Rice Rice Military Civic Club

invites you to

Military
The Fifth Annual
Newsletter
December 2010 Holiday Celebration
benefiting
Depelchin Children’s Center
Tuesday, December 7
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
your source for
neighborhood news DePelchin Children’s Center
4950 Memorial Drive
(enter from Sandman and Scotland)

Rice Military Civic Club invites residents and friends to join in

the festivities as we celebrate the season with good company and
neighborhood charity.
The Fifth Annual Holiday Celebration will be Tuesday,
December 7 at DePelchin Children’s Center, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30
Quarterly p.m. Molina’s Cantina Catering will provide festive appetizers and
drinks. We have some great raffle items and all proceeds will be
Meeting added to our contribution to DePelchin. A special original piece of
art created by the children of Rice Military will be among the raffle
“RMCC in 2011” items!
The holidays are such an exciting time, and we can make them
even brighter for the children of DePelchin. Won’t you consider
January 11 adding just one more gift to your list this year? You can provide a
Tuesday, 7 pm new unwrapped gift for a boy or girl, choose to sponsor a child or
teen by supplying the items on his or her list, or make a monetary
DePelchin Children’s Center contribution directly to DePelchin. It might be fun to join with the
4950 Memorial Drive neighbors on your block to sponsor the needs of an older child. If
Enter from Sandman and Scotland you choose to bring a gift, consider bringing something for an older
child or teen. Visit the DePelchin Children’s Center website at
www.holidayproject.depelchin.org for a list of needs.
Join your neighbors for a cup of cheer and a celebration of the
season!
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A Introduction to the Rice Military Board for 2011

Cindy has been a resident of Rice Military for over eight years. She has
Cindy McCauley
been a RMCC member since shortly after moving into the neighborhood
and has previously been involved in several RMCC committees
President
including the social committee and the National Night Out planning
committee. Previously she served as Vice-President. She looks forward
pres@ricemilitary.org
to contributing to the continued improvement of Rice Military.

Amaris has been a resident of Rice Military for almost four years.  She
Amaris Wendelburg lives next door to the Beer Can House and hosted the Beer Can Block
Party in July.  Her favorite aspect of the civic club is the opportunity to
Vice President meet fun neighbors.  She is involved with the Book Club and attends
every social she can.  With regards to the civic club, Amaris states “My
vp@ricemilitary.org goal is to get the people of Rice Military to join, attend, have fun, and
make some really great friendships.”

Marilyn Myers Marilyn has been a resident of Rice Military for two years, arriving
about a week after Hurricane Ike blew through.  She has been a paid
Treasurer member for two years and has been very impressed with what the group
accomplishes. She was on the National Night Out Committee this year
money@ricemilitary.org and attended a book club event at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Paul Hesson Paul has lived in Rice Military for two years and been an active member
of the Civic Club during that period.  He enjoys the Wine Club, social
Secretary events,   and helping with any "hands on" projects, in particular
landscaping at the Roundabout.  He resides with his wife Karen and
notes@ricemilitary.org daughter Althea who is a freshman at Lamar.

Wendy Wilkinson Wendy has been a resident of Rice Military for four years and has been
the editor of the newsletter for the past three years. She participates in
Newsletter Editor many of the socials and book clubs as well as many of the neighborhood
and city-wide meetings. Her goal for the newsletter is to provide an
news@ricemilitary.org informative and entertaining publication for and from the Rice Military
residents.

All Rice Military Civic Club officers are volunteers. Please contact them with questions, issues, or compliments.
We would like to thank our officers and all of our volunteers for their work to make Rice Military one of the best
neighborhoods in Houston.

RMCC Newsletter
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Protect Your Vehicle Against Thieves
by Christopher McCarty
Vehicle break-ins and
thefts are on the rise in Rice
Military. No matter what type of
vehicle you drive, it can be a
target for thieves. Nearly
100,000 vehicles are stolen in
Texas each year and thousands
more are burglarized. The
following are some steps you can
take to protect your vehicle
when it’s not parked in your
garage.
• Park your vehicle in a well lit
Some crimes are
area or an area with lots of
foot traffic.
• Remove your keys and keep
your vehicle locked.
RMCC Newsletter
• Never leave your vehicle
running and unattended.
• Hide or remove valuables
from your vehicle.
• Don’t hide a spare key
anywhere on your vehicle.
• Consider installing an alarm
or tracking/recovery device.
• If you’re shopping and need
to place bags in your car,
consider moving your vehicle
so it appears you are leaving
in the event you are being
watched.
• Never leave personal
information in your vehicle
such as bank statements,
credit card information, or
anything else that could lead
to possible identity theft.
• If you discover someone
breaking into your car, do not
approach them. Immediately
call the police.
unavoidable but taking a few
simple steps can help minimize
your risk.
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National Night Out a Success in Rice Military
by Phyllis Thomason
The evening could not
have been more perfect! Great
cool fall weather, sunny skies,
and Nellie Keyes Park full of
And because National
families who came out to meet
The following pictures
their neighbors and enjoy the
generosity of our local
businesses. Great food was
Thanks to all of our Rice
served up by many of our
neighborhood restaurants as
well as gift certificates from
others. Pony rides, face
painting, and the bouncy house
RMCC Newsletter
were provided by still another Pennington, and a representative
group of businesses. Many of of Council Member Melissa
those business owners were on Noriega stopped by to thank us
hand to meet us and welcome us for continuing to sponsor the
to their locations. National Night Out Project in
Rice Military.
Night Out is all about creating a
secure sense among neighbors, were provided by Amaris
we met our local neighborhood Wendelburg and Will Wilkinson.
police officers, the Houston
Mounted Patrol, and the Military residents for making
Houston Fire Department! this night such fun, and thanks
Senator Mario Gallegos, our own to all of our local businesses
District G City of Houston whose contributions made it
Council Member Oliver possible. See you in 2011!
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Thanks to Our Rice Military 2010 NNO Sponsors

The Rice Military Civic Club wishes to thank the following sponsors for their generous support
of our National Night Out event and our neighborhood:

Business Sponsors
Brixx Urban Living Finish Strong Sports

Eight OurBLOK Nifty Cleaners

Roosevelt Integrity Bank Houston Gym

Vicki Barazandeh Heritage IP Design River Oaks Cleaners

Texas Properties
Brando Chiropractic Katie & Co.
Taps House of Beers
Memorial Park Dental Wanda Baptista Citihomes
The Washington Wave Jitney
Sterling Bank West End Bicycle
Martha Turner Properties
MW Cleaners

Restaurant Sponsors
Benjy’s Quiznos Laurenzo’s Sports Bar and Grill
Max’s Wine Dine Canyon Creek Table 7
Pizzitola’s BBQ Chatter’s Café & Bistro Shipley Donuts
Molina’s Cantina El Tiempo Cantina Los Cucos Mexican Cafe
Candelari’s Pizzeria Raia’s Italian Market

Advertise
in the next
newsletter!
Contact us at
News@RiceMilitary.org

RMCC Newsletter 5
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RMCC Newsletter 6
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Queen of Green: Holiday Recycling

Hopefully, we will be overcome recycling center at 5900 Westpark,

with guilt before tossing it in the on the north side of street just west
garbage. of Chimney Rock.
by Laury Adams
Junk waste (furniture
items, appliances, and other bulky
As we entertain family and
material) can be placed at curbside Recycle Some #6 Plastics in the
friends and receive hundreds of
on designated Mondays in Neighborhood! The #6 plastic
advertising materials in the
February, April, June, August, containers from flowers and
coming weeks, there’s no doubt
October, and December. To find landscape plants should not be
our green tubs will be brimming
your scheduled Monday of the recycled with other plastics. Do
with plastic, metal, and
month, go to the map for our zip not throw them in the garbage!
newspapers. But when holiday
code at www.HoustonTx.gov/ The pots and plastic trays can be
gifts replace electronic equipment
solidwaste. used by the Wabash Feed Store on
and household items, we may look
It’s easy to discard Washington Avenue. Drop them
at the old product and ask, “What
electronic equipment and small off at your convenience.
should we do with this?”
appliances at the drive-through

RMCC Newsletter 7
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Holiday Safety Advice for Canine Friends

by Annie can cause a surgical emergency
called a ‘linear string foreign
Hi, I’m Annie. I am back again body’ in the intestines.
with some advice for the To be safe, put away food
upcoming Holidays. immediately, and pet-proof your
garbage. Feed your pet(s) before a
Holiday Food party so they will not be so apt to
Holiday foods can be a beg or steal food.
problem for your pet.  Rich, fatty
foods, like gravy or grease, can Poisonous Plants
seizures and death. Unsweetened
cause problems ranging from Many of the plants you
baking chocolate and dark
stomach upsets to pancreatitis, have in your homes during the
chocolate are the worst culprits,
which is an inflammation of the holidays can be poisonous to us
but all chocolate, fudge, and other
pancreas resulting in pain, pets. If ingested, holly (leaves and
candy should be placed out of our
vomiting, and dehydration.   It berries) causes stomach upset and
reach.
could land us in the hospital! can be potentially fatal to both
Be careful of all unwatched
Alcohol can cause serious dogs and cats. Mistletoe upsets
food products. Uncooked yeast
intoxications in pets, and many stomachs and can cause heart
dough can expand and produce
dogs are attracted to it. Every year collapse. Poinsettias have an
gas in the digestive system,
hundreds of dogs die after a single irritating sap that can cause
causing pain and possible rupture
bout of alcohol consumption. blistering in the mouth and
of the stomach or intestines. 
Clean up glasses after holiday stomach upset. So when you
Grapes and raisins contain an
parties. We are attracted by the brighten up your home, place
unknown toxin, which can
sweet taste of drinks, especially these plants well out of our reach
damage the kidneys. We dogs
eggnog. or use imitation holiday plants.
have an exceptional sense of smell
Chocolate, coffee, and tea
– juices on plastic or aluminum
all contain dangerous components Christmas Trees
foil left on countertops are very
which cause nervous system or O Christmas tree, O
tempting. If ingested, plastic or
urinary system damage and heart Christmas tree, how careful we
foil wrap (cellophane candy
muscle stimulation. Chocolate is must be. Christmas trees and their
wrappers or food wrap) can cause
especially a problem because we
choking or intestinal obstruction.
dogs love its flavor. Problems from
Meat-soaked strings from rump continued on next page
ingestion range from diarrhea to
roasts are also enticing. Ingestion

Rice Military Civic Club Membership Form

$20 Household Membership $5 Senior Membership

$30 Business Membership I would like to donate $____ extra for community outreach!
Name ____________________________________ Address _____________________________________
Telephone _________________________________ Email _______________________________________

Contact me about local volunteer opportunities

Mail this form to PO Box 130311, Houston TX 77219 or pay online at www.RiceMilitary.org

RMCC Newsletter 8
 w w w . R i c e M i l i t a r y . o r g

decorations can create hazards for
us pets.
Place Christmas trees in a
stable stand, and attach the tree
Christmas decorations can
securely to a window or wall with
something like fish line. To keep
our cat friends away from the tree,
When choosing a holiday
it may help to use a Scat Mat.  For
us dogs, use an indoor exercise
pen to provide a safe place inside
during the holidays, or put the
pen around the tree!  Tree needles
can be toxic and cause mouth and
stomach irritation. Even needles
With all of the festivities,
and the wire of artificial trees
could pose a problem. Be sure we
Because tree preservatives
are not chewing on branches or
eating fallen needles. Chewing on
electrical cords, including cords of
Happy Tails and Happy
lights can cause problems ranging
from burned mouths to electrical
shock and even death by
electrocution. Use pet-proof
extension cords, and spray cords
with a product such as Bitter
Apple or Chew Stop.
to the water.
be a problem. Dogs will often
play with glass ornaments as if
they were balls and serious oral
lacerations can result. Sharp
ornament hooks can also become
imbedded in your pet's mouth or
esophagus. Decorating trees with
food is asking for problems.
Candy canes and gingerbread
people can be as enticing to us
dogs.
some quality time with us!   We
are often sugar-based (and
inviting to dogs) and because the
water stands so long, the water in
the tree stand often harbors
potentially harmful bacteria.
Fertilizers, insecticides, or flame
retardants that were used on the
tree may also get into the water.
Cover the stand with a tree skirt or
use other means to prevent access
Pet Gifts and Treats
gift for your special friend, be sure
it is safe – no small pieces that
could come off and be swallowed.
Choose healthy holiday treats for
your dog and give them in
moderation.
do not forget to relax and spend
think that is the best gift of all any
way!
Holidays!
(ghostwritten by Judy Duncan)

Electronic
Newsletter
Available
If you’d like to receive this
newsletter by email on PDF
in lieu of a hard copy, then
email news@ricemilitary.org
with “PDF Newsletter” in
the subject line along with
your name and home address
in the email.

RMCC Newsletter
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A Look Back at Halloween in Nellie Keyes Park
by Phyllis Thomason
The youngest residents of
Rice Military had an incredible
afternoon to romp in Nellie
Keyes Park. Dressed as lions,
tigers, fairy princesses,
ladybugs, elephants, Buzz Light-
years, and cowboys, they came
And to Lucy Anderson a
to play games, make crafts,
decorate mini pumpkins, jump
in the bounce castle, and collect
candy.
Jo Wiginton was back
We thank all of the
families who volunteered their
time and effort to make this
Design Tip: Living Large in Small Spaces
by Pamela O’Brien
By simply using the right
When p u rc h a s i n g
pieces in our homes and offices,
we can often make a small space
Pull a color or two from
feel much larger. Try these
ideas:
Add height to a room
with tall, stately pieces of
furniture to raise the eye. You
Though the furniture
can also use a tall floor lamp
like a torchiere, or even a
RMCC Newsletter
Second Annual Halloween
Festival a great success. Festive
orange balloons were filled and
given to all by Dora de los
Santos. The Anderson and Shore
families setup the crafts table
and assisted each little goblin in
making finger puppets and
pumpkin crafts. The Pumpkin
Roll, supervised by Angelica
Young, was enjoyed by parents
and kids alike!
provided by Lucy. Thanks again
again this year with her Catch-
A-Spider game. Mini pumpkins
were turned into masterpieces
sculpture. Hang art a bit higher
in a small room.
cocktail table with a sturdy base
furniture, opt for the rounded
look instead of squared-off
pieces; the softer corners lend
themselves better to flowing
easily from one space to
another.
should feel light, don’t confuse
or clutter the area with a leggy
look. Too much furniture on
by our young RM residents. Joe
McKee, Peggy Moore, and
Phyllis Thomason worked with
these budding artists as they
created original designs. The
bouncy castle was sponsored by
RMCC, and Doug Jones’
generator powered it!
BIG THANK YOU for
organizing a great afternoon!
The above pictures were
to all for making this year
another success!
legs will look busy. And don’t
forget about the tables: a
is more family-friendly.
room to room with paint,
window treatments, accessories
or rugs to keep your eye
moving.
Visit www.RoomRedo.com for more
information and to sign up for her
free email tips.
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Farmers’ Market Fun

by Eileen Sims
I recently discovered the
world of farmers’ markets in
Houston, and I am a fan!
Houston hosts dozens of local
farmers’ markets across the city
each week. I visited the
Saturday morning Urban
Harvest - Eastside Market
(open 8 a.m. to noon), located
just off Richmond between
Kirby and Buffalo Speedway. It
Local farmers’ markets
was a crisp, clear, beautiful
Quick idea for your
morning; I was not sure what to
expect, but as I approached the
market, I was pleasantly
surprised by all of the sights,
sounds and smells. Although
the market is not big, I was
amazed at the variety of
For a complete list of
products. There were dozens of
vendors selling everything
from organic vegetables,
seafood, and grass-fed meats to
homemade Indian chutneys
and curries. I sampled
delicious local goat cheese,
honey, gourmet tamales, and
Texas olive oil. I could not
resist bringing home some of
the beautiful bouquets of
brightly colored flowers, and
they lasted over a week! There
was even an onsite knife
sharpening service, so you can
have your knives sharpened
while you shop.
local farmers!
are not only a fantastic resource
for fresh produce, seafood, and
meats, but it also is a wonderful
opportunity for urban residents
to support local farms, with
both immediate and long term
benefits for all. There is no
doubt that locally-grown farm
products are fresh, tasty and
healthy, but local farmers
markets also promote a great
sense of community, not to
mention the fact they are a lot
of fun! The day I attended the
Eastside Market there was live
music and the Fusion Taco
Truck was there dishing up
made to order breakfast tacos
using the fresh farmers’ market
ingredients. I encourage
everyone to get out there and
explore the world of farmers’
markets: it is a fun, educational,
and delicious way to spend a
Saturday morning and support
farmers’ market finds: Sauté
diced squash with garlic, olive
oil, and herbs. Use to top
toasted baguette slices spread
with goat cheese. Sprinkle with
dill, mint, or basil.
market locations and hours
check out the website
www.visithoustontexas.com/
visitors/farmers-markets.

Share Your News

We welcome your news, photos,
and editorials. We reserve the
right to edit for clarity, style, and
length. Send questions and
contributions to
News@RiceMilitary.org. Articles
and ads do not necessarily reflect
the views of the Rice Military Civic
Club, nor does the Civic Club take
responsibility for errors of fact that
may be expressed by the writers
and advertisers.
Wendy Wilkinson,
Editor

RMCC Newsletter 11
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PO Box 130311 US POSTAGE
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Rice
Military
Newsletter
December 2010

your source for

neighborhood news

Rice Military Civic Club invites you to

The Fifth Annual Holiday Celebration

benefiting Depelchin Children’s Center
Tuesday, December 7, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Depelchin Children’s Center

4950 Memorial Drive
(enter from Sandman and Scotland)

Bring your gifts and celebrate the season!