January
Newly elected State Rep. Armando Walle held a series of town hall meetings prior to the start of the Legislative Session. The North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards banquet. Bill Townsend and Bill Ferebee were named Persons of the Year.
The community celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama, the country’s first black president. Aldine ISD said they intend to build nine new schools by 2012 to address growing student enrollment.
February
The Aldine FFA Auction set a record of more than $170,000 in sales as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Houston-Galveston Archdiocese announced that it would close the St. Charles Borromeo School. This was one of four Houston-area schools that the diocese selected for closure.
Houston Community College-Northeast celebrated Black History Month with a month-long schedule of activities that included an art exhibit, guest speakers and dramatic production. The public packed town hall meetings, where Harris County Flood Control District explained solutions to flooding along Halls Bayou.
March
Aldine ISD and North Forest ISD were among local school districts to benefit from the federal stimulus bill. The funds went toward infrastructure, technology and security improvements. The East Aldine Improvement District changed its name to the East Aldine District.
The Nimitz Girls Basketball team, led by the nation’s number 1 player Brittney Griner, advanced to the state finals. They lost to Mansfield Summit 52-43. The 70 year old Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church was destroyed by fire.
April
Hundreds of people attended job fairs hosted by Houston Community College and the North Forest ISD. Community Advocate Arlene Nichols passed away at age 62.
The Houston Community College announced plans to seek an annexation of the North Forest ISD boundaries, which would provide lower tuition cost for students.
Heavy rains, possible driver intoxication and an ill-timed cell phone call were named as the cause of a car crash which took the lives of five children in a bayou near Greens Road. The father of the children, Briand Jenkins, was later charged with intoxicated manslaughter.
May
Alma Meza, a student at MacArther 9th Grade Campus, was killed when she was struck by a school bus. In December, the driver, Nellie Cormier, was indicted in the death. State Rep. Armando Walle’s bill strengthening penalties for graffiti passed the House and Senate. The Governor later signed the bill.
Harris County announced plans to buy foreclosed property in the Northeast Area and then resell them at 30% less than resale value to qualified buyers. Gallery Furniture was severely damaged by a fire allegedly set by a former employee.
June
MacArthur Sr. High was seeing double as twin sisters Deidra and Cinthya Garcia graduated Number 1 and 2 in their class. The local “Pro-Active Unit” of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office was featured on the nationally broadcast television program “COPS.”
The Renaissance Hotel, closed due to damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008, was reopened with full services. The Tradition Party Hall was packed with a standing-room crowd of residents protesting a permit request to expand Big K’s solid waste processing plant on Little York Road.
July
Gallery Furniture reopened its I-45 store following a devastating fire in May. A man attending a child’s funeral was fatally shot. The alleged shooter, Richard Toussiant, was also in custody of the three-year-old child when it died.
A groundbreaking was held for the construction of METRO light rail North Corridor. The Texas Ethics Commission fined Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole $75,000 for ethics violations. The fine was the largest in the commission’s history. The East Aldine District announced $8.5 million would be spent for mobility and other community improvements.
August
Robert Gillham, a former employee of Gallery Furniture, was charged with setting the May fire which damaged the furniture superstore on I-45. Congressman Gene Green drew irate comments at a series of town hall meetings over health care. Among the complains was that people living outside the congressional district were not allowed into the meeting.
The East Aldine District announced that Aldine Mail Route would be expanded to four lanes with a seven-lane bridge over the Hardy Toll Road.
September
Houston mayoral candidates Peter Brown, Gene Locke, Roy Morales, and Annise Parker met in a debate hosted by the North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce. Lone Star College-North Harris announced plans to build a multi-use Educational and Community Development Center in the Aldine Area.
The Aldine ISD was awarded the Broad Prize, a $1 million award given to the top Urban school district in the nation. The North Forest High School was locked down after gunshots were fired near it and the police sought the suspects.
October
The Houston Astros and the City of Houston broke ground for the Turner Park Youth Academy. The academy is a joint effort between Major League Baseball, the Houston Astros, and the City of Houston. Neighbors came together for the National Night Out. The date was changed from summer to fall due to heat concerns.
Harris County ESD#1, the local fire and EMS service, opened a central emergency facility and clinic on Aldine Bender. Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of President Obama, spoke at North Forest ISD’s State of the District Luncheon.
November
The Texas Department of Banking seized North Houston Bank, declaring it a “failed bank.” The bank later reorganized as U.S. Bank. North Forest ISD voters approved an annexation plan by Houston Community College.
Aldine and Eisenhower High School football teams qualified for the playoffs. Local businessman Farouk Shami announced plans to run for governor.
December
The North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce named Lone Star College’s Dt. Steve Head its Person of the Year for 2009. Armando Walle announced his intention to run for reelection for State House District 140.
Arcane Comeaux, a man serving multiple life terms in prison, was captured in Northeast Houston after escaping from guards the week before in Baytown.
The Aldine YOUTH presented its annual Light of Hope Awards. The Harris County Sheriff’s Storefront on Aldine Mail Route adopted 66 families for Christmas.
