Summer Funnin'

For most kids, May 28th will mark the end of the school year and the beginning of Summer 2009. It's a time for them to explore their surroundings, have fun, and nourish their minds with activities that have nothing to do with schooling. For parents, it's a time to explore hobbies, stop to take in the outdoor weather, and where one must do their best to keep their kid out of trouble and entertained. So, as many adults are trying to figure out what to do with the kiddos and themselves, I suggest to look little further than what the Houston Parks & Recreation Department has in place for this Summer at Selena Perez- Denver Harbor Park. As this is the only park in DH with a Community Center, there will be a good amount of going ons for children, adults, and Seniors. Here is a breakdown.

2009 Summer Enrichment Program- Keep your child active every day with arts & crafts, games, special events/entertainment, sports and water fun by registering him or her for this program.

• Ages: 6- 13
• Registration: April 18th until filled - Registration is required at Community Center During Normal Business Hours
• Camp Dates: June 1st - August 7th (Monday thru Friday only)
• Time: 8:00am - 6:00pm
• Fee: $30 per week per child (Some Participants May Qualify for Exemption)
• Information: For all who register, there will be an 'Overview/Orientation given at the Denver Harbor Community Center on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 @ 6:30pm
  Call 713-675-2151 for more info & if you have questions.
  

Pool Supervisors, Head Lifeguards, and Lifeguard Jobs - Provide lifeguarding duty at the Denver Harbor Park Pool.

• Requirements: 16 years of age or older, must pass American Red Cross Lifeguard Training course, Must pass drug test and criminal history background check
• Starting Salary: $9.50 hourly
• Employment Period: May 16th, 2009 to September 7, 2009
• Location: Aquatics Office- 6402 Market St, Houston, Tx 77020 (Community Center)
• Info: 713-670-5501 Mon- Fri 9am- 5pm

Saturday Open Gymnasium- Enjoy open and free basketball, volleyball, or badminton @ Denver Harbor Community Center

• Ages: All
• Registration: None Required
• Fee: FREE
• Program Dates: Year round every Saturday
• Time: 10am - 2pm
• More Info: 713-675-2151

Adult Step Aerobics- Step Aerobics is a great cardiovascular workout and classes are available for all levels for intense to simple depending on the community center and instructor.

• Ages: 18 and up
• Registration: Ongoing
• Fee: FREE
• Program Dates: Year Round
• Times: M/W/Th 6pm- 7pm
  Fri 1pm- 2pm
• Info: 713-675-2151

Community Swimming Pool- Public pools will be open in 2 phases. During Phase I, scheduled for May 23rd, 20 pools will open during the weekend only. During Phase II, scheduled for June 6th, an additional 17 pools will open. From June 15th through August 14 HPARD (Houston Parks and Recreation Department) will operate 37 municipal pools on a Tuesday through Sunday schedule from 1pm - 8pm. All public pools will be closed Mondays throughout Summer.

• More Info: 713-673-7140

Senior Program- This program provides a wide variety of recreation and leisure activities for seniors. Activities include specialty and creative crafts, fitness, walking clubs, cultural events, senior forums, field trips, and special events.

• Ages: 55 years and older
• Fee: FREE unless otherwise indicated
• Times: Various by Community Center
• Info: 713-675-2151
  
  

Aztec- Mexica Dance/ Danza- Learn the movements of the ancient Mexica through the living, evolving, cultural tradition of dance/danza filled with artistic, spiritual, and warrior tradition of the Pre-Columbian Aztecs and their post-conquest descendants. Open practice.

• Ages- all
• Fee: FREE
• When: every Thursday, 6:30pm, next to DH Pool (unless more room needed)
• Needs: Comfortable clothes to move in - Ladies please wear a skirt
• Info: ourdhstreets@gmail.com
  
  

Park Volunteer Program- several programs available for volunteers of all ages to assist in a variety events and activities from coaching youth sports to cleanup projects in neighborhood parks. Ages and Hours vary depending on which volunteer program one chooses to partake in. Call DH Community Center for more info on all of these opportunities at 713-675-2151.

There are sure to be more things coming through DH Park and the other parks and areas surrounding, so keep a look out and come take part in these great free activities to keep you active and connected to your communidad.
Find out more @ www.houstonparks.org

Immune to the Flu

Many Houstonians were rushing to local Walgreens and CVS stores to try to get their hands on face masks, gloves, and immunity pills last week due to the Swine Flu scare. My parents were no exception and I felt the fear everywhere I went- especially because I work near the Medical Center and the Galleria area, where news reports pinpointed the first U.S. death associated with this virus. However, I decided to remain calm, not think about Outbreak or Quarantine, and just take care of myself as if I was guarding against any type of flu that might come my way (including the H1N1 strain of influenza)- by building immunity.
You don't have to spend big amounts of money or pump yourself full of meds or chemicals for your body to become stronger. Actually, the best way to build immunity is by paying attention to what you put in your body - by way of food & liquids.
So, as this was not the first, nor will it be the last, time we are faced with a fast spreading flu, I offer knowledge brought to me through friends that have been on the Natural/Organic road for a long time now ~ mixed with a little eHow research info on how to build up your immunity (and your families') to guard against the possibility of flu and any other kind of body ailment for that matter.

1. Vitamin C
   Get plenty of natural vitamin C. This is probably the most well-known way to help boost your natural immunity. Supplements, such as vitamins, are fine but the best way to get vitamin C is to get it through pure foods. Oranges, grapefruits and tomatoes are just three examples of foods you can eat everyday in order to build up your natural immunity.

2. Veggies!!
   Eat a good amount of fresh vegetables and beans on a daily basis. You may be surprised to learn that foods like broccoli, spinach and kidney beans are full of antioxidants. Over time, these will help you protect and strengthen your immune system. Vegetable juices ("You could have had a V-8!") are a very easy and tasty way to get your daily amount of vegetables.

3. Agua is good!!!
   Drink at least 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water every day. This can serve two purposes. Water will help to remove toxins and "junk" from your system. It will also carry out any excess vitamins you have ingested during your new diet. Both of these are helpful when trying to build up your natural immunity.

4. Rest.
   Try to sleep well every night. Too many individuals are unaware at how important sleep is to their daily lives. Sleeping 8 hours every night can help to prevent weight gain, reduce stress and even keep you from getting sick.
   
   

5. Exercise on the daily.
   When you exercise, you help your body to absorb the vitamins and nutrients you consume. Exercise by itself is another way that you can strengthen your immune system. This doesn't mean that you have to hit the gym every day. Walking for 30 to 60 consecutive minutes is all of the exercise you need in order to build natural immunity.

6. Get the bad stuff out.
   Know which foods and drinks you should give up. Caffeine and sugar are two things that can actually remove vitamins and minerals from your body, thus weakening your immune system. Fast and processed foods won't do your immune system any good, either. Alcohol will also break down nutrients and your immune system. Basically, you should use common sense when cutting foods out of your diet.

It might be alot to do at first, but start with one and add on as you get a good rhythm with the one you are working on. Building you immunity means taking your body's balance to a whole new level. And the next time you are being warned about a 'pandemic outbreak', you'll feel more secure about yourself and your family's ability to not get sick.

Flooded Ditches

DH is notorious for having big, deep ditches that are easy to get stuck in. Amid all the complaining about how treacherous the ditches were from out of neighborhood visitors, I usually just smiled and said "Yeah. They may not be the nicest to look at, but at least it never floods here." So, I was pretty surprised to find that, although it was only about 2 hours of heavy steady rain last Friday, my ditches were flooded & much of the sidewalk leading to my house too. I wonder if it could have anything to do with the street expansions. Were new flood areas the trade off for wider streets, or is there another culprit I am missing?
For the record, I had to travel down Westhiemer to get home from work that day and it is NOT ready for any real raining to take place. I saw manholes fly up from flooding at intersections and San Jacinto Street looked more like San Jacinto River!

Tomorrow, our seeds will grow...

...All we need is dedication. ~ Lauryn Hill

To continue on with the Eco-Friendly mindset that this past Earth Day set, OurDHStreets is taking this opportunity to introduce you to our Original Jardin series.
A small group of local activists have joined knowledge, time, and efforts to create a garden that features foods that are/were indigenous to the Mexica People (The 7 Warriors) and have opened the gates to us in an effort to share & trade information that they are learning and to promote backyard organic gardening to all gente.
In conjunction, OurDHStreets will be giving you updates through interviews, vids, and pictures on the progress of the garden & connect it to bigger eco/political-conscious efforts in Houston. Enjoy!

Please feel free to ask questions, leave comments, &/or advice for our learning gardeners.

WHY AN ORIGINAL JARDIN?
Several reasons. We've all seen what is happening in the grocery stores due to the current economy. Prices are going up and the quality of the produce available is going down. We are paying more for less and with many people now living under the constant pressure that they might lose their jobs..Well, it just adds more anxiety to our daily lives. We have land that is good to plant on and the reasons why not to ran out. The time has come to start planting. Not relying on 'the man' for our basic needs will get us to a more secure place. Having knowledge about the land and how plants grow will ensure that if/when prices inflate even more, we will still have access to foods we use regularly and conveniently out of our yards. Health-wise, if you are part of the process of creating it, you know what is inside of it. No additives, chemicals, non-pronounceables.
WHY THE 7 WARRIORS?
The 7 Warrior plants were the major crops of the Mexica (Pre-Spanish Inhabitants of Aztlan). The incredible thing about these foods is that they grow well together; Meaning, the environment created by each one directly and healthily affects the other. This makes them easy to grow with proper care. The 3 sister crops (corn, beans, squash) provide the necessary vitamins and nutrients to sustain the human body and the remaining 4 crops add in any missing elements. This makes for a healthy and more eco-friendly environment all in all- for yourself and the Earth.
WHAT PHASE IS THE ORIGINAL JARDIN IN NOW & WHAT'S NEXT?
The jardin came to be in a volunteered backyard that was not being used and was covered in high sprays of grass - seriously, the shortest activist was about a foot away from not being able to see anything back there! On March 7th, the yard was mowed and the top layer of grass was removed. Since then, the grass was mowed and the top layer removed, the soil was flipped and roots taken out, rows created, and maize planted. Last week marked about a month & a half since the project began and small developing maize leaves have begun to sprout in all but one row- that has been reserved for beans.
For now, we are watering and watching the maize take root & develop strong stems and as that develops we will be moving into the bean & squash phase of the project. Right now the jardin is semi-private, but as the crops and food manifest, so will our ability to reach out to the community to partake in the care and the amazing food that the jardin will provide.

Check back to watch the progress on the Original Jardin in DH- Houston & to find knowledge for starting your own organic garden.

No More Tire Tracks on the Grass

In January, the Houston City Council responded to an outcry they say they've received from neighborhood activists, making it illegal to park cars in your yard. However, the City did not budget what it would cost to implement this ban and it seems it will fall into the hands of the neighborhoods & their Civic Clubs to handle.
If Denver Harbor residents want to be part of this crackdown on parked cars, they must "opt in" to the ban by applying to the Department of Planning & Development. The current application requires civic clubs to pay for first-class mailings to every property owner that would fall under the parking ban. This issue concerns me.
First, as has already been the commentary of many politicos, is that it is unfair to less wealthy neighborhoods to have to pay for postage, envelopes, and signs to notify the neighborhood of the changes. For example, Sharpstown, has more than 6,800 homes. Informing all the owners through a first-class mailing would cost at least $3,000. But, to take it further, my thought is that Denver Harbor falls under the 'less wealthy' neighborhood category, and the little money our Civic Club is able to muster with the little representation we get from the City Council*, should be fused to focus on things that are more troubling in our area. How about putting that money toward after school programs or into our area schools? It is disturbing to myself to think that thousands of dollars worth of neighborhood dues could be spent to eliminate cars being parked on our private yard property, when things like the dropout rate, teenage pregnancy stats, continued black/brown violence, and poor education standards remain the same or grow here.
I am all for keeping our streets, yards, and homes clean, but I'm not for investing money into a problem that is mediocre in comparison to other issues that we could face and fix for the future betterment of our gente and our barrio. |
In truth, I have yet to hear what the Denver Harbor Civic Club is saying about their status on this ban, but as I am concerned & if you would also like to know, our Civic Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:45pm in the Senior's Center at Denver Harbor Selena Quintanilla-Perez Park (6402 Market Street Houston, TX 77020). Meetings are open to the public to come listen & to voice your opinions.
Also, If you have any questions regarding neighborhood streets, roads, policing, trash pickup, traffic enforcement, the fire station, the library, the parks, or other concerns, please feel free to e-mail the President of the Denver Harbor Civic Club - Mrs. Anna Gonzales - president@dhcc.ws.

Sites of Interest/Data for blog from:
Denver Harbor Civic Club
Chron.com article- Nabbing Houston Yard Parkers will be Neighborhood Matter
City of Houston eGovernment Center

*due to Adrian Garcia being elected Sheriff, we currently have no City Council representative for Denver Harbor.

Cesar Chavez Parade & Celebration This Saturday

When I hear 'Cesar Chavez', I recall that he was the only frame of reference for so-called Hispanic pride that was offered me in middle or high school. He fought for laborers' rights to organize & unionize & while I don't agree (personally) with all his ideals, I can appreciate his lucha for those that toil & struggle; Especially now, where we are seeing so many lose their jobs due to poor $$ investing and spending by our government. With Dolores Huerta, he formed the United Farm Workers (UFW) movement, which continues his legacy today.
Houston's Cesar Chavez event will consist of a parade & celebration starting @ the Sellers Bros parking lot on Cesar Chavez & ending @ Hidalgo Park on Magnolia's Ave Q. This event mirrors many that will be going on throughout the Nation this weekend to commemorate Cesar's life. It's a great opportunity to make the presence of our gente known in this East End area- just by our partaking in the parade.

For more info on the Tejano Association for Historical Preservation, visit them here
For more info on Cesar & the work of UFW go to www.ufw.org

Si Se Puede!

P.S. Further your knowledge of original people that fought for rights on various fronts in the United States- A few names to note: Dolores Huerta, Assata Shakur, Corky Gonzalez, Emma Tenayuca, Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu Jamal. Start there.

Our DH Streets Spotlights : Leann Gallardo

Full-Time Mom /Wife/DH Resident/ Founder of Celebrations R Us

It's hard to visit Leann's Celebrations R Us shop and not start to think of the coming Spring & Summer parties that her customizable items can be used for. Located not far from Scroggins Elementary in Denver Harbor, Leann carved out a work area out of the home she keeps with her husband & two sons. Creative ideas & being party-planning savvy, Leann meets with people by appointment to get them set up with custom invitations, party favors, & (if called for) a costumed character for their event. April will mark 1 year that Leann became her own boss & her business began establishing itself within the DH community. I felt very welcomed sitting down with Leann in her shop to discuss Celebrations R Us & how she thinks Denver Harbor residents can begin to reconnect & feel safer in their own streets.

D- Tell me about your business.
L-I do personalized invitations, party goods, mint books, candy bars & I am also in the costume entertainment business for all occasions; Meaning, we have costume characters that will come to your party and play games with kids, dance, give out prizes, organize for birthday cake singing, and provide a present to the birthday boy or girl.In all aspects of my business I try to budget out reasonably so that I can provide things at a good price because I'm aware of people's money situations.

D- What inspired you to start your own business & why in Denver Harbor?
L-My children. For their parties, I would rent character costumes and organize games and just seeing their faces after having such a great time really inspired me. Once I had my younger child, I was really driven to be closer to both of my sons. Plus, I wanted to create something that can turn into a family business.
I have always lived in DH, so it was easy and natural to start here. I also feel like people grow up here, leave, and then talk down about the neighborhood. But, if people stay and become invested in it, the community could be nicer or have the things they say they leave the neighborhood for.

D- What would you say is a specialty service that you provide compared to other places & which of your items is your favorite?
L- One of the great things about us is that you can get most of your party items in one place. I provide packages set up in that way and offer discounts based on what you order together. Before going full time with the business, I would just do candy bar favors. So, they are my favorite because they leave alot of room to be creative and can be used in a variety of ways. Some people have come to me to do candy bars for fundraisers or as thank you's for their events, for example.

D- So, you grew up in DH. What can you say about the changes that have come with time here?
L- I used to walk from one side of the neighborhood to the other and feel safe because I felt like these were my streets. Everybody knew each others families. We'd have festivals in the parks here, people would come out, but the city don't do that anymore. It's not like it used to be. I feel that if we had similar events, the people would know each other more personally & feel safe again.

Leann plans to expand her costume character selection in the next months and hopes the Springtime weather & Summer get-togethers will help her business become more successful. She wants to see Denver Harbor residents pull together more and more as a community. I think Leann's energy and pride in our DH streets are the types of things that will cultivate amazing results for her & all the people she will come across through her hard work. If you have a special event coming up, do yourself a favor and check out:

Celebrations R Us
713-671-1149
www.myspace.com/leann_celebrations_r_us
celebrationsrus2008@yahoo.com