January 2024

TOWNSHIP STAFF

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR LeaAnn Petersen

EDITOR Mary Connell

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Kacie Gurney

COPY EDITOR Perry Frank

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Barbara Ryan

CHAMPIONS STAFF

PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER James E. Callahan, Jr.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jim Callahan

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Charlene Strine

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.

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.

Editorial inquiries may be directed to The Woodlands Community Magazine, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX, 77381, 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.

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

www.championsprinting.com

Photo courtesy of Howard Hughes

CONNECT WITH THE TOWNSHIP

Recreation

Law

Montgomery

Montgomery

Harris County Precinct 3 713-274-3000

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.

FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Resolve to Get Involved

January

is here and with it all the opportunities of a brand new year. Have you considered getting more involved in the community? Now is a great time to give it some thought. The Woodlands has depended on the volunteer time and creativity of hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens over the course of its history. Volunteers have filled government positions, planned memorable community events, founded and built civic groups and used their time and heart to take care of the community in many different ways.

Here are just a few:

• The Residential Design Review Committees and the Village Associations are a great way to get started. See the article on page 4 for information on those.

• At the Township website, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx. gov/volunteer, you can find opportunities within parks and recreation, neighborhood watch and environmental services. Many of these volunteer opportunities involve community events—another great way to get out and meet people.

• You might also consider volunteering at your church, school, hospital, art groups, or through Interfaith of The Woodlands.

Whatever your interests or needs, you’ll find that people in The Woodlands are friendly and will welcome your help and time to keep The Woodlands vibrant and beautiful for all.

VOLUNTEER

Run for a Residential Design Review Committee or Village Association Office

Each year, elections are held for dozens of volunteer leadership positions within The Woodlands. Filing is open in January to run in February for the Residential Design Review Committees (RDRCs) and the Village Associations. Please note, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors election is held in November and follows a different process.

Residential Design Review Committee

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

Village Associations

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

Filing for Office

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

By Kat Christensen

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Celebrates 48 Years

Don’t

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

The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway takes place Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to noon at Rob Fleming Park located at 6055 Creekside Forest Drive.

This year, 12 varieties of native seedlings are available including both canopy trees and understory trees, all of which are hosts to our native pollinators.

Canopy trees, which comprise the upper layer of the forest, typically reach heights of 40 to 90 feet at full maturity. The following varieties are available this year: Shortleaf Pine, Nuttall Oak, White

Oak, Pecan, Sweetbay Magnolia and Black Willow.

Understory trees range in height from 8 to 40 feet at maturity and are generally more shade tolerant. These smaller varieties are Persimmon, Flowering Dogwood, Black Cherry, Chickasaw Plum, False Indigo and Button Bush.

Each of these native varieties benefit local wildlife. Flowering trees and shrubs provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Berry-producing varieties offer small mammals and birds a source of food. All are critical hosts for beneficial insects.

If you have any questions regarding trees in your yard, there will be experts on hand to assist!

This is a free event for residents of The Woodlands.

The tradition of Arbor Day in The Woodlands is almost as old as The Woodlands itself. Instrumental to the foundation of The Woodlands, the annual tree give-away is a favorite for residents. The first Arbor Day was held in the Village of Grogan’s Mill in 1977. Even Puffy Pine Cone®, the lovable mascot of The Woodlands was born on Arbor Day in 1999. The developer of The Woodlands, Howard Hughes, The Woodlands Township and sponsors have given away nearly 1.6 million tree seedlings since 1977.

Thank you to our sponsors: Howard Hughes and Waste Management

The trees in this photo grew from seedlings given away at the very first Arbor Day celebration in The Woodlands. Bill Kendrick from The Woodlands Development Company is shown here standing next to the trees on Slash Pines Drive as they were in 2006. Photo Courtesy of Howard Hughes

Experts will be on hand to answer all your questions and demonstrate the best method to plant a bareroot seedling. Pictured here are Kat Christensen, Sustainable Landscapes Coordinator for The Woodlands Township and Jayden Kelly, Program Specialist, Texas A&M Forest Service.

Photo by Megan McNairn

By Megan Rankel

Ring in the New Year at Texas TreeVentures

The Latest on Water Rates and Infrastructure in The Woodlands

By John Geiger

Woodlands Water customers will pay a little more for their water and sewer in 2024 – about $7.50 more per monthly bill for the typical residential household which consumes about 10,000 gallons of water per month with 6,000 gallons of sewer usage. The rate adjustment offsets the rising costs of the equipment, supplies, energy, and labor needed to provide water, sewer, and drainage services.

The positive news for home and business owners in The Woodlands is that our costs for water and sewer services remain among the lowest in the region.

Ring in the New Year at Texas TreeVentures, an aerial adventure course like nothing you’ve ever seen before. With up to 100 obstacles to choose from, there is something for everyone on our course. This is the perfect place to celebrate the start of a new year with friends and family, and to overcome challenges together!

If you’re looking for an exciting way to celebrate a birthday this year, look no further than Texas Tree Ventures’ birthday party package or group discounts. The birthday party package includes 10 tickets for a three-hour climb, access to a party room treehouse, and more starting at $450. If you have a group of 12 or more, you qualify for the group discount of $40.00 per person.

Looking for an original idea for this year’s family reunion or corporate outing? Make it a day to remember by booking an exclusive event reservation for your group at Texas TreeVentures. Your team will have full access to the

Here’s how it all works: water costs are based on two factors – rates and taxes. Rates are charged through our monthly bill from Woodlands Water. Taxes are assessed annually by Municipal Utility Departments (MUDs). Currently, water and sewer rates are 12 percent lower than the regional average while the average MUD tax rate is 85 percent below Montgomery County’s average.

Erich Peterson, PE, General Manager of Woodlands Water Agency notes, “Woodlands Water customers rely on affordable, high-quality water. While other communities face water challenges, we issued no boil-water notices or outages during the past two hurricanes and recent freezes. Our water quality is rated by the State of Texas as superior. We’re proud to deliver this high level of service at a rate lower than most.”

The value we enjoy today has much to do with smart planning that occurred 50 years ago. George Mitchell and his team designed The Woodlands so that the water and sewer system would

course and party room treehouses. Check out the Private Events tab at TexasTreeVentures.com to generate a quote today!

Have you experienced Texas TreeVentures already? Check out our special event climbs, that happen twice a month, to experience the course in a new light. Climb around with only head lamps and a few illuminating lights surrounded by the subtle shadows of the trees. Who knows? You may even catch a glimpse of the stars from level 3 of the course. Texas TreeVentures presents two special night climbs; Glow in The Park and Lights, Heights, & Bites.

Whether you are looking to plan a unique experience with your family, friends and co-workers or need a date night idea for that special someone in your life, Texas TreeVentures has you covered.

Start your new year off surrounded by the people you love making a lasting memory at Texas TreeVentures.

remain integrated as our community developed. This means we have three sewer treatment plants instead of 10 to operate, and fewer pumps, storage tanks, and miles of pipe to maintain.

Of course, as The Woodlands turns 50 this year, so will many components of the water and sewer system. Planning is underway for the renewal of sections of water lines, our oldest (and largest) sewer treatment plant, located in the Grogan’s Mill area, and other infrastructure that is reaching the end of its useful life. This renewal effort will extend over many years and will likely require additional rate adjustments in the future in order to complete the work.

Please watch for news on the maintenance of water system. In the meantime, Woodlands Water encourages you to follow our day-to-day news on Facebook, Twitter/X and Nextdoor social media channels. More information – and opportunities to save money on your water bill – can be found at woodlandswater.org.

Explore The Woodlands’ New Art Bike Racks

Whether you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to bike more frequently or simply want to experience more art this year, The Woodlands Art Council’s newest addition to our community is ideal for your New Year bucket list. Last fall, they unveiled five new art bike racks that are both inspiring and functional. These bike racks are located around Town Center and were all created by artists in The Woodlands.

Want to discover more public art in The Woodlands? Scan the QR code below.

5TH SYMPHONY HEDGE

ARTIST: CAROLINA GONZALEZ

JOYOUS JOURNEY

ARTIST: JANA ZAATREH

LOCATION: THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION

UNDERWRITER: THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION

LOCATION: BEHIND RIVA ROW BOAT HOUSE

UNDERWRITER: THE FAMILY OF CHRIS & JAYLA DAVIS, IN LOVING MEMORY OF NANA (NOLA)

FAITH, HOPE & JOY ARTIST: ROBERT HEINZELMAN

LOCATION: HUGHES LANDING, IN FRONT OF STARBUCKS

UNDERWRITER: JAMES, JANET, SARAH, AND MAGGIE STILLWELL

TWTX

ARTISTS: MICHELLE OLD, STACY MOORE, & KEVIN GIUSEPPETTI

LOCATION: THE WOODLANDS MALL, THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY

UNDERWRITER: CHRIS & JENNY ELMI, THE ELMI GROUP

Photos Courtesy of The Woodlands Arts Council and Joan Tilton

calendar of events

Please visit the Township’s online calendar at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/calendar for the very latest information on Township-related activities.

Township Offices Closed

Composting Class

10 to 11:30 a.m., 8203 Millenium Forest Drive

Learn from Montgomery County Master Gardeners the simple, cost-effective way to enrich your soil and grow better plants with compost you can make yourself! No registration is required for

15

Skating at The Ice Rink

2005 Lake Robbins Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77380

FEBRUARY 03

Composting Class

10 to 11:30 a.m., 8203 Millenium Forest Drive

10

Organic Vegetable Gardening

9 to 11 a.m., Online

Professional horticulturists will provide research-based information to support spring vegetable gardening. Register at thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environment.

news from village associations

GARBAGE COLLECTION SCHEDULE

In observance of the New Year holiday, there will be no solid waste collection services on Monday, January 1, 2024.

All services are affected—trash, recycling, yard trimmings and bulk pickup, and will be picked up the day AFTER your usual schedule. Regular pickup schedule will resume Monday, January 8, 2024.

Please watch this space for information about garbage and recycling service or visit www. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ holidaytrash.

ALDEN BRIDGE

News submitted by

Greg Sherlock

It’s 2024 and those of us in Alden Bridge are looking forward to a great year! We appreciate all the hard work of the residents who made our village beautiful with their decorated homes and yards during the holiday season. We also want to welcome all of our new neighbors who have recently relocated into Alden Bridge.

This year’s first Alden Bridge Village Association meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are scheduled at the Township office complex, 2801 Technology Forest. All Alden Bridge residents are always welcome to attend our monthly meetings.

We have some open seats on our Alden Bridge Village Association 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 e-mail at abvainfo@gmail.com and we’ll tell you more about the opportunity as well as schedule a time to meet.

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

There’s never a dull moment, and you can stay informed about our activities through our website, www. aldenbridge.org, our Facebook page, and by subscribing to our monthly e-newsletter (send your email address to abvainfo@gmail.com). Don’t hesitate to reach out to us by email (abvainfo@ gmail.com) or through our website (www.aldenbridge.org) if you have any questions or concerns about life in our village. We’re always here for you. We’re looking forward to meeting residents and being of assistance, however we can. Here’s wishing everyone a great 2024, Alden Bridge!

GROGAN’S MILL

News submitted by Jennifer Robinson

Take the WaterWise Challenge and help our village earn money for scholarships. Warm weather turf grasses, such as St. Augustine naturally are dormant during the winter. Allowing the grass to brown during the cool months results in healthier lawns with less disease in the spring. You can log your pledge online at The Woodlands Township website.

The Grogan’s Mill Village Association will be awarding scholarships this spring. Scholarships are open to all graduating high school and current college students who are residents of Grogan’s Mill at the time of application. Applicants must also be in good standing at their school at the time of application. Applicants may attend either a two- or four-year college or vocational school. Applications may

be obtained from school guidance counselors, the Grogan’s Mill Village Association website, www.gmva.org, or from any Grogan’s Mill Village Board member. Completed applications must be received by March 28, 2024. For full details on qualifying and selection criteria, and the application form, use the following link grogansmill.org/ scholarships.

The Grogan’s’ Mill Village Association gathered on December 17, 2023, to honor our volunteers. We appreciate our volunteers and recognize that our village association cannot exist without them.

The Woodlands Farmers Market is still offering hot deals on fruits, vegetables, honey, olive oil, crafts, food, and more at The Woodlands Farmers’ Market. The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, at 7 Switchbud Place in the Grogan’s Mill Village Center. In addition to our regular lineup of vendors, we have live music and a food truck. Bring your own bags to save on plastic. Check out our website at www. grogansmill.org/fmabout or look us up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ WoodlandsFarmersMarket. Profits from Farmers Market vendor fees are returned to our community through various philanthropic contributions, school donations, scholarships and community programs.

INDIAN SPRINGS

News submitted by Michael Saucier Community involvement is about showing the next generation the importance of community service and the positive impact it has on not only those in need, but the ones performing the service.

After living in several different towns and homes, my wife and I lacked a real connection to what was really happening where we lived. Yes, you can watch the local news, read the local paper or even follow a particular local website or Facebook page, but we

didn’t feel any real connection. Right after our second child was born, we moved to The Woodlands to be closer to family and to “live among trees.” We found our new community to be beautiful and everything we thought it would be, but what we didn’t realize, was how interesting our neighbors were. Of course, everyone in our village is different and has very differing, sometimes extreme, viewpoints on numerous topics, but the one thing they all have in common is their love of The Woodlands. We noticed everyone cares deeply about our woods, our homes, our clean streets, our trails and our parks.

How do we ensure our community stays incredible? We get involved with the community by interacting with our neighbors, events and the Township. Involvement is about being informed of the issues by attending meetings rather than reading second or third-hand news stories. It is about representing our diverse neighborhood and their varying views.

If you are an Indian Springs resident and are looking to get involved in your community, board member positions are open in the Indian Springs Village Association (ISVA) and Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC). Several positions are open in both. Join us in three easy steps:

• File for candidacy at The Woodlands Township in January.

• Get a sign for your yard and one for your friend’s (if you desire, of course)

• Send some emails, texts, tweets, and reels to your friends in your village to ask for their vote

Elections will occur in February and will be held at The Woodlands Township. If you are afraid of elections, don’t be...many times all it takes to win is signing up.

PANTHER CREEK

News submitted by Paul Gebolys

After a few recent holiday seasons that did not feel quite as bright, this

Christmas season glittered and sparkled as it lit up our eyes and hearts.

Before the 2024 political season of primaries and general elections gets underway, there is a much more congenial election for positions on your Panther Creek Village Association board. There are open seats on the board available, and you have till January 18 to put your name on the ballot. So, rally your neighbors and friends to turn out and vote. Village Association Election Day will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Convenience voting will occur for one week leading up to Election Day (Monday, February 12 through Friday, February 16) with voting hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Woodlands Township. It is a great way to take a small and rewarding step into community service.

Our monthly meetings are held at 6 p.m., the second Thursday of each month at The Woodlands Township building on Technology Forest Boulevard (just off New Trails). All Panther Creek residents are invited to attend. Community leaders and civic groups present useful information and make themselves available for your questions and suggestions. Sheriff Department Deputies present detailed reports of crime prevention and criminal activities in our neighborhood. Our Woodlands Program Specialist Alexandra Cosson, from the awardwinning Neighborhood Services Department, keeps us informed on the actions and issues before The Woodlands Township Board. Our village board members also report on their work at Township committees on residential design review, local policing and parks and recreation. You can also keep up to date on village activities by visiting our website: www.PantherCreekVillageAssociation.org; or visit us at: Facebook.com/ PantherCreekVillage, or twitter.com/ PantherCreekTX.

By Cindy Strawn

Thank you, Repsol

The Woodlands Township wishes to thank Repsol for their generosity as the 2023 Gold Sponsor for National Night Out. Repsol, a global energy company, played a significant role in our annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood safety.

Repsol’s generous sponsorship of the popular “Nat the Knight” costume, a lovable and impressive knight, energized the residents during the National Night Out campaign throughout the year. Businesses like Repsol actively contributing to the community events like National Night out in The Woodlands are crucial in fostering community engagement and support.

Set It,

Don’t Forget It.

Get Alarmed.

The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Services is announcing Project 365 for 2024. Project 365 is a unique component of the National Night Out Campaign. Working together with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit, Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4 and The Woodlands Fire Department, our goal is to designate a particular crime or safety-related problem in our community that when removed, will help to make The Woodlands one of the safest places to live.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for 2024 National Night Out, please reach out to The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Services at 281-210-3800 or neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

The Project 365 initiative for 2024 is “Set it, don’t forget it. Get Alarmed.” We will encourage residents to “Get Alarmed” in all facets - car, home, and fire alarms. Residents should know how their alarm works, how it is routed to public safety, and how to avoid false alarms. Additionally, we will encourage residents to check the batteries in their smoke alarms and the maintenance of those units.

For more information, please get in touch with The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Services at 281-210-3800 or neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Early Detection Starts With Your ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM

The recommended age to start your annual mammogram is 40. Schedule yours today.

At Houston Methodist Breast Care Centers, our board-certified experts use the latest imaging technology to provide you with cutting-edge breast screenings — such as 3D mammograms — to detect even the smallest lumps and abnormalities with accuracy. We offer:

• 10+ convenient locations across Houston

• Online scheduling with readily available appointments

• Expanded hours available at most locations

336

Conroe*

242

*Conroe offers screening mammograms only

Scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/breast-care or call The Woodlands: 936.270.3600

Conroe: 713.363.8650 to schedule your mammogram today.

We do not require a doctor’s order for your annual screening mammogram.