Big Green Bus

What A Circus!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Animal Superstars Take to the Streets

WHAT: Some of the biggest stars at Ringling Bros. —our four-legged performers—will be making their way through the streets of Houston.

WHERE: The Ringling Bros. Animal Walk will begin at the Union Pacific train track siding located near the intersection of Holly Hall Street and Almeda Road, 1 mile east of Reliant Park and will continue to Reliant Stadium, entering Reliant Park through the Holly Hall entrance gate on the Fannin (east) side of the park property.

WHEN: MONDAY, JULY 13, 2009 – 9 p.m. NOTE – Due to unpredictable train schedules, starting time is subject to change. Please call for updates on the day of the event – 713.854.6485 (Kay’s cell) or 713.859.6567 (Stacy’s cell).

NOTE: Tickets for The Greatest Show On Earth® are $16, $24, $30, $38 (VIP), $60 (Front Row), $75 (VIP Dining Seats), $100 (Circus Celebrity – Weekday) and $125 (Circus Celebrity – Weekend). All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at www.ringling.com, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster Ticket Centers including Fiesta stores, Macy’s and Wherehouse Music or at Reliant Stadium’s box offices. For information call 832.667.1400. For general group sales information, call 281.367.9717.

Galveston Park and Ride (NEW)

CONNECT TRANSIT IS ADDING THE FIRST PARK & RIDE SERVICE/ BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND GALVESTON ISLAND. IT’S AT THE MALL OF THE MAINLAND IN TEXAS CITY.

THERE WILL BE FOUR TRIPS IN THE MORNING, AND FOUR TRIPS IN THE EVENING, TO THESE 3 STOPS: U-T-M-B, DOWNTOWN GALVESTON, AND 53rd & BROADWAY.

 A FIFTH AND FINAL TRIP IN THE MORNING *AND* EVENING/ WILL PROVIDE EXPRESS SERVICE TO AND FROM SCHLITTERBAHN AND MOODY GARDENS.

http://www.texas-city-tx.org/FlyerSch_IslandTransit06-24-09.pdf

Escaping The Heat

The Facebook comments that everyone left on my page were pretty funny in response to my “tease” for this story. Thanks for participating!  -Jen

Viewer Mail: Med Center Delays

A: METRO doesn’t give a concrete answer for traffic relief…

There was a derailment about 2 weeks ago during a training run. There is an investigation into the cause and until that is complete, Metro says…”to expect delays.” They are aware that the northbound train is moving 10mph and the southbound train is moving 5mph between Fannin-Braeswood and Greenbriar-Braeswood. [No estimate as to when the investigation will wrap up]

METRO

Viewer Mail: Shepherd Curve

Q: About I-45 North Freeway and Shepherd

A: Here’s what we’ve gathered…

The left shoulder ends right after that curve. So not only do people have to take a little curve, but some people really dont like driving next to the cement walls. As you know…it only take one or two slow moving cars or persons trying to change lanes at the last minute…to slow things down for everyone.

Jen

City of La Marque

The City of La Marque celebrated the initiation of scheduled transit service within La Marque…

Known as the La Marque Connection, bus service runs every 45 minutes from 6:30 AM to 6:25 PM on weekdays.  Route destinations include: Food Rite Shopping Plaza, La Marque City Hall, La Marque Library, La Marque High School, Kroger, College of the Mainland Senior Center, Gulfgate Mall, Wal-Mart and the Galveston Health District.

Free transfers between La Marque Connection (blue route) and Texas Connect, both Eastbound and Westbound (orange routes) will occur every 45 minutes at the Food Rite Plaza shopping center beginning at 6:30 AM with the final transfer occurring at 5:45 PM.

Free fares will be in effect on all routes through July 31, 2009 to let persons try the service.  Starting August 1, 2009, the fare will be $1.00 and $.50 for seniors, students and persons with disabilities.

The new transit service will provide residents with an inexpensive alternative to the increasing price of gas and a way to get to work, go to school, access medical appointments, shopping and recreation. As part of Mainland Transit, the new regional transit service in Texas City and La Marque, the La Marque Connection will provide greater mobility options for La Marque residents throughout the region.

Viewer Mail: Westpark Tollway

Q: About the Westpark Tollway

Jennifer,
There is construction on the Westpark Tollway between Eldridge and Old Westheimer (Houston Center Blvd) until March 2010.  Do you know what they are actually doing? Why will it take that long?

Miguel
West Houston

A: Here’s what we found out…

The construction work between Eldridge and Houston Center Blvd. is being conducted to address some pavement and drainage maintenance issues on the roadway. The work started in March 2009 and will actually be completed by the end of July 2009. Your viewer probably read the orange and white construction sign currently on the roadway that reads “Construction begins March 20”. He may have only seen “March 20” and interpreted it as “March 2010”. But, the good news is the work will be completed by the end of July (next month).

Harris County Toll Road Authority

IS THERE  A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR ROUTE? EMAIL ME. jreyna@kprc.com

TWITTER Link (NEW)

After a kind viewer emailed me about the problem….I realized that the TWITTER link I gave a few weeks back didn’t work properly. So, here it is again.

http://twitter.com/LOCAL2TRAFFIC

Get the latest update in the mornings with your traffic. We know that you can’t hang around the tv ALL morning long, so follow us when you leave too.

Wireless Safety Week:TAKE POLL

Wireless Safety Week, June 7-14, Promotes Wireless Safety on the Roadways

The results of the poll show that drivers here in Houston could do a better job of putting those cell phones away while driving. The risks simply are not worth the little reward.

Hilton Hotel: Going Green

The Hilton-America Hotel, downtown is helping some of our area’s homeless with their eco-friendly initiative. I toured the kitchen and loading dock yesterday…to discover that what I thought was a PLASTIC to-go box…was not plastic at all. I couldn’t believe it! Check it out.

KSBJ Open House (UPDATED)

This was earlier today…more pictures to come.

Morning Team on KSBJ with Mike, Jen and Susan

NEW PICTURES below.

Brittany Whatley (KSBJ Staff) and Jen. LOVE HER!
She took most of the pictures that you see.

Francesca Battistelli in concert

Signing autographs for such nice listeners!

How neat is this….?!

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center had to rebuild their Mobile Operations Complex after a fire destroyed the original warehouse back in 2005.

The new facility isn’t “just a new building…” it has environmentally friendly features. Examples: Dual flush toilets – why did it take so long for this concept to hit the streets? AND sky lights – it really did bring about a different feel.

The neatest had nothing to do with the building…wildflower paper. Play the clip; you’ll understand.

Jen Will Attend KSBJ Open House

(From KSBJ Website)

As you may have heard, KSBJ has been under-construction since January 2009 with 1st floor renovations and the build-out of the 2nd floor. At 90% completion, we are excited to see the installation of the elevator and delivery of our furniture right around the corner. To celebrate the completion of our expansion, KSBJ is inviting our listeners to an Open House on Tuesday, May 26 from 9 a.m. – noon to be held at 1722 Treble Dr., Humble, TX 77338. To read more head to: www.ksbj.org/features_details.php?Id=208

Believe it or not – I’ve never seen the studio, despite the fact that I work for KSBJ. Next Tuesday (after the holiday wkend), I’ll be dropping by around 9am to spend the morning there. By the way, if you plan on attending…there’s an RSVP link that you’ll need to go to. I look forward to seeing you. -Jen

Starlight Gala

Jennifer Reyna, Mistress of Ceremonies for The 2009 Starlight Gala

Here’s the news clip that ran Friday night as I emceed the 14th Annual Starlight Gala. The black-tie event took place at the beautiful Rice Hotel overlooking downtown.

I had a pleasant evening…meeting wonderful people who’s lives will forever be altered due to their illnesses. I met a father who had survived two different types of cancer. I couldn’t imagine what it had been like to hear the diagnoses and go through treatments – twice! He looked great though. I met a best friend who knew what it was like to have her friend go through treatment at a hospital. She shared a beautiful slide show and story with us. There were family members and supporters in attendance as well.

The goal of Starlight Gala Houston is to cultivate the next generation of Houston community leaders while raising money for the American Cancer Society. This year, Starlight Gala broke records bringing in more than $125,000 for a grand total of over $1.4 million since its inception! But, more research is needed. To make a donation and to help find a cure please visit:
http://community.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=19070&pg=entry

It was a great honor for me to host such an important event. I hope that one day, we conquer cancer.

Jennifer Walker (ACS), Jen and Kristen Belote (Event Chair)

The Jennifers…enjoying dessert, of course!

Jennifer Walker (ACS), Jhonathan Shaikh (cancer survivor & scholarship recipient) and Jen