Commercial real estate shifts northwest with residential growth
Commercial real estate shifts northwest with residential growth
Commercial real estate shifts northwest with residential growth
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Largest distributed newspaper<br />
in <strong>northwest</strong> Houston.<br />
107,864 circulation.<br />
JuLY 16–AuG. 19, 2010<br />
VOLuME 1, ISSuE 11<br />
www.impactnews.com<br />
What’s News<br />
Courtesy Sea Sports Scuba<br />
Sea Sports Scuba, the largest scuba<br />
business in the state, will open a new<br />
location on Barker Cypress Road. | 8<br />
Epiphany Lutheran School is<br />
constructing a new location at<br />
Jackrabbit and West road. | 4<br />
The Lone Star College System’s<br />
Small Business Development<br />
Center is accepting nominations<br />
by Aug. 2 for its 24th annual Small<br />
Business of the Year award. | 5<br />
Local Business Profile<br />
Molly Ryan<br />
At Connie’s Frozen Custard, owner<br />
Melissa Ashby uses the 59-year-old<br />
recipe she loved as a child. | 9<br />
What’s Inside<br />
Find out the most dangerous<br />
intersections in Northwest Houston<br />
from June 1, 2009 to June 1, 2010. | 26<br />
Cy-Fair ISD<br />
education focus<br />
includes school<br />
facts, a profile on<br />
Superintendent<br />
David Anthony,<br />
a list of new<br />
elementary<br />
principals and<br />
more. | 16<br />
Molly Ryan<br />
What’s Online<br />
www.impactnews.com<br />
NightLight Pediatric Urgent<br />
Care, a pediatrician’s office that is<br />
open during the evening, plans on<br />
expanding its business throughout<br />
the Houston area. The new office in<br />
Cypress increased its office space this<br />
month. more.impactnews.com/8934<br />
Cy-Fair ISD Partners in Education<br />
needs volunteers for its Bus Buddies<br />
program. Volunteers are assigned to<br />
a bus for the first three days of school<br />
to help children get off at the right<br />
spot. more.impactnews.com/8987<br />
Northwest Houston markets<br />
In the Jersey Village area, the commercial <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> market has slowed<br />
due to changing demographics and tenant vacancies.<br />
Photos by Molly Ryan<br />
BOOMING<br />
MARKET<br />
Big-box<br />
retailers<br />
such as Sears<br />
surround the<br />
vacant retail<br />
space at the<br />
Cy-Fair Town<br />
Center.<br />
Growing pains<br />
Local agriculture continues<br />
to face urban development<br />
By Betsy Ellison<br />
More than 24,000 acres in the Cy-Fair area<br />
are used for agricultural reasons, ranging<br />
from hay and cattle production to tree farms<br />
and orchards, according to the Harris County<br />
Appraisal District.<br />
In 2005, the area accredited more than<br />
28,500 acres to agriculture, showing a<br />
decrease of 4,000 acres in the last five years<br />
due to urbanization and expansion.<br />
“Agriculture is still alive,” said Dr. Gary<br />
Underwood, manager for the agriculture section<br />
of HCAD. “They might be small tracts of<br />
land, but the amount of money brought into<br />
the county through agriculture is still quite<br />
significant.”<br />
To sell or not to sell<br />
With attractive qualities such as the school<br />
district, shopping centers and subdivisions,<br />
Cy-Fair has become a prime location for people<br />
to move to from the city. This has made<br />
CONTINUED ON | 14<br />
The old Target<br />
building in the<br />
Steeplechase<br />
Shopping<br />
Center has<br />
been vacant<br />
for more than<br />
three years.<br />
While old shopping centers in this area adjust to these changes, many<br />
commercial developers are moving <strong>northwest</strong> along Hwy. 290 to the<br />
new hot market in the heart of Cy-Fair.<br />
Betsy Ellison<br />
SLOW<br />
MARKET<br />
Community Impact Newspaper<br />
SAVINGS GUIDE<br />
Valuable coupons and offers from<br />
local businesses starting on Page 33<br />
<strong>Commercial</strong> <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong><br />
<strong>shifts</strong> <strong>northwest</strong> <strong>with</strong><br />
<strong>residential</strong> <strong>growth</strong><br />
Story Highlights<br />
• <strong>Commercial</strong> centers in Jersey Village area adjust to vacancies and changing<br />
demographics<br />
• Developers hope to maintain the success of the Cy-Fair commercial market along<br />
the <strong>northwest</strong> area of Hwy. 290 where there is a housing boom<br />
By Molly Ryan<br />
A distance of about eight miles<br />
separates two very different commercial<br />
<strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> markets in<br />
Northwest Houston.<br />
The Jersey Village area has<br />
many commercial centers that<br />
are struggling to survive due to<br />
vacancies and changing demographics.<br />
Farther <strong>northwest</strong> along<br />
Hwy. 290, business is on the rise<br />
in what some <strong>real</strong>ty experts say is<br />
the new hot commercial area in<br />
Houston.<br />
Location, location, location<br />
“If you look at Houston, <strong>growth</strong><br />
is in the <strong>northwest</strong> and north<br />
directions,” said Kim Kobriger,<br />
Usage of agRicUltURe land in cy-faiR<br />
15,490 acres Native pasture<br />
3,630 acres Irrigated cropland<br />
1,973 acres Improved pasture<br />
925 acres Dry cropland<br />
856 acres Mixed timber<br />
732 acres Hay<br />
342 acres Three-year rotation<br />
a retail property valuation expert<br />
for Lewis Realty Advisors, a consulting<br />
firm in Houston. “I think<br />
this <strong>growth</strong> is a natural evolution—you<br />
always have a migration<br />
outwards from a city.”<br />
The Cy-Fair area along Hwy.<br />
290 is reaping the benefits of this<br />
migration because it has ample<br />
space for new housing and commercial<br />
development.<br />
The Jersey Village area, however,<br />
has less space for new business<br />
and housing developments.<br />
“This area is not one that will<br />
have population <strong>growth</strong>,” said<br />
CONTINUED ON | 12<br />
Rural vs. urban<br />
A long row of round hay bales sits<br />
nestled against the fence line of a large<br />
<strong>residential</strong> property along Barker Cypress<br />
Road. Signs of agriculture are throughout<br />
the Cy-Fair area but are quickly being<br />
developed and disappearing from the<br />
rural history of the land.<br />
323 acres Wildlife management<br />
205 acres Tree nursery<br />
10 acres Truck farm<br />
16 acres Orchard<br />
12 acres Nursery<br />
8 acres Exotic animal<br />
1 acres Greenhouse<br />
Source: Harris County Apraisal District agricultural section
2 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Vacation in your<br />
own backyard.<br />
Welcome to Northwest Houston lake living at its finest.<br />
Spend every day on Houston’s fourth largest lake, in a home by one of Houston’s<br />
premier builders. Ski, sail or just slip into a sunset right at the water’s edge. Prices<br />
have never been better, so come on in – the water’s so very fine.<br />
H GHBA’s 2009 Community of the Year*<br />
H 2400-acre custom-designed,<br />
master-planned community<br />
H The Heritage enclave for age 55 and<br />
better <strong>with</strong> private community center<br />
H 300 acre lake for boating and fishing<br />
H Award winning Cy-Fair school district<br />
H Top-rated builders<br />
H Model homes now open<br />
*Under 2,500 acres<br />
To Houston<br />
281-256-2772<br />
TowneLakeTexas.com<br />
067-531 TL VacaAd CommImpact 10x12.25 MECH.indd 1 6/30/10 11:56 AM
9601 Jones Road, Ste. 222<br />
Houston, TX 77065 • 281-469-6181<br />
www.impactnews.com<br />
Publisher / Chief Executive Officer<br />
John P. Garrett, jgarrett@impactnews.com<br />
Northwest Houston<br />
Market Publisher | Jason Culpepper<br />
Editor | Cathy Kincaid<br />
Reporters | Betsy Ellison, Molly Ryan<br />
Account Executive | Christi Love<br />
Lead Designer | Rhonda Bowers<br />
Contributing Writers | K. Jenney, Cathy Kincaid<br />
Editorial management<br />
Associate Publisher | Claire Love<br />
Executive Editor<br />
Cathy Kincaid, ckincaid@impactnews.com<br />
Managing Editor | Shannon Colletti<br />
Assistant Managing Editor | Rebecca Nordquist<br />
Creative Director | Derek Sullivan<br />
Ad Production Manager | Tiffany Knight<br />
Administrative management<br />
Chief Operating Officer | Jennifer Garrett<br />
Chief Financial Officer | Darren Lesmeister<br />
Business Director | Misty Pratt<br />
Circulation & Operations Manager | David Ludwick<br />
About us<br />
Community Impact Newspaper is Northwest<br />
Houston’s first direct mail news organization aimed<br />
at delivering necessary and relevant information to<br />
more than 105,000 homes and businesses the third<br />
Friday of every month. The paper is committed to<br />
local, unbiased reporting in the fast-growing Cy-Fair<br />
market.<br />
Subscriptions<br />
Subscriptions to our other editions are available for<br />
$3 per issue. Visit impactnews.com/subscribe.<br />
Contact us<br />
News or press releases | nwhnews@impactnews.com<br />
Advertising inquiries | nwhads@impactnews.com<br />
Reader feedback | nwhfeedback@impactnews.com<br />
2009<br />
M•E•D•I•A<br />
I N C O R P O R A T E D<br />
©2010 JGMedia, Inc., All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any<br />
portion of this issue is allowed <strong>with</strong>out written permission from the publisher.<br />
11300 1960 WEST<br />
Market Publisher’s Note Contents<br />
As someone who pays<br />
taxes to Cy-Fair ISD, but<br />
my son not yet old enough<br />
to attend school, I am still<br />
eager to stay updated on<br />
what is happening <strong>with</strong>in the district and<br />
how my tax dollars are being put to work.<br />
This month, as we continue our look<br />
at education in the area, you will find a<br />
10-page Education Focus beginning on<br />
Page 16 that provides pertinent school<br />
district information such as a campus<br />
feeder chart for all campuses along <strong>with</strong><br />
2010 preliminary Texas Assessment of<br />
Knowledge and Skills test scores and<br />
other useful content.<br />
I am a graduate of Jersey Village High<br />
School, and I cannot say enough good<br />
things about the teachers who spent time<br />
<strong>with</strong> me ensuring my success. I have<br />
heard it said many times and witnessed it<br />
Reader Feedback<br />
Would you go back to get a higher<br />
education degree if you were laid off or<br />
if you were unhappy <strong>with</strong> your job?<br />
Yes, a college or graduate degree is<br />
necessary for success in my career.<br />
46%<br />
Maybe, if I could save up enough money and<br />
set aside the time.<br />
23%<br />
No, it is too expensive and a degree would not<br />
ensure a better job for me.<br />
31%<br />
Which amenity do you use most at parks<br />
in Northwest Houston?<br />
Walking/jogging trails<br />
66.7%<br />
Sports complexes<br />
16.7%<br />
Playground<br />
0%<br />
Picnic area<br />
16.7%<br />
Results from unscientific web surveys collected 6/18/2010–7/12/2010<br />
Just Announced<br />
1<br />
NEW 2010 SIERRA<br />
CREW CAB<br />
2<br />
AT THIS<br />
PRICE!<br />
NEW 2010 SIERRA<br />
CREW CAB<br />
2<br />
AT THIS<br />
PRICE!<br />
$19,986<br />
Sale Price $24,986 Less $5000 Rebate<br />
first-hand, the teachers in Cy-Fair care so<br />
much for their students’ success, even as<br />
testing standards increase while district<br />
funding decreases.<br />
While the Northwest Houston area<br />
continues to grow due to the valuable<br />
education, <strong>with</strong> <strong>growth</strong> comes more cars<br />
and thus more chances for accidents. Are<br />
you curious as to which intersections are<br />
the most dangerous in our area? Consult<br />
our Transportation Report on Page 26<br />
for a detailed map and stats.<br />
Whether it be transportation issues<br />
or educational information, Community<br />
Impact Newspaper strives to bring our<br />
readers the most current information in<br />
the area.<br />
impactnews.com<br />
Jason Culpepper<br />
jculpepper@impactnews.com<br />
Local jobs<br />
Post your résumé and search for local<br />
jobs at impactnews.jobing.com.<br />
May employment trends<br />
Houston/Sugarland/Baytown unemployment—8.3%<br />
Down from 8.4% in March<br />
State unemployment—8.3%<br />
Unchanged for two consecutive months<br />
National unemployment—9.7%<br />
Down from 9.9% in April<br />
In May 43,600 jobs were added in Texas. The business<br />
sector added 10,200 jobs, and the hospitality<br />
industry added 9,600.<br />
Source: Charla Lovelace, Jobing.com<br />
Online-exclusive content<br />
Visit the Northwest Houston home page<br />
for up-to-date community news, information and a full<br />
calendar of local events. Find us online at<br />
impactnews.com/<strong>northwest</strong>-houston.<br />
Impact your inbox<br />
Sign up to receive Community Impact<br />
Newspaper’s weekly news updates at<br />
impactnews.com/signup.<br />
NEW 2010 SIERRA<br />
2<br />
4 DR<br />
AT THIS<br />
PRICE!<br />
1<br />
or0<br />
Sale Price $21,748 Less $4750 Rebate<br />
% 1<br />
UP TO<br />
or0 $18,998<br />
$16,998 APR 6 YEARS<br />
% ON ALL 2010S<br />
$13,879<br />
UP TO<br />
APR 6 YEARS<br />
Sale Price $18,379 Less $4500 Rebate<br />
NEW 2010 YUKON<br />
3<br />
AT THIS<br />
SAVINGS!<br />
$10,000<br />
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2<br />
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Sale Price $32,994 Less $3000 Rebate,<br />
Savings Include: $3000 Rebate, $7000<br />
% or SAVINGS OFF MSRP or APR<br />
Discount Off MSRP<br />
2<br />
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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 3<br />
NEW 2010 ACADIA<br />
$26,997<br />
or0<br />
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% UP TO 2<br />
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NEW 2010 TERRAIN<br />
SEVERAL<br />
TO<br />
CHOOSE!<br />
4 Community Impacts<br />
7 Community Events<br />
8 Business Profiles<br />
Sea Sports Scuba<br />
Connie’s Frozen Custard<br />
11 Neighborhood Dining<br />
Guayaba Latin Grill<br />
13 Nonprofit Profile<br />
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary<br />
15 Community Close-up<br />
Debbie’s Garden and Farmers Market<br />
16 Education Focus<br />
26 Transportation Report<br />
Dangerous intersections<br />
27 Inside Information<br />
Houston TranStar<br />
28 Transportation Update<br />
Cypress Rosehill Road, Greenhouse Road<br />
29 Vote 2010<br />
Texas State Senator, Districts 7 and 15<br />
30 Community Icon<br />
Darcy Mingoia<br />
31 Residential Real Estate<br />
32 <strong>Commercial</strong> Real Estate<br />
Who We Are<br />
What is Community Impact Newspaper?<br />
Publisher John Garrett began<br />
Community Impact Newspaper in<br />
2005 after recognizing the need for<br />
intelligently reported news covering<br />
north Austin. Four years and eight<br />
newspapers later, the Northwest Houston<br />
newspaper brings the same well-rounded<br />
coverage, providing detailed maps,<br />
illustrated graphics and in-depth stories<br />
exploring important local issues.<br />
Why is it free?<br />
Readers will not be billed because the<br />
paper is ad supported. Editorial content<br />
is never paid for and has a journalistic<br />
integrity uncommon for a free publication.<br />
Who gets it?<br />
Our paper is mailed monthly to all<br />
homes and businesses in the coverage<br />
area. We do not mail to post office<br />
boxes, but copies are available at the<br />
Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce and the<br />
Community Impact Newspaper office on<br />
Jones Road. The articles are available<br />
online at www.impactnews.com.<br />
June correction<br />
On Page 5, J. Minyon Company Hair<br />
Salon will open Aug. 1. The phone<br />
number is 281-970-4217.<br />
26<br />
MPG<br />
HWY<br />
32<br />
MPG<br />
HWY<br />
ALL PRICED TO SELL!<br />
NEW 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE<br />
2<br />
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% 3<br />
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UP TO 60 MOs<br />
NEW 2010 BUICK LACROSSE<br />
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$24,894<br />
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Pictures and Colors Are For Illustration Only... 1) Available on ’10 GMC Sierra Pickups In Stock..72 Month Financing.. $0 Down + TT&L.. $13.89 Per Month Per Thousand Financed.. 0% APR w/Approved Credit In Lieu Of Rebate... 2) 60 Month<br />
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BECK.10102.10x2.94.impact.june.indd 1 6/2/2010 9:16:21 AM
4 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Community Impacts | Northwest Houston<br />
Mason Rd.<br />
Map not<br />
to scale<br />
Mueschke Rd.<br />
290<br />
N<br />
Fry Rd.<br />
1<br />
3<br />
Cypress Rosehill Rd.<br />
Under Construction<br />
Logenbaugh Rd.<br />
17<br />
Grant Rd.<br />
Spring Cypress Rd.<br />
Barker Cypress Rd.<br />
1 <strong>Commercial</strong> <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> agency Moody<br />
Rambin Interest confirmed an AT&T<br />
mobile store coming to the corner of<br />
Cypress Rosehill Road and Hwy. 290. The<br />
project is under construction, and the<br />
store is expected to open later this year.<br />
Visit www.att.com.<br />
2 Epiphany Lutheran School is<br />
opening a new location at the corner of<br />
Jackrabbit and West Road, and<br />
construction is under way. The school is<br />
enrolling online and at its current<br />
location, 8101 Senate Ave., for<br />
kindergarten through eighth grade. The<br />
new location will open summer 2011.<br />
Call 713-896-1843 or visit<br />
www.epiphanylutheranschool.org.<br />
3 Dr. Benjamin Creed’s new<br />
orthodontic practice, Creed<br />
Orthodontics, is under construction at<br />
the Shoppes at Fry Road, on the southwest<br />
corner of Fry Road and Hwy. 290. The<br />
practice will offer teeth straightening<br />
options including traditional braces,<br />
Invisalign, clear braces and more. Creed<br />
expects to open mid-August.<br />
6<br />
14<br />
11<br />
8<br />
Queenston Rd.<br />
21<br />
Telge Rd.<br />
West Rd.<br />
529<br />
Huffmeister Rd.<br />
6<br />
Cypress N. Houston Rd.<br />
20<br />
13<br />
290<br />
Point 6 Cir.<br />
Jackrabbit<br />
Rd.<br />
19<br />
4 Warwick Construction confirmed a<br />
new Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us are<br />
under construction at 17776 Hwy. 249.<br />
Builders are expected to complete<br />
construction by the end of August on the<br />
58,000-square-foot building. Visit www.<br />
toysrus.com or www.babiesrus.com.<br />
5 Global Fund Investments confirmed a<br />
Family Dollar is under construction at<br />
the Steeplechase Shopping Center on 9503<br />
Jones Road. The store leased more than<br />
6,000 square feet of space in the center<br />
and will open in September. Visit<br />
www.familydollar.com.<br />
Under New Ownership<br />
6 Jolie Salon, 25712 Hwy. 290 in<br />
Cypress, is under new ownership. Cypress<br />
resident Sangita Tailor bought the salon<br />
in May and has added waxing to its<br />
services. The salon will now be open on<br />
Sunday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Tailor also<br />
specializes in traditional Chinese eyebrow<br />
threading. Call 281-758-2881.<br />
Under New Management<br />
7 Khaleel Siddiqui and Ashfaq Peer<br />
2<br />
N. Eldridge Pkwy.<br />
Grant Rd.<br />
Spring Cypress Rd.<br />
Louetta Rd.<br />
Cypresswood Dr.<br />
9<br />
7<br />
Steeplecrest Dr.<br />
16<br />
5<br />
Jones Rd.<br />
12<br />
18<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
10<br />
1960<br />
Windfern Rd.<br />
249<br />
West Rd.<br />
Gessner Dr.<br />
15<br />
Gessner Rd.<br />
Fallbrook Dr.<br />
took over as managers for Cafe Amore,<br />
located on 11910 Louetta Road, in June.<br />
The new managers added more dinner<br />
and lunch items such as lasagna and<br />
pizza, and lowered the prices for the<br />
Italian-American restaurant. The<br />
restaurant also offers takeout meals.<br />
Call 281-527-3900 or visit<br />
www.italiancafeamore.com.<br />
Now Open<br />
8 Tracy Dargan, owner of A Bunch of<br />
Fun Play Center, opened her business<br />
June 24 at 17253 FM 529. The indoor<br />
children’s playhouse includes multiple<br />
slides, dress-up stations, a play-school and<br />
play-house area, free Wi-Fi for parents<br />
and a snack bar. Dargan said she wanted<br />
to create a place where children of all ages<br />
could come to use their imagination.<br />
Call 281-656-ABOF (2263) or visit<br />
www.haveabunchoffun.com<br />
9 Subash & Sons Tire & Wheels,<br />
owned by Subash Indardeo, opened for<br />
business at 11504 Cypress North Houston<br />
Road in Cypress May 20. The shop offers<br />
new and used tire services from rotations<br />
and balancing to custom ordered wheels<br />
and rims. Tire brands sold include<br />
4
Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone and<br />
Continental. Call 281-469-1155.<br />
10 At Angels Academy’s second daycare<br />
location on 10111 Grant Road, director<br />
Birdie Rodriguez’s goal is to make every<br />
day fun and educational. The new daycare<br />
center opened in May and, like the<br />
original location on Fry Road, it accepts<br />
infants and children up to the age of 12.<br />
Call 281-897-0044.<br />
11 After four years of working out of<br />
their home and on their website<br />
www.nhdesigncenter.com, Andy and<br />
Wendy Taylor have opened a furniture<br />
showroom for their business, New Home<br />
Design Center. The showroom at 11688<br />
Barker Cypress Road displays the center’s<br />
choice of carpets, blinds, shutters, office<br />
furniture and more. All items can be<br />
shipped and installed at any location. Call<br />
713-726-6538 or visit their website.<br />
12 Roger Koeppe opened Armory<br />
Management and Supply Services May 1<br />
at 11010 Jones Road. Offering several<br />
types of firearms, AMSS also holds a free<br />
handgun training class Friday evening<br />
from 6 to 7 p.m. Customers can also<br />
obtain concealed handgun licenses.<br />
Call 832-237-AMMO (2666) or visit<br />
www.amss-usa.com.<br />
13 Nick Bhakta opened a Palace Inn at<br />
9323 Point 6 Circle, near Hwy. 6 and Hwy.<br />
290. The outdoor inn features 36 rooms,<br />
<strong>with</strong> kitchenettes in six of them and a<br />
jacuzzi in one. The property also has<br />
wireless Internet and flat-panel<br />
televisions. Rates start at $65 a night.<br />
Call 832-767-1246<br />
14 Squeaky-clean cars come out of the<br />
new Barker Cypress Car Wash on 11302<br />
Barker Cypress Road. Owner Alex<br />
Nguyen says his second car wash—his<br />
first is 2920 Car Wash in Spring—will<br />
clean all vehicles including motorcycles<br />
and boats. The car wash will also have a<br />
detail and lube center. Call 281-256-7527<br />
or visit www.barkercypresscarwash.com.<br />
15 Decorating a home? Furniture &<br />
Accessories Outlet on 9214 FM 1960 West<br />
can help. The new store, which opened in<br />
May, houses hundreds of wholesale items<br />
for dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms,<br />
home offices and more. Owner Judy Shih<br />
said everything from the mattresses to the<br />
leather couches are available at bargain<br />
prices. Call 281-894-8838.<br />
16 Charles Allen, the owner of Sublime<br />
Customs, opened a new location on 10710<br />
Jones Road—just down the road from its<br />
old shop. Customers can bring their cars<br />
or motorcycles for a custom paint job,<br />
new audio and video accessories and<br />
more. Call 281-919-6695 or visit<br />
www.houstonautopainting.com.<br />
17 America’s Mattress, a family-owned<br />
and -operated Serta mattress store moved<br />
to 11301 Barker Cypress Road in June.<br />
Owners Walter and AnJanette Bond sell<br />
mattresses of all shapes and sizes. In the<br />
future, the Bonds plan on selling<br />
furniture at this location. Call 281-256-<br />
8872.<br />
Relocations<br />
18 Mary Granberry, owner of Meg<br />
Insurance Services, relocated her<br />
company June 28 from its FM 1960<br />
location to 11210 Steeplecrest Drive, Ste.<br />
106. Offering personal and commercial<br />
insurances, Meg Insurance Services has<br />
been serving the Cy-Fair community<br />
since May 2006. Call 832-851-5466 or visit<br />
www.meginsuranceservices.com.<br />
19 InsureUs relocated from their old<br />
location on FM 1960 West to a new office<br />
on 13026 Cypress North Houston Road,<br />
Ste. 101. The new office has more space<br />
and will offer the same insurance services<br />
including home, auto, flood and renters<br />
insurance. Call 281-640-8888 or visit<br />
www.insure-us.org.<br />
Closed the Doors<br />
20 YaYa Chique, a privately owned<br />
boutique and styling company, closed at<br />
15490 FM 529 June 26 to begin doing<br />
business on a private, in-home level. YaYa<br />
Chique can still be contacted through its<br />
website for purchasing information. Visit<br />
www.yayachique.com.<br />
21 Capulco’s Mexican Cafe, located at<br />
12312 Barker Cypress Road, closed July<br />
28. The owner, Chris Fisher, said he does<br />
not have immediate plans to re-open the<br />
restaurant at a different location.<br />
Accepting Nominations<br />
The Lone Star College System’s Small<br />
Business Development Center is<br />
accepting nominations for its 24th annual<br />
Small Business of the Year award. The<br />
award will commemorate a successful<br />
and influential small business in the Lone<br />
Star College-CyFair area. All businesses<br />
and community members can nominate<br />
candidates in the area by visiting<br />
www. sbdc.lonestar.edu by Aug. 2.<br />
Volunteer Opportunity<br />
The Girl Scouts are seeking volunteers<br />
over the age of 17 to help lead and<br />
inspire young girls in the Houston<br />
area. Volunteers can help participate in<br />
certain events or, if they wish to become<br />
more involved, they can become a troop<br />
leader. Call the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto<br />
Council for more information at<br />
713-292-0300 or 800-392-4340.<br />
News or questions about <strong>northwest</strong> Houston?<br />
E-mail nwhnews@impactnews.com.<br />
Betsy Ellison<br />
A Bunch of Fun Play Center offers several ways for children<br />
Molly Ryan Molly Ryan<br />
Betsy Ellison<br />
Molly Ryan<br />
6<br />
Jolie Salon owner, Sangita Tailor, specializes in traditional<br />
Chinese eyebrow threading.<br />
8<br />
to use their imaginations.<br />
10<br />
Birdie Rodriguez is the director of Angels Academy, a new<br />
daycare center.<br />
17<br />
A Sublime Customs employee puts the finishing touches on<br />
this Mini Cooper <strong>with</strong> dragon detailing.<br />
18<br />
America’s Mattress is owned and operated by the Bond<br />
family.<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 5
6 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
A glimpse<br />
249<br />
Willowbrook<br />
45<br />
290<br />
8<br />
Copperfi eld<br />
Jersey J<br />
6<br />
Village V<br />
10<br />
of what<br />
we offer...<br />
59<br />
6<br />
610<br />
288<br />
8<br />
59<br />
45<br />
• Transition between the hospital and home<br />
• Wi-Fi throughout the building<br />
• Elegant dining options <strong>with</strong> in room dining available<br />
• Full size Whirlpool <strong>with</strong> men and ladies spa<br />
• Laundry Services • Beauty/Barber Shop<br />
• Cable TV throughout • Telephone Connections<br />
• Scheduled Activities • Voting Capabilities<br />
• Social Services<br />
• Religious Services • Family & Resident Council<br />
• Private Dining Room • Private & Semi-Private Rooms<br />
• Private Showers in Rooms (West & North only)<br />
• Rehab Wing<br />
FM 1960<br />
90<br />
Channelview<br />
10<br />
24-Hour Admissions 877-300-4LGD (543)<br />
EAST/CHANNELVIEW<br />
EAS<br />
15880 1588 Wallisville Road<br />
Houston, Ho Texas 77049<br />
281-447-6462<br />
2<br />
WEST/COPPERFIELD<br />
7107 Queenston Blvd.<br />
Houston, Texas 77095<br />
281-463-7333<br />
NW/JERSEY NW/J /JER ERSE SEY VI VILL VILLAGE LLAGE NORTH/WILLOWBROOK<br />
NORTH/WILLOWBROO OOK<br />
8902 West Road<br />
Houston, Texas 77064<br />
713-849-0990<br />
12921 Misty Willow<br />
Houston, Texas 77070<br />
281-469-7881<br />
Legend Oaks Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center provides services <strong>with</strong>out regard to race, color, creed, age, gender, handicap (mental or physical), or place of national origin.
Courtesy Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts<br />
Community Events<br />
Sponsored by<br />
July<br />
17 Anniversary celebration<br />
Northwest Cyclery celebrates 30 years of business<br />
<strong>with</strong> an in-store celebration, featuring vendors, food,<br />
prize give-a-ways and antique bicycle displays. The<br />
event also includes the opportunity to register for<br />
the Katy Flat Land bicycle ride, July 18, sponsored by<br />
the Northwest Cycling Club. • 11 a.m.–5 p.m. • Free<br />
17458 Hwy. 290 • 713-466-1240<br />
www.<strong>northwest</strong>cyclery.com<br />
20 Business Success Seminar<br />
Lone Star College-CyFair hosts a business success<br />
seminar on search engine optimization. Presenter<br />
Siva Yenneti, director of ITVibes, shows the class how<br />
to be a top hit on online search engines.<br />
7:45–8:45 p.m. • Free • Lone Star College–CyFair<br />
library computer lab, 9191 Barker Cypress Road<br />
281-290-3214<br />
www.lonestar.edu/library/business-seminars<br />
23–Aug. 14 “Inherit the Wind”<br />
Playhouse 1960 presents this drama which centers<br />
around the famous Scopes “Monkey” trial of the late<br />
1920s. • 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday • $15<br />
Playhouse 1960, 6814 Gant Road, Ste. 116<br />
281-587-8243 • www.ph1960.com<br />
24 Bone Density Screening<br />
The Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center provides<br />
bone density screenings of the ankle for women age<br />
40–65. The process, including sign-in, takes up to 10<br />
minutes and is completely noninvasive. Participants<br />
are advised to avoid wearing socks or hose to the<br />
screening and to wear easy-to-remove shoes.<br />
9 a.m. • Free • Professional Building Classroom,<br />
11302 Fallbrook Drive • 1-877-228-3638<br />
www.cyfairhospital.com<br />
Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts offers fine art to visitors in<br />
Northwest Houston.<br />
21 Pearl Fincher Museum fundraiser<br />
Guayaba Latin Grill will host a profit-share <strong>with</strong> the<br />
Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, which showcases<br />
local artists works. The event includes specials<br />
from Guayaba’s wine list, including 25 percent off<br />
wine by the glass and 50 percent off by the bottle<br />
and attendees can also purchase a three-course<br />
dinner special plus a glass of wine for $25.95. Up to<br />
20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the<br />
museum. • 5–9 p.m. • 17505 Hwy. 249<br />
www.guayabagrill.com • www.pearlmfa.org<br />
24 Shred It<br />
The Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Jones Road branch<br />
holds its annual community shred day to safely<br />
dispose of personal and financial data. Patrons can<br />
bring in up to 10 file boxes of paperwork to shred,<br />
to protect themselves from identity theft or fraud.<br />
9 a.m.–1 p.m. • Free • 9601 Jones Road<br />
281-890-7676 • www.cyfairfcu.org<br />
Courtesy Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce<br />
Shark weekend at the Downtown Aquarium<br />
July 24–25<br />
The Downtown Aquarium hosts its third annual<br />
Shark Weekend <strong>with</strong> a two-day event, including<br />
dive shows, live entertainment and a question-andanswer<br />
session <strong>with</strong> shark divers and staff.<br />
“We are dedicating the entire aquarium to sharks,”<br />
said Rob Brown, general curator for Downtown<br />
Aquarium, “and it gets more and more fun every<br />
year.”<br />
Shark related prizes, arts and crafts and children’s The Downtown Aquarium is home to several species of<br />
activities are also available at the event.<br />
sharks, including the zebra shark.<br />
Included at the aquarium are shark conservation booths, such as “Pin the Fin on the Shark,” an interactive<br />
way to raise awareness of shark finning.<br />
“We are very anti-shark finning here at the aquarium,” Brown said. “It kills millions of sharks each year,<br />
so this is a great way for people to learn about shark conservation.”<br />
Sat. 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. • $9.25 (adults), $6.25 (children 2–12)<br />
$15.99 (all-day adventure passes) • Downtown Aquarium, 410 Bagby St. at Memorial Drive<br />
713-223-FISH (3474) • www.aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumhouston<br />
26–31 “Aesop’s Fables”<br />
A children’s show featuring Aesop, the fable writer<br />
himself, hosts the show and is in charge of concocting<br />
five new fables <strong>with</strong> the help of his friends. Lone<br />
Star College–CyFair, Main Stage Theatre<br />
9191 Barker Cypress Road • Show times vary • $5<br />
281-290-5201 • www.lonestar.edu/boxoffice<br />
Guests at the annual fundraiser play roulette and other casino games.<br />
30 “Groovy Summer Nights”<br />
The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce hosts<br />
this annual casino-themed event featuring casino<br />
games, live entertainment, food, cash bar and raffle<br />
prizes. There is also a costume contest to choose the<br />
most psychedelic costume. Sponsorships are still<br />
available; contact the chamber for details.<br />
7:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m. • $50<br />
Northwest Forest Hotel and Conference Center,<br />
12715 Telge Road • 281-373-1390<br />
www.cyfairchamber.com<br />
30–Aug. 15 “West Moon Street”<br />
The Houston Family Arts Center presentation is<br />
based on Oscar Wilde’s short story, “Lord Arthur<br />
Savil’s Crime.” In typical Wilde fashion, the play combines<br />
mystery and comedy. • Show times vary<br />
$12–$16 • Garza Main Stage, 10760 Grant Road<br />
281-685-6374 • www.houstonfac.com<br />
August<br />
1 Target Free First Sunday<br />
Admission fees are waived each first Sunday of<br />
the month to the Children’s Museum of Houston.<br />
Families can enjoy all of the hands-on exhibits<br />
courtesy of Target. • Noon–6 p.m. • Free<br />
Children’s Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz St.<br />
713-522-1138 • www.cmhouston.org<br />
7 Kiwanis Kids Triathlon<br />
The Lakeland Center at Bridgeland hosts this<br />
triathlon designed for kids between the age of 7 and<br />
12. Races are divided by age groups. Depending on<br />
the age group, children swim 50 or 100 meters, bike<br />
one or two miles and run a quarter or a half mile.<br />
Register online at www.usatriathlon.org.<br />
7–10 a.m. • $25–$30 • Bridgeland,<br />
16919 N. Bridgeland Lake Parkway<br />
281-304-5588 • www.kiwanishoustonsunrise.org<br />
Courtesy Northwest Assistance Ministries<br />
Courtesy Downtown Aquarium<br />
8 Bridgeland Triathlon<br />
Memorial Hermann sponsors this triathlon. Participants<br />
swim 500 meters, bike 14 miles and run three<br />
and a half miles. An after-race celebration in Festival<br />
Park includes vendors, games and entertainment.<br />
Volunteers are needed during the race.<br />
7 a.m.–1 p.m. • Individual registrations sold out.<br />
Bridgeland, 16919 N. Bridgeland Lake Parkway<br />
281-304-5588 • www.bridgeland.com<br />
Worth the trip<br />
Nurses at the Northwest Assistance Ministries administer low-cost<br />
shots to uninsured school children during Shot Blitz.<br />
9–13, 16–19 Shot Blitz<br />
The annual event, hosted by The Northwest Assistance<br />
Ministries, provides low-cost immunizations<br />
for uninsured children. Patients <strong>with</strong> private insurance<br />
are not accepted. • Cash only • $10 per child<br />
15555 Kuykendahl Road • 281-885-4630<br />
www.namonline.org<br />
11–14 “Hansel and Gretel”<br />
The timeless children’s story comes to life on stage at<br />
the Houston Family Arts Center and is performed by<br />
members of its youth summer camp. Kids of all ages<br />
can enjoy the humor, tricks and treats of this production.<br />
Show times vary • $5 • Actors Academy,<br />
10760 Grant Road • 281-685-6374<br />
www.houstonfac.com<br />
27 Just the Two of Us<br />
Shield-Bearer Counseling Center hosts a threecourse,<br />
candlelit meal for married couples who have<br />
forgotten how fun dating can be. Held at Pecos<br />
Grilling Co. in Tomball, the relationship enhancing<br />
dinner includes live entertainment. Limited seating<br />
is available, and registration is required through<br />
Shield-Bearer’s website. • $50 • 28900 Hwy. 249<br />
281-894-7222 • www.fig htingforhearts.org<br />
Calendar events for print must be submitted by the 5th of the<br />
month. Submit events to calendar@impactnews.com and find<br />
our Northwest Houston calendar at www.impactnews.com/<br />
calendar<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 7<br />
Live music<br />
Baker St. Pub & Grill<br />
17278 Hwy. 249, Houston • 281-517-0828<br />
www.sherlockspubco.com<br />
Live music Tuesday through Saturday evenings<br />
July<br />
16 3 Peace<br />
17 The Ruse<br />
22 A-Rival<br />
23 Vertigo<br />
29 Rock Radio<br />
30 The Slags<br />
31 The Elroys<br />
Cork Café<br />
25712 Hwy. 290, Cypress • 281-758-1682<br />
www.corkcafe.com<br />
Live music from local artists<br />
Thursday 8–9:30 p.m. • Saturday 7:30–9 p.m.<br />
July<br />
17 Tquan<br />
22 Red Watterson<br />
24 Katheryn Hallberg<br />
29 Presten Leatherman<br />
August<br />
5 Debbie Forrest<br />
Cypress Saloon<br />
12710 Telge Road, Cypress • 281-304-7777<br />
www.cypresssaloonlive.com<br />
Live music Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m.<br />
July<br />
16 Seth James<br />
17 Phil Pritchett & The Full Band<br />
23 Mike Mancy<br />
24 Charlie Robison<br />
30 Bruce Robison<br />
Goode Co.<br />
20102 Hwy. 290, Houston • 832-678-3562<br />
www.goodecompany.com<br />
Live music every Friday, 7 p.m.<br />
July<br />
16 Cool Water<br />
23 Stephen Pointer<br />
30 Stephen Chadwick<br />
August<br />
13 Driftwood<br />
Kilburn’s Tavern & Grille #1<br />
11808 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress<br />
281-256-8755 • www.kilburnstavern.com<br />
Live music begins at 9 p.m.<br />
July<br />
16 Sheila Marshall<br />
17 Sean Michael<br />
23 Liquid Magnet<br />
24 Wes Brown<br />
30 Six Panthers<br />
31 Sean Michael<br />
Kilburn’s Tavern & Grille #2<br />
12910 Malcomson Road, Houston<br />
281-257-3747 • www.kilburnstavern.com<br />
Live music Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m.<br />
July<br />
16 Stephen Chadwick<br />
17 Ryan Evans<br />
23 Six Panthers<br />
24 Sean Michael<br />
30 Sheila Marshall<br />
31 The Threads<br />
Texas Tavern<br />
13800 Cypress North Houston Road, Cypress<br />
281-897-0828 • www.thetexastavern.com<br />
Live music Tuesday through Saturday.<br />
July<br />
17 Dead End Cowboys<br />
23 Lost Immigrants<br />
24 Brian Loftin<br />
30 Dean Seltzer<br />
31 Slow Rollin Lows
8 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Best kept secret in banking!<br />
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and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government<br />
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neighbors already know!<br />
You too can open an account and experience<br />
First-Rate service and competitive rates<br />
and loans all under one roof!<br />
281.856.5300 • FCCU.org<br />
Federally insured by NCUA FCCU is open to residents and businesses of Harris County, Fort Bend County and Tomball.<br />
At LeatherShoppes, being the oldest and<br />
most experienced leather specialty store in the<br />
Houston area, you will fi nd more selection, more<br />
styles and 100s of colors from some of the best<br />
brands like Aspen Home, Bradington-Young,<br />
Flexsteel, Hooker Furniture, Palliser, Berkline<br />
HomeTheater and more, all at discount prices.<br />
Don’t Compromise<br />
.... Customise!<br />
832.467.2000 • www.leathershoppes.com<br />
Monday–Saturday 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.<br />
4321 West Sam Houston Tollway N. • Suite 180<br />
(Clay exit either way)<br />
Courtesy Sea Sports Scuba<br />
Business Profile | Sea Sports Scuba<br />
Sea Sports Scuba divers in Nassau, Bahamas in 2007, while on one of the 12 dive trips per year that is offered.<br />
By Betsy Ellison<br />
When Montana native Doug Peters first<br />
learned about scuba diving while in high<br />
school, he never thought one day he’d<br />
be running the largest scuba business in<br />
the state. Now, after 25 years in business,<br />
Peters is opening a new location in the Cy-<br />
Fair community on Barker Cypress Road.<br />
The 13,000-square-foot building will<br />
replace the existing Northwest Houston<br />
location on FM 1960 and will include an<br />
onsite swimming and diving pool.<br />
With a five-part business strategy<br />
and four locations around Houston, Sea<br />
Sports Scuba offers a wide range of diving<br />
equipment and accessories, rental and<br />
repair services, diving certification classes<br />
and even a travel department.<br />
“We constantly have people coming in<br />
the store wanting to learn how to dive,”<br />
Peters said. “A lot of family combinations,<br />
[for example] dad might need a diving<br />
partner and mom doesn’t want to learn,<br />
so he’ll bring his son in to learn, too.”<br />
Sea Sports Scuba’s travel department<br />
offers trips year-round, including destinations<br />
such as Playa Del Carmen, Bermuda,<br />
Cozumel and frequent trips to the<br />
Flower Gardens Banks National Marine<br />
Sanctuary, 110 miles off the Gulf Coast.<br />
Diving opportunities in Texas are also<br />
available at locations such as the Comal<br />
River in New Braunfels and Lake Travis<br />
in Austin.<br />
“There are a lot of opportunities for<br />
customers here,” Peters said. “We’ve got<br />
a high-quality staff, and just our instructors<br />
alone add up to 250 hours of diving<br />
experience.”<br />
Peters’ wife and business partner,<br />
Judith Peters, said diving is a great activity<br />
that can bring a lot people together<br />
from all types of backgrounds.<br />
From wet suits to underwater cameras,<br />
Sea Sports Scuba has a large inventory of<br />
swimming and diving supplies filling the<br />
walls and interior of each store. Diving<br />
equipment can also be rented, which Judith<br />
said has been surprisingly successful.<br />
“You don’t go to a shoe store to rent<br />
shoes,” Judith said. “But here you can rent<br />
exactly what we sell. You may think rental<br />
it very upheld.”<br />
The Peterses said they look forward to<br />
continuing the brand they have created<br />
for Houston residents.<br />
“We provide a leisurely sport for people<br />
to enjoy,” Doug said. “The local diving<br />
community has been supportive and<br />
can stay active through our business and<br />
opportunities.”<br />
Courtesy Sea Sports Scuba doesn’t take much attention, but we keep<br />
Students are becoming certified divers while learning how to<br />
use electronic diving computers.<br />
Become scuba certified<br />
Certification classes are being taught at any of Sea<br />
Sports Scuba’s four locations.<br />
“Learning to dive gives people the opportunity<br />
to go on trips and have something to do,” owner<br />
Doug Peters said.<br />
A new aspect of the certification classes is learning<br />
to dive <strong>with</strong>out memorizing dive tables, which<br />
help you keep track of important statistics while<br />
underwater. Students will instead learn to use dive<br />
computers, electronic hand-held instruments that<br />
automatically recalculate these statistics for the<br />
diver and allow for more time underwater.<br />
For more information on how to register for<br />
classes, visit Sea Sports Scuba’s website.<br />
1960<br />
Woodedge Dr.<br />
Sea Sports Scuba<br />
9564 FM 1960, Houston<br />
281-970-0899<br />
www.seasportsscuba.com<br />
Perry Rd.<br />
N
Molly Ryan<br />
Business Profile | Connie’s Frozen Custard<br />
Melissa Ashby, the owner of Connie’s Frozen Custard, stands small next to a giant replica of a frozen<br />
custard cone.<br />
26 YEARS serving as<br />
your NEIGHBORHOOD DENTIST<br />
Family Dentistry • Insurance Accepted <strong>with</strong> Prior Approval<br />
Emergencies Seen Promptly • Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) • Home Bleaching<br />
Same Friendly, Caring Staff for 15 Years<br />
“Dr. Liu and staff provide gentle,<br />
friendly dental care making<br />
dental visits less stressful.”<br />
- Pam C.<br />
281.955.6008<br />
GEORGE LIU, DDS<br />
11037 FM 1960,<br />
Suite B-3<br />
Steeplechase Plaza<br />
Major Credit Cards Accepted<br />
MICROCHIP YOUR PET TODAY<br />
to ensure the best chance ce for a happy ending<br />
Fitting your pet <strong>with</strong> an ID tag and microchip identification under<br />
the skin is a low-cost, safe and virtually pain free way to improve<br />
your chances for a happy ending if your pet is<br />
ever lost, stolen or escapes.<br />
290<br />
281.858.7511<br />
By Molly Ryan<br />
Growing up in Missouri,<br />
Melissa Ashby always had<br />
access to her favorite dessert,<br />
frozen custard. However, when<br />
she moved to Texas <strong>with</strong> her<br />
husband, she noticed that frozen<br />
custard shops were a rarity in the<br />
Houston area. Ashby saw this<br />
as a tasty business opportunity,<br />
and she soon started planning<br />
her own shop, Connie’s Frozen<br />
Custard, <strong>with</strong> her husband.<br />
“We looked for a location for<br />
Connie’s for five years,” Ashby,<br />
whose nickname is Connie, said.<br />
“We chose this area because<br />
we like being out here in the<br />
suburbs, and from 1999 to the<br />
present, the <strong>growth</strong> in this area<br />
has almost doubled.”<br />
After finding a location at an<br />
old bank on the corner of Jones<br />
Road and McCracken Circle,<br />
Ashby had to deal <strong>with</strong> the most<br />
important aspect of her business—finding<br />
the best frozen<br />
custard recipe. To do this, she<br />
went back to her roots in Missouri<br />
and asked to use the same<br />
59-year-old recipe as a frozen<br />
custard shop in her hometown.<br />
The shop agreed and put her<br />
1960<br />
9740 Barker Cypress Rd. • Cypress, Texas 77433<br />
$10 OFF<br />
MICROCHIPPING<br />
With coupon. Expires 8-19-10.<br />
HOURS: M/T/TH 7AM-6PM • WED. 9AM-8PM • SAT. 8AM-12PM JEANNE M. LEJEUNE, DVM<br />
Jones Rd<br />
N<br />
through 10 days of intensive<br />
frozen custard training.<br />
When Ashby finally learned<br />
the ins and outs of the custard<br />
business, she opened her shop<br />
<strong>with</strong> a drive-thru window, two<br />
flavors of custard—vanilla and<br />
chocolate—and plenty of topping<br />
choices in April 2000.<br />
Today, Connie’s, which is still<br />
in its original location, has a<br />
steady stream of customers, an<br />
extensive list of frozen treats and<br />
a new outdoor seating area.<br />
“Once people come and try<br />
it, they will come back,” Ashby<br />
said. “Frozen custard is a comfort<br />
food, and there is something<br />
for everybody here.”<br />
Returning customers such as<br />
Fiona O’Mara and Jafitza Sander<br />
say they return to Connie’s<br />
because the frozen treat tastes<br />
better than most ice cream.<br />
“Frozen custard is creamier<br />
and smoother than ice cream,”<br />
Ashby said. “It is premium ice<br />
cream made <strong>with</strong> egg yolk.”<br />
Besides the draw of the taste,<br />
Ashby said Connie’s is a great<br />
place to bring the entire family<br />
to relax on a hot summer day<br />
and throughout the year.<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 9<br />
Molly Ryan<br />
A Tin Roof sundae is topped <strong>with</strong> a cherry.<br />
Drool-worthy items<br />
Concretes: Vanilla or chocolate custard mixed<br />
<strong>with</strong> fruit, candy, nuts and more<br />
• Texas Tornado Concrete—Vanilla custard<br />
blended <strong>with</strong> strawberries and melted<br />
chocolate chips ($4.71)<br />
Sundaes: Vanilla or chocolate custard covered<br />
<strong>with</strong> a choice of toppings.<br />
• J.B.’s Texas Turtle sundae—custard<br />
topped <strong>with</strong> hot fudge, caramel, roasted<br />
pecans and cherries ($5.25).<br />
• Banana split—A whole banana topped<br />
<strong>with</strong> custard, strawberries, marshmallow<br />
cream, mixed nuts and cherries ($5.57).<br />
Malt or milkshake: ($3.40–$4.70)<br />
McCracken<br />
Circle<br />
Jones Rd.<br />
Mills Rd.<br />
Ocean City<br />
Blvd.<br />
Cypress North<br />
Houston Rd.<br />
Connie’s Frozen Custard<br />
12545 Jones Road, Houston<br />
281-469-3444<br />
www.conniesfrozencustard.com<br />
N
10 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition
Betsy Ellison<br />
Neighborhood Dining | Guayaba Latin Grill<br />
Guayaba Latin Grill owner Emmanuel Gonzalez enjoys sharing his Latin culture <strong>with</strong> the community through his restaurant.<br />
By Betsy Ellison<br />
When Guayaba Latin Grill owner<br />
Emmaunel Gonzalez opened his first<br />
restaurant in Katy six years ago, his main<br />
goal was to give customers an experience<br />
authentic to the food being served.<br />
“I strive <strong>real</strong>ly hard to give customers<br />
a Latin feel from the moment they walk<br />
in the front door,” Gonzalez said. “People<br />
can obviously look out the window and<br />
see where they are, but we hope the music,<br />
ambience and food bring the whole experience<br />
together.”<br />
In September 2008, Gonzalez expanded<br />
Guayaba to the Northwest Houston community<br />
and opened a second location on<br />
Hwy. 249 at Gessner Road. This is now<br />
the only location of Guayaba after the first<br />
restaurant in Katy closed earlier this year.<br />
With a menu busting at the seams, the<br />
restaurant has three fan-favorite dishes:<br />
Ropa Vieja ($10.95), Cuban hand-pulled<br />
beef; Pollo Con Crema de Jalapeño<br />
($10.95), chicken breast marinated in<br />
chimichurri, topped <strong>with</strong> a jalapeño; and<br />
Pollo Guayaba ($15.95), a large chicken<br />
breast stuffed <strong>with</strong> shrimp and spinach,<br />
topped <strong>with</strong> a sweet guayaba.<br />
On Sundays, Guayaba has a brunch<br />
buffet ($11.95 for adults and $8.95 for children<br />
over 3) <strong>with</strong> more than 30 options<br />
that rotate weekly. Along <strong>with</strong> bottomless<br />
mimosas ($6), the buffet might include<br />
an omelet station, Gallo Pinto—white<br />
rice and black beans, tossed <strong>with</strong> onion,<br />
tomatoes and cilantro—and Chorizo<br />
Asado—Argentine chorizo sautéed <strong>with</strong><br />
peppers and onions.<br />
Guayaba also has a large selection of<br />
wines, an award-winning mojito bar and<br />
a happy hour running Monday through<br />
Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.<br />
Upon entering Guayaba, the atmosphere<br />
from the busy Houston highways<br />
changes to a Latin-flavored ambience<br />
filled <strong>with</strong> vibrant greens and reds <strong>with</strong><br />
low lighting to keep the mood intimate.<br />
“My wife actually threw out the name<br />
Guayaba,” Gonzalez said. “I told her no at<br />
first, but then, as I started to research the<br />
word a little more I found out it actually<br />
Betsy Ellison<br />
means a lot to people of Latin decent.”<br />
Guayaba is a tropical fruit indigenous<br />
to South and Central America, the Caribbean<br />
and Southeast Asia.<br />
“The word is beautiful,” Gonzalez said.<br />
“The way all of the A’s stand out and how<br />
it comes together when you look at it.<br />
After about six or seven months of business<br />
I told my wife the name was genius.”<br />
Ceviche, a marinated seafood cocktail, is a classic South<br />
American dish.<br />
Build-your-own ceviche<br />
An interesting and unique aspect of Guayaba is its<br />
ceviche bar ($9.95), where diners can custom order<br />
this authentic Latin dish to their liking, served <strong>with</strong><br />
homemade plantains.<br />
• Choose a meat: shrimp, calamari, scallops or<br />
chicken<br />
• Pick a fresco marinade or cocktail sauce:<br />
Mexican, South American or Central American<br />
• Pick ingredients: red onion, white onion,<br />
tomato, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, red cabbage,<br />
bell pepper, avocado<br />
1960<br />
Mills Rd.<br />
Guayaba Latin Grill<br />
17505 Hwy. 249, Houston<br />
281-477-8555<br />
www.guayabagrill.com<br />
Mon.–Thur. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.<br />
Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.<br />
Sun. 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m.<br />
Gessner Rd.<br />
249<br />
N<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 11<br />
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12 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
<strong>Commercial</strong><br />
CONTINUED FROM | 1<br />
Jason Gaines, a leasing agent for <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong><br />
firm Global Fund Investments. “There is<br />
not a lot of raw land to add housing.”<br />
Since this area is not experiencing<br />
<strong>growth</strong>, it is dealing <strong>with</strong> some of the same<br />
commercial <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> issues as most areas<br />
in Houston, including a large percentage<br />
of tenant vacancies.<br />
“The vacancy rate is pretty substantial<br />
throughout Houston commercial centers,”<br />
Kobriger said. “I think it’s all tied to the<br />
economy. When you have a high unemployment<br />
rate, people become very concerned<br />
about business risks.”<br />
The older market<br />
Many commercial centers in the Jersey<br />
Village area around Jones Road have tenant<br />
vacancies.<br />
Some <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> agents and tenants see<br />
these vacancies as a deterrent to current<br />
and future business, but others believe<br />
that the vacancies provide opportunities<br />
for more appropriate businesses for the<br />
current demographic.<br />
Vacancies in commercial centers are<br />
often caused by an anchor store leaving<br />
the property. Anchors are big-name companies<br />
such as grocery stores and department<br />
stores that are used to bring in customers<br />
to lesser-known businesses in the<br />
same center.<br />
“Target and Walmart are so large and<br />
so well-capitalized that they can afford to<br />
shut down a store, but everyone else in the<br />
“Most retail has shifted west. That’s where the<br />
higher-end demographics are. We have had mostly<br />
business, service and medical tenants interested in<br />
the old Target building.”<br />
– Grant Walker<br />
Page Partners, commercial <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> broker<br />
shopping center will be affected by this,”<br />
Kobriger said.<br />
In the Jersey Village area, a lack of<br />
anchors has impacted commercial <strong>real</strong><br />
<strong>estate</strong> business in the last few years.<br />
“Generally, we have an oversupply of<br />
F R E S H . A U T H E N T I C . C L O S E T O H O M E .<br />
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unanchored strip centers in the Jersey Village<br />
area,” said David Meyers, director of<br />
brokerage and a partner at NewQuest Properties,<br />
a retail center development firm.<br />
“The majority of the time, having an anchor<br />
is necessary. When you have an anchored<br />
center, it will weather the test of time.”<br />
More than three years ago, the Target<br />
anchoring the Steeplechase Shopping<br />
Center at the corner of Jones Road and FM<br />
1960 closed. Without the traffic flow from<br />
Target, many other businesses in the center<br />
quickly shut down.<br />
“Not having an anchor <strong>real</strong>ly affects<br />
business,” said Melissa Brock, the store<br />
manager for Anna’s Linens in the Steeplechase<br />
Shopping Center. “It was a ghost<br />
town here for a while.”<br />
After Target vacated, Andrew Schreer,<br />
www.aliciasmexicangrille.com<br />
A tale of two shopping centers<br />
26326 NORTHWEST FREEWAY, CYPRESS 77429 | 281.304.1833<br />
N<br />
CyPRESS<br />
290<br />
Cy-Fair Town Center<br />
Spring Cypress Rd.<br />
The Cy-Fair Town Center is located in an area <strong>with</strong><br />
considerable amount of new commercial and housing<br />
developments.<br />
• Developer: NewQuest Properties<br />
• Anchors: Kroger, JC Penney, Cinemark<br />
• Size: Approximately 62 acres<br />
• Demographics in a three-mile radius:<br />
• Population: 55,470<br />
(March 2010, postal count)<br />
• Average household income: $103,408 (March 2010,<br />
postal count)<br />
• Traffic counts<br />
(Texas Department of Transportation, 2008)<br />
• Hwy. 290 and east of Spring Cypress Road–104,000<br />
cars per day<br />
• Hwy. 290 and west of Spring Cypress Road–76,000 cars<br />
per day<br />
Source: NewQuest Properties<br />
290<br />
6<br />
the owner and general managing partner<br />
of Schreer Partnership Interests, bought<br />
most of the retail space in the center.<br />
Schreer said he plans to revamp the center<br />
to fit the needs of the lower economic<br />
demographic of the region. Citi Trends, a<br />
low-price clothing retailer, will open as an<br />
anchor store in the center, he said.<br />
As for the former Target building, a new<br />
private owner working <strong>with</strong> Page Partners,<br />
a retail <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> advising service, is hoping<br />
to sell or lease the property.<br />
“Different types of users like professional<br />
businesses, trade schools and call<br />
centers are filling in the big-box spaces<br />
now,” said Grant Walker, leasing agent for<br />
the owner of the Target property. “You are<br />
not seeing too many retailers.”<br />
The new market<br />
Intersections along Hwy. 290 in Cy-Fair<br />
have been a breeding ground for commercial<br />
businesses during the last five years.<br />
“The hot spot is moving farther <strong>northwest</strong>,”<br />
said Charlotte Blocker Farshchi,<br />
owner and principal for The Winzor Group,<br />
a commercial <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> brokerage service.<br />
“The area around Barker Cypress Road is so<br />
new and people <strong>with</strong> higher income levels<br />
have moved there. They have the finances<br />
to maintain commercial centers.”<br />
Steeplechase Shopping Center<br />
Prime Steakhouse • Fresh Seafood • Homemade Pasta • Wine Bar<br />
11 a.m.-3 p.m.<br />
Jones Rd.<br />
1960<br />
The Steeplechase Shopping Center is located in an area <strong>with</strong><br />
little economic <strong>growth</strong>.<br />
• Developers: Schreer Partnership Interests and<br />
Page Partners<br />
• Anchors: 99¢ Only, Citi Trends (future)<br />
• Size: Approximately 7.9 acres<br />
• Demographics in a three-mile radius:<br />
• Population: 109,712 (2009 postal count)<br />
• Average household income: $76,130<br />
(2008 AGS Demographic Data)<br />
• Traffic counts<br />
(Texas Department of Transportation, 2004)<br />
• FM 1960 west of Jones Road–62,600 cars per day<br />
• FM 1960 east of Jones Road–51,300 cars per day<br />
• Jones Road north of FM 1960–33,190 cars per day<br />
• Jones Road south of FM 1960–30,900 cars per day<br />
Source: Page Partners<br />
Real <strong>estate</strong> agents and experts agree that<br />
<strong>residential</strong> <strong>growth</strong> is the main factor of the<br />
commercial <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> boom in Cy-Fair.<br />
However, many other elements contributed<br />
to this area’s success.<br />
“It was easy money, easy construction<br />
and easy loans,” said Meyers of NewQuest.<br />
NewQuest developed the Cy-Fair Town<br />
Center, located at the intersection of Hwy.<br />
290 and Spring Cypress Road. Meyers<br />
said this commercial center, which Kroger<br />
anchors, was one of the first commercial<br />
centers in the area, and since its opening,<br />
other commercial centers have sprung up<br />
to try and replicate its success.<br />
Despite this recent increase in retail<br />
center competition, Meyers said commercial<br />
<strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> is doing well at the Cy-Fair<br />
Town Center.<br />
Overall, the economic outlook along<br />
Hwy. 290 continues to be positive, but Meyers<br />
warned that all commercial centers have<br />
to be aware of overdevelopment.<br />
“Retail always follows single-family<br />
development,” Meyers said. “Sometimes,<br />
retail follows too quickly in some areas of<br />
Houston. Then, when the <strong>growth</strong> stops,<br />
these areas are over-retailed.”<br />
Comment at more.impactnews.com/9037<br />
Lunch Specials under $10 | Happy Hour M-F 11-7<br />
Catering | Reservations Welcomed<br />
14315 Cypress Rosehill Road<br />
Cypress, Texas 77429<br />
281-304-1825<br />
www.dariosamericanbistro.com
Molly Ryan<br />
Nonprofit Profile | Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary<br />
Heather Burnett, the founder of Noah’s Ark, plays <strong>with</strong> two of her own dogs that she rescued from animal abusers.<br />
By Molly Ryan<br />
Heather Burnett calls herself a matchmaker.<br />
At her no-kill animal shelter,<br />
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, she pairs<br />
previously abandoned and neglected animals<br />
<strong>with</strong> loving owners and happy homes.<br />
In the 20 years since she founded Noah’s<br />
Ark, Burnett has matched thousands of<br />
animals <strong>with</strong> new owners. She is also<br />
determined to educate the public about<br />
animal abuse and proper animal care, stop<br />
animal cruelty and provide any animal she<br />
has room for <strong>with</strong> the tender care it needs.<br />
“We are probably the only business<br />
that would love to be put out of business,”<br />
Burnett said. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if<br />
we didn’t exist? If there were homes for all<br />
the abandoned animals?”<br />
Burnett said she has loved and cared for<br />
animals her entire life. She first became<br />
professionally involved <strong>with</strong> animal rescue<br />
services when she started the Samoyed<br />
Rescue Service of South Texas.<br />
“I was showing Samoyed dogs when I<br />
<strong>real</strong>ized I was more into the rescue part of<br />
the animal world.”<br />
Soon after she started the Samoyed<br />
Rescue Service, she decided she wanted to<br />
provide all animals <strong>with</strong> loving homes. In<br />
1990, she opened Noah’s Ark to do so.<br />
“We’re here because we have to be here,”<br />
Burnett said. “It’s my love of animals and<br />
working <strong>with</strong> and teaching the kids that<br />
visit here that keeps me going.”<br />
Today, Noah’s Ark can house more than<br />
30 dogs and cats, a handful of rabbits,<br />
hamsters, birds and other exotic animals<br />
and a few rescue horses. Most animals are<br />
available for adoption.<br />
Noah’s Ark also serves as an educational<br />
facility. School and charity groups from<br />
the Cypress area come to the shelter to<br />
learn about animal care and the problem<br />
of abuse.<br />
“We teach kids the importance of caring<br />
for animals and proper pet ownership<br />
skills,” Burnett said. “Several animals, like<br />
some horses, are here for just education.”<br />
In her lessons, Burnett stresses the fact<br />
that Noah’s Ark is a no-kill shelter, meaning<br />
that it does not euthanize any animals.<br />
All animals are admitted on a first-come,<br />
first-serve basis. However, since the shelter<br />
only has a limited amount of space, many<br />
animals are turned away.<br />
“We want to put all animals in a happy<br />
home where they can be loved, but there<br />
are just too many animals that we cannot<br />
accept,” Burnett said. “The lucky ones get<br />
to stay here.”<br />
In order to keep the shelter running,<br />
Burnett and her few employees rely<br />
solely on donations and volunteers from<br />
the public. Some notable contributions<br />
include a horse barn donated and built<br />
by Eagle Scouts and a butterfly garden<br />
donated by Hewlett-Packard.<br />
Burnett said she hopes to serve the public<br />
more by expanding her facilities and<br />
renaming the shelter the Harris County<br />
Humane Society. With this title, which<br />
Burnett expects to obtain in the coming<br />
months, the shelter can receive grants and<br />
have veterinarians on staff to spay and<br />
neuter animals. The shelter will also be<br />
able to expand and house more animals.<br />
Heather Burnett’s pet care tips<br />
Spay or neuter your pet. Harris County is already<br />
overpopulated <strong>with</strong> pets. Do not help contribute<br />
to this problem.<br />
Children should feed the family pet. Make sure<br />
children feed the pet before they feed themselves.<br />
This will teach them the importance and<br />
responsibility of caring for a pet.<br />
Check your dog food label. It should have a high<br />
supply of nutrients, and it should not include corn.<br />
Corn is a filler food and does not sate hunger.<br />
Vaccinate your pet. Diseases such as feline AIDS<br />
and parvo are prevalent in pets in this area.<br />
Microchip your pet. This allows shelters to return<br />
lost pets to their proper homes.<br />
Santos Rd.<br />
Cypress Rosehill Rd.<br />
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary<br />
18430 KZ Road, Cypress<br />
281-807-7387<br />
www.noahs-ark-sanctuary.org<br />
Grant Rd.<br />
KZ Rd. N<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 13<br />
we are your<br />
Northwest Houston<br />
journalists<br />
Betsy Ellison - Reporter (left)<br />
Molly Ryan - Reporter (right)<br />
We want your feedback. Send story ideas and suggestions to<br />
nwhnews@impactnews.com<br />
What sets us apart from other news sources? Hyperlocal reporting<br />
that is tailored to your zip code. Our Northwest Houston team is a part<br />
of a National Newspaper Association award–winning news group,<br />
which was founded in Central Texas. We are dedicated to providing<br />
informative, nonbiased news coverage that focuses on Houston’s<br />
issues and how they relate to you. We showcase locally owned<br />
businesses through pro les and restaurant reviews, and in addition,<br />
we localize hot topics including health care, education, transportation,<br />
development and government. We live and work in Houston and<br />
have rst-hand knowledge of the issues in your neighborhood. Our<br />
newspaper comes out once a month, but you can nd up-to-date<br />
information daily at impactnews.com.
14 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Agriculture<br />
of market value and production<br />
value on the land, times 7 percent,<br />
CONTINUED FROM | 1<br />
for the previous five years it was<br />
under special evaluation.<br />
land values in the area skyrocket, For example, Underwood said<br />
facing landowners <strong>with</strong> the deci- if he owned 100 acres and sold<br />
sion to sell or continue farming. 50 to a developer, but kept cattle<br />
“Sometimes people can’t afford on his half while the developer<br />
to not sell off some of their land,” began building an apartment<br />
Underwood said. “Land values complex, the developer was the<br />
could range from $20,000 to one to take that land out of agri-<br />
$40,000 per acre.”<br />
culture and would have to pay the<br />
Underwood said a lot of the rollback taxes.<br />
time landowners split large prop- “Most people know about this<br />
erties into smaller tracts of 15 to law and will negotiate a deal,” he<br />
20 acres and sell them off little by said. “But there have been times<br />
little.<br />
where I’ve had to deal <strong>with</strong> up to<br />
“Right now a large percent of a quarter of a million dollars in<br />
the land in agriculture is owned rollback taxes.”<br />
by investors,” Underwood said. Urbanizing agriculture<br />
“Most are keeping the land as is Though the number of acres<br />
until they are ready to develop used for agriculture is declining<br />
it because taking the land out of rapidly, the county recognizes<br />
agriculture can get expensive.” the land will continue to be used<br />
When land is used for agricul- for production purposes. Because<br />
tural purposes—cattle produc- of this, the county wants to edution,<br />
timber, wildlife managecate local farmers on adapting to<br />
ment, cropland and more—the the urbanization.<br />
landowner pays taxes on the “Some of these smaller tracts<br />
production value rather than the of land are being sold to people<br />
market value. This production is tired of living in the city,” said<br />
monitored by HCAD and is called Jeff Koch, Harris County Texas<br />
a special evaluation appraisal. AgriLife extension agent for agri-<br />
If that land is then taken out culture and natural recourses.<br />
of agriculture, the legal owner at “They may want to move out into<br />
the time must pay the difference the country and own a piece of<br />
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors®<br />
Houston’s Leader in<br />
Closed transactions*<br />
www.expectmoretoday.com<br />
Cy-Fair Office<br />
23800 NW Freeway #101<br />
Cypress, TX 77429<br />
Phone: 281.304.5900<br />
Fax: 281.304.5999<br />
* Houston Business Journal June, 25 2010<br />
land; that is where we come in.”<br />
The extension agency developed<br />
an urban rancher program,<br />
started in 2005, that offers support<br />
and instructional information<br />
to current landowners and<br />
new-to-ranching participants.<br />
During the 13-week class, participants<br />
learn about land laws,<br />
farm equipment safety, herd<br />
health, fence building and more.<br />
“People are able to get their<br />
hands dirty and learn what it<br />
takes to run a small ranch,” Koch<br />
said. “We try to give them a good,<br />
sound foundation on how to<br />
make decisions for their properties.”<br />
Rural vs. urban<br />
As an area of land founded<br />
upon agriculture by German<br />
settlers in the 1800s, the landscape<br />
continues to become more<br />
urbanized.<br />
Today, nearly 30 percent of the<br />
land in Harris County is used for<br />
agriculture, according to HCAD.<br />
“Go out and ride on any back<br />
road in the area,” Underwood<br />
said. “The land is still here for<br />
now. It is being produced and<br />
used, and I think that surprises a<br />
lot of people.”<br />
Comment at more.impactnews.com/9036<br />
Betsy Ellison Keeping the old west alive<br />
Built about 65 years after Warren Ranch was established, this barn sits in the middle of the<br />
ranch headquarters bearing its historic name.<br />
Not only is Warren Ranch the largest working ranch in Harris County,<br />
it is also the oldest, dating back to the 1860s.<br />
With about 6,400 acres, historically it was known for rice farming.<br />
Today the ranch is owned by members of the Warren family and the<br />
Katy Prairie Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization working to<br />
preserve land for farming and ranching in the Houston area.<br />
Wesley Newman, manager at Warren Ranch and land manager<br />
for KPC, said it is important to keep the ranch land away from<br />
urbanization because it is very diverse in wildlife and agricultural<br />
entities.<br />
“Part of what makes this place so neat,” he said, “is you wouldn’t<br />
think you are just 10 minutes from a major subdivision. You get out<br />
here and for the most part it’s quiet. You are in the country, and it<br />
should stay that way. We don’t<br />
Mound Rd.<br />
have to pave over everything.”<br />
The ranch includes about 400<br />
Warren<br />
Lake<br />
head of cattle, 275 acres of hay<br />
and a 150-acre lake. Also, land is<br />
leased for farming corn and the<br />
various hunting seasons.<br />
Jack Rd.<br />
Read more about KPC<br />
more.impactnews.com/5884 15025 Warren Ranch Road, Hockley<br />
FREE GIFT<br />
Join the Only Wine Club <strong>with</strong> a Club House<br />
Warren<br />
Ranch Rd.<br />
N<br />
Wine Club • Wine Accessories & Gifts<br />
Wine Sales • Tastings • Tasting Room • Custom Gift Baskets<br />
Be sure to add wine to your<br />
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stock up today!<br />
Receive a Free Gift when you<br />
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12361 Barker k Cypress #900 • 281-758-3560<br />
Located behind HEB. In front of Coles Crossing<br />
www.winestyles.net/cypress<br />
Katy Hockley Rd.
Community Close-up | Debbie’s Garden and Farmers Market<br />
Fresh and local<br />
In 2008, one week after Hurricane Ike struck Houston,<br />
Debbie Cross and Don Lile opened a produce stand off<br />
Hwy. 290 and Huffmeister Road at Hempstead Road, next<br />
to an abandoned farm house they had purchased.<br />
With daily deliveries of fresh-from-the-farm produce, most<br />
coming from local growers, Debbie’s Garden and Farmers<br />
Market offers everything from giant sweet potatoes to<br />
homemade honey.<br />
Why buy local?<br />
• Local foods travel short distances to get to consumers.<br />
• Most produce is delivered to market <strong>with</strong>in 24 hours of harvest.<br />
• Prices vary based on season and item, but are often cheaper<br />
than grocery stores.<br />
• Delivered by the farmer to the market, cutting out the middle man.<br />
• Consumers have the opportunity to interact <strong>with</strong> vendor and<br />
sometimes the farmers.<br />
• Promotes nutritional education and wholesome eating habits.<br />
Debbie’s Garden and Farmers Market<br />
N<br />
Huffmeister Rd.<br />
Hempstead Rd.<br />
20806 Hempstead Road, Cypress<br />
832-863-5533<br />
Market Hours:<br />
Thur.–Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m.<br />
Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m.<br />
A WINERY OF THE YEAR<br />
WINE DINNER<br />
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28TH<br />
6:30pm | COST: $60 per person*<br />
Celebrate the award-winning wines of<br />
DeLoach Vineyards, named a 2009 “Top<br />
100 Winery of the Year” by Wine & Spirits<br />
Magazine. Enjoy a sumptuous five-course<br />
menu featuring five exceptional varietals.<br />
CALL 281.949.5999<br />
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED<br />
Photos by Betsy Ellison<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 15<br />
What to find at your local farmers market<br />
Customer-recycled cartons are used to hold fresh eggs ($4 per dozen) from<br />
Weimar, Texas.<br />
By-the-pound zucchini, fresh from Spring, Texas, sit next to yellow squash<br />
in piles.<br />
Each pot grows an assortment of jalapeño, habanero and serrano peppers<br />
and is ready for picking.<br />
Citrus fruits including grapefruits, oranges, lemons and limes overflow the<br />
baskets at the farmers market.<br />
Source: United States Department of Agriculture and Debbie’s Garden and Farmers Market<br />
VIU MANENT SECRETO<br />
WINE TASTING<br />
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH<br />
6:00pm | COST: $20 per person*<br />
Discover the fusion of art and wine in a<br />
special Viu Manent’s Secreto wine tasting<br />
event at Merche. Four choice Viu Manent<br />
wines will be available, accompanied by a<br />
variety of savory hors d’oeuvres.<br />
* Tax and gratuity not included.<br />
21208 Northwest Freeway | Professional Building II | Cypress, Texas 77429 | www.MercheRestaurant.com
16 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Education Focus<br />
New Cy-Fair ISD principals named for 2010–11 school year<br />
Sixteen new principals have been named for several Cy-Fair ISD elementary schools.<br />
FREE ArtDemo<br />
Thu. August 5th~6-7:30pm<br />
WIN Art Classes & More!<br />
Thomas Cleveland an AIP Master<br />
Designer for the United States Mint<br />
shares his art secrets. How many miles<br />
can a pencil draw? What bug makes red<br />
paint? Entertaining and Educational.<br />
Light Refreshments Served.<br />
First 25 guests receive a<br />
2010 Native American Dollar *<br />
*One coin per family. Awarded after demo.<br />
12710 Grant Rd, Cypress, TX 77429<br />
281-370-9336 ARTISTWITHIN.NET<br />
PEACE OF MIND FOR THE WORKING PARENT<br />
State Licensed<br />
Also Offer:<br />
Tae Kwon Do<br />
& Gymnastics<br />
Bang Elementary<br />
Erwann Wilson<br />
Previous position:<br />
principal at Key Middle<br />
School in Houston ISD<br />
Black Elementary<br />
Melissa LeDoux<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Moore Elementary<br />
Copeland Elementary<br />
Michelle Rice<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Warner Elementary<br />
Danish Elementary<br />
Kelly Dalton<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Holbrook Elementary<br />
Register<br />
NOW for<br />
Fall Classes!<br />
A PHONICS-BASED CURRICULUM USED IN ALL PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS<br />
Emery Elementary<br />
Anne Wilcox<br />
Previous position:<br />
principal at Sheridan<br />
Elementary<br />
Emmott Elementary<br />
Jessica Hernandez<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Gleason Elementary<br />
Farney Elementary<br />
Tricia Reilly<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Black Elementary<br />
Fiest Elementary<br />
Crystal Romero-<br />
Mueller<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Emmott Elementary<br />
All School Breaks K~12<br />
Birthdays, Scouts, Fun!<br />
ART<br />
Classes<br />
Real Results, Real Fast!<br />
• 15 Months thru School Age<br />
• Licensed Private Kindergarten<br />
• Transportation to and from public schools<br />
• Certifi ed Kindergarten teacher<br />
• Half day programs<br />
• Preschool programs for all age groups<br />
• Music Class<br />
• Before & After School Care<br />
281.469.1688<br />
9514 Grant Road, 77070<br />
www.grantroaddaycare.com<br />
Gleason Elementary<br />
Melody Goffney<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Postma Elementary<br />
Hairgrove Elementary<br />
Darynda Klein<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Hairgrove Elementary<br />
Lee Elementary<br />
Tonya Goree<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Tipps Elementary<br />
Reed Elementary<br />
Kandy Bond<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Frazier Elementary<br />
Inspiring<br />
World Class<br />
Learning<br />
British School of Houston<br />
Rennell Elementary<br />
Leslie Thomas<br />
Previous position:<br />
principal at Reed<br />
Elementary<br />
Sampson Elementary<br />
Heather Motzny<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Swenke Elementary<br />
Sheridan Elementary<br />
Gina Guidry<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Sheridan Elementary<br />
Swenke Elementary<br />
Elizabeth Miller<br />
Previous position:<br />
assistant principal at<br />
McFee Elementary<br />
British School of Houston provides students from Pre-K through 12th grade <strong>with</strong> an<br />
individualized approach to learning, where student and teacher work together to<br />
develop a personalized learning plan. Our students perform well beyond expectations<br />
to reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more.<br />
713.290.9025<br />
admissionsbsh@britishschool.org • www.britishschool.org/houston
Sponsored by:<br />
Cy-Fair Independent School District 2010<br />
UIL <strong>real</strong>ignment moves CFISD back to Region III-5A<br />
By Betsy Ellison<br />
Every two years the University Interscholastic<br />
League <strong>real</strong>igns school districts<br />
throughout the state for athletic and<br />
academic competition. In February, the<br />
Cy-Fair ISD athletic department learned<br />
its fate for the next two seasons.<br />
After four years of competing in Region<br />
II-5A—which included schools as far<br />
north as Richardson—Cy-Fair ISD has<br />
been placed back in Region III, which will<br />
cut down on travel expenses, especially<br />
during first-round playoff games.<br />
“Moving back to Region III is great<br />
for us,” said Sheri Stice, CFISD associate<br />
director of athletics and coordinator of<br />
secondary physical education. “This will<br />
save on long bus rides, which can add up<br />
when you are traveling <strong>with</strong> large groups<br />
of kids. That money will now be saved<br />
until it is needed.”<br />
Travel expenses include transportation,<br />
food and sometimes lodging for all<br />
students and staff, Stice said.<br />
While competing in Region II, firstround<br />
playoff games were against Round<br />
Rock, Georgetown and Leander schools,<br />
north of Austin.<br />
“When athletes travel that far to play<br />
in unfamiliar environments, it can play<br />
heavy mind games on some,” Stice said.<br />
District 17<br />
1 Cy-Fair ISD<br />
District 18<br />
2 Aldine ISD<br />
3 Alief ISD<br />
District 19<br />
4 Katy ISD<br />
5 Spring Branch ISD<br />
6 Strake Jesuit Prep<br />
District 20<br />
7 Houston ISD<br />
District 21<br />
8 Beaumont ISD<br />
9 Channelview ISD<br />
10 Galena Park ISD<br />
11 Goose Creek ISD<br />
12 La Porte ISD<br />
13 Port Arthur ISD<br />
For more information and to see which high schools in these districts<br />
are Conference 5A, visit www.uil.utexas.edu/alignments/index.html.<br />
Now that the district is back in the<br />
southeast region—which includes Houston<br />
ISD, Fort Bend ISD and Katy ISD—<br />
first-round playoff games will be closer<br />
to home, against teams advancing from<br />
District 18-5A: Alief ISD and Aldine ISD.<br />
“This change will help our gates,” she<br />
said. “More people will come to games<br />
when they are closer. It’s always great<br />
when students and fans are able to attend,<br />
too.”<br />
The UIL classifies regions based on<br />
geographical location, while districts are<br />
based on school enrollment numbers submitted<br />
after the start of the fall semester.<br />
All of CFISD’s 10 high schools form one<br />
UIL district—District 17-5A. The 2010–11<br />
district athletic programs get under way<br />
<strong>with</strong> football two-a-day training beginning<br />
Aug. 2 for schools that did not have<br />
spring training and Aug. 9 for those that<br />
did.<br />
All high schools play one game prior to<br />
district against a nondistrict team, and<br />
the first two games are set for Aug. 27.<br />
District games start Sept. 9 at the Berry<br />
Center and Pridgeon Stadium.<br />
“We are happy to be back home,” Stice<br />
said. “The strength of athletics in the<br />
Greater Houston area is tremendous.”<br />
Region III-5A school districts for 2010–12<br />
I-10 I-10<br />
59<br />
4<br />
290<br />
16<br />
3<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
1<br />
6<br />
5<br />
249<br />
7<br />
610<br />
288<br />
18<br />
2<br />
59<br />
610<br />
17<br />
21<br />
8<br />
14<br />
9<br />
15<br />
10<br />
12<br />
19<br />
45<br />
11<br />
20<br />
Beaumont<br />
I-10<br />
8<br />
13<br />
Port<br />
Arthur<br />
District 22<br />
14 Deer Park ISD<br />
15 Pasadena ISD<br />
District 23<br />
16 Fort Bend ISD<br />
District 24<br />
17 Alvin ISD<br />
18 Brazosport ISD<br />
19 Clear Creek ISD<br />
20 Dickinson ISD<br />
21 Pearland ISD<br />
N<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 17<br />
Map not<br />
to scale<br />
www.CypressKumon.com<br />
www.KumonFS.com<br />
www.KumonFS.com
18 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
METHODIST CENTER FOR SPORTS MEDICINE<br />
NOW AT WILLOWBROOK<br />
The Methodist Hospital System is proud to be the ofcial health care provider for:<br />
Your savings federally<br />
insured to at least $250,000 and<br />
backed by the full faith and credit of the<br />
United States Government.<br />
Building Better Athletes<br />
There’s one team in town that is passionate about<br />
being the best: the Methodist Center for Sports<br />
Medicine. Our nationally recognized orthopedic<br />
surgeons are making breakthroughs in sports<br />
medicine, and joint treatment. Now at Methodist<br />
Willowbrook, expert physicians are redefining<br />
human performance through research and<br />
innovation and keeping Houston’s best athletes<br />
playing strong and pain-free. To learn more or<br />
to schedule an appointment, call 281-737-0902<br />
or visit methodistsportsmed.com.<br />
Passionately committed<br />
to giving back, financially and<br />
through our service work, to the<br />
community in which we live and<br />
serve.<br />
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union is proud<br />
to support area organizations equally<br />
committed to:<br />
■ Enriching lives<br />
■ Strengthening our community<br />
■ Making a difference<br />
888.890.7676 ■ www.cyfaircu.org
2009 Statistics State District<br />
Economically Disadvantaged 55.3% 41.9%<br />
Limited English Proficient (LEP) 16.7% 17.3%<br />
Average years experience of teachers 11.3 11.0<br />
Average actual salaries of teachers $46,179 $48,848<br />
Subject State 2009 District 2009<br />
Reading 91% 93%<br />
Math 80% 86%<br />
Writing 93% 93%<br />
Science 74% 85%<br />
Social Studies 91% 96%<br />
District scores by grade<br />
2010 TAKS Preliminary Scores<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 19<br />
Education Focus Cy-Fair Independent School District 2010<br />
Arnold<br />
Middle School<br />
Adam<br />
Birkes<br />
Danish<br />
Lamkin<br />
Millsap<br />
Smith<br />
Middle School<br />
Cy-Fair<br />
High School<br />
Goodson<br />
Middle School<br />
A. Robinson<br />
Black<br />
Farney<br />
Keith<br />
Sampson<br />
Swenke<br />
Cypress Ranch<br />
High School<br />
Hamilton<br />
Middle School<br />
Spillane<br />
Middle School<br />
Warner Ault<br />
Keith<br />
Swenke<br />
Cypress Woods<br />
High School<br />
Hamilton<br />
Middle School<br />
Farney<br />
Millsap<br />
Bleyl<br />
Middle School<br />
Danish<br />
Hancock<br />
Matzke<br />
Moore<br />
Yeager<br />
Campbell<br />
Middle School<br />
Bang<br />
Danish<br />
Emmott<br />
Francone<br />
Post<br />
Willbern<br />
Spillane<br />
Middle School<br />
A. Robinson<br />
Lamkin<br />
Postma<br />
Rennell<br />
Cypress Creek<br />
High School<br />
Campbell<br />
Middle School<br />
Francone<br />
Gleason<br />
Willbern<br />
Hamilton<br />
Middle School<br />
Cook<br />
Middle School<br />
Bang<br />
Frazier<br />
Gleason<br />
Post<br />
Willbern<br />
Hamilton<br />
Millsap<br />
Moore<br />
Cypress Ridge<br />
High School<br />
Dean<br />
Middle School<br />
Bane<br />
Holbrook<br />
Kirk<br />
Post<br />
Jersey Village<br />
High School<br />
Aragon<br />
Middle School<br />
Truitt<br />
Middle School<br />
Dean<br />
Middle School<br />
Frazier<br />
Holbrook<br />
Post<br />
Reed<br />
Hopper<br />
Middle School<br />
André<br />
Duryea<br />
Emery<br />
Hemmenway<br />
Walker<br />
Aragon<br />
Middle School<br />
Birkes<br />
Copeland<br />
Holmsley<br />
Lowery<br />
Cypress Springs<br />
High School<br />
Kahla<br />
Middle School<br />
Hemmenway<br />
Jowell<br />
McFee<br />
Langham Creek<br />
High School<br />
Kahla<br />
Middle School<br />
Holmsley<br />
Jowell<br />
Lowery<br />
Metcalf<br />
Tipps<br />
Grade 3 Reading 93% Math 91%<br />
Grade 4 Reading 88% Math 93%<br />
Grade 5 Reading 95% Math 96%<br />
Grade 6 Reading 88% Math 84%<br />
Grade 7 Reading 89% Math 84%<br />
Grade 8 Reading 97% Math 90%<br />
Grade 9 Reading 95% Math 77%<br />
Grade 10 English Language Arts 94% Math 80%<br />
Grade 11 English Language Arts 96% Math 92%<br />
Smith<br />
Middle School<br />
Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools<br />
Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools<br />
Copeland<br />
Birkes<br />
Postma<br />
Rennell<br />
Hairgrove<br />
Kirk<br />
Lee<br />
Owens<br />
Cypress Falls<br />
High School<br />
Labay<br />
Middle School<br />
Birkes<br />
Fiest<br />
Hairgrove<br />
Owens<br />
*If your child attends a school that feeds into more than one school, please go to www.cfisd.net and use the campus locator to identify the specific feeder for your address.<br />
Truitt<br />
Middle School<br />
Horne<br />
Lee<br />
Tipps<br />
Thornton<br />
Middle School<br />
Emery<br />
Hemmenway<br />
M. Robinson<br />
McFee<br />
Sheridan<br />
Cypress Lakes<br />
High School<br />
Watkins<br />
Middle Scool<br />
Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools Elementary schools<br />
Black<br />
Hamilton<br />
Millsap<br />
Total students:<br />
104,225<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
Lieder<br />
Sheridan<br />
Tipps<br />
Wilson<br />
André<br />
Jowell<br />
Postma<br />
Rennell<br />
Smith<br />
Middle School<br />
Source: Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
20 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Education Focus Cy-Fair Independent School District 2010<br />
Elementary schools<br />
Address<br />
Adam 11303 Honeygrove, Houston 281-897-4485 1972 964 Exemplary 32% 94% 87% 91% 92% 96% 97%<br />
André 8111 Fry Road, Cypress 281-463-5500 2006 1,167 Recognized 75.1% 86% 84% 81% 84% 91% 95%<br />
Ault 21010 Maple Village Drive, Cypress 281-373-2800 1994 1,015 Exemplary 8.9% 96% 96% 96% 98% 100% 100%<br />
Bane 5805 Kaiser, Houston 713-460-6140 1972 905 Exemplary 88.5% 87% 92% 73% 96% 92% 98%<br />
Bang 8900 Rio Grande, Houston 281-897-4760 1990 964 Recognized 36.8% 96% 95% 86% 92% 97% 99%<br />
Birkes 8500 Queenston Blvd., Houston 281-345-3300 2003 1,345 Recognized 20.6% 99% 98% 97% 100% 99% 97%<br />
Black 14155 Grant Road, Cypress 281-320-7145 2006 1,100 Recognized 26.3% 95% 91% 94% 98% 97% 96%<br />
Copeland 18018 Forest Heights Drive, Houston 281-856-1400 1992 1,168 Exemplary 17.4% 97% 93% 97% 99% 97% 98%<br />
Danish 11850 Fallbrook Drive, Houston 281-955-4981 2005 1,125 Exemplary 64.2% 97% 96% 95% 97% 95% 96%<br />
Duryea 20150 Arbor Creek Drive, Katy 281-856-5174 2004 1,175 Recognized 70.8% 89% 80% 75% 87% 93% 94%<br />
Emery 19636 Plantation Myrtles Drive, Katy 281-855-9080 2010 899 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A<br />
Emmott 11750 Steepleway Blvd., Houston 281-897-4500 1985 876 Recognized 38.6% 90% 87% 85% 86% 93% 93%<br />
Farney 14425 Barker Cypress, Cypress 281-373-2850 2000 1,167 Recognized 22.5% 97% 94% 91% 90% 96% 94%<br />
Fiest 8425 Pine Falls, Houston 281-463-5838 2003 1,092 Exemplary 28.3% 92% 87% 85% 95% 94% 97%<br />
Francone 11250 Perry Road, Houston 281-897-4512 1978 1,000 Recognized 67% 88% 82% 84% 83% 86% 89%<br />
Frazier 8300 Little River Road, Houston 713-896-3475 1982 1,092 Recognized 73.4% 92% 76% 86% 84% 89% 93%<br />
Gleason 9203 Willowbridge Park Blvd., Houston 281-517-6800 2000 959 Exemplary 38.8% 98% 97% 90% 96% 98% 99%<br />
Hairgrove 7120 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston 713-896-5015 1991 927 Recognized 78% 96% 98% 89% 97% 92% 99%<br />
Hamilton 12050 Kluge Road, Cypress 281-370-0990 1990 949 Exemplary 4.2% 97% 99% 99% 98% 99% 99%<br />
Hancock 13801 Schroeder Road, Houston 281-897-4523 1973 1,000 Recognized 45.9% 87% 82% 82% 88% 94% 94%<br />
Hemmenway 20400 W. Little York Road, Katy 281-856-9870 2008 854 Recognized 76.3% 89% 75% 85% 82% 85% 86%<br />
Holbrook 6402 Langfield Road, Houston 713-460-6165 1967* 1,032 Recognized 81.1% 84% 79% 80% 93% 88% 94%<br />
Holmsley 7315 Hudson Oaks Drive, Houston 281-463-5885 1985 1,064 Exemplary 54.7% 97% 94% 86% 96% 98% 98%<br />
Horne 14950 W. Little York Road, Houston 281-463-5954 1978 1,087 Recognized 51.2% 91% 86% 84% 91% 95% 97%<br />
Jowell 6355 Greenhouse Road, Katy 281-463-5966 1986 1,123 Recognized 66.4% 88% 89% 88% 96% 97% 100%<br />
Keith 20550 Fairfield Green, Cypress 281-213-1744 2004 900 Exemplary 5.5% 100% 100% 98% 100% 100% 100%<br />
Kirk 12421 Tanner Road, Houston 713-849-8250 2000 1,009 Recognized 52.9% 91% 97% 79% 85% 93% 96%<br />
Lamkin 11521 Telge Road, Cypress 281-897-4775 1970* 955 Exemplary 36.7% 97% 93% 94% 95% 97% 95%<br />
Lee 12900 W. Little York Road, Houston 713-849-8281 2005 983 Recognized 60.6% 92% 95% 89% 98% 94% 97%<br />
Lieder 17003 Kieth Harrow Blvd., Houston 281-463-5928 1977 1,025 Recognized 76.8% 94% 95% 84% 92% 90% 92%<br />
Lowery 15950 Ridge Park, Houston 281-463-5900 1981 967 Exemplary 30.9% 97% 95% 88% 94% 98% 99%<br />
Matzke 13102 Jones Road, Houston 281-897-4450 1965 1,016 Recognized 43.6% 96% 94% 90% 96% 97% 98%<br />
McFee 19315 Plantation Cove Lane, Katy 281-463-5380 2007 1,003 Recognized 71.2% 94% 91% 78% 88% 90% 89%<br />
Metcalf 6100 Queenston, Houston 281-856-1152 1990 1,117 Recognized 76% 91% 80% 82% 87% 92% 95%<br />
Millsap 12424 Huffmeister, Cypress 281-897-4470 1976 812 Exemplary 37.1% 95% 92% 87% 94% 98% 98%<br />
Moore 13734 Lakewood Forest Drive, Houston 281-370-4040 1979 924 Exemplary 20.4% 98% 95% 93% 98% 97% 97%<br />
Owens 7939 Jackrabbit Road, Houston 281-463-5915 1983 1,066 Recognized 49.3% 95% 91% 85% 93% 92% 97%<br />
Post 7600 Equador, Houston 713-896-3488 1960* 934 Recognized 59.5% 92% 91% 81% 96% 91% 95%<br />
*School underwent a major renovation in the past 5 years<br />
Phone<br />
Year opened<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
Projected<br />
2010–2011<br />
enrollment<br />
2009<br />
Accountability<br />
Rating<br />
2009<br />
Economically<br />
Disadvantaged<br />
Reading<br />
2010 Preliminary TAKS Scores by grade<br />
3rd 4th 5th<br />
Math<br />
Source: Texas Education Agency, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District<br />
Reading<br />
Math<br />
Reading<br />
Math
Elementary schools<br />
Address<br />
*School underwent a major renovation in the past 5 years<br />
Phone<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 21<br />
Postma 18425 West Road, Cypress 281-345-3660 2006 818 Recognized 21.7% 94% 89% 93% 96% 95% 94%<br />
Reed 8700 Tami Renee Lane, Houston 713-896-5035 1991 1,017 Recognized 70.2% 82% 84% 69% 91% 93% 99%<br />
Rennell 19500 Tuckerton Blvd., Cypress 281-213-1550 2010 809 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A<br />
M. Robinson 4321 Westfield Village Drive, Katy 281-855-1240 2008 975 Recognized 64.7% 92% 89% 85% 85% 98% 96%<br />
A. Robison 13600 Skinner Road, Cypress 281-213-1700 2003 1, 050 Exemplary 14.2% 97% 93% 95% 96% 97% 96%<br />
Sampson 16002 Coles Crossing Drive, Cypress 281-213-1600 2002 1,406 Exemplary 0.9% 99% 98% 99% 100% 100% 100%<br />
Sheridan 19790 Kieth Harrow Blvd., Katy 281-856-1420 1992 901 Exemplary 68.7% 91% 92% 89% 95% 93% 94%<br />
Swenke 22400 Fairfield Place Drive, Cypress 281-213-1200 2009 829 N/A N/A 98% 98% 98% 100% 100% 100%<br />
Tipps 5611 Queenston Blvd., Houston 281-345-3350 2003 1,226 Recognized 71.9% 92% 80% 85% 91% 93% 93%<br />
Walker 6424 Settlers Village, Katy 281-345-3200 2000 1,100 Recognized 64.1% 88% 86% 82% 92% 87% 95%<br />
Warner 19545 Cypress N. Houston, Cypress 281-213-1650 2007 1,092 Exemplary 10.9% 100% 99% 97% 98% 100% 100%<br />
Willbern 10811 Goodspring Drive, Houston 281-897-3820 1992 1,037 Exemplary 46.7% 96% 97% 85% 96% 93% 98%<br />
Wilson 18015 Kieth Harrow Blvd., Houston 281-463-5941 1983 1,056 Recognized 43.3% 90% 89% 91% 93% 96% 98%<br />
Yeager 13615 Champion Forest Drive, Houston 281-440-4914 1975 1,037 Exemplary 39.6% 93% 89% 94% 97% 96% 95%<br />
Middle schools 6th 7th 8th<br />
Aragon 16823 West Road, Houston 281-856-5100 2001 1,672 Recognized 20.9% 94% 89% 94% 90% 99% 93%<br />
Arnold 11111 Telge Road, Cypress 281-897-4700 1956* 1,530 Academically Acceptable 32.6% 88% 86% 89% 85% 97% 89%<br />
Bleyl 10800 Mills Road, Houston 281-897-4340 1973* 1,528 Academically Acceptable 39.2% 85% 82% 91% 86% 98% 88%<br />
Campbell 11415 Bobcat Road, Houston 281-897-4300 1978* 1,298 Academically Acceptable 55.5% 85% 79% 85% 75% 96% 84%<br />
Cook 9111 Wheatland, Houston 281-897-4400 1986 1,552 Recognized 34.4% 89% 88% 89% 89% 98% 93%<br />
Dean 14104 Reo St., Houston 713-460-6153 1955* 1,400 Academically Acceptable 72.3% 82% 76% 79% 67% 94% 86%<br />
Goodson 17333 Huffmeister, Cypress 281-373-2350 2001 1,726 Exemplary 12.9% 96% 94% 97% 94% 99% 97%<br />
Hamilton 12330 Kluge Road, Cypress 281-320-7000 1992 1,609 Exemplary 11.7% 96% 95% 98% 98% 99% 99%<br />
Hopper 7811 Fry Road, Cypress 281-463-5353 2007 1,511 Academically Acceptable 63.8% 77% 75% 87% 75% 97% 88%<br />
Kahla 16212 W. Little York Road, Houston 281-345-3260 2005 1,352 Academically Acceptable 66.2% 82% 77% 85% 79% 94% 87%<br />
Labay 15435 Willow River, Houston 281-463-5800 1984 1,585 Academically Acceptable 38.3% 88% 90% 92% 87% 98% 93%<br />
Smith 19325 Cypress North Houston, Cypress 281-213-1010 2009 1,291 N/A N/A 91% 81% 91% 82% 96% 90%<br />
Spillane 17500 Jarvis, Cypress 281-213-1645 2005 1,828 Recognized 9.9% 94% 92% 95% 91% 99% 96%<br />
Thornton 19802 Kieth Harrow Blvd., Katy 281-856-1500 1993 1,325 Academically Acceptable 67.7% 86% 81% 87% 70% 97% 88%<br />
Truitt 6600 Addicks Satsuma Road, Houston 281-856-1100 1990 1,386 Academically Acceptable 55.6% 86% 81% 86% 84% 94% 87%<br />
Watkins 4800 Cairnvillage St., Houston 281-463-5850 1982 1,309 Academically Acceptable 58.1% 85% 77% 83% 75% 94% 79%<br />
High schools 9th 10th 11th<br />
Year opened<br />
2010 Preliminary TAKS Scores by grade<br />
Cy-Fair 22602 Hempstead Hwy, Cypress 281-897-4600 1941* 3,357 Recognized 20.7 98% 88% 95% 88% 97% 95%<br />
Cypress Creek 9815 Grant Road, Houston 281-897-4200 1977* 3,250 Recognized 27.8 95% 77% 92% 81% 96% 93%<br />
Cypress Falls 9811 Huffmeister Road, Houston 281-856-1000 1992 3,339 Recognized 34.7 92% 75% 93% 80% 97% 91%<br />
Cypress Lakes 5750 Greenhouse Road, Katy 281-856-3800 2008 3,150 Recognized 56.1 94% 69% 93% 71% 95% 86%<br />
Cypress Ranch 10700 Fry Road, Cypress 281-373-2300 2008 2,130 Recognized 7.9% 98% 94% 99% 92% 100% 95%<br />
Cypress Ridge 7900 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston 281-807-8000 2002 2,912 Recognized 47.2% 90% 66% 94% 78% 96% 91%<br />
Cypress Springs 7909 Fry Road, Cypress 281-345-3000 1997 2,655 Academically Acceptable 52% 92% 63% 92% 69% 95% 82%<br />
Cypress Woods 16825 Spring Cypress Road, Cypress 281-213-1800 2006 2,708 Recognized 11.3% 98% 91% 97% 91% 98% 97%<br />
Jersey Village 7600 Solomon St., Houston 713-896-3400 1972* 3,104 Recognized 33.1% 95% 77% 92% 77% 93% 88%<br />
Langham Creek 17610 FM 529, Houston 281-463-5400 1985 2,985 Recognized 33% 95% 79% 95% 79% 98% 94%<br />
Projected<br />
2010–2011<br />
enrollment<br />
2009<br />
Accountability<br />
Rating<br />
2009<br />
Economically<br />
Disadvantaged<br />
Reading<br />
3rd 4th 5th<br />
Math<br />
Source: Texas Education Agency, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District<br />
Reading<br />
Math<br />
Reading<br />
Math
22 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
19708 Northwest Frwy., Ste. 500<br />
Houston, Texas 77065<br />
713.957.2020<br />
www.nightlightpediatrics.com<br />
Open Mon.-Fri. 5 p.m.-11 p.m.<br />
Weekends & Holidays Noon-7 p.m.<br />
Providing quality urgent care for your<br />
child when your doctor’s office is closed.<br />
Molly Ryan<br />
Education Focus<br />
Superintendent, Cy-Fair ISD<br />
Dr. David Anthony<br />
Cy-Fair ISD<br />
Experience <strong>with</strong> CFISD: Superintendent since<br />
July 2004<br />
Career: Superintendent in McKinney ISD, Texas<br />
City ISD, Mount Pleasant ISD and High Island ISD<br />
Education: Bachelor of Arts in secondary<br />
education, East Texas Baptist College; Master of<br />
Education in administration and supervision,<br />
Northwestern State University; Doctor of<br />
Education, Northwestern State University<br />
Contact: 281-897-4077 or<br />
david.anthony@cfisd.net<br />
You have worked for school districts<br />
all around Texas. What is special about<br />
CFISD?<br />
I think that the one thing that makes<br />
Cy-Fair unique is the commitment of the<br />
staff to the district. This is the smallest<br />
large school district that you will ever see.<br />
Everyone works together, and the staff<br />
goes above and beyond to help each other<br />
professionally and personally.<br />
What is your most important role as<br />
superintendent?<br />
The main thing is to prepare students<br />
and maximize student potential. Our job<br />
is to help people perform better—both the<br />
students and the adults.<br />
What is your favorite role?<br />
The most enjoyable thing is to visit a<br />
campus. It’s the thing that you don’t get to<br />
do most of the time but that you enjoy the<br />
most. I especially like reading to kindergarten<br />
classes—they inspire you.<br />
As the superintendent for such a<br />
large—and still growing—school<br />
district, how do you ensure that each<br />
school receives individual attention?<br />
It comes down to one factor: You have<br />
to have good people, people who are<br />
committed to the district. Our only job<br />
is to make it easier for the teachers to do<br />
their job.<br />
How do you feel about the fast <strong>growth</strong><br />
of the school district?<br />
Growth is a challenge. We have grown<br />
by 3,500 students in a down year, and we<br />
still have improved our performance. No<br />
other district grows numerically as fast as<br />
us. You have to focus on the big picture—<br />
it’s like eating an elephant one bite at a<br />
time.<br />
How has the district changed since<br />
you have been here?<br />
The change has been that we have more<br />
students, and student demographics have<br />
changed. Still, student performance has<br />
increased every year. There have also been<br />
financial changes and a lot of retirements,<br />
but we continue to hire quality teachers.<br />
We use data to make good decisions<br />
and focus more on specific areas where<br />
student needs are.<br />
What is your proudest achievement as<br />
superintendent in Cy-Fair?<br />
Earning the recognized accountability<br />
rating [for the past two years] for such a<br />
large district—that is hard. But I’m most<br />
proud of the staff. I’ve never had a staff<br />
that works harder. I’m proud to be a part<br />
of a group that works that hard for the<br />
students and district.<br />
How do you deal <strong>with</strong> criticism about<br />
the recent budget cuts and stay<br />
positive about the future?<br />
There is only so much money that the<br />
state has. Even <strong>with</strong> the budget cuts,<br />
nothing has changed in our mission. How<br />
our mission is achieved will change. Business<br />
as usual is not possible anymore. The<br />
financial problem will have to be solved<br />
logically through budget cuts or tax rate<br />
increases. Everyone is frustrated, but if<br />
you want something, you have to be willing<br />
to pay for it.<br />
Why do you have such a passion for<br />
education?<br />
I grew up in an economically disadvantaged<br />
area in Louisiana, and I saw how that<br />
impacted the students. I want every student<br />
to have choices when they graduate and<br />
have the opportunity to work in a field they<br />
enjoy. Every child needs a quality education.<br />
You can look into the eyes of the kindergarten<br />
classes and see their dreams—I<br />
want to keep those dreams alive.<br />
Comment at more.impactnews.com/9025<br />
Interview by Molly Ryan
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills<br />
By K. Jenney and Cathy Kincaid<br />
Each year schools administer the Texas<br />
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test<br />
to students in grades 3–11. Designed by<br />
the Texas Education Agency, the statemandated<br />
assessments measure what students<br />
have learned in particular subjects<br />
in each grade level. The tests cover subject<br />
areas including reading, writing, mathematics,<br />
science and social studies, as well<br />
as an exit-level assessment required for<br />
graduation.<br />
A student is required to achieve a score<br />
of 2,100 to pass; a score above 2,400 earns<br />
“commended” status. Modified versions<br />
of the test are administered to students<br />
receiving special education services.<br />
Students’ cumulative TAKS scores are<br />
tabulated and their schools assigned one<br />
of four accountability ratings to reflect<br />
how the district and its schools are meeting<br />
educational requirements.<br />
For schools deemed academically unacceptable,<br />
the rating comes <strong>with</strong> a series<br />
of sanctions and penalties. Parents have<br />
the option of transferring their children<br />
out of the school, and the school can be<br />
reorganized by the state or even closed.<br />
Students from<br />
2nd through 12th grade.<br />
From TAKS to STAAR<br />
In 2007, Texas legislators voted to repeal<br />
the TAKS in favor of a new evaluation<br />
called the State of Texas Assessments of<br />
Academic Readiness. With STAAR, which<br />
will be implemented in the 2011–12 school<br />
year, graduating high school seniors will be<br />
required to pass 12 end-of-course exams in<br />
four core subject areas: math, science, language<br />
and social studies. The first students<br />
required to meet the end-of-course testing<br />
requirements to earn a diploma will be the<br />
class of 2015.<br />
STAAR tests will also be administered to<br />
students in grades 3–8 to prepare them for<br />
English and algebra end-of-course exams.<br />
According to Gloria Zyskowski, TEA<br />
deputy associate commissioner of student<br />
assessment, the new tests will be more<br />
rigorous and will measure a child’s performance<br />
as well as academic <strong>growth</strong>.<br />
Debbie Ratcliffe, communications<br />
director for TEA, said the last TAKSbased<br />
school accountability ratings will be<br />
issued in 2011. Ratings will be suspended<br />
in 2012 while a new accountability system<br />
is developed. The new state rating system<br />
will debut in 2013.<br />
enroll<br />
today!<br />
Mathnasium of Cy-Fair (Dr. Catherine Labuda, Director)<br />
12344 Barker Cypress Rd., Ste. 150 (corner of Barker Cypress & Dundee)<br />
Cypress, TX 77429<br />
281-256-9932<br />
www.mathnasium.com/cy-fair<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
Changes coming to standardized testing<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 23<br />
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Cy-Fair Independent School District 2010<br />
Beginning <strong>with</strong> the 2011–12 school year, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic<br />
Readiness will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.<br />
Source: Texas Education Agency<br />
• Assesses<br />
mathematics,<br />
reading, writing,<br />
English language<br />
arts, science and<br />
social studies<br />
TAKS<br />
• Students tested in grades 3–11;<br />
promotion tied to test results for<br />
students in grades 3, 5 and 8<br />
• Students must pass<br />
exit-level exams to<br />
meet graduation<br />
requirements in<br />
grade 11<br />
T E S T STAAR<br />
• Administered <strong>with</strong><br />
paper and pencil<br />
VERSUS<br />
• Graduating high<br />
school seniors are<br />
required to take 12<br />
total end-of-course<br />
exams: algebra I,<br />
algebra II, geometry,<br />
biology, chemistry,<br />
physics, English I,<br />
English II, English III,<br />
U.S. history, world geography and<br />
world history<br />
T E S T<br />
• Grade 3–8 STAAR tests in reading and<br />
mathematics, by law, must be linked<br />
from grade to grade to performance<br />
expectations for the English III and<br />
algebra II end-of-course assessments<br />
• Measures a student’s performance as<br />
well as academic <strong>growth</strong>, testing at<br />
every grade level<br />
• Assessment counts as 15<br />
percent of student’s final<br />
grade in each subject<br />
• Administered<br />
online<br />
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7103 GLEN CHASE COURT, 77095
24 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Education Focus<br />
Cy-Fair ISD high school counselors<br />
By Betsy Ellison<br />
High school counselors at Cy-Fair ISD<br />
strive to make students aware of their<br />
options—current and future—and the<br />
director of guidance and counseling for the<br />
district, Darlene Davenport, said though<br />
it may be a challenging job due to the district’s<br />
size, it is also extremely rewarding.<br />
“On the high school level,” she said,<br />
“each counselor might be in charge of 400<br />
to 500 students. It is my goal to make sure<br />
no student walks across that stage and<br />
says, ‘I didn’t know my counselor.’”<br />
During the school year, each grade level<br />
has specific issues the counseling services<br />
are responsible for, including graduation<br />
requirement information, SAT and ACT<br />
preparation, college applications, advanced<br />
placement courses and much more.<br />
Davenport said the counselors make<br />
sure to give focus to all grades, though the<br />
junior and senior years of a high school<br />
student are extremely important as well.<br />
“The district requires that every student<br />
meet <strong>with</strong> their counselor both their<br />
junior and senior year,” she said. “They<br />
discuss GPAs, class rank, where students<br />
are applying for college and future career<br />
options.”<br />
Another aspect the counseling department<br />
oversees are advanced placement and<br />
dual credit courses, which allow students<br />
to begin earning college credit hours as<br />
early as the 10th grade.<br />
Advanced placement courses are taught<br />
on a college-level and require passing an<br />
exam to earn transcript credit. Dual credit<br />
classes are actual college courses that can<br />
be taken through Lone Star College-CyFair<br />
or, if a teacher is qualified, on the high<br />
school’s campus. These classes fulfill district<br />
graduation requirements for students.<br />
Jersey Village High School’s coordinating<br />
counselor, Sharla Schmidt-Baker, has<br />
been <strong>with</strong> the school district for 25 years<br />
and said she loves talking <strong>with</strong> the students<br />
and helping them solve problems.<br />
Betsy Ellison<br />
“I’ve never heard a counselor say, ‘I<br />
can’t help’ or ‘That’s not my job,’” she said.<br />
“We <strong>real</strong>ly do care about these kids and<br />
their well-being. Cy-Fair ISD has some of<br />
the best counselors in the world.”<br />
Susan Firth, coordinator for transcript<br />
evaluation for Cy-Fair ISD, said the counselors<br />
make sure each student has options<br />
available that will fit his or her needs.<br />
“We recognize that our students are all<br />
different and sometimes high school can<br />
be difficult,” she said. “We try to match<br />
our resources to the students’ individual<br />
needs.”<br />
One option the counseling department<br />
promotes is Windfern High School of<br />
Choice, the district’s nontraditional high<br />
school where classes are taken at an accelerated<br />
level and on a credit-need basis.<br />
“Windfern lends itself to an adult<br />
The age groups we serve:<br />
Lil’ Adventurers-Preschoolers from 3-6 years old<br />
Adventurers K-2 • Explorers 3rd-5th<br />
Jr. Trekkers 6th-8th • Sr. Trekkers 9th+<br />
Adults<br />
Fall Registration Opens Aug. 1 • Fall Schedule Begins Aug. 31<br />
Birthday Parties<br />
Cooking Classes for All Ages<br />
Date Night Cooking for Adults<br />
Mommy/Daddy and Me<br />
Winter/Holiday Mini Camp<br />
Special Seasonal Events<br />
Team Building • Workshops<br />
Register for Fall<br />
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Coupon Code CIFALL810<br />
www.camp-cook.org | 281-855-9779<br />
7058 Lakeview Haven Drive, Ste. 120, 77095<br />
register online at www. camp-cook. org<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
Langham Creek High School counselor Richard Armstrong decorated his office <strong>with</strong> bright colors and fun patterns to stay inviting<br />
for students.<br />
atmosphere,” Firth said. “Students are<br />
treated almost as if they are at a community<br />
college.”<br />
Students must apply to attend Windfern<br />
and be under the age of 21 years old.<br />
Counseling outside the office<br />
Programs, informational meetings and events<br />
are held throughout the school year by each<br />
high school’s counseling department to keep<br />
parents and students in the know.<br />
• College night<br />
• Military night<br />
• Financial aid night<br />
• Senior parent meeting<br />
• College 101*<br />
• Junior/senior conferences<br />
*Not at all 10 high schools<br />
For more information visit<br />
www.cfisd.net/dept2/counseling/contents.htm<br />
PENNY<br />
PINCHING<br />
MAMAS<br />
Cy-Fair Independent School District 2010<br />
Cy-Fair ISD statistics<br />
$25.1 million<br />
in academic scholarships given to<br />
class of 2010<br />
7,621<br />
students were seen by counselors<br />
from May 10–14, 2010<br />
95.8%<br />
graduation rate for the<br />
class of 2008*<br />
4,585<br />
students took 7,100 advanced<br />
placement tests in May 2010<br />
2,700<br />
students took dual credit courses<br />
in 2009–10<br />
$500,000<br />
total amount saved by families of dual<br />
credit students compared to taking<br />
same course at a university<br />
63%<br />
of 2009 CFISD graduates attended<br />
a Texas college*<br />
*Most current information available from district.<br />
Top 5 schools attended:<br />
35% Lone Star College CyFair*<br />
8% Texas A&M University*<br />
7% University of Houston*<br />
6% The University of Texas at Austin*<br />
6% Blinn College*<br />
*Record kept by Texas Higher Education<br />
Coordinating Board<br />
Source: CFISD guidance and counseling department<br />
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CONSIGN YOUR CHILDREN’S ITEMS & EARN<br />
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Saturday, August 28 • 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Half price sale! On all items noted DISCOUNT ONLY<br />
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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 25<br />
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26 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
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©July, 2010 Taylor Morrison of Texas, Inc. All rights reserved. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. All information (including, but not limited to prices,<br />
availability, incentives, floor plans, site plans, features, standards and options, assessments and fees, planned amenities, programs, conceptual artists’ renderings and community<br />
development plans) is not guaranteed and remains subject to change or delay <strong>with</strong>out notice. Maps and plans are not to scale and all dimensions are approximate.<br />
*Dollar Days Packages valid only on built-to-order homes purchased between 7/9/10 and 7/31/10 when using Taylor Morrison Home Funding. Packages vary by feature level<br />
in Houston area communities. Additional incentives vary by community. Seller contribution not to exceed maximum allowable closing costs per LTV/lender<br />
guidelines. Restrictions apply. Please see a Taylor Morrison Sales Associate for details and visit www.taylormorrison.com for additional disclaimers. 7/10<br />
Transportation Report | Dangerous intersections<br />
Northwest Houston’s most dangerous intersections<br />
Based on crash data collected from the Texas Department of Transportation, reporters at<br />
Community Impact Newspaper compiled a list of the 20 most dangerous intersections in our<br />
coverage area of Northwest Houston. The list is based on the number of collisions recorded at<br />
each intersection between June 1, 2009 and June 1, 2010. Collision numbers may vary as some<br />
collision locations were reported as unknown.<br />
Mueschke Rd.<br />
Key Intersection # of collisions<br />
15 Huffmeister Road and Copper Grove Blvd. 10<br />
16 Map not to scale<br />
Hwy. 290 and Eldridge Parkway 9<br />
13<br />
Fry Rd.<br />
1 Hwy. 290 and Senate Drive 60<br />
2 Hwy. 290 and West Road 37<br />
3 Hwy. 290 and Jones Road 28<br />
4 FM 1960 and Jones Road 24<br />
5 Hwy. 249 and Spring Cypress Road 24<br />
6 FM 529 and Greenhouse Road 20<br />
7 Hwy. 290 and FM 529 20<br />
8 Hwy. 290 and FM 1960 19<br />
9 Hwy. 290 and Barker Cypress Road 19<br />
10 Telge Road and Spring Cypress Road 17<br />
11 Hwy. 290 and Huffmeister Road 14<br />
12 Hwy. 249 and Louetta Road 13<br />
13 Hwy. 290 and Mueschke Road 12<br />
14 Hwy. 290 and Telge Road 12<br />
17 Hwy. 249 and Cypresswood Drive 8<br />
18 Skinner Road and Spring Cypress Road 8<br />
19 Sam Houston Tollway and West Road 8<br />
20 FM 529 and N. Eldridge Parkway 7<br />
Cypress Rosehill Rd.<br />
Barker Cypress Rd.<br />
Skinner Rd..<br />
18<br />
West Rd.<br />
9<br />
10<br />
Telge Rd.<br />
Longenbaugh Dr.<br />
529<br />
14<br />
Huffmeister Rd.<br />
6<br />
290<br />
Copper<br />
Grove Blvd.<br />
Cypress N. Houston Rd.<br />
11<br />
15<br />
Spring Cypress Rd.<br />
Eldridge Pkwy.<br />
Grant Rd.<br />
West Rd.<br />
Louetta Rd.<br />
Greenhouse Rd. 67<br />
8<br />
20<br />
16<br />
2<br />
Jones Rd.<br />
4<br />
3<br />
5<br />
12<br />
Cypresswood Dr.<br />
1960<br />
Senate Dr.<br />
1<br />
Source: TxDOT<br />
249<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
19<br />
17<br />
N<br />
290
Molly Ryan<br />
Inside Information | Houston TranStar<br />
At the Houston TranStar office, most employees work in front of a screen that scans all of the cameras on Houston highways.<br />
By Molly Ryan<br />
Houston TranStar has one main<br />
responsibility: keep traffic moving.<br />
However, in a city as large as Houston<br />
where thousands of cars are on roadways<br />
throughout the day, this task takes a<br />
highly organized and efficient system.<br />
In 1996, four Texas government entities—the<br />
City of Houston, Harris County,<br />
the Texas Department of Transportation<br />
©2010 HArvEST mAnAgEmEnT Sub, LLC 10239<br />
and the Metropolitan Transit Authority—<br />
combined their transportation resources<br />
to form Houston TranStar. This organization<br />
became the main authority on moving<br />
Houston traffic from day to day and<br />
during emergency evacuations.<br />
At the center of TranStar’s operation<br />
is the Houston TranStar Traffic Map,<br />
which lets TranStar employees and the<br />
public know how traffic is moving on all<br />
highways in the Houston area. The map<br />
can be found online at<br />
www.houstontranstar.org.<br />
In order to update this map every five<br />
minutes, TranStar relies on information<br />
from speed sensors placed at different<br />
intervals along highways. These speed<br />
sensors look like small prongs and hang<br />
above highway lanes.<br />
When any vehicle <strong>with</strong> a Texas toll tag<br />
passes by a speed sensor, the sensor scans<br />
the last four digits of the tag and reads its<br />
speed. This process is then repeated at a<br />
sensor farther down the highway.<br />
Using this information, a computer<br />
measures how long it took the vehicle<br />
to travel between the two sensors and<br />
calculates its average speed. Every three to<br />
five minutes, a computer takes the average<br />
speed of all the vehicles that pass between<br />
the two sensors. This average speed is<br />
then transferred onto the TranStar map.<br />
The sensors also calculate the vehicles’<br />
average travel times between points. This<br />
information is posted on highway message<br />
boards and allows drivers to avoid<br />
congested areas.<br />
Since there are approximately 280,000<br />
toll tags in Houston, the average speeds<br />
on the map and on the highway message<br />
boards are fairly accurate sources of<br />
information.<br />
“It is important to understand the<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 27<br />
sensors do not grab the whole toll tag<br />
number,” Dinah Massie, a public information<br />
officer for Houston TranStar, said.<br />
“We pick up partial data and use this to<br />
aggregate speeds. No human eyeballs<br />
touch or see individual information. Law<br />
enforcement could not find you if they<br />
wanted to.”<br />
TranStar does work <strong>with</strong> law enforcement<br />
officers, but they are used to help<br />
<strong>with</strong> accidents.<br />
If TranStar employees notice traffic<br />
slowing down in a certain area, they can<br />
use their cameras located along the sides<br />
of the highway to determine if there is an<br />
accident, debris on the road or any other<br />
incident where assistance is needed.<br />
If help is necessary, metro police officers<br />
located at the TranStar facilities can send a<br />
dispatch officer, tow trucks, a cleanup crew<br />
or anything else that will keep the incident<br />
under control and get traffic moving again.<br />
Other elements of Houston TranStar<br />
include providing live traffic feeds to news<br />
organizations, coordinating traffic signals<br />
in central Houston, operating emergency<br />
evacuation routes, managing HOV lanes<br />
and providing information about the best<br />
travel routes to commuters.<br />
“We were the first in the nation to have<br />
this system,” Massie said. “People come<br />
from all over the world to see how we<br />
do it.”<br />
Four-legged friends are as welcome as two-legged ones.<br />
All-inclusive, month-to-month rent<br />
Around-the-clock live-in managers<br />
Three chef-prepared meals daily<br />
Life enriching programs and activities<br />
Pets warmly welcomed<br />
Exclusive travel program<br />
Complimentary shuttle service<br />
So much more<br />
You’ll make countless new friends at Copperfield Estates, but that doesn’t mean your old friends can’t come along.<br />
Furry companions are part of the rich fabric of a Holiday retirement community and welcome at no additional<br />
fee. That’s just one of the many reasons an independent senior lifestyle at a Holiday retirement community is so<br />
comfortable. Welcome to Holiday. Welcome home.<br />
Copperfield Estates<br />
Independent Retirement Living<br />
16820 West road, Houston, TX 77095<br />
832-397-6142 | copperfield<strong>estate</strong>s.com
28 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Transportation Update | Cypress Rosehill Road and Greenhouse Road<br />
Cypress Rosehill Road Greenhouse Road<br />
Construction on Cypress Rosehill Road going north to<br />
Little Cypress Creek<br />
Mueschke Rd.<br />
Juergen Rd.<br />
Phase five<br />
(design under way)<br />
LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK<br />
Phase three<br />
(construction<br />
under way)<br />
Construction on five miles of Cypress Rosehill<br />
Road between Hwy. 290 and Juergen Road<br />
will take place in six phases. The two-lane<br />
asphalt road will be replaced <strong>with</strong> a four-lane<br />
concrete boulevard <strong>with</strong> a raised median and an<br />
underground storm sewer system. This sewer<br />
system will replace the current ditches used for<br />
drainage alongside the road.<br />
Phases one and two: Hwy. 290 to Manor Bend<br />
Street. Construction was completed in March.<br />
Phase three: Manor Bend Street to Little Cypress<br />
Creek. Construction is under way on this mile-long<br />
stretch. Contractors are working on the two lanes<br />
on the east side of the road while traffic operates<br />
on a temporary two-lane roadway on the west<br />
side. When the east side is complete, traffic will<br />
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Cypress<br />
Rosehill Rd.<br />
Grant Rd.<br />
Manor Bend St.<br />
Phase six<br />
(design under way)<br />
Lake Cypress Hill Dr.<br />
Phase four<br />
(design under way)<br />
Phases one<br />
and two<br />
(complete)<br />
switch to this side and construction will take place<br />
on the west side.<br />
Timeline: Expected to be completed<br />
March 29, 2011<br />
Funding: Harris County General Mobility funds<br />
Total cost: $6.6 million<br />
Phase four: Little Cypress Creek to Grant Road.<br />
Project is under design. Construction bids may be<br />
advertised later this year.<br />
Phase five: Grant Road to Lake Cypress Hill Drive.<br />
Project is under design. Construction bids may be<br />
advertised later this year.<br />
Phase six: Lake Cypress Hill Drive to Juergen Road.<br />
Project is under design.<br />
N<br />
Greenhouse Rd.<br />
Logenbaugh Dr.<br />
• Add two-lane<br />
roadway<br />
• Add raised<br />
median dividing<br />
traffic directions<br />
• Complete<br />
construction by<br />
Aug. 21<br />
529<br />
By Molly Ryan<br />
Construction is under way on the one-mile<br />
stretch between FM 529 and Longenbaugh Drive.<br />
Contractors are building a two-lane concrete<br />
roadway to complete what will be a four-lane<br />
roadway. Traffic is operating on two pre-existing<br />
concrete lanes on the west side of the roadway.<br />
When complete, the road will have two traffic<br />
lanes in each direction and a raised median.<br />
Timeline: Expected to be complete Aug. 1<br />
Funding: Harris County General Mobility funds<br />
Total cost: $1.3 million<br />
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Grant Rd.<br />
Louetta Rd.<br />
Malcomson Rd.<br />
12740 Grant Rd., Cypress 77429<br />
Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.<br />
Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Closed Sun.<br />
N
2010 Texas State Senate<br />
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of candidate interviews that will appear until the November general election, as part of<br />
Community Impact Newspaper’s mission to promote civic involvement. All candidates were given the same set of questions to which to<br />
respond, and Community Impact Newspaper did not assume responsibility for verifying the accuracy of the responses.<br />
Dan Patrick, Republican (incumbent)<br />
Education: University of Maryland (BA)<br />
Experience: State senator since 2007, radio talk<br />
show host, author and film producer<br />
281-500-4665, www.danpatrick.org<br />
If re-elected, what would be your<br />
main priority in office?<br />
My top priority is to balance the budget<br />
<strong>with</strong>out increasing the tax burden in a<br />
tough economic year.<br />
What is one thing that you would<br />
like to see changed in this district in<br />
the next year?<br />
We have to continue to resolve the<br />
traffic congestion that grips most of our<br />
district. Last session, I led a group to<br />
begin work on the 610 Loop and Hwy.<br />
290 interchange to relieve congestion in<br />
this area. We have to continue to attract<br />
funding from the state and the federal<br />
government to continue working on this<br />
project. Also, the issue that I’m always<br />
focused on is to provide quality education<br />
and reduce the burden of property taxes.<br />
Why are you running again?<br />
I believe it is important to have the voice<br />
of the people heard in Austin. I believe<br />
that we have been an effective voice for the<br />
people and we have accomplished a lot on<br />
our agenda, but there is still a lot to do.<br />
What are your qualifications?<br />
I’ve demonstrated a top-notch work<br />
ethic. Our office has a great working relationship<br />
in the district between the mayor,<br />
the superintendent and the Chamber<br />
of Commerce. We meet <strong>with</strong> them every<br />
six months to get their input on issues in<br />
the area. Most observers would agree that<br />
we have become a leader for how to get<br />
things done in the Texas Senate.<br />
Lee Coughran, Libertarian<br />
Education: Southwest Texas State University<br />
coursework<br />
Experience: Owner of LANS; experience in<br />
carpentry, cooking and copier technology<br />
www.coughranfortxsenate.com<br />
If elected, what would be your main<br />
priority in office?<br />
Education. Our current educational<br />
system in Texas is broken. We got caught<br />
up in teaching tests instead of teaching<br />
what we used to learn. I am worried<br />
about the children who got caught in<br />
between the system—the kids that drop<br />
out. A one in three dropout rate in Texas<br />
is completely unacceptable.<br />
What is one thing that you would<br />
like to see changed in this district in<br />
the next year?<br />
I would like to see an educational<br />
partnership program between schools<br />
and businesses. This would help the kids<br />
that are not ready to go to college to get<br />
skilled labor jobs.<br />
Why are you running?<br />
I’m a native son. I’ve watched this<br />
district grow from rural rice fields into<br />
a sprawling metropolis. I don’t feel like<br />
the education system is going in the right<br />
direction, and I believe that the infrastructure<br />
is starting to fail. District 7<br />
needs a fresh voice.<br />
What are your qualifications?<br />
I have been in District 7 for more than<br />
30 years. I take pride in the fact that I’m<br />
not a politician and I’ve never been one.<br />
I can bring common sense answers to<br />
Austin. I can put Austin back in touch<br />
<strong>with</strong> District 7.<br />
If re-elected, what would be your<br />
main priority in office?<br />
My main priority is planning for the<br />
future of Texas. We are growing at a rapid<br />
rate of 1,600 people a day, so we need to<br />
provide highways, schools, public safety<br />
and pay for all of it.<br />
What is one thing that you would<br />
like to see changed in this district in<br />
the next year?<br />
Lower school property taxes. Northwest<br />
Harris County is a booming area,<br />
and it is growing at a rapid rate. The local<br />
school taxes are getting too high, and we<br />
need additional state funding for schools.<br />
Why are you running again?<br />
I have the experience to make a difference.<br />
Experience counts, and I use that<br />
on behalf of the people I represent.<br />
What are your qualifications?<br />
My qualification is my experience. I<br />
understand the issues, and I have a track<br />
record of accomplishments like tough<br />
criminal laws. I have authored most of<br />
our criminal laws—we have the toughest<br />
criminal laws in the nation.<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 29<br />
The Texas State Senate is composed of 31 state senators who each represent a district of about 700,000 people. The Legislature<br />
meets at the State Capitol in Austin once every two years to discuss and vote on legislation. During the interim year, senators work<br />
on their committees and research legislation to introduce in the next session.<br />
District 7 District 7 District 15<br />
District 15<br />
District 7<br />
District 7 covers an area of<br />
Northwest Houston mainly<br />
outside of Beltway 8.<br />
Texas State Senate<br />
290<br />
I-10<br />
249<br />
6<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
45<br />
610<br />
45<br />
610<br />
N<br />
John Whitmire, Democrat (incumbent)<br />
Education: University of Houston (BA); Bates<br />
College of Law at University of Houston (JD)<br />
Experience: Attorney of counsel at Lock Lord<br />
Bissell & Liddell LLP, 27 years in the Texas Senate,<br />
10 years in the Texas House of Representatives<br />
713-864-8701<br />
District 15<br />
District 15 covers areas of North,<br />
Northwest and Northeast<br />
Houston around Beltway 8.<br />
249<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
Election<br />
dates<br />
Election date: Nov. 2<br />
Last day to register to vote: Oct. 4<br />
Early voting: Oct. 18–Oct. 29<br />
Last day to apply for ballot by mail: Oct. 26<br />
Bill Walker, Republican<br />
Interviews by Molly Ryan<br />
Education: High school<br />
Experience: Owner for more than 30 years of<br />
Design Controls, a water treatment business<br />
www.walkertexassenate.com<br />
If elected, what would be your main<br />
priority in office?<br />
Defending Texas from the federal<br />
government. There have been a plethora of<br />
laws passed that infringe on state rights. It<br />
is the states’ jobs to make sure the federal<br />
government stays in check.<br />
What is one thing that you would<br />
like to see changed in this district in<br />
the next year?<br />
Texas has a $15 [billion] to $25 billion<br />
shortfall. We need to get that under<br />
control. Government has gotten way too<br />
big. We need to eliminate the peripheral<br />
government programs and make acrossthe-board<br />
cuts.<br />
Why are you running?<br />
I see where this state is heading, and we<br />
are in better shape than any other state,<br />
but if we don’t make changes, we will be<br />
in the same situation as California or<br />
Illinois. We have to act now so we do not<br />
get in that kind of shape—bankrupt—in<br />
10 years.<br />
What are your qualifications?<br />
I have been self-employed for 32 years.<br />
I have no problems making decisions,<br />
and I understand my value system. Decisions<br />
are not hard to make when you<br />
know your value system.<br />
290<br />
I-10<br />
45<br />
610<br />
8<br />
I-10<br />
N
Betsy Ellison<br />
30 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
Community Icon | Darcy Mingoia<br />
Darcy Mingoia has worked hard to improve and assist the Cy-Fair community.<br />
By Betsy Ellison<br />
With more than 30 years of<br />
experience under her belt, Darcy<br />
Mingoia—current executive director<br />
for the Lone Star College<br />
System Foundation—has been a<br />
strong force in the Cy-Fair leadership<br />
community and continues to<br />
make a difference daily.<br />
After graduating <strong>with</strong> a degree<br />
in journalism from The University<br />
of Texas at Austin in 1974,<br />
Got a sports injury?<br />
Want to perform better?<br />
Tired of living <strong>with</strong> pain?<br />
Mingoia moved to Houston a<br />
year later <strong>with</strong> her husband and<br />
started a family.<br />
“We first lived in Bellaire,” she<br />
said, “but when we had children,<br />
we moved to Cy-Fair for the same<br />
reason a lot of people do: The<br />
school district is like a magnetic<br />
force for excellent education.”<br />
While her children were growing<br />
up, Mingoia became involved<br />
<strong>with</strong> her new community by<br />
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being elected to the Jersey Village<br />
City Council in 1989.<br />
She continued her council<br />
duties while working at Baker-<br />
Jackson Nissan where, she said,<br />
she found her passion in community<br />
and economic development.<br />
“I was in charge of community<br />
relations,” she said. “I started to<br />
<strong>real</strong>ize how businesses in this<br />
area had the opportunity to<br />
flourish and grow, and the more<br />
successful the employees were,<br />
the more vibrancy it would bring<br />
the community.”<br />
Mingoia volunteered <strong>with</strong> the<br />
Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of<br />
Commerce while at Baker-Jackson<br />
and served on committees.<br />
After almost nine years she said<br />
she decided to take her chamber<br />
involvement a step further and<br />
applied to be its president. She<br />
served in that capacity from<br />
1998–2007.<br />
“The chamber was a fabulous<br />
experience for me,” she said. “Of<br />
all the things I did while president,<br />
I feel my greatest contribution<br />
was helping to annex the<br />
area into a community college<br />
district.”<br />
Before 2000, two local<br />
Huffmeister<br />
Hempstead<br />
Hwy 6<br />
Titleist Golf<br />
Performance Institute<br />
290<br />
FOR ALL<br />
STUDENTS<br />
colleges—Houston Community<br />
College and North Harris-Montgomery<br />
Community College<br />
District—served the Northwest<br />
Houston area. Mingoia’s goal<br />
was to create a one-college district<br />
in the Cy-Fair area.<br />
Working <strong>with</strong> the Harris<br />
County Board of Education, she<br />
ran a year-long campaign, which<br />
involved collecting signatures,<br />
and presentations from both<br />
colleges. In August 2000 the<br />
board held an election, and the<br />
vote passed 70 to 30 percent. The<br />
area was immediately annexed<br />
into the NHMCCD, which later<br />
became the Lone Star College<br />
System in 2008.<br />
“This was the first step in a<br />
strategic economic development<br />
plan,” Mingoia said. “Businesses<br />
wanted better trained workers<br />
<strong>with</strong> up-to-date skill sets. Local<br />
higher education can provide<br />
that. Two other main issues<br />
were tax benefits and developing<br />
an entity to market for local<br />
businesses.”<br />
Mingoia said one of her<br />
proudest accomplishments <strong>with</strong>in<br />
the community was working<br />
on a drunk-driving campaign<br />
Cypress Owned and Operated<br />
Broker & Bank Conventional & Government Loans ans<br />
Purchases Refinance Debt Consolidation<br />
in 2005 to promote awareness<br />
about a dangerous stretch of FM<br />
1960 between I-45 and Hwy. 249<br />
that the Texas Department of<br />
Transportation had deemed a<br />
“death corridor.”<br />
As the chamber president in<br />
that area, Mingoia said it concerned<br />
her seeing signs posted<br />
saying, “Beware, 26 deaths happened<br />
in the next seven miles.”<br />
“We decided to adopt a program<br />
that would make people<br />
aware of the situation and be<br />
more cautious when they are<br />
driving.”<br />
Mingoia and other chamber<br />
volunteers, reached out to the<br />
community and promoted a<br />
drunk-driving pledge she said<br />
helped to lower the number of<br />
accidents in the area over the<br />
one-year campaign.<br />
Her current position <strong>with</strong><br />
Lone Star College has her working<br />
daily to find scholarship<br />
money for deserving students.<br />
“My vision for the future of the<br />
Cy-Fair community is that every<br />
person has the opportunity to<br />
be what they want, and that they<br />
have the education needed to<br />
accomplish that goal,” she said.<br />
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Residential Real Estate | Market Data<br />
On the market (June 1–30)<br />
Price<br />
range<br />
Less than $149,999<br />
$150,000–$199,999<br />
$200,000–$299,999<br />
$300,000–$399,999<br />
$400,000–$499,999<br />
$500,000–$599,999<br />
$600,000–$799,999<br />
$800,000–$999,999<br />
$1 million +<br />
Number of homes for sale/Average days on market<br />
77040 77064 77065 77070 77095 77429 77433<br />
90/91<br />
42/72<br />
28/78<br />
7/150<br />
2/43<br />
1/77<br />
1/134<br />
–<br />
–<br />
120/75<br />
53/65<br />
22/65<br />
2/79<br />
1/88<br />
–<br />
–<br />
–<br />
–<br />
98/76<br />
38/100<br />
22/113<br />
8/104<br />
2/160<br />
–<br />
–<br />
–<br />
1/63<br />
122/58<br />
84/88<br />
32/93<br />
8/41<br />
4/247<br />
2/173<br />
1/95<br />
2/390<br />
4/103<br />
148/71<br />
187/76<br />
88/83<br />
16/116<br />
16/111<br />
–<br />
–<br />
–<br />
–<br />
136/79<br />
163/77<br />
144/81<br />
84/110<br />
26/149<br />
91/42<br />
14/119<br />
5/306<br />
6/174<br />
Monthly home sales<br />
Number sold/Average price<br />
Month<br />
77040 77064 77065<br />
77070<br />
June 2010<br />
June 2009<br />
May 2010<br />
April 2010<br />
March 2010<br />
Feb. 2010<br />
Jan. 2010<br />
Dec. 2009<br />
Month 77095<br />
Number sold/Average price<br />
77429 77433<br />
June 2010<br />
June 2009<br />
May 2010<br />
April 2010<br />
March 2010<br />
Feb. 2010<br />
Jan. 2010<br />
Dec. 2009<br />
Featured homes<br />
154/69<br />
119/67<br />
175/83<br />
104/96<br />
44/98<br />
13/188<br />
8/167<br />
2/22<br />
1/12<br />
32 / $138,686 32 / $125,080 24 / $137,781 48 / $145,788<br />
30 / $141,834 35 / $131,980 27 / $150,454 51 / $156,104<br />
33 / $144,167 36 / $122,657 26 / $132,128 50 / $149,621<br />
36 / $139,013 48 / $148,337 24 / $143,843 46 / $149,018<br />
27 / $135,074 35 / $124,661 33 / $145,010 46 / $174,360<br />
20 / $121,671 19 / $108,152 15 / $137,096 28 / $151,416<br />
18 / $128,370 15 / $124,933 13 / $134,100 20 / $131,277<br />
30 / $128,219 37 / $130,710 25 / $149,472 25 / $148,600<br />
72 / $170,355 106 / $232,570 111 / $243,276<br />
99 / $186,084 123 / $222,702 117 / $210,283<br />
82 / $171,968 131 / $200,508 114 / $187,841<br />
77 / $168,210 77 / $183,651 91 / $173,223<br />
70 / $161,292 114 / $189,676 91 / $199,001<br />
37 / $155,305 68 / $185,447 56 / $183,949<br />
34 / $165,565 58 / $188,467 58 / $219,353<br />
52 / $168,226 87 / $216,227 94 / $234,944<br />
Sheffield – 77095<br />
7307 April Creek Lane<br />
4 Br/2 Ba | 2,414 sq. ft. $170,000<br />
Agent: Elisabeth McNinch 713-482-2222<br />
RE/MAX Memorial Town & Country<br />
Market Data provided<br />
by Mark Dimas<br />
The Professional<br />
Group Realty<br />
281-861-6199<br />
www.markdimas.com<br />
Harvest Bend – 77064<br />
10818 Mistic Meadows Court<br />
3 Br/2.5 Ba | 2,213 sq. ft. $119,200<br />
Agent: Guillermo Coronado 713-464-0700<br />
Realty Associates<br />
Neighborhoods at a Glance<br />
Sheffield - 77095<br />
The Sheffield community provides residents<br />
close proximity to shopping, restaurants and<br />
Hwy. 290.<br />
Cy-Fair ISD schools:<br />
• Holmsley Elementary School<br />
• Aragon Middle School<br />
• Langham Creek High School<br />
Featured homes<br />
17214 Fernchase Court<br />
4 Br/2 Ba | 2,415 sq. ft. $175,000<br />
Agent: Steve Hardcastle 281-925-3000<br />
RE/MAX Westside Realtors<br />
Harvest Bend – 77064<br />
This community is located between Jones<br />
and Perry roads on both sides of Fallbrook.<br />
Residents enjoy use of a clubhouse <strong>with</strong> pool<br />
and recreation areas including two areas<br />
designated as wildlife parks.<br />
Cy-Fair ISD schools:<br />
• Willbern Elementary School<br />
• Campbell Middle School<br />
• Cy-Ridge High School<br />
Featured homes<br />
9911 Autumn Harvest Drive<br />
3 Br/2 Ba | 1,695 sq. ft. $114,900<br />
Agent: William Phillips 281-367-7637<br />
Martha Turner Properties<br />
Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors ® Congratulates Our<br />
2ND QUARTER CY-FAIR OFFICE TOP PRODUCERS!<br />
Drop by our new Cy-Fair Location:<br />
11734 Barker Cypress, Suite 116<br />
Cypress, TX 77433<br />
Cross Streets are Barker Cypress & Queenston<br />
832.334.0001<br />
v v v v v v v v<br />
2009 Prudential Broker Of The Year!<br />
Shirley Williams<br />
713.569.1601<br />
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 31<br />
Barker Cypress Rd.<br />
QueenstonBlvd.<br />
529<br />
17234 Rush Trace Court<br />
4 Br/2.5 Ba | 2,332 sq. ft. $185,900<br />
Agent: Gayla Gayden 281-870-0000<br />
Realm Real Estate Professionals<br />
Jones Rd.<br />
Ginger Hurley<br />
713.501.1661<br />
N<br />
N<br />
1960<br />
Fallbrook Dr.<br />
Perry Rd.<br />
Windfern Rd.<br />
11107 Dawn Harvest Drive<br />
4 Br/ 3.5 Ba | 2,623 sq. ft. $169,900<br />
Agent: Maria Kogan 281-277-5777<br />
Century 21 Premier Gold<br />
Lanie Evans<br />
713.259.9848<br />
©2010. An independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. Prudential is a registered trademark of The Prudential Insurance Company of America. If your property is currently listed by another broker, please disregard this offer. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> brokers. We cooperate <strong>with</strong> them fully. Equal Housing Opportunity.<br />
6<br />
SAM HOUSTON
32 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition<br />
<strong>Commercial</strong> Real Estate Property Listings<br />
Northwest Houston<br />
1 10502 Grant Road<br />
10,000 sq. ft.<br />
Agent: Yancey Hausman<br />
Yancey Hausman Interests, Inc.<br />
2 12700 Grant Road<br />
840-4,400 sq. ft.<br />
Agent: Susan Roark<br />
Rizk Properties, Inc.<br />
$17/sq. ft.<br />
713-203-9830<br />
3 10730 Barker Cypress Road<br />
1,000–1,495 sq. ft.<br />
Agent: Bamark Snipp<br />
Baseball Partners LLC<br />
$18/sq. ft.<br />
281-812-9706<br />
ZIP code City Address Sq. ft. Price Agent Agency Phone<br />
77040 Houston 17356 Hwy. 290 2,800–6,772 $12.72/sq. ft. John Nielsen The Gretzinger Group 808-220-2222<br />
77064 Houston 11950 Perry Road 1,068–10,477 $7.20–$12/sq. ft. Larry Indermuehle Indermuehle & Company, Inc. 281-207-3701<br />
77064 Houston 10610 W. Sam Houston Parkway N. 18,642–20,147 $19/sq. ft. Mary Caldwell Caldwell Companies 281-664-6636<br />
77065 Houston 9110 Jones Road 1,200–13,819 $12–$18/sq. ft. Fred Ghabriel Bejjani & Associates 713-659-3333<br />
77065 Houston 20320 Hwy. 290 2,000–10,000 $18/sq. ft. Bill Ingram Coldwell Banker <strong>Commercial</strong> 281-364-8000<br />
77065 Houston 20220 Hempstead Road 2,000–65,000 $7.20/sq. ft. Hart Schleicher Capital Real Estate <strong>Commercial</strong>, Inc. 713-907-3570<br />
77065 Houston 10511 Jones Road 1,000–1,620 Negotiable Jeanie Bucci Wulfe & Company 713-621-1700<br />
77070 Houston 9226 FM 1960 Road West 919–9,165 Negotiable Jeanie Bucci Wulfe & Company 713-621-1700<br />
77070 Houston 10502 Grant Road 10,000 $12/sq. ft. Yancey Hausman Yancey Hausman Interests, Inc. 713-462-8802<br />
77095 Houston 8505 Jackrabbit Road 2,000–8,000 $18/sq. ft. Kari Davis Braband, LTD 713-466-5200<br />
77095 Houston 8475 Hwy. 6 N. 1,050–3,990 $15/sq. ft. Paula Hohl Wulfe & Company 713-621-1700<br />
77095 Houston 7050 Lakeview Haven Drive 270–400 $15.60/sq. ft. Mike Leff Bernstein Perwien Properties 713-464-7411<br />
77095 Houston 16506 FM 529 1,260 $16.80/sq. ft. Bryan Luong South Texas Prime Properties 713-530-8886<br />
77429 Cypress 12700 Grant Road 840–4,400 $17/sq. ft. Susan Roark Rizk Properties, Inc. 713-203-9830<br />
77429 Cypress 18002 Huffmeister 2,500 $14.40/sq. ft. George Gayle George Gayle Properties 281-660-9440<br />
77433 Cypress 10730 Barker Cypress Road 1,000–1,495 $18/sq. ft. Bamark Snipp Baseball Partners LLC 281-812-9706<br />
The commercial <strong>real</strong> <strong>estate</strong> listings were added to the market between 6/12/10 and 7/3/10 and were compiled from www.loopnet.com. Although every effort has been made to ensure the timeliness and<br />
accuracy of this listing, Community Impact Newspaper assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Contact the property’s agent or seller for the most current information.<br />
HWY 290<br />
JONES RD.<br />
$12/sq. ft.<br />
713-462-8802<br />
8301 Jones Road<br />
Houston, Texas 77065<br />
713-896-4477<br />
40,000 sq. ft. showroom<br />
Family owned since 1995<br />
10 All Home<br />
Accessories<br />
% off<br />
With ad. Expires 7/31/10.<br />
Barker Cypress Rd.<br />
290<br />
3<br />
529<br />
4<br />
Hempstead Rd.<br />
Grant Rd.<br />
6<br />
4<br />
5<br />
2<br />
Jackrabbit Rd.<br />
1<br />
249<br />
1960<br />
20220 Hempstead Road $7.20/sq. ft.<br />
5<br />
8505 Jackrabbit Road $18/sq. ft.<br />
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