July 2019
Greetings!

Happy summer! As temperatures continue to rise, I want to remind you of the many “cool” activities children and adults can experience in Precinct 4. Enjoy an ice cream at the park while watching Frozen, participate in morning T’ai Chi at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, and get a behind-the-scenes look at our parks after dark with Trails As Parks. Attend Precinct 4’s Opry in Humble this August for energetic performances from Michael and Ginny Hix. Reserve your spot today on our Precinct 4 Encore! page. 

As a reminder, we must remain ever vigilant against the threat of flooding. As commissioner, I continue to look for unique ways to implement flood control improvements in both routine and large-scale projects. I encourage you to read about a new roadway improvement and drainage project to reduce flooding on Champions Drive. This issue also contains volunteer opportunities, information about our new Greek Reader’s Theater, and our Summer Nature Series at Levy Park. You can read about all this and more in this edition of E-Corner .

As a reminder, you can access past issues of  Commissioner's E-Corner on the  Precinct 4 website. Visit Precinct 4 online to learn more about our road projects and upcoming events available through our community centers, parks department, and Senior Adult Program.
 
Featured Articles
Evening of Live Entertainment at the 18 th Annual Precinct 4 Opry

Harris County Precinct 4 Encore! invites the community to enjoy three hours of live rock, folk, and country music during the 18 th annual Precinct 4 Opry Friday, Aug. 17, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble.
 
Musicians Michael and Ginny Hix return with The Holla Band and other special guests to bring uniquely dynamic, high-energy performances featuring pop, rock, and country hits from the past. Michael Hix has been compared to entertainers like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Dean Martin, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. Ginny Hix sings traditional country music with hints of swing, blues, and jazz.

For more information or to register online, visit www.hcp4.net/encore/events .
New Flood-Control Project Along Champions Drive

Motorists and residents will soon begin seeing the benefits of a new and improved drainage system along Champions Drive from FM 1960 to Cypress Creek. 

To build the drainage system, crews buried 13,335 crates wrapped in permeable fabric up to 14 feet underground. They also installed gravel over and under the crates as a filtration system and stabilizer. During high-water situations, rainwater will flow off the road into the underground channel, which can convey about 2.5 million gallons of water.

Countywide Voting Planned for November General Election

Harris County voters may notice changes during the next general election. 

Commissioners Court unanimously approved a request by the county clerk for state approval to launch the Countywide Polling Place Program for the November election and subsequent elections.

Approval of the program would mean voters could cast their ballots at any county polling location on Election Day. In the past, voters could vote at countywide polling places only during early voting.

Nature Walks, Urban Wildlife Myth Busters, and Herb Gardening at Levy Park

Precinct 4 programs are now in even more locations! Explore the world of fishing, nature, herb gardening, and urban wildlife. Check out these action-packed events throughout June, July, and August at the City of Houston’s Levy Park. 

Top Events for Staying Cool This Summer

If summers in Houston make you want to draw the blinds and turn up the air, you’re not alone. The summer heat may be miserable, but Precinct 4 staff have a plan to keep you cool. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, we offer a variety of activities to keep you entertained and away from the heat.

Greek Reader's Theater: Antigone

Let your imagination run wild at Burroughs Park as actors set the scene for this classic Sophocles play. Antigone, the daughter of King Oedipus, stands up against an immoral law, risking her life in the process. As Antigone defies the law, proudly standing up for her beliefs, the audience questions whether morality is defined by laws or by our personal convictions and virtues. 

The play begins Saturday, Aug. 3, at 7:30 p.m. under the pavilion at Burroughs Park, 9738 Hufsmith Road in Tomball.

Learn How to Propagate Black Willow Cuttings

Help Precinct 4’s Legacy Tree Project propagate black willow branches to prevent erosion along Spring Creek. Black willow branches are easy to propagate and quick to grow.

This is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty while helping support a local park and wildlife habitat.

Visit us on Saturdays, July 13, Aug. 17, and Sept. 7 at the Dennis Johnston Park Greenhouse.
A Return to Summer Camp

Visits to summer camp don’t have to end after childhood. As a camp counselor at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, Howard Rose returns to camp every year to lead canoe trips down the creek and teach interactive history lessons.

The position allows Rose to share his passion for the outdoors with the next generation. Click here to read more about Rose’s account of Summer Nature Camp at Jones Park. 

Wildflowers of Jones Park

What do fire wheels, horsemints, and prairie coneflowers have in common?

They are all native Texas wildflowers found in Jones Park! Join volunteer and native plant expert Paul Roling on Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m. at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center as he discusses the vast array of native wildflowers found in our area. Participants will also get real-life field experience on an engaging hike to spot some the park’s most beautiful displays. Ages 10 and above. Click here for more information about Jones Park.
Upcoming Events
Spear Throwing

Trails As Parks staff will demonstrate how to use the atlatl Saturday, July 13, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Dennis Johnston Park. Learn about this primitive spear used around the world! Ages 10 and above. Please register by visiting www.hcp4.net/tap/events.
Resale Shop Hop

Take a trip to three of Houston’s premier resale shops Wednesday, July 10, at 9 a.m. with Precinct 4 Encore! Find something different each time you shop, including name brand clothing, purses, bags, household items, and so much more! Lunch will be available for purchase at Phoenicia World Market. Transportation is provided from CHI St. Luke’s Health - The Vintage Hospital, 20171 Chasewood Park Drive in Houston. Click here to register. 
Tall Tails: Wildlife Myth Busters

Join Outreach Coordinator Anni Ranck as she dispels myths about local wildlife Saturday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center. Gain insight into solving common wildlife problems and how wildlife facts really can be stranger than fiction. For more information, call Jones Park at 281-446-8588.