Food and wine pairing: Swiss Steak

February 27th, 2020

By Alisa Star

What says comfort food like Swiss Steak. This recipe is great for the month of March. It’s easy, delicious, and will put a smile on your face and bring you right back to being in your mother’s kitchen for some good old home cooking.

This savory dish pairs perfectly with red or white wine. Either one will complement the flavors of round steak, sauteed onions and bell peppers. For the white wine I would pair a partially oaked dry Chardonnay, such as Kendall Jackson, or Dönnhoff riesling would go well also. If you’re a red wine drinker you want something earthy and acidic. A good Barbaresco will pair excellent with this dish such as Rabaja, or Bruno Giacosa. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 pounds bottom round steak
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
¾ cup flour
¼ cup bacon drippings
1 large onion thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
1 bell pepper thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
1 1/2 cup beef broth

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Cut meat to ½ inch slices and salt and pepper both sides. Tenderize the meat with a mallet, until each slice is ¼ in thick. Place flour into a pie pan. Dredge both sides of the meat with the flour mixture.

Add the bacon drippings to just cover the bottom of 4-5 qt dutch oven, place over medium-high heat. Once oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks to the pan, cook until golden brown. Continue to do this until all pieces are browned.

After removing all steaks, add to drippings the sliced onions, bell peppers, and celery. Saute 3 minutes, add garlic and tomato paste, stir well together to combine mixture. Next add the tomatoes, paprika, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Stir to combine. Return the meat to the pan, submerge the meat slices down in the mixture. Cover the pot with the lid and place in the oven and cook for 2 hrs, or until meat is tender to fork.

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Assistance League lends a hand to 3,234 students

February 27th, 2020

ALBA members line up to assist with Operation School Bell at the Kohl’s in League City. Front row: Betty Walcott, Sarah Foulds, Cathy Wolfe, and Kathleen Courville; back row: Karen Douglass, Betty Stoub and Madeline Nugent.

By Mary Alys Cherry and Lisa Holbrook

Few organizations in the Bay Area change more lives than the Assistance League. Its members spend countless hours seeing that children from needy families get new clothes for school so they fit right in with all the rest of their classmates.

And, while they’ve been doing this for some 20 years or more, Nov. 5, 2019, was a landmark date for the 2019-2020 Operation School Bell. On that date Assistance League members completed dressing the 3,231st student: 498 more students than were dressed during the 2018-2019 school year.

“The success of the program this year is due to the support and input of our members, community partners and volunteers, school district volunteers, financial support from local businesses and foundations, and our local Kohl’s and Target department stores,” Chairman Elizabeth Arceneaux said.
 
DRESSING BEGINS
Phase 1 dressing began on Aug. 17 and ended Sept. 21. During that period, 3,031 students attended dressing events at the three local Kohl’s stores (Baybrook, League City and Pasadena) and the Galveston Island Target. They were greeted by dedicated volunteers and given a budgeted amount to use to purchase new school appropriate clothing, shoes, underwear, and a jacket. At checkout, each student was supplied with a hygiene kit and a Sesame Workshop book, Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me, she said.

Students also were able to select books donated bylocal schools and at the Baybrook Kohl’s books donated by the store. A total of 6,952 books were placed in the hands of these students.

Two Phase 2 dressing events were held at the Baybrook and League City Kohl’s stores on Oct. 5 and Nov. 7. Since then, during a Nov. 22 emergency dressing, an additional three students received clothing — a total to date of 3,234 students whose lives have been changed by Assistance League efforts.

MANY FIRSTS
There were many firsts this year, Vice Chairman Sarah Foulds explained:

  • Two new school districts were added — Deer Park and Texas City ISD.
  • The Texas City ISD partnership focused on dressing the large student population identified as homeless. Dressing before the Aug. 28. start of school enabled 388 students to receive new clothing and shoes. Dr. Terri Burchfield noted, “100% of these students attended the first day of school.”
  • Pre-packaged hygiene kits were purchased for a cost of $3.75 each. Each kit included a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, and a comb and brush.
  • United Way of Houston Project Undercover honored Operation School Bell with a donation of socks and underwear. These items were distributed to our partner Clear Creek ISD schools located in Harris County.
  • Polo shirts were purchased for the students from Galveston ISD (739 shirts), and the Mosbacher Odyssey Academy Charter School Galveston (258 shirts) since the required shirts were not available at the local Target store.
  • Odyssey Galveston requested socks and underwear for their young elementary students. A total of 240 pairs of socks and 362 pairs of underwear were delivered to that campus.
  • Kohl’s Cash was used to purchase clothing, socks, underwear, and jackets on the wish list supplied by each school in Dickinson ISD. Sizes purchased ranged from 2T through 4XL.
  • A donation of socks was received from the GEM students at Clear Creek ISD’s Weber Elementary as a thank you to Operation School Bell.

Almost the entire budget was spent on clothing and hygiene kits. Even with $26,700 in discounts received from Target and Kohl’s on the purchase of gift cards and over $28,000 in Kohl’s Cash, the total budget has been expended with one final dressing event held Dec. 5, at the Baybrook Kohl’s store.

The dressing will be continued only on an emergency needs basis. All emergency requests must be sent to [email protected]

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NASA photographer Bill Ingalls to receive Communicator Award

February 27th, 2020

NASA Photographer Bill Ingalls.
Photo: Joel Kowsky

The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation has selected NASA Senior Photographer Bill Ingalls to receive the prestigious 2020 Space Communicator Award.

Ingalls will be honored at RNASA’s 34th annual National Space Trophy Banquet on April 17 at the Houston Hyatt Regency along with Dr. Ellen Ochoa, retired Johnson Space Center director who will receive the 2020 National Space Trophy.  The public is invited to attend.

For over three decades Bill Ingalls has been capturing NASA’s most spectacular moments through his camera lens. His career was born in 1987 when he landed an internship at NASA’s communications office. After graduating from the Waynesburg College with two Bachelor of Art degrees in English and Visual Communications, Ingalls returned to NASA where he joined a group of accomplished and esteemed photographers in 1989.

He has crisscrossed the globe photographing some of our country’s most historic and compelling images. His iconic photos have captured Neil Armstrong’s burial at sea, Space Shuttle Endeavor’s final landing in 2011, and the first launch of a U.S. citizen on a Russian rocket. As one of NASA’s most senior photographers, he manages over 400 projects annually and supervises a team of five.

The space shuttle Discovery sits atop a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as a nearly full moon sets behind it. Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Ingalls said of his award, “I am incredibly honored, not only to have been selected to receive this recognition, but to be given the trust and responsibility to document space history in order to share NASA’s story for this and future generations.” His assignments have taken him to some of the most extreme environments imaginable. He has been lowered into an active volcano in Alaska, endured -17° temperatures for a Soyuz landing in the Kazakh steppes, and flown through a hurricane aboard a DC-8.

NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Communications Bob Jacobs, who nominated Ingalls, said, “Bill is so much more than a photographer, he’s a storyteller. Bill takes us on this amazing journey of spaceflight through this camera lens, whether it’s the beauty and power of a launch or the exhaustion and excitement of an astronaut’s return home. He’s able to turn the vastness of space into very intimate moments. It’s a special talent.”

Bill is the second photographer to ever be honored with the National Space Club Press Award. Legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow was the first. Bill’s work has been highlighted in National Geographic, Newsweek, TIME, The Washington Post, Fortune, People, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times and has been featured on NBC, CBS and ABC News. To view more of his work, visit his website at ingallsimages.com.

The RNASA Space Communicator Award was created in 1997 in honor of KTRK, Houston Channel 13 space reporter and long-time RNASA Advisor Stephen Gauvain who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1996. The award is presented to an individual or team that makes exceptional contributions to public understanding and appreciation of space exploration The previous recipients of the award are: William Shatner; William Harwood of CBS; Miles O›Brien, formerly of CNN; Elliot Pulham of the Space Foundation; the NASA-Contractor Communications team that responded to the Columbia accident; Mark Carreau, formerly of the Houston Chronicle; Neil deGrasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Veronica McGregor, manager of news and social media at NASA›s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.; former Canadian Space Agency astronaut, author, and musician Chris A. Hadfield; Bill Nye (the science guy) CEO of the Planetary Society, and Rob Navias of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Visit www.rnasa.org/tables.html to reserve a table or find information about tickets and sponsorships. To reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency, visit www.rnasa.org/houston.html or call 713-654-1234 and request the RNASA group rate.

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CCISD students win big at Livestock Show and Auction

February 27th, 2020

Clear Brook High’s Naomi Browning with her Grand Champion Steer at the 38th Annual CCISD Livestock Show and Auction.

Future Farmers of America students work throughout the summer and fall semester raising animals, designing and constructing agriculture mechanics projects, as well as planning and creating a multitude of food science, floriculture, horticulture, and visual arts projects to showcase in the annual Clear Creek ISD Livestock Show and Auction.

This year’s show, the 38th, was held at the West Agriculture Barn — the culmination of months of hard work for these students within the FFA programs across CCISD’s five comprehensive high schools.

“These students put in a lot of time and care raising these animals and completing other non-livestock projects,” said JT Buford, career and technical education program manager in CCISD. “They are required to feed their animals a minimum of two times a day, morning and evening, seven days a week no matter the weather or temperature. Hours are spent feeding, grooming, and training with animal projects trying to perfect showmanship for the animal and exhibitor while trying to unlock the animal’s greatest genetic potential.”

A total of more than $153,000 was raised for FFA students across the District this year. The CCISD Livestock Auction benefits students by providing an opportunity for them to explore and develop a passion for production agriculture, learn valuable lessons in money and time management, and offers the opportunity to potentially fund additional animal projects or future education expenses.

“The CCISD Livestock Show and Auction would like to thank the community for deeply believing in the CCISD FFA members and programs by continuing to support us each year,” said Buford. “Lastly, I’d like to thank all of the CCISD Ag teachers for their selfless dedication to their students and FFA programs. Without them, the Livestock Show wouldn’t be nearly as successful.”

Below are the top awards and sale prices this year:

Grand Champion Steer – Naomi Browning – Clear Brook High – $6,500
Grand Champion Pig – Alexis Coffey – Clear Falls High – $5,000
Grand Champion Lamb – Mason Corona – Clear Brook High – $2,000
Grand Champion Goat – Yancey Grice – Clear Creek High – $1,500
Grand Champion Turkey – Aaron Douglas – Clear Lake High – $5,500
Grand Champion Broilers – Jacob Corrao – Clear Springs High – $1,000
Grand Champion Rabbits – Austin Robinson – Clear Springs High – $1,400
Best of Show Ag Mechanics – Dale Bragg – Clear Falls High – $5,000
Best of Show Horticulture – Yancey Grice – Clear Creek High – $800
Best of Show Floral Design – Alexandra Ruiz – Clear Brook High – $400
Best of Show Visual Arts – Mackenzie Zimbeck – Clear Lake High – $450
Best of Show Food Science – McKenzie Crow – Clear Falls High – $700
Reserve Champion Steer – Isabell Cranfill – Clear Springs High – $5,500
Reserve Champion Pig – Kaylyn Baugh – Clear Falls High – $2,200
Reserve Champion Lamb – Sarah Barrera – Clear Springs High – $1,500
Reserve Champion Goat – Kathleen Johnson – Clear Springs High – $1,500
Reserve Champion Turkey – Jessica Stewart – Clear Springs High – $1,700
Reserve Champion Broilers – Alexis Wright – Clear Creek High – $1,000
Reserve Champion Rabbits – Olivia Read – Clear Lake High – $1,200

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March Main Events in Bay Area Houston

February 27th, 2020

Clear Lake
BAHEP lunch March 2. Patrick Jankowski, Greater Houston Partnership senior vice president, will discuss the “State of the Economy” at the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership luncheon Monday, March 2 at the Clear Lake Hilton.

Town Hall March 5. Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin will host a Town Hall Thursday, March 5 in Space Center Houston’s Special Events Building. All of his City Council District E residents are invited, as is Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

CLASP meets March 5. The Clear Lake Area Senior Programs will feature two business owners discussing their experiences from 5:30 p.m.to 7, Thursday, March 5 in the UHCL Bayou Building Garden Room. Free and open to the public.

CCISD Spring Break. The Clear Creek ISD will observe Spring Break March 9-13.

Irish Folk Band March 11. Goitse, the premiere Irish folk band will perform its award-winning music Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. in the UH-Clear Lake Bayou Theater. For tickets, visit www.uhcl.edu/bayoutheater or call 281283-3024.

BAWNC meets March 19. Bay Area Welcome Neighbor Club will meet Thursday, March 19, at Bay Oaks Country Club at 10 a.m. Peggy Herrick, interior designer, will present ideas on how you can make small decorating changes to make a big difference. For luncheon reservations, call R. Richey at 832-607-9949 or email [email protected]

Ryan Sitton to speak. Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton will be the keynote speaker for the Clear Lake Area Chamber’s Wednesday, March 25 luncheon, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bay Oaks Country Club. Registration is now open. Call the chamber for reservations, 281-488-7676.

Yard Sale March 28. Clear Lake City residents will hold a Community Wide Yard Sale Saturday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to noon, CLC Community Association gym parking lot, 16511 Diana Lane. Set up at 6:30 a.m.
 
Dickinson
Hilarious farce March 6. Moon Over Buffalo opens at the Bay Area Harbour Playhouse, 3803 Highway 3, Friday, March 6 and plays through March 22 in the Topside Theatre with curtains at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, which are $17 for adults and $12 for seniors and students, call 281-337-7469 or visit www.harbourtheater.com
 
Friendswood
State of the City March 3. Mayor Mike Foreman will deliver the keynote address at the Friendswood Chamber’s State of the City Luncheon Tuesday, March 3, at 11 a.m. at New Hope Church, 108 W. Edgewood Drive (FM 2351). For reservations, contact the chamber.

Spring Break March 9. Friendswood ISD will observe Spring Break March 9-13.

Galveston
Theatre benefit March 6. “For the Good of the Family,” a drama in two acts will be presented March 6, 7 and 14 at the Moody Mansion, 2618 Broadway, benefitting Casa of Galveston County. Tickets are $30. For ticket or sponsor information, visit www.casagalveston.org/play

Houston
BayTran luncheon March 20. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia will be the guest speaker at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 20 for the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership luncheon at the Marriott Hotel at 9100 Gulf Freeway. For reservations, visit [email protected]

League City
Chamber lunch March 4.  The League City Chamber will host a Generational Differences Panel with Glenn Freedman as emcee and Dee Scott, Charles Pulliam, April Ciccarello, Pierr Castillo and Alexandra Phillips representing different age groups at its Wednesday, March 4 luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Civic Center, 400 W. Walker.

CCISD spring break March 9. The Clear Creek ISD will observe spring break March 9-13.

CCEF style show March 22. The Clear Creek Education Foundation will present its annual “I Love CCISD Fashion Show” at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at Mercedes Benz of Clear Lake. For tickets, visit [email protected]

Chamber Expo March 26. The League City Regional Chamber will host a Health and Wellness Expo from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 26 at the Arolfo Civic Center, 400 Walker St.

Dogs ‘n Divas April 1. Bay Area Turning Point’s Dogs ‘n Divas Fashion Show Luncheon will be held Wednesday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at South Shore Harbour Resort, benefitting both the Turning Point and its Safe Paws Program. For tickets, visit www.dogsanddivas.org

Nassau Bay
HSLBA meets March 11. Pianist Joseph Kim will present the program Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. when the Houston Symphony League Bay Area meets at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, 18300 Upper Bay Road. He is a senior at Clear Springs High and will be a freshman at Dartmouth in the fall. For information, visit [email protected]

Opening March 20. The Clear Creek Community Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road, will present Crimes of the Heart Friday, March 20 through Sunday, April 5 with curtains at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Call 281-335-5228 for reservations or visit clearcreekcommunitytheatre.com

Pasadena
Spring Break March 9. Pasadena ISD will observe Spring Break March 9-13.

Drama opens March 20. The Tennessee Williams drama, The Glass Menagerie, opens at the Pasadena Little Theatre, 4318 Allen Genoa, on Friday, March 20 and plays through March 29 with curtains at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 Sundays. For tickets, which are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors, call 713-941-1758.

Chamber lunch March 19. The Pasadena Chamber membership luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 19 at San Jacinto College’s new Petrochemical Center, 7901 Fairmont Parkway, across from the Pasadena Convention Center, with Sandler Training CEO Dave Mattson as speaker.

Pearland
Spring Break March 9. Pearland ISD will observe Spring Break March 9-13.

Lunch Bunch March 10. The Pearland Chamber Lunch Bunch will gather Tuesday, March 10 from noon to 1 p.m. at First Watch Kirby Commons, 11625 W. Broadway Blvd., Suite 105. For information, contact Jere Gnader, 281-485-3634.
 
Seabrook
Lucky Trails March 13. The 17th Annual Lucky Trails Event, sponsored by the City of Seabrook, will feature three days of races directed by Running Alliance Sport Friday-Sunday, March 13-15. For registration and detailed race information visit www.seabrookmarathon.org

Charity Dinner April 2. Second Chance Pets will host its Tails to Remember Charity Dinner & Auction Thursday, April 2 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Lakewood Yacht Club. For sponsorships, reservations and information, visit www.secondchancepets.org

Webster
Health Fair March 12. A free Health and Wellness Fair with over 60 healthcare vendors will be held Thursday, March 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Webster Civic Center, 311 Pennsylvania Ave. Attendees can consult with a variety of healthcare vendors, participate in screenings and exams, and gain awareness of new services, products and technologies. For information, contact Human Resources Coordinator Brandi Molina at 281.316.4145.

Park Concert March 13. The City of Webster will host a Concert at the Park on Friday, March 13, with the 80’s and 90’s cover band, The Fuse, performing starting at 7 p.m. There will be vendors for the community to enjoy during the concert — the perfect way to end Spring Break with the kids.

Game Night March 13. Senior Game Night will be held Friday, March 13, at the Webster Recreation Center, 311 Pennsylvania Ave. from 6 to 9 p.m.

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Walter Hall and Ed White E-STEM open applications for magnet schools

February 27th, 2020

The Walter Hall E-STEM and Ed White E-STEM magnet programs in Clear Creek ISD are now accepting applications for incoming kindergarten students for next school year.

E-STEM is an acronym for Elementary – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Students in E-STEM schools participate in a highly enriched curriculum that focuses on STEM subjects. They are expected to think critically and solve real-world problems. E-STEM schools have an increased focus on engineering through basic design application and technology that is infused throughout the entire curriculum.

The magnet programs accept kindergarten students who live outside the school’s attendance zone through a lottery system for the 2020-2021 school year. The application deadline is May 15, and the lottery selection for each school will take place on May 22. Incoming first through fifth grade students may also transfer into the programs through a first-come, first-served transfer request as space allows. The transfer application opens March 1. Transportation will not be provided for students outside of both attendance zones.

Parent information meetings are scheduled on the following dates:

Walter Hall Elementary
5931 Meadowside, League City, TX 77573
  • Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m.
Ed White Elementary
1708 Les Talley Dr., Seabrook, TX 77586
  • Thursday, April 23 at 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 5 at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Ed White liaison Amanda Hughes at [email protected] or Walter Hall liaison Laura Mackay at[email protected] For more information, visit www.ccisd.net/estemprogram

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Feral hogs spotted in Seabrook

February 17th, 2020

Seabrook Animal Control has received several calls regarding packs of feral hogs at Wildlife Park just off Red Bluff Road in Seabrook. This is not unusual but may cause apprehension to residents. While utilizing the trails please be observant and aware of your surroundings. More often than not, if you leave them alone they will probably leave you alone. Most feral hogs, in particular female mothers, will only charge someone when they feel provoked or threatened, therefore if sighted, do not try to approach the hogs and do not feed them. Never discharge a firearm or attempt to kill a feral hog as this would violate city ordinance.

Residents who have sighted feral hogs in neighborhoods, alleys or yards, or have seen a hog charge at a person or attack a domestic animal should contact Animal Control by calling Police Dispatch at (281) 291-5610. If the feral hogs are of no threat to personal property or your wellbeing, there is no need to contact Animal Control.

Feral hogs are omnivorous mammals that feed primarily at night and during the twilight hours but may go out in search of food during the day in cold or wet weather. Because feral hogs are largely nocturnal, the visible signs they leave behind are often all there is to indicate their presence. These signs include wallowing, rubs and rooting. Wallows are where hogs root and roll in the mud; rubs are made when hogs scratch or rub themselves on tree trunks, telephone poles, fence posts, and rocks leaving a noticeable sign with mud and hair often left clinging; rooting looks as if the soil has been plowed and mostly takes place over a large area.

To learn more about wildlife in Seabrook visit www.seabrooktx.gov/wildlife.

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Clear Lake City Elementary celebrates completed renovations

February 17th, 2020

Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith visits with Clear Lake City Elementary students.

Clear Lake City Elementary Thunderbirds enthusiastically lined the halls of their newly-renovated campus to cheer on district leaders and community partners as they arrived for a special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Feb. 11, 2020.

Principal Jepsey Kimble welcomed guests inside the new library and spoke to the strong community bonds the school has and the many opportunities the updated spaces will bring for students and staff.

“Although we are continually in awe of how beautiful our new spaces look, we are even more excited about the positive impact this will have on our students,” said Kimble. “The flexibility of the different areas makes it possible to work collaboratively together. This includes areas for our community partners, Nassau Bay Baptist Church and Clear Lake United Methodist Church, to continue to be a strong force in supporting the work we do.”

The 55-year-old campus received a nearly $16 million major renovation and expansion as part of the 2017 CCISD Bond program. This included a new wing and collaboration spaces, removal of portable buildings, and renovations to the library, cafeteria and restrooms. Upgrades and replacements to the roof, flooring, mechanical and electrical throughout the building were also completed.

“The administration addition and the renovation of the old gym into a new library allowed us to return the spaces vacated inside the main building into much needed instructional space,” said Paul Miller, CCISD director of facility services. “The upgrades to the campus will ensure that the staff and students at Clear Lake City Elementary can access the latest instructional technology in a secure and comfortable environment.”

The project was completed by Joiner Architects and DivisionOne Construction.

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NASA to Hire More Astronauts

February 13th, 2020

NASA is hiring new astronauts to explore the Moon and Mars! If you have what it takes to be an Artemis Generation astronaut, apply online March 2-31.
Photo by NASA

As NASA prepares to launch American astronauts this year on American rockets from American soil to the International Space Station – with an eye toward the Moon and Mars – the agency is announcing it will accept applications March 2 to 31 for the next class of Artemis Generation astronauts.

Since the 1960s, NASA has selected 350 people to train as astronaut candidates for its increasingly challenging missions to explore space. With 48 astronauts in the active astronaut corps, more will be needed to crew spacecraft bound for multiple destinations and propel exploration forward as part of Artemis missions and beyond.

We’re celebrating our 20th year of continuous presence aboard the International Space Station in low-Earth orbit this year, and we’re on the verge of sending the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “For the handful of highly talented women and men we will hire to join our diverse astronaut corps, it’s an incredible time in human spaceflight to be an astronaut. We’re asking all eligible Americans if they have what it to takes to apply beginning March 2.”

The basic requirements to apply include United States citizenship and a master’s degree in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics, from an accredited institution. The requirement for the master’s degree can also be met by:

  • Two years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) of work toward a Ph.D. program in a related science, technology, engineering or math field;
  • A completed doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine degree;
  • Completion (or current enrollment that will result in completion by June 2021) of a nationally recognized test pilot school program.

Candidates also must have at least two years of related, progressively responsible professional experience, or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Astronaut candidates must pass the NASA long-duration spaceflight physical.

Americans may apply to #BeAnAstronaut at: www.usajobs.gov

As part of the application process, applicants will, for the first time, be required to take an online assessment that will require up to two hours to complete.

After completing training, the new astronauts could launch on American rockets and spacecraft developed for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to live and work aboard the International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth, where they will take part in experiments that benefit life at home and prepare us for more distant exploration.

They may also launch on NASA’s powerful new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, docking the spacecraft at the Gateway in lunar orbit before taking a new human landing system to the Moon’s surface. After returning humans to the Moon in 2024, NASA plans to establish sustainable lunar exploration by 2028. Gaining new experiences on and around the Moon will prepare NASA to send the first humans to Mars in the mid-2030s.

NASA expects to select the new class of astronaut candidates in mid-2021 to begin training as the next class of Artemis Generation astronauts.

For more information about a career as a NASA astronaut, and application requirements, visit: NASA Astronauts Homepage

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Commissioner Garcia Gets out Into the Community

February 12th, 2020

At the beginning of the year, Commissioner Adrian Garcia laid out how he wanted his schedule to be coordinated and his vision for doing so.  He does not like to sit and work from his desk every single day – he likes to get out, meet residents where they live, and really understand what impacts them. One of his goals for this year is to do more of this on a regular basis. This means having more one-on-ones with residents, as well as attending HOA, civic club and PTA meetings, and visits with staff.

“I want to visit all Precinct Camps and spend time at job sites while the crews are working. I can get a hard hat and work gloves to use. I want to get my hands dirty with the staff,” Commissioner Garcia said.

And he was serious! At the beginning of January, the commissioner rode the new Harris County Transit bus routes that were recently launched in East Harris County. The five new routes were launched to service some of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey flooding. Take a look at this clip from that day and listen from one resident who shared what this means for him.

Two weeks ago, the Commissioner visited with the Precinct 2’s Road and Bridge crew to learn more about the process of digging and ditching. And as requested, he was equipped with a hard hat, vest, and gloves. He was serious about getting his hands dirty!

 

The following are his thoughts about the visit and what he learned that day:

“Precinct 2 has many important responsibilities, key among them is the work done by our Infrastructure and Public Works Departments, which includes our Parks Department.

I visited my field staff because what they do is key to improving the quality of life for constituents of Precinct 2. I witnessed their careful work as they improved the water flow of area ditches that often intertwine with gas lines and main waterlines. Their work requires skill and teamwork to get the job done and done quickly.

I also watched and helped, as my staff did the labor-intensive work of cleaning out neighborhood culverts. My team does some backbreaking work with shovels and other equipment to clear culverts so that the entire neighborhood drainage system works and prevents neighborhood flooding.

I was also proud to be in attendance as we delivered to several employees brand new trucks so that they can do their job even better. Many vehicles were in horrible condition, one employee told us about the hole in his floorboard. Others told us of the frequent breakdowns they were experiencing with vehicles that should have been taken out of service years ago.

I also learned of the great pride and commitment our Parks Department has for their work. Many were using their personal equipment to maintain our parks because the previous administration wouldn’t buy the equipment they needed. Now, they leave their personal equipment at home because we’ve purchased brand new equipment for them to use.

As I visited with these hardworking employees, I was beaming with pride because I have always strived to have Customer Service be a guiding principle of all my work and I witnessed how our Precinct 2 employees are just as committed to doing their jobs well and treating all they those come in contact with dignity and respect. And this is something my administration strives to do every day.”

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Be sure to check out the video and more photos from the day!

To close off January, Commissioner Garcia hosted his first “Café with Commissioner” at a grocery store located in Precinct 2 to connect and visit with residents. He will be hosting these meetups on a regular basis to gives residents an opportunity to meet him and share their concerns.  To find out when the next Café with Commissioner will take place, be sure to connect with us on social media! You will also stay up-to-date about important programs, resources, and events taking place around Precinct 2.

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