School finance lawsuits to be heard in court this fall - Community ...
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Sean Hammerle,<br />
Jack Cagle | 12<br />
County commissioner<br />
candidates discuss <strong>to</strong>p issues<br />
for Novem<strong>be</strong>r election<br />
Coupons start on Page 27.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d even more onl<strong>in</strong>e at<br />
impactdeals.com<br />
Northwest hous<strong>to</strong>N editioN Volume 3, Issue 11 | July 20–Aug. 16, 2012 www.impactnews.com<br />
<strong>School</strong> <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> <strong>lawsuits</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>be</strong> <strong>heard</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>court</strong> <strong>this</strong> <strong>fall</strong><br />
Cy-Fair ISD hopes system is deemed unconstitutional<br />
By Marie Leonard<br />
Cy-Fair ISD is among nearly 600 Texas<br />
school districts that have jo<strong>in</strong>ed one of six<br />
school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> <strong>lawsuits</strong> <strong>in</strong> the hopes of the<br />
development of a new <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system.<br />
“The majority of the districts <strong>in</strong> the <strong>lawsuits</strong><br />
are su<strong>in</strong>g over taxpayer student equity<br />
issues and advocacy fund<strong>in</strong>g issues,” said<br />
Ray Freeman, deputy executive direc<strong>to</strong>r of<br />
the Texas Equity Center, which was formed<br />
<strong>to</strong> address <strong>in</strong>equities <strong>in</strong> the school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong><br />
system. “When the legislature cut $5.4 billion<br />
from public education for <strong>this</strong> biennium,<br />
that was the f<strong>in</strong>al straw for everyone.”<br />
The <strong>lawsuits</strong><br />
Last Decem<strong>be</strong>r, Cy-Fair ISD jo<strong>in</strong>ed the<br />
Fort Bend ISD vs. Ro<strong>be</strong>rt Scott lawsuit,<br />
which revolves around the notion that the<br />
school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system should <strong>be</strong> adequate<br />
and equitable.<br />
“We hope the district <strong>court</strong>, and<br />
hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> AUSTIN by plane, tra<strong>in</strong> or au<strong>to</strong>mobile<br />
This graphic shows the time, distance and cost associated with travel<strong>in</strong>g<br />
roundtrip <strong>to</strong> down<strong>to</strong>wn Aust<strong>in</strong> from Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n by airplane,<br />
au<strong>to</strong>mobile, or a proposed high speed rail l<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
By plane<br />
By tra<strong>in</strong><br />
By Au<strong>to</strong>mobile<br />
QuiltWorks Texas | 18<br />
Three sisters run the bus<strong>in</strong>ess that<br />
offers classes <strong>in</strong> sew<strong>in</strong>g techniques<br />
Hwy. 290 fund<strong>in</strong>g | 9<br />
The state authorized millions <strong>in</strong> fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for Hwy. 290 construction<br />
ultimately the state Supreme Court, will<br />
determ<strong>in</strong>e the current school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system<br />
is unconstitutional,” said Stuart Snow,<br />
CFISD associate super<strong>in</strong>tendent for bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
and f<strong>in</strong>ancial services. “As a result of<br />
that, we hope the legislature will develop a<br />
system that addresses our claims.”<br />
CFISD leadership said they hope several<br />
issues are focused on dur<strong>in</strong>g the trial,<br />
rang<strong>in</strong>g from the need for fund<strong>in</strong>g of new<br />
mandates <strong>to</strong> the issue of cost per student.<br />
They would also like the legislature <strong>to</strong> perform<br />
a cost fund<strong>in</strong>g study on education,<br />
Snow said.<br />
“When our neighbor<strong>in</strong>g districts receive<br />
$500 <strong>to</strong> $1,200 per student <strong>in</strong> fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more than Cy-Fair, how is that an equitable<br />
and efficient type of fund<strong>in</strong>g?” said Stacye<br />
Anderson, chairwoman of the CFISD Leadership<br />
Committee, which aims <strong>to</strong> educate<br />
community mem<strong>be</strong>rs on legislative issues.<br />
“We also <strong>be</strong>lieve the legislature hasn’t<br />
1 2<br />
3<br />
3 hours 330 miles<br />
$307.50<br />
3 hours 286 miles<br />
$100.00<br />
5.5 hours 286 miles<br />
$38.16<br />
1 Bush Intercont<strong>in</strong>ental Airport and Aust<strong>in</strong>-Bergstrom International Airport 2 Includes miles and <strong>to</strong>lls used<br />
driv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> and from IAH and ABI 3 Includes airl<strong>in</strong>e ticket average of $286, gas, <strong>to</strong>lls and park<strong>in</strong>g 4TxDOT<br />
estimate 5 Estimate based on trip calcula<strong>to</strong>r at gasbuddy.com Sources: TxDOT, cont<strong>in</strong>ental.com, gasbuddy.com<br />
5<br />
4<br />
$350 Million<br />
$340 Million<br />
$330 Million<br />
$320 Million<br />
$310 Million<br />
$300 Million<br />
High-speed rail ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g steam <strong>in</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Future fund<strong>in</strong>g sources<br />
still up <strong>in</strong> air<br />
By Marie Leonard and Brian Walzel<br />
Plans for a high-speed rail l<strong>in</strong>e<br />
connect<strong>in</strong>g Hous<strong>to</strong>n with the Dallas-Fort<br />
Worth and Aust<strong>in</strong> regions<br />
are slowly ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g momentum as<br />
local and state agencies, both public<br />
and private, explore options<br />
on how <strong>be</strong>st <strong>to</strong> build a potential<br />
l<strong>in</strong>e. Those options <strong>in</strong>clude where<br />
the fund<strong>in</strong>g may come from and<br />
where the l<strong>in</strong>e would <strong>be</strong> built.<br />
“High-speed <strong>in</strong>tercity connection<br />
alternatives should make it<br />
Although there has <strong>be</strong>en an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> Cy-Fair ISD’s student population s<strong>in</strong>ce 2008, the amount of revenue it<br />
receives annually from the state and local tax collections has not <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>to</strong> reflect the grow<strong>in</strong>g population.<br />
$300.4<br />
2008<br />
provided the means and the resources <strong>to</strong><br />
achieve the state’s education goals.”<br />
Travis County Judge John Dietz is<br />
expected <strong>to</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>e similar arguments<br />
of the <strong>lawsuits</strong> <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a six-week trial, which<br />
<strong>be</strong>g<strong>in</strong>s Oct. 22. Whatever the outcome of<br />
the lawsuit, it is expected <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> appealed <strong>to</strong><br />
the state’s Supreme Court.<br />
“I th<strong>in</strong>k most districts want the system<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong>come one that is fair for all children,”<br />
Blue Water Seafood | 19<br />
Fish<strong>in</strong>g is a family pastime at <strong>this</strong><br />
local restaurant<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n Coffee and Cars | 22<br />
Hundreds gather each month <strong>to</strong> see<br />
classic cars on display<br />
Annual revenue sources<br />
State Revenue Tax Revenue Student Population<br />
$310.3<br />
$336.1<br />
$336.1<br />
$355.4<br />
$346.5<br />
$336.9<br />
easier <strong>to</strong> accommodate growth<br />
and population <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> all<br />
parts of the Texas Triangle, without<br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> rely on roads and<br />
bridges <strong>to</strong> connect the cities,” said<br />
Bill Rowden, co-chair of the Cy-<br />
Fair Hous<strong>to</strong>n Cham<strong>be</strong>r of Commerce<br />
transportation committee.<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong><br />
Although a Hous<strong>to</strong>n-<strong>to</strong>-Dallas<br />
route is at the <strong>to</strong>p of the Texas<br />
Department of Transportation’s<br />
wish list for high-speed rail, connect<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong> through<br />
passenger rail has also <strong>be</strong>en identified<br />
as a priority by mobility<br />
$323.6<br />
$346.4<br />
2009 2010 2011 2012<br />
$333.8<br />
108,000<br />
107,000<br />
106,000<br />
105,000<br />
104,000<br />
103,000<br />
102,000<br />
101,000<br />
100,000<br />
source: Cy-Fair isd<br />
Freeman said. “It should <strong>be</strong> a system that<br />
doesn’t treat some students <strong>be</strong>tter than<br />
others <strong>be</strong>cause of the ZIP code [<strong>in</strong> which]<br />
they live.”<br />
A broken system<br />
The state’s school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system has had<br />
problems s<strong>in</strong>ce the ‘60s when Rodriguez<br />
vs. San An<strong>to</strong>nio was tried, Freeman said.<br />
See Lawsuit | 16<br />
planners. A TxDOT study completed<br />
earlier <strong>this</strong> year has placed<br />
one potential l<strong>in</strong>e runn<strong>in</strong>g along<br />
Hwy. 290, start<strong>in</strong>g down<strong>to</strong>wn and<br />
possibly loop<strong>in</strong>g north <strong>to</strong> College<br />
Station, back south <strong>to</strong> Gidd<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
and on <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong>.<br />
The speed for the route would<br />
not reach more than 110 mph,<br />
which means it would <strong>be</strong> designated<br />
as <strong>in</strong>tercity passenger rail,<br />
rather than high-speed rail. Costs<br />
for the proposed routes range<br />
from $972 million <strong>to</strong> $1.2 billion,<br />
accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> TxDOT.<br />
“The most significant and costly<br />
See Rail | 17<br />
impactnews.com<br />
Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n residents<br />
<strong>to</strong> compete <strong>in</strong> Olympics<br />
Three local athletes will attend <strong>this</strong><br />
summer’s Olympic games <strong>in</strong> London,<br />
England.
2 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition
8400 N. Beltway 8 W., Ste. 220<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n, TX 77064 • 281-469-6181<br />
www.impactnews.com<br />
Publisher / Chief Executive Officer<br />
John P. Garrett<br />
Publisher–Hous<strong>to</strong>n Metro<br />
Jason Culpepper, jculpepper@impactnews.com<br />
Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
General Manager | Kelli Ray<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r | Marie Leonard<br />
Reporter | John Rigg<br />
Senior Account Executive | Christi Love<br />
Advertis<strong>in</strong>g Assistant | Ashley Wagner<br />
Graphic Designers | Jackie Brunk, Shawn Epps<br />
Copy Edi<strong>to</strong>r | Abigail Allen<br />
Contribut<strong>in</strong>g Writers | Kim<strong>be</strong>rly Morgan,<br />
Brian Walzel<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>rial Intern | Liza W<strong>in</strong>kler<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>rial management<br />
Executive Edi<strong>to</strong>r | Cathy K<strong>in</strong>caid<br />
Manag<strong>in</strong>g Edi<strong>to</strong>r | Shannon Colletti<br />
Creative Direc<strong>to</strong>r | Derek Sullivan<br />
Ad Production Manager | Tiffany Knudtson<br />
Adm<strong>in</strong>istrative management<br />
Chief Operat<strong>in</strong>g Officer | Jennifer Garrett<br />
Chief F<strong>in</strong>ancial Officer | Darren Lesmeister<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Direc<strong>to</strong>r | Misty Pratt<br />
Circulation & Operations Manager | David Ludwick<br />
About us<br />
John and Jennifer Garrett <strong>be</strong>gan <strong>Community</strong><br />
Impact Newspaper <strong>in</strong> 2005, <strong>in</strong> Pflugerville, Texas,<br />
with a mission <strong>to</strong> provide <strong>in</strong>telligent, unbiased<br />
news coverage with a hyperlocal focus. Now, with<br />
12 markets <strong>in</strong> the Aust<strong>in</strong>, Hous<strong>to</strong>n and Dallas/<br />
Fort Worth metro areas, the paper is distributed <strong>to</strong><br />
more than 750,000 homes and bus<strong>in</strong>esses.<br />
Subscriptions<br />
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$3 per issue. Visit impactnews.com/subscription.<br />
Contact us<br />
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M•E•D•I•A<br />
I N C O R P O R A T E D<br />
©2012 JGMedia, Inc., All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any<br />
portion of <strong>this</strong> issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.<br />
$23,992<br />
$23,992<br />
NEW 2012<br />
4DR TEXAS EDITION<br />
Sale Price $27,992 Less $4000 Rebate<br />
Imag<strong>in</strong>e travel<strong>in</strong>g down<strong>to</strong>wn<br />
on Hwy. 290 on a<br />
weekday morn<strong>in</strong>g. Are any<br />
of you will<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> proceed<br />
with me, or have I already<br />
made you uncomfortable?<br />
My apologies if <strong>this</strong> exercise seemed<br />
like a cruel joke, I just want you <strong>to</strong> picture<br />
the scene of bumper-<strong>to</strong>-bumper traffic<br />
and gridlock that occurs there daily. Like<br />
many of you, I have traveled Hwy. 290 over<br />
the years as part of my commute, which<br />
<strong>in</strong>cluded countless hours <strong>in</strong> traffic frustration.<br />
We have seen and <strong>heard</strong> reports of<br />
potential improvements <strong>to</strong> the roadway<br />
over the years as well, and for many it has<br />
seemed like a lifetime.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, a recent state-level decision<br />
approved money allocated for the entire<br />
Hwy. 290 project, from Loop 610 <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Grand Parkway. This is a huge w<strong>in</strong> for<br />
Cy-Fair as transportation projects all over<br />
On the <strong>to</strong>wn<br />
NEW 2012<br />
ACADIA<br />
Sale Price $27,994 Less $2000 Rebate<br />
Reader Feedback<br />
Covetable cupcakes<br />
A <strong>to</strong>p-ten list of the <strong>be</strong>st<br />
places <strong>to</strong> go for cupcakes—rang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from red<br />
velvet <strong>to</strong> turtle brownie—<br />
<strong>in</strong> the greater North<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n area.<br />
Metro Hotspots:<br />
Montrose<br />
This hip locale is known<br />
for its dive bars, live music,<br />
antique shopp<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
lively residents.<br />
J&B’s Backyard<br />
Bistro<br />
Burgers, tacos and breakfast<br />
on the menu at <strong>this</strong><br />
new restaurant.<br />
Cy-Creek students attempt signature<br />
environmental project<br />
“Love it! It’s great <strong>to</strong> see <strong>this</strong> type of <strong>in</strong>itiative at my alma<br />
mater.”<br />
—Paul S.<br />
For full and additional comments, visit impactnews.com<br />
$25,994<br />
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NEW 2012<br />
TERRAIN<br />
$23,723<br />
$23,723<br />
11300 1960 WEST<br />
<strong>be</strong>ckandmastengm.com<br />
the state are compet<strong>in</strong>g for the same fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
dollars. It is certa<strong>in</strong>ly good news for<br />
all of us who live and work <strong>in</strong> Northwest<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n. Read about the project plans on<br />
Page 9.<br />
I know you will enjoy <strong>this</strong> jam-packed<br />
July issue. Our edi<strong>to</strong>rial team cont<strong>in</strong>ues <strong>to</strong><br />
deliver local news and relevant <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
that impacts your life. As always, we want<br />
<strong>to</strong> connect with you. We hope <strong>to</strong> see you<br />
out and about <strong>in</strong> the community, but you<br />
can also f<strong>in</strong>d us onl<strong>in</strong>e at impactnews.com,<br />
or like us on Facebook at impactnews.com/<br />
nwh-facebook.<br />
Connect Onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
NEW 2012<br />
REG CAB<br />
Sale Price $18,985 Less $2000 Rebate<br />
Kelli Ray<br />
General Manager<br />
kray@impactnews.com<br />
Check out the new and improved<br />
impactnews.com<br />
Easily browse or search news articles from your<br />
community or across the state.<br />
Stay <strong>in</strong>formed with daily, onl<strong>in</strong>e-exclusive community<br />
news and <strong>in</strong>formation.<br />
Learn about upcom<strong>in</strong>g events with the community<br />
calendar.<br />
Make your voice <strong>heard</strong> by comment<strong>in</strong>g on articles or<br />
participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> onl<strong>in</strong>e polls.<br />
Subscri<strong>be</strong> <strong>to</strong> our e-newsletter at<br />
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Follow us on Twitter @impactnews_nwh<br />
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$16,985<br />
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YUKON<br />
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impactnews.com • July 2012 | NEWS | 3<br />
Contents<br />
News<br />
4 Impacts<br />
7 Calendar<br />
8 Environment<br />
P<strong>in</strong>tail Landfill <strong>in</strong> Hempstead<br />
9 Transportation<br />
Hwy. 290 fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
11 Transportation<br />
FM 1960 medians<br />
12 Election<br />
Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4 Commissioner candidates<br />
13 County Notes<br />
14 Education<br />
STAAR results<br />
Features<br />
NEW 2012<br />
ENCLAVE<br />
Sale Price $32,473 Less $1500 Rebate<br />
18 Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
QuiltWorks of Texas<br />
19 D<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
Blue Water Seafood<br />
20 Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Lone Star College SBDC<br />
21 Close-Up<br />
Consolidated Mills<br />
22 Enterta<strong>in</strong>ment<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n Coffee and Cars<br />
23 His<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union<br />
24 Regional Report<br />
26 Real Estate<br />
STEP UP TO THE BEST OF REMAINING 2012 MODELS<br />
ON ALL IN STOCK 1<br />
$30,973<br />
$30,973<br />
1-832-604-4477<br />
NEW 2012<br />
LACROSSE<br />
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1) 72 Mo. F<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g... $0 Down + TT&L... $13.89 Per Mo Per Thousand F<strong>in</strong>anced.. 0% APR, W.A.C. (In Lieu Of Rebate) M<strong>in</strong>imum 750 Beacon Credit Score. Dealer Contribution May Effect F<strong>in</strong>al Negotiated Price. All) Prices + TT&L. Prices Include<br />
All Applicable Rebates & Incentives. No Wholesalers. Only One Ad Unit Per Family. The Buick Emblem and GMC are Registered Trademarks of General Mo<strong>to</strong>rs. Prices Subject <strong>to</strong> Fac<strong>to</strong>ry Rebate Changes Announced After Release of Publication of This Ad.<br />
$23,967<br />
$23,967<br />
BECK.12127.10x2.94.IMPACT.JULY.<strong>in</strong>dd 1 7/10/2012 1:26:15 PM
4 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
CYPRESS<br />
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MEETS WEDNESDAYS AT 7 PM!<br />
Visit us onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
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Chrysalis Christian Preschool admits students of any<br />
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iMPACts<br />
Katy hockley rd.<br />
16<br />
20<br />
Mason<br />
rd.<br />
Now Open<br />
Cypress<br />
house and<br />
haul rd.<br />
Fry rd.<br />
1 Patriot W<strong>in</strong>dow Systems Inc. opened<br />
<strong>in</strong> June at 18106 Hwy. 290, Ste. 7. The<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess supplies, <strong>in</strong>stalls and replaces<br />
v<strong>in</strong>yl, alum<strong>in</strong>um and wood w<strong>in</strong>dows. It<br />
can also build w<strong>in</strong>dows for new home<br />
construction. 832-696-1987, 832-256-0259,<br />
www.w<strong>in</strong>dowsbypatriot.com<br />
2 Dist<strong>in</strong>ct Eye Care opened June 27 at<br />
17814 Spr<strong>in</strong>g Cypress Road, Ste. 107. The<br />
op<strong>to</strong>metry cl<strong>in</strong>ic offers hands-on care and<br />
specializes <strong>in</strong> op<strong>to</strong>metric glaucoma. Other<br />
services <strong>in</strong>cludes contacts and glasses<br />
exams, medical visits and screen<strong>in</strong>gs for<br />
dia<strong>be</strong>tes. 281-255-0478<br />
3 Temporary staff<strong>in</strong>g agency PrideStaff<br />
opened <strong>in</strong> May at 12127 Jones Road. The<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess helps <strong>in</strong>dividuals f<strong>in</strong>d work<br />
around the Hous<strong>to</strong>n area <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>dustrial<br />
and clerical fields. 832-604-2255,<br />
www.pridestaff.com<br />
4 Dr. Adaeze Okeke opened Inkfree,<br />
MD June 26 at 11242 FM 1960 W., Ste.<br />
9<br />
Cypresswood dr. Mueschke rd.<br />
Cypress<br />
Church rd.<br />
15<br />
Cypress rosehill rd.<br />
10<br />
529<br />
huffmeister rd.<br />
290<br />
2<br />
hempstead rd.<br />
Lakecrest<br />
View dr.<br />
Longenbaugh dr.<br />
sk<strong>in</strong>ner rd.<br />
Barker Cypress rd.<br />
13<br />
spr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Cypress rd.<br />
Queens<strong>to</strong>n Blvd.<br />
west rd.<br />
huffmeister rd.<br />
107. The facility offers laser tat<strong>to</strong>o, sun, age<br />
spot and melasma removals as well as laser<br />
facials and acne scar treatments.<br />
832-478-5669, www.<strong>in</strong>kfreemd.com<br />
5 Berri Swirl opened <strong>in</strong> June at 18351<br />
Hwy. 249, Ste. G. The s<strong>to</strong>re sells a variety<br />
of frozen yogurt with flavors rang<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
white chocolate mousse <strong>to</strong> non-fat dreamy<br />
dark chocolate. 832-447-7377,<br />
www.<strong>be</strong>rriswirl.com<br />
6 In June, Madres Mexican Restaurant<br />
opened a second location at 18955 Hwy.<br />
249. The restaurant features traditional<br />
Mexican dishes, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g cheese<br />
enchiladas, chimichangas and flautas, as<br />
well as steak, seafood, soups, salads and<br />
desserts. 281-807-7773,<br />
www.madresmexicanrestaurant.com<br />
7 Ch<strong>in</strong>a Sea Hibachi Buffet is now open<br />
at 18736 Hwy. 249. The restaurant serves<br />
fresh sushi and other Asian-themed foods.<br />
832-688-8904<br />
8 Staff<strong>in</strong>g agency Randstad opened a<br />
telge rd.<br />
6<br />
Grant rd.<br />
290<br />
spr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Cypress rd.<br />
Louetta rd.<br />
11 6<br />
Cypress N. hous<strong>to</strong>n rd.<br />
18<br />
22<br />
12<br />
19<br />
N. eldridge Pkwy.<br />
3<br />
4<br />
8<br />
21<br />
Jones rd.<br />
1<br />
14<br />
249<br />
Perry rd.<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
Jersey<br />
Village<br />
V<strong>in</strong>tage<br />
Park<br />
Cypresswood dr.<br />
willow Chase Blvd.<br />
1960<br />
17<br />
Mills rd.<br />
Fallbrook dr.<br />
new location at 11242 FM 1960 W., Ste.<br />
105. The company matches bus<strong>in</strong>esses<br />
with consultants <strong>to</strong> aid <strong>in</strong> recruit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
efforts of supervisors, managers and<br />
professionals for management positions.<br />
The bus<strong>in</strong>ess also offers services <strong>in</strong> staff<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
job search<strong>in</strong>g, human resources, payroll<br />
solutions and labor cost efficiency.<br />
713-849-9320, www.randstadusa.com<br />
9 Located at 19870 Cypress Church<br />
Road, Innkeeper Nicole Mass opened<br />
Seventh Heaven Bed & Breakfast. The<br />
<strong>be</strong>d and breakfast features 10 acres of land,<br />
three s<strong>to</strong>cked fish<strong>in</strong>g ponds, and six guest<br />
rooms, each with private baths and antique<br />
furnish<strong>in</strong>gs. The location also offers a<br />
library, a bar<strong>be</strong>cue grill, complimentary<br />
snacks, a pool and hot tub, a full gym,<br />
<strong>in</strong>-room <strong>in</strong>ternet and Wi-Fi, satellite and<br />
cable television. 713-715-9844,<br />
www.stayat7.com<br />
10 Craft s<strong>to</strong>re Michael’s opened July 15<br />
at 25715 Hwy. 290. The s<strong>to</strong>re sells arts<br />
and crafts products, pa<strong>in</strong>t, scrapbook<br />
equipment, jewelry-mak<strong>in</strong>g products,<br />
5<br />
7<br />
Gessner rd.<br />
Map not <strong>to</strong> scale
art supplies, home decor, and features a<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>m fram<strong>in</strong>g department.<br />
281-758-0014, www.michaels.com<br />
11 Owner Bonnie Beaty opened<br />
The Prickly Pair Collectics at 14226<br />
Huffmeister Road June 20. The shop<br />
sells antiques, retro relics, unique f<strong>in</strong>ds,<br />
repurposed furniture and v<strong>in</strong>tage variety<br />
collectible items. 832-334-5342<br />
12 Amerejuve, a spa, is open at 12020 FM<br />
1960 W., Ste. 500. The bus<strong>in</strong>ess, which has<br />
several other Hous<strong>to</strong>n locations, offers<br />
Bo<strong>to</strong>x, chemical peels, sk<strong>in</strong> tighten<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
facials. www.amerejuve.com<br />
Com<strong>in</strong>g Soon<br />
13 Plum Coffee is under construction<br />
at the former location of The Daily Brew<br />
Coffee House at 11688 Barker Cypress<br />
Road, Ste. A2.<br />
14 The second Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
location of Carl’s Jr. will open later <strong>this</strong><br />
summer on Louetta Road across from<br />
V<strong>in</strong>tage Park. The fast-food cha<strong>in</strong> offers<br />
a variety of burgers, melts and chicken<br />
sandwiches. www.carlsjr.com<br />
15 A new location of Foundry Methodist<br />
Church is under construction <strong>in</strong>side the<br />
master-planned community of Bridgeland<br />
off Fry Road. Construction is expected <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>be</strong> complete <strong>in</strong> 2013.<br />
www.foundrychurch.com<br />
16 All Floors and More will open a fourth<br />
location <strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g months at The<br />
Shops at Fairfield, 29110 Hwy. 290, Ste.<br />
300. The company sells a variety of bl<strong>in</strong>ds,<br />
carpets and carpet<strong>in</strong>g, granite counter<strong>to</strong>ps<br />
and tile as well as lam<strong>in</strong>ate, hardwood and<br />
brand-name floor<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
www.allfloors<strong>to</strong>re.com<br />
17 A new Fires<strong>to</strong>ne Complete Au<strong>to</strong> Care<br />
s<strong>to</strong>re is under construction at the corner of<br />
West Road and Beltway 8. When complete,<br />
the bus<strong>in</strong>ess will sell tires and offer other<br />
vehicles services such as alignment, air<br />
conditioner repair, eng<strong>in</strong>e tune-ups,<br />
<strong>in</strong>spections and oil changes.<br />
www.fires<strong>to</strong>necompleteau<strong>to</strong>care.com<br />
Clos<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
18 Daiquiri K<strong>in</strong>g closed its location<br />
at 12925 FM 1960 W. <strong>in</strong> early June and<br />
moved <strong>to</strong> the West Hous<strong>to</strong>n area. The<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess offered various frozen margaritas,<br />
daiquiris and other specialty frozen<br />
<strong>be</strong>verages. www.daiquirik<strong>in</strong>g.net<br />
19 Frozen Cafe closed its doors at 12149<br />
FM 1960 W., Ste. E. The restaurant served<br />
yogurt, gela<strong>to</strong>, coffee and other dr<strong>in</strong>ks.<br />
www.frozencafe.com<br />
John rigg<br />
Owner Bonnie Beaty sells antiques, retro items, furniture and other items from The Prickly Pair<br />
Collectics, which opened off Huffmeister Road <strong>in</strong> late June.<br />
Relocations<br />
In July, owner Jen Rockey relocated<br />
Frosted Bakery from 17001 FM 529<br />
<strong>to</strong> 307 W. Ma<strong>in</strong> St. <strong>in</strong> Tomball. The<br />
shop offers several cus<strong>to</strong>m cakes and<br />
cupcakes rang<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> flavor from French<br />
vanilla fantasy <strong>to</strong> banana split for special<br />
occasions with more than 15 options for<br />
frost<strong>in</strong>gs. 281-550-7044,<br />
www.frostedbakeryonl<strong>in</strong>e.com<br />
20 Owner Nick Rodabadi relocated<br />
Paris Salon June 11 from the corner of<br />
FM 1960 and Jones Road <strong>to</strong> The Shops at<br />
Fairfield, 29110 Hwy. 290, Ste. 110. The<br />
salon offers services for men, women<br />
and children, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g haircuts with<br />
shampoo, blow dry and flat iron options<br />
as well as special styles, chemical hair<br />
color<strong>in</strong>g, perms, wax<strong>in</strong>g, t<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g and hair<br />
smooth<strong>in</strong>g treatments. 281-758-4442,<br />
www.parissalon.us<br />
21 Owner Daniel Kilburn relocated<br />
Universal Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do<br />
<strong>to</strong> its new office at 8805 Jones Road, Ste.<br />
A103. The facility offers children, youth,<br />
teen and adult programs with <strong>be</strong>g<strong>in</strong>ner <strong>to</strong><br />
expert black <strong>be</strong>lt and master’s martial arts<br />
tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. Special classes are also available,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g after-school programs, spr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
break day camps, summer camps and<br />
private lessons. 281-477-7788,<br />
www.utkdhkd.com<br />
In the News<br />
Cy-Fair ISD trustees renewed for another<br />
year June 28 the district’s optional 20<br />
percent homestead exemption. The<br />
exemption gives homeowners with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
district a 20-percent reduction on their<br />
property taxes. It also amounts <strong>to</strong> $3.5<br />
billion <strong>in</strong> taxable value and $37 million <strong>in</strong><br />
ma<strong>in</strong>tenance and operations revenue.<br />
Compiled by Marie Leonard, John Rigg, and Liza W<strong>in</strong>kler<br />
John rigg<br />
Marie Leonard<br />
From left, G<strong>in</strong>ger Walker, Dr. Myria B. Reese and<br />
Paula Reese opened June 27 Dist<strong>in</strong>ct Eye Care at<br />
Spr<strong>in</strong>g Cypress Road and Hwy. 290.<br />
Fires<strong>to</strong>ne Complete Au<strong>to</strong> Care is under construction<br />
at Beltway 8 and West Road.<br />
Anniversary<br />
22 The Catfish Station will celebrate its<br />
one-year anniversary Aug. 20 by giv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
away free catfish snack baskets <strong>to</strong> all<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mers from 11 a.m. <strong>to</strong> 9 p.m. The<br />
drive-through restaurant sells po-boy<br />
sandwiches, catfish, gumbo, shrimp and<br />
other seafood items. 281-894-5186,<br />
www.thecatfishstation.com<br />
News or questions about Northwest hous<strong>to</strong>n?<br />
e-mail nwhnews@impactnews.com.<br />
11<br />
2<br />
17<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | NEWS | 5<br />
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6 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
I chose<br />
MD Anderson<br />
<strong>in</strong> Katy<br />
- Jeanne Zarazee<br />
When I had breast cancer, the<br />
world’s lead<strong>in</strong>g care was right here.<br />
My team of experts <strong>in</strong> Katy focused only on me and my cancer. They guided me through<br />
advanced MD Anderson treatment options <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g surgery, radiation, chemotherapy,<br />
cl<strong>in</strong>ical trials, and support services. They cus<strong>to</strong>mized a plan just for me. Hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
MD Anderson <strong>in</strong> my community kept me close <strong>to</strong> my friends and close <strong>to</strong> home.<br />
I chose MD Anderson <strong>in</strong> Katy. F<strong>in</strong>d Your MD Anderson <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
Appo<strong>in</strong>tments Available<br />
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Texas Medical Center<br />
Bay Area
CALeNdAr<br />
July<br />
17-Aug. 16 “Postcards: Then and<br />
Now”<br />
Lone star College–CyFair features the works<br />
of suzanna sheild-Polk <strong>this</strong> summer. Viewers<br />
see a mix of video images projected on<strong>to</strong><br />
ceramic pieces and a collection of wall art<br />
from the versatile artist. shield-Polk is the<br />
LsC–CyFair art department chair and the<br />
head of the ceramics area at the college.<br />
the Bosque Gallery is located <strong>in</strong> the school’s<br />
Center of the Arts build<strong>in</strong>g. 11 a.m.-2 p.m,<br />
tuesday-thursday. Free. the Bosque Gallery,<br />
Lone star College-CyFair, 9191 Barker<br />
Cypress road, ste. 101, Cypress.<br />
832-482-1038, www.lonestar.edu/bosquegallery<br />
20-22 ‘60s musical clos<strong>in</strong>g weekend<br />
the texas reper<strong>to</strong>ry theater presents<br />
“Beehive,” a show featur<strong>in</strong>g hits by wellknown<br />
female s<strong>in</strong>gers and songwriters from<br />
the 1960s. six actresses br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> life the soul<br />
of the time period with songs by the Chiffons,<br />
Aretha Frankl<strong>in</strong>, Petula Clark, Connie Francis,<br />
Lesley Gore and the supremes. $40 (adults),<br />
$36 (seniors/military), $25 (students). 8 p.m.<br />
(July 20 and 21), 3 p.m. (July 22). texas<br />
reper<strong>to</strong>ry theatre, 14243 stuebner Airl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
road, hous<strong>to</strong>n. 281-583-7573,<br />
www.texreptheatre.org<br />
20-22 & 27-29 “Guys and Dolls”<br />
the hous<strong>to</strong>n Family Arts Center closes its<br />
production of damon runyon’s “Guys and<br />
dolls” <strong>this</strong> weekend. the Broadway classic<br />
places an array of characters <strong>in</strong> the heart of<br />
New York’s times square and features love,<br />
gambl<strong>in</strong>g, and wild performances <strong>in</strong> song and<br />
dance. times vary. $18 (adult), $16 (senior),<br />
$14 (child), Berry Center theater, 8877 Barker<br />
Cypress road, Cypress. 281-685-6374,<br />
www.hous<strong>to</strong>nfac.com<br />
21 Hempstead Watermelon Festival<br />
hosted by the hempstead Cham<strong>be</strong>r of<br />
Commerce, the 23rd annual watermelon<br />
Festival features a parade, street dance, live<br />
music and several chances <strong>to</strong> eat the summer<br />
fruit, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g watermelon grow<strong>in</strong>g and eat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
contests. 9 a.m.–11 p.m. Free. down<strong>to</strong>wn<br />
hempstead, across from cham<strong>be</strong>r office.<br />
wmf.hempsteadtxCham<strong>be</strong>r.com<br />
21 “The Wizard of Oz”<br />
experience the music from one of the most<br />
well-known films <strong>in</strong> a whole new way as the<br />
hous<strong>to</strong>n symphony orchestra performs the<br />
“wizard of oz” soundtrack live while the<br />
film is played on the big screen. the movie<br />
score features Judy Garland’s orig<strong>in</strong>al studio<br />
record<strong>in</strong>g backed by the orchestra conducted<br />
by Constant<strong>in</strong>e Kitsopoulos. 7:30 p.m. $22-<br />
texas department of Agriculture<br />
$85. Jones hall, 615 Louisiana st., ste. 101,<br />
hous<strong>to</strong>n. 713-224-7575,<br />
www.hous<strong>to</strong>nsymphony.org<br />
23-29 Go Texan Roundup<br />
restaurants across the state—and several <strong>in</strong><br />
Northwest hous<strong>to</strong>n—participate <strong>in</strong> a weeklong<br />
event, giv<strong>in</strong>g d<strong>in</strong>ers the opportunity <strong>to</strong><br />
try local texas flavors. with the help of the<br />
texas department of Agriculture, a portion<br />
of the proceeds <strong>be</strong>nefit area food banks. For<br />
a full list of restaurants and specialty items,<br />
visit www.gotexanrestaurantroundup.com,<br />
877-99-GoteX<br />
25 A new k<strong>in</strong>d of garden<br />
Master gardener Freddye Kelly teaches how<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>corporate creativity <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> garden<strong>in</strong>g. she<br />
creates m<strong>in</strong>iature gardens and plantscapes <strong>to</strong><br />
accent homes and offices by add<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>to</strong>uch of<br />
green <strong>to</strong> any table<strong>to</strong>p. 10-11 a.m. Free. Library<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>g room 131, Lone star College-CyFair,<br />
9191 Barker Cypress road, Cypress.<br />
281-290-3214, www.lonestar.edu/library<br />
26-Aug. 19 Cirque du Soleil—Kooza<br />
“Kooza” is called a return <strong>to</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>s of<br />
Cirque du soleil, as it features two long-time<br />
circus traditions: aerobatics and clown<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
with acts <strong>in</strong> con<strong>to</strong>rtion, the high-wire, the<br />
trapeze and the “wheel of death,” <strong>this</strong><br />
performance highlights the physical prowess<br />
of its performers. 8 p.m. (Friday), 4 p.m., 8<br />
p.m. (saturday), 1 p.m., 5 p.m. (sunday).<br />
tickets: $43.50-$143.50 (adults,) $33-$104.50<br />
(children). sam hous<strong>to</strong>n race Park–the Grand<br />
Chapiteau, 7575 North sam hous<strong>to</strong>n Parkway<br />
w., hous<strong>to</strong>n. 281-807-8700, www.shrp.com<br />
August<br />
3-5 Hous<strong>to</strong>n International Jazz Festival<br />
the 22nd annual hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>in</strong>ternational Jazz<br />
Festival highlights a face-off <strong>be</strong>tween Louisiana<br />
and texas brass bands at the Bayou Music<br />
Center. Performance artists <strong>in</strong>clude vi<strong>be</strong> player,<br />
roy Ayers and songstress, rachelle Ferrell.<br />
Bayou Music Center, 520 texas Ave., hous<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
713-839-7000, www.jazzeducation.org<br />
Courtesy of hub<strong>be</strong>ll and hudson<br />
Drum Corps International<br />
July 20<br />
By John Rigg<br />
drum Corps <strong>in</strong>ternational returns <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Berry Center <strong>this</strong> summer as part of its<br />
<strong>to</strong>ur de Champions series. the show<br />
is presented by the exsiGhtment oF<br />
souNd, which features the <strong>to</strong>p eight<br />
corps from last year that perform preshow<br />
and <strong>in</strong>termission enterta<strong>in</strong>ment,<br />
fan <strong>in</strong>teraction and an en-masse f<strong>in</strong>ale.<br />
each group consists of up <strong>to</strong> 150<br />
brass musicians, percussionists and<br />
dancers perform<strong>in</strong>g formations and<br />
choreography <strong>to</strong> classical, jazz, rock<br />
and pop musical arrangements. dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
their summer <strong>to</strong>ur<strong>in</strong>g season, these <strong>to</strong>pranked<br />
groups travel more than 10,000<br />
miles around the country.<br />
For more than 30 years, dCi has<br />
operated as a non-profit organization<br />
for youth, ages 14-22. each year, the<br />
dCi <strong>to</strong>ur allows mem<strong>be</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> participate<br />
<strong>in</strong> hundreds of events <strong>in</strong> 17 cities<br />
throughout the country and compete <strong>in</strong><br />
35 worldwide championships.<br />
Nearly three-quarters of the corps are<br />
made up of college students, and about<br />
8,000 <strong>in</strong>dividuals audition annually. dCi<br />
celebrates its 40th anniversary <strong>this</strong> year.<br />
7:30 p.m. $25-$45. the Berry Center,<br />
8877 Barker Cypress road, Cypress.<br />
317-275-1212, www.dci.org<br />
Worth the drive<br />
5 Party Food for Families<br />
the hub<strong>be</strong>ll and hudson Market and Bistro<br />
hosts a family night party food event.<br />
Participants practice cook<strong>in</strong>g skills by<br />
mak<strong>in</strong>g pizzette margherita, t<strong>in</strong>y shrimp<br />
tacos, super sliders, vanilla cupcakes and<br />
more. 1–4 p.m. $69. hub<strong>be</strong>ll and hudson<br />
Market and Bistro, 24 waterway Avenue,<br />
ste. 125, the woodlands. 281-203-5608,<br />
www.hub<strong>be</strong>llandhudson.com<br />
Courtesy of drum Corps <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | NEWS | 7<br />
The Blue Devils from Concord, Calif. are one of eight<br />
corps perform<strong>in</strong>g at The Berry Center <strong>this</strong> month.<br />
11-12 “The Lion K<strong>in</strong>g”<br />
the hous<strong>to</strong>n Family Arts Center Ac<strong>to</strong>r’s<br />
Academy tells the <strong>be</strong>loved s<strong>to</strong>ry of “the Lion<br />
K<strong>in</strong>g,” through ballet featur<strong>in</strong>g dist<strong>in</strong>ctive music<br />
and choreography. $5. 10 a.m., 2 p.m. (Aug.<br />
11), 3 p.m., 6 p.m. (Aug. 12). hous<strong>to</strong>n Family<br />
Arts Center, 10760 Grant road, hous<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
281-685-6374, www.hous<strong>to</strong>nfac.com<br />
Onl<strong>in</strong>e Calendar<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d more or submit Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n events at<br />
www.impactnews.com/nwh-calendar.<br />
For a full list of Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n events visit<br />
www.impactnews.com/hous<strong>to</strong>n-metro/calendar.<br />
To have Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n events considered for the<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>t edition, they must <strong>be</strong> submitted onl<strong>in</strong>e by the fifth<br />
of the month.<br />
Sponsored by<br />
.com<br />
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BMKIA.12045.fourthbanner.impact.may.<strong>in</strong>dd 1 5/10/2012 3:40:53 PM
8 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
eNViroNMeNt<br />
Neighbors oppose proposed landfill<br />
By Marie Leonard<br />
Amid the farmland and advertisements<br />
for locally grown produce<br />
near the <strong>in</strong>tersection of Hwy.<br />
6 and Hwy. 290 <strong>in</strong> Hempstead,<br />
multiple signs from the S<strong>to</strong>p Hwy.<br />
6 Landfill Coalition have sprouted<br />
up <strong>in</strong> recent months.<br />
Georgia-based Green Group<br />
Hold<strong>in</strong>gs has plans <strong>to</strong> build a<br />
landfill at the site, which would<br />
hold <strong>be</strong>tween 35 and 38 million<br />
cubic yards of trash that would<br />
come from a 45-mile radius,<br />
which <strong>in</strong>cludes Cy-Fair.<br />
“There is a need <strong>in</strong> the Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
metro area for landfills, especially<br />
on the western side of the city,”<br />
said Ernest Kaufmann, president<br />
of Green Group Hold<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
Mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the S<strong>to</strong>p Hwy.<br />
6 Landfill Coalition, which<br />
formed a year ago, have concerns<br />
about several aspects of<br />
the proposed project.<br />
“We <strong>be</strong>lieve there are a num<strong>be</strong>r<br />
of issues that would affect our<br />
community that are serious and<br />
long-term such as traffic and public<br />
safety, our source of ground<br />
and surface water that we <strong>be</strong>lieve<br />
could <strong>be</strong>come contam<strong>in</strong>ated,<br />
odor, noise and the environment,”<br />
said Bill Hunts<strong>in</strong>ger, one<br />
of the coalition mem<strong>be</strong>rs.<br />
P<strong>in</strong>tail Landfill will consist of<br />
790 acres—250 of which will hold<br />
the waste. The rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g acreage<br />
along Hwy. 6 will <strong>be</strong> developed<br />
<strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dustrial park for manufactur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
facilities.<br />
“The rest will <strong>be</strong> set aside by<br />
buffers for community recreational<br />
activities or other<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs the county might have <strong>in</strong><br />
m<strong>in</strong>d,” Kaufmann said. “Eventually<br />
we plan <strong>to</strong> have recycl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and other th<strong>in</strong>gs that will<br />
complement the facility.”<br />
The issue of depreciat<strong>in</strong>g property<br />
value is also a concern, s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
the area on which the landfill<br />
will <strong>be</strong> built is considered one of<br />
the premiere <strong>in</strong>tersections <strong>in</strong> the<br />
county, Hunts<strong>in</strong>ger said.<br />
“It has great commercial and<br />
residential property potential,”<br />
he said.”<br />
As per the host agreement,<br />
Green Group Hold<strong>in</strong>gs will offer<br />
a property value protection program<br />
that covers any homeowners<br />
with<strong>in</strong> a mile of the site with<br />
30 acres or less.<br />
“If [homeowners] try <strong>to</strong> sell<br />
their property with<strong>in</strong> 10 years<br />
after the landfill opens and they<br />
can’t get their appraised value,<br />
we will make up the difference,”<br />
Kaufmann said.<br />
P<strong>in</strong>tail Landfill will accept<br />
household and bus<strong>in</strong>ess waste, but<br />
no hazardous materials or sewer<br />
sludge, Kaufmann said. Regardless,<br />
the coalition is still concerned.<br />
“Landfills <strong>be</strong>come bigger and<br />
taller, and what you see <strong>to</strong>day on<br />
the application is not what you<br />
should expect <strong>to</strong> see at the end of<br />
its life,” Hunts<strong>in</strong>ger said.<br />
The Hous<strong>to</strong>n-Galves<strong>to</strong>n Area<br />
Council and the state must<br />
approve the project <strong>be</strong>fore a permit<br />
can <strong>be</strong> issued. The facility is<br />
expected <strong>to</strong> open by 2014.<br />
6<br />
hempstead<br />
290<br />
1488<br />
290<br />
Proposed P<strong>in</strong>tail Landfill<br />
There are several landfills <strong>in</strong> Harris County that<br />
accept residential waste, but they are located<br />
on the northeastern side, miles from Cy-Fair.<br />
The proposed P<strong>in</strong>tail Landfill <strong>in</strong> Hempstead will<br />
accept residential waste from a 45-mile radius,<br />
which <strong>in</strong>cludes areas <strong>in</strong> northwest Harris<br />
County such as Cy-Fair, Spr<strong>in</strong>g and Magnolia.<br />
249<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
About 108 trucks, or one truck every<br />
eight m<strong>in</strong>utes, are expected <strong>to</strong> arrive<br />
daily <strong>to</strong> the proposed P<strong>in</strong>tail Landfill<br />
via Hwy. 6, accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> a traffic study<br />
completed by Lee Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g. Before<br />
a landfill can <strong>be</strong> built, a traffic study is<br />
required <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> completed by the Texas<br />
Department of Transportation and the<br />
Texas Commission on Environmental<br />
Quality. Accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> the study, about<br />
23,000 vehicles traveled Hwy. 6 north of<br />
Hwy. 290 daily <strong>in</strong> 2011.<br />
source: Green Group hold<strong>in</strong>gs, LLC<br />
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trANsPortAtioN<br />
By Marie Leonard<br />
The Texas Transportation Commission<br />
approved June 28 a $1.9 billion allocation<br />
<strong>in</strong> transportation money, which will help<br />
several projects move forward <strong>in</strong> Northwest<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
More than $360 million of the allocation<br />
will go <strong>to</strong>ward several segments of<br />
Hwy. 290 improvements, rang<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
reconstruction of the Hwy. 290 and Loop<br />
610 <strong>in</strong>terchange <strong>to</strong> widened lanes along the<br />
corridor.<br />
These new funds will accelerate the construction<br />
start times <strong>to</strong> earlier than orig<strong>in</strong>ally<br />
planned, said Karen Othon, Hwy.<br />
290 public <strong>in</strong>formation officer for the Texas<br />
Department of Transportation. All of<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | NEWS | 9<br />
New state fund<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> hasten work on Hwy. 290 improvement projects<br />
CHANGES COMING TO HWY. 290<br />
Additional money from the Texas<br />
Transportation Commission will<br />
help jumpstart construction projects<br />
on Hwy. 290 by 2014.<br />
1 Widen from 6 Ma<strong>in</strong> Lanes <strong>to</strong> 10<br />
2 Widen from 6 Ma<strong>in</strong> Lanes <strong>to</strong> 12<br />
3 Auxillary Lanes<br />
4 Grade Separation<br />
5 Two 2-lane Frontage Roads<br />
6 Bridge<br />
7 Detention Pond<br />
source: txdot<br />
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2<br />
Hwy. 290 <strong>be</strong>tween Loop 610 and the Grand<br />
Parkway is slated <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> under construction<br />
by 2014, and it is estimated the project will<br />
<strong>be</strong> complete by late 2016.<br />
The additional funds will make it possible<br />
<strong>to</strong> widen Hwy. 290 <strong>to</strong> 12 ma<strong>in</strong> lanes<br />
from west of P<strong>in</strong>emont Drive <strong>to</strong> west of W.<br />
34th Street. The highway will <strong>be</strong> widened<br />
<strong>to</strong> 10 ma<strong>in</strong> lanes with auxiliary lanes<br />
from east of W. Little York Road <strong>to</strong> west of<br />
Fairbanks N. Hous<strong>to</strong>n Road, widened <strong>to</strong><br />
12 ma<strong>in</strong> lanes west of N. Eldridge Parkway<br />
<strong>to</strong> west of FM 529, and widened <strong>to</strong> 10 ma<strong>in</strong><br />
lanes with auxiliary lanes east of Telge<br />
Road <strong>to</strong> west of N. Eldridge Parkway.<br />
“I am excited <strong>to</strong> see some movement<br />
happen<strong>in</strong>g [with] the Hwy. 290 projects,”<br />
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7<br />
said Leslie Mar<strong>to</strong>ne, Cy-Fair Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Cham<strong>be</strong>r of Commerce president. “I know<br />
it will <strong>be</strong> a long road ahead of us, but I<br />
truly <strong>be</strong>lieve the residents of Cy-Fair will<br />
<strong>be</strong> travel<strong>in</strong>g a lot easier <strong>in</strong> and out of Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
with<strong>in</strong> the next five years.”<br />
In May, Harris County Commissioners<br />
Court approved a memorandum of<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g with TxDOT <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>stall<br />
managed lanes on Hwy. 290 from Loop<br />
610 <strong>to</strong> the Grand Parkway. The proposed<br />
$1.3 billion project calls for build<strong>in</strong>g a two<br />
or three-lane reversible managed lane for<br />
high occupancy vehicles and <strong>to</strong>ll traffic,<br />
and <strong>in</strong>cludes the addition of a general lane<br />
<strong>in</strong> both directions.<br />
“In partnership with Harris County<br />
telge rd.<br />
SEGMENT 1<br />
1 3 4 5<br />
6<br />
huffsmith rd.<br />
N. eldridgr Pkwy.<br />
1960<br />
west rd.<br />
529<br />
Jones rd.<br />
SEGMENT 2<br />
2 4 5<br />
Toll Road Authority, TxDOT will <strong>be</strong> able<br />
<strong>to</strong> move forward with needed improvements<br />
<strong>to</strong> the [Hwy.] 290 corridor from<br />
Loop 610 <strong>to</strong> the [Grand Parkway], which<br />
<strong>in</strong>cludes the proposed managed lane<br />
concept,” Othon said.<br />
In addition, several areas around the<br />
Hwy. 290 corridor will <strong>be</strong>nefit from the<br />
newly allocated money. The FM 1960 and<br />
Hwy. 290 <strong>in</strong>tersection will <strong>be</strong> reconstructed<br />
west of N. Eldridge Parkway, along with the<br />
Hwy. 6 and Hwy. 290 <strong>in</strong>terchange on the<br />
opposite side of the roadway.<br />
The additional money was allocated<br />
from Texas Mobility Fund bond proceeds,<br />
anticipated federal fund<strong>in</strong>g and sav<strong>in</strong>gs on<br />
construction projects already underway.<br />
290<br />
SAM HOUSTON<br />
SEGMENT 3<br />
1 3 4 5 6 7<br />
w. Little York rd.<br />
hempstead rd.<br />
Fairbanks N. hous<strong>to</strong>n rd.<br />
SEGMENT 4<br />
1 3 4 5<br />
P<strong>in</strong>emont dr.
10 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
trANsPortAtioN<br />
Medians <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> <strong>in</strong>stalled on FM 1960<br />
By Marie Leonard<br />
An effort <strong>to</strong> make a portion of FM<br />
1960 and Hwy. 6 safer is underway by<br />
the Texas Department of Transportation,<br />
barr<strong>in</strong>g whether fund<strong>in</strong>g comes through<br />
for the proposed project.<br />
The plan <strong>in</strong>cludes the conversion of the<br />
roadway’s center turn lane <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a raised<br />
median from I-10 <strong>to</strong> Hwy. 249 <strong>to</strong> relieve<br />
congestion <strong>in</strong> the area and improve<br />
safety, said Deidrea Samuels, TxDOT<br />
spokesperson. Although the project is<br />
unfunded, it is expected <strong>to</strong> cost about<br />
$33.6 million.<br />
“The proposed construction timel<strong>in</strong>e<br />
is dependent on fund<strong>in</strong>g, so there is not a<br />
set month, but at <strong>this</strong> time the estimated<br />
time for construction <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong>g<strong>in</strong> is anywhere<br />
from 2013 <strong>to</strong> 2015,” Samuels said.<br />
The Copperfield Coalition, which<br />
represents the community around Hwy.<br />
6, <strong>be</strong>lieves the proposed project will make<br />
the roadway safer, but its mem<strong>be</strong>rs do<br />
have concerns about the area north of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>tersection at FM 529 and Hwy. 6, said<br />
Anthony Cecala, coalition president.<br />
“The problem with TxDOT’s plan is that<br />
it’s go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> difficult <strong>to</strong> get <strong>in</strong> and out of<br />
those two sections,” he said. “Our suggestion<br />
is <strong>to</strong> put <strong>in</strong> a light at the <strong>in</strong>tersection<br />
just a hair north of Outback Steakhouse.<br />
Right now it’s an extremely dangerous<br />
<strong>in</strong>tersection, and the light would open easy<br />
access <strong>to</strong> the bus<strong>in</strong>esses.”<br />
As far as the rest of the Copperfield area,<br />
the coalition does not have other issues,<br />
with the exception that residents will have<br />
<strong>to</strong> make more U-turns.<br />
The coalition is also <strong>in</strong> favor of hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
green medians along the roadway, Cecala<br />
said. Non-green medians would <strong>be</strong> filled<br />
with asphalt or concrete and pa<strong>in</strong>ted black,<br />
while green medians feature at least grass<br />
and possibly shrub<strong>be</strong>ry.<br />
“The county will come <strong>in</strong> and fill [the<br />
median] <strong>in</strong> with dirt, put a layer of sod<br />
down, and walk away,” Cecala said. “Then<br />
it is up <strong>to</strong> the community <strong>to</strong> keep it mowed<br />
and watered. They can from that po<strong>in</strong>t go<br />
on and landscape it, but it does have <strong>to</strong> fit<br />
with<strong>in</strong> the safety guidel<strong>in</strong>es of TxDOT.”<br />
The state agency agreed <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>stall green<br />
medians along the project route if an organization<br />
steps up and accepts the responsibility<br />
<strong>to</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> them, <strong>be</strong>cause they<br />
do not want <strong>to</strong> turn it <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a pile of weeds,<br />
Cecala said. The Copperfield <strong>Community</strong><br />
Association is will<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> manage the<br />
portion of Hwy. 6 from Po<strong>in</strong>t Northwest<br />
Boulevard <strong>to</strong> FM 529. Other entities, which<br />
could <strong>in</strong>clude apartment complexes and<br />
local bus<strong>in</strong>esses, are expected <strong>to</strong> accept the<br />
task of ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the medians along the<br />
rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g areas.<br />
Raised medians could <strong>be</strong> part of the landscape on a portion<br />
of Hwy. 6 <strong>in</strong> several years if fund<strong>in</strong>g comes through for the<br />
project, which would run along the roadway from I-10 <strong>to</strong> Hwy.<br />
249. The ma<strong>in</strong> purpose of the project <strong>in</strong>cludes convert<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
road's cont<strong>in</strong>uous middle turn lane <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a raised median.<br />
• The 12.2 mile project will<br />
run along FM 1960/Hwy. 6<br />
from I-10 <strong>to</strong> Hwy. 249<br />
• It rema<strong>in</strong>s unfunded, but<br />
will cost about $33.6<br />
million <strong>to</strong> complete<br />
• The Copperfield<br />
<strong>Community</strong> Association<br />
will upkeep green medians<br />
along the project route<br />
• One section of the<br />
12.2-mile area—from west<br />
of Hwy. 290 <strong>to</strong> W<strong>in</strong>dmere<br />
Lakes Boulevard—will not<br />
have raised medians due<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Hwy. 290 widen<strong>in</strong>g<br />
project<br />
SHOULDER<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
Source: Texas Department of Transportation<br />
THROUGH RAISED MEDIANS<br />
EXISTING<br />
PROPOSED<br />
PROPOSED<br />
(ADDICKS RESERVOIR)<br />
CRASH RATES TIMELINE<br />
2008<br />
2009<br />
2010<br />
2011<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
788<br />
699<br />
895<br />
528<br />
EXISTING<br />
PROPOSED<br />
PROPOSED(ADDICKS RESERVOIR)<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
TURN<br />
LANE<br />
RAISED<br />
MEDIAN<br />
DIVIDER<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
NEW MEDIANS<br />
6<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
1960<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
10<br />
290<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
12’<br />
LANE<br />
WINTER 2012<br />
Completion of Environmental Process<br />
and Schematic<br />
SPRING 2013<br />
Completion of Professional Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and Survey<strong>in</strong>g Design<br />
EST. 2013–2015<br />
Construction (Dependent on fund<strong>in</strong>g)<br />
249<br />
SHOULDER
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12 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
2012 ELECTION COVERAGE<br />
Candidates for Harris County Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4 Commissioner Election dates for 2012 - www.harrisvotes.com<br />
Jack Cagle, <strong>in</strong>cum<strong>be</strong>nt county commissioner<br />
for prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4, is a former<br />
at<strong>to</strong>rney and judge with a triple major<br />
from Rice University. He also received<br />
almost 73 percent of the vote <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Republican primary. Cagle has served as<br />
commissioner s<strong>in</strong>ce last Oc<strong>to</strong><strong>be</strong>r, follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the resignation of Jerry Eversole.<br />
Will anyth<strong>in</strong>g change now that you<br />
know who your contender is?<br />
Not really. The only change now is I<br />
have a Democratic opponent. However,<br />
the goal of do<strong>in</strong>g a good job would exist<br />
even without a Democratic opponent. My<br />
grandfather always taught me that the<br />
<strong>be</strong>st campaign you could ever do is <strong>to</strong> do<br />
a good job.<br />
we are a committed omm d <strong>to</strong> sserv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
ng oour<br />
community comm nit and<br />
ou our mili military ary<br />
Sean Hammerle<br />
Democratic candidate, Harris County Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4 Commissioner<br />
Sean Hammerle, a native Texan, is<br />
the son of a mother and father who both<br />
retired after long careers as high school<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>cipals. He attended Louisiana State<br />
University, where he majored <strong>in</strong> political<br />
science and English literature. Hammerle<br />
has lived <strong>in</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n for almost 20 years<br />
and works <strong>in</strong> public service. Now that he<br />
has received 52 percent of the vote <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Democratic primary, Hammerle is ready<br />
<strong>to</strong> do what he has <strong>be</strong>en do<strong>in</strong>g practically<br />
all his life. “I want the work I do <strong>to</strong> make a<br />
difference,” Hammerle said.<br />
Will anyth<strong>in</strong>g change <strong>in</strong> the next phase<br />
of the campaign, know<strong>in</strong>g you will <strong>be</strong> fac<strong>in</strong>g<br />
off aga<strong>in</strong>st Jack Cagle?<br />
It’s go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> a little different, but<br />
mostly <strong>be</strong>cause there are now two parties<br />
What is your vision for Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4?<br />
I’ve <strong>in</strong>herited a prec<strong>in</strong>ct that is explod<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong> growth. My vision is <strong>to</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> prepared for <strong>this</strong> growth and <strong>to</strong> see<br />
that we have the <strong>in</strong>frastructure <strong>in</strong> place<br />
<strong>to</strong> allow communities and bus<strong>in</strong>esses <strong>to</strong><br />
grow. Economic development is the <strong>be</strong>st<br />
chance <strong>to</strong> succeed.<br />
How will you work <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p undesirable<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>esses that open <strong>in</strong> areas such as<br />
FM 1960?<br />
Laws have <strong>be</strong>en passed at the legislature<br />
that gives some teeth for the county <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong><br />
able <strong>to</strong> enact ord<strong>in</strong>ances, <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p the massage<br />
parlors and tearooms that are br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />
down property values and destroy<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the quality of life along the [FM] 1960<br />
July 31: Primary Runoff election<br />
Oct. 22-Nov. 2: Early vot<strong>in</strong>g for general election<br />
look<strong>in</strong>g for votes. My message has not<br />
changed though—I will br<strong>in</strong>g a different<br />
perspective <strong>to</strong> Harris County. There’s a<br />
trend across the country of want<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
other than the same-old-same-old.<br />
What is your vision for Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4?<br />
Increas<strong>in</strong>g communication among<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>esses and organizations with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
prec<strong>in</strong>ct. I have constantly had people say,<br />
‘What does the commissioner do?’ So I<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k we can do a lot more <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>form citizens<br />
about the effect commissioners have<br />
<strong>in</strong> the county.<br />
How will you work <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p undesirable<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>esses that open <strong>in</strong> areas such as<br />
FM 1960?<br />
I do th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>this</strong> is an area where<br />
Jack Cagle<br />
Republican candidate, Harris County Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 4 Commissioner<br />
corridor. We’ve had six meet<strong>in</strong>gs with<br />
state reps, county at<strong>to</strong>rney’s office, district<br />
at<strong>to</strong>rney’s office, fire marshal’s office, and<br />
the sheriff’s department, all <strong>to</strong>gether.<br />
We’ve now got a proposed set of ord<strong>in</strong>ances<br />
that we’re go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> have a public<br />
hear<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> the next few weeks.<br />
What is the biggest challenge <strong>in</strong> govern<strong>in</strong>g<br />
over such a large un<strong>in</strong>corporated<br />
area?<br />
Mak<strong>in</strong>g sure we have adequate<br />
resources <strong>to</strong> take care of the needs that are<br />
unique <strong>to</strong> residents. It requires thought,<br />
mak<strong>in</strong>g plans, and ensur<strong>in</strong>g staff is <strong>in</strong><br />
place and at the <strong>to</strong>p of their game.<br />
Nov. 6: General election<br />
Compiled by Kim<strong>be</strong>rly Morgan<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g communication prec<strong>in</strong>ct-wide is<br />
necessary. If the cham<strong>be</strong>rs were able <strong>to</strong> talk<br />
<strong>to</strong> each other, and if I can br<strong>in</strong>g all of these<br />
people <strong>to</strong> the table and ask, ‘How did you<br />
address it <strong>in</strong> your area?’ I th<strong>in</strong>k it would <strong>be</strong><br />
helpful. Aga<strong>in</strong>, it’s just provid<strong>in</strong>g an outlet<br />
for people <strong>to</strong> communicate <strong>be</strong>tter.<br />
What is one of the biggest challenges<br />
govern<strong>in</strong>g such a large un<strong>in</strong>corporated<br />
area?<br />
The challenge overall is the budget<br />
itself. Nobody wants property taxes<br />
<strong>in</strong>creased. I th<strong>in</strong>k we really need <strong>to</strong> take<br />
a look at other government agencies and<br />
see how they do it, and how we might <strong>be</strong><br />
able <strong>to</strong> do it <strong>in</strong> Harris County. We want<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> able <strong>to</strong> provide equitable services<br />
throughout the county.<br />
Celeebrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
g our Freedom! Thank you y <strong>to</strong> our Soldiers!<br />
Cross<strong>in</strong>g of America<br />
Recently presented Cy-Hope with<br />
a check for $30,000 <strong>to</strong> assist<br />
CFISD at risk and economically<br />
challenged students thru<br />
sponsorships of students <strong>in</strong> dual<br />
Wheelers for the Wounded<br />
credit programs, scholarships and<br />
men<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Proud <strong>to</strong> support local schools, food and <strong>to</strong>y drives, area teams, and mem<strong>be</strong>r of the Cy-Fair Hous<strong>to</strong>n Cham<strong>be</strong>r of Commerce.<br />
832.912.2500 • WWW.NORTHWESTDODGE.COM • 19616 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON
CitY ANd CouNtY Compiled by Marie Leonard<br />
Harris County<br />
Plan for Astrodome’s future still up <strong>in</strong> air<br />
Harris County Commissioners are no<br />
closer <strong>to</strong> decid<strong>in</strong>g the fate of the Astrodome<br />
than they were <strong>be</strong>fore the June 26<br />
capital improvements meet<strong>in</strong>g. Last year,<br />
with money appropriated by commissioners<br />
<strong>court</strong> and other sources, the county’s<br />
sports and convention corporation engaged<br />
with consultants <strong>to</strong> further study the<br />
organization’s master plan, focus<strong>in</strong>g on the<br />
future of the Astrodome, Reliant Center<br />
and Reliant Arena.<br />
The decision on how <strong>to</strong> proceed is now<br />
up <strong>to</strong> commissioners, who can choose <strong>to</strong><br />
do noth<strong>in</strong>g with the facility, tear it down<br />
and build a park area, or renovate Reliant<br />
Arena. The convention’s chairman, Edgar<br />
Colon, also said there is still an open<br />
door <strong>in</strong> regards <strong>to</strong> more suggestions for<br />
the facility.<br />
Nearly 2 million people live <strong>in</strong> Harris<br />
County, which has the largest un<strong>in</strong>corporated<br />
population <strong>in</strong> the country, accord<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>to</strong> a new budget management study<br />
presented <strong>to</strong> commissioners.<br />
“When you go back and see what happened<br />
over the last decade, we had tremendous<br />
growth <strong>in</strong> the un<strong>in</strong>corporated<br />
areas by about 600,000 people,” said Bill<br />
Jackson, county budget officer. “To put that<br />
2012<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
Jersey Village City Council<br />
Jersey Village Civic Center, 16327<br />
Lakeview drive, Jersey Village<br />
713-466-2102 • www.jerseyvillage.<strong>in</strong>fo<br />
Aug. 20, 7 p.m.<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>gs are the third Monday of the<br />
month.<br />
“We have a lot of people who want<br />
<strong>to</strong> keep the Astrodome, and some who<br />
want <strong>to</strong> tear down the Astrodome,” said<br />
Judge Ed Emmett. “In replac<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
arena, the question I th<strong>in</strong>k everyone will<br />
have <strong>to</strong> answer sooner or later is why<br />
would you tear down the Astrodome and<br />
build someth<strong>in</strong>g completely new versus<br />
convert<strong>in</strong>g the Astrodome <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a replacement<br />
of the arena?”<br />
If commissioners move forward with<br />
a $656-million option <strong>to</strong> renovate Reliant<br />
Arena and turn the Astrodome <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong><br />
a multi-purpose facility, a bond election<br />
will <strong>be</strong> necessary <strong>to</strong> fund the debt service<br />
requirements.<br />
“I’m sure <strong>this</strong> will <strong>be</strong> one of the weightier<br />
decisions we have <strong>to</strong> make,” Emmett said.<br />
Potential Bond Election: If Harris County Commissioners decide <strong>to</strong> renovate the Astrodome, it<br />
is likely a bond election would <strong>be</strong> necessary <strong>to</strong> pay for the construction. Residents have approved<br />
several bonds <strong>in</strong> the past three decades, the largest of which went <strong>to</strong> road projects.<br />
Past Bond Elections:<br />
2007 An $880 million bond failed <strong>in</strong> the Novem<strong>be</strong>r election. It would have helped pay for more<br />
parks, roads, an adult detention center, a forensic center, a family law center and a Port of<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n expansion.<br />
County’s population <strong>to</strong> exceed city of Hous<strong>to</strong>n’s by 2018<br />
+<br />
2001 Voters approved a $60 million bond for new county parks.<br />
1997 A $7 million bond was approved by voters for new county parks.<br />
1987 County residents approved a $635 million bond for improvements <strong>in</strong> the areas of the<br />
Port of Hous<strong>to</strong>n, flood control, road improvements, library facilities and park<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
1983 A $900 million bond was approved for the construction of the county’s <strong>to</strong>ll road system,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the Hardy Toll Road and Beltway 8.<br />
<strong>in</strong> perspective, that’s the size of Seattle,<br />
Denver and Wash<strong>in</strong>g<strong>to</strong>n, D.C. The commissioners<br />
had <strong>to</strong> work <strong>to</strong> keep up with<br />
that demand and build the <strong>in</strong>frastructure<br />
<strong>to</strong> move forward.”<br />
Although about 2.1 million people live<br />
<strong>in</strong> the city of Hous<strong>to</strong>n—compared <strong>to</strong> 1.6<br />
million <strong>in</strong> Harris County—but the county<br />
population is expected <strong>to</strong> surpass the city’s<br />
by 2018, accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> the study.<br />
Harris County Population - Current and Projected<br />
City of Hous<strong>to</strong>n: 2.1 million<br />
Un<strong>in</strong>corporated areas: 1.6 million<br />
Other municipalities: 490,000<br />
2016 2020<br />
City of Hous<strong>to</strong>n: 2.2 million<br />
Un<strong>in</strong>corporated areas: 2 million<br />
Other municipalities: 500,000<br />
source: harris County<br />
City of Hous<strong>to</strong>n: 2.2 million<br />
Un<strong>in</strong>corporated areas: 2.4 million<br />
Other municipalities: 500,000<br />
Harris County<br />
Commissioners Court<br />
harris County Adm<strong>in</strong>.Build<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
1001 Pres<strong>to</strong>n Ave., hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
713-755-5000 • www.hctx.net<br />
July 24, Aug. 10, 10 a.m.<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>gs are every other tuesday.<br />
source: harris County<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | NEWS | 13
14 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
eduCAtioN<br />
Raw STAAR scores released, grad<strong>in</strong>g standards <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> announced <strong>in</strong> <strong>fall</strong><br />
By Marie Leonard<br />
Cy-Fair ISD n<strong>in</strong>th graders achieved<br />
higher scores on all end-of-course exams<br />
when compared <strong>to</strong> the statewide average<br />
<strong>in</strong> each category, accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> prelim<strong>in</strong>ary<br />
data released <strong>in</strong> June.<br />
“This is our basel<strong>in</strong>e data and gives us<br />
the opportunity <strong>to</strong> see where our strengths<br />
are and where there are opportunities for<br />
us <strong>to</strong> grow and improve,” said Roy Garcia,<br />
associate super<strong>in</strong>tendent for curriculum,<br />
<strong>in</strong>struction and school adm<strong>in</strong>istration.<br />
Three different standardized tests were<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istered dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2011-12 school<br />
year. Students <strong>in</strong> grades three through<br />
eight <strong>to</strong>ok the new STAAR test, pupils <strong>in</strong><br />
n<strong>in</strong>th grade <strong>to</strong>ok end-of-course exams, and<br />
students <strong>in</strong> 10th through 11th grade <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
the TAKS test.<br />
Seventy-six percent of CFISD n<strong>in</strong>th<br />
graders passed the English read<strong>in</strong>g exam,<br />
61 percent passed the English writ<strong>in</strong>g<br />
test, 93 percent passed biology, 89 percent<br />
passed world geography and 90 percent<br />
passed the algebra exam. CFISD students<br />
performed <strong>be</strong>st on the algebra and biology<br />
end-of-course exams.<br />
Compared <strong>to</strong> statewide data released by<br />
the Texas Education Agency, 68 percent of<br />
students <strong>in</strong> Texas passed the English read<strong>in</strong>g<br />
test, 55 percent passed English writ<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
87 percent passed biology, 81 percent<br />
passed world geography and 83 percent<br />
passed algebra.<br />
“For algebra 1, which is the first year of<br />
the phase-<strong>in</strong>, students only needed <strong>to</strong> get<br />
37 percent of the test correct <strong>to</strong> pass,” said<br />
Ashley Clayburn, associate super<strong>in</strong>tendent<br />
for school improvement and accountability.<br />
“However, with English 1 writ<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
students needed 61 percent correct <strong>to</strong> pass.<br />
We are see<strong>in</strong>g a change <strong>in</strong> pass<strong>in</strong>g standards,<br />
which is why we could <strong>be</strong> see<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
change <strong>in</strong> grades.”<br />
For students <strong>in</strong> grades three through<br />
eight, only raw scores—the num<strong>be</strong>r of<br />
questions answered correctly—are available<br />
<strong>be</strong>cause grad<strong>in</strong>g standards will not <strong>be</strong><br />
set until the <strong>fall</strong>. F<strong>in</strong>al scores will not <strong>be</strong><br />
released <strong>to</strong> students until early 2013.<br />
“The [Texas Education Agency] has<br />
developed a four-year phase <strong>in</strong> cycle for<br />
end-of-course exams,”Clayburn said. “The<br />
purpose of <strong>this</strong> is <strong>to</strong> provide students and<br />
educa<strong>to</strong>rs with sufficient time <strong>to</strong> adjust <strong>to</strong><br />
the rigor of assessment and higher performance<br />
expectations.”<br />
To graduate from high school, Texas<br />
students must pass 15 end-of-course<br />
exams by the end of senior year. As the<br />
new school year approaches, district<br />
employees will <strong>be</strong> focus<strong>in</strong>g on three ma<strong>in</strong><br />
areas <strong>to</strong> prepare students for the new tests:<br />
data analysis, campus improvement plans<br />
and the board goal-sett<strong>in</strong>g workshop.<br />
Grad<strong>in</strong>g standards—<strong>to</strong>ugher than they<br />
ones <strong>this</strong> year—will <strong>be</strong> <strong>in</strong> place by the<br />
time students take the tests next year, and<br />
the end-of-course exams will count as 15<br />
percent of a student’s f<strong>in</strong>al grade. However,<br />
students who did not pass <strong>this</strong> year’s<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
The four STAAR stakes<br />
tests can retake them over the summer,<br />
Garcia said.<br />
“Let’s say I met the pass<strong>in</strong>g standard,<br />
but feel like I could do <strong>be</strong>tter,” he said.<br />
“I can take it aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>to</strong> get a <strong>be</strong>tter score.<br />
Students will have multiple opportunities<br />
<strong>to</strong> retake these.”<br />
End-of-course test scores count for 15 percenT of a student’s grade.<br />
Students must pass 15 TesTs <strong>in</strong> grades n<strong>in</strong>e through 11 <strong>to</strong> graduate.<br />
Students must achieve a certa<strong>in</strong> cumulaTive score <strong>in</strong> each of the<br />
four content areas: English, math, science and social studies.<br />
The cumulative score is found by multiply<strong>in</strong>g the satisfac<strong>to</strong>ry score by the num<strong>be</strong>r of<br />
tests adm<strong>in</strong>istered <strong>in</strong> the four content areas.<br />
Example: If 700 out of 1,000 is considered a satisfac<strong>to</strong>ry score on the three science tests,<br />
a student would need <strong>to</strong> get a cumulative score of 2,100 (three assessments × 700 =<br />
2,100) <strong>to</strong> graduate. A satisfac<strong>to</strong>ry score may <strong>be</strong> higher than the pass<strong>in</strong>g standard.<br />
Based on his or her graduation plan, students must achieve the<br />
pass<strong>in</strong>g sTandard or a predeterm<strong>in</strong>ed m<strong>in</strong>imum score on<br />
eight <strong>to</strong> 15 EOC exams.<br />
N<strong>in</strong>th-grade students choose one of three graduation plans: M<strong>in</strong>imum, Recommended<br />
or Dist<strong>in</strong>guished. The programs differ <strong>in</strong> the num<strong>be</strong>r of required credits. The M<strong>in</strong>imum<br />
graduation plan requires parent and adm<strong>in</strong>istra<strong>to</strong>r permission.<br />
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16 | NEWS | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
Lawsuit<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ued from | 1<br />
“Then the Edgewood cases <strong>in</strong> the ‘80s<br />
and ‘90s dealt with issues <strong>in</strong> hope of br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more equity <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the system,” he said.<br />
“Over time the ga<strong>in</strong>s that those <strong>lawsuits</strong><br />
made were eroded by changes <strong>in</strong> legislation<br />
that complicated the fund<strong>in</strong>g system<br />
and made it less and less equitable.”<br />
In 2006, legislation mandated a statewide<br />
reduction <strong>in</strong> property taxes by onethird,<br />
which resulted <strong>in</strong> a loss of revenue<br />
for school districts. To make up for the<br />
lost fund<strong>in</strong>g, the legislature guaranteed<br />
that each district would receive target<br />
revenue based on money it would have<br />
received from weighted average daily student<br />
counts and the district’s ma<strong>in</strong>tenance<br />
and operations tax rate from the 2005-06<br />
school year.<br />
“Until the recession hit, the state was<br />
do<strong>in</strong>g good enough economically that<br />
they could use <strong>in</strong>creased revenue from<br />
sales tax <strong>to</strong> offset the shortage and the lack<br />
of a permanent fund<strong>in</strong>g system <strong>to</strong> offset<br />
what [districts] gave up,” Freeman said.<br />
“Tak<strong>in</strong>g away that third of the property tax<br />
revenue was the major cause of the [budget]<br />
short<strong>fall</strong> last session.”<br />
In addition, the amount of target revenue<br />
a district receives can differ by thousands<br />
depend<strong>in</strong>g on local property values, rate<br />
of <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> property values, enrollment<br />
growth, level of tax collections and loss of<br />
A his<strong>to</strong>ry of school<br />
district <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> issues<br />
<strong>in</strong> Texas: 1947-2012<br />
value from a local homestead exemption<br />
when House Bill 1 was passed <strong>in</strong> 2005.<br />
“The fac<strong>to</strong>rs that orig<strong>in</strong>ally impacted<br />
and caused the differences <strong>in</strong> target revenue<br />
<strong>in</strong> 2005 are essentially the same <strong>in</strong> the<br />
current <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system,” Snow said. “The<br />
school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system has not <strong>be</strong>en overhauled,<br />
just patch-worked.”<br />
Local effects<br />
In Cy-Fair ISD, an explosion of student<br />
growth and a local property tax exemption<br />
h<strong>in</strong>dered the amount of state fund<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
district received after the target revenue<br />
system was put <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> place.<br />
“In 2005 and 2006, it was the period of<br />
greatest enrollment growth the district<br />
had seen <strong>in</strong> its his<strong>to</strong>ry,” Snow said. “Over<br />
that two-year period we grew by about<br />
13,000 students, and our property value<br />
growth <strong>in</strong>creased rapidly as well.”<br />
Despite property value growth, CFISD’s<br />
optional homestead exemption limited<br />
the amount of property taxes collected by<br />
the district, which resulted <strong>in</strong> less fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
per student from the state. About 60<br />
percent of CFISD’s taxable value comes<br />
from residential homes, which is a higher<br />
percentage than the other Harris County<br />
school districts with a local exemption,<br />
Snow said. In addition, student enrollment<br />
growth outpaced the property value<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease, result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> less fund<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The potential amount of property tax a<br />
district collects depends on whether it has<br />
1968–1971<br />
Rodriguez v. San An<strong>to</strong>nio<br />
In 1968, a group of parents filed a lawsuit on <strong>be</strong>half<br />
of students who lived <strong>in</strong> districts with a low property<br />
tax base. Although a federal district <strong>court</strong> ruled <strong>in</strong><br />
1971 that the state’s school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system was<br />
unconstitutional, the decision was appealed <strong>to</strong> the<br />
state Supreme Court, which overturned the rul<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
1947–1949<br />
Gilmer-Aik<strong>in</strong> Laws<br />
A committee was formed <strong>in</strong> 1947 <strong>to</strong> address efficiency <strong>in</strong> public schools,<br />
suggestions from which would come <strong>be</strong>fore the legislature <strong>in</strong> 1949.<br />
Several bills were passed <strong>be</strong>cause of the committee, which resulted <strong>in</strong><br />
the consolidation of school districts, state equalization fund<strong>in</strong>g, higher<br />
teacher salaries and the change <strong>to</strong> state fund<strong>in</strong>g based on attendance.<br />
CyFairCham<strong>be</strong>r.com<br />
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On June 26, another school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> lawsuit was filed by the Texas Charter <strong>School</strong> Association, which represents<br />
numerous charter school groups around the state, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Harmony Public <strong>School</strong>s, which has several Northwest<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n campuses.<br />
“<strong>School</strong> <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> litigation has <strong>be</strong>en go<strong>in</strong>g on for decades, but charter schools [<strong>in</strong> Texas] have only <strong>be</strong>en around for 15<br />
years,” said David Dunn, executive direc<strong>to</strong>r of the TCSA. “The <strong>court</strong>s have never reviewed the school fund<strong>in</strong>g system<br />
through the lens of charter schools, and we th<strong>in</strong>k it’s time they did so.”<br />
There are two pots of state fund<strong>in</strong>g for Texas school districts: ma<strong>in</strong>tenance and operations—which provides for <strong>in</strong>struction—and<br />
<strong>in</strong>terest and s<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g money, which help pay for new facilities. Both charter schools and <strong>in</strong>dependent school<br />
districts receive M&O fund<strong>in</strong>g, but charter schools receive no I&S dollars s<strong>in</strong>ce they do not have a local tax base—one<br />
of the ma<strong>in</strong> reasons why they have filed the lawsuit.<br />
The charter school lawsuit has not yet <strong>be</strong>en consolidated with the other school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> <strong>lawsuits</strong>, but it is a possibility,<br />
Dunn said.<br />
smaller properties, such as houses, or larger<br />
commercial facilities such as an oil ref<strong>in</strong>ery<br />
or a power plant, said Chandra Villanueza,<br />
policy analyst with the Texas Center for<br />
Public Policy Priorities.<br />
“A lot of suburban districts are <strong>be</strong>droom<br />
communities and have all houses, so they<br />
have a high num<strong>be</strong>r of students, but property<br />
values aren’t as high, even if it is more<br />
expensive hous<strong>in</strong>g,” she said.<br />
Next session<br />
Legislation regard<strong>in</strong>g education and<br />
school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> is expected <strong>to</strong> ga<strong>in</strong> steam<br />
slower than <strong>be</strong>fore the last session, Anderson<br />
said. This may <strong>be</strong> <strong>be</strong>cause two mem<strong>be</strong>rs<br />
of the legislature’s public education<br />
committee are leav<strong>in</strong>g: state Rep. Rob<br />
1984–1989<br />
Edgewood ISD v. Kirby<br />
Representatives of Edgewood ISD filed <strong>this</strong> suit <strong>be</strong>cause of<br />
the state’s reliance on local property taxes <strong>to</strong> fund school<br />
districts, s<strong>in</strong>ce property values differ greatly from district <strong>to</strong><br />
district. The state Supreme Court deemed the school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong><br />
system unconstitutional and tasked the legislature with develop<strong>in</strong>g<br />
an equitable system by the 1990-91 academic year.<br />
1989–1995<br />
Rob<strong>in</strong> Hood plan<br />
The legislature had not developed a plan by June 1990, so the Supreme Court offered<br />
another solution: transfer money from property wealthy districts <strong>to</strong> poor ones <strong>to</strong> equalize<br />
the amount each district spends per student. The Edgewood v. Kirby case was appealed<br />
several more times <strong>in</strong> the early ‘90s, until a multi-option plan was approved <strong>in</strong> 1993<br />
through Senate Bill 7 <strong>to</strong> make the system more equitable.<br />
Rais<strong>in</strong>g Cane’s Chicken<br />
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Texas Charter <strong>School</strong> Association lawsuit<br />
Cy-Fair ISD <strong>Community</strong> Leadership Committee<br />
The district’s <strong>Community</strong> Leadership Committee aims <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong>tter <strong>in</strong>form community mem<strong>be</strong>rs on legislative issues that<br />
affect the district. For more <strong>in</strong>formation, or <strong>to</strong> get <strong>in</strong>volved, visit www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/governmental.htm.<br />
Eissler, R-The Woodlands, lost his seat <strong>in</strong><br />
the primary election, and state Rep. Scott<br />
Hoch<strong>be</strong>rg, D-Hous<strong>to</strong>n, is stepp<strong>in</strong>g down,<br />
Anderson said.<br />
“Both of them are very knowledgeable<br />
about school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong>, so <strong>to</strong> have two experts<br />
gone next year is a concern,” Anderson said.<br />
Additionally, it is unlikely legisla<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
will make any changes <strong>to</strong> the school<br />
<strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> system until there has <strong>be</strong>en a f<strong>in</strong>al<br />
rul<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the <strong>lawsuits</strong>.<br />
“We could <strong>be</strong> look<strong>in</strong>g at the legislative<br />
session end<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 2015 <strong>be</strong>fore we start<br />
see<strong>in</strong>g any movement on school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong>,”<br />
Snow said.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d related s<strong>to</strong>ries at impactnews.com. Keyword Search<br />
CFISD <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> or <strong>School</strong> <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong><br />
2005–2006<br />
Property tax relief<br />
A cap was placed on school districts <strong>in</strong> 2006 as <strong>to</strong> how much<br />
they could raise taxes, which forced many districts <strong>to</strong> compress<br />
their rates. The legislature created a target revenue system<br />
<strong>to</strong> ensure no district lost money, which means each district<br />
receives no less than the amount of state and local revenue per<br />
weighted student that they received <strong>in</strong> the 2005-06 year.<br />
2011–2012<br />
<strong>School</strong> <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> <strong>lawsuits</strong><br />
A handful of school <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> <strong>lawsuits</strong> were filed <strong>in</strong> late<br />
2011 and through the spr<strong>in</strong>g of 2012. Travis County<br />
Judge John Dietz will hear these cases <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>this</strong><br />
Oc<strong>to</strong><strong>be</strong>r. Whichever side w<strong>in</strong>s, the decision is expected <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>be</strong> appealed <strong>to</strong> the state’s Supreme Court.<br />
source: texas state his<strong>to</strong>rical Association, texas taxpayers and research Association: “An <strong>in</strong>troduction <strong>to</strong> school F<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>in</strong> texas”<br />
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Rail<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ued from | 1<br />
part is gett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the metro areas and<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess districts <strong>be</strong>cause of the amount<br />
of development that’s there and the lack of<br />
space [<strong>in</strong> which] <strong>to</strong> put someth<strong>in</strong>g new,”<br />
said Jennifer Moczygemba, rail system section<br />
direc<strong>to</strong>r for TxDOT.<br />
Although rail l<strong>in</strong>es already exist along<br />
Hwy. 290, there are issues with right-ofway,<br />
abandoned tracks and <strong>in</strong>frastructure<br />
that need <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> addressed <strong>be</strong>fore construction<br />
can start. Several portions of the l<strong>in</strong>e<br />
also have curvature, which needs <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong><br />
straightened out or rebuilt.<br />
The Gulf Coast Rail District is also<br />
study<strong>in</strong>g a route for commuter rail from<br />
<strong>in</strong>ner Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Hempstead, which<br />
would run along Hwy. 290, similar <strong>to</strong> the<br />
TxDOT project.<br />
“The [TxDOT] l<strong>in</strong>e was envisioned<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> a seamless one-seat trip all the way<br />
through, but if you wanted <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
and s<strong>to</strong>p <strong>be</strong>fore the central bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
district at a place where the <strong>in</strong>tercity tra<strong>in</strong><br />
won’t s<strong>to</strong>p, you could get off <strong>in</strong> Hempstead<br />
and get <strong>to</strong> your s<strong>to</strong>p,” Moczygemba said.<br />
High-speed routes<br />
Potential routes for a high-speed rail l<strong>in</strong>e<br />
<strong>in</strong> Texas vary. A TxDOT report suggests a<br />
route could use a l<strong>in</strong>e owned by the Burl<strong>in</strong>g<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Northern Santa Fe rail l<strong>in</strong>e through<br />
Teague, north of College Station. Another<br />
route follows a Union Pacific l<strong>in</strong>e along<br />
Hwy. 290 through Hempstead and College<br />
Station. Or a new l<strong>in</strong>e could <strong>be</strong> constructed<br />
on a greenfield route that parallels I-45,<br />
which would mean start<strong>in</strong>g from scratch<br />
and build<strong>in</strong>g a new rail l<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
“There is a need for the rail connection<br />
<strong>be</strong>tween Hous<strong>to</strong>n and Dallas-Fort Worth<br />
<strong>be</strong>cause they are two of the fastest grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
regions <strong>in</strong> the entire country,” said Maureen<br />
Crocker, executive direc<strong>to</strong>r of the Gulf<br />
Coast Rail District. “The ma<strong>in</strong> connec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
<strong>be</strong>tween the two is I-45 North, and there<br />
are sections that are extremely congested.<br />
If population and demand for those routes<br />
keeps go<strong>in</strong>g, the airl<strong>in</strong>es won’t <strong>be</strong> able <strong>to</strong><br />
meet those needs.”<br />
Former Harris County Judge Ro<strong>be</strong>rt<br />
Eckels is target<strong>in</strong>g exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>frastructure—<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g rail l<strong>in</strong>es and<br />
right-of-ways—for his Hous<strong>to</strong>n-<strong>to</strong>-Dallas<br />
high-speed rail project through Texas Central<br />
High Speed Rail, an affiliate of the Central<br />
Japan Railway Company, which has<br />
high-speed rail l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> Tokyo, Nagoya and<br />
Osaka. He envisions a private rail as one<br />
that could make multiple s<strong>to</strong>ps <strong>in</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n,<br />
but a specific route has not yet <strong>be</strong>en<br />
decided.<br />
“I would anticipate with<strong>in</strong> the Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
region you would have two or three [passenger]<br />
collec<strong>to</strong>r s<strong>to</strong>ps,” Eckels said. “The<br />
real <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g part of <strong>this</strong> project is that<br />
the discipl<strong>in</strong>e of the market drives our<br />
decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g. [Where potential s<strong>to</strong>ps<br />
are located depends on] where we can get<br />
riders <strong>to</strong> pay for the system.”<br />
Eckels said their project could <strong>be</strong> on the<br />
ground by 2020 at a cost <strong>in</strong> the multiple<br />
billions of dollars. A trip on a l<strong>in</strong>e operated<br />
by TCHSR could cost the traveler<br />
<strong>be</strong>tween $100 and $125, and take about 90<br />
m<strong>in</strong>utes, he said.<br />
Fund<strong>in</strong>g issues<br />
As is the case with most major transportation<br />
projects <strong>in</strong> Texas, fund<strong>in</strong>g is one<br />
of the major roadblocks fac<strong>in</strong>g a publicly<br />
funded high-speed rail l<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
“We don’t have a specific pot of money<br />
<strong>to</strong> use for rail projects <strong>in</strong> Texas,” Moczygemba<br />
said. “Several years ago we had<br />
significant pots of money com<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
the federal side through the Federal Railroad<br />
Adm<strong>in</strong>istration, <strong>be</strong>cause there was<br />
$8 billion given out <strong>to</strong> states through an<br />
application process, so that’s where we got<br />
money for some of our studies.”<br />
Another $2.5 billion was allocated the<br />
next year, but noth<strong>in</strong>g else s<strong>in</strong>ce, which<br />
means TxDOT is uncerta<strong>in</strong> as <strong>to</strong> what fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for <strong>in</strong>tercity rail will <strong>be</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g forward.<br />
“However, one th<strong>in</strong>g we’re look<strong>in</strong>g at is the<br />
potential for public-private partnerships,”<br />
Moczygemba said. “With some of the studies<br />
we are complet<strong>in</strong>g, it puts us <strong>in</strong> a good<br />
position <strong>to</strong> look at the potential for hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
private partners come <strong>in</strong> and work with us.”<br />
Eckels said the TCHSR is not seek<strong>in</strong>g<br />
public or federal money for their project,<br />
but would consider a public-private partnership<br />
with TxDOT.<br />
“It would depend on the role, what<br />
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Potential routes for a<br />
Fort Worth<br />
Aust<strong>in</strong><br />
Waco<br />
35<br />
77<br />
Dallas a as<br />
College Station<br />
290 2<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Dallas via Burl<strong>in</strong>g<strong>to</strong>n Northern Santa Fe Route<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Dallas via Union Pacific RR route<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Dallas via Greenfield Route<br />
conditions would come with the federal<br />
funds,” Eckels said. “But the rail could <strong>be</strong><br />
built more quickly and more economically<br />
without federal funds. We look for TxDOT<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> a creative partner.”<br />
Eckels said the project is still <strong>in</strong> the “very<br />
early stages” and that TCHSR is analyz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
route proposals, environmental issues and<br />
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Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong> direct route<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong> via College Station through Brenham<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong> via College Station through Gidd<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong> via College Station through Hempstead<br />
eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g studies. He said a market study<br />
is also <strong>be</strong><strong>in</strong>g conducted <strong>to</strong> determ<strong>in</strong>e revenue<br />
sources, equity and debt. The study,<br />
Eckels said, could <strong>be</strong> completed by the end<br />
of the year.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d related s<strong>to</strong>ries at impactnews.com. Keyword Search<br />
Dr. Tejas Desai<br />
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e Heights:<br />
2120 Ashland St.<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n, TX 77008<br />
Gulf Coast Rail Dist. or high-speed rail<br />
N<br />
Huntsville<br />
Conroe<br />
map not <strong>to</strong> scale<br />
Tel: 713-864-2659<br />
Fax: 713-864-5577
Pho<strong>to</strong>s by John rigg<br />
18 | FEATURES | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
QuiltWorks of Texas is part of the Quilt Across Texas shophop <strong>in</strong><br />
Septem<strong>be</strong>r, featur<strong>in</strong>g quilt shops across the state.<br />
QuiltWorks of Texas<br />
25250 Hwy. 290, Ste. 140<br />
Cypress • 281-256-3550<br />
www.quiltworkstexas.com<br />
spr<strong>in</strong>g Cypress rd.<br />
290<br />
sk<strong>in</strong>ner rd.<br />
Jarvis rd.<br />
BusiNess<br />
QuiltWorks of Texas<br />
S<strong>to</strong>re runs the gamut on sew<strong>in</strong>g<br />
By John Rigg<br />
Three years ago, sisters Connie<br />
Suarez, Henrietta Rottman<br />
and L<strong>in</strong>da Hill established<br />
QuiltWorks of Texas <strong>to</strong> further<br />
pursue their lifelong passion for sew<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and quilt<strong>in</strong>g. Inspired by their<br />
mother at a young age, the sisters<br />
provide cus<strong>to</strong>mers with specialty<br />
fabrics, sew<strong>in</strong>g lessons and a variety<br />
of classes at all levels.<br />
“Most people come here for the<br />
sense of community,” Suarez said. “It<br />
gives everyone a place <strong>to</strong> work and<br />
socialize among friends. We make a<br />
lot of cus<strong>to</strong>m quilts for people, and<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mers are able <strong>to</strong> do everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from handwork <strong>to</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
advanced mach<strong>in</strong>es.”<br />
The sisters use techniques dat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
back <strong>to</strong> the late-1800s such as paper<br />
piec<strong>in</strong>g, which produces non-traditional,<br />
geometric designs similar <strong>to</strong><br />
the creations of 19th century quilt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
legend, Jane Stickler. QuiltWorks<br />
also features state-of-the-art sew<strong>in</strong>g<br />
software.<br />
“We strive <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> very user-friendly<br />
and cus<strong>to</strong>mer-oriented,” Suarez said.<br />
“It is common <strong>to</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d us here several<br />
hours after clos<strong>in</strong>g for anyone with<br />
quilt<strong>in</strong>g emergencies.”<br />
The shop near Sk<strong>in</strong>ner Road and<br />
Hwy. 290 boasts more than 4,000<br />
fabrics, featur<strong>in</strong>g nearly every style<br />
imag<strong>in</strong>able.<br />
“We want <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> what the cus<strong>to</strong>mer<br />
wants us <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong>,” Suarez said. “If we<br />
don’t have what [they] need, we are<br />
sure <strong>to</strong> order it.”<br />
Classes are offered <strong>in</strong> sew<strong>in</strong>g, hand<br />
quilt<strong>in</strong>g, smock<strong>in</strong>g, paper piec<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
various other crafts. Classes range <strong>in</strong><br />
size from one-on-one <strong>to</strong> more than 28<br />
students at a time.<br />
QuiltWorks specializes <strong>in</strong> T-shirt<br />
and memory quilts, which allows cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
<strong>to</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> fabrics they would<br />
like <strong>to</strong> cherish from lucky sports shirts<br />
<strong>to</strong> their child’s first outfit.<br />
“It is common that cus<strong>to</strong>mers will<br />
want a quilt made from clothes that<br />
<strong>be</strong>longed <strong>to</strong> their dearly departed,”<br />
Hill said. “Sometimes we use people’s<br />
ties, dresses or shirts. We use whatever<br />
fabric is appropriate <strong>to</strong> make<br />
these [items].”<br />
Owners L<strong>in</strong>da Hill (left), Connie Suarez and<br />
Henri Rottman help teach classes daily.<br />
Classes are available for all ages with any<br />
level of experience.<br />
Jo<strong>in</strong> a QuiltWorks club<br />
• Quilts of Valor-donate or help create<br />
quilts for veterans <strong>to</strong>uched by war,<br />
QoV Foundation. 1st and 3rd<br />
thursdays (4–7 p.m.)<br />
• Quilt till you wilt-Free sew<strong>in</strong>g sessions.<br />
Fridays (6–9 p.m.)<br />
• Quilts for Kids-Volunteers use<br />
salvaged scraps <strong>to</strong> create quilts for<br />
children <strong>in</strong> need. 2nd Friday<br />
(10 a.m.–3 p.m.)<br />
• Dear Jane-Quilt<strong>in</strong>g by hand, piec<strong>in</strong>g<br />
or mach<strong>in</strong>e sew<strong>in</strong>g, “dear Jane” quilt.<br />
second sunday<br />
• EQ Bee-eQ 7 software tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. 2nd<br />
and 4th wednesdays (2–4 p.m.)
diNiNG<br />
Blue Water Seafood<br />
Fish<strong>in</strong>g runs <strong>in</strong> owner’s family<br />
By Kim<strong>be</strong>rly Morgan<br />
Third-generation fisherman Brad<br />
Apl<strong>in</strong> learned from the <strong>be</strong>st and<br />
now he feeds his fish <strong>to</strong> thousands<br />
at his family’s restaurant, Blue Water Seafood,<br />
which has three Hous<strong>to</strong>n locations.<br />
“I’ve <strong>be</strong>en <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> seafood my whole<br />
life,” Apl<strong>in</strong> said.<br />
The first restaurant opened <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Champions area off FM 1960 <strong>in</strong> 1996, followed<br />
by another on FM 2920 <strong>in</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
1999, and the third at Hwy. 290 and FM<br />
1960 <strong>in</strong> 2010. Apl<strong>in</strong> had some remodel<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>to</strong> do—the first restaurant was an old<br />
chicken place, he said. The second was an<br />
old bar<strong>be</strong>cue jo<strong>in</strong>t, and the third served<br />
Mexican food. But the bus<strong>in</strong>ess of seafood<br />
seems <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> far<strong>in</strong>g well, and Apl<strong>in</strong> has a<br />
hook <strong>in</strong> two more potential areas—Katy<br />
and FM 1488.<br />
Apl<strong>in</strong> is orig<strong>in</strong>ally from Florida, but as<br />
a boy his family moved around a fair bit<br />
<strong>be</strong>tween Texas and Louisiana as his father<br />
followed the seafood trade.<br />
“He taught me a lot,” Apl<strong>in</strong> said.<br />
Apl<strong>in</strong> has crab<strong>be</strong>d<br />
all the waters <strong>in</strong><br />
Texas, most of the<br />
waters <strong>in</strong> Louisiana<br />
and part of the waters<br />
<strong>in</strong> Florida. Eventually,<br />
Apl<strong>in</strong> wanted <strong>to</strong> cast<br />
his l<strong>in</strong>e a little deeper, so the fisherman<br />
<strong>be</strong>came a restaurateur.<br />
Apl<strong>in</strong>’s fish<strong>in</strong>g background also translated<br />
<strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the design of his family’s<br />
restaurant. The establishment is casual but<br />
rem<strong>in</strong>ds d<strong>in</strong>ers of <strong>be</strong><strong>in</strong>g on vacation <strong>in</strong> a<br />
coastal <strong>to</strong>wn, with its wooden <strong>in</strong>teriors and<br />
nautical decorations on the walls.<br />
Although Apl<strong>in</strong> has fished most of<br />
his life, catch<strong>in</strong>g the goods is one th<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
prepar<strong>in</strong>g them another. And if it is not<br />
done properly, Apl<strong>in</strong> said, crawfish will<br />
not please the palate.<br />
“We put a lot of effort <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> our crawfish,”<br />
he said. “It’s a process with several<br />
“ We put a lot of effort <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> our<br />
crawfish. It’s a process with several<br />
steps <strong>to</strong> get it just right.”<br />
—Brad Apl<strong>in</strong>, co-owner.<br />
steps <strong>to</strong> get it just right.”<br />
The secret, Apl<strong>in</strong> said, is <strong>in</strong> the season<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and the soak<strong>in</strong>g. The taste of succulent<br />
shrimp <strong>be</strong>g<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> the water <strong>be</strong>fore<br />
they are even caught. What shrimp eat <strong>in</strong><br />
its natural environment determ<strong>in</strong>es how<br />
it will taste on the plate.<br />
“It makes a world of difference,” Apl<strong>in</strong><br />
said. “It really does.”<br />
Blue Water Seafood offers several boiled<br />
and grilled specials that <strong>in</strong>clude crawfish.<br />
T<strong>in</strong>a’s Special ($18.99) features a pound<br />
of crawfish, 10 boiled shrimp and snow<br />
crab. The crawfish d<strong>in</strong>ner ($12.99) is<br />
served with fries and hushpuppies. D<strong>in</strong>ers<br />
can also order pounds of crawfish for a<br />
market rate price.<br />
Several po boy sandwich variations<br />
($8.99–$9.99) are made <strong>to</strong> order, rang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from tilapia <strong>to</strong> red snapper <strong>to</strong> catfish. They<br />
are served on a French roll with lettuce,<br />
<strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es, cocktail sauce and tartar sauce,<br />
along with a side of french fries.<br />
In addition <strong>to</strong> seafood, the menu offers<br />
Monterrey chicken,<br />
hamburgers, salad,<br />
cheese sticks, Buffalo<br />
w<strong>in</strong>gs, quesadillas<br />
and salad. Blue Water<br />
also has an appetizer<br />
of fried alliga<strong>to</strong>r<br />
($7.99) for those who prefer scales <strong>to</strong> f<strong>in</strong>s<br />
or shells.<br />
Apl<strong>in</strong> said most of the dishes on the<br />
menu at Blue Water Seafood are family recipes<br />
that have <strong>be</strong>en tweaked over the years.<br />
“We want <strong>to</strong> cook it here just like we<br />
did at home,” he said.<br />
Speak<strong>in</strong>g of home, Apl<strong>in</strong> po<strong>in</strong>ts out<br />
that Blue Water Seafood is truly a family<br />
owned and operated bus<strong>in</strong>ess. He and his<br />
wife P<strong>in</strong>g oversee operations, his mother<br />
Irene Snellgrove manages the FM 2920<br />
location, and his daughter, Britney, and<br />
son-<strong>in</strong>-law, Joel, help with adm<strong>in</strong>istration,<br />
plann<strong>in</strong>g and market<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
we specialize <strong>in</strong> mortgages that fit your lifestyle<br />
Cypress Owned and Operated<br />
Broker & Bank Conventional & Government Loans ans<br />
Purchases Re<strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> Debt Consolidation<br />
MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE<br />
1/2 OFF PROCESSING FEE<br />
Expires 8/17/12<br />
OFFICE: 832-220-1480 CELLULAR: 832-865-6065<br />
EMAIL FOR A FREE QUOTE: tami@cntmtg.com<br />
WEB: www.cntmtg.com<br />
25250 Northwest Freeway Ste. 260, Cypress, TX 77429<br />
TX Broker License #75191<br />
Awards for Excellence<br />
W<strong>in</strong>ner of Dist<strong>in</strong>ction<br />
2010<br />
Company NMLS ID – 273344<br />
Individual NMLS ID – 333134<br />
Tami LaCoe Channel<br />
President<br />
John rigg<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | FEATURES | 19<br />
The Fisherman’s Platter features favorites such as fried catfish and is sure <strong>to</strong> satisy any patron.<br />
Owner recommendations<br />
• The Fisherman’s Platter: <strong>in</strong>cludes fried<br />
shrimp, oysters, fish, crawfish and a crab<br />
cake ($18.99)<br />
• Blue Water Boil: half a k<strong>in</strong>g crab, one<br />
pound of snow crab, one pound of shrimp,<br />
one pound of crawfish and half a pound of<br />
sausage ($44.99)<br />
• Crawfish: whether it is boiled or fried,<br />
Blue water seafood has a variety of options<br />
sold market price (prices vary)<br />
• Dungeness Crab: d<strong>in</strong>ers crack open the<br />
shell <strong>to</strong> eat the meat from <strong>this</strong> crab, which<br />
is served with corn and pota<strong>to</strong>es ($18.99)<br />
Weekly specials<br />
Monday - raw oysters<br />
Tuesday - Boiled Crawfish<br />
Wednesday - Grilled oysters<br />
Thursday - All You Can eat Catfish<br />
Blue Water Seafood<br />
12914 FM 1960 W.<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n • 281-894-9221<br />
6107 FM 1960 W.<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n • 281-895-9222<br />
Mon.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.<br />
Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.<br />
Sun. 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.<br />
www.bluewaterseafoodonl<strong>in</strong>e.com<br />
Hurricane Proof<br />
Your Trees!<br />
A Professional Tree Care Company<br />
John rigg<br />
Staff at Blue Water Seafood work under the Apl<strong>in</strong><br />
family, which operates all three locations.<br />
249<br />
290<br />
6<br />
1960<br />
Jones Road Tree Service LLC excels <strong>in</strong> arboriculture and we treat our clients and their<br />
trees with <strong>in</strong>tegrity, care and dignity. We provide professional tree services for residential,<br />
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Our services <strong>in</strong>clude: Tree Trimm<strong>in</strong>g • Tree Prun<strong>in</strong>g • Tree Removal • Tree Healthcare<br />
Stump Gr<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g • Emergency Service • Tree Preservation • Certifi ed Arborist • Fully Insured<br />
Workers’ Compensation Insurance<br />
Mem<strong>be</strong>r of: Better Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Bureau • Tree Care Industry • Cy Fair Cham<strong>be</strong>r of Commerce<br />
International Society of Arborulture<br />
CALL FOR A FREE TREE INSPECTION<br />
(Offi ce) 281-469-0458<br />
(Cell) 281-703-5729<br />
GO TO WWW.JONESROADTREESERVICE.COM FOR YOUR SUMMER DISCOUNT<br />
N. eldridge rd.<br />
1960<br />
Jones rd.
20 | FEATURES | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
BusiNess<br />
Small Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Development Center<br />
Lone Star College gives aspir<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>ess owners place <strong>to</strong> start<br />
By John Rigg<br />
When Richard and G<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Taeu<strong>be</strong>r <strong>be</strong>gan their<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> 2004, they<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed a small operation<br />
specializ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> products for<br />
children’s sw<strong>in</strong>g-sets and <strong>to</strong>ys.<br />
With the help<br />
of the Lone<br />
Star College<br />
Small Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Development<br />
Center, they<br />
have secured<br />
a permanent<br />
headquarters<br />
<strong>in</strong> Cypress and<br />
expanded their<br />
vision.<br />
The company, D & R Personalized<br />
Services, has taken on a<br />
new persona as the only exclusive<br />
dealer of PlayNation Play<br />
Systems <strong>in</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n, focus<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on state-of-the-art play sets and<br />
play systems, trampol<strong>in</strong>es and<br />
accessories.<br />
“We went from [operat<strong>in</strong>g]<br />
<strong>in</strong> someone’s front yard <strong>to</strong> all of<br />
“ We went from operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
someone’s front yard <strong>to</strong> all<br />
of <strong>this</strong>. The SBDC helped us<br />
receive a loan and gave us<br />
the means <strong>to</strong> purchase <strong>this</strong><br />
property.”<br />
—G<strong>in</strong>a Taeu<strong>be</strong>r, vicepresident<br />
and co-owner,<br />
PlayNation<br />
A Company Built on Respect,<br />
PERRY<br />
POOLS & SPAS, INC.<br />
Reputation & Referrals<br />
(281) 213-8100<br />
perrypools@att.net<br />
www.perrypools-spas.com<br />
<strong>this</strong>,” said G<strong>in</strong>a Taeu<strong>be</strong>r, vicepresident<br />
and co-owner. “The<br />
SBDC helped us receive a loan<br />
and gave us the means <strong>to</strong> purchase<br />
<strong>this</strong> property.”<br />
As the credit crisis hit Hous-<br />
<strong>to</strong>n, the Taeu<strong>be</strong>rs<br />
struggled<br />
with obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
the f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
means <strong>to</strong> grow<br />
their bus<strong>in</strong>ess.<br />
However,<br />
through consultations<br />
and<br />
professional<br />
assessments,<br />
the couple<br />
found the assistance they needed.<br />
The LSC–CyFair SBDC provides<br />
small bus<strong>in</strong>ess owners at<br />
various stages of development<br />
with bus<strong>in</strong>ess primers, lessons <strong>in</strong><br />
franchis<strong>in</strong>g and market<strong>in</strong>g and a<br />
guide <strong>to</strong> account<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong>,<br />
said Karen Cavallaro, senior<br />
consultant with the University of<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n SBDC Network.<br />
“Generally, people are look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for <strong>f<strong>in</strong>ance</strong> and market<strong>in</strong>g<br />
[assistance],”Cavallaro said.<br />
“[This] seem <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> one of the<br />
largest problems small bus<strong>in</strong>esses<br />
face. We help put bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
plans <strong>to</strong>gether for clients and<br />
communicate their message.”<br />
Through its affiliation with<br />
UH SBDC, the LSC system offers<br />
programs for small bus<strong>in</strong>ess-<br />
related sem<strong>in</strong>ars, consultations,<br />
and affordable tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and<br />
workshops, said Salva<strong>to</strong>re Mira,<br />
the LSC system SBDC direc<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
SBDCs can work as a large<br />
referral source and help with<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess consult<strong>in</strong>g issues.<br />
LSC Cy-Fair<br />
9191 Barker Cypress Road<br />
Cypress, TX, 77433<br />
(281) 290-3200<br />
Lone Star College System<br />
20515 Hwy. 249<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n, TX, 77070<br />
(281) 290-2600<br />
John rigg<br />
EVERY<br />
9<br />
MINUTES<br />
EVERY<br />
18<br />
MINUTES<br />
One new job<br />
is created<br />
<strong>in</strong> the US by an<br />
SBDC <strong>in</strong>-depth<br />
client<br />
$100,000 <strong>in</strong><br />
f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g is<br />
obta<strong>in</strong>ed by SBDC<br />
<strong>in</strong>-depth clients<br />
Aliya (front) and G<strong>in</strong>a Taeu<strong>be</strong>r f<strong>in</strong>d fun <strong>in</strong> their work.<br />
º BBB Gold Star Award 13<br />
consecutive years<br />
º 4 time BBB Award of<br />
Excellence W<strong>in</strong>ner of<br />
Creat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Dist<strong>in</strong>ction<br />
º Cy-Fair Cham<strong>be</strong>r of<br />
Commerce Small Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Elegance<br />
Refl ections<br />
of the Year Award<br />
recipient<br />
of<br />
º Lone Star College Small<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess of the Year fi nalist<br />
EVERY<br />
17<br />
MINUTES<br />
EVERY<br />
45<br />
MINUTES<br />
$100,000 <strong>in</strong> new<br />
sales are<br />
generated by<br />
SBDC <strong>in</strong>-depth<br />
clients<br />
An SBDC <strong>in</strong>-depth<br />
client opens a<br />
new bus<strong>in</strong>ess
Pho<strong>to</strong>s by John rigg<br />
CLOSE-UP<br />
Consolidated Mills Inc.<br />
By John rigg<br />
1<br />
2<br />
1Consolidated Mills uses about<br />
42,000 square feet of warehouse<br />
space for its operation<br />
after acquir<strong>in</strong>g the entire suite at<br />
7190 Brittmoore.<br />
2 Scott Vrana, president (left),<br />
and Keith Vrana, executive vice<br />
president, have owned and operated<br />
the company for more than<br />
three years.<br />
When Consolidated Mills was first <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong><br />
1962, the company’s focus was packag<strong>in</strong>g and blend<strong>in</strong>g<br />
spices and distribut<strong>in</strong>g canned jalapeño peppers <strong>to</strong> the<br />
food service <strong>in</strong>dustry. Now, nearly 50 years later, brothers<br />
Scott and Keith Vrana own and operate a much<br />
more versatile operation that strives for exceptional<br />
quality and cus<strong>to</strong>mer service <strong>in</strong> the food and <strong>be</strong>verage<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustry, said Keith Vrana, executive vice president.<br />
The grow<strong>in</strong>g Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n company offers a<br />
variety of manufactur<strong>in</strong>g services <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g flavored<br />
syrups for snow cones and slushes, bar mixers, specialty<br />
sauces and salsas, peppers, and spices. They specialize<br />
<strong>in</strong> food packag<strong>in</strong>g, portion control, and both<br />
wet and dry food blend<strong>in</strong>g, said Scott Vrana, president.<br />
With recipes dat<strong>in</strong>g as far back as the 1930s, Consolidated<br />
Mills also focuses on unique cus<strong>to</strong>m blends<br />
and formulations for large and small production, Scott<br />
Vrana said.<br />
“Many of the items we produce are derived from<br />
recipes our cus<strong>to</strong>mers br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> us,” Scott Vrana said.<br />
“For items we market ourselves, such as the salsas and<br />
sauces for fundrais<strong>in</strong>g, it really is a jo<strong>in</strong>t effort.”<br />
The recipes are taste-tested and tweaked until the<br />
f<strong>in</strong>al product is reached.<br />
“It’s really more of an art form than a science,” Keith<br />
Vrana said.<br />
6<br />
3 The company started out by<br />
do<strong>in</strong>g spice blend<strong>in</strong>g, but now<br />
provides services for dozens of<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ recipes, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
spice mixes for Cy-Fair ISD.<br />
4 Salsa Sells is a fundrais<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiative for bus<strong>in</strong>esses and<br />
organizations. It <strong>be</strong>gan with the<br />
donation of 400 cases of salsa<br />
<strong>to</strong> the nonprofit Cy-Hope, rais<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more than $12,000.<br />
Consolidated Mills<br />
7910 Brittmoore, Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
713-896-4196<br />
www.consolidatedmills.com<br />
4<br />
5<br />
5 Au<strong>to</strong>matic liquid fill<strong>in</strong>g l<strong>in</strong>es<br />
complete with fillers, cappers,<br />
la<strong>be</strong>lers and coders is one of<br />
the many <strong>to</strong>ols Consolidated<br />
Mills uses <strong>in</strong> the manufactur<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
blend<strong>in</strong>g and packag<strong>in</strong>g<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess.<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | FEATURES | 21<br />
3<br />
6 Flavored syrups for slushes<br />
and snow cones account for<br />
20% <strong>to</strong> 30% of Consolidated<br />
Mills’ bus<strong>in</strong>ess. The company<br />
recently <strong>be</strong>gan bottl<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
manufactur<strong>in</strong>g bar mixers.
22 | FEATURES | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
eNtertAiNMeNt<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n Coffee and Cars<br />
V<strong>in</strong>tage Park embraces classic, modern cars<br />
By Liza W<strong>in</strong>kler<br />
Coffee and cars are two th<strong>in</strong>gs that are<br />
celebrated and enjoyed by a diverse<br />
mix of vehicle owners, car lovers and<br />
families alike dur<strong>in</strong>g the Hous<strong>to</strong>n Coffee<br />
and Cars event at V<strong>in</strong>tage Park.<br />
A variety of cars, rang<strong>in</strong>g from Ford<br />
Model T’s <strong>to</strong> exotic Lamborgh<strong>in</strong>is, are on<br />
display the first Saturday of each month at<br />
the Hous<strong>to</strong>n location.<br />
Event founder Phil Bres created the gather<strong>in</strong>g<br />
after search<strong>in</strong>g for a way <strong>to</strong> connect<br />
with an au<strong>to</strong>mobile enthusiast group over<br />
coffee several years ago, said co-coord<strong>in</strong>a<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Bill Fester.<br />
“The whole concept was that you could<br />
get <strong>to</strong>gether with some friends, and it<br />
wouldn’t have <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> a show,” he said.<br />
“There wouldn’t have <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> judg<strong>in</strong>g. It<br />
wouldn’t <strong>be</strong> that you would have <strong>to</strong> have<br />
a perfect vehicle <strong>to</strong> show up. There’s some<br />
really great car shows <strong>in</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n and <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>volved with those you have <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> <strong>in</strong>vited.<br />
Your car has <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> absolutely perfect, and it<br />
will <strong>be</strong> judged. [Bres] felt like that was not<br />
what he wanted <strong>to</strong> do, and from there the<br />
idea grew.”<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce Bres moved <strong>to</strong> California, Fester<br />
and Jorge Verdigo use their knowledge and<br />
passion of vehicles <strong>to</strong> collaborate Coffee<br />
and Cars <strong>to</strong>gether. More than two years<br />
ago, the free community get-<strong>to</strong>gether<br />
quickly <strong>be</strong>came <strong>to</strong>o large for the orig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n Up<strong>to</strong>wn Park Center location,<br />
which held 300 cars.<br />
While some groups of people travel<br />
from distances as far as Aust<strong>in</strong> or even<br />
Louisiana <strong>to</strong> see the car showcase, most<br />
of the people who frequent the gather<strong>in</strong>g<br />
live <strong>in</strong> the Hous<strong>to</strong>n area. The site is open<br />
<strong>to</strong> anyone who wants <strong>to</strong> gaze at classic and<br />
modern cars or br<strong>in</strong>g their own special<br />
vehicle <strong>to</strong> display.<br />
“The th<strong>in</strong>g is there will <strong>be</strong> people who<br />
will come with 35 or 40 Ferraris, and each<br />
of them is easily worth a quarter of a million,”<br />
Fester said. “There are also people<br />
that will show up <strong>in</strong> a rusty pickup, and<br />
they are just as welcome. You can have<br />
that k<strong>in</strong>d of diversity. You could have<br />
folks with Mustangs and people with classic<br />
antique au<strong>to</strong>mobiles.”<br />
An estimated 600 <strong>to</strong> 700 cars were on<br />
display last year with current vehicle tallies<br />
at more than 1,000. About 2,000 attendees<br />
make the monthly drive <strong>to</strong> check out the<br />
au<strong>to</strong>mobiles at V<strong>in</strong>tage Park, and some<br />
2 12<br />
Buy a home <strong>in</strong> July and receive FREE electricity for a year<br />
(up <strong>to</strong> $5,000) from participat<strong>in</strong>g builders! *<br />
PLUS REGISTER TO WIN A $1,000 VISA GIFT CARD<br />
DOZENS OF INVENTORY HOMES AVAILABLE TO CHOOSE FROM!<br />
Visit www.bridgeland.com for details on our Power <strong>to</strong> the People promotion.<br />
To learn more about Bridgeland, visit our Welcome Center <strong>to</strong>day!<br />
FIND BALANCE<br />
11,400-acre master planned community | Homes from the $170s <strong>to</strong> over $1 million<br />
Call 281-304-5588 or <strong>to</strong>ll free 1-866-232-0270 | Learn more at www.bridgeland.com<br />
*Offer good on Bridgeland approved builder contracts written from July 1-31, 2012. Offer may vary<br />
per participat<strong>in</strong>g builder and will <strong>be</strong> given as a discount at clos<strong>in</strong>g. Offer valid on both <strong>in</strong>ven<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
homes and new builds. No purchase necessary <strong>to</strong> enter or w<strong>in</strong> $1,000 VISA Gift Card. Participants<br />
may <strong>in</strong>crease their chance of w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>to</strong>ur<strong>in</strong>g multiple homes. W<strong>in</strong>ner selected randomly. For full<br />
explanation of ways <strong>to</strong> w<strong>in</strong>, see the offi cial rules available at www.bridgeland.com.<br />
Courtesy <strong>to</strong>ny Gonzalez<br />
Visi<strong>to</strong>rs look at one of the vehicles on display at the monthly Coffee and Cars event at V<strong>in</strong>tage Park.<br />
arrive as early as 5:30 a.m. <strong>to</strong> secure a<br />
particular spot.<br />
“I’ve arrived at 6 a.m. or 6:30 a.m., and<br />
there were plenty of cars that were already<br />
there,” Fester said. “It’s great <strong>to</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k that<br />
people would get up that ridiculously early<br />
<strong>to</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g out their pride and joy.”<br />
To accommodate for the <strong>in</strong>flux of eventgoers,<br />
some of the bus<strong>in</strong>esses located <strong>in</strong><br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n Coffee and Cars<br />
110 V<strong>in</strong>tage Park Boulevard<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n – bfester@sw<strong>be</strong>ll.net<br />
www.coffeeandcarshous<strong>to</strong>n.com,<br />
www.facebook.com/coffeeandcars<br />
V<strong>in</strong>tage Park open early.<br />
“[The idea is] everybody could have a<br />
good time, and it is cars the reality is that<br />
is the basis of it,” Fester said. “Every sort<br />
of occupation and nationality is there. You<br />
could have that big of a group, and have a<br />
good time.”<br />
The next Coffee and Cars gather<strong>in</strong>g<br />
takes place from 8–10 a.m. Aug. 4.<br />
249<br />
Louetta rd.<br />
Chasewood Park dr.<br />
V<strong>in</strong>tage Park Blvd.<br />
V<strong>in</strong>tage Preserve Pkwy.<br />
CALLING ALL GOLFERS!<br />
SEPTEMBER 24th<br />
LONGWOOD GOLF CLUB<br />
11:30 a.m. Shotgun Start | 5 p.m. Awards D<strong>in</strong>ner<br />
Open <strong>to</strong> the public. A portion of the proceeds will <strong>be</strong>ne t the Adam J. J<br />
Sk<strong>in</strong>ner Memorial Scholarship of the<br />
Cy-Fair Educational Foundation.<br />
BALL DROP<br />
TICKETS<br />
$ 10<br />
W<strong>in</strong> an iPad 2<br />
and other<br />
Incredible Prizes!<br />
CALL 281-373-1390 OR VISIT WWW.CYFAIRCHAMBER.COM
his<strong>to</strong>rY<br />
Cypress His<strong>to</strong>rical Society<br />
Organization opens new research library<br />
By Marie Leonard<br />
Cypress residents who have questions<br />
about genealogy or who<br />
own a large collection of old<br />
family pho<strong>to</strong>graphs may f<strong>in</strong>d use <strong>in</strong> a<br />
new research library run by the Cypress<br />
His<strong>to</strong>rical Society.<br />
The organization hosted its fourth<br />
annual picnic July 7, which also served as<br />
a grand open<strong>in</strong>g for the facility located<br />
at Cypress Top His<strong>to</strong>ric Park. The library<br />
houses several volumes of donated pho<strong>to</strong>graphs,<br />
newspaper clipp<strong>in</strong>gs, family<br />
names and other documents that tell the<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry of the area, from local bus<strong>in</strong>esses<br />
<strong>to</strong> schools <strong>to</strong> families.<br />
“People can come <strong>in</strong> and look up their<br />
genealogy, or f<strong>in</strong>d out how <strong>to</strong> do it,” said<br />
Jim Sigmund, researcher with CHS. “One<br />
difference <strong>in</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g a build<strong>in</strong>g is that now<br />
people are confident that if they donate<br />
their items, they will <strong>be</strong> preserved.”<br />
The CHS has collected <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
on families who settled <strong>in</strong> the Cypress<br />
area, even <strong>be</strong>fore the Texas Revolution<br />
<strong>in</strong> the 1830s, Sigmund said. Information<br />
from newspaper articles and his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
documents can <strong>be</strong> found on several of the<br />
<strong>be</strong>tter-known families of the area such as<br />
the Juergens and the Weisers.<br />
“We also try <strong>to</strong> pho<strong>to</strong>graph old homes<br />
<strong>be</strong>fore they are <strong>to</strong>rn down so we can<br />
document those,” Sigmund said. “Or if we<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d an old house that’s <strong>be</strong>en res<strong>to</strong>red, we<br />
take a picture and try <strong>to</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d one of the<br />
same build<strong>in</strong>g 100 years ago.”<br />
Cy-Fair ISD is also represented <strong>in</strong> the<br />
research library, with pho<strong>to</strong>graphs and<br />
articles about the district’s earlier days.<br />
The library was built through Harris<br />
County Prec<strong>in</strong>ct 3 Steve Radack’s office<br />
<strong>to</strong> give Cypress residents a closer venue <strong>to</strong><br />
research the area’s his<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
“The Harris County His<strong>to</strong>rical Commission<br />
is huge, but it’s located down<strong>to</strong>wn<br />
so it’s just not local enough,” Sigmund<br />
said. “This is a place for northwest Harris<br />
County residents <strong>to</strong> put their memories,<br />
share s<strong>to</strong>ries and donate pictures.”<br />
Gene and Delph<strong>in</strong>e Zaboroski previously<br />
owned the land on which the library<br />
sits, but they donated it <strong>to</strong> Harris County<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> preserved as Cypress Top His<strong>to</strong>ric<br />
Park, Sigmund said. The Zaboroskis are<br />
part of the Juergen family, which ran a<br />
general s<strong>to</strong>re and saloon at the site of the<br />
park for more than 100 years.<br />
PUBLIC<br />
TIN HALL<br />
DANCE<br />
SATURDAY<br />
JULY<br />
28TH<br />
2 012<br />
PUBLIC<br />
DANCE<br />
& BULLRIDING<br />
FUNDRAISER<br />
Courtesy Jim sigmund<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | FEATURES | 23<br />
<strong>Community</strong> mem<strong>be</strong>rs can visit the Cypress His<strong>to</strong>rical Society research library several days each week.<br />
The CHS—now a nonprofit organization—formed<br />
<strong>in</strong> 2008 as a group of volunteers<br />
who res<strong>to</strong>red the property, which is<br />
now known as Cypress Top Park.<br />
The research library is open every<br />
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from<br />
9 a.m. <strong>to</strong> 4 p.m. and on the third Saturday<br />
of every month from mid-morn<strong>in</strong>g after<br />
the organization’s monthly board meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>to</strong> 4 p.m.<br />
Fry rd.<br />
spr<strong>in</strong>g Cypress rd.<br />
290<br />
hempstead rd<br />
Cypress His<strong>to</strong>rical Society library<br />
26026 Hempstead Road<br />
Cypress • cypresshis<strong>to</strong>ricalsociety.com<br />
At T<strong>in</strong> Hall • 14800 T<strong>in</strong> Hall Rd. (Near Telge & Huffmeister) • 8:30 PM – 2 AM<br />
Harris County CBR<br />
BullRid<strong>in</strong>g Fundraiser<br />
All proceeds go <strong>to</strong> the Harris County Fair 2012<br />
• Food from Two Forks Cater<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• Live Auction<br />
• Cash Bar<br />
• Access <strong>to</strong> Dance at 8:30 PM<br />
DANCE WITH<br />
The Lonely Road Band<br />
8:30pm - $5 at the door<br />
• 6:30 – 8:30 PM<br />
• Free access <strong>to</strong> dance<br />
ADMISSION<br />
$20.00<br />
Com<strong>in</strong>g up:<br />
Dance with the LONELY ROAD BAND<br />
Saturday August 25 • 8:30 PM – 2 AM<br />
$5 at the door<br />
713-664-7450<br />
• www.t<strong>in</strong>hall.com •<br />
Spr<strong>in</strong>g Cypress Rd.<br />
Huffmeister Rd. T<strong>in</strong> Hall Rd.<br />
AVAILABLE FOR:<br />
Wedd<strong>in</strong>gs • Private Parties<br />
Anniversaries • Graduations<br />
Corporate Events<br />
Company Parties<br />
Qu<strong>in</strong>ceaneras<br />
Birthdays<br />
ANY & ALL OCCASIONS<br />
NO PARTY TOO SMALL!<br />
Up <strong>to</strong> 1200 Guests<br />
sk<strong>in</strong>ner rd.<br />
Telge Rd.<br />
Huffmeister Rd.
shawn Arrajj<br />
24 | FEATURES | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
reGioNAL —Abridged s<strong>to</strong>ries from our other editions Full s<strong>to</strong>ries at impactnews.com<br />
Top s<strong>to</strong>ries<br />
<strong>School</strong> districts face second year of state budget cuts Dead trees pose risk <strong>in</strong><br />
natural disasters<br />
Tomball and Magnolia Head<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong><br />
the 2012-13 school year, Magnolia and<br />
Tomball ISDs are deal<strong>in</strong>g with the second<br />
year of severe state budget cuts. With the<br />
state cutt<strong>in</strong>g $5.3 billion <strong>to</strong> public education<br />
<strong>in</strong> the 2011 legislative session, TISD lost<br />
$12.5 million <strong>in</strong> state fund<strong>in</strong>g for the biennium<br />
and $7.2 million of that will come<br />
out of the 2012-13 budget. MISD lost $12<br />
million <strong>in</strong> state fund<strong>in</strong>g and split the cuts<br />
evenly <strong>be</strong>tween the 2011-12 and 2012-13<br />
school years.<br />
Although Tomball and Magnolia ISDs<br />
f<strong>in</strong>alize their 2012-13 budgets <strong>in</strong> August,<br />
both districts’ boards of trustees and<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istrative staff did extensive plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
last summer <strong>to</strong> prepare for the cuts.<br />
Due <strong>to</strong> the pre-plann<strong>in</strong>g, there will not <strong>be</strong><br />
any major changes fac<strong>in</strong>g the districts <strong>in</strong><br />
the 2012-13 school year.<br />
“If you look across the state at what<br />
STATE fUNdING CUTS*<br />
REvENUE pER STUdENT**<br />
COST pER STUdENT<br />
fUNd bAlANCE<br />
2012–13<br />
$7.2 Million<br />
$7, 042<br />
$7,431<br />
$49 Million<br />
districts are do<strong>in</strong>g, some were not so<br />
aggressive last year with reductions and<br />
are hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> reduce staff now,” MISD<br />
CFO Erich Morris said.<br />
Magnolia ISD<br />
Because of the state budget cuts, MISD<br />
cut 124.5 teachers and support staff for the<br />
2011-12 school year, but it will not have <strong>to</strong><br />
make any staff reductions <strong>this</strong> year. Though<br />
the district was able <strong>to</strong> keep its teacher-<strong>to</strong>student<br />
ratio relatively stable last year, the<br />
reduction <strong>in</strong> staff was felt <strong>in</strong> some of its<br />
special programs, Morris said.<br />
Previous <strong>to</strong> the staff<strong>in</strong>g cuts, each<br />
elementary school had its own music, art<br />
and physical education teacher. Now, these<br />
teachers are split <strong>be</strong>tween two schools,<br />
which means students spend less time <strong>in</strong><br />
the specialized classes.<br />
Full s<strong>to</strong>ry by Emily Ro<strong>be</strong>rts<br />
SnapShot<br />
TOMBALL MAgnOLiA<br />
$6 Million<br />
$6,545<br />
$6,545<br />
$20 Million<br />
*In the 2011 legislative session, the state cut $5.3 billion <strong>to</strong> education for the biennium and districts divided those<br />
cuts <strong>be</strong>tween the 2011-12 and 2012–13 school years<br />
**Based on state and local taxes sources: <strong>to</strong>mball and Magnolia isds<br />
D<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
Rancho Grande<br />
Tomball and Magnolia For Ro<strong>be</strong>rt,<br />
Oscar, Jeovani and Mike Carrillo—the four<br />
brothers who opened Rancho Grande—start<strong>in</strong>g<br />
up their own restaurant was part of the<br />
American dream.<br />
“We came from Mexico not hav<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>to</strong> our name,” Ro<strong>be</strong>rt said. “That will<br />
<strong>in</strong>spire you <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong>tter yourself and situation.<br />
Open<strong>in</strong>g the restaurant was a way for us <strong>to</strong><br />
get ahead.”<br />
The Carrillo brothers opened Rancho<br />
Grande <strong>in</strong> 1991 with one location along FM<br />
1960 and another <strong>in</strong> Tomball.<br />
“The first location did not do as well as<br />
we thought, but the Tomball location did<br />
great,” Ro<strong>be</strong>rt said. “The Rancho Grande<br />
<strong>in</strong> Magnolia came a few years later but did<br />
extremely well s<strong>in</strong>ce the first day that we<br />
opened.<br />
Full s<strong>to</strong>ry by Shawn Arrajj<br />
Courtesy the woodlands <strong>to</strong>wnship<br />
The Woodlands The tens of thousands of<br />
dead trees scattered throughout The Woodlands<br />
are caus<strong>in</strong>g some amount of anxiety<br />
among community leaders as the Gulf Coast<br />
heads <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the August and Septem<strong>be</strong>r hurricane<br />
season. In addition <strong>to</strong> the danger that<br />
high w<strong>in</strong>ds pose, the thousands of trees,<br />
whether dead or alive, could serve <strong>to</strong> add fuel<br />
<strong>to</strong> a wildfire <strong>in</strong> an area that knows well the<br />
dangers fires pose.<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> a report prepared by The Woodlands<br />
Township, about 16 percent of the 1.8<br />
million trees <strong>in</strong> The Woodlands are dead. Thousands<br />
are <strong>be</strong><strong>in</strong>g removed by the <strong>to</strong>wnship; some<br />
are <strong>be</strong><strong>in</strong>g cut down by property owners, some<br />
are <strong>to</strong>ppl<strong>in</strong>g on their own and many are <strong>fall</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>be</strong>cause of high w<strong>in</strong>ds and s<strong>to</strong>rms.<br />
John Powers, the <strong>to</strong>wnship’s assistant general<br />
manager for community services, said they are<br />
aware of the dangers the large num<strong>be</strong>r of dead<br />
trees pose <strong>in</strong> the event of a natural disaster such<br />
as a hurricane or wildfire.<br />
“We’re concerned,” he said. “That’s why our<br />
plan is <strong>to</strong> remove all of the hazardous trees as<br />
quickly as possible and focus on those that are<br />
big and have the most propensity for damage.<br />
Full s<strong>to</strong>ry by Brian Walzel and Christ<strong>in</strong>e Hall<br />
Brown rd. 249<br />
1488<br />
1774<br />
Zion rd.<br />
1774<br />
Goodson rd.<br />
Rancho Grande<br />
30134 Hwy. 249, Tomball<br />
281-351-1244<br />
18914 FM 1488, Magnolia<br />
281-356-1700<br />
www.ranchograndebarandgrill.com<br />
Sun.–Wed. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.<br />
Thu. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.<br />
Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.<br />
Impacts<br />
Now Open<br />
Tomball Sunny Dai’s Cafe is<br />
now open at 1000 W. Ma<strong>in</strong> St.,<br />
Tomball. The restaurant, which<br />
opened May 26, serves fresh,<br />
made-<strong>to</strong>-order organic breakfast,<br />
lunch and dessert options.<br />
The cafe serves a variety of<br />
entrees, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g homemade<br />
waffles and chicken fried<br />
chicken. An all-you-can-eat<br />
seafood buffet will <strong>be</strong> offered<br />
on Fridays, and a chicken fried<br />
steak buffet will <strong>be</strong> available<br />
Saturdays. 281-255-9848<br />
The Woodlands Trader<br />
Joe’s has opened at The<br />
Woodlands Cross<strong>in</strong>g Shopp<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Center, 10868 Kuykendahl<br />
Road. The 13,500-squarefoot<br />
specialty s<strong>to</strong>re offers<br />
domestic and imported foods<br />
and <strong>be</strong>verages, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
breakfast, lunch and d<strong>in</strong>ner<br />
items rang<strong>in</strong>g from organic<br />
whole gra<strong>in</strong> dr<strong>in</strong>ks <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
entrées. 281-465-0254,<br />
www.traderjoes.com<br />
Tomball Owner Amanda<br />
Parker celebrated the open<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of Trickey Treats Cakes<br />
and More June 1. The homebased<br />
bakery specializes <strong>in</strong><br />
decorat<strong>in</strong>g made-from-scratch<br />
cakes <strong>in</strong> a num<strong>be</strong>r of sizes<br />
and types, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g round,<br />
sheet, wedd<strong>in</strong>g and cookie.<br />
Cus<strong>to</strong>mers can choose cake<br />
flavors rang<strong>in</strong>g from vanilla<br />
<strong>to</strong> red velvet with several<br />
fill<strong>in</strong>gs, specialty flavors and<br />
ic<strong>in</strong>g options. Parker also<br />
sells cupcakes, cookies, cake<br />
balls, petit fours and brownies.<br />
Pastries are available only<br />
through orders and can <strong>be</strong><br />
delivered for an additional<br />
cost. 512-632-5662,<br />
www.trickeytreats.com<br />
The Woodlands<br />
Humm<strong>in</strong>gbird Tea Room<br />
and Bakery opened for<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess June 6 at Colonnade<br />
of The Woodlands, 30420<br />
FM 2978. The restaurant<br />
offers breakfast and lunch<br />
food options with Englishthemed<br />
cakes, pastries,<br />
and other foods made with<br />
local <strong>in</strong>gredients. Owner<br />
Nasim Bell said many of<br />
the furniture pieces <strong>in</strong> the<br />
restaurant are bought locally<br />
and are environmentally<br />
friendly. 281-419-8362, www.<br />
humm<strong>in</strong>gbirdtearoom.com
Get flood <strong>in</strong>surance for<br />
as little as $129, and we’ll<br />
throw <strong>in</strong> peace of m<strong>in</strong>d for free.<br />
If <strong>this</strong> makes you cr<strong>in</strong>ge, imag<strong>in</strong>e what a few <strong>in</strong>ches of floodwater could do.<br />
Get a preferred risk flood <strong>in</strong>surance policy for as low as $129 a year.<br />
Homeowners <strong>in</strong>surance does not cover floods. And even a small flood can cost<br />
thousands. So call me <strong>to</strong>day, and protect your biggest <strong>in</strong>vestment.<br />
Don’t risk your home, call me for flood <strong>in</strong>surance <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
Agent Info here<br />
COASTER_CoOp_Ad_7x10.<strong>in</strong>dd 1 1/16/09 3:30:41 PM<br />
PRP_CoOp_Ads_0111.<strong>in</strong>dd 2 1/24/11 12:19 PM<br />
impactnews.com • July 2012 | FEATURES | 25<br />
Specializ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> women’s<br />
health at every stage of life.<br />
Donald K. Eckhardt, Jr., M.D., br<strong>in</strong>gs his patients more than<br />
20 years of experience, and considers it a privilege <strong>to</strong> have<br />
delivered over 4,000 babies. A Diplomate of the American<br />
Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Eckhardt works side<br />
by side with his wife, Kari, a women’s health nurse practitioner<br />
and certified nurse midwife. Their services <strong>in</strong>clude care dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
pregnancy and childbirth, <strong>in</strong>fertility treatment, gynecology,<br />
laparoscopy, treatment of ur<strong>in</strong>ary <strong>in</strong>cont<strong>in</strong>ence and pelvic<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>, as well as contraceptive and hormone management.<br />
For an appo<strong>in</strong>tment, call 281-374-1860.<br />
Donald K. Eckhardt, Jr., M.D., FACOG<br />
Board-Certified OB/GYN<br />
Kari Eckhardt, R.N.C., W.H.N.P., C.N.M.<br />
Mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the Medical Staff or Allied Health Staff<br />
at Tomball Regional Medical Center<br />
455 <strong>School</strong> Street, Suite 29 • Tomball<br />
TomballWomensSpecialists.com
26 | FEATURES | <strong>Community</strong> Impact Newspaper • Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n Edition<br />
reAL estAte<br />
Canyon Lakes at S<strong>to</strong>negate<br />
Hous<strong>to</strong>n – 77095<br />
Overview<br />
Market Data Northwest Hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Price Range<br />
Barker Cypress rd.<br />
tucker<strong>to</strong>n rd.<br />
On the market (May 1–31)<br />
red rugossa dr.<br />
Map not <strong>to</strong> scale<br />
Data compiled by<br />
Coldwell Banker United<br />
281-304-5900<br />
www.cbunited.com<br />
Build-out year: 2005<br />
Num<strong>be</strong>r of homes: 1,942<br />
Home values: $114,000–$208,000<br />
HOA dues (estimated): $900/year<br />
Amenities: 5-acre water park complex <strong>in</strong>cludes<br />
splash pad and swimm<strong>in</strong>g pool. hous<strong>to</strong>n<br />
National Golf Club discounts and privileges,<br />
recreation center, clubhouse, basketball pavilion,<br />
tennis <strong>court</strong>s, sand volleyball<br />
Property taxes:<br />
Lone star College sYs district 0.1210<br />
harris County 0.3912<br />
harris County dept. of educ. 0.0066<br />
harris County esd 9 0.0600<br />
harris County Flood Control 0.0281<br />
harris County hospital 0.1922<br />
Cypress-Fairbanks isd 1.4300<br />
harris County Mud 14 0.6700<br />
Port of hous<strong>to</strong>n Authority 0.0186<br />
Total (per $100 value) _______________ 2.8981<br />
<strong>School</strong>s:<br />
rennell elementary school<br />
19500 tucker<strong>to</strong>n Blvd., Cypress, tX 77433<br />
281-897-4000<br />
Aragon Middle school<br />
16823 west road, hous<strong>to</strong>n, texas 77095<br />
281-856-5100<br />
Cy-Falls high school<br />
9811 huffmeister road, hous<strong>to</strong>n, tX 77095<br />
281-856-1000<br />
Num<strong>be</strong>r of homes for sale/Average days on the market<br />
77040 77064 77065 77070 77095 77429 77433<br />
Less than $149,999 79/100 53/113 49/82 44/93 99/80 103/106 98/121<br />
$150,000–$199,999 20/74 19/75 18/81 38/85 108/74 88/80 63/85<br />
$200,000–$299,999 12/74 10/68 11/95 12/89 60/61 111/100 145/82<br />
$300,000–$399,999 5/47 7/78 3/34 1/59 13/48 45/101 84/85<br />
$400,000–$499,999 2/201 2/103 – 1/457 3/37 27/76 47/85<br />
$500,000–$599,999 – – 1/136 – – 13/107 15/113<br />
$600,000–$799,999 2/133 – – 1/29 – 12/125 4/101<br />
$800,000–$999,999 – – – – – 5/88 1/19<br />
$1 million + 2/413 – – – – 5/203 2/102<br />
On the market (As of June 30, 2012) Home sales (June 1, 2011–June 30, 2012)<br />
No. of homes<br />
for sale<br />
Featured homes<br />
No. of homes<br />
under contract<br />
Avg. days on<br />
the market<br />
36 11 44<br />
17402 Anadarko Ln $164,400<br />
4 Bedrooms / 2.5 Bath 2741 sq. Ft.<br />
Agent: Jimmy Frankl<strong>in</strong>, remax Grand,<br />
281.347.2200<br />
17218 Horse<strong>to</strong>oth Canyon Dr. $219,900<br />
5 Bedrooms / 3.5 Bath 3,552 sq. ft.<br />
Agent: V<strong>in</strong>cent Bruno, realty Associate,<br />
713.464.0700<br />
Monthly home sales<br />
Month<br />
No. of homes sold<br />
<strong>in</strong> the last year<br />
Square footage<br />
Low/High<br />
Sell<strong>in</strong>g price<br />
Low/High<br />
88 1,450 /4,431 $55,100 / $259,000<br />
10115 Meridian Lake $268,000<br />
5 Bedrooms / 3.5 Bath 3,583 sq. ft.<br />
Agent: Amy Lipp<strong>in</strong>cott, remax All stars,<br />
281.213.8989<br />
17227 Desert Maize Ln $157,900<br />
3 Bedrooms / 2 Bath 1,803 sq. Ft.<br />
Cather<strong>in</strong>e Coby, Keller williams realty- Greater<br />
Northwest, 832.978.3292<br />
Num<strong>be</strong>r of homes sold/Average Price<br />
77040 77064 77065 77070 77095 77429 77433<br />
June 2011 31/152,245 46/138,796 36/135,695 46/146,570 90/159,436 138/226,510 153/226,598<br />
June 2012 42/138,682 33/126,425 22/140,659 36/140,689 83/168,028 130/2-3.825 123/212,549<br />
May 2012 25/$132,920 27/$120,529 30/$147,453 21/$132,850 80/$162,607 94/$194,714 115/$232,120<br />
April 2012 1/$231,960 26/$158,853 18/$128,594 25/$135,826 79/$154,852 96/$217,359 119/$214,544<br />
Mar. 2012 4/$137,250 29/$142,607 29/$140,068 26/$135,629 74/$147,187 94/$192,247 119/$235,795<br />
Feb. 2012 2/$339,000 18/153,000 13/$123,800 18/$119,900 61/$159,000 69/$197,684 91/$218,400<br />
Jan. 2012 4/$204,875 12/$126,000 15/$137,500 21/$124,200 43/$140,600 54/$205,500 69/$235,738<br />
Dec. 2011 24/$119,862 24/$125,691 21/$114,985 27/$135,196 82/$155,386 92/$205,429 118/$232,962<br />
Nov. 2011 22/$125,318 26/$133,844 17/$128,867 33/$180,567 48/$180,857 74/$175,310 88/$187,484<br />
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impactnews.com • July 2012 | FEATURES | 27<br />
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