Students, faculty and staff give back year round.

CYPRESS, TX -- The start of a new academic year brings another year of community outreach at Lone Star College-CyFair and LSC-Fairbanks Center benefitting residents and organizations throughout Cy-Fair.

“Right around the corner is Cy-Fest, the college’s annual gift to the community, a labor of love that brings our staff, faculty, students and community members together,” said Michelle Tran, college relations director.

This day of free food, festivities and family fun will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 on the campus at 9191 Barker Cypress. Cy-Fest 6 features activities for all ages with a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, face painting, Radio Disney, moonwalks, duck races, a train ride and laser tag. New this year will be the 1st Airborne Adventure and the Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course. In addition, there will be refreshments as well as information available on college offerings and area non-profit organizations.

“But Cy-Fest is only one of LSC-CyFair’s many outreach efforts positively impacting our community,” said Tran.
LSC-CyFair partners with area non-profit organizations, such as Reach Unlimited, Habitat for Humanity and area assisted-living centers. With more than 10,000 community services hours, students in courses with Service Learning designations helped earn the college national recognition with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

A partnership between Mission of Yahweh and LSC-Fairbanks Center, a satellite campus at 14955 Northwest Freeway, began when shelter residents were given one-on-one guidance and the chance to earn their GED or an occupational certification. More recently, LSC-Fairbanks Center employees donated their community garden harvest of 20 pounds of carrots, onions, radishes and strawberries to the shelter’s food pantry.

“Many of our student organizations hold various food, clothing, toy and supply drives benefiting community groups in need,” Tran said. “For example, the Technology Society’s Electronics Recycle Drive collected more than 2,300 lbs in televisions, computers, cell phones and more for Goodwill of Houston.”
T
he college's Counseling, Career and Disability Services Department teamed up with Dress For Success® Houston for a community-wide drive collecting interview-appropriate suits for disadvantaged women seeking employment. Dresses for teens in need are also collected for the college library’s annual Prom Dress Give-Away, which provides free dresses and accessories for prom and other events for teens in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and five other school districts.

The Student Ambassadors and the Tennis Team partnered with Adopt A US Soldier (AAUSS) last fall to honor the brave men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
“Their project reached across the world with involvement from students, faculty, staff and campus visitors in writing letters to the soldiers and donating items for care packages,” said Tran. “This year, our ambassadors have adopted Lieder Elementary School. They recently held a back-to-school supply drive and volunteered as Bus Buddies.”
College employees also participate in CFISD’s annual Bus Buddies program, as well as chamber events, are involved in middle school and high school student visits to the college campus and mentor students at area schools.
Players on the Women’s Soccer Team and the Tennis Team have also mentored young athletes on the soccer field and the tennis courts. Tennis players were trained as Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) Certified Tennis Coaches, volunteered at SOTX events and hosted a basic skills tennis clinic for Special Olympics athletes ages 16 and older.
“From its inception, LSC-CyFair has built a foundation of helping others in our area through fund-raising efforts and countless volunteer hours,” said LSC-CyFair President Dr. Audre Levy who launched a new campus initiative last spring called Community 10.
Bins were made available to collect donations of shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant and lotion and deliver to Cypress Assistance Ministries.
“LSC-CyFair and LSC-Fairbanks Center students, faculty and staff are making a difference in Cy-Fair throughout the year,” Tran said. “We are honored to give back in so many different ways to a community so supportive of our college.”
For information on college programs, events, registration and more, go to LoneStar.edu.

NW Houston toddler found in hot car dead

by Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
Posted on August 19, 2010 at 7:32 PM
HOUSTON – A 2-year-old boy has died after being found locked in a hot car in northwest Houston, according to authorities.

The incident happened Thursday around 2:30 p.m. at 13813 Dentwood.
According to police, parents were arriving home from the grocery store when their 7-year-old child, who is autistic, began having seizures. While the parents went inside their home to tend to the 7-year-old, the 2-year-old boy was left locked inside the vehicle.

After going inside to help the 7-year-old , the parents realized their younger child was missing and eventually found him in the back seat of their SUV. Police said the boy was trapped inside the vehicle for about two hours.

One of the parents called 911 when they saw the toddler was not breathing. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators said the temperature inside the vehicle was 122 degrees when the toddler was found.
Neighbors of the victim’s family said it was an unfortunate incident that happened to good people.

"This is a good family, their children comes first with them," said Michael Carey. "I know for a fact that it was not intentional."

Investigators said the parents will probably not face charges, but the case will go to a grand jury.



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Houston Area Forecast: 100% Chance of Meteors

After a week-ling lead-up, tonight, August 12/13, 2010, is finally the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Wit this event, meteor season 2010 will kick off in a big way.

Every August, Earth passes through the stretch of space junk shed by comet Swift-Tuttle, reaching the deepest concentration of debris tonight. According to some estimates, under ideal conditions (dark country skies), one can expect to see 60 meteors per hour. The reason the meteors are called Perseids is because the meteors seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus. The best time to view the shower is in the pre-dawn hours, with 3-5am being best.

Don't want to stay up that late? Don't worry, Perseus rises in the Northeast around midnight and will climb higher as the night progresses. However, unless one lives out in the country, the early post-midnight hours will probably involve Perseus being low in a light pollution dome. To improve odds of seeing meteors, travel out of light-polluted Cleveland and to the suburbs or, even better, the country if you can. In the suburbs, just going from the front to back yard can make a dramatic difference as this will eliminate glare from those pesky street/house lights to a large extent.

Two things can ruin the meteor shower: clouds and the Moon. The clouds? Well, that's a regional thing. Check your local Clear Sky Clock to see what the clouds have in store for your location tonight. For us Northeast Ohioans, tonight is looking good. As for the Moon, that's an Earth-wide issue. The good news is that, this year, the Moon is just a few days past new, which means that there will be no Moon up during the time of the meteor shower. There will be a slight lunar glow in the South (opposite Perseus), but this will disappear about midnight, which is about the time Perseus clears the Northeast horizon.

So how about viewing tips?

First, plan to stay out awhile, as it takes the human eye about 15 minutes to get optimal night vision capability. The bad news is that, even one bright flash of white light will wipe out night vision, requiring you to start the process all over again. Next, grab a lawn chair or, even better, a lounge-type chair. Trying to lean back with a straight-back lawn chair can be a pain in the neck, literally! Eyes ready for dark and with something to sit/lay on, settle in for a night of hopeful meteor watching (or at the very least, stargazing), just try not to fall asleep and don't forget the bug spray!

Besides meteors, tonight can be a great time for binocular viewing, owing to your use of a chair. Under suburban (maybe) or rural skies (definitely), a pair of medium power (10x50) binoculars can yield some stunning wide-angle sights. For someone truly dedicated, why not try and keep a tally of how many meteors you see for every complete hour? Really ambitious? Why not try photographing the meteors?

Whatever you plan to do tonight, good luck and clear skies!

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NatureFest set for September 25th

CYPRESS, TX -- Waterskiing squirrels, frisbee-catching canines and circus-performing birds are just some of the highlights of Bridgeland’s annual Nature Fest, slated for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, in Bridgeland’s Oak Meadow Park.

Thousands attend the yearly event, packed with nature-themed activities and entertainment. Twiggy, known across the globe as the famous waterskiing squirrel, will make her debut appearance at Nature Fest, performing three times during the day. Life jacket always buckled tight to educate children about water safety, the pint-sized phenomenon has appeared in numerous books, magazines, newspapers and television shows and is sure to be a big draw at this year’s festivities.

Joining Twiggy during Nature Fest are Birds of Prey and the Cocteau Circus, each performing twice. Also on tap is a performance from the Houston Canine Frisbee Disc Club and guided hayride tours of the Cypress Creek Nature Trail by volunteers of the Katy Prairie Conservancy who will discuss the flora and fauna of the area and initiatives of the conservancy.

Children will enjoy rides on ponies and a baby camel, as well as a chance to pet a wallaby, ring-tailed lemur, coatimundi and other animals. Train rides, face painting, outdoor laser tag and the always entrancing release of native Texas butterflies also will keep young visitors engaged.

Adding to the fun will be a caricature artist, a live band, street performers, food concessions, a farmer’s market and more than 30 vendors.

Admission to Nature Fest is free; however, visitors can bring a $10 donation to the Katy Prairie Conservancy and receive a reusable grocery bag packed with an event T-shirt and other Nature Fest goodies. The Katy Prairie Conservancy is a land trust committed to protecting a sustainable portion of the Katy Prairie for the benefit of its wildlife and all Texans forever, and Bridgeland supports that initiative by helping to raise funds for the KPC, sponsoring their events and spreading the word about the activities and tours the organization hosts throughout the year.

The KPC already has conserved nearly 18,000 acres and offers monthly public tours, classes, children’s camps and other programs on its preserves. The Katy Prairie is considered an oasis for migratory birds, with millions of birds, especially waterfowl, arriving there each fall. Visit www.katyprairie.org or e-mail info@katyprairie.org for more information.

Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County (NWHC) will run the “Create a Bug House” arts and crafts area where families can make a $5 donation and children can make a bug house to take home.

Other craft projects also will be available. Proceeds will help raise funds for its mission of building affordable housing and promoting home ownership. Since 1989, Habitat NWHC has built more than 150 homes for needy families in suburban northwest Harris County. The organization is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the corporate charity of choice for General Growth Properties, Inc., developer of Bridgeland. For more information about Habitat NWHC, contact Rachael Wright, 281.820.2307, ext 306 or rwright@habitatnwhc.org.

For more information about Twiggy, the waterskiing squirrel, visit http://www.skiingsquirrel.com/index.htm.
For details on Nature Fest, call 281.304.5588 or visit www.bridgeland.com. Also, keep up-to-date on Nature Fest and other Bridgeland events on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/Bridgelandcommunity and Twitter, http://twitter.com/BridgelandTX.


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Test your hurricane IQ.

By GREG AINSWORTH


This year's hurricane season in the waters adjacent to the Southeastern United States is drawing more attention than usual, thanks to the oil spill in the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center expects a busier than average year, so it's time to energize our hurricane IQ.
Whether you call them hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones, they are the scourge of tropical locales worldwide. Ocean water temperatures of at least 80 degrees seem to be one of the key ingredients in their formation. Think hot and muggy -- and lots of evaporation. If other conditions are favorable in the atmosphere, winds near the surface may begin to converge, and a low-pressure system may form.


In the Northern Hemisphere, those cyclonic winds spiral in a counter-clockwise direction. All of that water vapor in the atmosphere rises and condenses inside thunderstorm complexes, releasing a great amount of energy in the process. Bands of thunderstorms stretching from the system's outer margins to the center of circulation help feed the massive heat engine with warm, moisture-laden air.

As the system matures, the characteristic cloud-free and relatively calm eye may form at the center of circulation. But surrounding the eye is the eyewall, where the most intense convection and highest wind speeds occur.

Hurricanes pose a major threat to life and property because of their ability to wreak havoc in so many different ways. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is wind damage -- not surprising since a storm isn't called a hurricane until it has sustained winds of at least 74 mph. In August 1969, Hurricane Camille made landfall along the Mississippi coast with sustained winds estimated at 200 mph.

An important, but often overlooked hurricane impact is the storm surge. This refers to the ocean water pushed onshore into low-lying areas by hurricane-force winds. Depending on the status of the local tides during landfall, storm surges of 15 to 20 feet are not out of the question. If you happen to live in a near-shore area at say, 10 feet above sea level, the surge can be bad news indeed. Hurricane Opal caused a 24-foot storm surge near Pensacola, Fla., in September 1995.

Even days after landfall, hurricanes, or their remnants, are still capable of producing tornadoes and flooding rains. After slamming into the coast of south Texas in September 1967, Hurricane Beulah spawned more than 100 tornadoes. Tropical Storm Claudette, whose winds didn't reach hurricane strength, nevertheless dropped 45 inches of rain on Alvin, Texas, in 1979.

For further information about these storms, check out the website for NOAA's National Hurricane Center.

Greg Ainsworth keeps an eye on local weather and climate issues. Contact him at ainsworth@theglobal.net.

Hundreds honor fallen firefighter

by Gabe Gutierrez / 11 News
khou.com

WHARTON, Texas – Hundreds of mourners packed a funeral Sunday for a fire captain killed in the line of duty.

Capt. Thomas Araguz’s body was discovered July 4 after he became trapped in a massive fire at a Boling egg farm.

He was just 30 years old and is survived by his wife and two young sons.
"Firefighting is always a brotherhood," Cy-Fair District Chief Doyle Venerella said.

More than 100 fire vehicles – including dozens of engines – parked near the Wharton Civic Center. A black ribbon was placed on one of them and dedicated to Capt Araguz.
Firefighters from several counties marched past the ribbon into the civic center for the service that lasted roughly 90 minutes.

"He loved what he did,” said E.J. Gutierrez, a lifelong friend. “He loved being with the fire department. You could tell this was his life."
After the funeral, the procession drove Araguz’s casket by the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department one last time.

Graveside services followed at Evergreen Memorial Park.
An account has been established for Capt. Araguz’s family at The First State Bank of Louise, 505 E. Boling Hwy, Wharton. The bank may be contacted at 979-532-0404.
Donors are asked to make checks payable to The Thomas Araguz III Memorial Fund.



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Tar balls found on Texas beach

(CNN) -- Texas authorities have traced a small number of tar balls found near Galveston to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Coast Guard and state officials said Monday.
The tar balls collected from beaches in Galveston County over the weekend could fit in a five-gallon bucket, but have been confirmed to have originated from the ruptured BP well off Louisiana, said Jim Suydan of the Texas General Land Office.

Galveston is about 400 miles west of the site of the worst oil spill in U.S. history, which began in late April with the sinking of the offshore drill rig Deepwater Horizon. Coast Guard Capt. Marcus Woodring said authorities weren't sure how the tar balls made it that far, but tests confirmed that at least the first batch collected Saturday came from the Deepwater Horizon spill off Louisiana, he said.
None were found Monday, and the area's beaches and waterways remained open.
"Until we see a greater sum of oil, I can be cautiously optimistic that maybe this is something that will pass," Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski told reporters.


Tar balls occasionally strike the Texas coast, in part because of seepage from undersea oil deposits or from sunken vessels, Woodring said. "Seventeen or 18" cases of tar balls unrelated to the

Deepwater Horizon disaster have been reported to Woodring's Houston-Galveston Coast Guard sector since the spill erupted in April he said.

And though the ones found Saturday and Sunday were confirmed to have come from the ruptured well off Louisiana, they were less weathered than officials would have expected -- leading the Coast

Guard to suspect the oil was either stuck to the side of a ship's hull or mixed in with ballast water from a passing vessel, he said.

Ships passing through the spill are are supposed to be decontaminated before they head into port, he said.


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