Byrd Breakfast to Host Balliew

John Balliew, the newly appointed President and CEO of El Paso Water Utilities/Public Service Board, will speak at Rep. Susie Byrd’s breakfast this Thursday morning, January 31, at 7:30 a.m. at Tierra Del Sol Restaurant on Alabama and Hamilton.  Mr. Balliew will discuss the drought, water conservation and his vision for the future of EPWU.  Read more about John Balliew.

Gun control/safety is controversial to say the least.  The Mayor’s office issued this announcement about a gathering tomorrow at City Hall:

“Come join a group of concerned citizens urging Mayor John Cook to come out in support of President Obama's Gun Safety proposals, and encouraging him to join Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Help us make the statement that not all of Texas is in lockstep with the NRA!

Wednesday, January 30, 11:00 am. Meet on 1st floor, then proceed to:

10th floor of City Hall
2 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901
Info: Pat Delgado 740-3962”

Speaking of City Hall, keep up with all the departmental moves to new locations downtown ahead of the demolition of the City Hall Building.  Go here for relocation information.

Make plans now for the official Dedication of Our New Newman Park Sign, Saturday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m. Tom Lea Institute Founder, Adair Margo, Neighborhood Services Coordinator, Mark Weber, and other dignitaries will be on-hand for this celebration.  Cake, chai tea and coffee will be served. 

The grant for the sign came through Neighborhood Services of the Community & Human Development Department.  Mr. Todd Jones of Wright & Dalbin Architects, Inc. designed our sign.  (BTW Fred Dalbin, a principal of Wright & Dalbin, is a Newmanista.  His wife, Pat, is the Public Art Program Coordinator for the City of El Paso.)  El Paso Graphics did the amazing tile work.  JJT Construction Services, LLC (Mr. Jose Torres, owner) was the contractor.

Check out events and hikes at your Franklin Mountains State Park.   Do the Peak Fitness Challenge.  Walk, bike, run Scenic Drive on all Sundays from 7 a.m. until Noon.  All vehicular traffic is prohibited on these Scenic Sundays.

Vaya con Dios!

¡Hola Vecinos!© is an emailed newsletter for the people and businesses in the Newman Park neighborhood of El Paso, their friends and other interested persons. It is written and published by Jim Tolbert who takes sole responsibility for the content of the letter. To subscribe or unsubscribe, just reply to this letter or email jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com.

Please visit www.newmanpark.blogspot.com and www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com.

The mission of the Newman Park Neighborhood Association is to improve the quality of life in the Newman Park neighborhood through care and attention to the park and surrounding areas, and to build a community network of care, watchfulness and concern for each other and our beautiful desert environment.

This is Volume 8 and Number 3 published on January 29, 2013

New EPWU CEO John Balliew To Speak at Byrd Breakfast

CITY REPRESENTATIVE SUSIE BYRD

COMMUNITY MEETING

Susie Byrd with John Balliew at Skateboard Park Dedication, May 2012

GUEST SPEAKER

John Balliew, President and CEO

El Paso Public Water Utilities

Date:                     Thursday, January 31, 2013

Time:                     7:30 A.M.

Location:                4201 Alabama, Tierra Del Sol Restaurant (Map)

EL PASO, TEXAS – Representative Susie Byrd will host a community meeting at 7:30am at Tierra Del Sol Restaurant. Guest speaker will be John Balliew, the newly appointed President and CEO of El Paso Public Water Utilities.  Mr. Balliew will discuss the drought, water preservation and his vision for the future of EPWU.

Skate Park Crowns Piedras Corridor

El Paso Skate Park Association Director, Paul Zimmerman, talks to reporters after the dedication ceremony last Friday.

Last Friday, skateboard enthusiasts, Mayor Cook, Rep. Susie Byrd, EPWU officials and police officers came together to dedicate the new Van Buren skateboard park and storm water dam just off Piedras.  Rep. Byrd had seen similar skate parks so, when the PSB/EPWU was working on plans to upgrade the old Van Buren dam, she approached CEO Ed Archuleta with the idea to build a dual purpose open space park. Archuleta quickly agreed. John Balliew, EPWU's Vice-President of Engineering and Operations, went right to work overseeing the skate park dam project. With suggestions from El Paso Skate Park Association Director Paul Zimmerman, the project was completed as a dual purpose storm water dam and skate park. The park crowns the Piedras business corridor and joins public parks from Memorial to Newman to Grandview that enhance recreation for Central El Pasoans especially residents in the Newman Park, Central and Manhattan Heights Neighborhood Associations. Because of Rep. Byrd's vision, many are beginning to ask whether the park wouldn't be better named the Susie Byrd Open Space Park.

EPWU CEO Ed Archuleta points out some engineering details of the skate park dam to Rep. Susie Byrd.

Skateboarder takes one of the first "rides" at the dam.

El Paso Skate Park Association video. Engineers build great dams. But, can they do this?

New Van Buren Dam Basin Includes Skatepark

El Paso Water Utilities will dedicate an innovative project that protects a Central El Paso neighborhood from flood water while providing a recreational opportunity for skateboarders. The dedication of the Van Buren Dam and Skatepark will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 18. Parking is available at the end of Monroe Avenue west of North Piedras Street. City Rep. Susie Byrd along with members of the El Paso Skatepark Association approached EPWU asking what could be done at the facility to accommodate skaters. In response to the request, EPWU incorporated a design modification to allow for skate ramps. “This project not only increases flood protection for the community, it gives an added recreational venue at the same time,” said EPWU Vice President of Operations and Technical Services John Balliew. “We’re happy to see those principles work hand in hand.” El Paso City Council has requested that EPWU develop dual-use stormwater facilities that protect neighborhoods from flooding while adding to the quality of life. Several existing ponds are under design to make them available for soccer. Facilities that marry a stormwater function with a recreational function are clearly marked with signage informing users that areas are subject to flooding in heavy rains.