Wynne LLP in Houston.
“We didn’t go looking for this fight,” said Dr. Robert Sloan, President of Houston Baptist University. “But here we stand and can do no other. We cannot help the government or anyone else provide potentially life-threatening drugs and devices. The government has many other ways to achieve its goals without involving us. It ought to pick one of those and let us go back to educating our students.”
“The Supreme Court should step in and tell the federal government that separation of church and state is a two-way street,” said Verm. “The state should not be able to take over parts of the church—including these religious ministries—just so it has an easier way of distributing life terminating drugs.”
The Court is likely to consider all of the petitions in late September or early October. If the petition is granted, the case would be argued and decided before the end of the Court’s term in June 2016.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions. For over 20 years, it has defended clients of all faiths, includingBuddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians. Its recent cases include three major Supreme Court victories: the landmark ruling inBurwell v. Hobby Lobby, and the 9-0 rulings inHolt v. HobbsandHosanna-Tabor v. EEOC, the latter of which The Wall Street Journal called one of “the most important religious liberty cases in a half century.”
Saturday, July 18, 2015 – 11:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. – Third Planet Books – 2718 Southwest Freeway (77098)
WHO: Since 1975, Third Planet has been Houston’s #1 location for all your science fiction and comic book reading materials with 8,000 square feet of merchandise. Third Planet will also celebrate its 40-year anniversary on Saturday, July 18, 2015.
WHAT: Author J. L. Clark will be signing the first two books of her trilogy The Avalon Relics for her fantasy genre fans at Third Planet. Clark is in the process of writing the third book of the trilogy.
What began as a fourth grade writing assignment for Houstonian and blossoming author J.L. Clark turned into a storytelling journey that takes readers into the surreal, prophetic life of an 18-year old. Sophia Bennett is the heroine of The Avalon Relics: Lilith Links and the recently released, The Avalon Relics: Lailan Crown, coming-of-age page turners that propel readers into her life as a young woman who, after receiving a special birthday gift from her mother, is thrust into a world of fantasy and the ancient moral struggle between good and evil. Both Lilith Links and Lailan Crown explore thrilling mystery, adventure and adolescent love, as Clark introduces the angsts and triumphs of Sophia, a character in whom all young adults can relate.
And readers around the globe agree:
“People of all ages will relate to the amazing journey of the shy awkward heroine who discovers a magical world that is shockingly juxtaposed with her own previously mundane life …”
“As an adult fan of Young Adult novels, this book was an incredible read. It pulls from various references of mythology and tales of old, all the while creating a world and a history all its own …”
“Another great book by JL Clark. She paints such vivid pictures of an amazing fantasy world that I was always reluctant to leave when I had to put the book down …”
Houston, TX — (June 6, 2015)– Rover Oaks Pet Resort just wrapped up its fifth annual Operation: War Dogs fundraiser for non-profit organization Mission K9 Rescue, the Houston chapter of the United States War Dogs Association (USWDA). The fundraiser began on Memorial Day and ended on July 4, 2015. This year, Rover Oaks raised a total of $34,575 for Mission K9 Rescue through Operation: War Dogs. To date, Rover Oaks has raised over $70,000 for this amazing organization.
