Posts published in March 2003

By P.J. Williams

The Aldine area will receive a special spring cleaning April 14 when the Harris County Health Department begins to demolish 44 abandoned houses as enforcement of the Nuisance Abatement Laws.

The Health Department chose these properties for abatement based on complaints from individuals, the Aldine Community Improvement District, and from the manpower efforts of Environmental Health Division.

The Department’s efforts focused on an area bounded by Interstate 59, Homestead Rd., Greens Bayou, and Little York. “We identified all the [dilapidated] houses in there we could find,” said Philip Moore, administrator of the Neighborhood Nuisance Program.

Federal grant monies from Harris County Housing and Economic Development made this extra manpower possible. The grant funds a staff position and the demolition of houses.

Much work is required before an abandoned property can be abated. First, a diligent search must be made for the owner. This is done with the help of files from the appraisal district, the Harris County Attorney, voter registration records, and internet databases.

Then, the Health Department must post a legal notice in the paper listing the houses are up for demolition. “We make every effort to find the owner so we can get them to demolish the building, and we can spend money on other homes,” Moore said.

If the owners cannot be found, the property is put before the court in a public hearing. After the demolitions are approved, the Health Department seeks bids from contractors. Moore said the whole process usually takes six months from the first complaint.

“If it goes like it should, the process should take three to four months, but sometimes there are extenuating circumstances,” Moore explained. These circumstances include difficult to locate owners or owners who are elderly or on fixed incomes.

“There’s always a story behind these properties. Some of them are pretty sad stories,” said Moore. He said the Health Department tries to work with owners to come to an acceptable solution.

In early May, another group of approximately twenty-five houses, not all in the Aldine area, will be presented to the Commissioner’s Court for demolition. This list may grow before it is presented depending on leads from the community.

“This time of year has traditionally been when the complaints come in. In the six months between April and the end of October we receive seventy five percent of complaints,” said Moore.

This list of properties below have been approved for demolition by Harris County Commissioners Court. Demolition is scheduled to begin the week of April 14, 2003. These properties are not for sale by Harris County; however, if anyone has legal interest in these properties they should contact Harris County Health and Environmental Services at 713-439-6270 and speak with Philip Moore or Liliana Gretzer. 4907 Cedar Hill 13522 Darjean 13838 Darjean 13830 Darjean 13834 Darjean 13618 Darjean 13710 Darjean 13823 Darjean 13402 Darjean 4022 Darwin 5207 Hanley 5234 Hanley 5031 Hartwick 5326 Hartwick 5652 E. Hillside 2318 Hopper 2438 Hopper 4711 Hopper 4906 Hopper 5601 Huse 5607 Huse 2609 Kowis 4308 Lone Oak 5721 Mary Francis 5736 Mary Francis 2014 Mierianne 2401 Mierianne 4302 Mohawk 4532 Mohawk 4910 Mohawk 3021 Mooney 3805 Nuggent 5933 Ridgedale 6005 Ridgedale 2821 Rosemary 4907 Rosemary 4333 Shelton 4509 Shelton 13701 Terlin 13810 Terlin 4320 Trenton 2407 Trenton 11735 Varnell 2419 William Tell.

By Gilbert Hoffman

A 14 year old boy was struck by a train last Tuesday afternoon, as he was running from police after alegedly being involved in a house break-in at 9706 Pettibone Street.

Police said that 4 or 5 boys were taking part in a kick-in robbery, but were discovered by neighbors who called police. As the police arrived, the boys scooped up about 22 items and fled. One of them ran toward the railroad tracks along Hirsch Road, and was struck by a freight train, according to Officer A. Wright of the HPD. As the train was moving, he was struck along the rail line between Tidwell and Laura Koppe. The train traveled several hundred feet south before stopping. He was apprehended and taken to Ben Taub for treatment, not seriously hurt, with bruises of the leg, shoulder and head.

The EMT that responded said the boy was “fortunate to be knocked off the track”, as many pedestrians are dragged into or under a moving train.

A second juvenile was arrested in the area, and police are looking for 2 or 3 others. The two apprehended have been turned over to Juvenile Division, of Harris County.

By P.J. Williams

Over 200 Special Olympics athletes enjoyed snacks and entertainment provided by the Aldine Optimist Club again this year. The athletes competed at the Aldine Auxilary Stadium Saturday, March 22. In addition to juice and popcorn, the Optimist Club brought a fire truck, set up carnival games under the bleachers, and took the athletes’ pictures with a giant chicken.

The club’s involvement with the Special Olympics is just one of many volunteer projects this group provides for the Aldine community. The chicken suit is part of the Optimist’s largest program that works with Aldine Independent Schools to teach 4,500 fourth graders to avoid drugs. The club uses the costumes in the yearly kick off for the program. They also help provide t-shirts for all the fourth graders, host a banquet for the counselors who administer the program, and send one counselor each year on a weekend getaway.

The Aldine chapter of the Optimist Club, an international organization, began in 1965. The chapter has thirty members on the roles, a third of who is regularly active. Their budget comes from one golf tournament each year and various raffles. Still, this small group makes and big impact in the Aldine area.

Most of the club’s projects involve a partnership with Aldine schools. This Saturday, they will hold a barbecue fundraiser for the Lane Center. Each Spring, they sponsor project prom which reminds prom goers to not drink and drive. They also provide for two Aldine Scholarships which helps area students attend North Harris Community College.

The Optimists support the Aldine FFA by buying a steer and a hog each year. They then donate the meat to needy families. At Christmas time, they work with head AISD nurse to give food baskets to the families of twenty-five students. Another club project helps send four area sophomores to Rice University each year for a weekend of educational opportunities.

The Aldine Optimists recently purchased an inflatable jumping room, called a Moonwalk. They loan it to AISD schools to use as an attendance reward and to other groups.

The Optimists plan all these projects in just two monthly luncheon meetings. “We talk about what we’re going to do or have a speaker. Our meetings are very, very informal,” said club president Steve Mead.

The group is always looking for new members. “We need more members to try to do more for the kids and to get enjoyment from getting to know other people,” Mead said.

It isn’t hard to join the Aldine Optimist Club. Prospective members need to fill out an application and be sponsored. Mead said they would help anyone who was interested get involved. Meetings are the second and fourth Wednesdays and are held at either the club’s building on Aldine Bender or at the Clarion hotel on Beltway 8. Yearly dues are $90 and lunch at the meetings is $10. For more information, call Steve Mead at 281-442-8127.

Houston’s Northeast side recently benefited from the opening of a new family restaurant at 5223 Hopper, called El Sabor de Mexico. The building is next door to the De Anda family’s banquet hall, and follows in the tradition of providing good food, entertainment and special facilities for our community.

The owner is Liza De Anda, who saw the restaurant as the culmination of her father’s dream of a complex of buildings that would serve the people of the Northeast community. Joe De Anda built the building in 1997 and intended it for weddings, birthdays, and private parties. After his death, Liza decided to make it more usable as a full-time Mexican restaurant.

The following history is in Liza’s own words:

We started in October of last year, and with all the work I have a new appreciation for those kinds of places. We saw it as a place to eat and be entertained. The colors are red and white, my father’s favorite. We wanted an atmosphere where people could relax, feel comfortable and have a good time.

Many of the features are things I like to do myself. Karaoke (I listen, but don’t ask me to sing), comedians, playing pool, watching Pay-per-View events on a big screen TV. We have a huge 10 x 8 screen on the back wall, and 4 other TV’s mounted around the building. Now all of this is available close-by, instead of a long drive across Houston.

We also wanted food that people would come back for. We interviewed many cooks. Many. I ate some okay stuff, some really bad stuff, gained a few extra pounds in the process. But I was determined to have the best food, so I kept on. Finally I found a young husband and wife team, Gerardo and Michelle Garza. The moment I put the fork in my mouth, I knew they were the ones…NO DOUBT!!

Now we can offer authentic Mexican food, along with delicious sea food. And when we tell you Jumbo shrimp, we mean Jumbo! And, hamburgers, hot wings, desserts that make your mouth water.

The Garzas have thrown themselves into this new business, wanting to make this restaurant their signature place as chefs. As an added bonus for patrons, they will always try to make your special order.

My next problem was needing the correct name for the new eating establishment. WOW that was hard. Then I saw a place called a “Taste of Houston,” and I thought, that’s neat. Why not a “Taste of Mexico?” But in Spanish, El Sabor de Mexico. But how was the Gringo (ha ha, no offense) going to pronounce that? A gringo told me, they just say that place “whatever” where the food is so good. SO, that’s why you see “pa el gringo…lo que sca.” You would not believe the response from that remark, but no offense is meant to the Hispanic people nor the American community. My people, I love you and I am here to serve everyone…
I need to thank my amazing carpenters who built everything I imagined–Frank Ulloa and Cornelio Aguilar.

This is a family business, with my sons Felix, Vincent Hernandez, and daughter Erica Hernandez. My sons’ girlfriends also work here, Veronica Rodriguez and Stefanie Samudio, nephew Joseph De Anda, and my youngest brother Christopher.

We have a nice safe family atmosphere. We have a dance floor, and will have a variety of music. We are looking for bands to play that want to make a reputation and have their name on our marquee.

We will also have an outdoor eating and dancing garden area in the summer.

Thanks to all who have helped me. As well as my family mentioned above, Terrie Davis, Ronnie, Frank, Joe, Cornelio, Mr. Silva. And thanks for my daugher’s patience, after I forgot her at school too many times during this whole process.

Please come and join us for a good time. We are all your family, and you will have a good meal, a fun time, and enjoy yourself at El Sabor de Mexico.

Representative Kevin Bailey, Chairman and members of the Texas House of Representatives General Investigating Committee, held a public hearing to take testimony from invited witnesses to ascertain the extent of the problems with the Houston Police Department (HPD) Crime Lab. The hearing took place in Austin on Thursday, March 6.

Chairman Kevin Bailey opened the hearing with a statement outlining the goals of the committee in conducting the investigation. The goals included making certain that a fair, accurate and independent review of all convictions based on analysis by the HPD Crime Lab was being conducted; that a reasonable plan for correcting the deficiencies was being undertaken by the City of Houston and to determine if statewide legislation or oversight is necessary to ensure the accreditation of all crime labs in Texas.

Invited witnesses giving testimony included members of the Texas Department of Public Safety
(DPS) Crime Lab that conducted an audit of the HPD Crime Lab in December and Chief C.O. Bradford of the Houston Police Department.

Irene Rios of the DPS Crime Lab defined the purpose of a crime lab as “finding the truth in the evidence.” She reported that the audit team found that the staff at the crime lab lacked adequate training, were unable to appropriately interpret findings, and that a tremendous amount of documentation for policy and procedure was lacking. She stated that under those conditions “true justice is compromised.”

In response to a question from Chairman Bailey regarding statistical analysis by the HPD Crime Lab staff, Ms. Rios responded, “We could not determine whether they knew that this was incorrect procedure to be doing or if they did not have sufficient training to realize that this is a problem.”

Also appearing before the committee on Thursday morning was Cassie Carradine who was a member of the DPS audit team that visited the HPD Crime Lab in December. She explained that a computer program is used to do statistical analysis of DNA testing results. She went on to say. “There are different ways to enter data into the program. The problem is they (HPD) do not have formal guidelines in place to regulate what numbers they enter into the program to get the most appropriate (statistical) number.”

Chief C.O. Bradford testified on behalf of the Houston Police Department. He stated that although he knew there were problems with a leaky roof, he was unaware that his staff lacked sufficient training to be doing DNA analysis. He went on to say, “A process has begun to examine all eases in which DNA was analyzed by the HPD Crime Lab dating back to 1992 when the HPD Crime Lab first commenced DNA work. As a result by March 3, 2003, the Houston Police Department identified and provided 525 cases in which some form of DNA analysis was performed to the District Attorney’s Office for review.”

He went on to explain that his department has only completed the process of review through about 1997 so additional cases will be referred to the District Attorney as the review continues.

The committee is expected to take additional
action at a future date.

Aldine ISD superintendents from the past and present, along with numerous friends and family members gathered to honor former Aldine ISD Superintendent M.B. “Sonny” Donaldson at a dedication ceremony held in his honor on Sunday, March 2 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center.

Aldine ISD honored Donaldson, who served as the district’s superintendent from 1986 until his retirement in June of 2001, by naming four administration buildings in the district after him. Those buildings are the Central Office, the Human Resources/Special Education Building, the Resource Center (all located on Aldine Westfield Road) and the Aldine Annex (located on Lauder Road). A.W. Jones, assistant secretary of the Board of Education, added that all future administration buildings would also be named after the long-time superintendent.

In addition to members of the board who attended the ceremony, former Superintendents W.W. Thorne and M.O. Campbell, along with current Superintendent Nadine Kujawa, were also in attendance, as well as numerous friends, former co-workers and community members.

During Donaldson’s tenure, the district grew from 37,800 students to 52,500. Under Donaldson’s leadership, Aldine ISD earned a Recognized rating from the Texas Education Agency for five consecutive years and for two of those years it was the largest school district in the state to earn that distinction. Additionally, the visionary educator established intermediate campuses for fifth and sixth graders, ninth grade campuses for high school freshman and Aldine was the first school district in the Houston area to create a student financial aid specialist to assist students and parents with finding funding for a college education. Also during his tenure, Donaldson reorganized the district in 1994 adding four area superintendents (a fifth was added in 1999) and in 1995, he oversaw the implementation of Magnet schools in the district.

As a result of Donaldson’s leadership, innovation and pursuit of academic excellence, he was named Administrator of the Year by the Texas Educational Secretaries Association and in the summer of 1994 and 1995 he was named Superintendent of the Year for Region IV, which serves 57 school districts in the greater Houston area. He was also a two-time finalist (1994 and 1995) for Texas Superintendent of the Year. In 1998, he was named Educator of the Month by Texas School Business magazine.

Board President Emmett W. Hill said Donaldson’s vision and tireless work ethic were key factors in seeing to it that all children in Aldine received a quality education. The two first met in 1977 when Donaldson was named principal at Aldine Senior High School and Hill served on his staff as an assistant principal.

“He developed the principle that all children can learn, no matter where they came from,” said Hill. “He brought about some ideas that had not been tried in the Houston area. We have seen the results of his dedicated push for academic excellence with our children. Sonny has done a great and tremendous job for Aldine and he will be remembered for many, many years.”

Jones, who made the formal dedication, said Donaldson was the right man to lead the district as it underwent numerous changes in the 1990s.

“It was a remarkable course that Sonny navigated during his 34 years in this school district,” Jones said. “He took on the job as superintendent when only a small percentage of students in Aldine were economically disadvantaged. By the time Sonny retired, however, 73 percent of our students were economically disadvantaged.

“As the district changed, Sonny was determined to make sure that the change was for the better. He insisted that every student would receive a quality education and that Aldine would become a school district known for its academic achievement. During his time as superintendent, Sonny made sure that his team of superintendents, directors, principals, teachers, bus drivers and custodians were all on the same page, and that they understood clearly that the main thing was to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Donaldson said he was flattered and honored to have the four buildings named after him, but he was quick to point out the success he enjoyed in Aldine was a team effort.

“Without the work of a whole lot of people, we would not have been able to do all that we did,” he said. “So many things have been accomplished in Aldine over the year, not by one person, but because of a group of people who were committed to our goals. It’s been a great ride.”

Donaldson spent his entire 34 years in education in Aldine ISD. His career began in 1967 as a teacher and coach at Aldine Senior High School. He also served the district as an assistant principal, principal, director of athletics and assistant superintendent of administration before being named superintendent of schools in 1986.

Kujawa also thanked Donaldson for his years of service to the district, and former superintendents Thorne and Campbell for their leadership.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with the three former superintendents who are with us today,” she said. “Just look at the imprint they have made on this school district. Mr. Donaldson pointed the way toward academic achievement. Many of the benefits our employees have today are due to Sonny Donaldson. He has left his mark on this school district and we will never forget him and what he did for Aldine ISD.”