Dynamics of dating violence program

You’re Living Proof, a nonprofit organization that assist survivors of domestic violence, will present a series of interactive workshops this summer to educate teens about the dynamics of dating violence.

The workshops are part of The Squeaky Wheel Project, that helps teens understand the dynamics of healthy dating relationships and identify and become a “squeaky wheel” about dating violence.

Squeaky Speaks, a coloring and activity book for children surviving domestic violence, co-authored by Doris Forté, founder and CEO of You’re Living Proof, and her daughter, Camryn Barganier, is a fundamental component of The Squeaky Wheel Project. It tells the story of how a little girl named Squeaky, a victim of family violence, broke her silence. The book includes a series of exercises called Stop Shops, and will be used as the textbook for the teen dating violence workshops.

The Squeaky Wheel Project will present the free teen dating workshops at Katy Budget Books, 2450 N. Fry Road in Houston, on June 25 and July 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For information, call the store at 281-578-7770. The program will be presented from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 11 at the Cy-Fair Public Library, 9191 Barker-Cypress Road; call 281-290-5248 for information.

The Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek, 16719 Clay Road in Houston, will offer the program from 1:30-3 p.m. Aug. 2. For information, call the library at 281-550-0885.

To learn more about The Squeaky Wheel Project and how to help end domestic violence, visit the Web site at www.Squeakyspeaks.com. To donate coloring books to local women and children shelters, e-mail: orders@squeakyspeaks.com.

The Squeaky Wheel Project teen dating violence summer workshops are underwritten by Bear Creek Neighborhood Wal-Mart No. 3452, Wal-Mart Richmond No. 3827 and Bear Creek H-E-B No. 553.

2009 Hurricane Forecast To Be Released Today

Forecasters to make predictions about 2009 hurricane season

Top federal weather forecasters on Thursday will be announcing their eagerly anticipated predictions for this year's Atlantic hurricane season -- a season likely to be as active as last year.

Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others will make their forecast public at a news conference to be held at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia.

On hand will be Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Bill Read, NOAA's National Hurricane Center director, along with a host of other federal officials.

Government forecasters were right on the mark with their 2008 predictions -- a very active hurricane season. The numbers: 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, five of them major.

Scientists had projected that the 2008 season would bring 12 to 16 named storms that would grow into six to nine hurricanes, two to five of which would be Category 3 or stronger.

Gerry Bell, NOAA's lead seasonal Atlantic hurricane forecaster, has said the gradual warming of the Atlantic Ocean, combined with an active tropical era of storms that began in 1995, will likely mean busy hurricane seasons in the future.

Florida was spared the worst of last year's hurricane season. Only Tropical Storm Fay struck the region hard.

That was not the case for our Caribbean neighbors. Cuba and Haiti got pounded by a succession of major hurricanes and storms, resulting in heavy damage and lost lives.

Cypress parents on the lookout after man approached child

CYPRESS, Texas-- Parents in one community are terrified of losing their children after a man allegedly used money to try to lure a child away.

Constables say he’s been spotted several times at two apartment complexes in the Cypress area of northwest Harris County.

According to witnesses, on April 11 the man was seen walking a puppy at Brandon Oaks Apartments. He then came up to a boy in the middle of the complex and allegedly asked the 6-year-old to take a quarter and meet him in a secluded breezeway on the other side of the complex.

The boy started walking, but then said he couldn't talk to strangers and gave the quarter back. He then ran away.

Since then, constables say the man has been back two more times.

The last time he was there, they gave him a warning for trespassing.

Residents say the man's been spotted driving slowly by nearby complexes.

The boy's father says he now won't let his son or daughter out of his sight.

"I'm glad nothing happened to my son. I'm glad in that split second my son knew what to say and did the correct thing. Luckily, there were other people watching, because if they hadn’t been around, my son may not have gotten away and nobody would've noticed," said the boy’s father.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Houston-Area Scouts to Launch 3,200 Rockets in Official World Record Attempt
Cy-Fair - Cypress Texas News
Posted May 1, 2009

On Sunday, July 4, 2010, more than 3,000 Houston-area Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts and leaders will attempt to break a Guinness World Record with a simultaneous launch of 3,200 model rockets.

The current official Guinness World Record is held by Troop and Pack 990 (Capital District Council in Austin, Texas), for launching 965 rockets in May 2007. Several months later, scouts at the World Scouting Jamboree in London launched over 1,000 rockets simultaneously. After reading about and watching the world record launches on the Internet, several boy scouts, a local rocket hobbyist and scout leader decided that Houston area scouts could celebrate the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America by breaking this record. In November 2009, scouts from around the Houston area will begin ordering their “World Record” rocket kits. Each of the rockets will be individually built and will include a Centennial Boy Scout logo and Guinness
World Record recognition sticker. The rockets will rise 500 to 1000 feet in the air and must launch within 5 seconds of each other to meet the standard set by London’s Guinness World Record committee.

Local and regional VIPs will be in attendance. Local Rocketry clubs will be providing some exciting demonstration launches as well as displays of their High-Power rockets. Food and hobby vendors will be on site as well. Local and national media are invited to attend the launch early to film the set-up, special guests and launch. Interviews with Scouts, Scout leaders and community leaders can be scheduled in advance.

The World Record Rocket Launch committee is seeking corporate and private sponsorships to help defray expenses. For additional information on this event, sponsorships or to sign up a scout unit to participate, we ask everyone to visit bsarocketry.org or to email andy@bsarocketry.org. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.