The redevelopment of McGovern Park represents a historic collaboration between three youth sports leagues –HESC, West University Little League, and West University Softball – and Annunciation Orthodox School, a private school serving children through Grade 8.

“Nothing like this exists in Houston or surrounding areas that is dedicated to youth soccer,” said HESC president Bob Corrigan.

Under the agreement, the Club and AOS will share a championship-caliber stadium with artificial lighting, covered spectator seating, concessions, bathrooms and locker rooms, and an auxiliary field adjacent to the stadium.  West U Softball and AOS will have a similar arrangement with respect to a softball field also located in the park.

“This first-class facility, when coupled with the club’s other field complexes, will give the club the absolute best facilities for youth soccer in the Greater Houston area and perhaps the state,” Director of Coaching Mark Gibbs said.

“Our club has nearly doubled in size over the last five years, to approximately 2,500 boys and girls,” HESC Vice President Adrian Crespo said. “McGovern Park will allow the club to absorb this growth and plan for future growth while ensuring that the club’s young athletes continue to have the best training environment in which to hone their skills.”

McGovern Park will be ready for competition beginning in fall 2012.

The Bellaire Exchange Club is hosting Bellaire stylist and owner of Toni’s Salon, Toni Rodriquez, who will speak about how she used the power of positive thinking to achieve her goal of being at the royal wedding.

Rodriquez will also have never before seen photos of the wedding on display.

The Bellaire Exchange Club will meet at Casa Dominquez Restaurant, 5213 Cedar St. on May 14 at 6 p.m.

The cost to attend is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers and includes dinner at Casa Dominquez Restaurant.

For those who would like to attend, call Gerald Franklin at 713-868-0068 or e-mail gfranklin@geraldfranklinagency.com.

Bellaire Rotary Past President Bernie Satterwhite congratulates new METRO Board Member Cindy Siegel on being named Vocational Person of the Year by the Club.

“The award recognizes Cindy as a model of vocational service in the community,” club spokesperson and local attorney Nan Wagoner said. As a METRO Board Member, Siegel will represent the 14 small member cities, including Bellaire, outside of Houston.

Bellaire City Manager Bernie Satterwhite, who served as master of ceremonies for the presentation, said that Rotary’s vocational lane emphasizes service to others and promotion of high ethical standards through vocations and professions.

“Not only does Cindy embody true professionalism, but I can guarantee you will see her associated with almost every community fundraiser and improvement project in some fashion,” he said.

Prior to her METRO appointment, Siegel served as Bellaire Mayor until she became term-limited, sat on Bellaire City Council for nearly 16 years and was a director of the Bellaire Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, as well as the Bellaire Planning and Zoning Commission.

A CPA and small business owner for more than 20 years, Siegel’s contributions include acting as City of Bellaire representative to the Evelyn’s Park Conservancy, fundraising for the Patrons of Bellaire Parks, and previously serving as a board member and officer for the Houston Alzheimer’s Association, the Texas Coalition of Alzheimer’s Associations, and the Aged and Disability Advisory Board of the Texas Department of Human Services. She is a frequent speaker at community events, a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Houston Chapter of CPAs, Texas Society of CPAs, and American Institute of CPAs.

“Serving on City Council, and especially as mayor in a small town with very little to no compensation, is no picnic,” Satterwhite said. “You work hard. In Cindy’s case, you probably work harder than most. You attend many night meetings. You have to listen, be empathetic and, many times, compassionate. You may become an undeserved target of someone’s ire, but you don’t stay down. Because you realize what you are doing is important and there are not many good people out there who can do what you do.”

Before presenting her crystal commemorative gift, Satterwhite told the crowd that, notwithstanding her impressive public persona, he believed Siegel’s proudest vocational accomplishment might be as the involved mother of her two daughters, one of whom will enter USC next year, with the other finishing high school.

“She truly embodies Rotary’s principle of ‘Service Above Self’ in every aspect of her life,” he said.

Bellaire / Southwest Houston Rotary is one of 60 Rotary clubs with more than 3,000 service-minded volunteers in the Greater Houston Area that provide charitable and humanitarian services worldwide and promote goodwill both locally and around the globe.

Residents will be able to hold a garage sale without registration or a permit but are responsible for their own advertising.

HESC offers comprehensive programs for boys and girls ages 4-18, from beginners and recreational players through the highest competitive levels of youth soccer.

Houston Express Soccer Club has two programs open to boys and girls including West U Rec and Houston Express.

West U Rec is an in-house recreational program for players ages 4 to 12. It accepts players of all skill levels and experience. The recreational program is an in-house league. It also serves as a feeder to the more competitive Houston Express program. Starting at U8, players can choose to remain in the recreational program or move into the Houston Express program.

Houston Express is a competitive program for players ages 7 to 18. Younger players in Express are part of the U8-10 Express Developmental Academy. This program offers an intensified training curriculum and a more competitive play than offered in our recreational program. Express Academy teams play opposing teams outside of the club. This part of the program serves as a great introduction and preparation for competitive soccer. Houston Express teams are trained by licensed professional coaching staff and compete in various area leagues, such as Eastern District Division One Association (EDDOA) Division 1 and Super 2, Houston Youth Soccer Association (HYSA), and State Classic League (SCL).

To register, visit https://www.youthleaguesusa.com/hntsc/12-13/Welcome.html.

SMA is an incurable genetic disorder that destroys spinal neurons. Avery has lost the use of her legs and is beginning to lose movement in her arms. Doctors have given her 13 months to live.

The fundraiser will be held at Auntie Pasto’s on Sunday, April 22 from 4-9 p.m. dine in or take out. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Baby Avery Fund.

Avery is the daughter of Michael and Laura Canahauati. Laura Canahauati is a kindergarten teacher at Horn Elementary.

The Canahauatis are trying to make as many memories with their daughter by doing things on Avery’s “bucket list.”  They have created a blog to share her story and to spread the word about SMA.

PATRONS, a not-for-profit citizens’ organization, advocates for and participates in restoring, preserving and expanding parks, natural areas and trails in Bellaire for present and future generations.

All proceeds from the $10 tour admission will benefit the PATRONS to help support Bellaire Town Square, the new showpiece park in the heart of the city.  Currently under construction is the Donor Plaza, for which PATRONS presented the City with a $125,000 check in late 2011.

The next phase to be built in Bellaire Town Square is the Events/Great Lawn and Pavilion.  “PATRONS relies on the generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to fund our work.  Every contribution helps us to build better parks for generations of families to enjoy,” PATRONS past president and Bellaire New Home Showcase Co- Chair Betty Bellomy said. “We hope to see you at the 2012 Showcase with six fabulous custom homes to tour.”

The Showcase is slated for May 12-13 and May 19-20 and will include six homes.

For advance ticket sales and information about PATRONS visit www.bellaireparks.org  or call 713-661-PARK(7275).  For Showcase information and a map, visit www.bellairehomeshow.com.

Residents can bring their medications for disposal to Bellaire City Hall at 7008 S. Rice. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months. Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like the Bellaire Police Department and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

For more information contact Officer Tim Quimby at 713-668-0487.