Posts published in February 2010

GREENSPOINT — The newly named Houston Intercontinental Chamber held the first morning breakfast, planned as a regular quarterly networking event for members and guests.

The topic of this breakfast was reports from area legislators, and an introduction to Attorney General candidate Barbara Radnofsky.

State Representative Armando Walle brought the attendees at the breakfast up-to-date on important issues that face the state and will be agenda items for the next session.

These include the need to redistrict after the 2010 Census. With a Texas State House made up of 74 Democrats and 76 Republicans, this will be a difficult and important item to be resolved, he said.

Finances will be an important problem to be solved, as the state now faces the possibility of a $10 to $20 billion dollar deficit for the next budget session. He reminded the audience that during the last term, only a $14 billion stimulus package to the state allowed the budget to be balanced.

Because of the state of the economy, and the state’s revamping of education reimbursements, every school district in the state is looking for means to balance their budgets. Walle emphasized that the two most important issues facing him will be education and healthcare. Even though the Children’s Health Insurance Plan, CHIP, had bipartisan support, it still did not pass the legislature, and so it must be looked at again. This is especially important in Walle’s District 140, where the per capita income averages $10,000, and over 80% of the population are minority.

Congressman Gene Green mentioned that unlike the state legislature, Congress is in session full-time. He agreed that the two main issues, at the state and federal level, are the economy and healthcare.

On redistricting, he pointed out the importance of electing a knowledgeable and capable Attorney General for Texas, noting Radnofsky’s presence. He pointed out that if the legislature is unable to draw new redistricting boundaries in a satisfactory manner, that the law sends the decision to five statewide elected officials, including the AG.

Green is on two committees, Energy and Healthcare. In healthcare, he noted that the area is far behind the average in FQHCs, or Federally Qualified Health Clinics, and there is an urgent need for them in Houston. He said that a satellite pediatric clinic had just opened on Airline Drive.

Green is in favor of a new act, Pay-Go, that he expects Congress to enact soon, that will make it necessary for any spending bill to have a source for the funding. He said this was similar to a bill years ago when he was first elected in 1992 that helped reduce spending and inflation.

In a question from the audience, Jack Drake of the Greenspoint District asked if congressmen were aware of the lack of confidence that the American people have in their government. Green answered that he personally makes a point of coming back from Washington every week to talk to his voters, and explain and listen to issues. He said that was not true of all Congressmen and Senators, and thinks there always exists a “disconnect” between government officials and the public that is not good. Also, he agreed that partisanship has gotten worse in the last few sessions, defeating the work of Congress.

(This story has been slightly truncated for the web. For the full version, please see our print edition.)

Deputies kill assailant after pursuit, crash

An 18-year old man suspected in the home invasion and shooting death of two people, and wounding of two others, was shot and killed by deputies after leading them on a chase in Northeast Houston.

A spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff’s office, Christina Garza, said that the suspect, Jose DelaRosa pointed a gun at the pursuing officers, and may have fired several shots at officers after crashing a vehicle that was believed to be stolen from the crime scene. Deputies reportedly returned fire, striking DelaRosa multiple times and fatally wounding him.

The incident began around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4. Harris County Sheriff Deputies responding to a call at 14129 Landsfair found Kelly Seymour, 41, who had been shot. Seymour told the deputies that other people were shot inside the residence across from their location, at 14201 Landfair.

Deputies entered that residence and found Paul King, 44, with a gunshot wound. A continued search of the residence revealed two additional white females who had sustained gunshot wounds and were deceased.

Seymour and King were transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The names of the deceased have not been released.

Witnesses told investigators that two Hispanic males came to the residence and forced the front door open and started shooting.

Seymour was able to get out and seek assistance at a nearby residence. A suspect then took one of the victim’s vehicle, a Toyota 4-Runner, and fled the scene.

The sheriff’s department said that the description of the get away vehicle was broadcast over the police radio in the area. Sheriff’s deputies from the East Aldine tactical unit responded, and spotted the 4-Runner on Aldine Mail Route about 5 p.m.

The chase was short as DelaRosa lost control and crashed into a ditch and light pole in the 3000 block of Bertrand, about four miles from where the bodies were found.

Investigators say they do not know the reason for the initial invasion and shooting. They have not elaborated on the other person who witnesses said entered the home with DelaRosa.

Earlier reports of this incident mentioned only one assailant, and did not indicate gunshots at the officers from DelaRosa. The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office.

GREENSPOINT -– The newly renamed Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce held an International Business Economic Forum as its monthly luncheon for members and guests, which included security experts from local corporations conducting business internationally, and consul representatives from a number of foreign countries.

The luncheon was held last Thursday, at the Hilton Hotel at Greenspoint. Title sponsor of the Forum was the East Aldine District. An additional part of the program was the introduction of the newly formed North Houston Economic Development Council, with Dr. Stephen Head as the interim president. Unveiled at the meeting were the new logos for the NHEDC and the HICC, with credit for their designers, Jeff Kaiser, Elizabeth Nguyen and Christina Gray.

Dana O’Brien and Dave McIntyre spoke on Global Law and Compliance in the first morning session, and Ron Hicks and Alexandra Rodriguez spoke on Corporate Security in the second session.

The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Dr. Dave McIntyre, nationally known specialist in homeland security, who has held a number of security positions with the military, various federal administrations, and teaches security at several universities.

McIntyre spoke in place of Amir Mirabi, who was unable to attend. McIntyre commented on six main issues facing America today. One, the most important issue of the state of the economy, and the huge debt we must now deal with. Two, Terrorism and the change in the nature of terrorism, due to technology and the internet. Three, International Security between countries, and responsibility for ungoverned parts of the world. Four, Major Threats to peace, such as nuclear or biological attacks on a major U.S. city. Five, Technology, and the realization that old types of jobs are not coming back, and we must adjust to a new information age. Six, Our Business must realize that we are serving customer’s needs, not providing a product.

McIntyre’s upbeat message at the end was we have the means to achieve a good outcome from all these threats, but Congress must focus on solutions, and then we need leadership to fight terrorism, and correct the economy.

NORTHEAST –- Renaissance Hospital Houston, located at
2807 Little York Road, is changing its name to St. Anthony’s
Hospital, according to Jason Fisher, the new CEO.

Fisher and his partner Stephanie Victorian, Chief Nursing Officer of St. Anthony’s Hospital, are heading up the 39-bed hospital and will expand medical and clinical staffs. Renaissance Hospital-Houston is one of nearly 5,000 that U.S. News evaluated for the latest America’s Best Hospitals rankings.

“St. Anthony’s is the only hospital located right in this northeast – Little York corridor and our goal is to establish this hospital as one of quality care the community can count on for emergencies, as well as traditional services that will range from bariatrics to orthopedics and pain management,” said Fisher.

“Even as we expand, integrating exciting new technologies into St. Anthony’s, we will never lose sight of our priority: our patients. Our mission is to demonstrate our commitment to the improvement of human life by delivering quality healthcare services with kindness and compassion,” added Fisher.

Fisher, a Baylor University graduate, has spent his whole career in the medical field. He was with Northstar Healthcare Inc., as the VP of Physician Services before joining St. Anthony’s. He is a diligent defender of patients’ rights and has worked with multiple medical businesses in the Houston, Dallas and Austin market. WestMed-owned hospitals, including St. Anthony’s and South Hampton Community Hospital in the Dallas Metroplex, are managed by Austin-based Arise Healthcare Management.

On Feb. 15, President’s Day, from 12 noon until 2 PM, St. Anthony’s will host a ribbon cutting with the Houston-Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce; a Health & Wellness Educational Clinic for area parents and their children; snacks, prizes and entertainment. The popular Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant will be grilling burgers for the event.

Special invitations have gone out to students at nearby Garcia Elementary, Walter W. Scarborough Elementary, Ethel R. Coop Elementary and Patrick Henry Middle School to attend the special event with their families. For more information, call 713-469-4388 or 713-697-7777.