October 2013

On the Cover

A

Photo by Susan Schneider

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 5310 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3950

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office 281-297-6500, Business, M-F, 8 a.m. - 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

The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency (Water)

Montgomery County M.U.D.S., 281-367-1271

Harris County M.U.D. 386, 281-290-6500

Emergency 911

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

K-Star Country, KVST-FM, the official emergency broadcast partner of The Woodlands Township.

Township Board Lowers Tax Rate

Using the Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan as its guide, The Woodlands Township prepares an annual budget and five-year plan in preparation for setting the property tax rate each year.

Aftertwo months of a rigorous budget process that included several public meetings, hearings and a Town Hall Meeting, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt the 2014 budget and set the tax rate at 29.40 cents per $100 of taxable property value, which is 2.33 cents less than the current tax rate of 31.73 cents. In addition to enhanced services, the 2014 budget will pay off $14.3 million in bond indebtedness resulting in interest savings of $5.6 million and lowering the Township property tax for the fourth consecutive year.

The rate has consistently decreased since the Township began collecting taxes in 2010. The Township is less dependent on property taxes than most communities and benefits greatly from sales and hotel taxes.

For more information on The Woodlands Township budget, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/budget.

For emergency information specific to The Woodlands, listen to

Gordy Bunch

Position No. 1 Treasurer

Don Norrell President and General Manager

Mike Bass Position No. 2 Director

Jeff Long Position No. 3 Director

Nelda Blair Position No. 5 Director

Bruce Tough

Position No. 7 Chairman

Peggy Hausman

Position No. 6 Vice Chairman

Ed Robb

Position No. 4 Secretary

Music*

Dance Theater

Hands-on activities

DISCOVERING PLANTS for a WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE

By Lucinda Valdes

Horticultural giants, Dr. David Creech, director of Mast Arboretum, and Michael Shoup, owner of Antique Rose Emporium, will share their vast knowledge of exceptional plants for southern landscapes on Saturday, October 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at Yesterday’s Plants for Today’s Water-wise Gardens, a Gardening 102 seminar. Following different paths of exploration, both speakers discovered, propagated, cultivated and released plants, reviving the Texas landscape.

In a lively, fast-paced presentation, Dr. Creech promises a botanical adventure, revealing how to use and care for a colorful palette of stellar native and nearly native perennials, shrubs, vines and trees. In his search for “great plants that are showy,” Dr. Creech rejects what he calls “tough as nails, invasive plant thugs.” You will not find exotics like Chinaberry, ligustrum, Japanese honeysuckle or elephant ears on his recommended list.

Plants with “drought tolerant genetics” often come from south or west of our borders, Dr. Creech says. Nearly native, the plants are well-suited to our region, “connected at one time by a botanical bridge.” His durable selections take the heat, handle heavy rainfall and are beautiful!

Aphids, black spot, constant pruning— many gardeners gave up on roses until Mr. Shoup discovered old garden roses long forgotten on abandoned homesteads and in cemeteries. Having survived the onslaughts of Mother Nature, old roses are “the ultimate garden plant,” he says. Offering color, diversity of form and fragrance, “Old roses have a persona. Some roses are dreamy romantics others are tenacious tomboys, each has its own moxie.”

Unlike floribundas and hybrids, old garden roses can be incorporated directly into the landscape. Mr. Shoup recommends the easy care, cultural methods practiced at the Antique Rose Emporium—apply compost, top dress with mulch and shape occasionally.

This rare double-billing of horticultural experts promises an enlightening and engaging event. The seminar includes a book signing by Mr. Shoup and silent auction of specimen plants from Mast Arboretum.

Space is limited; to reserve a spot for the free program, register online at www. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/gardeningevents. The class will be held at The Woodlands Township Board Chambers, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. For more information, please call Environmental Services at 281-210-3800.

Maintained without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, a cottage garden of old roses mingle with native and nearly native perennials, shrubs, grasses and vines creating a rich palette of color and texture. Photo courtesy Antique Rose Emporium

Purple coneflower, a native, water-wise perennial, shares garden space with Graham Thomas, a

Calling himself, “just a gardener,” Dr. David Creech has helped popularize numerous durable plants for East Texas gardens, including bat-faced cuphea and pink skullcap. He is Director of Mast Arboretum, Regent’s Professor at Stephen F. Austin University and a horticultural consultant of international renown.

Founder of Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Michael Shoup authored Empress of the Garden, a recent release of Texas A&M Press revealing the personalities and virtues of old garden roses. Antique Rose Emporium is designated a Hall of Fame Garden by the Great Rosarians of the World.

WATER-WISE in October

Compost Class — free!

Saturday, October 5

10 to 11 a.m.

Bins available

8203 Millennium Forest Dr. 281-210-3800

Woodlands Wildflower Festival — free!

Saturday, October 19

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rob Fleming Park

6055 Creekside Forest Dr.

Gardening 102: Yesterday’s Plants for Today’s Water-wise Gardens

Saturday, October 26

9 a.m. to noon

Free program; Reservations required

Topics and Speakers

The Natives Are Restless

Dr. David Creech, Mast Arboretum, Stephen F. Austin University

The Ultimate Garden Plant: A New Look at Old Roses

Michael Shoup, Antique Rose Emporium

2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 281-210-3800

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/gardeningevents

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

NOVEMBER 5, 2013 ELECTION

Candidates

Three at-large positions on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will be elected in the November 2013 election, designated as positions 5, 6, 7. Candidates who have filed are:

Position 5: John P. McMullan, Jason Rocha

Position 6: Peggy S. Hausman

Position 7: Bruce Tough The Texas Secretary

Relevant Dates

October 7, 2013 Last Day to Register to Vote

October 21, 2013 First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance

October 29, 2013* Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (received not postmarked)

November 1, 2013 Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance

November 5, 2013 Election Day

More information, including a list of voting hours and polling sites, is available on the Township’s Web site, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/elections.

Web site at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml

Photo courtesy of Michael Shoup

yellow rose with old garden rose characteristics.

Photo courtesy of David Creech

Every season brings an opportunity for home/property maintenance.

The Woodlands Township reminds you to:

• Remove mildew/algae from all exterior surfaces.

• Repair and repaint siding.

• Repair and replace broken fences.

• Mow and edge your lawn.

• Edge, weed and mulch all landscape beds.

• Store trash and recycle carts out of sight.

• Remove all loose trash, debris and yard waste.

• Remove pine needles, leaves and debris from roof. Removal will improve the longevity of the roof, reduce fire hazard and discourage pests.

Potential permit needed. Contact The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3800 for help with the application process.

The Woodlands Township is charged with the care and enforcement of the standards and deed Restrictions. To learn more about the Covenants, Standards and Deed Restriction enforcement, call 281-210-3800 or visit the Resident tab at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Note: The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department can provide information on lawn care, irrigation practices, disease prevention and plant selection tailored to this region. Please call 281-210-3800 for more information.

Seasonal SPRUCE UP

Is the appearance of your home blemished by algae and mildew?

Suggestions for removing algae and mildew from your home:

• A solution of 10 parts water to one part common bleach (strength of mixture can be increased for removal of heavy growth). Be sure to wet foundation plantings first and rinse everything in clean water when done to protect plants from the bleach. Wear gloves and be careful not to come in contact with bleach. Please be aware that high concentrations of bleach may discolor your paint.

• Wipe or scrub with detergent and water.

• There are a number of cleaning products and suggestions for removing these substances from the exterior of the home that can be found and sold at your local home improvement store.

Prevention is always best! Periodic cleaning with a power washer containing water only may help prevent the problem altogether. Remember: Mildew removal may reveal the need to repaint your home. If so, be sure to take the appropriate actions.

Consider the Facts

Trash and recycle carts left out where others can see them:

• Detract from the appearance of the neighborhood.

• Decrease the resale value of homes on the street.

• Impose on the next-door neighbors.

Expect the Best for Your Neighborhood!

All trash, refuse or recycling containers may be placed near the street edge no earlier than one day prior to waste collection. Emptied containers must be removed from the street, front yard or driveway by the end of the collection day. Containers must be stored on the owner’s property at all times. All trash and refuse containers must be stored out of public view at ground level from the street, alley or adjacent and surrounding properties at all times except during waste collection.

Photo by Susan Schneider

Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture reveals the wonder of black bears at Black Bears of East Texas: Return of a Texas Native with Dr. Christopher Comer, from Stephen of Austin University, on Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. at McCullough Jr. High School, 3800 S. Panther Creek Drive.

Bears capture the imagination, fascinating both children and adults. “Charismatic, mega fauna,” Dr. Comer fondly calls the species. Intelligent, shy and adaptable, black bears were once plentiful throughout the state.

“When we look back at the cultural history of Texas, black bears figured prominently,” notes Dr. Comer. “They were the top of the food chain.” Vital to the native population and early settlers, bears provided a food source, hides and tallow. Like the buffalo, black bears succumbed to unregulated hunting.

By Lucinda Valdes

DON’T FEED THE BEARS!

Most plentiful in our neighboring state, Louisiana black bears are a subspecies of the American black bear. Capitalizing on eco tourism, a partnership between landowners, hunters, conservation groups and governmental agencies provides research and educates the public on coexisting with bears.

Extirpated from Texas by the 1940s, Louisiana black bears are now wandering more frequently into remote areas of East Texas. Each year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department documents three to ten credible sightings, usually young males seeking new territory.

Wildlife enthusiasts and hunters welcome reports of the federally threatened subspecies with hopes for its recovery in our state. Others greet the news with trepidation. “Some people see bears as dangerous and predatory,” Dr. Comer says. An omnivore, the black bear is 90 percent vegetarian, dining primarily on berries, nuts and honey; insects and animal carrion provide protein. “The bear is like a 200 pound raccoon— super intelligent in the animal realm— but not as dexterous.”

Dr. Comer will explore the wonder of black bears, their habits, range and challenges. A Discovery Trunk will invite attendees to touch a bear pelt, claws and skull replica; gauge the growth of cubs and enjoy other hands-on activities.

A free program of The Woodlands Township, Walk in the Woods Lecture Series receives support from The Woodlands

G.R.E.E.N., Waste Management and Hilton Garden Inn. For more information, please call 281-210-3800 or visit www.thewoodlandtownship-tx.gov/wildlife.

Discover the outlook for black bears in Texas with Dr. Christopher Comer, Assistant Wildlife Professor at Stephen F. Austin University. The scientist is Chairman of the Black Bear Conservation Coalition and serves on the East Texas Black Bear Task Force.

Photo courtesy of Stephen F. Austin University

The Woodlands

Saturday, October 19, 2013

39th Anniversary of The Woodlands 10 am – 2 pm

ROB FlEmING PARk AT ThE VIllAGE OF CREEkSIdE PARk

Wide Selection of Free Wildflower Seeds

Free Inflatable Rides, Strolling Entertainment and Music

Free Petting Zoo & Pony Rides

Special guest appearances from Puffy Pine Cone and mascot friends from 11 am – 12 noon

Nature-Related Exhibitor Booths

Free Anniversary Cupcakes at 1 pm

& Free Gifts for the Children (while supplies last)

Official Tee Shirt & Poster for Sale

Concessions Available (cash only)

don’t miss the Wildflower Festival at Rob Fleming Park, located on Creekside Forest drive in the Village of Creekside Park.

How the GRP Fee Increase Will Affect Typical Residential Consumer

The new Groundwater Reduction Plan rate of $1.75 per 1,000 gallons of water will cost the typical homeowner in The Woodlands about $61 more per year, according to new figures posted by The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency. This year’s GRP fee is an increase of $0.50 a thousand gallons over last year’s GRP fee.

The monthly costs will vary, according to use. For instance, water use is much lower in the winter months than in summer months. In summer, typical usage soars to 15,000 gallons per month. However in the winter months, typical use drops to around 5,000 gallons per month.

With the new fee, a resident using 5,000 gallons a month in December, January and February would pay $40.80 a month, an increase of $2.50 over last year’s cost of $38.30. Conversely, that same resident using 15,000 gallons a month in July, August and September would pay $85.94 each for those months, an increase of $7.50 over last year’s cost of $78.44. These figures also reflect a sewer average of $17.25 per month for 5,000 gallons. Sewer charges are taken from an average of water use for the three winter months.

The new fees took place in the September billing cycle. Residents will already have received, or should receive shortly, their September cycle billing which will reflect the price increase.

The Woodlands is only part of the GRP system. A total of 85 Municipal Utility Districts throughout Montgomery County are participating in the program. In 2012, The Woodlands used 8 billion gallons, which represented 29 percent of all the water used in the county. Conroe used 4.2 billion gallons, 15 percent of all water used in the county.

Rapid population growth and excess landscape irrigation are driving the conversion to surface water. Residents are urged to follow the Odd/Even Defined Irrigation Schedule. Water turf grass no more than one inch per week, including rainfall.

A WOODLANDS TRADITION BECOMES A FAMILY TRADITION: Walk to School

I Walk, You Walk, We ALL Walk to School!

Twelve Woodlands elementary schools are observing International Walk to School Month with officially scheduled walk days in October. Historically, The Woodlands Township has consistently ranked among the top Texas communities with the most schools participating! The Woodlands community tradition is a springboard for new family traditions regarding alternative school transportation every day.

While a Walk Day is often spearheaded by the school nurse, the physical education teacher, a science teacher or the school PTO Environmental Committee—walking to school can just as easily be organized as a neighborhood activity. One way to jumpstart an ongoing program is to organize a Walking School Bus. It’s like a carpool—without the car—with the added benefits of exercise and visits with friends and neighbors. For an informal bus:

1. Invite families who live nearby to walk.

2. Pick a route and take a test walk.

3. Decide how often the group will walk together.

4. Have fun!

At a minimum, make sure there are a sufficient number of adults to supervise walkers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend one adult for every six children. If children are ages 4 to 6, one adult per three children is recommended. For more tips, see http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/index.cfm.

Reviewing basic safety rules with the walkers along the route creates lifelong safety skills. Young pedestrians and cyclists may even grow up to be safer drivers because they will be more aware of walkers and bicyclists.

For families who live too far away to walk the entire distance to school, it is still possible to walk. Drive to a location a short distance from campus, like a church or shopping center, and walk to school from there. Vehicle congestion and cleaner air around schools is one reason why school administrators enthusiastically support Walk to School. Start stepping!

Deretchin

Creekside

By Kathie Gilmore Herrick

During October Walk Days, staff from The Woodlands Township Environmental Services, Neighborhood Services, Recreation Departments, the Park Rangers, Conroe ISD Police and Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office partner to rekindle the spirit of walking to school. For more information, call the Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800 and/or visit www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Why Walk

• Reduces traffic congestion, pollution and speeding around schools and neighborhoods

• Increases use of pathways and boosts physical activity

• Teaches safe walking skills to children

• Increases neighbor-to-neighbor interactions

• Features eco-values— conservation and clean air

october

Tuesday, October 1

National Night Out Neighborhood Parties

5:30 to 8 p.m.

See page 28 for more information.

Creekside Park Village Association Meeting 6464 Creekside Forest Drive

7 p.m.

281-210-3889

Wednesday, October 2

Development Standards Committee Meeting*

Thursday, October 3

Residential Design Review Committee Meetings*

Friday, October 4

Walk to School (October 4 – 25)

See page 14 for more information.

Gorilla Hole Recreation Center 7 p.m.

281-210-3950

This event is geared to 5th and 6th graders; $7 admittance fee.

Saturday, October 5

The Woodlands Fall Flea Market Town Center Parking Garage

7 to 10 a.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3976.

Grogan’s Mill Farmers’ Market

Grogan’s Mill Shopping Center 2230 Buckthorne Place

8 a.m. to noon www.grogansmillvillage.com

Free Compost Class

8203 Millennium Forest Drive 10 to 11 a.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3800.

Creekside Campout (October 5-6)

Rob Fleming Park

2 p.m. to 9 a.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950.

Live at Night

Waterway Square

6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call 281-363-2447.

Sunday, October 6

Free Concert in the Park Will Makar (Pop/Rock) Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 281-210-3950

Tuesday, October 8

Heartsaver CPR/AED Class Emergency Training Center 6:30 to 10 p.m.

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

Alden Bridge Village Association Meeting 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 7 p.m. 281-210-3886

Indian Springs Village Association Meeting 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 7 p.m. 281-210-5808

Thursday, October 10

Residential Design Review Committee Meetings*

Panther Creek Village Association Meeting 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 7 p.m. 281-210-3886

The Woodlands is a master-planned community with more than 105,000 residents and approximately 2,000 businesses. Located about 30 miles north of downtown Houston, Texas, it is well known for its extensive parks and recreation, golf, corporate headquarters, schools, places of worship, shopping, dining, hospitality, and health care.

The Woodlands officially began in 1974. From 1974 through 2009, three major community associations and a special purpose district provided services for most residents and businesses.

Background

On January 1, 2010, the three community associations and the district were combined and became The Woodlands Township.

The Woodlands Township is a special purpose district, not a city, that acts as the governmental service provider for the community. It provides supplemental law enforcement, fire protection, environmental services, parks and recreation maintenance and programming, as well as economic and transportation planning, among many other services, programs and amenities.

The Woodlands To W nship Vision

The Woodlands, our dynamic hometown within a natural forest, is known for its balance between man and nature. We are a thriving business community and a premier destination for visitors — a place where generations live, work, learn and play.

• Protecting the well-being and safety of our residents, visitors and businesses.

• Achieving the highest standards in service delivery.

• Partnering with others to sustain the vitality of our region.

• Communicating with our constituents and partners.

Fulfilling the vision means:

• Attracting and retaining a talented and innovative staff.

• Serving as the community’s political voice.

• Powering economic growth through community investment.

• Promoting continued vitality of neighborhoods and community areas.

• Maintaining transparent governance.

• Serving as financial stewards of the community’s resources.

• Evolving a government structure to meet our goals.

• Promoting responsible environmental policy.

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors’ goal is to enhance and maintain the quality of life of The Woodlands’ residents and businesses. The Board is committed to public safety, providing exceptional customer-friendly services, representing the community as the government for The Woodlands, and providing programs and policies to promote economic development.

The Township views its planning and operational activities in a strategic manner. Accordingly, each year’s budget is prepared with the goal of achieving certain key objectives as defined in the Vision 2034 Strategic Plan adopted by the Board of Directors several years ago.

Those objectives include:

• Develop a budget and financial plan that meets the short-term and longterm needs of the Township.

• Continue to provide high quality, cost effective services and amenities.

• Provide enhancements to services as needed and appropriate.

• Maintain and replace capital assets and facilities as necessary.

• Create financial flexibility for changing conditions and opportunities

Through sound fiscal management, the Township has positioned itself well to cope with growth, create a positive atmosphere for economic development and provide flexibility on budgetary

issues. The Township continues to balance revenues and expenditures, maintain or enhance services, have an excellent bond rating and low debt per capita ratio and maintain appropriate levels of operating, capital replacement, economic development and debt service reserves.

The Board consistently strives to lower the tax rate while maintaining the level of services the residents of The Woodlands have long enjoyed. On August 22, 2013,

the Board adopted a 2013 property tax rate of 29.40 cents per $100 of valuation to help fund the Township’s 2014 budget.

Objectives, initiatives and issues that need to be addressed by the Board and community during the coming year include community growth, inflation, revenue, reserves, expectations and community facilities. Please continue reading about the many services of the Woodlands Township contained in this booklet.

The Woodlands Township Board of d irectors (left to right) Director Mike Bass, Secretary Ed Robb, Vice Chairman Peggy S. Hausman, Chairman Bruce Tough, Director Nelda Blair, Director Jeff long and Treasurer Gordy Bunch.

The Woodlands Township is primarily funded by property tax, sales and use tax, hotel occupancy tax and program revenues. It uses these funds to administer a wide-range of services for residents such as:

• Capital projects

• Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Covenant administration and deed restrictions

• Economic development programs

• Environmental services

• The Woodlands Fire Department

• Garbage and recycling collection

• General administrative and professional management

• Law enforcement

• Legislative initiatives

• Neighborhood services and The Woodlands Watch

• Parks and recreation (parks and pathways maintenance, programming, Recreation Center)

• Public safety

• Service requests

• Signage

• Street lighting

• Streetscape maintenance

• The Woodlands Community Magazine

• Transportation

• WoodlandsAlert

Each year, The Woodlands Township prepares an annual budget and five-year plan in preparation for setting the property tax rate. Through sound fiscal management, the Township has positioned itself well to cope with

Budge T infor M aT ion

growth, create a positive atmosphere for economic development, and provide flexibility on budgetary issues.

or enhance services, have an excellent bond rating and low debt per capita ratio and maintain appropriate levels of operating, capital replacement, economic development and debt service reserves. Sales Tax 45%

Adopted

2014

Consolidated Budget Adopted property tax rate: 29.40 cents per $100 of valuation

Property Tax 40% Parks and Recrea on 13% Debt Service 20%

Law Enforcement 11% Community Services 12% Capital 9% Other 8% CVB 3%

General 7% Fire Dept 17%

difference between the total revenues and the total expenditures is funded by the utilization of undesignated General Fund balance to pay for the retirement of certain debt obligations.

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/budget

Npu B li C safe T y

eighborhood Services is an important link in the safety and security program of The Woodlands Township. Staff program coordinators serve as village liasions between the residents and the service providers, and assist the village associations and Town Center with their meetings and projects. The staff is closely linked to law enforcement, the neighborhood watch program (The Woodlands Watch), the WoodlandsAlert program, and provide crime prevention and safety education training for residents.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office - The Woodlands District 6 consists of 83.5 law enforcement personnel located in The Woodlands:

• A captain and a lieutenant

• Five senior sergeants

• A senior traffic sergeant

• Seven patrol sergeants

• Two K9 deputies

• 67 Patrol deputies

• A detective

• Two traffic division deputies

• Two jailers

• Clerical positions.

l aw enforcement

The Woodlands Township contracts for supplemental law enforcement services in Montgomery County through a contract with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and in Harris County through a contract with Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct 4.

The counties provide community policing services in seven residential zones and the tourism-oriented zone located in Town Center. All zones have full-time deputies providing 24/7 coverage.

Harris County Constable’s Office, Pct. 4 adds six personnel assigned to The Village of Creekside Park:

• Six full-time deputy constables

• Plus 30 hours of weekly patrol provided through independent contracts

The Woodlands Fire Department

Providing

advanced life support, emergency medical care, life safety inspection, fire and life safety education, technical rescue, hazardous materials response and emergency dispatch services, The Woodlands Fire Department is integral to public safety in The Woodlands. To keep pace with the growing residential and commercial population of the Township, the Board initiated and recently completed a program to expand the Fire Department’s resources.

The expansion solidified the continued commitment by The Woodlands Township to provide superior fire protection and emergency medical service levels while maintaining an average emergency response time of five minutes or less to all fire and EMS emergency incidents.

Station

Station

Station

Station

In addition to the Township’s county contracted community-policing deputies, the counties also provide services as needed in the detective operation, administrative support, special services, SWAT team, training, recruitment, traffic control, identification – crime lab, communications, sex offender division, fleet operations, jail division, auto theft and other areas through the county tax levy.

alpha & omega Mounted patrol

The Township provides a non-law enforcement security and customer relations service in the Town Center called Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol. The mounted riders have a very visible presence in the commercial areas, and the riders are able to see and be seen above the auto roof tops in large congested parking lot areas.

These troopers also provide a customerfriendly environment to visitors to The Woodlands Town Center. Not only do the riders provide a level of security in their patrol areas, they have also become a unique (branded) image in The Woodlands commercial areas.

Renovating the former Central Station into the new Central Fire Station was part of the initiative. The facility now houses two fire units, fire administration, dispatch and the Emergency Operations Center.

The Woodlands Township Fire Department supports state-of-the-art technology with a computer-aided dispatching system, which allows the Department to better

• Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 2

• Eight strategically located fire stations

• Emergency Training Center

• Protects a 44 square-mile area

• 158 full-time personnel

smanage fire units while seamlessly coordinating emergency medical response with the Montgomery County Hospital District. This technology facilitates quicker, safer and more efficient emergency responses to the public.

The Department is currently rated 2 by Insurance Services Office (ISO) and is considering re-evaluation for a rating of 1. While an ISO rating of 1 does not result in further reduction of residential and commercial property insurance rates, it does serve as a good economic development tool for the community.

Only .01 percent of all the fire departments in the United States have achieved this prestigious level.

Station

Station

The Woodlands Township is unique in many ways, but it is never more evident than in its more than 125 parks. Each carefully designed and located in all villages throughout The Woodlands, the parks are connected by miles of pathways. The Woodlands parks have won numerous accolades by leading organizations such as the National Recreation and Parks Association, Texas Recreation and Parks Society, Texas Public Pool Council and Aquatics International.

• 3,500 acres of protected open space

• 198 miles of pathways that connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, churches and village shopping centers

• 127 developed parks; 81 have play areas with play equipment

• More than three lakes and numerous amenity ponds.

• 60,000 trees and seedlings planted annually

park Maintenance

The age of the Township parks ranges from more than 30 years old to those built in 2013. New parks and pathways in areas encumbered with The Woodlands Association Covenants are provided through a Recreational Facility Funding Agreement with the developer. Per the agreement, The Woodlands Township is required to fund 50 percent of the capital cost of developing new parks and pathways in these areas. Any new park and pathway projects that are not part of the Recreational Facilities Funding Agreement are funded by the Township at 100 percent.

The park areas are maintained by The Woodlands Township staff along with a number of contracts with various organizations. The vast majority of park, open space and pond maintenance labor is provided through contracted services.

Waterway Maintenance

The Waterway is a tremendous asset for The Woodlands as it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Presenting numerous opportunities for special events, economic development, programming and public gatherings, maintenance of the area is vital.

The Woodlands Waterway®, Riva Row Park, Town Green Park, the koi pond, The Fountains at Waterway Square and

the tree lights and site amenities located in the Town Center area are maintained by The Woodlands Township Parks Department. The Waterway maintenance operation consists of landscape and hardscape maintenance, pedestrian lighting, street light banners, bulkhead maintenance, trash and litter removal, nuisance pest control and water quality management.

integrated forestry Management plan

In keeping with the Integrated Forestry Management Plan, approximately 60,000 trees and seedlings have been planted annually over the past several years and include species of oaks, Loblolly Pine, Longleaf Pine, Wax Myrtle, Yaupon, Green ash, elderberry and Red Maple. All planting occurs during the planting season, which usually extends from November to March.

Learn more about parks and recreation at

The Woodlands Township recreation Center

The Township coordinates many recreational programs and events. Many of the programs take place at The Woodlands Township Recreation Center, located at Bear Branch Park, 5310 Research Forest Drive (77381). This facility was constructed in 1992 specifically for recreational programming activities. In addition to the programming at the Recreation Center, the Township staff provides recreational programming at various parks and venues communitywide. Schedules and detailed information regarding programs and events can be found in the award-winning Action Guide, a Township publication printed three times a year that outlines the current season’s programming.

The cost of operating the recreational facility and providing recreational programming is offset by revenues generated from the programs including sponsorships and athletic field rentals.

sports Complexes

The Woodlands Township provides two sports complexes with athletic fields for soccer, softball and other sports. Both complexes have restrooms and pavilions in addition to other amenities. Six of the fields at the complexes were recently updated with all-weather turf and improved outdoor lighting. The fields are available for rental and can be reserved for group sport activities.

aquatics

The Woodlands Township has 14 pools and three spray grounds located throughout all of its villages. In addition to other aquatic programs, the Township staff coordinates a competitive swim program that supports multiple teams. Approximately 50 percent of the total cost of operating the community swimming pools is funded through user fees.

riva row Boat house

One and two person kayaks are available for rent through the Riva Row Boat House located at 2101 Riva Row in The Woodlands Town Center.

The Boat House is within walking distance of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Market Street, and Town Green Park. It’s also a short trolley ride from any spot along The Woodlands Waterway®. Parking is available along Riva Row and adjacent parking lots. For more information, or to make a reservation please call 281-210-3965.

SWimming

alden Bridge (Alden Bridge)

7725 Alden Bridge Drive 77382

Bear Branch (Cochran’s Crossing)

5200 Research Forest Drive 77381

Cranebrook (Sterling Ridge)

11800 Cranebrook Drive 77382

Creekwood (Panther Creek)

3383 S Panther Creek Drive 77381

falconwing (Indian Springs)

5610 Rush Haven Drive 77381

• 14 swimming pools

• Two spraygrounds

• Two major sports complexes: Bear Branch Sportsfields and Alden Bridge Sports Park

• All-weather turf installed in six fields at Bear Branch Sportsfields and Alden Bridge Sports Park

• More than 60 lighted tennis courts

• Riva Row Boat House kayak rentals and programs

• Bear Branch skate board park

• Northshore Park amenities include pavilion, playground, grills, picnic tables and boat launch

forestgate (Indian Springs)

7505 S. Forestgate Drive 77382

harper’s l anding (College Park)

2 Blair Bridge Drive 77385

l akeside (Alden Bridge)

5001 W Alden Bridge Drive 77382

s awmill (Grogan’s Mill)

2200 Millpark Drive 77380

shadowbend (Cochran’s Crossing)

4192 Lake Woodlands Drive 77381

Wendtwood (Creekside Park)

8950 Creekside Green Drive 77375

ridgewood (Panther Creek)

4192 Interfaith Way 77381

rob fleming (Creekside Park)

6535 Creekside Forest Drive 77389

Windvale (Alden Bridge)

7600 Windvale Circle 77382

The majority of properties in The Woodlands Township are encumbered with either The Woodlands Community Association (WCA) covenants, The Woodlands Association (TWA) covenants or The Woodlands Commercial Owners Association (WCOA) covenants. In 2010, these community associations transferred responsibility for Covenant administration to the Township as part of the governance transition, and the Covenants continue to be encumbered on property throughout The Woodlands. The effective enforcement of the Covenants and Standards is extremely important to the maintenance of property values in The Woodlands. These protective deed restrictions set the standards for property maintenance and apply the acceptable standards for physical changes made to properties.

• 33,800 residential and commercial properties have WCA, TWA or WCOA covenants.

• $82,500 budgeted in 2013 for revitalization of properties with covenant enforcement issues

Co MM uni T y Main T enan C e

Both residential and commercial properties encumbered with WCA covenant standards are administered by The Woodlands Township. The Township also administers the TWA covenant standards applying to completed single family detached residential properties.

TWA commercial properties and new residential and multi-family properties are maintained by the Developer/ Development Review Committee (DRC). Properties encumbered with WCOA covenants are administered by the Developer/ Community Standards Committee (CSC). Some properties may have additional covenants or deed restrictions; these property standards are administered by overlapping property owner associations.

Covenant administration

Residential Design Review Committees are committees of village-elected volunteer representatives that serve as architectural control groups to protect the aesthetic character of the residential areas in The Woodlands. The Covenant Administration Department provides support for both the Residential Design Review Committees and the Development Standards Committee.

residential design review Committees

Property owners planning to make any alterations to their properties are required to make applications to their village’s review committee. The applications are acted upon by the committee to ensure compliance with the covenant restrictions and design standards.

Each village of The Woodlands elects a committee of representatives in February of each year. Committee members serve a one-year term and have one scheduled monthly meeting.

revitalization program

A community revitalization program was created in 2008 to address the needs of aging neighborhoods. The Township works with the residents, and partners with community groups to resolve outstanding violations. Some of the funding of this program allows the Township, through the Development Standards Committee, to fund quicker enforcement actions and file liens for recovery of expended funds.

streetscape Maintenance

Community maintenance operations are very extensive and consist of maintaining entryways, roadway medians, irrigation systems, open space reserves, ponds and lakes, street lighting, forestry and tree removal programs, reforestation, directional signage, graffiti removal and jumbo cul-de-sacs. Most of the community maintenance tasks are primarily provided through contract and secondarily through staff services.

The Woodlands Township actively promotes preserving the natural environment. Township staff provide tips and resources for healthy, sustainable living, and coordinate many educational and informative programs regarding recycling, composting, litter abatement and household hazardous waste. Some of these programs are also provided to local schools.

Waste Collection and recycling

The Township promotes an integrated residential solid waste plan for the community. Services include once-perweek curbside collection of garbage, recyclables and yard waste.

Waste collection and recycling services are provided to approximately 32,000 households in The Woodlands. The cost of basic garbage and recycling service is paid through the property tax levy; the 2013 rate is $10.40 per month per household. No service is currently provided to commercial properties.

e n V iron M en Tal s er V i C

The Woodlands Township also provides mosquito control education and works with Montgomery and Harris counties to test for West Nile virus.

The Woodlands recycling Center

The Woodlands Township provides a recycling center (staffed by Waste Management employees) on Research Forest Drive that is open two days per week.

programs and events:

• Adopt a Pathway

• A Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture Series

• Earth Day GreenUp

• Mosquito monitoring

• 3R Bazaar

• Woodlands Landscaping Solutions

Learn more about recycling at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/recycling

• Walk to School program A note about water...

groundwater reduction plan (grp)

In 2013, The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) began a major project in The Woodlands. The San Jacinto River Authority Groundwater Reduction Plan includes the construction of water pipelines through The Woodlands which will bring in surface water from Lake Conroe. Planning for this project has been going on for many years with construction scheduled to be complete by 2015. The SJRA pre-construction activities began in the far western and northern sections of The Woodlands in June, 2013. Please visit the Groundwater Reduction Plan Web site for traffic alerts, construction schedules and related information: www.sjra.net/grp. Please visit these Web sites for more Information about water conservation:

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/waterconservation www.sjra.net (San Jacinto River Authority) www.wjpa.org (The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency)

The Woodlands Township encourages residents to conserve water!

• $6.2 million per year in hotel occupancy tax collected

• 11 hotel properties generating nearly 500,000 room nights a year

• 38,334 Waterway Cruiser riders

• Over 399,890 event attendees

The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau supports events, venues and programs that bring visitors to The Woodlands. The tourism and convention business in The Woodlands is substantial, providing important revenue in the form of hotel occupancy tax as well as a major portion of sales tax revenue. Leisure travelers, corporate groups and conventions contribute substantially to The Woodlands economy by spending at restaurants and retail establishments. This healthy business environment helps reduce the overall property tax requirement.

While the major portion of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (CVB) budget is funded from a supplemental hotel occupancy tax;

the remainder is funded from sponsorships, program fees, sales tax collected by the Township and other sources of revenue.

Con V en T ion and Visi T ors Bureau

local events

• The Woodlands Waterway® Arts Festival

• Fiesta Universal

Approximately half of the budget is used to directly produce events and/or support the many events that bring both residents and visitors to The Woodlands to enjoy all The Woodlands has to offer.

Waterway Cruisers

The Waterway Cruisers are operated by The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau. Funding for the Waterway Cruisers comes from a variety of sources including fares for rides, catering, advertising and sponsorships and transportation grants. Any funding shortfall is resolved with an operating reserve that should provide the needed operating financial support for the Waterway Cruiser program for a five-year period.

The CVB Board of Directors awards a one-year contract to provide exclusive catering services and private charters on the Waterway Cruisers. Groups can enjoy a seated dinner for up to 20 passengers, or appetizers and cocktails for up to 35 passengers. Catered events on board include company retreats and holiday parties.

• Fourth of July / Red, Hot & Blue Festival

• Lighting of the Doves

• International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW)

• The Ice Rink™ at The Woodlands Town Center

• The Woodlands Winter Wonderland

• Waterway Programming:

» Live at Night (Spring and Fall Series)

» Memorial Day Weekend Events

» Movie Night

» Waterway Nights

» Trick or Treat Trail

» Labor Day Weekend Events

» Caroling on the Square

The Woodlands Township initiates a number of ways to bring awareness of its programs and services to The Woodlands residents and the general public including the official Township Web site and The Woodlands Community Magazine.

In addition, The Woodlands Township provides other informative, topnotch publications including the The Woodlands Parks and Pathways map, The Woodlands Township Recreation Center’s Action Guide and a Splash! brochure, a guide to water activities.

The Woodlands Township Web site

The Township’s official Web site, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, has a wealth of information for The Woodlands residents. Applications for property improvement approvals, public meeting videos, governance information, recreational programming information and an event calendar are just a sample of the valuable information available on the site. The Woodlands Township contracts with CivicPlus to host the Web site, however, Township staff constantly update the site to keep it current. The Web site is also a valuable tool residents can use to communicate directly with the Township.

Co MM uni T y r elaT ions

The Woodlands

Community Magazine

The Woodlands Township publishes a monthly magazine, in partnership with Champions Printing and Publishing, Inc. The Woodlands Community Magazine is mailed to all households within the Township boundaries and informs the residents about the activities and services of The Woodlands Township. It consistently rates very high readership (more than 90 percent) according to independent surveys.

Subscriptions and mailing of the magazine are entirely ad-supported; no tax dollars are used in the printing and mailing of the magazine.

• Award-winning monthly magazine delivered to over 44,000 homes

• Award-winning Web site receiving over 300,000 unique visitors and over 450,000 visits

The official Web site of The Woodlands Township

projected growth*:

• Population grows to 130,000

• Commercial and industrial space grows to 38.3 million square feet

• Number of residential units grows to 49,820

• Number of parks grows to 135

• Pathways increase to 205 miles

• Open space reserves grow to 4,200 acres

*The Woodlands Development Company, January 1, 2013

p reparing for T he f u T ure

The Woodlands is still a number of years away from “build out,” or when it has reached its maximum number of singlefamily housing units and business square footage. As the community continues to grow, services will have to be expanded to include the newly developed growth areas and increased population.

A factor that impacts our current financial planning process is that as the community approaches build out, there will most likely be a transition in services and/or costs currently provided by The Woodlands Development Company to the Township.

Services currently funded or managed by the Development Company will have to be assumed, adjusted in scope or eliminated. The Township expects that the transfer of services will not occur all at once, but will occur over a period of years. The Township will need to identify future financial capacity to assume these services. Alternatives to providing the required funding would be to eliminate the service or change existing services to provide capacity.

services funded/managed by the developer:

• Streetscape maintenance (partly funded by The Woodlands Land Development Company)

• Capital projects construction management / engineering services

• Sponsorship of some communitywide special events

• Public art program

• Development Review Committee and the Community Standards Committee plan review functions

• Some public works functions such as roadway planning, drainage considerations, mobility planning, management of utility easements

• Public works – infrastructure management of Township-owned special interactive features, lighting, signage, pavers

In addition to being a bicycle friendly community, The Woodlands Township has three transportation programs operating within its boundaries: The Woodlands Trolleys, three Park & Ride lots, and The Waterway Cruisers.

Based on the 2010 Census of the U.S. Census Bureau, population increases have caused new/changed requirements for

Trolleys

Two trolleys travel routes throughout the Waterway, Woodlands Mall, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Market Street areas. The Trolleys are free, and each one can carry up to 35 people; they are also ADA compliant. The trolley system is a partnership among the Houston-Galveston Area Council, The Brazos Transit District and The Woodlands Township. The trolleys have established routes and route maps are available on The Woodlands Township Web site.

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Transpor TaT ion

local public transportation in Montgomery County. As required by federal law, the U.S. Census Bureau created The Conroe/ Woodlands Large Urban Area, replacing the former federal funding model for The Woodlands Township (Small Urban Area). The designation change will impact both the annual federal/state funding amount and use of funds.

park and ride

Three Park & Ride locations are available in The Woodlands with routes to Houston.

research park & ride

3900 Marsico Place

The Woodlands

s awdust park & ride

701 Westridge Spring

sterling ridge park & ride

8001 McBeth Way

The Woodlands

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.btd. org, or call 979-778-0607 ext. 7008.

A five-year transportation plan is being developed that recognizes the change in federal/state transportation funding and the partner support The Woodlands Township will offer.

Economic development is a vital aspect of the success of The Woodlands Township. Strategic partners in economic development include the Township, South Montgomery County Woodlands Economic Development Partnership, Greater Houston Partnership, Opportunity Houston and the Center for Houston’s Future. The Township Board of Directors and the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors support Ad Hoc committees designed to plan for future development and address potential legislative needs.

Waterway Cruisers

Six Waterway Cruisers travel along The Woodlands Waterway providing the perfect way to explore all the amenities that the Waterway has to offer.

Hours of Operation:

Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Last round trip starts at the mall turn at 8 p.m.

Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Last round trip starts at the mall turn at 9 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Last round trip starts at the mall turn at 7 p.m.

Tickets are purchased when boarding and are cash only. Children ages three and under are free. The Waterway Cruisers are wheelchair accessible and are available for private catered events.

The Woodlands’ status as a premier destination for visitors and travelers enables a strong local economy, which in turn allows the Township to pay for services and amenities that enhance local property values. The Township strongly supports efforts to attract and retain quality businesses, which in return, supports job retention and fosters economic growth.

Helpful Contact Information Township Locations

The Woodlands Township ............................. 281-210-3800

Covenant Admin. - Permits and deed restriction enforcement

Neighborhood Watch Program - The Woodlands Watch

RV Storage Lot

Parks Department

Environmental Services

The Woodlands Township Fire Department, non-emergency 281-367-3444

The Woodlands Township Recreation Center 281-210-3950

The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau ............. 281-363-2447

The Woodlands Township Town hall

2801 Technology Forest Boulevard

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3800

Other Service Providers:

Montgomery County Sheriff’s office, non-emergency 936-442-7797

Harris County Constable, Precinct 4 281-376-3472

Water

Harris - Montgomery Counties MUD 386 ............. 281-290-6507

The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency 281-367-1271

Harris County Sheriff’s Office 713-221-6000

Montgomery County Constable, Precinct 3 281-364-4211

Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . 911

parks, recreation and environmental s ervices 8203 Millennium Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3800

For additional Township information, please visit the Web site: www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

The Woodlands Township recreation Center 5310 Research Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3950

Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture Black Bears of East Texas:

Return of a Texas Native McCullough Junior High School

3800 S. Panther Creek Drive

7:30 p.m.

281-210-3800

Saturday, October 12

One 4 Texas Kids’ Fun Run Race begins in Market Street

7 a.m.

281-210-3800

Memorial Hermann

10 For Texas 10-mile Race Race begins in Market Street

7:30 a.m.

Call 281-210-3800 or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/races for more information.

Grogan’s Mill Farmers’ Market

Grogan’s Mill Shopping Center

2230 Buckthorne Place

8 a.m. to noon

www.grogansmillvillage.com

Taste of the Village Indian Springs Village Shopping Center

Noon to 4 p.m.

Live at Night Waterway Square

6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call 281-363-2447.

Sunday, October 13

Free Concert in the Park Fondue Monks (Texas Funk) Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

281-210-3950

Monday, October 14

Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 15

Healthcare Provider CPR/AED Class Emergency Training Center

6:30 to 10 p.m.

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

Cochran’s Crossing Village Association Meeting

2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 7 p.m. 281-210-3887

Wednesday, October 16

Development Standards Committee Meeting*

Thursday, October 17

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meeting

2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. 281-210-3800

Friday, October 18

The Haunting at Bear Branch Park Bear Branch Park

5200 Research Forest Drive

8 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950, or see page 24.

Saturday, October 19

Grogan’s Mill Farmers’ Market

Grogan’s Mill Shopping Center 2230 Buckthorne Place

8 a.m. to noon www.grogansmillvillage.com

Heartsaver CPR/AED Class

Emergency Training Center

9 a.m. to noon

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

The Woodlands Wildflower Festival Rob Fleming Park

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact

The Woodlands Homefinder Center at 281-719-6333 or homefinder@thewoodlands.com

First Aid Class

Emergency Training Center

Noon to 3:30 p.m.

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

The Haunting at Bear Branch Park

Bear Branch Park

5200 Research Forest Drive

8 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950, or see page 24.

Sunday, October 20

Free Concert in the Park

The Guppies Band (Classic Rock)

Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 281-210-3950

Monday, October 21

Grogan’s Mill Village Association Meeting 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 6:30 p.m. 281-210-3887

Garbage Collection

College Park Village Association Meeting

2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 7:30 p.m.

281-210-3889

Tuesday, October 22

Healthcare Provider CPR/AED Class Emergency Training Center 6:30 to 10 p.m.

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

Wednesday, October 23

Watch Talk Wednesdays

2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Noon to 1 p.m. 281-210-3800

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meeting 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. 6 p.m. 281-210-3800

Friday, October 25

The Haunting at Bear Branch Park

Bear Branch Park

5200 Research Forest Drive 8 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950, or see page 24.

Saturday, October 26

Grogan’s Mill Farmers’ Market

Grogan’s Mill Shopping Center 2230 Buckthorne Place

8 a.m. to noon

www.grogansmillvillage.com.

continued on page 25

No changes in garbage service this month. Watch this space for information about garbage and recycling service, or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGES OF THE WOODLANDS

Alden Bridge

Happy October from Alden Bridge! Thanks to all the Alden Bridge residents who hosted or participated in National Night Out parties on the 1st! The Woodlands is an even safer and more enjoyable place to live when we all know our neighbors and look out for each other.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 8, at 7 p.m. at the Township building, 2801 Technology Forest, for our monthly residents meeting. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Don Stockton, Superintendent of Conroe ISD. Please join us to hear all the news of our school system.

Boo! When the Halloween decorations start to appear, send your nominations for the “Spookiest House” in Alden Bridge to info@aldenbridge.org. We’ll award the winner a couple of days before Halloween. We have a lot of fun judging this contest and are always amazed at how completely our residents get into the spirit of Halloween!

Our most recent Yard of the Month winner was the Baker family of Millport. Congratulations to them on a job very well done! That program has been put to bed until next May, when we’ll begin awarding again. Thanks to the residents who nominated the beautiful yards that we’ve been proud to honor and to our sponsors for this program, Lowes, Chick-fil-A, the Pavilion and RydeNow Indoor Cycling!

Don’t forget to take advantage of early voting for the Township board election! You can vote between October 21 and November 1 – watch this magazine for voting location and hours.

To keep up with the latest news of our village, please visit our Web site, www.aldenbridge.org. We also continue to welcome additions to our electronic mailing list for village news. Please send your e-mail address to info@aldenbridge.org. Your address will not be shared and will be used only to distribute village news.

Have a safe month and a very happy Halloween!

Submitted by Darla Bell

Cochran’s Crossing

The annual Cochran’s Crossing Fall Festival will be held this year on October 20. Those attending are not restricted to Cochran’s Crossing residents and last year nearly a thousand people of all ages attended this free event. The Festival will be at Shadowbend Park from 1 to 4 p.m. Highlights for kids will include bounce houses and slides, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, and a multitude of games. Food and drinks will be donated by Kroger’s Signature Store in the Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center. Physicians ER The Woodlands will be set up on site in case there is any need for first aid services. As in past years, Rotary Interact Clubs from The Woodlands and College Park High Schools and the Kiwanis Key Club from The Woodlands High School will assist by staffing the activities.

Village residents are encouraged to attend the monthly village board meetings at the Township. This is a chance to get information on topics such as community safety, upcoming events, traffic and water issues. It is also a way residents can let the board know of any matters that should be submitted as a village concern to the Township.

Of particular note during a recent board meeting was an excellent presentation by Township Director, Mike Bass, who detailed the transportation/mobility planning that will affect The Woodlands now and for years to come. He stressed the importance of cooperating with other entities and providing matching dollars for project approval. He also covered the status of transit services for The Woodlands that are under review. The park and ride service is considered one of the most successful in the U.S., does not require any taxpayer subsidy and 40 percent of the riders are from outside The Woodlands.

Please be aware that the starting time of the meetings has recently been changed from 7:30 to 7 p.m.

Submitted by Gary Conwell

College Park

Hello to everyone in College Park and all of our other villages! It will be an exciting new school year for our children! We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and had fun. Now that fall is here, there will be many activities around our community that you will want to look into and be a part of!

National Night Out will be celebrated on Tuesday October 1, 2013 with neighborhood parties from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in your neighborhood. It is a great way to meet your next door neighbors and exchange information so that we can all keep an eye out for each other’s property. In our village of College Park, Windsor Hills always has their own wonderful gettogether in their neighborhood. Grogan’s Forest has always had their own block parties and Harper’s Landing celebrates by having a get-together at Harper’s Landing Park. Harper’s Landing is a very large neighborhood that has many streets where block parties are helpful. We would love to see everyone get involved with your village and get to know each other!

College Park Fall Festival/Spooktacular will be on the Saturday before Halloween! That date is October 26 and it will be at Harper’s Landing Park. We will have activities for the kids, food and drinks, and a spooky treat trail where the children’s costumes will be shown off and we will have prizes for the top three costumes! The weather will be great and it is usually from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Please refer to our Web site for more details.

We hope you are saving your plastic bottle caps and wine corks for the 3R Bazaar recycling event, where the village with the most corks and caps wins scholarship money for our students. Again, please refer to our College Park Web site and newsletter for the date and time to turn your collections in for our village.

Have a wonderful October and Happy Halloween! Please watch out for

EVENTS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

our children on Halloween! It will be on a Thursday this year, which is a school night. They start as soon as the sun goes down sooooo be ready to greet them at your door with a healthy, safe, treat!

We are still encouraging residents to attend our monthly College Park Village meeting! It is always the 3rd Monday of the month and it is always informative to find out from our Sheriff’s Department what has been going on in our village, and to experience the process and planning for upcoming events for our village! Our meeting is held at The Woodlands Township, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. at 7:30 to 9 p.m. Come and get involved!

There will be a Safe At Home presentation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department on October 21, 2013. This will be held at The Woodlands Township meeting room. Please refer to our College Park Web site for meeting room and time of meeting. Our Web site is listed on the end side column of this article. Also, please contact the College Park board to provide your e-mail address. You will be more informed of upcoming events in a timely manner so that we see more of our residents at our events! Our College Park village is a large portion of The Woodlands, and we would love to see more residents involved.

Submitted by Johanne Stanley

Grogan’s Mill

All Grogan’s Mill residents are invited to the Grogan’s Mill Village Association’s Second Annual “Party in the Park” celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, October 1. From 5:30 until 8 p.m., board members and other volunteers will be at Sawmill Park providing free food and beverages. The Woodlands Fire Department will stop by with one of the ladder trucks for all the “junior firefighters” to enjoy, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies will remind homeowners and renters alike of simple precautions that can be implemented

to keep our homes and neighborhoods safe. We’ll have a bouncy house and much more for our young residents plus drawings for gift cards to our local merchants. Bring your families out for a fun night where you’ll get to know your village board members as well as plenty of your fellow residents. Strong connections and communication with our neighbors makes for a safer and more vibrant Grogan’s Mill.

The Grogan’s Mill September Yard of the Month Award went to Jos and Kiek Aarts in Grogan’s Point. Congratulations!

MEETING INFORMATION

Visit the Grogan’s Mill Farmer’s Market on Saturday, October 26, for our next Children’s Day. We’ll have lots of activities to entertain our younger customers including the lovable baby farm animals courtesy of our farm and ranch vendors. The Market is now offering free WiFi for all customers. Stop by the Grogan’s Mill booth to get the code and to chat with us. Five fresh produce vendors are among the 30+ merchants who sell every Saturday morning at the Grogan’s Mill Village Center. Check our Web site at (www.grogansmillvillage.org) for the latest info on vendors and products and to subscribe to Friday’s weekly e-blast Newsletter. One of our vendors, Tejas Heritage Farms, was featured in a glowing Houston Chronicle (August 14) article about the superiority of their freerange chickens and the eggs they produce. continued on page 20

ALDEN BRIDGE

The Alden Bridge Village Association (ABVA) usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.aldenbridge.org

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-3886 or Village Association President Steve Leakey at 281-419-3468.

COCHRAN’S CROSSING

The Cochran’s Crossing Village Association (CCVA) usually meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.cochranscrossing.com

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-3887 or Village Association President Stuart Schroeder at 936-273-0419.

*Please see page 17, October 15 entry.

COLLEGE PARK

The College Park Village Association (CPVA) usually meets on the third Monday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.villageofcollegepark.com

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-3889 or Village Association President Ted Stanley at 936-321-5996.

CREEKSIDE PARK

The Woodlands Creekside Park Village Association (TWCPVA) usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Creekside YMCA, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive. Please join us! Web site www.creeksideparkvillage.com

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-3889 or Village Association President Nancy Decker Lent at 617-721-6939.

GROGAN’S MILL

The Grogan’s Mill Village Association (GMVA) usually meets on the third Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.grogansmillvillage.com

Questions? Contact your program specialist at 281-210-3887 or Village Association

President George van Horn at president@gmva.org.

INDIAN SPRINGS

The Indian Springs Village Association (ISVA) usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.indianspringsvillage.com

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-5808 or Village Association President Amy Lecocq at 832-244-9585.

PANTHER CREEK

The Panther Creek Village Association (PCVA) usually meets on the second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.panthercreekvillageassociation.org

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-3886 or Village Association President Everett Ison at 281-298-9524.

STERLING RIDGE

The Sterling Ridge Village Association (SRVA) usually meets the fourth Monday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Please join us! Web site www.sterling-ridge.org

Questions? Call your program specialist at 281-210-5808 or Village Association President Anthony Fasone at 281-419-9331.

(L to R) Bob Leilich, Kiek and Jos Aarts, Franklin Palmer

Note the new rules about pets at the market; you are now allowed to walk your four-legged friends down the center of the market.

Submitted by Bob Leilich and Dana Denton

Indian Springs

Looking for a fun, family festival that is free this fall? The Indian Springs Village Association would like to invite residents of The Woodlands to join us for the ninth annual Taste of the Village.

What: Taste of the Village – a free, family event with great food to sample and fun activities for adults and children

When: October 12, noon until 4 p.m.

Where: Indian Springs shopping center at the intersection of Kuykendahl and Woodlands Parkway

Cost: Free!

Our annual event includes about 40 booths under two, large tents and showcases restaurants and businesses from the Indian Springs and Woodlands Crossing shopping centers. Stroll through the tents, meet walking entertainers, face painters and balloon artist Michael Crayton, and let the kids play on two inflatables. Enjoy excerpts from the Sound of Music from Class Act Productions (noon until 1 p.m.) and live music from the OGRE band (1 until 4 p.m.).

Also, look for our raffle featuring the following prizes: an iPad 3, a $250

gift certificate from H-E-B, a Pandora or similar bracelet from Wickander Works, a ticket to the Signatures luncheon with author Jodi Picoult and three foursome rounds of golf from Canongate Golf Club. Proceeds from the raffle directly fund $1,000 community service scholarships for college-bound Indian Springs high school seniors.

Please join us for an afternoon of fun in the village! The event will be held rain or shine.

Submitted by Kelly Sharer

Panther Creek

On July 26, 2013, The Woodlands lost a man that every resident and business in The Woodlands owes an unpayable debt to. George Mitchell passed away that day. The Woodlands was his idea and without his vision and leadership we would not have this “Real Home Town” that we love. The Panther Creek Village Association Board joins all the residents and businesses in thankfulness for who he was and for all that he did for all of us.

Join with your neighbors for the 30th annual National Night Out on October 1. Your Neighborhood Watch Coordinator will be preparing for your party. Get more information at www.TheWoodlandsTownship-TX.gov. This is a fun way to meet new neighbors and revisit with old friends, while promoting

safety and sharing valuable community resource information.

Saturday, October 5 is the date of the Fall Flea Market this year. This Woodlands tradition brings together your neighbors and vendors from across Texas to provide you a one morning extravaganza of bargains. From antiques, to household items; from clothes to cars; from crafts and art objects to furniture; it’s all here.

This year will be the first time that the members of The Woodlands Township will be up for election in November. This is your “town council”. Candidates will be presenting themselves at the village association meetings. Come see who they are and bring your questions. The meetings are informal and allow you a real chance to learn and to be heard.

Your Panther Creek Village Association meets the second Thursday of each month at The Woodlands Township building, just off New Trails Drive, at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd, at 7 p.m. All residents are welcome. If you moved into The Woodlands to be part of a “Real Home Town,” your village association is one of the best places to get involved without getting overloaded. Show up, share your ideas and issues, and get help in solving neighborhood problems. Visit us anytime at www.PantherCreekVillageAssociation.org. Find out who your area representatives are. They are here to serve you.

Submitted by

Paul Gebolys

InJUST DO ONE THING by Mike

Thomson

BE PREPARED DURING A POWER OUTAGE

this issue of The Woodlands Community Magazine, The Woodlands Community Emergency Response Team (twcert.com) brings you the Do One Thing (do1thing.com) topic for October – Power. Created by a team of professionals with extensive experience in emergency management, Do One Thing is a preparedness program that focuses on different areas of emergency preparedness each month. You can jump in anytime, and you don’t have to do things in any order. It’s as easy as this:

• Read each month’s topic

• Select one of the easy “Things to do”

• Do that one thing!

October – Power

This month, make sure you are able to safely meet your basic needs during an electrical outage.

We count on electricity for heat, food, and medical needs. Many gas appliances even need electricity to run. A power outage is an emergency that often follows another emergency –like a hurricane, tornado, or winter storm. That makes it even more important to be prepared in advance.

Have flashlights ready in an easily accessible place and check batteries in flashlights and radios.

When the lights go out, the safest way to provide emergency lighting is with flashlights or battery-powered lanterns. Keep flashlights with fresh batteries in several places throughout your home and check them for proper operation regularly. Always keep a supply of extra batteries. Think about buying a rechargeable flashlight. Batteries might be hard to find in a disaster.

Power Outage Safety:

• Discard food if the temperature in your refrigerator exceeds 40 degrees for more than two hours.

• Stay away from downed power lines and anything they are in contact with such as fences or buildings.

• Never drive over downed power lines; they may be energized.

• Never use charcoal or gas grills inside a structure. You may be overcome by carbon monoxide.

• If you must use candles, be sure to use them safely. Never leave candles burning unattended.

• Create a power outage plan – decide what you can do before, during and after a power outage to minimize the effect on your household.

Before The Power Goes Out:

• Fill empty space in the freezer with containers of water. Frozen water will displace air and keep food cold longer. Remember to leave space in containers for ice to expand.

• Have at least one phone with a handset cord in your home. Many cordless phones will not work in a power outage.

• If you have an automatic garage door opener, learn how to use the manual release to open your garage door manually.

• Try to keep your car’s gas tank at least half full. Many gas stations will not be in operation during a power outage. Fill up your tank if a major storm is predicted.

• Make sure you have a car or lighter plug cord for your cell phone.

• If you use special healthcare equipment like oxygen generators or dialysis equipment, notify your power company.

After The Power Goes Out:

• Unplug major appliances and electronics. When the power comes back on, there may be power spikes that can damage large appliances or delicate electronics.

• Do not open refrigerators or freezers any more than necessary. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for approximately 4 hours, an unopened freezer will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

• Use a battery-powered radio to stay informed.

Haunted Happenings

Trick or Treat Trail

Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 3 to 6 p.m. at Town Green Park and along The Woodlands Waterway

Featuring trick or treating, vendor booths, children’s activities, costume contests, games and more! For more information, visit www.VisitTheWoodlands.com.

Produced by The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Haunting at Bear Branch Park

Mangled Manor

Fridays, October 18 and 25, 2013 and Saturdays, October 19 and 26, 2013

New Date for 2013: Thursday October 31, 2013

Haunted Trail Hours: 8 to 10 p.m. No tickets sold after 9:30 p.m. Admission is $8. Save $1 on haunted trail admission with your gift of a canned food item (maximum $3). Discount does not apply to the family carnival. For more information, contact The Woodlands Township Recreation Center, 5310 Research Forest Drive, at 281-210-3950. Recommended for children ages nine and older. Parental discretion advised.

Spooky Spectacular Family Carnival

Thursday, October 31, 2013 • 5 to 9 p.m.

The Woodlands Township Recreation Center, 5310 Research Forest Drive

Enjoy spooky games and yummy treats at the Spooky Spectacular Family Carnival. Don’t forget your costume for the costume contest! The carnival will have games, candy and other activities. Bring a camera! For more information, contact The Woodlands Township Recreation Center at 281-210-3950 or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

Healthcare Provider CPR/AED Class

Emergency Training Center

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

Gardening 102 Free Seminar

2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

9 a.m. to noon

Please call 281-210-3800 for reservations.

The Haunting at Bear Branch Park

Bear Branch Park

5200 Research Forest Drive

8 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950, or see page 24.

Sunday, October 27

Trick or Treat Trail

Town Green Park and along

The Woodlands Waterway®

3 to 6 p.m.

281-210-3800

Monday, October 28

Sterling Ridge Village Association Meeting

2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

7 p.m.

281-210-5808

Tuesday, October 29

Healthcare Provider CPR/AED Class

Emergency Training Center

6:30 to 10 p.m.

To register, please call 281-210-5820 ext. 1731.

Thursday, October 31

Halloween

Spooky Spectacular Family Carnival

The Recreation Center

5310 Research Forest Drive

5 to 9 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950, or see page 24.

The Haunting at Bear Branch Park

Bear Branch Park

5200 Research Forest Drive

8 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950, or see page 24.

*Please visit the calendar at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov for listings, or call the office at 281-210-3800.

WHEN CALLING 9-1-1 FOR HELP, KNOW THE PHONE YOU OWN

By Andrea Wilson, Montgomery County Emergency Communication District

911may

be the most important phone number you ever dial. When reporting an emergency, it’s important to know how the type of phone affects your 9-1-1 call. Many people have replaced their traditional landline phone with a cell phone or internet telephone service (or VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol).

The traditional landline phone provides the 9-1-1 call center with the phone number and address of the caller. However, the location information for callers using cell phones and VoIP is less reliable than a landline call. Most calls placed by cell phones provide an approximate, but not exact, location. Some calls may not arrive at the correct call center, resulting in the need to transfer the call to the correct agency.

When using a cell phone during a 9-1-1 call, be prepared to provide information regarding your exact location. Callers using

VoIP phones should know the emergency call capabilities of their service provider. Some VoIP providers do not support 9-1-1 calls. With VoIP service, the user is responsible for registering their address with the provider and updating information after a move. Registering and updating your location with your service provider ensures that help is dispatched to the correct address.

For all phones, calling 9-1-1 is for emergencies or potential emergencies only and should be used to report a threat to life or property. For all other calls, contact local police, sheriff or fire departments by using the non-emergency number. Although text messaging is a common form of communication, most 9-1-1 call centers, including Montgomery County 9-1-1, are not equipped to receive text messages. Voice calls to report emergencies are strongly encouraged.

To find out more about 9-1-1 in The Woodlands

• Residents in Montgomery County may sign up for Code Red emergency alerts and weather warnings at www.mc911.org or call 936-523-5900.

• Residents of Creekside Park in Harris County may sign up for emergency alerts at www.911.org.

For additional public safety information in The Woodlands, please visit The Woodlands Township Web site at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov. To schedule a Woodlands Watch Meeting in your neighborhood, which includes a deputy to educate your neighbors on public safety, please contact The Woodlands Township, Neighborhood Services Department, The Woodlands Watch program at 281-210-3800 or neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Thank You

The Woodlands Township offers a very Big Thank You to all the sponsors, party coordinators and participants in The Woodlands 2013 National Night Out event.

Gold Sponsors:

Target

H-E-B

Silver Rock Productions

Silver Sponsor:

ABC Home & Commercial

Services

Oxford Learning

Liberty Mutual

First Choice Emergency Room

Bronze Sponsors: Chick-fil-A

Modern American Warrior

Training Academy

Memorial Hermann

Munday Chevrolet

The Home Depot

Keller Williams

Physicians ER

Additional Sponsors:

Brother’s Pizza

Cos Bar - Cosmetic Boutique

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Define The Woodlands

Domino’s Pizza

Double Dave’s Pizza

Grotto

Gymboree Play & Music of The Woodlands

Honey Bee Ham & Deli

Honor Trophies and Laser Awards

Kathleen O. Ryan

Fine Art Photography

Kidville

Landry’s

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Papa John’s Pizza

Pizza Tonight

Red Mango

Villa Sport

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTIES Tuesday, October 1, 2013, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Neighbors are encouraged to gather in their neighborhood or a nearby park to get to know each other. A cohesive neighborhood is the most effective way to prevent crime. For more information on National Night Out, please contact your program specialist directly at 281-210-3800 or e-mail neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

“When it was time to find help for Dad I made the best decision for all the right reasons.”

to schedule your visit today.

Thanks

Back row (l to r): Firefigher Justin Hill, Driver Operator Gary Bennett, Lieutenant Thomas R. Richardson, Firefigher Steven Crenshaw, Deputy Brad Curtis, Deputy Jason Hopper, Deputy Todd McCoy, Deputy Constable Abraham Valle. Front row (l to r): Firefighter Howard Rosenbalm, Driver Operator Wade Sykes, Lieutenant Jerod Davenport, Firefighter Michael Mims, Senior Sergeant Jimmy Malmay, Deputy Jason Hammons, Deputy Teri Ross, Deputy Tim Boerema

Photo by Karen Elaine @ Ray Sakers Photography

COLLECT

CAPS & CORKS AND SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 3R BAZAAR

Saturday, November 9, 2013

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (new earlier time) 8203 Millennium Forest Dr.

• Recycle CAPS and CORKS

– Caps: threaded, rigid plastic, such as caps from shampoo, detergent, water, soda, juice and other bottles; flip-top caps from tubes and bottles; and large lids from peanut butter and other jars.

– Corks: natural and synthetic corks from bottles and jars.

PLUS!

• Recycle single use alkaline batteries (one day only)

– AA, AAA, C, D and 9V only

– NO rechargeables; no lead-acid – Producer responsibility is coming from the Corporation for Battery Recycling (CBR) www.recyclebattery.org

• Buy Recycled Boutique!

And Brown Bag Boutique

– Trunk show of unique products made from glass, plastic, paper, metal and other recycled materials.

• Shred Day!

– Secure, on-site shredding of personal documents to benefit Interfaith Food Pantry.

– Five canned goods or $5 for each bank box.

• And More!

A Texas/America Recycle Day Event! www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov 281-210-3800

For more information, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/tennis, call 281-210-3950, or e-mail tennis@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

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