Houston parks have been hit hard by the drought, and the Houston Parks Department called on volunteers to plant trees in Memorial, Mason, Hermann and MacGregor Parks.

The I-10 freeway has become exposed now that many tree have died, and it is now more common to see men with hard hats and saws ready to clear out the dead trees than lush foliage.  ”Here we’ll be planting approximately 20,000 trees. We won’t cover the freeway up tomorrow, but our goal is, down the road, we will have the freeway covered back up,” said Joe Turner, Houston Parks and Recreation director.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, visit www.houstonparks.org

According to court documents, the Irving, Texas based company stated that the purpose of the Chapter 11 filing is “Whether the debtors can achieve long-term viability depends directly and substantially on the debtors’ ability to achieve dramatic change to their labor agreements, with a corresponding material reduction in their cost structure and legacy pension and medical obligations, and a restructuring of their capital structure.”

A $75 million loan from lender, Silver Point Capital LP, to help the company sustain operation while it restructures is pending approval by the court.

If you are considering bankruptcy, contact Galveston bankruptcy attorneys of Gipson, Norman & Root by calling 281-332-4800.

This Saturday, Jan 7, the Houston Texans will host the Cincinnati Bengals at Reliant Stadium for a kickoff starting at 3:30pm.  This will be the first time the Texans have played in a playoff game.

Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator for the Texans, is considered to be the biggest asset to the Texans’ game.  Phillips, who was formerly the Dallas Cowboys head coach, has completely changed the Texans’ defense by bringing in some key players such as cornerback Jonathan Joseph and linebacker Brian Cushing.

For more information on the game, visit http://www.houstontexans.com/

Houston Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” running through Dec 27.  Hurry up and get your tickets for the whole family to see the story of young Clara and her trip through the Land of Snow and Kingdom of Sweets in the world’s most famous ballet.  Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas, Houston.  For information and to purchase tickets, visit the Houston Ballet website.

Visit Downtown Houston to see the shops lit up for the holidays, go ice skating at Discovery Green, or catch the famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” at the Alley Theatre.  Discovery Green is open for skating through Jan 22.  Tickets are $10 plus tax, including skate rental. Visit DiscoveryGreen.com for more details.

This coming Thursday, December 15, a free tasting event will be held at the Del Papa Distribution on 6702 Broadway.  The event will feature beers from Magic Hat, Pyramid, Rahr & Sons, Leffe and more.

From January 15 to January 21, the first annual Galveston Restaurant Week will take place.  A wide array of restaurants will participate with costs of meals ranging from $10-40.  For more information, visit the event’s website.

J.C. Evans Construction filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 1, and a lawyer representing the company sent a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission announcing its planned layoffs.

Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN, protects workers and requires advanced notice from companies such as J.C. Evans should they plan closings or mass layoffs.

If you are considering bankruptcy, it is important to have experienced representation to discuss your legal options. Contact Galveston bankruptcy attorneys of Gipson, Norman & Root at 281-332-4800.

This exciting holiday event draws almost 85,000 visitors each year, and the festival includes a mile-long trail of lights, musical entertainment, ice skating, and winter wonderland festival with real snow on Saturdays.

The event runs Thursday-Saturday 6-10pm through Dec 10, and daily Dec 14-Jan 1. Admission is $5.95. Ice skating, Snow Zone, and screenings of Polar Express 4D require an additional fee.  The Festival of Lights also has a new attraction this year called the Home for the Holidays Gift Market.

For more information on Moody Gardens Festival of Lights, visit www.moodygardens.org

The not-for-profit facility filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago listing $100 million to $500 million in assets and liabilities.  Its creditors include the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corp., Loyola University, the City of Chicago, and Greystone Development of Irving, TX.

The Clare at Water Tower is waiting on court approval to borrow $12 million from Redwood Capital Management LLC during the bankruptcy.

If you are considering bankruptcy and would like to speak with an experienced attorney about filing, contact the Galveston bankruptcy lawyers of Gipson, Norman & Root at 281-332-4800 today.

Four businesses filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the bankruptcy court in San Antonio in February, two fewer than a year before.  In addition, only one business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Western District of Texas last month, while seven did in February 2010.

Considering commercial filings decreased in February and the total number of filings increased, it stands to reason that personal bankruptcy filings increased.  Chapter 13 filings increased by 7 percent from February 2010 to February 2011.  197 cases were filed a year ago and 211 were filed last month.  Only one more consumer Chapter 7 bankruptcy was filed last month than in February 2010.

If you or someone you know is having trouble meeting their finances and paying off debts, contact the Galveston & Clear Lake personal bankruptcy attorneys of Gipson, Norman & Root at 281-332-4800 to learn more about your options for filing for bankruptcy protection.

According to the filing, Eastern Livestock owes more than $130 million to 743 creditors.  The company’s three largest creditors are Southeast Livestock Exchange LLC, Moseley Cattle Auction LLC and David L. Rings.  All three are owed thousands of dollars for cattle sold.

Officials from Eastern Livestock decided to file for bankruptcy after Fifth Third Bank of Cincinnati filed suit against the company for supposedly issuing between $81 million and $131 million in bad checks.  The bank subsequently closed Eastern Livestock’s account and the company was unable to pay creditors.

Contact the Galveston bankruptcy attorneys of Gipson, Norman & Root at 281-332-4800 today to set up an appointment to discuss life after bankruptcy.