February 2023

VALENTINE SWANS

VILLAGE ELECTIONS

MEET THE BOARD OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

2801 Technology Forest Boulevard, The Woodlands, Texas 77381

Main Line

All Offices and Departments 281-210-3800

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

Parks, Recreation and Environmental Services 8203 Millennium Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3800

Recreation Center at Bear Branch Park 5310 Research Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 281-210-3950

Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park 6464 Creekside Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77389 281-516-7348

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

281-297-6500, Business, M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 936-442-7797, Non-Emergency, 24 hours

Harris County Sheriff’s Office 713-221-6000

Montgomery County Constable, Precinct 3 281-364-4211

Harris County Constable, Precinct 4 281-376-3472

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

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

Emergency 9-1-1

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

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors

VILLAGE ELECTIONS ELECTION DAY IS FEBRUARY 18, 2023

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 13 through Friday, February 17, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For any Residential Design Review Committee or Village Association that does not have a contested race as of 5 p.m. on January 25 (the deadline to file as a writein or to retract candidacy), the entity’s election will be cancelled and the seating and/ or filling of vacancies will proceed in accordance with the entity’s bylaws. A list of contested and cancelled elections will be posted on the Township website prior to the start of early voting. Candidates filed will also be posted to the website.

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/februaryelection

Brad Bailey Director, Position 1

Richard Franks Treasurer, Position 3

Kyle Watson Vice Chairman, Position 4

Dr. Ann K. Snyder Chairman, Position 6

Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs Director, Position 5

Linda Nelson Secretary, Position 2

Bob Milner Director, Position 7

Monique Sharp President and CEO

The Official Magazine of The Woodlands Township

The Woodlands Community Magazine is a monthly publication of The Woodlands Township, in partnership with Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. It is printed and distributed free of charge to residents of The Woodlands. The printing and distribution of The Woodlands Community Magazine are supported entirely by advertising revenue. Please patronize the advertisers whenever possible, and tell them you saw their ad in this magazine and appreciate their support.

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

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

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

CHAMPIONS STAFF

President, Publisher James E. Callahan, Jr.

Account Executive Jim Callahan

Graphic Designer Charlene Strine

TOWNSHIP STAFF

Director of Community Relations Nick Wolda

Editor Mary Connell

Senior Copy Editor Kacie Gurney

Copy Editor Perry Frank

Editorial Assistant Barbara Ryan

6608 FM 1960 W.,

77069

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Convenient, customized care — close to work or home.

Our Houston Methodist primary care doctors provide personalized care for you and your family, including physicals, immunizations and preventive health services.

Many of our practices:

• Provide in-person and virtual visits with online scheduling

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• Accept most major insurance plans

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

The Woodlands Township is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. Directors are elected by the community at large to serve two-year staggered terms. The Board of Directors serves as the legislative body, sets policy and approves the budget. All seven Directors are elected by residents of The Woodlands and serve on a volunteer basis. Per the Township’s enabling legislation, a Director is not entitled to compensation for service on the Board.

Dr. Ann K. Snyder CHAIRMAN

Dr. Ann K. Snyder was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in November 2015 and is a true advocate for all residents. Snyder’s main focus as a Township Director are public safety, building relationships, economic development, legislation and to ensure that residents will continue to enjoy the lifestyle that we all have come to expect and enjoy.

Dr. Snyder has made The Woodlands her family’s home for over 34 years. During that time, she has devoted her life to shaping the generous nature of this community through her professional life and community involvement. Building and strengthening organizations is her priority.

Dr. Snyder was on the Ministry Staff at The Woodlands United Methodist Church where she served as Executive Director of Generosity and Head of School. Prior to her position at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, Dr. Snyder served as President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands. She successfully led Interfaith with a staff of more than 450 people and 61 member congregations by developing and implementing strategic initiatives throughout the nonprofit. Dr. Snyder also served as the President & CEO of Interfaith Community Clinic. Under her leadership, Interfaith Community Clinic became a highly regarded charity clinic both financially and operationally in the greater Houston area.

Dr. Snyder is well known throughout Montgomery and Harris Counties for her countless years of service to her community. Currently, she serves as Chairwoman of The Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Board of Trustees,

Executive Committee for Montgomery County Food Bank Board of Directors, Interfaith of The Woodlands Advisory Board, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Leadership Board, and the CISD Foundation Board. She served on the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees for fifteen years and as Chairman of the Board for two terms. Dr. Snyder is a sustaining member of the Junior League of The Woodlands and serves on their Advisory Council. Dr. Snyder was the first woman President of The Woodlands Rotary Club and is a graduate of Center for Houston’s Future Leadership and was named one of 2015 Houston’s Most Influential Women. She is a member of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.

Dr. Snyder holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Colorado State University, a Master of Education from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and a Doctorate from Baylor University.

Dr. Snyder has been the recipient of many honors and awards for her years of service and dedication including: 2000 Hometown Hero, Montgomery County Woman of Distinction, South Montgomery County People of the Year (twice), 2007 Citizen of the Year, 2007 Grand Island Education Foundation Hall of Honor, Rotary International Service Above Self Award, The Woodlands Paul Harris Award (twice), the Rotary District 5910 Hall of Fame, 2007 Junior League Sustainer of the Year, 2007 South Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 2009 Drum Major Award, 2012 National Society of the DAR Woman in American History Award, 2012 The Woodlands Rotary Vocational Service Award, 2012 Junior League Visionary Award, 2014-2016 Honorary Chairwoman for The Woodlands Kiwanis club Special Olympics, 2015 Masonic Lodge Community Builder Award recipient, 2015 & 2016 Honorary Chair for The Woodlands Waterway Art Festival Art Dash, 2015 Grand Marshall for The Woodlands

4th of July Parade, 2016 Honorary Flag Raiser for Montgomery County Friends of the Flag Foundation and 2016 Leadership Montgomery County Honorary Alumnus Award. She was also named a 2018 Trailblazer by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2019 Honorary Chair of The Woodlands Celebration of Excellence and 2022 Honorary Chairwoman of Montgomery County Food Bank Gala.

Dr. Snyder and her husband, Jerry, have two adult children, a wonderful son-in-law and six grandchildren. In the fall of 2013, Conroe ISD opened a school in Dr. Snyder’s honor, the Ann K. Snyder Elementary School. ■

Kyle Watson VICE CHAIRMAN

Kyle grew up in Montgomery County. He graduated from Conroe High School and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baylor University. After graduation, he went to work for Lockheed Martin on a NASA contract and, a couple years later, attended South Texas College of Law in Houston where he graduated in the top 5% of his class.

Kyle is currently practicing business and commercial litigation law with Winstead PC and is an equity shareholder in Winstead’s Business Litigation, Energy, and Financial Services Litigation Practice Groups. Kyle manages Winstead’s office in The Woodlands, which is located on the Waterway. He attends The Woodlands Methodist Church and serves on numerous committees and boards for local charities and non-profit organizations. He and his wife Sarah have been married for 22 years and together they are raising three beautiful daughters (Erin 18, Brooke 16, and Kameron 14) ■

Linda Nelson SECRETARY

As a business professional and a well-respected leader in the community, Linda is currently the Director of Business Development and Marketing for Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, where she has worked for 25 years and oversees CANOPY, the Cancer Survivor Center.

She has held leadership roles in many community organizations including serving as Chairman of both The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Montgomery County. She has been heavily involved in the Economic Development Partnership, Preserve The Woodlands Advisory Board, the Lone Star College Police Academy Advisory Council, the Conroe ISD Site Base Committee, and also served as a Montgomery County Republican Committee Precinct Chair and Election Judge for 10 years.

Linda earned a Business Degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and an MBA from Texas Women’s University. She has also been the recipient of numerous awards, including The Woodlands Hometown Hero, Houston Business Journal’s 2021 Women Who Mean Business in Healthcare, Leadership Montgomery County Distinguished Alumnus Award and many others.

Linda was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to the Houston area in 1980. She has been married to her husband, Gordon, for 43 years. They have three children and six grandchildren living in Cypress and Austin. She is a member of The Woodlands Methodist Church. Other than spending time with family, you can find Linda playing racquetball or spending time with friends. ■

Richard Franks TREASURER

Richard Franks, after serving over 40 years as a media executive and consultant to metro and community newspapers and magazines, is currently retired, but still works part-time consulting in the media business. Under Richard’s direction, the media companies focused on the acquisition of leading edge, high demographic markets. In 2015, Mr. Franks was recognized as “Innovator of the Year”, for his vision and leadership in the industry. During his media career, Richard managed several community media companies in over 13 States, including Westward Communications in The Woodlands, the former owner of the Conroe Courier and The Villager

While in Columbus, Ohio, as Executive Vice-President for the Columbus Dispatch, Mr. Franks served as Chairman of the Management Committee for Ameriflora ‘92, a $200 million plus international horticultural exhibition. Michael Eisner, Chairman of Disney, used Ameriflora ‘92 as the inspiration for the international gardens at Epcot Center.

Mr. Franks holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and previously served as Chief Administrative Officer, Urbana, Illinois where he was responsible for all departments including budget, federal and state contracts, labor relations and relationships with county and university officials.

Richard served on active duty in the US Army from 1969 to 1971, and was awarded the Bronze Star, and two Army Commendations medals for service as a First Lieutenant in Viet Nam.

Richard and his wife Pamela, have four children and six grandchildren. ■

Board of Directors continued on next page

board of

Brad Bailey DIRECTOR

Brad Bailey, a local father, business professional and community volunteer, is a longtime corporate development professional whose career has ranged from running a network of family-owned restaurants to his current role as Vice President of Marketing, Communications and External Affairs for S&B Engineers and Constructors.

Over the last decade, Brad has successfully navigated Texas’ complex legislative and regulatory environment on behalf of businesses, coalitions and associations. As a restauranteur, Brad was named the “Greater Houston Restauranteur of the Year” by the Texas Restaurant Association. During his time with S&B, Brad has led S&B’s legislative and regulatory advocacy in Texas and Washington, D.C.

Brad has served on numerous committees with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). He is currently serving as a Captain of the HLSR Corporate Development Committee, where he was awarded “Rookie of the Year” in 2019. Brad also serves on the board of directors of the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) of Texas representing the ABC of Greater Houston area.

Brad attended Kilgore College, where he was the Voice of The Kilgore College Rangerettes, before completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi with a major in marketing and finance. Brad is married to Kim Bailey, a native of The Woodlands. The Baileys live in the Village of Cochran’s Crossing and are active members of The Woodlands Methodist Church. They have three children. ■

Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs DIRECTOR

“Keep The Woodlands

Wonderful” is her motto; it inspires Township Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs to work hard everyday for the residents of The Woodlands.

Winning her first election to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2019, Dr. Sekula-Gibbs ran unopposed in 2021 and was re-elected to a second term. During her two terms, she has served as Secretary, Medical Liaison, member of the Investment, Audit, and Economic Development Committees, the One-Water Taskforce, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Council and the Convention & Visitors Bureau – Visit The Woodlands Board.

Before winning a seat on The Woodlands Township Board, Dr. Sekula-Gibbs served on the Houston City Council, at-large for three terms, where she was the first medical doctor in that capacity. In 2006, Dr. Sekula-Gibbs became the first female physician and first dermatologist to be elected as a member of the U.S. House of

Representatives, TX-22. She recalls her time in Congress was one of the greatest honors and most thrilling experiences of her life.

Dr. Sekula-Gibbs graduated summa cum laude from Our Lady Lake University in San Antonio with a degree in Chemistry. She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and completed residencies in family practice and dermatology at the University of Florida and Baylor College of Medicine, respectively. After operating her medical practice in Clear Lake for 30 years and volunteering as clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Sekula-Gibbs sold her practice and with her husband, attorney Robert Gibbs, Jr., moved to The Woodlands to be close to family.

Dr. Sekula-Gibbs and her husband support numerous local charities and have helped recruit international organizations to bring their events to The Woodlands including 40 Days for Life who hosted their National Gala for the first time in The Woodlands in 2022 and hosted Vice President Mike Pence. As a result, this sold-out event will return to The Woodlands in 2023 with guest speaker Newt Gingrich. The Gibbs have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and are members of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands. ■

Bob Milner DIRECTOR

Apast finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, Bob and his wife Teresa are active philanthropic leaders in the Montgomery County community. Bob is a respected speaker and presenter at conferences around the country on organizational culture and leadership, corporate social responsibility, customer engagement and entrepreneurship. He currently serves on several non-profit boards, including the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, VEL and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo committeeman’ club committee. Bob is a lifetime member of the HLSR.

Bob has been recognized as a 2017 VEL Legacy Award recipient, Interfaith 2017 Hometown Hero and recently received the 2018 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his community service and philanthropy.

Bob served seven years as a decorated airman in the United States Air Force. He has earned an MBA and is currently on a sabbatical from his pursuit of a doctorate. Bob is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Program at Sam Houston State and the Director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Engagement and works to help develop the program into a collaborative community with the local industry, entrepreneurial leaders and students.

Bob and Teresa have both spent over 35 years in the automotive retail industry, with Bob being a dealer for years and Teresa growing up in the business as a young girl working for her father. They currently own dealerships out of state. They have four children and two grandchildren.

Teresa and Bob enjoy spending time with their rescue dogs on road trips, exploring the nation with their grandkids, playing golf, traveling and serving in the community. ■

SADDLE

UP WITH THE WOODLANDS

EXPRESS FOR A

to the ride rodeo

Residents and visitors of The Woodlands and surrounding areas are invited to saddle up and take a ride to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with The Woodlands Express. The Woodlands Express, the Township’s Park and Ride transportation service to Houston, will take riders to NRG Stadium each weekend during the rodeo, allowing rodeo-goers to enjoy all the fun without all the frustration of parking and driving. Service originates at the Sawdust Park and Ride at 701 Westridge Road. The cost of round-trip transportation to the event is $13. Please note, reservations are required. Details for rodeo transportation and the reservation site link can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/rodeo.

$13 per person

CATCH A RIDE TO...

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que: February 23 - 25, 2023

Rodeo Weekends: March 3 - 5, 10 - 12, 17 - 19, 2023

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/rodeo

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH

Talk of the Township

By Kacie Gurney

official e-Newsletter of the woodlands township

The Woodlands Township strives to keep residents informed about programs, events and services available in the community. In keeping with this goal, the Township publishes a weekly email newsletter, Talk of the Township. The newsletter includes timely information about The Woodlands Township Board of Directors meetings, events and festivals, and details about services, programs and facilities managed by the Township. Talk of the Township is published on Fridays; residents can choose to receive the email in their inbox and/or via a text message link.

During times of emergency, Talk of the Township is also used to communicate updates from the Township, local agency partners and news media.

To sign up for Talk of the Township and receive weekly emails, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme. Please note, the Township will never share or sell your email address to any third-party organization.

Subscribe to the Talk of the Township weekly email newsletter by visiting www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme.

The annual Muddy Trails 5K will take place on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Rob Fleming Park beginning at 3 p.m. Muddy Trails 5K is produced by The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department and is a USA Track and Field (USATF) sanctioned event. The chip-timed 5K course winds through the beautiful George Mitchell Nature Preserve, located on 1,800 wooded acres adjacent to Rob Fleming Park in Creekside Park. The festive Post-Race Party will feature live Zydeco music, the Muddy Bowl Crawfish CookOff and children’s activities. Concessions will be available for purchase from vendors onsite for spectators and attendees. Race registration fee includes finisher medal, cotton participant T-shirt

and complimentary food and beverages at the Post-Race Party.

Show off your crawfish boiling skills in the Muddy Bowl Crawfish Cook-Off. Awards will be given to Judge’s Choice: Best Crawfish, People’s Choice: Best

By Liz Aguirre

Crawfish, Best Decorated Tent and Best Cajun Dish. There is no fee for spectators and attendees.

To register for the race, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ muddytrails.

Photos by Race Shots

Swim Program Registration Opening This Month

By Cynthia Roberts

Swim Lessons

In 2022, The Woodlands Township hosted 1,056 individual participants in the public Learn-to-Swim program and gave 1,717 additional private swim lessons. In 2023, the Township will offer group and private lessons in both mornings and evenings, Monday through Friday, at five of the 14 Township swimming facilities: Alden Bridge, Creekwood, Lakeside, Rob Fleming Aquatic Center and Wendtwoods.

Swim Teams

The Township is home to three summer league competition swim teams: the Hurricanes, Riptides and Waves, with over 600 swimmers from ages 5 to 18. Summer swim team enrollment began on February 1 and the season begins on April 17. Want a taste of swim team without the pressure of the meets? Join our Junior Swim Team, which is meant to build endurance and prepare swimmers

for the competitive experience. Registration is open for The Cyclones to work on strokes, turns and starts. The Township also will host Tim Russell’s Swim Clinic for those wanting to build proper stroke mechanics.

Find out more about these programs in the Action Guide, on the website at www.thewoodlandstownshiptx.gov/jobs, or email aquatics@ thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Alden Bridge

This month’s village association board meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 7 p.m. Meetings are scheduled at the Township office complex, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. If you would like to attend, have a public comment or concern, or just have a question, you can always feel free to send us an email at abvainfo@gmail.com

Our village association elections will be held February 18, 2023, and we’d definitely appreciate your votes. This year Alden Bridge will elect 10 at-large area representatives and five members of our Residential Design Review Committee. Voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with convenience voting for one week leading up to Election Day (Monday, February 13 through Friday, February 17), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All voting will take place at the Township office, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

We have some open seats on our village board, and it truly only requires a limited amount of time each month. The great thing is, you learn firsthand what’s going on in your village and you act as a representative to share that information with your neighbors and friends in Alden Bridge. If interested, send us an email at abvainfo@gmail.com and we’ll tell you more about the opportunity as well as schedule a time to meet.

It’s time to think about our 2023 scholarship program, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by. If you or someone you know will begin higher education later this year, don’t hesitate to apply for one of our scholarships. All graduating high school students residing in Alden Bridge are eligible to apply. See your high school counselor for details or find more information and the scholarship application here: www.aldenbridge.org/scholarships.

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. If you would like to volunteer and would be interested in becoming a member of the Board, we are always looking, so send us an email or attend this month’s meeting.

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

Submitted by Greg Sherlock

College Park

Hello residents! The College Park Village Association board wishes everyone a happy February and Happy Valentine’s Day! We also wish our students of The Woodlands to work hard, stay focused on their studies, help one another, and give thanks to their amazing teachers!

Please follow our Facebook page for College Park to find out what events are coming up.

Our monthly meeting is the third Monday of every month at The Woodlands Township office at 6 p.m. Any issues that you feel need to be addressed to the Township can be presented at our meetings. Our College Park village board will help solve or present to the Township monthly meetings for resolution. Happy February and take care of each other. Stay healthy!

Submitted by Johanne Stanley

Panther Creek

The final weeks of 2022 were a flurry of activity for Panther Creek residents and for your village board. The judging teams for the villagewide holiday lighting contest had a delightfully difficult time choosing between the many festively lit homes and neighborhoods. Pictures can be viewed at www.PantherCreekVillageAssociation.org.

Now that the decorations, trees and wrapping papers have all been dealt with, it is time to start thinking and preparing for the Spring Flea

Market. Keep checking www. WoodlandsFleaMarket.org for details.

2023 will be a year with elections to select from a field of fellow residents offering their services and leadership. The first two and closest to home elections are the chances for you to choose your neighbors to serve you on your Panther Creek Village Association board and members of the Residential Design Review Committee. Your neighbors have already registered to be on the ballots. Check The Woodlands Township website for a list of their names. Contact the candidates and then make your decisions and vote.

Voting will be held at The Woodlands Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd, just off New Trails Drive, Monday, February 13, through Friday, February 17, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, February 18, 2023, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Your Panther Creek Village Association is always here 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.com and best of all, in person at 7 p.m., the second Thursday of each month at The Woodlands Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

Submitted by Paul Gebolys

Arts in the Park SPRING 2023

By Angela Ellis

Enjoy an afternoon with family and friends at Arts in the Park

on Saturday, March 11, 2023, 2 to 6 p.m. at Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive. Bring your lawn

Saturday March 11, 2023

2 to 6 p.m.

Northshore Park

2505 Lake Woodlands Drive

chairs and coolers and enjoy the music. This free event features local vendors selling original artwork, fun activities featuring a children’s craft area and live performances. Concessions will be available for sale. Create your own masterpiece and enter the Youth Art Contest, open to artists 18 and younger.

Submissions will be on display at the event, and the winners from each category will be recognized during the festival. Submissions will be accepted through Monday, March 6, 2023, at 5 p.m. Visit www. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ artsinthepark for information on submitting entries in the Youth Art Contest, how to become an art vendor, sponsor or concessionaire at the event.

Photos by Derrick Bryant

Community Election Signage Information

February Residential Design Review Committee and Village Association Elections

For the February election of Residential Design Review Committees and Village Associations offices, all of which are non-governmental elections, the owner of a lot may display one political sign promoting a candidate for each office or issue on the ballot on his or her Residential or Commercial Lot. The sign(s) may be displayed beginning the 90th day preceding the regular election day and must be removed within 10 days following the day of the election. A two-sided sign is considered one sign.

In addition, the non-governmental election signs must be in good repair and aesthetically pleasing in keeping with the character of the community. The signs must not be lighted, accompanied by music, sound, balloons or streamers, or be distracting to motorists. The yard signs are not to exceed six square feet in area, and not exceed five feet in total installed height (including the mounting post). Signs are not permitted in public road rights-of-way.

During early voting, two election signs promoting each candidate or issue on the ballot may be placed at least 25 feet from the building entrance at the early voting polling site during the 24-hour period preceding the day early voting begins and must be removed within 24 hours following the day early voting ends. In addition, a marker noting 25 feet from the polling site entrance will be made to limit electioneering in the entry area.

On Election Day, signs may be placed at the polling place 24 hours before the day of the election and must be removed within 24 hours following the day of the election. Signs are not permitted in the public road rights-of-way.

Generic voting signs displayed during the convenience voting period and on Election Day are signs installed

by The Woodlands Township. These signs do not advocate or support a particular candidate or issue.

Governmental Elections

For governmental elections conducted by the county, state, or federal government (including primary elections) or by any political sub-division of the state (including the November election of Township Directors), the owner of a lot may display one political sign promoting a candidate for each office or issue on the ballot on his or her Residential or Commercial Lot. The sign(s) may be displayed beginning the 90th day preceding the regular election day and must be removed within 10 days following the day of the election or runoff election. A two-sided sign is considered one sign.

In addition, the political signs must be ground-mounted, and not attached in any way to plant material, traffic

control devices, light standards, trailers, vehicles or other existing structures or objects. Political signs cannot exceed four feet high by six feet wide, and not exceed five feet in total installed height (including the post, if any). Signs must not contain any offensive language or graphics, or display anything deemed offensive, must not be lighted, accompanied by music, sound, balloons or streamers. Signs must not be portable or distracting to motorists. A two-sided sign is considered one sign. Signs cannot be placed in public road rights-of-way.

This is a summary of the sign standard only. For complete information regarding the sign standards for elections in The Woodlands, please contact the Township Covenant Administration Department at 281-210-3973.

Valentine SWANS

By Edward Zimmel

Capture the romance of the season this February with The Woodlands Township Valentine’s Swan Boat event. Bask in the glow of the Waterway lights while you cruise in style aboard one of our picturesque swan boats. Bring along your significant other (or best friend) and experience this special event for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day regalia will adorn your swan boat to set the mood for this festive voyage. Partake in a non-alcoholic beverage or a fine treat while you pedal the night away. This one-hour cruise casts off from Town Green Park and affords you the opportunity to cruise the Waterway all the way down to Lake Robbins. All participants must be 16 years or older.

This year, the Riva Row Boat House will be offering Valentine’s Swan Boat cruises on Saturday, February 11 and Tuesday, February 14 at 7 p.m. When registering for the program, the quantity you choose is the number of swan boats you would like to rent. The swan boats can fit two to four people, depending on weight. The price for this program is $50 per swan reserved.

When considering the number of people for your cruise, please be advised that the recommendation for the front two (2) seats of the swan pedal boat is a weight capacity not to exceed 200 pounds per person, and for the two (2) back seats it is 160 pounds per person. In our experience, the swan may not glide smoothly in the water if either the front or back seats are overloaded, and excessive overloading in one area may cause the boat to tip.

Pre-registration is required for this program, and spots are expected to fill up quickly. Register today at https://rivarowboathouse.com/valentines-swan-boat-ride.

Photo by Nathan Torres

Visit The Woodlands Announces Directors and Officers for 2023

By Mary Murphy

Visit

The Woodlands, the official Destination Marketing and Management Organization of The Woodlands Township, has announced its seven (7) member Board of Directors and Officers for 2023.

The Board elected Brad Bailey as Chairman, Fred Domenick as Vice Chairman and Richard Franks as Secretary/ Treasurer. Additional elected Directors include Linda Nelson, Director and Secretary for The Woodlands Township; Jenny Taylor, General Manager of Market Street; Cameron Klepac, Director of Marketing & Education at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion; and Monique Sharp, President & Chief Executive Officer of The Woodlands Township. The Board also appointed Nick Wolda as President of Visit The Woodlands.

The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau (dba: Visit The Woodlands) is the official destination marketing organization for The Woodlands Township and is responsible for promoting The Woodlands to drive demand for both hotel and retail tax collections. The mission is to establish The Woodlands, Texas as a beautiful, lively and welcoming destination recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for first-class business, convention and leisure travel.

“I’m excited to give back to my community in The Woodlands,” said Brad Bailey, Chairman of Visit The Woodlands. “Not only does this organization go above and beyond in promoting The Woodlands as a remarkable destination for vacations and conventions, but in doing so, it also helps keep tax rates down for residents and helps provide a profitable atmosphere for businesses to grow and flourish. I cannot wait to work with Visit The Woodlands, my fellow colleagues and staff to generate even greater economic impact for The Woodlands.”

Serving in a volunteer capacity, the Directors set policy and the annual budget as well as provide input on marketing and sales initiatives in promoting The Woodlands for meetings and leisure travel. Visit The Woodlands generates revenue for The Woodlands Township by promoting The Woodlands and driving demand for both hotel and sales tax collections.

The Woodlands Township relies on hotel tax and sales tax, which comprise over half of The Woodlands Township’s budget. With 14 hotels and millions of square feet of shopping, dining, hospitality and entertainment, The Woodlands relies on tourism dollars to offset property taxes. In 2022, travel and tourism in The Woodlands generated approximately $9 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue and more than $67 million in sales tax revenue. According to the State of Texas, travel and tourism accounts for over 4,000 jobs in The Woodlands.

Brad Bailey

CHAIRMAN

Fred Domenick

VICE CHAIRMAN

Richard Franks

SECRETARY/ TREASURER

Linda Nelson DIRECTOR

Cameron Klepac DIRECTOR

Jenny Taylor DIRECTOR

Monique Sharp DIRECTOR

Nick Wolda PRESIDENT

name or address.

Explore the pathway system by bike using the Explore the various features at parks such as

Explore the map and features using different functions and tools such as the Legend, Search Box and the My Location function to find your physical location on the map along a pathway or trail while biking or hiking (with smart device GPS tracking enabled). Explore The Woodlands parks, pathways and amenities today!

Three Ways to Access the Map

Download TheWoodlands311 app for your smartphone. The app is a free platform for community members to stay in touch with The Woodlands Township. The Interactive Parks and Pathways Map is viewable via the app.

You may also access the Interactive Parks and Pathways Map on your phone, tablet/desktop or other mobile device by scanning the QR code or via the link below.

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• Tree and Shrub Pruning

• Tree Removals/Cabling and Bracing

• Stump Grinding

• Insect, Mite and Disease Treatments

• Custom Blend Fertilization

• Tree Planting and Mulch

Call today for a complimentary consultation:

email: houston@savatree.com

savatree.com/consults

Touch-a-Truck

Residents are invited to bring the whole family to this year’s free TouchA-Truck event, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 9 a.m. to noon at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park parking lot, located across the street from the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive in The Woodlands, TX 77389.

This year’s event will be the biggest to date with the addition of bounce houses, face painting and increased participation from local law enforcement agencies.

Children of all ages are invited to get up close and personal with all kinds of big trucks, first responder vehicles, off-road mudders and other large vehicles. Drivers and operators will be on hand to educate, provide demonstrations and answer questions about the vehicles.

By Amber Barnes

In the event of inclement weather, Touch-A-Truck may be cancelled. Information will be posted on

Parks and Recreation Facebook page facebook.com/townshipparksandrec, or please call The Woodlands Recreation

Sponsorship Opportunities

The Woodlands Township WITH

By Angela Ellis

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 2023.

Showcase your business and reach thousands with the unique opportunity to promote your brand through sponsorship. 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 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

SPRING BREAK

March 13-17 & 20

Theme Days, Field Trips, Outdoor Fun & More!

BLOOD DRIVE

February 7, 2023

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

February 9, 2023

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park

6464 Creekside Forest Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77389

Liz Aguirre

actual cost of such advertising. Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and or misprints in this publication, Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. Under no circumstances shall The Publisher, The Woodlands Township be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to the liabilities stated above. Articles,

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