Hyde Park United Civic Association

Check out the November Newsletter, now online.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m getting used to 100-degree days, crunchy grass and blinding sunshine. What’s not to like about stepping out of the house into a toaster oven and driving with only two fingers on the steering wheel to avoid second-degree burns?

Sarcasm? Nah, probably just heat stroke.

Our long-lasting drought is a much bigger issue. It rained just as we were wrapping up this issue, but certainly not enough to rollback the city’s mandatory water conservation program.

City residents must limit outdoor irrigation to the hours before 10 AM and after 8 PM according to the following schedule:

• Sundays and Thursdays for customers with even-numbered street addresses
• Saturdays and Wednesdays for customers with odd-numbered street addresses

Cracked and broken underground pipes add to the water woes in our neighborhood and others. Hyde Park residents are reporting low water pressure — or none at all – in conversations on our Facebook page. If you see an outdoor water leak, call 3-1-1 to report it and ask for a service request number (that’s important). Call again, referring to that number, if action is not taken on a timely basis. Keep calling. Ask your neighbors to do the same.

Have you visited Hyde Park’s new web site yet? Our “new baby” is out there for the whole world to see. Past President Trevor Eade built our “baby,” then handed her (him?) over to Delia Cuellar for delivery with the help of David Centanni, our long-time web master. My personal thanks to Delia for urging me to “get ‘er done.” Visit our new home on the web and tell me what you think by e-mailing president@hydeparkunited.org.

Like any new web site, ours is a work in progress. More will be added and adjusted over time, so check back often to see what’s new.

In early August, Allyson Wilkinson resigned her board position as immediate past president. Thank you, Allyson, for your years of dedication and service to Hyde Park United. However, Allyson isn’t going away; she will continue to serve on Hyde Park’s Deed Restrictions Committee.

Trevor Eade will step into the board position of immediate past president. That’s possible due to Trevor’s improved health, which is terrific news – or “t’riffic news” since he’s British.

David Robinson, president of the Neartown Association and a candidate for City of Houston Council At-Large Position 2, will speak Sept. 12 at our next meeting. The Neartown Association was established in 1963 “to improve the quality of life in Houston’s unique and historic inner-city neighborhoods,” according to the Neartown web site. City Council At-Large Position 2 is currently held by Sue Lovell, who is prevented by term limits from running again.

Speaking of elections, Hyde Park is looking for a few good men and women to serve on next year’s board. If you’re interested, email Macy Bodenhamer at vicepresident@hydeparkunited.org.

Finally, mark your calendars for National Night Out on Tuesday, Oct. 4, in Lamar Park, when we’ll gather for food, fun and festivities. Details will be available soon on our new web site, our Facebook page, and in the October newsletter.

George Sroka, President

Hyde Park United