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Community Corner

🌱 Multicultural Education + K-9 Mack

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Houston.

Chris Stomberg, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Hey, friends. I'm here with your Monday edition of the Houston Patch newsletter, full of all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. Today's updates include:

  • A meeting on problems in Houston education.
  • A wolfish new member of the HPD.
  • A performance that explores human cloning.

But first, today's weather:

Low clouds and fog and breezy. High: 76 Low: 61.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

  1. Houstonians gathered to discuss the biggest issues facing local schools at Houston-area Issues Assembly on Education event this past Saturday. A total of over 400 attendees came together to discuss various problems that they feel Houston's education system is failing to answer properly. Some of the issues discussed included the desire for more diverse teaching staff in schools to meet multicultural students needs, a lack of English-speaking classes for recent immigrants, and advocating for student needs to lawmakers. Attendee and member of the State Board of Education, Staci Childs, said of the event, "It showed the people that they have power. And when you organize and speak up, change can happen." (Houston Chronicle)
  2. A 4-year-old Belgian Malinois sheepdog joined the HPD and was nicknamed 'Mattress Mack' by community members. The dog was originally donated to police by K9s4cops.com. The police community named the dog after the Houston icon due to the animal exemplifying the same values that our local celebrity displays. According to police, those qualities are a belief in "God, country, family, and hard work." K-9 Mack is trained in identifying explosive odors and works under handler Deputy George Henson. Their squad car also features a "Mattress Mack" decal on the rear passenger windows. (KHOU.com)
  3. Caryl Churchill's A Number is currently playing at the Rec Room and explores the question of human cloning. Instead of delving into the legality or potential success of cloning, this play focuses on the consequences human cloning would have on human relationships. The story follows a father who had his son cloned after he died in a car accident. The show itself features three separate clone characters (including the original) all played by the same actor. Despite the similarities between the clones though, each character is portrayed as different from the others both through personality and tone of voice. This sci-fi trip themed exploration of the human experience will continue to delight visitors through February 25. (Houston Press)
  4. A new home for sale in the Briargrove neighborhood allowed an architect to fully showcase some truly tasteful stylistic elements. The home itself was originally commissioned to be built by Mark Atkins of MASA Studio Architects and now stands as a testament to his creative flourish. Upon opening the front door, guests are greeted with a custom commissioned glass window art piece featuring all sorts of strange shapes and designs. From the outside of the house, you can see the same strangeness of form exhibited by the building's facade. This is largely due to a turret shaped library built just to the right of the front door. The room is a perfectly symmetrical nook for storing books and reading that's also home to an eclectic glass pineapple hanging from the ceiling. The four bedroom home is now on the market for $1,785,000. (Chron)
  5. Anyone familiar with Houston's downtown can tell you about the Downtown Aquarium, but here's an insider scoop of information that you may have overlooked. The aquarium is home to over 300 unique species including electric eels, stingrays, and white tigers. It's jam-packed with amusement rides and carnival-style games just next to the Buffalo Bayou, including a thrilling train ride through a 200,000 gallon shark tank that may just surprise you. Furthermore, the restaurant inside the aquarium is situated around a 150,000 gallon tank where you can literally dine with the sharks. Just remember: fish are friends, not food. (Chron)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Homeowner found shot to death less than a week after another man was also murdered at his residence, HPD says (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • After rapid expansion, Houston Bike Share seeks cash influx for long road ahead (Houston Chronicle)
  • Man hoping to find dog its forever home after it was left tied up to pole in southeast Houston (KHOU.com)
  • Deputies: Toddler hit by car while being dropped off at babysitter's house (KPLC)
  • Fire in Houston airport locker room delays morning flights (Courier of Montgomery County)

Today in Houston:

  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Brass Tap (6 p.m.)
  • Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center (7 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Pimlico (8 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Fuzzy's Taco Shop (League City) (8 p.m.)
  • Comedy: The Corral Open Mic at The Secret Group (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • An ebay listing selling sand from the exact spot Tom Brady announced his second retirement as reached a bid of $99,900. The item will remain up for another week and has currently seen over 100 bids. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • A janitor cleaning a holding cell in Florida ended up a prisoner herself over the weekend. No one discovered that she had managed to imprison herself in the cell until three days later. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)
  • A suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by a jet missile over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina while a crowd of thousands watched. Onlookers claim that cheers went up through the crowds when the balloon was hit. (KPRC2 / Click2Houston via Facebook)

Featured Kitty:

Tamale is a 3-month-old domestic short hair available for adoption at the SPCA.

Hot tamale, hot hot tamale. Hot tamale, hot hot.

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Now you're fully loaded with all the weekend happenings in Houston. Welcome back to the beginning of the work week. Try to make this one count!

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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