Houston -HCC welcomes new Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence Director

The new Director of the Houston Community College (HCC) Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence (COE) is determined to make HCC the number one choice for students to learn about the manufacturing industry.

“One of the first things I want to try and overcome is the misconception of a machinist, over the years the job description has drastically changed,” said Frederick Heard

Heard is no stranger to the manufacturing industry and has seen the infusion of high-tech equipment change the playing field for this industry. He brings over 14 years of experience in the profession, including the last 12 years spent working as a Plant Manager with Halliburton.

“There’s a demand in education to convey these manufacturing jobs are now computer and programming driven as well as some high-tech NASA technology. A CNC programmer can make $75,000 a year working in a machine environment. Kids are on computers at an early age, they understand everything is logic driven, so getting that part of the manufacturing story out there is important to get potential students interested in the programs HCC offers.”

HCC tapped Heard because of his experience and his vision to implement real-world training into the COE programs.

According the 2015 Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte Skills Gap Study, over the next decade (2015-2025) nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled. Contributing factors include the retirement of an expected 2.7 million “baby boomers” and the creation of 700,000 new manufacturing jobs due to industry growth. The industry is truly massive, filling numerous gaps. The services provided can’t be replaced and we most certainly would struggle to live without what they provide. For a start, equipment that is used in materials handling is essential to the fields involved with computer and HVAC repairs. We need this area of the sector full of willing employees! With this skill gap widening, Heard is laser-focused on HCC producing trained workers to fill close those gaps.

Frederick Heard. He is no stranger to the manufacturing industry and has seen the infusion of high-tech equipment change the playing field for this industry. He brings over 14 years of experience in the profession, including the last 12 years spent working as a Plant Manager with Halliburton.

“I understand the manufacturing industry need, focus and priority; and it is extremely important to meet them halfway,” Heard said. “I plan to strengthen and build relationships with area local high school districts to recruit students. The college is the bridge between industry, education, and the functional skills of the program. I see the Advanced Manufacturing COE doing a lot of outreach between secondary education and industry to assist in student success.”

In addition, Heard wants to work with the HCC industry advisory board to build program curriculum and develop potential student tours of the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence so they can touch, feel and learn about what is being created in HCC manufacturing labs, with the ultimate goal of choosing HCC as their college of first choice when it comes time to enroll for classes.

Heard earned his Bachelor’s degree in the Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston – Downtown (UHD). In 2015, he received his Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of St. Thomas. Heard is originally from Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the United States Army. He has a total of 25 years in the Army, with the last 15 of those years with the Texas Army National Guard as a Command Sargent Major.

Heard is excited to jump in and make programs at the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence more robust, not just focusing on machining; but also focusing on the non-machining side of the business to recruit a broader audience. His message to current and future students is one of change.

“The manufacturing industry is not like your father’s or grandfather’s manufacturing,” Heard said. “With HCC securing brand new cutting-edge technology and housing the industry standard state-of-the-art equipment, graduates from the HCC Advanced Manufacturing COE will train on the equipment companies use, giving them the upper hand when applying for jobs.”

In the future, Heard plans to add more programs to the Advanced Manufacturing COE including Additive Manufacturing, CNC Machine Operation, Maintenance, Mechatronics and Robotics opportunities. To learn more about the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, visit hccs.edu/manufacturing.

HCC spotlights creativity with Center of Excellence grand opening

Spotlight on success. Houston Community College celebrates the grand opening of the HCC Media Arts and Technology Center of Excellence at the Alief-Hayes Campus.

Nathan Hale spent 20 years balking at the thought of going to college. The former retail manager always wanted to make films for a living, but eventually realized that he needed an education.

“I started looking at Houston Community College and got really excited about what I saw,” said Hale, who recently graduated with a degree in Digital Simulation/3-D Animation. “HCC is there to facilitate dreams and opportunities and I am thankful for that.”

Hale is now a full-time videographer/producer/editor at HCC Television. He shared his compelling story with an audience of fellow students, community and industry partners, along with HCC administrators, faculty, and staff at the grand opening of the HCC Media Arts and Technology Center of Excellence. Housed at the HCC Alief-Hayes Campus, the Media Arts and Technology Center of Excellence offers courses in Digital Communication, Filmmaking, Audio Recording, and Music Business.

“Our students have unprecedented access to industry-standard facilities and equipment that will help prepare them for successful careers, whether in film and video production, audio recording and live sound, entertainment and music business, or any of the specializations of digital communication,” said HCC Northwest President Dr. Zachary Hodges.

That access includes a 3,200 square foot sound stage with a 20’x 20’x12’ green screen, Foley studio, film editing booths, a screening theater, and other state-of-the-art tools and software to train students to work with well-known business and community leaders.

“The mission of this Center of Excellence is to provide students exposure to innovative workforce programs that create career pathways to meet the wide-ranging needs of businesses and the community,” said Dr. Jimmy Adams, director.

HCC graduates have gone on to work at Sugarhill Recording Studios, Lakewood Church, and House of Blues, as well as organizations such as Houston Cinema Arts Society — led by Executive Director Trish Rigdon, a former student who is proud to give back to HCC.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work with Houston Community College as you take your film program to the next level,” said Rigdon. “I am looking forward to seeing the names of HCC students among the credits on films made in Houston and screened at our annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival. With partners like Houston Community College, the future of media arts and technology in Houston is limitless.”

Another HCC partner, The Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, recently gave the HCC Foundation $5,000 to support students in the Music Business program.

“Texas has been working on creating a foothold in the filmmaking industry, legislature has offered initiatives and incentives for companies to come here and do filmmaking,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor. “It is still a young industry for Texas but it is growing and we are going to be right in the center of it here in Houston and at Houston Community College.”

Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit http://www.hccs.edu/

Mayor Turner Seeks State Funds to Fight Zika

Houston, Thursday June 9 - Photo by Michael Ciaglo, of the Houston Chronicle shows Texas senator Sylvia Garcia stands next to mayor Sylvester Turner at a press conference to urge the governor to declare a disaster in order to help the city remove breeding grounds for mosquitos that could carry the zika virus. — Houston, Thursday June 9 – Photo by Michael Ciaglo, of the *Houston Chronicle* shows Texas senator Sylvia Garcia stands next to mayor Sylvester Turner at a press conference to urge the governor to declare a disaster in order to help the city remove breeding grounds for mosquitos that could carry the zika virus.

With members of the local legislative delegation at his side and an illegal tire dump as the backdrop, Mayor Sylvester Turner called on the state of Texas to declare the Zika virus a public health emergency and dedicate funds toward local efforts to fight it.

“Local governments are in a position to do the door-to-door, neighborhood-by-neighborhood hard work necessary to mitigate Zika,” said Mayor Turner. “There is a critical need for help in paying for this massive effort. We have programs already underway and would welcome state help in funding them. Let’s work together to eradicate this threat.”

Mayor Turner is requesting assistance from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Solid Waste Disposal Fees Account, which currently has a balance of $130 million. Under changes made by the legislature in 2007, the fund may be used for an immediate response to or remediation of an emergency that involves solid waste.

Since February, the City of Houston Solid Waste Department has been cleaning up illegal dump sites to help reduce mosquito breeding sites and combat the spread of Zika. They have already hauled 3,000 tons of debris and 19,000 tires away. The effort is expected to cost $3.6 million this year. With additional funding, the City of Houston could purchase new equipment to increase collection frequency beyond the weekends, develop and distribute educational materials informing residents of proper and free disposal options and establish three additional heavy trash drop-off locations.

Zika is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in Houston and southeast Texas. Infection during pregnancy causes microcephaly and other brain malformations in some babies. Infections in adults have been linked to Guillain–Barré syndrome.

The city has launched a multi-pronged approach to fighting the Zika virus. In addition to the neighborhood trash sweeps, there are also educational announcements at the airports, on public transit, in city water bills and on local TV. The health department is going door-to-door to distribute insect repellent in underserved neighborhoods, and the City’s regional public health laboratory is supporting local hospitals and clinics with Zika infection testing.

Now that mosquito season is here, residents need to be vigilant about protecting themselves from being bitten. Follow the three Ds of mosquito defense: drain, dress, DEET! Drain standing water on your property and keep hedges trimmed. Dress in long pants and long sleeves, keep windows and screens repaired and use air conditioning. When outside, spray exposed skin with mosquito repellant containing DEET, reapply as necessary and use netting to protect babies in strollers or car seats.

Swollen River Feeds Flooding Near Houston as Residents Flee

Aerial photos taken Sunday showed large swaths of Fort Bend County under water, and about 1,000 people had been evacuated from their homes there as of Tuesday morning, the Houston Chronicle reported. The skies were clear in the region on Tuesday, but an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain expected later this week could keep the Brazos in major flood stage into the weekend.

Associated press FORT WORTH, Texas — Residents of some rural southeastern Texas counties were bracing for more flooding Tuesday along a river that had reached a record-high crest just two years after it had run dry in places because of drought.

National Weather Service meteorologists predicted that the Brazos River would crest at 53.5 feet by midday Tuesday in Fort Bend County, which is just southwest of Houston and home to many suburbs. That would eclipse the previous record by three feet and exceed levels reached in 1994, when extensive flooding caused major damage.

Aerial photos taken Sunday showed large swaths of Fort Bend County under water, and about 1,000 people had been evacuated from their homes there as of Tuesday morning, the Houston Chronicle reported. The skies were clear in the region on Tuesday, but an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain expected later this week could keep the Brazos in major flood stage into the weekend.

During four days of torrential rain last week, six people died in floods along the Brazos, which runs from New Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. A Brazos River Authority map showed that all 11 of the reservoirs fed by the Brazos were at 95 to 100 percent capacity.

Four of the six dead were recovered in Washington County, which is between Austin and Houston, County Judge John Brieden said Monday. Lake Somerville, one of the Brazos reservoirs, was “gushing uncontrollably” over the spillway and threatening people downriver, he said.

About 40 people were rescued Sunday and Monday from low-lying homes in a flooded neighborhood of Simonton, a Fort Bend County community of about 800 residents. The county had set up a pumping system to divert the water from the neighborhood, but it was overpowered by the flooding, county spokeswoman Beth Wolf said Monday.

Wolf said any additional rain in southeastern Texas would be a problem.

“The ditches are full, the river’s high, there’s nowhere else for that water to go,” she said.

In the Fort Bend County city of Rosenberg, about 150 households had been evacuated by Monday, and city officials were coordinating with the county’s office of emergency management to have rescue boats in place, city spokeswoman Jenny Pavlovich said Monday. In neighboring Richmond, a voluntary evacuation order was in place.

Scott Overpeck, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said Tuesday that the Brazos will recede in the coming days but that its levels will remain high for up to three weeks, in part because water will need to be released from the swollen reservoirs upriver.

“There’s so much water on the Brazos that it’s going to take a long time to drain through the whole river and drain out into the Gulf of Mexico,” Overpeck said.

Elsewhere, authorities continued searching for the body of an 11-year-old boy who fell into a creek in Wichita, Kansas, and is presumed dead. Relatives have identified the boy as Devon Dean Cooley, who disappeared Friday night.

Devon’s family, in a statement Monday, thanked firefighters for their tireless efforts to find the boy. The family held a cookout Monday evening to feed the rescue crews, followed by a candlelight vigil.

Houston teacher admits she had abortion after having sex with middle-schooler for months

Houston police are searching for a middle school teacher who they say had sex with a former student for months, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Alexandria Vera, a 24-year-old English teacher at Stovall Middle School, has been charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, the Chronicle reported.

Vera said the relationship began in September 2015, and said she and the 13-year-old were in love, according to court documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

According to the documents, Vera told Aldine ISD police she met the student at summer school in 2015. The student asked for her Instagram name, which she refused to provide. He later found her, and she rejected the request.

When school resumed in the fall, Vera said the boy flirted with her and made inappropriate comments. The student eventually asked if they could hang out and she agreed, the documents state.

Vera told police when she picked up the boy, they kissed in the car and later had sex at his parents’ house. She met the boy’s parents at a school open house in October and went over to the boy’s house where she was introduced as his g

irlfriend to the parents, who were accepting of the relationship, according to the documents.

Documents state the sexual encounters continued on an almost daily basis. Vera told police the boy often spend the night at her house and she’d drive him home in the morning so he could catch the bus.

She told police that she became pregnant in January and that the family was supportive and excited about the baby, documents state.

She said she had an abortion after Child Protective Services showed up at the school in February to ask about her relationship with the boy. She said she denied the pregnancy and the relationship to CPS, documents state.

A forensic analysis of Vera’s phone, which she provided to officials, showed messages between the two that were consistent with what Vera told police.

In a statement from Aldine ISD provided to the Chronicle, district officials said Vera was immediately removed from the school in April after allegations were made and placed on administrative leave

“Aldine ISD Police investigated the incident and turned their findings over to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office,” the statement reads. “The safety and security of Aldine ISD’s students and staff remains a priority of the school district. Houston Police are still searching for Vera.”

Stovall Middle School was in the news in 2014 after a teacher was accused of giving a student a lap dance on his birthday. She was given probation.

Houston: Our Savior Anglican Church holds food drive to benefit the Star of Hope mission

Devine women group, one of the three women groups in Houston’s Our Savior Anglican Church, Houston, TX rallied a food drive on Saturday May 28, 2016, to benefit the Star of Hope mission. — *Group photo – The Devine women group of Houston’s Our Savior Anglican Church.*

Devine women group, one of the three women groups in Houston’s Our Savior Anglican Church, in Texas rallied a food drive on Saturday May 28, 2016, to benefit the Star of Hope mission. The group amassed tons of unperishable food items for the Star of Hope mission, and held a prayer session before the items were hauled into the delivery van.

“We love and care for each other and we are united. Devine women are dedicated in doing God’s work. The same way the good news of the birth of Our savior Jesus Christ was brought to Mary; in the same spirit we try to propagate and preach the gospel so that other people can be saved by the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said the group leader, Dr. Ifeyinwa Onwudiwe.

Star of Hope is a Christ-centered community dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and their children. Positive life changes are encouraged through structured programs which focus on spiritual growth, education, employment, life management and recovery from substance abuse.

Spiritual Leader of Our savior Anglican Church, Reverend Ugo Ezenekwe, and some officials and members of the Devine women group. — *Spiritual Leader of Our savior Anglican Church, Reverend Ugo Ezenekwe and the officials of the Devine women group.*

Donation from Our Savior Anglican Church is considered as a divine gesture. Star of Hope mission is funded through public and private donations, the United Way, churches, civic/community groups, corporations, grants and foundations. On any given day, there are approximately 1,000 homeless men, women and children being helped at the Men’s Development Center, the Women and Family Emergency Shelter, the Transitional Living Center for Women & Families and Extended Services.

Also in attendance were the Spiritual Leader of Our savior Anglican Church, Reverend Ugo Ezenekwe, officials and members of the Devine women group, including the Assistant group leader, Nkoli Ezenwa, and church members. Our Savior Anglican Church is on 11933 Bissonnet St, @ Kirkwood, Houston. For more information, please call (832) 781-4784.

Fashion Fusion: A magical night for HCC fashion design students

A packed house at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston for “Fashion Fusion” “Fashion Fusion” was held at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and showcased the creations of the students.

Fashion Fusion was a night full of energy, creativity and achievement for students in the fashion design program at Houston Community College. “Fashion Fusion” is a competition held at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston which showcased the creations of the students who were asked to draw inspiration from the 11 cars and three motorcycles displayed at the museum’s exhibition “Sculpted in Steel: Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles, 1929-1940.” This year marked the second competition.

“Our students’ interpretation were amazing,” said Suzette Brimmer, Director of the Fashion Merchandising Department at HCC. “We met with the museum curators, and we learned about the Art Deco period. The designs the students came up with were amazing.”

The students submitted designs in the categories of: Most Sculptural, Jewelry and Accessories, Most Couture, and Best Use of Unconventional Materials.

Alan Gonzalez, who used 36 yards of white linen-based fabric in his gown, won first place in the Most Sculptural category.

“I have been working so hard to get this dress to work, and to just see it on the runway was incredible. We all want to make our mothers proud. To see my mom teary-eyed in the crowd was the best part.”

Silvia Otaola, winner of the first place in “Jewelry and Accessories” category, found choosing the most appropriate materials challenging.

“I specifically got the inspiration from the grills of the cars. I overlapped the lines that I saw in the cars, and I tried to incorporate chrome. To me, it represented the Art Deco era.”

For the first place in the category of “Best Use of Unconventional Materials,” sterling silver, car parts and plexiglas were the main elements used by Luisa Nadarajah’s in her creation “La Ballerine”.

“I feel like my self expression and my passion are really showing in my designs. I was inspired by the cars and by my inner passion with the gown of the ballerina.”

Designer and fashion design student, Teresa Rangel, won the category of “Most Couture.”

The four 1^st place winners will receive one Studio and one Art History course valued at $1,200 at the Glassell School, a Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) membership for a year, and VIP access to special museum events. Additionally, the winning garments will be on display for two weeks at the MFAH.

“This is a fantastic partnership with HCC that integrates art objects on view with university curriculum,” said Caroline Goeser, Chair of the Department of Learning and Interpretation at the MFAH.

“Fashion Fusion” shows how art in the Museum’s galleries is relevant for all students and spurs creativity,“ Goeser added.

Houston: Massive turnout at CANA West – All Saints Anglican Thanksgiving Service

Missionary Bishop of CANA-Diocese of the West, The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji anoints parishioners. This Thanksgiving Service serves as gratitude to God empowering the determination of His children in spreading the gospel and facilitating mission work enthuses the good news of Christ. — Missionary Bishop of CANA-Diocese of the West, The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji anoints parishioners. This Thanksgiving Service serves as gratitude to God for empowering the determination of His children in spreading the gospel, and facilitating the mission work that enthuses the good news of Christ.

By Anthony Obi Ogbo

Guardian News (Houston, TX) – Sunday Afternoon, all roads led to one direction – Renn Street in South West Houston where the Missionary Diocese of Convocation of Anglicans in North America West (CANA-West) celebrated a Welcome and Thanksgiving service of the All Saints Anglican Church (ASAC) in Southwest Houston. “We chose to do this 2 P.M. to allow worshippers from other parishes enough time to attend their various services and join us” an organizing member of the event explained.

The service jointly presided by Missionary Bishop of CANA-Diocese of the West, The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji and the Parish Rector, Venerable Dr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor showed a massive turnout of Christian celebrants, partaking in a traditional Anglican venerating process; inspiring God’s love and protection of His Church, and enabling an environment consistent with the good news of Christ.

Service line up, in addition to a full house of worshippers, witnessed church frontrunners and spiritual leaders from other neighboring parishes; including priests, knights, and members of Parochial Church Council. “We are leaving now – the church is packed and they are having refreshment, but we have another event and just have to leave” a worshipper with his family told our reporter.

Procession - Parish Rector, Venerable Dr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor. The service jointly presided by Missionary Bishop of CANA-Diocese of the West, The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji and the Parish Rector, Venerable Dr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor showed a massive turnout of Christian celebrants, partaking in a traditional Anglican venerating process; — Procession – Parish Rector, Venerable Dr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor. The service jointly presided by Missionary Bishop of CANA-Diocese of the West, The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji and Venerable Dr. Okoroafor showed a massive turnout of Christian celebrants, partaking in a traditional Anglican venerating process.

All Saints Anglican Church, the largest Anglican Church built by a Nigerian congregation in North America embodies more than a worship center, but also symbolizes determination and perseverance of Nigerians living in Houston. This Thanksgiving Service serves as gratitude to God for empowering the determination of His children in spreading the gospel, and facilitating mission work that enthuses the good news of Christ.

CANA West, a missionary diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, is one of the four missionary dioceses of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America established in 2005. The Dioceses embodies the ACNA and the Church of Nigeria in the United States, comprising of 23 parishes in 9 American states, namely; Maryland, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington and one Canadian province, Ontario.

All Saints Anglican Church is on 13403 Renn Road, Houston, TX 77083. For more information about church activities, please call 281-776-9989; 832-462-0261 or 281-217-1323.

CANA West welcomes Houston’s All Saints Anglican with Special Sunday Service

The service, scheduled at the Parish on 13403 Renn, Sunday, May 22 would welcome ASAC into the diocese, and feature special Thanksgiving by the Parish Rector, Venerable Dr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor.

Guardian News (Houston, TX) – The Missionary Diocese of Convocation of Anglicans in North America West (CANA-West) has announced a Welcome and Thanksgiving service of the All Saints Anglican Church (ASAC) in Southwest Houston. The service, scheduled at the Parish on 13403 Renn, Sunday, May 22 would welcome ASAC into the diocese, and feature special Thanksgiving by the Parish Rector, Venerable Dr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor. Event time is 2.00 pm.

All Saints Anglican Church, the largest Anglican Church built by a Nigerian congregation in North America has been challenged with internal conflicts in recent times, but today, according to worshippers, the Parish has rebounded in good spirit to live within the realms of Anglican Tradition. The Thanksgiving Service serves as gratitude to God for shielding His Church, and empowering it to spreading the gospel and mission work in other to sustain the good news of Christ.

Missionary Bishop of CANA-Diocese of the West, The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji will be at this event as a special guest, as the Parish celebrates its CANA West divine initiation. CANA West, a missionary diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, is one of the four missionary dioceses of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America established in 2005. The Dioceses embodies the ACNA and the Church of Nigeria in the United States, comprising of 23 parishes in 9 American states, namely; Maryland, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington and one Canadian province, Ontario.

The service on Sunday is expected to draw a huge crowd from Houston and surrounding cities, according to the Parish administrators. To many worshippers, ASAC is not just a church across the street, but symbolizes significant values consistent with core Anglican foundation, constructive in building families based on scriptural truth, discipline and Nigeria’s cultural essence. “We are glad that our community is beginning to understand that ASAC is a Church – a place of worship; the place where people come to worship God in Spirit and Truth, and nothing more” said a parishioner.

All Saints Anglican Church is on 13403 Renn Road, Houston, TX 77083. For more information about church activities, please 281-776-9989. The Thanksgiving and Welcome Service will be held at the Church facility on Renn. For information, please call the Rector directly at 832-462-0261 or Board Chairman, 281-217-1323.

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