First - this just in! There is an auction of items from Humble ISD. Go to: https://www.lemonsauctioneers.com/

Now - about that traffic! It is really frustrating. Ever since West Lake Houston Parkway opened thru to the Beltway, thousands of cars are using that for north-south traveling instead of Hwy. 59. All along WLHP, there are cut throughs and very busy corners with nary a traffic light in sight. I can see many terrible accidents in our future as cars increase and drivers get more daring.
PLEASE Commissioner Eversole! Can you PLEASE synchronize the lights along WLHP? If Bill White can get the lights synchronized in downtown Houston, the fourth largest city in the world, then surely you do the same on WLHP. the intersection at 1960 must be analyzed. The light changes so quickly that many drivers chance it and try to make it across. Dangerous. And frustrating!!! Lastly - to all those candidates from Houston. Please come get your campaign signs!I don't know how you do things downtown, but out here, we see those signs as an indicator of what kind of elected official you will be. One that puts trash out! One who has a disregard for the residents. One who is self serving above all else. One who is forgetful. So - if it starts with Jack and ends with Christie - then we're talking about you!

One of the best things about being a newspaper editor has been the opportunity to know all the great people, events and efforts of our community. Maybe other communities are as wonderful as ours, I don't know. But here, we have some really, truly special people working to make things better here and all over this world of ours. A long time ago, I began writing about HAAM, or the Humble Area Assistance Ministries. What they do there is impressive to me since they do it without government funds and they don't just hand out dollar bills and loaves of bread, they really change lives. The sheer magnitude of their school supply, Thanksgiving and Christmas projects is overwhelming. HAAM has a great thrift shop that provides funding for their operations but HAAM relies heavily on donors for the crayons, pencils, cans of green beans and Christmas toys they give away. HAAM serves only nine local Zip codes. They individualize their assistance. They carefully count noses and ages of each family member - determine what they need - whether it be electricity for a month or two, help finding a job, prescription medicine or simply toys for the children at Christmas. I remember over the years, the stories of panic felt at HAAM as Thanksgiving rushes in, food is dispersed and the very next second, the huge need for toys is felt. They want to give each child two toys and they want them to "fit." Age and gender appropriate toys are carefully chosen. But each year, the need is felt at HAAM before the community feels it. By the time Sunday school classes and school groups choose to collect toys, HAAM folks have already started using precious donated funds to buy toys. They just don't want anyone to get left out. I wish HAAM could be the clearing house for all needy children in our area - there seems to be so many conflicting demands - this or that small group is collecting for this or that need. HAAM screens all their clients and coordinates with other agencies. Doesn't it make sense for them to be the big coordinator? That might be too big of a wish for Santa to grant to me but I definitely hope that all groups in the community will choose HAAM as their charity and please don't wait! If you wish to help, drop toys off at Homewood Suites where the very generous Philippe Cras gives breakfast or overnight stays in exchange for toy donations to HAAM. Happy Thanksgiving!

Why is it human nature can be so critical? Reams of research and psychoanalysis explains those who just have to criticize as low in self confidence, wanting attention and other rationales. When it comes to elections, it does seem that sometimes the worst in folks comes out. In politics, there are no holds barred. We wonder why our country is in the shape it is? Most of the time, our saner folks would never dream of exposing themselves or their families to the mean spirited attacks by the media and the public.
We are fortunate to have had some outstanding individuals run for office in our community - and for the most part, the jobs aren't even paid! I know it sounds corny but how about a community effort to let peace begin with us? Let's applaud the folks who are brave enough to step forward and put their name in the hate. No one, no one is perfect. We are human beings, filled with frailties. Support our own, defend those not present and life will be more enjoyable. Well, I'm off the soap box now.

District E Race - Wil Williams, who had a nice showing of more than 1,000 votes in his first try for office, has thrown his support for Mike Sullivan. That is a nice boost. Sullivan told me he visited with Williams on the phone Election Night and urged him to help make the community better. Williams has done so! Look for more coverage on these two. Addie Wiseman told several community members recently she was 'surprised" Annette Dwyer is giving speeches saying she has Addie's support. Addie has been supporting Dwyer and now that she sees the writing on the wall - Sullivan will win - she is switching gears to back into Sullivan's camp. I heard Addie has something lined up for 2008 and it isn't politics. More on that later.
Diane Trautman announced she is running against Joe Crabb again. Trautman said she spent a lot of money this fall polling voters to see how much support she has. The polling must have gone well as she decided - at the last moment she said - to announce her intentions at her latest Town Hall Meeting. It is still early - I have no pulse on this race except to say Crabb has proven to be unbeatable. So Diane will be pushing a big, heavy rock up a steep hill - no matter what the polls say!

Aimee Bertrand, contrary to yesterday's post, is not with Wiseman's office. She wrote to say," I left Council Member Wiseman’s office in February to take a position with the Houston Apartment Association. I was there on their behalf on Tuesday, since our PAC endorsed Mike Sullivan."
Beautiful Aimee is also engaged to Rick Arrington of Calvert Mortgage (no relation) - they are getting married in early 2008 in Los Cabos. Her parents, Ginger and Byron Bertrand, are longtime Kingwood residents and have been involved in nearly every community event. Great family!
Sorry Aimee!

I left Council Member Wiseman’s office in February to take a position with the Houston Apartment Association. I was there on their behalf on Tuesday, since our PAC endorsed Mike Sullivan.

It was a nice time hanging out with the Sullivan crowd on Election Night. The gang started coming in at 7 pm over at Homewood Suites where three TV sets were turned on. The earliest tally was mail-in and early votes. Sullivan had that and never let go of his lead all night. Gradually more and more folks came in - Jessica and Court Wellington (she of Ted Poe's office), Patti Chapman (formerly of Poe's office), Aimee Bertrand of Addie Wiseman's office (Addie was nowhere in sight but she has been supporting the Clear Lake candidate Dwyer all along), Dan Huberty, Jim Harding, Dave Martin, Kim and Paige of course, Devon Alexander, Bruce Ward, Skippy Lupton - and a bunch of other folks. By 9 p.m., the numbers were even better and by 10 - it was obvious that Sullivan was top dog. Annette Dwyer of Clear Lake came in second. Williams called to congratulate Sullivan as did Mehta.
What is with some folks in the city? Do they just wake up one morning and think - damn - I'm running for office! So many people want to be heard, to be important - to matter.
Now - in runoffs, it is not a matter of getting new people to come vote. It is a matter of getting those voters back to vote again. another round of walking, calling, etc. No wonder most people don't run for office.