West University Examiner - News
Examining the neighborhoods
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| This Bellaire street resembled a bayou, so these teens decided to take advantage of its recreational properties. |
A look at some of the top stories from nearby communities.
100 years later, boaters back on Bellaire streets
Perhaps it was fate, in Bellaire’s Centennial year, that it be faced with another storm of historic proportions.
Its settlers endured a great hurricane that flattened most of the town in 1915 and stayed to rebuild.
The city has survived a number of storms — ones with numbers in the early days and those with names like Alicia and Allison.
And they’ve done it with pluck and a spirit of community.
Ike will be added to that list and remembered for its minor changes to the landscape, its savage blow to Bellaire’s power supply — but most for shining a powerful light on an unequalled group of city workers and neighbors who may squabble over everything from sidewalks to zoning in everyday life but who pull together with uncommon strength when times are tough.
Reported by Charlotte Aguilar
caguilar@hcnonline.com
Hot meals, hope return in Memorial
An empty parking lot was quickly transformed into a site filled with hope as community spirit prevailed over a sense of dread at a church in the 6400 block of Woodway Street this week.
“I heard Second Baptist was doing this so I decided to come out and help,” said Michelle Ormsby, an area resident and member of the congregation.
She was referring to the FEMA Point of Distribution that sprang into action last week as hundreds of Houstonians came from across the city, many from Examiner communities, to donate their time.
Tanya Johnson said lack of television and electricity led her to Second Baptist.
“And I really just wanted to get out here and help, make a difference,” Johnson said.
Volunteers unloaded trucks filled with ice, bottled water and MREs (meals ready-to-eat), and stacked them neatly on the pavement.
People in need came on foot and in their vehicles.
Two lanes of cars moved through the parking lot, lined with hundreds volunteers quickly distributing items to each vehicle.
Those who came on foot lined up to receive the items in the shade of a long, covered walkway leading from the sanctuary to a group of Sunday School classrooms.
Each family received two or three bags (or about 20 pounds) of ice, one box of MREs and two packages of bottled water containing 18 (16-ounce) bottles each.
On Monday, the items were distributed to more than 2,500 vehicles and 500 walk-ins. On Tuesday, both numbers more than doubled.
Operations were overseen by officers from all walks of federal, state and local law enforcement including FEMA, Texas Military Forces, HPD and HFD, to name a few.
All were impressed with the volunteer turn-out.
“The people in this community have stepped up and come out in force to volunteer their time to help out,” said Capt. Jeff Marrs of Texas Military Forces, POD commander.
Reported by Megan Cooper
mcooper@hcnonline.com
100 years later, boaters back on Bellaire streets
Perhaps it was fate, in Bellaire’s Centennial year, that it be faced with another storm of historic proportions.
Its settlers endured a great hurricane that flattened most of the town in 1915 and stayed to rebuild.
The city has survived a number of storms — ones with numbers in the early days and those with names like Alicia and Allison.
And they’ve done it with pluck and a spirit of community.
Ike will be added to that list and remembered for its minor changes to the landscape, its savage blow to Bellaire’s power supply — but most for shining a powerful light on an unequalled group of city workers and neighbors who may squabble over everything from sidewalks to zoning in everyday life but who pull together with uncommon strength when times are tough.
Reported by Charlotte Aguilar
caguilar@hcnonline.com
Hot meals, hope return in Memorial
An empty parking lot was quickly transformed into a site filled with hope as community spirit prevailed over a sense of dread at a church in the 6400 block of Woodway Street this week.
“I heard Second Baptist was doing this so I decided to come out and help,” said Michelle Ormsby, an area resident and member of the congregation.
She was referring to the FEMA Point of Distribution that sprang into action last week as hundreds of Houstonians came from across the city, many from Examiner communities, to donate their time.
Tanya Johnson said lack of television and electricity led her to Second Baptist.
“And I really just wanted to get out here and help, make a difference,” Johnson said.
Volunteers unloaded trucks filled with ice, bottled water and MREs (meals ready-to-eat), and stacked them neatly on the pavement.
People in need came on foot and in their vehicles.
Two lanes of cars moved through the parking lot, lined with hundreds volunteers quickly distributing items to each vehicle.
Those who came on foot lined up to receive the items in the shade of a long, covered walkway leading from the sanctuary to a group of Sunday School classrooms.
Each family received two or three bags (or about 20 pounds) of ice, one box of MREs and two packages of bottled water containing 18 (16-ounce) bottles each.
On Monday, the items were distributed to more than 2,500 vehicles and 500 walk-ins. On Tuesday, both numbers more than doubled.
Operations were overseen by officers from all walks of federal, state and local law enforcement including FEMA, Texas Military Forces, HPD and HFD, to name a few.
All were impressed with the volunteer turn-out.
“The people in this community have stepped up and come out in force to volunteer their time to help out,” said Capt. Jeff Marrs of Texas Military Forces, POD commander.
Reported by Megan Cooper
mcooper@hcnonline.com
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