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Merry Christmas, and happy New Year!
Let us all take a moment to reflect on how we get around our wonderful Precinct 4 community. Whatever path you choose, Precinct 4 wants to help you get to your destination faster, safer, and more conveniently.
Precinct 4 recently opened Fagan Lane in honor of Mayor Gretchen Fagan of Tomball. This project greatly benefits residents inconvenienced by the Grand Parkway and serves as a perfect example of how local and state government can work together.
I also want to thank BikeTexas and the Houston-Galveston Area Council for recognizing our work in Precinct 4. Read more below to find out how these projects and others benefit your community.
As a reminder, you can access past issues of
Commissioner's E-Corner
on the
Precinct 4 website.
Visit Precinct 4 online and learn more about the road projects taking place, as well as the upcoming events at Precinct 4's community centers and parks, and Senior Adult Program activities through Fun4Seniors.
Sincerely,
Commissioner R. Jack Cagle
Harris County Precinct 4
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Precinct 4 Celebrates Fagan Lane Opening
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Commissioner R. Jack Cagle celebrates the opening
of Fagan Lane with Tomball Mayor Gretchen
Fagan and Bruce Hillegeist, president of the
Greater Tomball Chamber of Commerce.
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In December, Harris County Precinct 4 celebrated the opening of Fagan Lane, which will make navigating areas around the Grand Parkway more convenient for residents.
The two-lane roadway runs parallel with the Grand Parkway, connecting Telge Road and Cedar Lane.
Precinct 4 became involved with the project after Commissioner R. Jack Cagle crafted a unique agreement with TxDOT allowing the county to provide immediate traffic relief to residents.
The new road will be named after Mayor Gretchen Fagan of Tomball. Commissioner Cagle saw a new road in the Tomball area as the perfect opportunity to recognize Mayor Fagan for her service to the city of Tomball and the entire region.
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BikeTexas Celebrates Spring Creek Greenway
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Tom Riddle with BikeTexas presents a
proclamation to Commissioner R. Jack Cagle. |
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BikeTexas named Commissioner R. Jack Cagle and the Precinct 4 Parks Department BikeTexas Champions for their work on the Spring Creek Greenway, one of the longest urban forested greenways in the nation.
The greenway features over 12 miles of paved trails accessible to cyclists and pedestrians from Harris County Precinct 4's Dennis Johnston Park in Spring, Texas to Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center in Humble, Texas. Once complete, the greenway will span 40 miles along Spring Creek. Harris County Precinct 4 is also constructing an even longer connected park and trail system along Cypress Creek.
The award was presented by BikeTexas Vice Chair Tom Riddle who recognized Commissioner Cagle and the Precinct 4 Parks Department for continuing the vision Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay began in 1979.
BikeTexas is a non-profit organization working to advance bicycle safety, education, and access in Texas.
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Precinct 4 Offers Winter Recreational Activities
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Precinct 4's Trails As Parks program offers
winter recreational activities. |
What's your goal for the new year?
Try something different this 2017, whether it's
spending more time outdoors or picking up a new hobby.
To get you started,
Precinct 4 offers free activities all winter long led by expert Precinct 4 parks staff.
Pontoon boat tours, fishing, stargazing, and a white bass canoe trip along Spring Creek are just a few activities available this winter.
No specialized equipment or experience is required.
Book your trip today online at
www.hcp4.net/TAP.
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| Net-Zero Facility Recognized by H-GAC |
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Jeff Taebel, director of community and environmental planning at H-GAC, presents an award to
Precinct 4 Parks Department Director Dennis Johnston.
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The Harris County Engineering Department received h
onorable mention in The Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC) Our Great Regions Awards for their work on Harris County's first net-zero energy restroom at Carter Park in Precinct 4.
More than 30 local government agencies submitted applications in five categories. The net-zero restroom won the Honorable Mention Diligence Award, which honors facilities that overcame challenges creatively and tenaciously.
The 470-square foot restroom boasts solar panels, a rain harvesting system, and
onsite wastewater treatment through natural filtration. In addition, the facility has received a net-zero energy designation, which means the facility will generate enough renewable energy on-site to meet its electrical needs.
Benefits of the design include alleviating the need to connect to existing water and sewage piping and the electrical grid.
Long term, the project may save money on electricity and water and allow county parks departments to expand restroom facilities to remote parks.
"I'm proud this model is receiving the recognition it has. Usually, restrooms require large investments in infrastructure and maintenance that would not be feasible in remote parks and along trails," said Commissioner R. Jack Cagle. "We're happy that we now have a cost-effective way to provide access to working restrooms, especially as we continue to expand activities along the greenway."
Designed in 2015 by Harris County Engineering Department interns, the facility is the first of many built for remote areas of the precinct.
Located along the Spring Creek Greenway, Carter Park is a 115-acre facility with a 12-lane archery shooting range; bicycling, equestrian and nature trails; a pavilion; picnic tables; a canoe launch; and creek fishing.
More information
about Our Great Region 2040 is available at
www.ourregion.org
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| Mercer Acquires Rare Repeat-Blooming Camellia |
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Mercer now features a rare camellia
azalea that blooms throughout the year. |
Mercer Botanic Gardens recently acquired a rare, repeat blooming
Camellia that may help
Camellia breeders develop new longer blooming varieties. Known as the
Camellia azalea, the shrub blooms most months out of the year while commercially available ones in the United States only bloom autumn through early spring.
This tropical plant is cold hardy throughout most of the southern United States and
its foliage and overall habit resembles an azalea. It grows naturally in only in a few locations in China, but is now being cultivated in the United States.
"Mercer is probably one of only a few places in the region that has this species," said Mercer Director Darrin Duling. "We are growing it in our nursery right now and are thrilled that it is flowering. We look forward to planting it in our gardens sometime next year."
Mercer growers are also attempting to create hybrid camellias using pollen from the Camellia azalea.
When hybridized with other non-tropical species, the cold tolerance for those hybrids is likely to increase. These hybrids are still under development and should be ready for release in a few years. Many Camellia
azalea hybrids have already been developed and are available to the public in China but cannot be imported to the United States due to the possibility of transferring pathogens that could affect the citrus industry.
Mercer also has four other Camellia azalea species grown from donated cuttings from a Georgia nursery. While still small, they are beginning to show signs of buds.
"We will not know if it is successful until fruit begins to form in spring," said Duling. "If the fruit has viable seed, it will take seven to eight years for a plant to reach flowering size from seed. A lot of patience is necessary for camellia hybridization!"
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| HCPL Circulates One Million eBooks in 2016 |
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It's official. Harris County residents love to read! In November, Harris County Public Library (HCPL) became the first library system in Texas to circulate one million eBooks in a calendar year as part of Project Mill-E.
Project Mill-E kicked off in January when HCPL challenged readers to checkout one million eBooks. Since then, the response has been overwhelming.
With fifty days left in the year, readers completed the challenge on Nov. 10, checking out an average of 2,500 eBooks per day.
"HCPL and public libraries in general, are constantly evolving and changing to better meet the information needs of the community regardless of the format," said HCPL Director Edward Melton. "
Library patrons continue to use HCPL's brick-and-mortar branches, and the demand for print materials remains strong, but in the age of paid services like Amazon's Kindle Unlimited, Netflix, and Hulu, they have become accustomed to 24-hour access, and HCPL has positioned itself to provide it to all Harris County residents.
Even with all the advances in technology, the public library will continue to remain vital in the knowledge based ecosystem."
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2016 Property Tax Bills are in the Mail
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Tax bills are in the mail and on the way to Harris County property owners.
Once received, property owners should pay their bill by Jan. 31, 2017 to avoid additional fees.
Harris County residents can pay their property taxes by phone at (713) 274-CARD (2273), online at www.hctax.net, by mail, or in-person at any of the 16 Tax Assessor-Collector's Offices throughout Harris County.
Some residents may qualify for tax exemptions not included on their tax bills. Taxpayers should review their tax bill carefully and determine if they are receiving the proper exemptions. Learn more about property tax homestead exemptions by contacting the Harris County Appraisal District at (713) 957-7800."
In addition, the Tax Assessor-Collector's Office now offers an e-Bill service to taxpayers who want to receive their tax bill online. If property owners would like to receive an e-Bill, they can sign-up at www.hctax.net by using their unique e-Statement code that is located on this year's tax bill.
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office Property Tax Division maintains more than 1.6 million tax accounts and collects property taxes for 71 taxing entities including Harris County. The Tax Assessor-Collector's Office collects more than $6 billion in property taxes.
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Upcoming December/January Activities
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Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center:
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Critter's Christmas. Sat., Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Have you thought of decorating a tree outside just for the critters? Learn how to make decorative edible treats for the birds and other wildlife that visit your yard this time of year.
T'ai Chi. Wed., Dec. 21 and 28 at 8:30 a.m. Meet in the outdoor classroom next to the Nature Center for an hour of low-impact stretching, breathing, and range of motion exercises based on the 24-step Yang form of T'ai Chi.
Gardening Daze. Wed., Dec. 21 and 28 at 8:30 a.m. Join horticultural coordinator Matt Abernathy at 8:30 a.m. for plant identification and gardening in the native flower beds surrounding the Nature Center, or help tend vegetables at 10 a.m. in the heritage garden at the pioneer homestead with volunteer Doug Ebeling. Closed-toed shoes, gloves, a hat, sunscreen, and water are recommended.
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Christmas Bird Count. Sat., Dec. 17, 8 a.m. Meet at the west-side parking lot for the Spring Creek Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Census information gathered will be submitted to the National Audubon Society along with counts from around the world. For more information or to participate in the Christmas Bird Count at Mercer Botanic Gardens, e-mail [email protected]. For additional meeting points and times, e-mail [email protected].
Lunch Bunch: Exploring the Primeval Flora of New Caledonia. Wed., Jan. 11 from noon to 2 p.m. Discover the living fossils inhabiting the prehistoric landscapes of New Caledonia during this presentation by Peckerwood Garden Director Adam Black. This environmentally sensitive region located on an isolated archipelago in the South Pacific faces a variety of pressures of great concern to conservationists. Explore these remarkable and beautiful prehistoric landscapes with alien ferns, parasitic conifers, and other strange plants while learning about the challenges to preserve these rapidly vanishing habitats.
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Big Stone Lodge at Dennis Johnston Park:
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Mistletoe Magic Luncheon. Fri., Dec. 16 at 11:30 a.m. Big Stone Lodge invites the community to experience the enchantment of the season. Bring your loved ones to enjoy a delightful holiday meal and the music of Jay Cantu. Ben's Chuck Wagon will cater smoked pork loin, glazed carrots, scalloped potatoes, rolls, dessert, and unlimited coffee and iced tea. An $8 per person suggested donation is requested and payable in advance during registration. Come by the Center Mon. through Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get tickets no later than Wed., Dec. 14.
Trip Sign Up. Fri., Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis. Transportation is provided for individuals 50 and better through Harris County Precinct 4's Senior Adult Program. A Harris County Precinct 4 bus will pick up and drop off participants at Spring Baptist Church, located at 633 E. Louetta Road in Spring, for the following Jan. trip: Thurs., Jan. 5 at 8 a.m. - Hemi Hideout, Brookshire. The cost is $7 per person. Lunch is on your own at Cracker Barrel.
Lindy's Famous Cake Balls. Mon., Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. Join Lindy Maze of Lindy's Country Cupboard Cake for a sweet gourmet baking presentation at Big Stone Lodge in Dennis Johnston Park. Maze will share tips for making her famous cake balls. To register for this free seminar or to receive additional information, call Big Stone Lodge at 281-350-1029.
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Mangum-Howell Community Center:
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Free Popcorn and a Movie: Home Alone. Fri., Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. Take an afternoon break and enjoy a free showing of Home Alone along with popcorn and a drink at Mangum-Howell Center provides a surround-sound system, big screen TV, and padded seating for a true theatre experience.
Adult Coloring Book Class. Wed., Jan. 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteer instructor Senetta Young uses the color wheel to teach participants how colors can create beautiful works of art. Bring the beautifully detailed illustrations and drawings of an adult coloring book to life using colorful palettes and your imagination. This therapeutic process is perfect for those who need to relieve anxiety and stress. Bring your favorite adult coloring book, coloring pencils, crayons, or markers, and feel the anxiety and stress slip away as you color. Call 281-591-7830 or come by the Center to sign up for this class.
Zentangle Art Class. Wed. Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Join volunteer instructor Senetta Young as she teaches basic Zentangle designs. Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing patterns. It is a meditative art form that is most often drawn using a black pen on white paper. Stop by the Center to see several beautiful Zentangle drawing samples. Call 281-591-7830 or come by the Center to sign up for this class. Supplies are provided for the first class along with a list of supplies for future classes.
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Candy Cane Luncheon. Fri., Dec. 16 at 11:30 a.m. Ring in the holidays during this afternoon of fun and fellowship as we celebrate the season and help provide a special holiday for local children at Copperfield Church. Donations of canned goods will be accepted at the luncheon and later distributed to families for Christmas. Ben's Chuck Wagon is catering turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, rolls, dessert, and iced tea.
Degas: A New Vision. Fri., Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. Travel to The Museum of Fine Arts Houston to view Degas: A New Vision. This exhibit offers the most significant international survey in nearly 30 years of the work of Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834-1917). $20 prepaid, non-refundable fee covers the cost of this trip. Prior to the tour enjoy lunch with the group at Spaghetti Warehouse. Lunch is not included in the ticket cost; participants are responsible for their own meal expenses.
Murder by Chocolate Dessert Mystery Theater. Tues., Jan. 10, 2017 at 4 p.m. Enjoy an evening of a hilarious one-of-a-kind guest interactive Dessert Mystery Theater where a crime takes place and everyone is a suspect! You can be a part of the family friendly mystery play or just sit back and enjoy the show. The ticket price includes the Mystery Theater and a dessert buffet. A prepaid, non-refundable $20 fee must be received within one week of making your reservation. Prior to the show, enjoy dinner with the group and the incredible view of Clear Lake at Sam's Boat. Dinner is not included in the ticket cost; participants are responsible for their own meals.
After-Christmas Sale Shopping. Wed., Jan. 11 at 9:30 a.m. Are you a shopper? Do you still have a gift in mind you want to send someone? Do you want to get in on the after Christmas bargains? Then we want you to come join us for the after Christmas shopping. Enjoy some shopping with our Fun4Seniors friend and find great deals with name brands that you love. Enjoy lunch on your own at any great venue around the mall. Participants are responsible for the cost of their meals.
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