January 2022

Run for a Residential Design Review Committee or Village Association Office

Cover

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

2801 Technology Forest Boulevard, The Woodlands, Texas 77381

Main Line

All Offices and Departments 281-210-3800

Fire Department (non-emergency) 281-367-3444

Parks, Recreation and Environmental Services 8203 Millennium Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3800

Recreation Center at Bear Branch Park 5310 Research Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3950

Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park 6464 Creekside Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77389 281-516-7348

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office 281-297-6500, Business, M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 936-442-7797, Non-Emergency, 24 hours

Harris County Sheriff’s Office 713-221-6000

Montgomery County Constable, Precinct 3 281-364-4211

Harris County Constable, Precinct 4 281-376-3472

Water Providers Woodlands Water (Montgomery County MUDs) 855-H20-SAVE (855-426-7283)

Harris – Montgomery Counties MUD No. 386, 281-290-6500

Emergency 911

For emergency information specific to The Woodlands, listen to K-Star Country, KVST-FM, the official emergency broadcast partner of The Woodlands Township.

message from

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors

and yours a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet for 2022? Or perhaps looking to add some additional ones? This month’s issue is chock full of ideas for resolutions to make 2022 the best year yet. Maybe you’d like to do a better job of recycling, or gardening, or lawn care, or get more involved in the community by joining the Neighborhood Watch or running for a local office. Maybe you or your young adult children are looking for a job, or you or your family want to get more involved in recreational activities. Don’t forget to do your part to help the environment through stewardship of our waterways and by living in harmony with neighbors— both human and animal. It’s all here in The Woodlands Community Magazine, just waiting for you to take part and find your place in the community for 2022.

John Anthony Brown Treasurer, Position 3

Bruce Rieser Vice Chairman, Position 4

Gordy Bunch Chairman, Position 1

Jason J. Nelson Director, Position 2

Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs Secretary, Position 5

Dr. Ann K. Snyder Director, Position 6

Bob Milner Director, Position 7

Jeff Jones President and General Manager

The Woodlands

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

The Official Magazine of The Woodlands Township

The Woodlands Community Magazine is a monthly publication of The Woodlands Township, in partnership with Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. It is printed and distributed free of charge to residents of The Woodlands

The printing and distribution of The Woodlands Community Magazine are supported entirely by advertising revenue. Please patronize the advertisers whenever possible, and tell them you saw their ad in this magazine and appreciate their support.

Advertising inquiries, rate requests and change of address/ delivery inquiries may be directed to Champions Printing & Publishing, 6608 FM 1960 W., Suite G, Houston, TX, 77069, 281-583-7661.

Editorial inquiries may be directed to The Woodlands Community Magazine, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX, 77381, telephone 281-210-3800. Editorial deadlines are the 15th of every month, approximately six weeks in advance of publication. The editors reserve all rights to accept or reject any submissions and reserve all rights to edit for clarity and space. The Woodlands Community Magazine is the official information source of The Woodlands Township. Its purpose is to inform Woodlands residents about the activities of the Township and the services provided to them as Woodlands residents. Information from the Township takes precedence over information submitted by any other source.

The Woodlands Community Magazine has earned three Communicator Awards of Distinction, the Bronze Quill Award of Merit from the Houston Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, a Merit Award from The Service Industry Advertising Awards and a Gold MarCom Award.

CHAMPIONS STAFF

President, Publisher James E. Callahan, Jr.

Account Executives Jim Callahan

Graphic Designers Jami Davis

Charlene Strine

TOWNSHIP STAFF

Director of Community Relations Nick Wolda

Editor Mary Connell

Senior Copy Editor Kacie Gurney

Copy Editor Perry Frank

Editorial Assistant Barbara Ryan

6608 FM 1960 W., Suite G Houston, Texas 77069

281-583-7661

www.championsprinting.com

Township Recognized For Excellence In Budgeting and Financial Reporting

The Woodlands Township recently earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

“As a governmental agency, The Woodlands Township must provide transparent, timely and accurate financial information to the public. It also must comply with standardized principles and best practices related to numerous agencies and auditors. I am proud to say that The Township has achieved the highest bond rating of AA+ this year, placing the Township in the top 4 percent of governmental agencies in the State of Texas. No other special purpose district has achieved a higher rating,” said Township Chairman Gordy Bunch.

The GFOA represents public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. The association’s members comprise federal, state, and local finance officials deeply involved in planning, financing, and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions. The GFOA’s primary mission is to advance excellence in public finance.

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

The Woodlands Township has also been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2021 Budget and Five-Year Plan document, which is the highest award in governmental budgeting. Per the GFOA, “the award represents a significant achievement by The Woodlands Township and signifies the commitment of the governing body and

staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.” Of the over 90,000 local government jurisdictions in the United States eligible to participate in the program, the Township was one of 1,722 recipients of the award.

This puts The Woodlands Township in the top 2 percent in the United States as a recipient of the award.

To receive the award, the Township had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the Township’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device.

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award. As stated by the GFOA, “Award recipients lead efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.”

The GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is valid for a period of one year only. The Township has received this award for seven consecutive years, beginning with the first submission of the 2015 Budget.

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Woodlands Township has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The GFOA established this award to encourage state and local governments to

go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence transparency and full disclosure. To receive the award, the annual report must include an independent auditor’s report on the fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards.

The Township’s annual financial report was reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and GFOA’s Special Review Committee, members of which possess specialized expertise in public sector financial reporting. The certificate of excellence is awarded only if there is a consensus among the reviewers that a comprehensive annual financial report complies with generally accepted accounting principles and GFOA program policies, meets applicable legal requirements, and is an easily readable and efficiently organized report. Of the over 90,000 local government jurisdictions in the United States eligible to participate in the program, the Township was one of approximately 4,300 recipients of the award.

The GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting is valid for a period of one year only. The Township has received this award since the inception of The Woodlands Township in 2010.

The Woodlands Township Board commended Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration Monique Sharp and her staff for excellence and dedication in achieving awards and designations from the GFOA for The Woodlands Township for many consecutive years.

Plan Your Spring Fun in The Woodlands with the Action Guide

By Kacie Gurney

The Spring 2022 Action Guide is now available online, at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ actionguide. Some of the programs you will find for Spring 2022 include Family Bingo Nights, free music concerts, Mother-Son Date Night, Father-Son Challenge, egg hunts, the Community Tree Planting, races, day camps, cooking classes, dance lessons, sports and more. Programs and activities tend to fill up fast, so early registration is recommended. To register for programs, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx. gov/signupforfun. For assistance with registration or questions about programs, please email recreation@ thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or call 281-210-3950 or 281-516-7348.

VOLUNTEER

Run for a Residential Design Review Committee or Village Association Office

Eachyear, elections are held for more than 100 volunteer leadership positions within our community. Filing is open in January to run in the February elections for the Residential Design Review Committees (RDRCs) and the Village Associations. The Woodlands Township Board of Directors election is held in November and follows a different process.

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE

Residents interested in ensuring that design standards are maintained in The Woodlands may be interested in filing for Residential Design Review Committee candidacy in their village. Up to five Residential Design Review Committee members will be elected for each village, all serving one-year terms. This includes two committees for the Village of Indian Springs, which is divided into two geographic areas.

VILLAGE ASSOCIATIONS

Each of the villages has a civic association that facilitates activities specific to their village. Each village may have officer positions and/or area (neighborhood) representative positions open for the election. While officer duties may vary by position and/or specific village (refer to each village’s bylaws), all villages seek enthusiastic residents looking to volunteer their service and leadership for their closest Woodlands neighbors.

FILING FOR OFFICE

Filing packets and related information including important dates and deadlines can be found on The Woodlands Township website at www.thewoodlandstownshiptx.gov/februaryelection, or by calling 281-210-3800.

In Case you Missed it

TheWoodlands Township swore in its re-elected directors for the upcoming year. Pictured here, Judge Kristin Bays of the 284th District Court administers the Oath of Office to re-elected Directors of The Woodlands Township: Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Dr. Ann K. Snyder and Bob Milner.

The Board also elected Officers for the Board of Directors for The Woodlands Township: Chairman Gordy Bunch, Vice Chairman Bruce Rieser, Secretary Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs and Treasurer John Anthony Brown. Please see page 3 for the complete listing of Township directors and positions.

THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in The Woodands

At Houston Methodist Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in The Woodlands.

Willowbrook

B

936.270.3333

houstonmethodist.org/cancer-woodlands

Be a Part of an Award-Winning Program!

The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch

By Kristin Pternitis

For the past several years, The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch has placed in the top three for National Night Out programming by the National Association of Town Watch. This is a national award and is for the population category of 100,000 to 300,000. This award recognizes the efforts of public safety and community partnerships. These partnerships play a critical role in The Woodlands Township crime and fire prevention efforts.

As The Woodlands continues to grow, so does the need for residents to be vigilant and to take part in crime prevention efforts in their homes and in their neighborhoods. The strength of The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch has always been in the dedication of volunteer Neighborhood Watch Coordinators who share their time and talents to the good of the community. Since its inception in 1984, The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch Program has grown tremendously, helping to bring the crime prevention message into their neighborhoods. However, Neighborhood Watch Coordinators are still needed in some neighborhoods of The Woodlands.

It’s easy and fun; become a Neighborhood Watch Coordinator today! If your neighborhood is not yet active or has recently become inactive in this program, please contact The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch at 281-210-3800 or neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov and a Program Specialist will provide you with the tools you need to get organized.

For more information on The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch and the many programs and events that are offered, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/neighborhoodwatch or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/townshipneighborhoodwatch.

Help SHAPE

Public Safety in your neighborhood by:

SHARING information with neighbors from your Township Neighborhood Watch Program Specialist. Forwarding relevant emails and/or sharing on social media.

HELPING to bring crime prevention resources to your neighbors.

Schedule a Safety Meeting, Safety Awareness Day and/or Dog Walker Watch event in your neighborhood. Your Program Specialist will help you plan the event. Public Safety will be invited to attend these events along with your Program Specialist.

ASSISTING with rumor control by sharing accurate information. Please contact your Program Specialist for verification before you “spread the word”.

Accuracy is very important! A good resource for checking accuracy in “chain” emails, scams, etc. is www.snopes.com. Please do not share something before knowing the facts.

PARTICIPATING in National Night Out!

Host a National Night Out party for your neighborhood. National Night Out in The Woodlands is the first Sunday in October from 3 to 6 p.m. Your Program Specialist will assist you with getting your party organized. Public Safety will visit registered parties.

S H A P E

ENCOURAGING neighbors to look out for one another.

Immediately report suspicious activity to law enforcement: Montgomery County residents: 936-442-7797 (option 3); Harris County residents: 281-376-3472

Resolutions for the Garden and Yard

By Bob Dailey, A message from Woodlands Water

Avoid These Gardening Mistakes

We all make mistakes in gardening. It’s just the nature of the process. To continue a series that began in the November issue of this magazine, here are additional common gardening errors.

Planting where there is not enough sun. Every gardener has made this mistake at least once. Many of us have done it multiple times. For instance, most people love growing their own tomatoes. But tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of sunlight. Since much of The Woodlands (as the name implies) is wooded, that much sunlight can be hard to find. If tomato plants can’t get at least six hours of sunlight, you won’t have much luck growing them. Don’t despair. There is a solution. Plant sun-loving plants in containers and put them in a sunny patch – perhaps at the edge of a driveway, or a patio that gets sun, or even a balcony. Out of sight, out of mind. Planting a garden in a lonely backyard may help hide it from neighbors but it will hide it from you as well. That makes it easy to forget to check it, water it efficiently, miss pest infestations. That’s true not only for vegetables, but ornamentals as well. Instead, put your plants where you can see them. You’ll be able to see plants that need water or have bug damage.

Planting in just any old soil. Much of the soil in The Woodlands (and in most

developed areas inside and outside of Montgomery County is of very poor quality. Unless you’re planting native plants, your garden will need soil amendments. Your garden soil needs to be filled with natural nutrients. Bad soil is like eating potato chips or any other junk food. Planting far from a water source, or where water can’t reach your plants. This happens more often than people think, especially in areas where sprinklers are used. We put a plant in the ground when it’s small without considering how large it will get. As it grows larger, it blocks water from reaching plants behind it, causing untold problems. Instead, consider the mature size of the plant when adding or designing your garden.

Under fertilizing or using the wrong fertilizers. Most plants (except natives) require some fertilizer. There are plenty of places online which provide fertilizer guidance for most plants. Use a slowrelease, preferably organic fertilizer. If you have improved your soil, that’s great. But even the best soil will eventually run out of nutrients.

Don’t Irrigate in January

First, St. Augustine, Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, and to a great extent, buffalo grass – all warm season grasses - are dormant and don’t need irrigation. Most of these grasses began going dormant in October. By December, they

are generally fully dormant. Dormant turf does not require water.

Second, irrigating when turf is dormant is a sure way to bring fungal diseases into a lawn. Fungi thrives on humidity, and southeast Texas is known for its humidity. Few of these diseases will show themselves during the winter. Many will show in the spring, and some others won’t show until summer. The following fungal diseases can devastate a lawn: Large Patch, Dollar spot, Gay leaf spot, Pythium and Rust.

Third, if the diseases don’t kill a lawn they will weaken the individual plants, making the plants more susceptible to other problems like sod webworms, chinch bugs and bacterial infections. Weakened turfgrass will go into the next warm season with fewer defenses than the previous year, will become reinfected, and eventually die or require expensive treatments.

Fourth, Woodlands Water averages water use for the months of December, January and February. This is the rate the resident is charged for sewer fees for the next 12 months. Since sewer costs are based on water use, and since lawn watering is the largest portion of water used in The Woodlands, not watering during those three months especially will seriously reduce sewer bills.

Fifth, choosing not to irrigate when the lawn doesn’t need it indicates good stewardship toward this extremely important and non-replenishable supply.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

With an Affordable, High Quality Education.

For most students, figuring out how to pay for college is one of the toughest parts of earning a degree. Financial aid, grants, and scholarships are available to help.

Get more out of your educaton for less.

The Woodlands Township Environmental Services

SPRING CLASSES AND EVENTS

The New Year kicks off with a variety of free classes and events. Mark your calendar and be sure to register at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environment.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

Backyard Composting Class

Turn your yard and kitchen waste into compost.

10 to 11 a.m.

8203 Millennium Forest Drive

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

Landscape Gardening Class

Tips to create the perfect home landscape

9 a.m. to noon

Online

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

46th Annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

Free native tree seedlings to plant at home or in community green spaces

9 a.m. to noon

Rob Fleming Park

6055 Creekside Forest Drive

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Backyard Composting Class

Turn your yard and kitchen waste into compost.

10 to 11 a.m.

8203 Millennium Forest Drive

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12

8th Annual Community Tree Planting

Volunteers needed to plant native trees, plants and wildflowers

8 a.m. to noon

Meadowlake Park

9501 N. Panther Creek Drive

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Walk in the Woods: Creating Bird Friendly Spaces Create an inviting space for birds in your own yard.

6 to 7 p.m.

South County Community Center 2235 Lake Robbins Drive

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Invasive Species Volunteer Training

Learn to identify and remove species of concern from our pathways and green spaces, then volunteer alongside your neighbors to tackle the problem.

9 a.m. to noon

Woodlands Emergency Training Center 16135 Interstate 45 South

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Spring Organic Vegetable Gardening

Learn practical tips for growing tastier vegetables and herbs without chemicals.

9 a.m. to noon

Online

If you, or someone you know, is having a difficult time GET HELP NOW.

www.visionsourcespringmarketplace.com

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGES OF THE WOODLANDS

Alden Bridge

It’s 2022 and those of us in Alden Bridge are looking forward to a great year! We appreciate all the hard work of the residents who made our village beautiful with their festively decorated homes and yards during the holiday season.

This year’s first Alden Bridge Village Association meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the Township building, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. The meetings are a good source of information on what’s going on in our village and The Woodlands overall. We schedule informative speakers periodically and receive updates from the Sheriff’s Department and the Township Board each month.

Our village association elections will be held February 19, 2022, and we would definitely appreciate your votes. This year, Alden Bridge will elect nine at-large Area Representatives and five members of our Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC). The Township website (thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov) is your source for information and filing forms. Consider running for a position on our board or RDRC. It’s a great way to give back to your community – and have some fun at the same time.

A new year of nominating your friends and neighbors (or yourself!) for our Yard of the Month competition will get underway from May through August. As the year progresses, you’ll be able to decorate your home and yard to be judged in Halloween’s Spookiest House contest and the Holiday Lighting and Decorating Contest.

How about meeting a challenge for the new year? The Water-Wise Village Challenge is well underway and if you haven’t signed up yet, you definitely want to go to www. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environment and take the pledge! You’ll help your village and your grass while you save

water over the winter. Once you pledge, your village earns a contest point and the villages with the most points receive cash awards for their scholarship funds from program sponsors.

There’s never a dull moment, and you can stay informed about our activities through our website, www.aldenbridge. org, our Facebook page, and by subscribing to our monthly e-newsletter (send your email address to abvainfo@ gmail.com). Don’t hesitate to reach out to us by email (abvainfo@gmail.com) or through our website (www.aldenbridge. org) if you have any questions or concerns about life in our village. We’re always here for you. We’re looking forward to meeting residents and being of assistance, however we can.

Submitted by Greg Sherlock

College Park

Happy New Year, everyone! We look forward to a prosperous 2022 and jobs to be plentiful for our community and to grow more every day! Our College Park board is in need of volunteers to be area representatives. Please attend our village meetings, which occur on the third Monday of each month, at The Woodlands Township office at 6 p.m. Great way to get involved with our community and help resolve issues of residents, if needed. Please check our Facebook and College Park website for event schedule happenings for 2022. Stay safe and healthy! Take care of our children because school is in, and before and after school there is increased traffic. Please be mindful of speed and students who may be walking on our pathways!

Submitted by Johanne Stanley

Panther Creek

Your Panther Creek Village Association has been expanded to open more opportunities for your

participation in this community service. Registration for those wishing to run for positions on your village board is open till January 7, 2022, for the election in February. Also in February, the election for members of the Residential Design Review Committee will be held.

The new year presents the residents of Panther Creek with many opportunities to participate in keeping The Woodlands a “real hometown”. Your Panther Creek Village Association exists to help residents enjoy and benefit from the many resources in our community.

2022 will be a busy year in the Panther Creek Village with elections, Flea Markets, baseball outings, picnics, parades, Christmas lighting contests, scholarship awards, guest speakers, bazaars, and much more going on. Come join us and help enrich The Woodlands and enrich your life by being an active member of this great community.

Our monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m., the second Thursday of each month at The Woodlands Township building on Technology Forest Boulevard (just off New Trails). All residents are invited to attend. Community leaders and civic groups present useful information and make themselves available for your questions and suggestions. Sheriff’s Department Deputies present detailed reports of crime prevention and criminal activities in our neighborhood. Our Woodlands Neighborhood Services Department keeps us informed on the actions and issues before The Woodlands Township Board. Our board members also report on their work at community-wide committees on residential design review, local policing, and parks and recreation.

You can also keep up to date on village activities by visiting our website: www.PantherCreekVillageAssociation. org or visit us at Facebook.com/ PantherCreekVillage, or twitter.com/ PantherCreekTX.

Submitted by Paul

Gebolys

By Amber Barnes

ARBORDAY TREEGIVEAWAY

Celebrating 46 Years

Don’t

miss out on one of the longest standing traditions in The Woodlands! Arbor Day encourages residents to take part in ongoing community reforestation and beautification efforts by planting trees in yards, community open space reserves and forest preserves.

The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway takes place Saturday, January 29, 2022, from 9 a.m. to noon at Rob Fleming Park, located at 6055 Creekside Forest Drive. This year, 12 varieties of native seedlings are available including both canopy trees and understory trees. Canopy trees, which comprise the upper layer of the forest, typically reach heights of 40 to 90 feet at full maturity. The following varieties are available this year: American Sycamore, Chinkapin Oak, Loblolly Pine, Lacey Oak, Texas Pistache and Green Ash. Understory trees range in height from 8 to 40 feet at maturity and are generally more shade-tolerant. These smaller varieties include Texas Redbud, Possumhaw Holly, Roughleaf Dogwood, Texas Persimmon, Spicebush and Witch Hazel. Each of these native varieties benefit local wildlife. Flowering trees and shrubs provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Berry-producing varieties offer small mammals and birds a source of food. All are critical hosts for beneficial insects.

This is a free event for Woodlands residents. For more information, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/arborday. Thank you to this year’s sponsors: Chevron-Phillips, Centerpoint Energy, The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. and Woodlands Water Agency.

Since 1977 more than 1.5 million trees have been given away at this annual event for residents to plant in yards, forest preserves and community open spaces.

SWIM TEAM

• STARTING SALARY $11.25/hour for ASSISTANT HEAD COACHES

• STARTING SALARY $13/hour for HEAD COACHES

• Must have swim team or swim lesson experience

• Must be 18 years or older by April 18, 2022

• Must be available to work from April 18 to June 26, 2022

• Must be able to attend all swim meets on Saturdays from April 30 to June 26, 2022, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

RECREATION SPECIALISTS

• STARTING SALARY $15/hour

• Experience with swim team is preferred, but not required

• Must be 18 years or older by February 1, 2022

• Must be available to work from February to July 2022

• Must be able to attend all swim meets on Saturdays from April 30 to June 26, 2022, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CAMP COUNSELOR

• STARTING SALARY $10.50/hour

• Must be 18 years or older by June 1, 2022

• Learn teamwork

• Build leadership skills

• Successful completion of Red Cross Safety Instructor course required (Training provided by The Woodlands Township, at a reduced rate)

WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS

• STARTING SALARY $12/hour

• Learn teamwork and leadership skills

• Must be 16 years or older by June 1, 2022

• Must be available to work from June 6 to July 29, 2022

• Successful completion of Red Cross Safety Instructor course required (Training provided by The Woodlands Township, at a reduced rate)

LIFEGUARDS

• STARTING SALARY $9.75/hour

• Must be 16 years or older by July 1, 2022

• Successful completion of Red Cross Lifeguarding course required (Training provided by The Woodlands Township, at a reduced rate)

We should meet

here every year.

WE HEAR THAT A LOT.

As the official destination marketing & management organization for The Woodlands, our office works to promote the destination as a great place to visit and hold meetings. If you’re a member of an association or group that has an annual conference, bring it to The Woodlands! With all the hosting capabilities of a larger city, neighboring proximity to major Houston airports, and one of the region’s top shopping, dining and entertainment areas, The Woodlands is the perfect place to host your next meeting or event.

Be A Doggy Do and Not A Doggy Don’t

Important Notice: By submitting letters, photos and other materials to The Woodlands Community Magazine (TWCM) you agree that the materials submitted will become the property of TWCM and will not be returned. You also agree that TWCM, its assigns, and the publisher, have been granted the non-exclusive right to use and /or reproduce the materials in any manner and for any purpose. You also agree that you have made no other considerations for the use of any submissions unless authorized in writing by TWCM and the Publisher. For more information, please call 281-2103800. Photographs may be submitted, and are encouraged, for publication either within the magazine or on the cover. There is no payment for photographs featured either within the publication or on the cover. Both amateur and professional slides and photographs, featuring Woodlands people and scenes, are welcome. Disclaimer: The Publisher, Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. (CP&PI), and The Woodlands Township assume no responsibility for the advertising content within this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be addressed directly with the advertiser. The Publisher retains exclusive rights to the acceptance or denial of all advertising copy. Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and or misprints in this publication, Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. Under no circumstances shall The Publisher, The Woodlands Township be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to the liabilities stated above. Articles, cartoons, and photographs in this magazine express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CP&PI or its employees. Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. or its employees assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. Space does not always permit a full description of provisions of The Woodlands Covenants or Residential Development Standards being discussed. This magazine does not replace or alter The Woodlands Covenants or Residential Development Standards. Always refer to the Covenants or Standards or call the office for specific information. Copyright: The Woodlands Community Magazine is published monthly in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. by Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc., 6608 FM 1960 West, Suite G, Houston Texas 77069. Copyright © 2021. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of the publisher or The Woodlands Township.

The Woodlands Township values the environment and actively works to protect and preserve green spaces and waterways throughout the community. One major contributor to water pollution is often found along pathways, parks and green spaces: DOG WASTE. While we all agree that dog waste is unsightly, it poses more than an unpleasant hazard. It’s also a major environmental pollutant.

Why Worry About Dog Waste?

The EPA classifies dog waste as a dangerous environmental pollutant. Leaving bagged waste on the ground does not solve the problem. Without proper disposal, dog waste harms waterways, forests, wildlife, pets and humans.

Dog waste is different than wildlife waste. A dog’s diet produces waste that is far more toxic and carries diseases such as Salmonellosis, Parvo and Coccidia that can be transmitted to wildlife, pets and humans.

When not removed, rain washes dog waste into storm drains and waterways where it robs fish of precious oxygen.

BAG IT AND TRASH IT

For more information, please contact The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800, enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environment

Know What To Do If You Encounter A Coyote

The Woodlands is a master planned community within a natural forest that provides natural habitat for various wildlife. A primary tenet of the master plan is for the development to be in harmony with nature.

Reported sightings of feral hogs, alligators and coyotes are not uncommon. In late 2021, there had been 13 feral hog, four alligator and five coyote sighting reports received by the Township in a community forest that spans 27,000 acres and 44 square miles.

If you should see a coyote, please do not take action on your own. Call the

Township at 281-210-3800 to report it. We will log your report of the sighting for reference and analysis of the activity. We encourage you to continue to be aware of the animal’s presence and follow the educational guidelines below.

• Keep pet food and water inside.

• Secure garbage and compost piles.

• Keep pets inside.

• Walk pets on a leash and accompany them outside, especially at night.

• Do not feed wildlife on the ground; keep wild bird seed in feeders.

• Keep fruit trees fenced or pick up fruit that falls to the ground.

• Do not feed feral cats.

Remember, coyotes are pack animals and serve a purpose in controlling the overpopulation of other wildlife, such as rodents and young feral hogs, as well as cleaning the forest of dead animals. Killing or relocating coyotes does not work in the long term because it can cause a smaller pack to merge into a larger pack if the alpha pair (the only pair that breeds) is disrupted, which results in more litters and the need for more food.

2021 Pinwheel Art Installation

www.ChildrensSafeHarbor.org/about-us/videos to view the video of the 2021 pinwheel art installation in Magnolia. The pinwheels represent the 2,322 children served by Children’s Safe Harbor in 2020 from the age of 2 to 17. Members of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) helped with the installation. Children's Safe Harbor serves children and families in Montgomery County who have experienced sexual assault, severe physical abuse, violence, child sex trafficking, online exploitation and trauma.

PreK-12

Only Rain in the Drain! Help keep our waterways clean and healthy.

The Woodlands Township and your Municipal Utility District (MUD) want you to know that anything entering the storm drain ends up in a nearby waterway, untreated and unfiltered. Volunteers are installing storm drain markers in your neighborhood as a reminder that only rain belongs in the storm drains and roadside drainage ditches.

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS ARE...

PET WASTE: Our local waterways have high bacteria levels, primarily from pet waste. This makes the water unhealthy for people and the environment. Due to their diet, a pet’s waste is far more toxic than wildlife waste. Please pick up your pet’s waste, no matter where it’s deposited, AND throw it in the trash. These two steps will help resolve this issue.

YARD DEBRIS: Please keep yard debris out of ditches and streets. It clogs storm drains which increases flooding and worsens mosquito breeding. Instead, mow your leaves and let them lie on your lawn as a great nutrient source or use them as mulch in your plant beds.

LAWN CHEMICALS: Rain and sprinklers can wash fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides off your lawn into storm drains and, ultimately, into waterways. This harms fish and other organisms and endangers human health. Please don’t overuse chemicals, never apply when rain is forecast, and consider organic alternatives to fertilizer like compost.

REDUCE, REUSE, RESOLVE TO RECYCLE

Resolve to recycle right and reconsider your waste footprint in 2022! The Woodlands Township encourages residents to refresh their knowledge of recycling guidelines to keep our program strong and seek ways to reduce waste sent to the landfill by recycling or donating to a local charity.

Everyone can contribute to our community’s recycling program by following these simple guidelines.

1. Empty, rinse and keep caps on containers.

2. Recycle accepted items ONLY –they’re listed on your recycle cart lid.

3. Do not bag recyclables.

4. No plastic bags. Take clean bags to the grocery store for recycling.

5. No food stains on cardboard.

All residents, including those in apartments, are welcome to bring these items to The Woodlands Recycling Center

located at 5402 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381. The facility is free and open Wednesdays 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

About 20 percent of items placed in The Woodlands recycling carts don’t belong there. Plastic bags, coat hangers, bagged recyclables, wires and Styrofoam are some of the main offenders. These contaminants don’t get recycled when placed in your cart. Even worse, they damage equipment, compromise worker safety and devalue the good recyclables. However, many of these items CAN

By Zoe Killian

be recycled elsewhere. Consult the Township’s Recycle More Guide for a complete list of recycling options - www. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/recyclemore. Great job! Residents of The Woodlands reached the goal to keep contamination below 25 percent in 2021. Help us continue to reach this goal by reviewing the Recycle Right educational tag you’ll receive in spring and fall. For information, please contact The Woodlands Township Environmental Services at enviro@ thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or 281-210-3800.

Awareness is good. Doing something is better.

Did you know some of the most essential factors in determining the potential success of breast cancer treatments are tumor size and if cancer has spread outside of the breast? Regular mammograms can often nd cancer in the early stages before you notice a lump.

Schedule a visit with your doctor or health care provider today. StLukesHealth.org