County Lines for May 06, 2010

County Lines published in The Daily News:

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Today’s New Lane Closures

One outside lane northbound on state Highway 3 at Commerce Street in Houston will be closed today between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Interstate 45 frontage road northbound at FM 1765/Texas Avenue in La Marque will be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Motorists should detour to FM 1765 east, then west to Interstate 45.

One outside lane eastbound on FM 1765 at Interstate 45 in La Marque will be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.

— Texas Department of Transportation

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Grants Available For Energy Efficiency

GALVESTON — Galveston Historical Foundation has grant funds to help low- to moderate-income owners of historic island homes cut energy use and utility bills.

The funds have come from community development block grants from the city’s grants and housing department and from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The foundation hopes to help up to 12 families living in homes at least 50 years old weatherize their buildings.

Depending on their household incomes, successful applicants will have to pay between $25 and $200 to take part in the energy-efficiency program. Owners of rental and commercial property are not eligible.

Applications are available at the GHF website, www.galvestonhistory.org, by phone at 409-765-3424, by e-mail at matt.farragher(at)galvestonhistory.org, or at the foundation’s headquarters, 1861 Custom House, 20th and Postofffice streets.

— Galveston Historical Foundation

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Marine Emergency Responders On Alert

GALVESTON — The city has placed on standby a marine emergency response company, shrimpers, fishermen and helicopter companies to respond to an oil spill off the coast of Louisiana should it drift toward the Texas coastline.

Though Galveston remains out of harm’s way from the growing spill from the collapsed drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, city officials decided after a daily conference call with the federal government to begin alerting people who could respond quickly should the oil head toward Galveston.

The city sent messages to T&T Marine, helicopter providers PHI and Era Helicopters, shrimpers and fishermen. The spill has been drifting toward Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

— Rhiannon Meyers

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Isle’s Wallace Awards To Be Revealed Friday

GALVESTON — Galveston Historical Foundation is to present special awards to people who have made outstanding contributions since January 2008 to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of the city’s buildings and neighborhoods.

The winners’ names will be revealed at the foundation’s second Sally B. Wallace Historic Preservation Awards ceremony Friday.

They will be given awards in four categories — rehabilitation, adaptive use, craftspeople and community service.

The awards are named after the late Sally Wallace, one of the driving forces behind the Galveston preservation movement for decades.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Ashton Villa, 24th Street and Broadway.

Contact Matt Farragher at 409-765-3424 or at matt.farragher(at)galvestonhistory.org.

— Galveston Historical Foundation

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Surgeon General To Address UTMB Grads

GALVESTON — U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin will be the keynote speaker for this year’s University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Medicine commencement.

Benjamin, who became the 18th surgeon general in January, was elected to the American Medical Association board of trustees in 1995, the first physician younger than 40, as well as the first African-American woman, to become a member of the board.

She became the first African-American woman to lead a state medical society in 2002, as president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998 and a MacArthur Genius Award Fellowship in 2008.

The medical school’s commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. June 5 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center.

— University of Texas Medical Branch

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Champagne Show For Mother’s Day Diners

GALVESTON — Galveston Historical Foundation hopes moms will don their linen and lace for a Mother’s Day champagne brunch Sunday.

That’s the preferred attire for the foundation’s “Linen and Lace” celebration in the newly painted Garten Verein dancing pavilion.

The event will include a fashion show of designer clothes and jewelry for women of all ages by Galveston boutique “Head to Footsies.”

It’s all due to be served from 10 a.m. to noon at the pavilion, 2704 Avenue O.

Tickets cost $45 each, including the foundation’s 10-house Historic Homes Tour, which runs throughout the weekend, and prize drawings.

Tickets are available online by clicking on the Historic Homes Tour ticket button at www.galvestonhistory.org.

— Galveston Historical Foundation

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Letter Carriers Group To Have Food Drive

The National Association of Letter Carriers will have its 18th annual food drive May 8.

The group is asking that residents leave a bag of nonperishable food items near their mailboxes or their porch.

Apartment residents can take items to their front offices for pick up.

The mail carriers will pickup the bags and take them back to the local post offices for processing.

Last year, local carriers collected 14,000 pounds of nonperishable food items.

Call Rhonda James, NALC Food Drive coordinator, 409-356-3056.

— Angela Taylor