Alvin News

City Council voted last week to purchase 33 acres off Highway 35 for a convention center, allocating $1.6 million in tax notes that includes money to buy land and pay for an environmental study for the site.

The Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force issued a warning to thieves this week: The next truck, car, four-wheeler or golf cart they swipe may very well be a bait vehicle.

Date: Saturday, November 14th Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Memorial Hermann Memorial City Mall, near the skating rink Join us for a day of fun children’s activities and attractions at Memorial City Mall in our children’s village. Professional Lego artists will display their Lego creations, as well as a replica of the new Memorial Hermann Tower, new home to Children's Memorial Hermann and Women's Memorial Hermann! Kids will have an opportunity to build their own creations from Lego-style-bricks. We will be hosting a Memorial Hermann Tower building contest, where kids can build their own version of the new tower. Photos of the creations will be displayed on Flickr.com, where friends and family can vote for the best replica. Parents will get a chance to visit with medical experts from Children’s Memorial Hermann Memorial City at our “Ask the Pediatrician” and our “Ask the Ob/Gyn” tables. There will also be an area for kids to color cardboard versions of the MH Tower. Free stuffed animal versions of the Children’s Memorial Hermann mascot, Topper will also be given out while supplies last. There will also be a Teddy Bear ER for your Topper dolls. Following the event, join us for a live chat with on Children’s Health Issues with Dr. Michelle McKane, Thursday Nov. 19 at Noon on MemorialHermann.org

Electrophysiology is used to diagnose, treat and often cure heart rhythm abnormality, known as arrhythmia. It has also been shown to dramatically improve the quality of life for patients with heart failure. This innovative program is just one aspect of the cardiovascular care available at Memorial Hermann. Arrhythmia may indicate a serious problem and lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death. An arrhythmia can be silent and may not cause any symptoms. Register today for a potentially life-saving screening to look for atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia, at Memorial Hermann Hear t & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center. The cost for this test, combined with three other screenings for dif ferent hear t and vascular conditions, is $139. The complete package will screen for: Atrial fibrillation • (arrhythmia) • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) • Carotid artery disease Screenings are available December 8th To schedule your appointment, call 1.800.690.0289. For a referral to an electrophysiologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center, call 713.7CARDIO (722.7346). Screenings performed by Life Line Screening.

: Memorial Hermann Memorial City Mall. If you are familiar with the mall, the event will be in the area between the skating rink and the fireplace/seating area. FYI - the Pictures with Santa area will be right next to us so hopefully we will have high kid/parent traffic. The event is very kid/family oriented so there will be several activities/attractions: 1. the Lego models display area (including the Lego model of the MH Tower model) 2. an area for kids to build-their-own creations using foam Lego-style bricks. 3. an area for kids to take pictures with their "Lego" creations. Pictures will be posted on Flickr.

Register and join us Nov. 6 from noon to 1 p.m. for a live chat about this season's flu outbreak. Bring your questions and concerns about the flu vaccine and the spread of the new swine flu virus (H1N1) to board-certified pediatrician and family practitioner Dr. Subodh Bhuchar. Whether you are healthy and aren't sure if you should get the vaccine, or if you just want to be prepared for how to treat an illness in your family, this event can help you decide on a plan of action.

It is estimated that Heart Disease kills one person every 34 seconds. To better educate the public about our country’s number one killer, prevent the disease in those who don’t have it and better treat those who do, Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital has renewed its commitment to make Heart Disease education, prevention and treatment a top priority by taking a leadership role in heart-related community education events and expanding the heart services available at the hospital. The hospital’s renewed Heart Health campaign commenced with the 2009 Bay Area Start! Heart Walk on October 17, where Memorial Hermann Southeast donated $25,000 and raised an additional $17,000 in donations from physicians, employees and their friends and families. According to the American Heart Association, the proceeds from the walk, totaling approximately $170,000 and counting, will fund lifesaving research, as well as public and professional education programs in the community and across America. Memorial Hermann Southeast not only utilized its presence at the Bay Area Start! Heart Walk to educate participants and their families about heart disease from A to Z, but Memorial Hermann Southeast volunteers also shared the exciting news about the hospital’s expanded heart program and new treatments available for patients. This fall, the cardiac catheterization lab at Memorial Hermann Southeast is expanding and will offer additional services to meet heart patients’ needs, whether it is treatment for a blocked artery, an irregular heartbeat or heart attack. For more information about Memorial Hermann Southeast’s heart program, as well as upcoming heart-related events, visit www.memorialhermann.org or call 281.929.6100.

Voters approved a $70 million bond issue offered by Alvin ISD on Tuesday that will build new campuses, renovate existing schools and lay the groundwork for more.

Early voting turnout in Brazoria County was higher than the predicted state average, apparently driven by bond elections in two of the county's biggest school districts.

By the process of elimination, we can tell where 163,655 of Brazoria County's 166,484 registered voters haven't been since the morning hours of Oct.

A couple of Alvin Independent School District principals are hoping for nice weather this Friday night.

The winner of a $76 million Texas Lottery ticket purchased in Alvin remained a mystery on Thursday, but an attorney who says he represents the lucky prize holder contacted state lottery officials to ask questions about claiming the jackpot.

One Lotto Texas ticketholder in Alvin, Texas is a little richer tonight. In fact, the lucky ticketholder it a lot richer.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has designated Memorial Hermann’s Memorial Family Medicine Residency and its medical office, the Physicians at Sugar Creek, as a Recognized Medical Home. They are the only residency program and medical practice in Texas to receive this designation. “The award is given to those practices that can show that they provide the elements of a medical home that result in outstanding care,” said Dr. David Bauer, Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program Director. “Our utilization of electronic health records, implementation of secure messaging, and chronic disease management were just some of the components that captured the attention of the judges and influenced our overall score.”

Someone in the Alvin area is holding on to a piece of paper worth $76 million, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Somebody in Alvin is probably going to announce his retirement soon, thanks to a little ticket that has the six numbers drawn in Wednesday night's Lotto Texas.

Annual Family Fall Festival Join the fun from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Activities include: * Radio Disney * Health & wellness information for kids and adults * Doll/Teddy bear hospital - bring your broken doll or teddy bear for a checkup * H-E-B fun and activities * Petting zoo * Pumpkin decorating* * Face painting * Lots of games and activities* * Complimentary Subway® lunch* * American Heart Association and Habitat for Humanity information booths * Bring a new, unwrapped gift to donate to Toys for Tots * while supplies last

This year, hundreds of thousands of people will hear the words "You have cancer," and there's a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love. To help make sure those with cancer see another birthday, we are getting "Pinked For A Cause" for our 90th birthday. Help us celebrate Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.’s 90th Anniversary by helping raise $90,000 for the American Cancer Society through “Pinked For A Cause” on Oct. 30, 2009! During this one day, firm-wide event, Fulbright will accept donations and raise cancer awareness. Join Fulbright and Memorial Hermann on October 30, 2009 from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at any of these locations: Fulbright Tower - 1301 McKinney 1 Houston Center - 1221 McKinney 2 Houston Center - 909 Fannin The Shops at Houston Center - 1200 McKinney Memorial Hermann - 6411 Fannin

Buc Band members are walking with a little more pep in their step as they prepare for today's UIL competition after bringing home the first-place trophy from this year's Lone Star Preview.

When the Alvin Yellowjackets host Clear Springs in football Friday, the scoreboard operator won't be the only person keeping an electronic tally.