Blog entries - December 2009

Friendswood Awarded 2.3 Million for Back-up generators

Greg Rivera — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:21:08 +0100

The City of Friendswood is proud of its community, a group of people who learn together and work together, full of patriotism and a strong civic identity, supported by wonderful volunteers and a thriving community spirit. While the city has had a wonderful time up till now as one of the Best Places to Live, they are preparing for the future by taking steps like redeveloping downtown, and equipping the city with resources for the future. The Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA) recently announced that a grant of $2.3 million has been awarded to the city to purchase back-up generators across the city to prepare for the future and well being of the city’s residents.

The $2.3 million Community Development Block Grant has been awarded to the City of Friendswood to purchase back-up generators at key water and sewer locations across town. Natural gas generators will be purchased for Surface Water Station #1, Water Wells #2 and #33, and for Friendswood Fire Stations 1,2, and 3. The grant was awarded in response to a proposal by the City of Friendswood which stated that back-up power was a primary concern for the health and welfare of area residents.

Under normal conditions water stations and water wells carry fresh water to the people of Friendswood and lift stations pump waste water to water treatment plants. However, in the case of natural disasters like Hurricane Ike which can cut power to lift stations for an extended period of time, the lift stations cannot work and sewer back-ups occur, posing risk to residents.

It is essential to have long term energy sources to power the lift station pumps to prevent sewer back-ups in the event of a long term power outage. The natural gas generators will ensure that sewer systems continue to work and flow properly in such unforeseen events.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs, and was awarded to Friendswood and other communities under a Presidential disaster declaration resulting from Hurricane Ike in 2008. Generally the funds are awarded to states through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG program is one of the longest continuously running programs at HUD and continues to help communities such as Friendswood prepare for future development.

News: ‘Tis the Season ….To Recycle

Cheryl Perry — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:34:09 +0100

All those catalogs everyone gets in the mail, plus phone books, newspapers, school and office papers, magazines, paper back books, and junk mail, but no cardboard please .... these are all what is expected to belong in the recycle bin at FRIENDSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.

Friendswood High School is working hard to be environmentally friendly. Their recycle bin is there for the whole community to use at no cost. They actually earn money for the paper they collect. 

This is one of the easiest ways to support FHS monetarily without taking money out of your pocket. Encourage recyling.  “Thanks so much for recycling with us. We hope you will make it your New Year’s Resolution to be diligent about recycling throughout the year,” FHS Pirncipal Mark Griffon said. The bin is sponsored by the FHS Student Council.

Source: Friendswood ISD e-Newsletter, December 15, 2009

Friendswood Resident Marianne Duncanson Honored as Donor of the Year

Greg Rivera — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:15:15 +0100

Marianne Duncanson of Friendswood is a proud member of her community and looks for ways to serve her city. Recently she was recognized for her commitment and contribution to the work that she loves as The College of the Mainland honored her with the 2009 Donor of the Year Award.

By day she is a senior lubrication engineer for Exxon Mobil where she has worked for over 30 years. While she enjoys her day job, her real passion comes when she is able to provide for her community by offering Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to those in need. She joined the Friendswood Volunteer EMS Department in 2005 and because of her dedication to serve she went to school to become a paramedic, graduating from the College of the Mainland in 2006, equipped and ready to start giving back.

While she has been honoring those in need with her exceptional care and heartfelt service, she was recently honored by the College of the Mainland Foundation as the 2009 Donor of the Year for her support of the EMS program and the College of the Mainland. “Her donations have helped the EMS program purchase much needed airway training manikins, instructional software, and other instructional resources,” said Cissy Matthews, dean of public service and health occupations.

The COM foundation also offers scholarships to local residents each year, with $100,000 being distributed last year, a resource that would not be possible without companies and people like Duncanson making contributions. Duncanson will be honoring the residents of Friendswood as she continues the work she loves.

Heritage Gardeners Hosts Friendswood Christmas Home Tour

Greg Rivera — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:42:57 +0100

The Friendswood Community recently had the chance to tour the finest Holiday homes from City Hall to gardener’s homes chosen for their Holiday décor. The 43rd Annual Christmas Home Tour, hosted by the Friendswood Heritage Gardeners Club, took place Saturday November 21 and Sunday, November 22. A Bazaar, Bake Sale and raffle started at 10am, with delightful lunch and assortment of desserts served in an old fashioned tea room at high noon. The afternoon followed with a tour of Friendswood homes and gardens dressed to impress for the Holiday season.

The bake sale was a hit, with more than 300 pies and cakes for sale, and the raffle awarded lucky winners with a cash prize of $99, a gourmet food basket and a chiminea donated by H-E-B. Raffle and Bake Sale Chairman Carlotta Garza shared that she baked six cakes, 10 loaves of pumpkin bread, and several dozen homemade macadamia nut cookies. “They sell really well every year,” she said.

This was one of two main fundraising events to support the educational and charitable activities hosted by Heritage Gardeners. Throughout the year the club gathers at their garden center for plant exchanges, field trips, craft workshops, flower shows, luncheons and much more. They even sponsor a garden club for children ages 6-12 where they learn a curriculum developed by Texas A&M and become certified Texas Jr. Master Gardeners.

Heritage Gardeners, Inc. was founded in 1966 and “is dedicated to the horticultural enhancement of home and community.” They are best known for their Christmas and Spring Home Tours. The Spring Home Garden tour will take place the last weekend in April, from 12pm-4pm on Saturday April 24 and 1pm-5pm on Sunday April 25, 2010. The Spring tour will also include a bazaar, raffle and bake sale but will also feature a plant sale and flower show. The cost for the Spring tour is $10 (or $7 advance purchase) and kids 10 and under are free.

For more information on the Home Tours or on Heritage Gardeners Inc. please visit them online at www.heritagegardeners.org