FYI

City of Pearland names employees of the quarter

Officials from the city of Pearland have announced that Raquel Garza and Elizabeth Ayala have been named Employees of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Garza, who is an administrative assistant in the EMS department, received the award for full-time employees. According to a press release, she has played an instrumental role in providing leadership and planning to ensure residents and children are safe while operating motor vehicles. She recently organized and staffed a car seat inspection station, coordinating efforts to obtain state funds to pay for car seats for those who could not otherwise afford them. This is Garza’s eighth year working for Pearland.

Ayala, who is an accounts payable clerk in the Finance Department has worked for the city for seven years, received the award for part-time employee. She recently assisted in the completion of a market price survey, displaying organization and the ability to work independently to meet a common goal.

Garza and Ayala received plaques and certificates of honor in recognition of their hard work.

Pearland to host Hometown Christmas event

The city of Pearland Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with the Pearland Town Center to host the annual Hometown Christmas Festival and tree lighting ceremony over the weekend of Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 as the official Christmas tree is lit. Santa Claus will also arrive at this time, according to a department press release.

The festival will also include a holiday gift market, live entertainment, horse and carriage rides, snow play area for children, food and holiday-themed activities.

Admission to all events is free and open to the public.

All events take place at the Pearland Town Center, 11200 Broadway, Pearland.

For more information or to view the full schedule, visit www.pearlandparks.com.

Pearland starts citizen survey, ride program

The city of Pearland has begun a citizen survey and new transportation service for disabled and elderly residents this fall.

The citizen survey is being conducted by Creative Consumer Research to gather data and opinions about the quality of Pearland city services, including customer service provided by city departments. The survey focuses on how residents receive information about Pearland, and how communication can be improved. CCR is calling residents by phone to administer the survey, which takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Additionally, the city of Pearland is partnering with Harris County and the Gulf Coast Center to provide transportation services for disabled and elderly residents. The service will provide transportation for qualifying residents for fares as low as $1.24. Residents must call 90 minutes in advance to schedule a ride. The previous transportation program required residents to call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a ride.

For more information about the program, call 800-266-2320 or visit www.gulfcoastcenter.org.

Pearland baby home after five months in NICU

Ericka Burr and Ryan Johnson of Pearland will be giving thanks for many things this holiday season.

After five months in the neonatal intensive care unit at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, they brought their daughter Peyton home Monday, Nov. 19, according to a press release.

Peyton was born June 21 at 24 weeks and four days gestation. She weighed just 1 pound, 8 ounces at birth. Though extremely tiny at birth, Peyton was on a ventilator for several months while her health continued to improve.

Peyton now weighs 10 pounds and has joined her parents and an 8-year-old sister, Anease, at home.

Ericka says that she was humbled by this long journey and is thankful for the health of her daughter and for the medical staff who cared for her.