February 2019

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE

Inspire Film Festival

2019 Community Tree Planting

VOTE FOR RESIDENTIAL DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEES AND VILLAGE ASSOCIATIONS

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On the Cover

The Inspire Film Festival will grace stages and screens for its third year February 14-18, 2019.

Short Films Night kickoff, free and open to the public, will be held on Thursday, February 14, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at Waterway Square. For more information on the festival, please see page 10.

Now Is the Time for a Career in Real Estate, Loan, Inspection or Appraisal!

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• Texas’ pace of job creation exceeded the nation’s for the year with an annual growth rate of 2.1%; the nation’s rate is at 1.7% . Recenter.tamu.edu

• F ive cities in Texas are in Forbes Top 25 Best Places to Live in the U.S . The most from any state!

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Platinum

the Year Honoree - Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas (2013)

Top 50 Most Influential Women in Houston (2010)

Texas State WCR Chapter Business Woman of the Year (2008)

Named in National Top 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate by ActiveRain.com (2007)

NAR REBAC Realtor® Hall of Fame (2003)

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

The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency (Montgomery County MUDs) 855-H20-SAVE (855-426-7283)

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

Emergency 911

message from the woodlands township board of directors

one-year

article on page 12 for more

about the Village Association and Residential Design Review Committee elections, and

to vote! Election Day is Saturday, February 16, 2019. The Woodlands Township holds a separate

in November for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors.

Gordy Bunch Chairman

Brian Boniface Director

John McMullan Vice Chairman

Bruce Rieser Director

Dr. Ann K. Snyder Secretary

Carol Stromatt Director

Don Norrell President and General Manager

John Anthony Brown Treasurer Position No. 3

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.

CHAMPIONS STAFF

President, Publisher James E. Callahan, Jr.

Account Executives Charlotte Blanco Cheryl Kirsch

Creative Director Lori Short

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

Advertising inquiries, rate requests and change of address/delivery inquiries may be directed to:

6608 FM 1960 W., Suite G Houston, Texas 77069 281-583-7661

www.championsprinting.com

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.

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Visit houstonmethodist.org/outsmartcancer or call 936.270.3333 to find a doctor in your area.

2019 Community Tree Planting

For the past four years, the Woodlands Township has celebrated Arbor Day with the Community Tree Planting event in February—and this year, marking the event’s fifth anniversary, is no different. In partnership with The Woodlands Development Corporation, more than 3,000 tree seedlings will be planted in a specific location chosen by the Township’s Parks and Recreation Department.

For the first time this year, we’ll also plant milkweed at the site as part of The Woodlands Township’s Plant for Pollinators program.

2019 Community Tree Planting

Saturday, February 9, 2019

8 a.m. to noon

Spindle Tree Ponds Park Registration recommended.

The site for this year’s reforestation project is Spindle Tree Ponds Park on West Branch Crossing Drive in Sterling Ridge. Volunteers of all ages are invited to join in on the fun on Saturday, February 9, 2019, from 8 a.m. to noon. Over the course of the morning, volunteers will help dig, spread soil, plant tree seedlings, plant milkweed and water. Volunteer registration is recommended,

By Kendall Clark

especially for groups. To register, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ environment.

Sites for years past include Falconwing Park, Tamarac Park and Footbridge Way Pond Park. More than 10,000 seedlings of native trees have been planted since the program began in 2015.

Rains and muddy conditions didn’t keep 350 volunteers from participating in last year’s Community Tree Planting at Footbridge Way Pond Park in the Village of Creekside Park.

Photos by Megan McNairn

Meet the woodlands township board of directors

GORDY BUNCH CHAIRMAN

Position No. 1 – Term Expires November 2020

Serves on Incorporation Planning Task Force, The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership, Conroe/The Woodlands UZA and Commissioner Noack’s Transportation Task Force, Gordy Bunch and his family have been residents of The Woodlands since 1995. He is the Founder, President & CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG) and its related companies. TWFG has become the largest independent insurance agency in Texas, ranked number 10 nationally. In 2015, Mr. Bunch earned the title of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Gulf Coast Region. As a community leader, Mr. Bunch was selected by his peers to serve as Chairman of the Board of The Woodlands in 2018 and in 2019. Prior to being elected Township Chairman, Mr. Bunch served as Chairman of the Board of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, which markets Visit The Woodlands. Mr. Bunch is proud to be a veteran, having honorably served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Mr. Bunch and his wife Michelle have three sons, one at Texas A&M University and two at The Woodlands Christian Academy.

JOHN MCMULLAN VICE CHAIRMAN

Position No. 5 - Term Expires November 2019

Mr. McMullan was elected by residents of The Woodlands to serve on the Township Board in 2013, 2015 and 2017. He serves on Audit Committee and has served on the Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee in the past and the Audit Committee. Mr. McMullan is an energy attorney. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. McMullan and his wife, Kim, moved to The Woodlands in 2008, and are the proud parents of four children. Mr. McMullan’s retired mother and Kim’s retired parents also are residents of The Woodlands. Mr. McMullan served as a Board Member of the Irish Society of Houston from 2007 to 2018.

ANN SNYDER SECRETARY

Position No. 6 – Term Expires November 2019

Dr. Snyder was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2015 and re-elected in 2017. She serves on the Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee, Investment Committee and Incorporation Planning Task Force. Dr. Ann K. Snyder serves as the Executive Director of Generosity for The Woodlands United Methodist Church where she oversees funding for the foundation, missions, stewardship, school and capital campaign. Dr. Snyder also serves as Head of Schools for The Woodlands Methodist Schools. Dr. Snyder currently serves as Secretary of the Board as well as Chairman of the Township’s Economic Development Committee. Prior to her position at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, Dr. Snyder served as President & CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands where she successfully led Interfaith with a staff of more than 450 and 61 member congregations by developing and implementing strategic initiatives throughout the nonprofit. She was also President and CEO of the Interfaith Community Clinic. Dr. Snyder and her husband, Jerry, have two adult children, two grandsons, and love calling The Woodlands home.

JOHN ANTHONY BROWN TREASURER

Position No. 3 - Term Expires November 2020

Mr. Brown was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2016 and 2018. He serves on Investment Committee, The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau Board (Visit The Woodlands), Development Standards Committee and Audit Committee. John Anthony Brown has been a resident of The Woodlands since 2010. Mr. Brown has a stepson and a daughter with his wife Bonnie. Mr. Brown has over 8 years of Real Estate experience as a licensed realtor. Mr. Brown currently serves as the Facilities Supervisor for Huntsman International at its corporate headquarters in The Woodlands. Mr. Brown graduated with honors from The Art Institute of Philadelphia while obtaining an Associate’s Degree of Science in Web Development, and graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Web Development/Design.

BRIAN BONIFACE

Position No. 2

Term Expires November 2020

Mr. Boniface was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2016 and 2018. He serves on The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit The Woodlands). Mr. Boniface has been a resident of The Woodlands since 2005. Mr. Boniface and his wife Nicole have two daughters, one who attends Colin Powell Elementary School and one who attends Mitchell Intermediate. Mr. Boniface serves as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Logistics Officer with the 348th TC BN. His full-time position is as an Operating Room Nurse at Conroe Regional Medical Center. Mr. Boniface graduated from Worcester State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and went back to school in 2012 to complete an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Lone Star College-Montgomery. He is currently working on his Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Management.

BRUCE RIESER

Position No. 4

Term Expires November 2020

Mr. Rieser was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2016 and re-elected in 2018. He serves on Drainage Task Force, The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau Board (Visit The Woodlands), The Woodlands Road Utility District, Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee and Incorporation Planning Task Force. Mr. Rieser and his wife Sarah moved to The Woodlands in 1989. Married for 33 years, the Riesers have one grown daughter. Mr. Rieser retired from British Airways (BA) in 2010 as Director Properties, the Americas, where he managed BA’s real estate assets and airport relationships in the Western Hemisphere. In 2011, he founded SKR Consulting, LLC, which provides tactical, operational and real estate advice to the aviation community. Mr. Rieser is currently consulting on the proposed new International terminal at Houston George Bush Airport.

CAROL BOOK STROMATT

Position No. 7

Term expires November 2019

Mrs. Stromatt was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2017. She serves on Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee, Audit Committee and Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. Mrs. Stromatt recently retired as Corporate Secretary and Treasurer of General Development Corporation (GDC), a real estate brokerage, consulting and property management company serving The Woodlands since 1997. Mrs. Stromatt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Family and Consumer Science from Stephen F. Austin University. She is a licensed real estate broker, and a graduate of multiple leadership, management and trainer courses. Her passion is community service including volunteering for Interfaith, the Montgomery County Food Bank and other community service organizations. Mrs. Stromatt and her husband, Richard, have four adult children, 6 grandchildren, and are proud to call The Woodlands their hometown.

Inspire Film Festival Showing in The Woodlands This Month

The Inspire Film Festival will return for the third year on February 14-18, 2019. The Inspire Film Festival is a five-day cinematic experience right here in The Woodlands, dedicated to entertaining and inspiring audiences with films, speakers and events that celebrate the human spirit.

Jane Minarovic, the festival’s founder, is a Woodlands resident, University of Texas graduate and filmmaker. Her mission is to bring some of the world’s best documentary films, filmmakers and guests to The Woodlands and to build an event that will continue to inspire this community for years to come.

The 2019 film line-up is centered on the theme “Game Changers” and will feature 30 extraordinary feature-length and short films highlighting local and international game changers who inspire the world. All films will be screened multiple times throughout the festival and in different theaters in the walkable

areas of The Woodlands including Cinemark at Market Street, Tinseltown The Woodlands and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s Event Center.

The films are further brought to life with a variety of panel discussions and interactive community events over the course of the festival.

The festival’s official kickoff begins Thursday, February 14, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. with an open-to-the-public Short Films Night under the stars at the Waterway Square Amphitheater.

The film screenings and panel discussions begin on Friday, February 15, 2019, and are shown throughout the weekend.

Several festival pass options are available for purchase with specially priced passes for students and teachers.

Thanks to 30 Degrees North, a local marketing agency, festival information is available on the website and an Inspire Film Festival app that

will be available closer to the festival which will provide a convenient guide to the film schedule and other activities.

The Inspire Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization and would not be possible without the help of generous donors and a group of incredible volunteers who work throughout the year to produce this multi-faceted event. Please visit inspirefilmfest.com for more information and to purchase passes.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Creekside Park West Trailhead of 13-mile Spring Creek Nature Trail Now Open

Thewesternmost trailhead of the Spring Creek Nature Trail, Creekside Park West, is now officially open to the public, along with four additional miles of natural surface trail. The location of the Creekside Park West Trailhead is on Dr. Ann Snyder Way, off Creekside Forest Dr. Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC), a local land trust focused on conserving land and protecting Houston’s primary water source, Lake Houston, hosted the opening of the trailhead in December 2018.

The Spring Creek Nature Trail was funded by a Recreational Trails Grant of

$100,000 from Texas Parks & Wildlife with matching funds provided by BLC, The Woodlands Township, REI and the American Hiking Society. Howard Hughes Corporation® is the landowner on the western extent of the trail and recently signed a lease agreement with The Woodlands Township, which allowed the trailhead to be opened to the public.

Much of the trail construction was done by volunteers trained through BLC’s Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Program in trail building techniques. More than 2,500 hours

of volunteer labor went into trail construction, which included 20 bridges and boardwalks, many of them named for volunteers who worked on the trail.

Band Shell and Boardwalk at Hughes Landing Conveyed to

The Howard Hughes Corporation® and The Woodlands® Development Company recently held the official conveyance of the Band Shell and Boardwalk at Hughes Landing to The Woodlands Township. The Band Shell and Boardwalk are home to events and concerts for the community.

“On behalf of residents and businesses in The Woodlands, we’re pleased to accept the Band Shell, the accompanying public green space and the Boardwalk into the vast system of parks and pathways in The Woodlands Township,” said Gordy Bunch, Chairman of the Board, The Woodlands Township. “We’re known around the world for our extensive and quality public spaces for our residents and visitors. The Band Shell and this

The Woodlands Township

public space is a quality place enjoyed by thousands of visitors every month. We appreciate The Howard Hughes Corporation on this quality development along Lake Woodlands. This is another great amenity for our residents and visitors to The Woodlands for years to come as the ideal location for entertainment, events and festivals.”

The Band Shell and Boardwalk projects were made possible by a Comprehensive Community Services Agreement between The Howard Hughes Corporation and The Woodlands Township, under which both entities jointly contribute to amenities in the community with full ownership eventually transferred to the Township.

The westernmost trailhead of the Spring Creek Nature Trail, Creekside Park West, is now officially open to the public.

The Howard Hughes Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Woodlands® Development Company (TWDC), conveyed the Band Shell and Boardwalk in Hughes Landing to The Woodlands Township, presenting a symbolic electric guitar to represent the concerts held at the Band Shell. From left to right are Kelly Dietrich, Senior Parks/Recreation Project Manager and Jim Carman (holding his daughter), Vice President, Master Planned Communities, Commercial Development, both with Howard Hughes; Tim Welbes, Co-President of TWDC; Gordy Bunch, Chairman of the Board, The Woodlands Township; Alex Sutton, Co-President of TWDC; Lorrie Parise, Manager – PR and Community Relations and Kim Phillips, Vice President, Marketing, both with Howard Hughes; Dr. Ann Snyder, Secretary of the Board, The Woodlands Township; Nick Wolda, President at Visit The Woodlands; and Don Norrell, President/General Manager at The Woodlands Township.

VOTE IN FEBRUARY

for Residential Design Review Committees and Village Associations

By Karen Dempsey

It’s time to vote for your village leaders on the Residential Design Review Committees and Village Associations. The complete list of positions up for election is listed below; however, any race that is uncontested as of 5 p.m. on January 23, 2019, will be cancelled.

Please check the Township’s website for a list of contested races and cancellations.*

ALL VILLAGES

Residential Design Review Committee

• Up to five Residential Design Review Committee members to be elected for each village, all serving one-year terms. This includes two committees for Indian Springs, which is divided into two geographic areas based on Covenant imposition.

VILLAGE ASSOCIATIONS

The following village association positions are up for election in February 2019:

Alden Bridge Village Association

• 10 At Large Area Representatives (two-year term)

Cochran’s Crossing Village Association

• 18 At Large Area Representatives (one-year term)

College Park Village Association

• President (two-year term)

• Secretary (two-year term)

• Nine At Large Area Representatives (one-year term)

Creekside Park Village Association

• President (two-year term)

• Secretary (two-year term)

• Events Chair (one-year term)

• 11 At Large Area Representatives (one-year term)

Grogan’s Mill Village Association

• Seven At Large Area Representatives (two-year term)

Indian Springs Village Association

• President (two-year term)

• Secretary (two-year term)

• Six At Large Area Representatives (two-year term)

Panther Creek Village Association

• Nine At Large Area Representatives (two-year term)

Sterling Ridge Village Association

• Eight At Large Village Directors (two-year term)

VOTE!

Voting for all residents and property owners on all polling dates for the February Residential Design Review Committee and Village Association elections will be held at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

Convenience Voting: Monday, February 11, through Friday, February 15, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Election Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* Write-In Candidates and Cancellation of Uncontested Races

In the February 2019 election, write-in votes will only be counted for those candidates who have filed as such by January 23, 2019, at 5 p.m. Elections will be cancelled for any Residential Design Review Committee or Village Association that does not have a contested race as of 5 p.m. on that date, and the seating and/or filling of vacancies will proceed in accordance with the entity’s bylaws. Check The Woodlands Township website for a list of contested races and cancellations. More information regarding elections can be found on The Woodlands Township website, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, or by calling 281-210-3800.

ENJOY HANDS-ON FAMILY FUN AT

By Mark Lazenby

Climb aboard for fun on big trucks and first responder vehicles at Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

Mark your calendars for a fun-filled morning with The Woodlands Township at our annual Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389. Get up close and personal with all kinds of big trucks, fancy off-road mudders and various first responder vehicles among others!

Families can take photos in and around all vehicles, and kids can get messy in the “Construction Zone” play area.

The event is FREE for all ages with no registration required. The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon, with a noise-free, sensory-friendly hour from 9 to 10 a.m. In the event of inclement weather on the day of the event, please call 281-210-3950 or 281-516-7348.

Put the Brakes on Distracted Driving

Look around and it won’t take you long to spot a driver talking or texting behind the wheel of their car. Phones have become so much a part of our lives that we cannot seem to put them down while driving. The problem is not only texting, but also checking emails, changing playlists and using navigation apps and social media such as SnapChat and Instagram. These distractions are taking away our attention while we are on the road.

Distracted driving is defined as any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. According to Distraction.gov, it takes about 1.5 seconds to respond to a distracted driving situation. In that time, at 40 mph, you have traveled about 90 feet! If the driver is distracted, his or her ability to scan, predict and decide a course of action is severely impaired.

Distracted driving crashes are at epidemic levels, and the statistics are staggering. According to TxDOT, in counties over 500,00 in population,

Montgomery County has ranked number 1 in fatal crashes in five of the past seven years.

• On Texas roads, there has been a fatal crash every day for the past 18 years.

• You are 23 times more likely to crash when you are texting and driving than a focused driver.

• More than 390,000 injuries occur each year from crashes caused by distracted driving.

Many drivers fully believe that they can multitask while driving. However, when the brain is overloaded with two cognitive tasks, it will switch attention back and forth without the driver realizing it. At times the driver can experience inattention blindness to driving. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, while having a conversation on the phone, it takes about twice as long to redirect our eyes to new objects or hazards on the road.

The bottom line is that distracted driving deaths and accidents are preventable. Phones should be put down

By Susan Martin

to focus on driving. The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch encourages you to make your vehicle a tech-free zone. Here are some tips:

• In a rental car, get familiar with the car and adjust the seat and mirror before you begin to drive.

• Set your playlist or navigation before you get on the road.

• Set your phone to Do Not Disturb to block phone calls and texts while you are driving.

• If it is necessary to make a phone call or text, have a passenger do it, or pull over.

• Be a good passenger – do not distract the driver.

• Lead by example for your children and others that are influenced by you.

• Talk with your teen about mobile phone use while driving.

• Avoid calling or texting anyone if you know they are driving.

To learn more about The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch, please follow the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TownshipNeighborhodWatch or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/neighborhoodwatch.

Make your car a Tech Free Zone and download the SAFE 2 SAVE mobile app and begin to accumulate points for every minute of undistracted driving. Points accumulated, while driving safely, can be redeemed at your favorite local and online businesses.

The app can be downloaded in the App Store or on Google Play. Use the code “WOODLANDS” when downloading to receive 500 extra points!

Enter the code below to join the Village Challenge and help your Village Association earn money for its scholarship funds. You will also be entered in a monthly prize drawing.

The villages with the top three total point amounts will earn: 1st Place $1,000; 2nd Place $700; and 3rd Place $300. For more information, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ neighborhoodwatch.

Village Codes:

Alden Bridge: ALDEN

Creekside Park: CREEKSIDE

Cochran’s Crossing: COCHRANS

Indian Springs: INDIAN

College Park: COLLEGE

Panther Creek: PANTHER

Grogan’s Mill: GROGANS

Sterling Ridge: STERLING

Camp Terramont: This Campout Will Be “In-Tents”

By Tyler Little

Welcome to our campfire! The Woodlands Township Recreation Department is excited to host the 12th Annual Camp Terramont, beginning at noon on Saturday, March 23, 2019, until 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Camp Terramont provides you and your family an opportunity to enjoy a fun evening of activities and camping at Terramont Park.

In addition to traditional favorites such as sitting around a warm campfire

and enjoying delicious s’mores, there will be a variety of games and activities for children, such as field games, puttputt golf, crafts and a movie under the stars. Dinner, breakfast and snacks are all included; just bring your tent and sleeping bags.

Registration is required for this event. To register for Camp Terramont, please call 281-210-3950 or 281-516-7348. We hope to see your family there!

In addition to time spent in the great outdoors, Camp Terramont will include a variety of games, activities and fun for the whole family.

Ages: All

Fee: $125 Resident family of four; $135 Non-Resident family of four; $30 per additional person.

Date: Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, March 24, 2019

Time: Check-in begins at noon on Saturday

Location: Terramont Park, 8500 Terramont

Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77382 www.TheWoodlandsArtsCouncil.org

Over 200 Juried Artists 4 Performance Stages Artopoly for Families Art of Food

Featured Artist Nolan Prohaska, glass

WCM ad 2019 2.qxp_Layout 1 1/11/19 3:28 PM Page 3

February 2019

*For updates and additional information, please view the complete Township calendar at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/calendarofevents.

Saturday, February 2

The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill

Grogan’s Mill Village Shopping Center

8 a.m. to noon

AHA Heartsaver CPR AED class

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center

16135 IH-45 South

9 a.m. to noon

281-210-5820

AHA Heartsaver First Aid class

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center 16135 IH-45 South 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

281-210-5820

Creating Wildlife Habitat in the Garden and Community

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center

16135 IH-45 South

8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Composting Class

Parks, Recreation and Environmental Services Facility 8203 Millennium Forest Drive

10 to 11 a.m.

281-210-3800

Tuesday, February 5

Creekside Park Village Association Meeting

The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park 6464 Creekside Forest Drive

7 p.m.

281-210-5808

Wednesday, February 6

Development Standards Committee Meetings*

Thursday, February 7

AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider CPR Class

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center 16135 IH-45 South

6 to 10 p.m.

281-210-5820

Walk in the Woods: Wildlife Signatures

Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park

6464 Creekside Forest Drive

6 to 7:30 p.m.

281-210-3800

Sterling Ridge Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 7 p.m.

281-210-5808

Saturday, February 9

2019 Community Tree Planting Event Spindle Tree Ponds Park West Branch Crossing Drive

8 a.m. to noon

281-210-3800

The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill

Grogan’s Mill Village Shopping Center

8 a.m. to noon

Advanced Vegetable Gardening

Class: Unusual Adapted Vegetables and Fire Ant Management

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center 16135 IH-45 South

9 a.m. to noon

281-210-3800

Waterway Nights – Spring Series Waterway Square

31 Waterway Square Place

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

281-210-3800

Monday, February 11

RDRC and Village Association Convenience Voting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

281-210-3800

Tuesday, February 12

RDRC and Village Association Convenience Voting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

281-210-3800

AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider CPR Class

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center

16135 IH-45 South

6 to 10 p.m.

281-210-5820

Alden Bridge Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

7 p.m.

281-210-3886

Indian Springs Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

7 p.m.

281-210-5808

Wednesday, February 13

RDRC and Village Association Convenience Voting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

281-210-3800

Thursday, February 14

Inspire Film Festival –Short Film Night

Waterway Square

31 Waterway Square Place

6:30 p.m.

RDRC and Village Association Convenience Voting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

281-210-3800

Panther Creek Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

7 p.m.

281-210-3886

Friday, February 15

RDRC and Village Association Convenience Voting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

281-210-3800

Saturday, February 16

The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill

Grogan’s Mill Village Shopping Center

8 a.m. to noon

Waterway Nights –Spring Series

Waterway Square

31 Waterway Square Place

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

281-210-3800

RDRC and Village Association Election Day

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

281-210-3800

Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott 1601 Lake Robbins Dr.

6 to 9:30 p.m.

281-516-7348

Monday, February 18

Sunny Dayz Camp –School’s Out

The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park

6464 Creekside Forest Dr.

7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 281-516-7348

College Park Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

6 p.m.

281-210-3889

Grogan’s Mill Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

6 p.m.

281-210-3887

There

Tuesday, February 19

AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider CPR Class Renewal

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center

16135 IH-45 South

6 to 10 p.m.

281-210-5820

Wednesday, February 20

Development Standards Committee Meetings*

Thursday, February 21

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 4 p.m.

281-210-3800

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Planning Session

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

6 p.m.

281-210-3800

Saturday, February 23

The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill

Grogan’s Mill Village Shopping Center

8 a.m. to noon

AHA Heartsaver CPR AED Class

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center

16135 IH-45 South

9 a.m. to noon

281-210-5820

Touch-A-Truck

The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park

6464 Creekside Forest Dr. 9 a.m. to noon

281-516-7348

AHA Heartsaver

First Aid class

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center

16135 IH-45 South 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

281-210-5820

Waterway Nights –Spring Series

Waterway Square 31 Waterway Square Place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

281-210-3800

Tuesday, February 26

Cochran’s Crossing Village Association Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 6 p.m.

281-210-3887

Wednesday, February 27

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meeting

The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 6 p.m.

281-210-3800

Thursday, February 28

AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider CPR Class Renewal

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center 16135 IH-45 South 6 to 10 p.m.

281-210-5820

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGES OF THE WOODLANDS

Alden Bridge

We’d love to see your smiling faces at this month’s residents/village association board meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the Township building, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Stop by, introduce yourself and learn more about your village association. We love to meet residents, and want to hear your concerns. Our speaker will be Jace Houston of the San Jacinto River Authority, so bring your water-related questions.

February 16, 2019, is Election Day for your Village Association and Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC), and polls are open at the Township offices from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also take advantage of early voting at the same location February 11-15, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alden Bridge will elect 10 at-large area reps and five members of the RDRC. Your vote is important, so please participate in our election!

It’s time to think about our 2019 scholarship program, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by. If you or someone you know will begin higher education this year, don’t hesitate to apply for one of our scholarships. All graduating high school students residing in Alden Bridge are eligible to submit an application. See your high school counselor for details, and application forms are also available by downloading from http://aldenbridge.wixsite.com/ aldenbridge/scholarships or by writing to Alden Bridge Village Association, Attn: Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 7343, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7343.

For more news of our village, please visit our Facebook page and sign up for our monthly email newsletter. Just send your email address to abvainfo@gmail.com and we’ll sign you up. Use that same email address to contact us with any concerns about life in Alden Bridge. We’re here to help our residents.

Enjoy the month and have a happy Valentine’s Day!

Submitted

by

Darla D. Bell

Cochran’s Crossing

The Village Association and Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC) elections will be held this month. All voting for the Residential Design Review Committees and Village Associations will take place at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Residents and property owners may take advantage of convenience voting from Monday, February 11 through Friday, February 15, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, Saturday, February 16, 2019, polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you are interested in learning more about board membership, please contact Cochran’s Crossing Secretary Gary Conwell, gconwell1@gmail.com.

Board membership is a good way to help The Woodlands. It’s also an enjoyable form of community service. As one of the Cochran’s Crossing board members has said, “We don’t get paid to do this. Do you think we would do it if we couldn’t have a good time doing it?”

There are monthly reports on topics ranging from law enforcement to infrastructure, parks and recreation and education. In the case of Cochran’s Crossing, there is also significant time spent participating in activities such as National Night Out, which involves the entire area of The Woodlands. Cochran’s Crossing is represented on many of the Township board committees and provides the leadership and organizational strength for the annual Fall Festival.

The issue of incorporation continues to be under consideration. The village organizational structure is clearly a principle conduit for communication for and against. Throughout the year it is reasonable to expect speakers on

the topic to be scheduled at Cochran’s Crossing meetings.

The meetings are also a channel that can be used by residents to bring questions and concerns for discussion. In some cases, they receive answers at the board meeting. However, in every case they are referred to an appropriate followup for their concern.

Cochran’s Crossing board meetings are always open to the public and are held in the Township meeting rooms at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month except for December.

Submitted by

Gary Conwell

Indian Springs

The most exciting time of the year for the Indian Springs Village Association is when we award $1,000 scholarships to deserving graduating seniors who are college-bound. The essential purpose of the village association is to raise funds to honor those students who have demonstrated an immense dedication to community service and citizenship. This year’s scholarship application is currently available and is due before the end of day on Monday, March 18, 2019. Award winners and their parents will be notified and invited to a special reception held during the Indian Springs board meeting at The Woodlands Township in April. Scholarship information and applications can be downloaded at www.indianspringsvillage.com/programs/ scholarships.

Indian Springs Village Association has funded $27,000 in scholarships during the past five years. Funds are raised primarily through the community events we promote such as The Taste of the Village held in the month of October. Recent scholarship recipients by year include:

2018

Juliana Esparza - Frassati Catholic High Alison Eaton – The Woodlands High Megan Mize – The Woodlands High Jacob Teall – The Woodlands High

EVENTS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

2017

Katherine Young – The Woodlands High

Catherine Seelig – The Woodland High

Mohit Talwaker – The Woodlands High

Megan Alam – College Park High

2016

Grant Davis – The Woodlands High

Anthony Edginton – The Woodlands High

Lois Hamburger – The Woodlands High

Mathew McClellan – The Woodlands High

Jacob Rubel –The Woodlands High

Connor Whisenant – The Woodlands High

2015

Simone Bergsrud – John Cooper

Horatia Fang – Concordia Lutheran High

Colin Gaffney – The Woodlands High

Naria Savelieva – The Woodlands High

Taimur Siddiqui – John Cooper

Erik Young – College Park High

2014

Spencer Chapman – The Woodlands High

Patricia D’Arezzo – Concordia Lutheran High

Laura Densmore – John Cooper

Molly Garrison – John Cooper

Madeleine Miller – The Woodlands High

Angelina Pavlich – The Woodlands High

Sana Saboowala – College Park High

Submitted by Michael

Saucier

Panther Creek

As the new year of 2019 has gotten underway, we note that the final weeks of 2018 were a flurry of activity for Panther Creek residents and for the board.

The judging teams for the village-wide Holiday Lighting and Decorating contest had a difficult time deciding the winners because there were so many beautifully decorated homes and neighborhoods. The winners can be viewed at www. PantherCreekVillageAssociation.org.

The village association also made sure that our senior residents were included in the holiday spirit as we distributed carefully selected items for the residents at area retirement living centers. The smiles these gifts engendered were priceless.

Panther Creek board members also participated in the Toys for Tots event held each year by County Commissioner Noack.

The village association board is made up of residents like you. This month we begin a series of brief introductions to these Panther Creek residents who are working for you as members of the Panther Creek Village Association. This month, the spotlight falls on Dewey Lockwood. His studies and ROTC participation were completed at the University of Maryland. Dewey retired from service in the U.S. Air Force where his duties included in-flight refueling of fighter jets and tours in America’s overseas conflicts. Dewey moved to The Woodlands with his wife Sandi in 1989. Sandi’s career also kept her in the air as a flight attendant. They have been part of the team that puts on the fabulous Christmas lighting of the Tangle Brush Drive/Capewood Court community that is also a charity event. Dewey said that his volunteer service to the community has been rewarding.

It is time to look forward to the 2019 Spring Flea Market. Keep checking www.WoodlandsFleaMarket.org for details.

Those who filed by the January 17, 2019, deadline will appear on the ballot for election to positions on the Panther Creek Village Association as Area Representatives. Voting is held at the Woodlands Township offices from February 11 - 15, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and Election Day is Saturday, February 16, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Village board is always there to help with community issues and with information about the wonderful opportunities you have to participate in keeping The Woodlands a “real hometown” for you and your family. Visit us online, on Facebook, and in person at 7 p.m., the second Thursday of each month at The Woodlands Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

Submitted by Paul Gebolys

MEETING INFORMATION

ALDEN BRIDGE www.aldenbridge.org

Alden Bridge Village Association usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

COCHRAN’S CROSSING www.cochranscrossing.com

Cochran’s Crossing Village Association usually meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

COLLEGE PARK www.villageofcollegepark.com

College Park Village Association usually meets on the third Monday of each month, 6 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

CREEKSIDE PARK www.creeksideparkvillage.com

Creekside Park Village Association usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive.

GROGAN’S MILL www.grogansmillvillage.com

Grogan’s Mill Village Association usually meets on the third Monday of each month, 6 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

INDIAN SPRINGS www.indianspringsvillage.com

Indian Springs Village Association usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

PANTHER CREEK www.panthercreekvillageassociation.org

Panther Creek Village Association usually meets on the second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

STERLING RIDGE www.sterling-ridge.org

Sterling Ridge Village Association usually meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

Don’t Miss the Father-Son Challenge

By Baze Gierisch

The Woodlands Township will host the Father-Son Challenge on Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 10 a.m. to noon at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Dr. All ages are invited to attend. The cost to attend will be $45/pair; $15 each additional sibling. Work together to complete all the challenges around the campus! Prizes awarded for various team accomplishments. Challenges may include kayaking, puzzles, races and much more. Refreshments will be provided. To register, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ signupforfun, or call 281-210-3950 or 281-516-7348.

By Zoe Killian

Get Ready, Get Set, GreenUp!

Help keep our community looking clean and green by participating in the Earth Day GreenUp. The Woodlands Township will join communities across the nation in the Keep Texas Beautiful Great American Cleanup initiative on Saturday, March 23, 2019, for its ninth year.

Team up to target litter on pathways, along waterways and in greenbelts. Residents are encouraged to invite friends, family, neighbors, businesses and schools to join in cleaning our environment. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, enjoy the outdoors and keep our community looking beautiful.

Spring is the perfect time to scout for litter hiding in the bushes before vegetation starts to bloom. Every “litter” bit counts – such as cigarette butts,

candy wrappers and bottle caps. All litter can have adverse effects on wildlife, community aesthetics, public health and even property values.

Participants will receive disposable gloves, bags, instructions and an assigned pick-up area. A limited number of trash grabbers will be available for loan to groups that pre-register. Remember to bring your own water bottle to refill and your own gloves to prevent waste!

After volunteering, everyone is invited to the post pick-up party and celebration at Northshore Park. Join us for food, music, green fun and games from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers who participated in the cleanup will be honored guests, receiving free pizza and beverages along with the 2019 event

T-shirt. The general public may purchase pizza and beverages.

Residents are already gearing up for GreenUp! Pre-registration is encouraged, especially for groups. You can register for Earth Day GreenUp 2019 now at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ greenup. For more information, please call 281-210-3800. The Woodlands Earth Day GreenUp is coordinated by The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department.

Earth Day GreenUp 2019 GREEN STARTS WITH ME!

Saturday, March 23, 2019

CHECK-IN AT AREA PARKS: 8 to 10 a.m.

GREENUP: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

CELEBRATE AT NORTHSHORE PARK: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pre-register for the event by March 18, 2019, at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/greenup.

TOWNSHIPAccolades Neighborhood Watch Wins National Award

The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch program recently won a major award for National Night Out. The Township Neighborhood Watch took third place in the nation for National Night Out 2018 programming in Population Category #2 –100,000 to 300,000. The Township placed higher in its population category than all other Texas contributors. The Township also contributed to the State of Texas entry, which took first place.

The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch will continue to promote public safety partnerships and the communitywide efforts for crime and fire prevention.

For more information about Neighborhood Watch, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ neighborhoodwatch or www.facebook.com/ townshipneighborhoodwatch.

7 to 9:45 p.m.

Get ready to give your child the night out that they will never forget!

MAKE FRIDAY NIGHTS FUN WITH

Gorilla Hole is a themed night for fifth- and sixth-graders to enjoy a numerous amount of fun games and activities with The Woodlands Township Recreation Staff. All activities will allow your child to participate in a group while making new friends and great memories!

We now offer new ways to secure your spot at this fun-filled event. You can pre-register (call us or go online prior to 6 p.m. on event night) for $8 or pay $10 at the door. New this year is the season pass option. For just $45,

By Ryan Deckert

you can now pre-register your child for all seven dates throughout the spring season. Each themed night will offer a variety of games and activities that your child will surely enjoy!

For more information, please call The Recreation Center at Bear Branch Park at 281-210-3950 or The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park at 281-516-7348. To learn more, please check out the Spring 2019 Action Guide, available online at www.thewoodlandstownshiptx.gov/actionguide.

The Woodlands Township’s Neighborhood Watch programming took third place in the nation for its neighborhood National Night Out activities. Pictured here is a neighborhood gathering to celebrate the police-community partnership promoted by the Township Neighborhood Watch.

Sponsorship Opportunities WITH THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

Sponsor upcoming events with The Woodlands Township! From the Township’s Signature Races to community festivals and seasonal concert series, the Township Parks and Recreation Department will produce a variety of premier events in 2019.

Showcase your business and reach thousands with the unique opportunity to promote your brand! Sponsorship

opportunities of varying levels within the events offer companies the ability to engage the community through onsite event presence (booth space and signage), advertising entitlements and much more.

Sponsorships are available for several events, including the Waterway Nights and Rock the Row concert series, Arts in the Park, The Woodlands Township’s Signature Races, the Red, Hot & Blue

By George Azar

Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza, Memorial Day and Labor Day Festivals, Trick or Treat Trail, Lighting of the Doves and numerous other programs and events.

For more information on The Woodlands Township’s festivals and events, please visit www. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ specialevents or email specialevents@ thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Showcase your business this year by sponsoring events produced by The Woodlands Township! Activities range from races to concerts and reach consumers of all ages and interests.

Photo by Derrick Bryant

Photo by Derrick Bryant Photo by Race Shots

Enjoy the Outdoors at Concert In The Park

By Mark Lazenby

Concert In The Park is a popular family tradition of music and fun for all ages! Concerts are held on Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at beautiful Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381. Blankets, lawn chairs, coolers and pets are permitted.

Come out this spring and enjoy the FREE concert series, featuring the following acts:

MARCH 3, 2019

Cody Wayne (Country)

MARCH 10, 2019

The Spicolis (Pop/Rock)

MARCH 17, 2019

The Samy Jo Band (Variety)

MARCH 24, 2019

Rock-A-Fellas (Classics)

MARCH 31, 2019

Brenda Guy

The One Woman Show (Variety)

APRIL 7, 2019

Subdivided (Rush Tribute)

For more information, please call 281-210-3950 or 281-516-7348 today!

Tips and Reminders for February

from The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department

Reminders

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019

Compost Class

Turn your yard waste into soil’s most beneficial amendment: compost. Hands-on learning from Montgomery County Master Gardeners will prepare participants to make their own backyard compost.

10 to 11 a.m.

The Woodlands Township Parks, Recreation and Environmental Services Department, 8203 Millennium Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381

Registration not required.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019

Creating Habitat in the Garden and Community Seminar

Transform your backyard landscape into a sanctuary for birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife. Join the Texas Parks and Wildlife and National Wildlife Federation for this informative seminar.

8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center, 16135 IH-45 South, The Woodlands, TX 77385

Registration is required.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

Walk in the Woods:

Wildlife Signatures

Join Adrienne Paquette from Texas Wildlife Association as she guides participants through identifying some of our urban wildlife through the clues they leave behind.

6 to 7:30 p.m.

The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389

Registration is required.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

Advanced Vegetable Gardening: Unusual Adapted Vegetables and Fire Ant Management

Texas Master Gardener Ed Napinski shares techniques for growing unusual vegetables suited to our hot climate and Dr. Paul Nester, retired entomologist, shares his fire ant research and expertise.

9 a.m. to noon

The Woodlands Emergency Training Center, 16135 IH-45 South, The Woodlands, TX 77385

Registration is required.

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Community Tree Planting

Join the Township’s fifth annual Community Tree Planting event and help restore trees and milkweed in our community.

8 a.m. to noon

Spindle Tree Ponds Park, W. Branch Crossing in the Village of Sterling Ridge, The Woodlands, TX 77382

Registration is recommended.

Please visit www.thewoodlandstownshiptx.gov/environment to register or learn more about these events.

Gardening Tips

ROSES

Early February (before Valentine’s Day) is the best time to prune your roses. The pruning tips below are for modern roses, such as hybrid teas and floribundas. Pruning climbing roses is not recommended (except for removing dead wood and keeping them in bounds) because they bloom on old growth. Old or antique roses require very little pruning as well—just enough to shape and maintain the size of the bush.

• Use sharp and clean tools. Disinfect your tools after pruning each plant to avoid spreading any disease.

• Remove dead and diseased canes.

• Remove canes that cross through the plant’s center, rub against one another or are weak or old. When removing an entire cane, cut it back flush with the bud union (the knot at the base of a grafted rose where the canes start). Don’t leave a stub.

Monarchs feed at a watermelon rest stop. This is one way to provide nourishment for migrating and resident butterflies in your garden.

• Leave three or four vigorous young canes, spaced equally around the bud union, and remove the others.

• Shorten the remaining canes by a third. Make cuts about one-quarter inch above a growth or bud eye.

TOMATOES

After the last threat of frost, plant your tomatoes, giving your plants time to grow and produce before the heat of summer. Tomatoes do best in

raised beds or containers where they will get six to eight hours of full sun. To help ensure a bumper crop, follow these tips:

• Select stocky transplants of quickmaturing, disease-resistant varieties.

• Tomatoes need a strong diet of nutrients, so enrich your soil with organic compost and add fertilizer. Choose a fertilizer that has a balanced ratio of the three major elements, such as 10-10-10, or where the middle number (phosphorus) is larger than the first number (nitrogen).

• Plant tomatoes so the soil level in the starter pot is below the surface level of the bed or container soil surface. Stems of leggy plants can be laid down and buried so the plant top is free of soil. They will start new roots at the old stem and the top growth will straighten.

• Set a stake or cage after planting so roots aren’t disturbed later. If using containers, choose a container wide

enough to accommodate a cage. Cages can be wrapped with frost cloth for wind and freeze protection if needed.

• Fruit sets when night temperatures are 50 to 70 degrees and days are 60 to 85 degrees. Many slicing tomatoes won’t produce when night temperatures climb above 72 degrees and day temperatures hit 92 degrees. Cherry tomatoes may continue producing in the heat.

Prune roses now to improve the shape and health of the plant. It won’t be long before they’re blooming again.

Now is the time to start tomatoes so plants have time to grow and produce before the heat of summer.

SPEND YOUR SPRING BREAK AND DAYS OUT AT

By Baze Gierisch

School is out, and Sunny Dayz Camp is back! Join us during Spring Break at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park for outdoor activities, crafts, gym games and special themed activities! Please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ sunnydayz for a detailed activity list.

SPRING BREAK CAMP

AGES: 6 – 15 years

WHERE: The Rob Fleming Recreation Center, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive

TIME: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHEN: March 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 2019

COST: $50 per day; $125 three-day week; $200 all week

SCHOOL’S OUT DROP-IN DAYZ

Need somewhere fun for the kiddos to go on days when school is out? Sign up for a day full of games, crafts and fun with friends! Please note: Determinations are made five days prior to each date whether enough participants are enrolled to hold the camps.

AGES: 6 – 15 years

WHERE: The Rob Fleming Recreation Center, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive

HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHEN: Monday, January 21; Friday, February 15; Monday, February 18; Monday, April 22, 2019

COST: $50 per day

Join the Camp Counselor Team

By Tyler Little

The Woodlands Township is now hiring for Sunny Dayz Camp Counselors. Sunny Dayz Summer Camp will be held from June 3 through August 19, 2019, at the Bear Branch and Rob Fleming Recreation Centers. Counselors will lead campers on weekly field trips, swim days at the pool and a variety of games and activities. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have either a GED or high school diploma. Before camp starts, all counselors will attend a weeklong training which will have them ready to be a Sunny Dayz Camp Counselor. Starting pay for the Camp Counselor position is $10.50 per hour.

Interested?

To apply, please visit our website at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx. gov/jobs. For all other questions regarding Sunny Dayz, please call The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3950 or 281-516-7348.

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/stayinformed

PLANT FOCUS:

African Blue Basil

AND ADVANCED VEGETABLE GARDENING CLASS

By Ann Hall

One of the most beautiful herbs to try in a vegetable garden, patio container or as an accent plant in a landscape is the herb, African blue basil. This impressive plant originated as a “gardening accident,” when it was found growing in a garden path between plantings of Dark Opal basil (a garden herb) and an African shrub valued for its camphor scent. The gardener dug up the hybrid, protecting it through maturity when he could collect its seeds. Seeds didn’t form, indicating that the hybrid was sterile. Propagation of this beautiful plant is possible only through cuttings and it was in this manner that African blue basil came to exist.

African blue basil thrives in the moist, hot southeast Texas climate of The Woodlands. This plant is heat and drought tolerant and requires three to four hours of full sun daily. It’s also resistant to insects and disease, making it very easy to grow.

The young plant has purple leaves which fade to dark green with purple

veins and flecks as the plant matures. When allowed to grow to maturity and to bloom, the plant produces beautiful 18-inch spikes of purple flowers which are highly attractive to bees. The entire plant has a mellow camphor-like smell. At maturity, the plant can reach five feet if left untrimmed.

The most cold-tolerant of all basils, African blue basil will come back in the spring after a mild winter. If a freeze is anticipated, you can take cuttings to root either in potting medium or water. This way, you’ll have it to plant the following spring.

The many uses of this plant include functioning as a landscape accent plant, as an attractor of pollinators in a vegetable garden and in fresh or dried floral arrangements. The flowers, leaves and stems are all edible, and many options for food preparation exist. The finely chopped leaves are delicious in pesto, soups, salads and main dishes prepared with tomatoes, all types of squash, chicken, fish or red meats. Blue basil

flowers may be added to sour cream for a wonderful flavor. The flowers also add a beautiful element and delicious flavor to cold drinks.

Advanced Vegetable Gardening Class

On Saturday, February 9, 2019, from 9 a.m. to noon, Texas Master Gardener Ed Naspinski will share his knowledge and experience in growing unusual adapted edible plants including African blue basil. In addition, Dr. Paul Nester, retired Texas A&M Entomologist, integrated pest management specialist and imported red fire ant management specialist, will share information to support both conventional and organic gardeners with managing imported red fire ants in the vegetable garden. Registration is required at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ environment, and space is limited.

African blue basil offers many uses, including functioning as a landscape accent plant, as an attractor of pollinators in a vegetable garden and in fresh or dried floral arrangements. It is also edible and tastes delicious in many prepared dishes.

WATERWAY NIGHTS

by Brad Finger

Enjoy live music by local and regional performers in the picturesque setting of Waterway Square at Waterway Nights. These free, family-friendly outdoor concerts make for an eventful night out in The Woodlands Town Center. Concerts are held on Saturday evenings and begin at 6:30 p.m.

SPRING/SUMMER SERIES

FEBRUARY 9, 2019

Joel’s Garage (Classic Rock)

FEBRUARY 16, 2019

Mechanix (80’s and todays rock

FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Sawdust Road (Country/Classic Rock)

MARCH 2, 2019

Cold Shot (Rock)

MAY 4, 2019

Yelba (Latin)

MAY 11, 2019

9 to Midnight (Variety)

MAY 18, 2019

Texas Joe Bailey (Country)

MAY 25, 2019

Fidelity Maxx (Funky Dance)

JUNE 1, 2019

Secret Party Band (Classic Rock & Pop)

JUNE 8, 2019

Say Yes, Juliet! (Indie/Alternative)

JUNE 15, 2019

Time Warp (80’s/90’s/Today’s Hits)

JUNE 22, 2019

Face This Way (Classic Rock)

JUNE 29, 2019

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Variety)

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ waterwaynights

Photo by Perry Frank

Where do those weeds come from, and how do we control them?

By Bob Dailey

Everywinter and early spring along the Upper Gulf Coast, weeds begin appearing in even the best-maintained lawns. Chickweed, henbit, burweed, dandelion and other weeds, carried in by the wind, by birds or merely lying in the soil for years until sprouting, begin their annual blight across our landscapes.

Whatever way they got there, our main concern is how do we get rid of them? Don’t despair. Homeowners have many choices to remove and eradicate these annoying plants.

Mow them down before they seed

Most of the weeds that appear in the lawn in late winter and very early spring can be destroyed completely by simply mowing them down before they form seeds. These weeds are annuals, like corn, tomatoes, begonias, petunias, nasturtiums and others –which means they only live for one year. They propagate their species by making seed and dropping it onto the ground in the spring. But if these plants are mown before they create seed heads, they cannot propagate. This is the least invasive method of getting rid of weeds in your garden.

Add organic material in spring and fall. Most lawns here are varieties of St. Augustine turf. St. Augustine is a very rugged, aggressive and durable warm-season grass. Healthy, strong, disease-free St. Augustine will eventually force out weeds. A quarterinch application of organic material, once in mid-October and another in mid-April will help the St. Augustine grass itself to eliminate the weeds.

Pull the weeds Work-intensive and probably not the preferred method for homeowners and landscapers alike, this requires a lot of stooping, bending and kneeling. If one seeks a good workout, then this might be an acceptable method.

Pre-emergent herbicides

Not a choice recommendation, but it certainly does work. Herbicides containing benefin, trifluralin, isoxaben, pendimethalin and dithiopyr are effective as pre-emergents, but residents must be very careful in their use, read and follow instructions to the letter, avoid run-off (they can cause damage to both fresh and salt water marine life, as well as beneficial microbial life in the soil), and ensure that children and pets are not around when applying. Also, avoid tracking the material into the home. Wash clothes worn during application and run the washing machine empty immediately after washing those clothes. The above article was provided by The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency, www.wjpa.org.

Rob and Sydney said, “ We had a very positive experience with Michele and her team. She was always available for us. Not only did she sell our house, but she helped us find an interim rental house. Michele

George Azar

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RIGHT AT HOME

They say everything’s bigger in Texas. With over 70 locations and counting – including Texas Children’s Hospital

The Woodlands right in your neck of the woods – that’s certainly true of us. But our aim isn’t to be bigger, it’s to be better at meeting your needs. No matter how fast our city grows, we’re dedicated to keeping pace, with new locations, new technology and services, and ever more convenient ways for you to access our world-renowned specialty programs like ophthalmology, pulmonology and orthopedics and sports medicine, close to home. We’re standing tall in our boots right here, whenever you need us. Visit texaschildrens.org/woodlands for more information or to make an appointment.