FYI

Veterinarian Rajan to join rescue group

Starting in January 2013, Dev Rajan will join Abandoned Animal Rescue as the chief veterinarian for its spay-neuter program and wellness center.

Rajan has experience with Spay Houston, SNAP and Houston SPCA. He also has served as a secretary and board member of Harris County Veterinary Medical Association.

While working on animal cruelty cases for Houston SPCA, Rajan made frequent appearances on the show “Animal Cops.”
Abandoned Animal Rescue is at 419 E. Hufsmith Road, Tomball.

For more information, visit www.aartomball.org.

Wunderlich aims to make pantry permanent

Wunderlich Intermediate School teachers are working with local churches and community members to make the Wunderlich food pantry a permanent institution.

Under the leadership of Wunderlich staff members, the school, Faithbridge Church, Kinsmen Lutheran Church and local community volunteers are collecting donations and providing volunteer service. During the holiday season, the Wunderlich food pantry will provide food for at least 350 families who are in need. The food pantry will become a permanent service at the Wunderlich Intermediate campus beginning in January.

Project organizers aim to provide meals monthly to at least 50 families in the Wunderlich community, according to a school press release.

The food pantry originated from a school-wide project known as the Giving Tree, a craft project that identified students’ families who could benefit from a food pantry service. This year was the second time Wunderlich organized a Giving Tree.

The positive reaction from students and their families inspired staff members Maria Elena Sanchez, a parent liaison, and Matt Maudlin, a health and physical education teacher, to lead the way in creating a permanent food pantry at Wunderlich.

Wunderlich Intermediate has more than 1,100 students who qualify for free/reduced lunches. 400 of those students are considered high-needs based on government and economic reports.

Wunderlich Intermediate School is at 11800 Misty Valley Drive, Houston.

For more information, visit www.classroom.kleinisd.net/webs/wunderlich.

Public works chief named national fellow

Tomball Public Works Director David B. Kauffman was recently named a national Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Association.

Under this title, Kauffman will be mentoring public works professionals who are enrolled in the American Public Works Association Donald C. Stone Center for Leadership Excellence.

Kauffman was given this honor along with approximately 220 other public works professionals across the country.

The goal of selecting this group of fellows is to bestow the wisdom of senior leaders of public works onto the next generation, according to an association press release.
Kauffman has 25 years of experience in the professional management of public infrastructure, including maintenance, repair and improvement operations.

He has directed complex projects and continues to develop comprehensive maintenance programs for aged and undersized utilities, asphalt and concrete street inventory, drainage and detention systems and street signage replacement.

Kauffman has also implemented a fleet maintenance software program and an emergency power system preventative maintenance program for public facilities.

Before his position as Public Works director, Kauffman worked as the director of Public Works and Utilities for the city of Hondo, the Public Works superintendent of Friendswood, the senior project manager of Friendswood and the assistant/interim director of Public Works for Bay City.

For more information about the Donald C. Stone Centers Public Works Leadership Fellow Program, contact director of professional development Mabel Tinjac at mtinjaca@apwa.net.

For more information about the American Public Works Association, visit www.apwa.net.