The looming Baytown metropolis

Get ready for Baytown to surge to 200,000 people over the next five years folks. What started out as a laid-back Tri-city community of Pelly, Baytown and Goose Creek is rapidly becoming a bustling metropolis, and oil fracking is to blame, if blame is levied. I see what is happening as a positive. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are on our streets at all hours of the day and night, and based on what one of our police lieutenants told me recently, we are not ready for the expansion. How could we be?

With the Exxon and Chevron Phillips expansions in progress, they will draw tens of thousands of workers to our city, and due to the length of the work commitment, most will bring their families. We have three new elementary schools popping up (expect new school zones of SH-146 out Pinehurst way and another on North Main street, which will impede traffic flow), and there is a new steel mill coming to the Beach City area, most likely at the U.S. Steel location. Kiwi Golf is opening a production facility here. There is the Buc-ee’s and the new super Wal-mart at Highway 146 and Interstate 10 to bring jobs and more people and cars/trucks to our streets. I predict the traffic jam will be so bad here that the state will build an overpass over I-10 that will run for a number of miles dumping traffic out past Maranatha Temple.

 The good side is we have jobs, lots of jobs, and I welcome this with a big toothy grin – well with what teeth I still have anyway. After 36 years in the petrochemical field, I never thought I would see such a boom in this arena. I suspected it, however, and a couple years ago foretold the need for skilled workers when Goose Creek Memorial was being built. I wrote here in The Baytown Sun in my old column – yes, I am back – that we should seriously consider converting Robert E. Lee High School into a top notch vo-tech school to prepare our graduates to enter the work force and unfortunately, this is the bad side of the expansion. We don’t have the local manpower to staff these great jobs. We are at a minimum two years behind, and many of these great jobs won’t go to our young graduates but to people flocking here from the Virgin Islands, Detroit or Timbuktu, and they will most likely not leave.

When I pushed for a vo-tech (instead of 3 high schools teaching the same thing) , all everyone wanted to talk about was the school colors and the football team. So, we continued to pump out graduates, or not – with cookie-cutter diplomas which basically prepared them to think alike and exit high school with the skills to get a job working the counter at a fast food restaurant, or a few went off to college and became what their parents dreamed of, right? For most, the answer was no. They languished and years later are still without money-making skills. Well, now we need those high school grads with those hands-on skills and they are nowhere to be found because we didn’t properly prepare them for the real working world. Sure, Lee College and San Jac offer a two-year program to qualify people to become process technicians, I understand that. But what about electricians, pipe-fitters, welders, insulators, rod-busters, riggers, plumbers, instrument technicians, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, etc, who could have graduated from one of our high schools with the needed skills? It’s not too late to amp up our vo-tech high school programs, folks. It just takes forward paradigm-breaking thinking. It will take people on our school board to break free of the current malaise and get a curriculum that will teach our young generation to work …

Oops, isn’t work a four-letter word these days? It appears to be to many of us gray heads who began working at 13 and 14 years of age and never looked to anyone for assistance. Oh my, this is so controversial, I almost can’t write it without feeling there will be a terrible backlash. But it’s true just the same, and I will bring it out in the open. After all, I bought my first car at the ripe age of 15 after working for two years. I also bought my first radio, and stereo and television … We have a terrific future here in Baytown, both in our city’s development and the sustainable job market. We, as Baytonians, need to take advantage of it and prepare our kids to get a piece of the pie. I am close to retirement and I have no plans to move away, but I do care that our city “moves forward” with the surging expansion. On another note, I am very excited about our city park expansions and have asked the mayor and city manager to plant as many trees and native shrubs as possible to off-set the wholesale defoliation of our city caused by the expansion.

The Baker Road extension alone destroyed many acres of wildlife habitat, and my councilman, Bob Hoskins, has promised a new greenbelt, with him personally planting the first tree. I am very excited about this and the great job Scott Johnson is doing with our parks department. Baytown is indeed on the move, but it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure our city moves in the right direction. I want to do my part, how about you?

Baytown Nurture Nature Festival Nov 2nd!

I would like to invite you and your organization to join us as an exhibitor on Saturday, November 2^nd, for the 4^th Annual Nurture Nature Festival at the Baytown Nature Center.  Last year’s festival was a big success, with over 1,100 visitors who enjoyed the day.  The free, family event will once again be held on San Jacinto Point at the Nature Center, which is a beautiful peninsula of land surrounded by Crystal and Burnet Bays.  The point is home to fishing piers, picnic pavilions, walking trails, a stage and a unique Children’s Nature Discovery Area.  We are also celebrating the ten year anniversary of the Nature Center, and have a special community activity planned to celebrate that milestone.

Texas Snakes and More, The Big Buzz Theory, and Crocodile Encounter will again be giving educational presentations on Texas wildlife throughout the festival.  The center’s partner facility, the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education Center, will also be on hand with some of their live animal and education exhibits.

If you are not familiar with the Baytown Nature Center, its history is a success story in “reusing” at its finest…  it is the former site of the Brownwood Subdivision that was destroyed by Hurricane Alicia in 1983, and subsequently restored to a nature center by removing all houses and infrastructure.  The center has been the site of numerous mitigation projects, and boasts over 100 acres of high quality restored salt marsh.

Contact us for an Exhibitor Application form for the event.  If you would like to join us for the festival, please complete the application and return it back to me (either by email or fax).  I am excited about the opportunity to host such a wide variety of nature and ecology themed organizations for a day of fun and education for the whole family.

Please feel free to contact me with questions…  I look forward to working with you!!

http://www.baytown.org/content/baytown-nature-center

  

Tracey Prothro

Superintendent of Natural Resource Programs

City of Baytown

Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education & Recreation Center

Baytown Nature Center

(281) 420-7101  Office

(281) 420-7142  Fax

(713) 459-2438  Cell

Spc. Keith E. Grace Jr. Baytown Son KIA

Spc. Keith E. Grace Jr., U. S. Army, 26, of Baytown was born February 18, 1987 in Houston. He was a 2006 Graduate of Robert E. Lee High School and enlisted in the U. S. Army on January 18, 2012. He was Combat Lifesaver Certified and had completed the Dari Language Class. He was killed in action Sunday, August 11, 2013 in Paktia Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He was awarded the Army Service and Global War On Terrorism Service Ribbons and National Defense Service, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medals.

Ken the Dauber Pridgeon has already painted his portrait.

He is survived by his parents, Mike and Mary Lou Davis of Beach City, Cheryl Barnes of Houston, and Keith Erin Grace, Sr. of Gainesville, FL; brothers, Garland Davis, Allen Vasquez, Spc. Jeff Lee, U. S. Army, James Leslie Hardy, Jr., and Cody Ray Barnes; sisters, Tara Krystal Grace, Stormy Cheyenne Barnes, and Ashley Nichole Hardy; nephews, Dawson, Chris, and Landon Brady; and numerous other brothers, sisters, and friends.

Joyce Moody and Baytown Bert

Paul & Rebecca Vickers and Baytown Bert

Ren Fitts brings up the rear defense.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, August 23, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 505 Rollingbrook, Baytown, TX 77521. Burial with full military honors will follow at Houston National Cemetery.

February 18, 1987 - August 11, 2013     Resided in Baytown, TX

Baker Road Extension - Now Blue Heron Parkway!

I rode my bicycle down the new road today from Barkuloo Park to Sjolander Road and then back to North Main.  It appears they are going to route Crockett Elementary traffic east on the new road and make them enter in the back forty of the school property, but this is unconfirmed.  Crockett Park big-wig David Lee is petitioning the city to make this happen.

"Mr. Leiper, I am wanting to start a conversation with the City of Baytown and Harris County about improvements to Barkuloo Road. There are three major subdivisions that are in the proximity of Crockett Elementary School. They are Crockett Park, Bay Brook Place, and Chaparral Village. With all of the recent growth in this area, Barkuloo Road has become more and more congested and is in need of improvement.

The road itself is in need of repair due to the increase in traffic. The need for sidewalks on both sides of the street are also necessary to facilitate the amount of foot and bicycle traffic as well. The extension off of Baker Road to Sjolander Road (the Blue Heron Parkway) is also going to increase traffic in this area. 

Crockett Elementary School traffic already causes a substantial back-up on Barkuloo Road both morning and evening during the week. With the addition of the Blue Heron Parkway, this is only going to get worse. We are asking the city and the county to assist us in getting this area of concern studied and a plan put into place for improvements to said area. Thank you for your time in this matter.  Sincerely,  David C Lee   Crockett Park HOA President"

Pouring cement on the north side

Looking west, toward Barkuloo Road.

Another empty cement truck.  One of many.

Angel Brothers foreman oversees the road construction.

The turn-off behind Crockett Elementary

The area behind Crockett Elementary being cleared.

The beginning of the Blue Heron Parkway at North Main in Baytown.

Sculpted pond behind Chaparral Village 9-24-13

.

The funeral of Spc. Keith E. Grace, Jr

Many of you have asked about honoring Spc. Keith E. Grace, Jr., plans are coming together throughout the community and I wanted to share those with you. We just received notice from Gov. Perry's office confirming a request to officially request that all state and national flags in the City of Baytown be lowered to half-staff on Friday, Aug. 23 in honor of the life and military service of Spc. Grace. We encourage all residents and businesses who fly flags to join us in honoring Spc. Grace. I will also post information on a community send off that will occur after his funeral.

For those who would like to honor local son and hero, Army Specialist Keith E. Grace, Jr., here are the events at which the public is encouraged to attend. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church (505 Rollingbrook) on Friday (Aug 23) at 10 am. A community send off will follow the funeral. Those participating in the send-off are encouraged to be in place by 10:30 - on Rollingbrook from First Baptist east to N. Main. Flags will be distributed on-site and residents are encouraged to bring their own as well.

Friendswood Texas Detention Pond

This was a project to transform a utilitarian detention basin into a regional park and protected wildlife area.

This basin was originally designed to keep homes from flooding. The goal was to provide many amenities and increase the detention capability. The existing detention ponds were deepened on a gradual slope as part of the project. Wetlands plantings will be added to both ponds and will serve as a natural filtering system as the water flows from north to south.

Particular attention has been paid to assure that all the plantings and grasses will be beneficial to the environment. The ponds will be equipped with a state of the art aeration system that will improve the storm water quality that is discharged into Clear Creek and maintain a beautiful clear lake affect in the ponds. Next year the ponds will be open for catch and release fishing.

 

Gorilla Disc Golf Tourney coming to Baytown 8-24!

I was walking my doggies at Walter Jenkins Park this afternoon, marveling over the explosion of activity by disc golfers.  I could see at least five groups and all of them were carrying or wheeling the trademark bags of discs and equipment.  I even got to see a disc fly off course and disappear under the rushing water of Cary Bayou (Yes, not all of them float).  The sudden rain storms have the bayou moving pretty good and just a couple of days ago, it was dry.

These folks came from out of town to prepare for the upcoming tourney August 24th.

I talked to a number of the players who hailed from Kingwood and asked them how our course compared to the more than 50 courses in the Houston area, and as one they remarked it was a premier course.  They were very excited about the upcoming tournament August 24th and said the park would be loaded with golfers from all over the state.

From what I could see there were seniors, early teens, male, females and even a couple walking their dog while they played.  It looks like a lot of fun and a great amount of exercise, as they not only walk as much as 18 "holes", but the incredible amount of body English they employ has got to have an effect on the old body.

Baytown Parks under Superintendant Scott Johnson, has done a good thing and kudos all the way around to Parks planner Dustin Schubert and the other folks involved in making this course a reality.  For more information on disc golf, contact the Houston Flying Disc Society.

.

Fishing Workshop at the Baytown Nature Center July 27th!

Do you love fishing? If you’d like to share that love and volunteer with Texas Parks and Wildlife, consider becoming a certified Angler Education Instructor. No experience is necessary; the free workshops are ideal for the novice or experienced angler.

The next Angler Education Instructor Workshop in the Baytown area is at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education and Recreation Center, 1724 Market Street. An Aquatic and Angler Education Certification Course taught by Tracey Prothro, and Chuck Ganze is offered on July 27, 2013 from 9:00 to 12:00 noon. The course covers the TPWD–AED Curriculum that is TEKS-certified through the State Board. There will be several instructors with well-rounded experience in Gulf and inland fishing present.

Candidates interested in the course as future instructors should contact Ganze @713-899-5498 or Prothro @281-420-7101 as soon as possible. The free workshop is open to anyone 18 or older interested in teaching fishing skills in their community. For more information about the workshop, see the TPWD calendar at http://www.tpwd.state/

 

tx.us/calendar/fishing-angler-education-instructor-training

The future of Baytown

An open letter to our city's leadership:  I know everyone is seeing the scorched-earth dirt work that is going on all around Houston and Baytown.  Its almost as if there is a vendetta against anything green.  God help us if we don't start an aggressive program to replant. The greenhouse gas alone will continue to spike upward and then there is the very serious loss of habitat for wildlife to consider.

Baytown has always been a blue-collar town and I like it that way, but the truth is we have to start looking at more than people and industry growth, or the people earning very good livings off of our industry will live elsewhere and our collective health will decline.  We must push, push, push the expansion of parks and hiking/biking trails and businesses must be encouraged to replant trees and more trees, specifically native varieties tuned for the Gulf Coast.  I am going to retire here, most likely next year with no plans to go to "greener" pastures and I'm watching with enthusiasm for Baytown's future under you folk's direction.  Please don't let me and my neighbors down.

4 lane road through a natural area.

For years people called this Honda Hills.

Honda Hills defoliation to add Baker Road extension

Clear out everything above ground to put this underground.

I suggest we use this mowed containment area below the Fred Hartman Bridge

The current construction on Cedar Bayou replacing natural habitat.

Barkuloo Road closure to tie in the new Baker Road.

SH-146 & Hwy 99

SH-146 & Hwy 99

.

Barkuloo road and Baker road intersection 7-28-13

Barkuloo road and Baker road intersection 7-28-13

Barkuloo road and Baker road intersection 7-28-13