Eastwood Civic Association

Saving the Old Cage Elementary Building
We are currently involved in an effort to save the old Rufus Cage Elementary School Building at 1415 Telephone Rd. We are working with HISD officials and city officials to make sure this landmark is preserved. This was a main agenda item on the January 11, 2005 SuperNeighborhood meeting and the subject of a meeting held on the site on January 12, 2005. Sealed bids for the 1.012 acre site were due by January 21, 2005. On Friday, January 14, HISD announced that they had stopped the bidding process and will allow the community time to come up with a plan for the building. A committee chaired by John Peeler has been formed and is reviewing the various options.

    

The school started in 1894 as a one-room schoolhouse on land donated by the Cage family. At that time it was named for W. A. Kirby, a long-time school board president and founder of the W. A. Kirby subdivision in the Eastwood area. It moved and was renamed the Rufus Cage Elementary in 1907. The current building was built in 1910. More history.

Eastwood/Kanomwan Tsunami Relief
Every year, Yoot and Thoy Charoenrat , the owners of Kanomwan at 1011 Telephone Rd., and their family go to Thailand for a month. They know their customers are always longing for the restaurant to reopen at the end of December. They spend the last few days of their trip in Phuket with friends and relatives. They left for Houston just three days before the tragic Tsunami hit their homeland. Many of us who are loyal customers have been asking how we can help.

Yoot and Thoy have already sent a donation to help the poor and homeless. A lot of the relief efforts are helping the middle class and those who have been injured. There are few donations designated for those who were already struggling.

The Charoenrats are collecting donations at the Restaurant specifically for those whose limited opportunities for income have been wiped out. The friends they were just with in Phuket are distributing the donations directly where there is an immediate need. They will also be giving funds to other projects that target the poor and homeless, including one which Thailand's Princess may be setting up. They will collect money for sixty days and then will take they will take it to Thailand.

Donations can be placed in the red box on the counter during normal business hours (lunch - Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and dinner - Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.).

There is also the Bush/Clinton relief effort. They will be sending the private money raised to private relief organizations already on the ground in Southeast Asia. Those organizations can be found on the website www.usafreedomcorps.gov, while donations can be made by calling 713.686.7373.

2004-2005 Board
Our officers for the 2004-2005 term are: Steve Parker (W. A. Kirby)- President, Karen Niemeier (Eastood) - Vice President, John Peeler (Eastlawn) - Treasurer, Ali Templer (Woodleigh) - Recording Secretary and Board Members Hector Ayala (Eastwood), Spencer Howard (Jackson Court) , Paul O’Sullivan (Eastwood), and Ed Roberts (Eastwood).

State Representative Rick Noriega on active duty in Afganistan
For the latest news from Rick while he is Afganistan, visit www.ricknoriega.com

Melissa and the Noriega Family held an Open House for Rep. Noriega prior to his departure to serve active duty with the Texas Army National Guard. The Open House was on Sunday, June 13, 2004 at the CWA Local Hall, 1730 Jefferson. He started serving in Afganistan in August.

News stories on his tour of duty: KTRK-ABC (13), KPRC - NBC (2), News 24 Houston

Eastwood Academy and Neighborhood Cleanup
On Saturday, April 24th, we held a cleanup in Eastwood. Yes, in the rain! Our primary objective was the area behind Eastwood Academy. We got it done! Thank you to all the volunteers from ECA, JACV and the Eastwood Academy. We also appreciate the support from Keep Houston Beautiful, the HPD Navigation Storefront and the City of Houston Solid Waste Department. We are planning our next cleanup for the first weekend in October, two weeks prior to the next Eastwood Historic Home Tour.
Before

After

Volunteers


Dora Lantrip Elementary School HISD Proposal
A proposal for renovations to the Dora Lantrip Elementary School was presented to the HISD board on Thursday, March 11, 2004 at 2:00 pm. The board unanimously approved the recommendation authorizing a $12.3 million budget and approval to procede with a design contract. Our district board member, Diana Davila spoke in favor of the recommendation and historically balanced construction plan.
- MORE INFORMATION ON THE MARCH 3, 2004 EHC MEETING WITH HISD

Prevailing Lot Petition Drive
In order to preserve the look and historic value of our neighborhood, we are collecting signatures on petitions to put in place ordinances preserving the prevailing lot size and building set-backs. In other areas of town, single lots have been purchased and subdivided to construct several 3-story, zero lot line townhomes. If you are interested in helping out, send us an email. Also, check the calendar for our next scheduled block walk and come help save the charm and beauty of our historic neighborhood.