Grayson Lakes February 2018

Official Newsletter published by Krenek Printing Co. 

FEBRUARY 2018 

Important Numbers pg. 3 

Babysitting List pg. 5 

Family Focus pg. 6 

Engagement Stories pg. 11 

Featured Recipes pg. 13 

Houston Events pg. 18 

Library News pg. 26 

Pet Announcments pg. 31 

Published courtesy of Krenek Printing, 7102 Glen Chase Ct., Houston, Texas 77095 • 281-463-8649 

Advertising: ads@krenekprinting.com • News: news@krenekprinting.com • www.krenekprinting.com 

Find us on FACEBOOK for more news & events! Find Businesses easier on our BIZFINDER at www.krenekprinting.com!

2 February 2018 | Community Newsletter

WILL THERE BE EVENTS IN 2018? 

After a decade of fun and frivolity in our neighborhood, a number of 

our event coordinators are taking a breather! 

If you and your family have enjoyed any of the Grayson Lakes events and 

would like to see them continue, we are in need of coordinators (and 

an Events Committee Chairperson). The events that need a coordinator 

are: Easter Eggstravaganza, Family Fishing Day, July 4 th Parade & Splash 

Day, Dive-In Movie Night and the Holiday Event with Santa including 

decorating contest. We are always open to new event ideas so please 

suggest something at events@graysonlakesliving.com Please contact 

Karen at Crest Management - karen.janczak@crest-management.com 

- if you are interested in helping. 

TREE TRIMMING IN GRAYSON LAKES 

Many of you will see that the common area trees were trimmed at the 

front entrance, the recreation center pool and tennis courts, the park 

areas along the lakes and all along Grayson Lakes Boulevard through 

the exit at Ephram. These trees are the most mature and this street 

area is the most heavily travelled. Additional trimming will continue 

to take place periodically as needed and within budgetary parameters. 

Please remember that trees in your yard, including the tree lawn, are 

the residents’ responsibility. It is important to keep the streets easily 

passable for vehicles and school busses. 

Thank you to all the neighbors who have recently trimmed their trees 

(and shrubby) particularly those branching into the street and hanging 

over/near the sidewalks. 

PICKLE BALL PLAYERS IN GRAYSON LAKES 

Do you play Pickle Ball? 

Are you interested in playing Pickle Ball in Grayson Lakes? 

Would you like to see the tennis court area also striped for Pickle Ball? 

Let us know! 

Email karen.janczak@crest-management.com 

LANDSCAPING FOR PRIVACY AND NOISE ABATEMENT 

With the growth of the area, many residents find themselves wishing 

for a bit less traffic noise. As you’ve seen, Fort Bend County is now in 

the process of widening Gaston Road, which will eliminate part of the 

green space buffer. Some residents would also like to create a bit more 

privacy in their backyards. 

If you’re interested in managing these issues in a beautiful way with 

appropriate landscaping plantings, we’d like to hear from you. 

The Association Board, with support from neighborhood master gardeners, 

will sponsor an educational event with a landscaping expert 

at the clubhouse if there is sufficient interest. Please call Crest Management 

at 281-945-4632 or email karen.janczak@crest-management. 

com to let her know you would like to attend. The date and time TBD 

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE 

for official board communication and to find the latest news and 

information on upcoming events, documents and copies of Board 

minutes please go to our homepage. 

WWW.GRAYSONLAKESLIVING.COM 

WWW.GRAYSONLAKESLIVING.COM 

TO CONTACT THE BOARD 

OR FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GRAYSON LAKES: 

Crest Management Company 

AAMC® 

17171 Park Row, suite 310 

Houston, Texas 77084 

281-579-0761 

www.crest-management.com 

MANAGER 

Karen Janczak 281-945-4632 

karen.janczak@crest-management.com 

ASSITANT MANAGER 

Pam Hummel 281-945-4661 

pam.hummel@crest-management.com 

COMMUNITY CONTRACTORS: 

LAKE PRO, INC. 281-391-3688 

A-BEAUTIFUL POOLS 281-376-6510 

C.J.'S YARDWORKS, INC. 281-578-5999 

IMPORTANT NUMBERS: 

WATER & SEWER: MUD 130 281-290-6507 

GARBAGE COLLECTION: BEST TRASH 281-313-2378 

(SERVICE MONDAYS & THURSDAYS) 

SCHOOLS: 

KATY ISD ADMINISTRATION: 281-396-6000 

WOODCREEK ELEMENTARY 281-234-0100 

WOODCREEK JR. HIGH 281-234-0800 

TOMPKINS HIGH SCHOOL 281-234-1000 

EMERGENCY: 911 

FT BEND COUNTY EMS 281-344-3006 

WILLOW FORK FIRE DEPT 281-395-0011 

FT. BEND COUNTY SHERIFF 281-341-4665 

CITY OF KATY POLICE 281-391-4848 

ANIMAL CONTROL: 

FT. BEND ANIMAL CONTROL 281-342-1512 

CITY OF KATY 281-391-4848 

FT. BEND COUNTY ROAD & BRIDGE 281-342-4513 

REPORT STREET LIGHT OUTAGES 713-207-2222 

WWW.CENTERPOINTENERGY.COM 

(PROVIDE 6 DIGIT # ON POLE) 

Community Newsletter | February 2018 

3

Call Anytime! 

Local Utility Rebates Now Available 

TACLB019260E 

HEATING • AIR CONDITIONING 

UP TO $ 1100 REBATE 

$ 

5O OFF 

on a New A/C & Heating System 

0% Interest Payment Plans 

Qualifying Models only. Call for Details. 

Must present at time of service. Expires 2/28/18. 

Any Repair 

Cannot be combined with any other offer. 

Must present at time of service. Expires 2/28/18. 

281-492-3450 myACandHEAT.com 

FREE ESTIMATES on New Equipment 

Same-Day Service 

MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS 

The monthly HOA Board meeting is held the third Wednesday of 

each month. ARC meetings are held the second Thursday each 

month. Both meetings start at 6:30 PM and are held at the Grayson 

Lakes Clubhouse. 

GRAYSON LAKES BOARD MEETINGS OPEN TO ALL 

Meetings of the Grayson Lakes Board of Directors are held the third 

Wednesday of every month except September. The meetings 

are held in the Grayson Lakes Clubhouse and start at 6:30 PM. The 

agenda for the upcoming meeting will be posted on the Clubhouse 

door no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting. Meeting notices will 

also be emailed to residents who have provided an email address to 

the Association. If you would like to be included on that list, contact 

Karen Janczak at Karen.Janczak@crest-management.com. 

Notice of a canceled or rescheduled meeting will be posted on the 

Clubhouse door no later than 6:30 PM of the regularly scheduled day. 

Residents wishing to observe need only show up. Residents wishing 

to speak are asked to inform the Management Company at Karen. 

Janczak@crest-management.com requesting to be placed on the 

agenda. Please do this no later than 8 days before the meeting since 

agendas are prepared a week in advance. If you will indicate the 

nature of your business beforehand, it will give the Management 

Company and your Board a chance to prepare for questions that 

might come up. Please be advised, it is your Board’s practice to limit 

initial comments from residents to 5 minutes, so plan accordingly. 

FT. BEND COUNTY - LEASH LAW 

Animals that are not properly restrained pose a threat to all our 

residents. While you may know your pet is friendly, an animal running 

at someone who is walking by is very scary for that person. 

Many children are afraid of animals and become frightened, which 

could result in the child getting hurt trying to avoid the animal. 

Although most dog bites occur on the property where the dog lives, 

unrestrained or free-roaming dogs do pose a threat to the public. In 

addition, unrestrained animals are at increased risk of being bitten 

by rabies-infected wildlife. 

To make a complaint or report an animal that is not properly restrained 

please contact Ft. Bend County Animal Control - 281-342-1512 

NOTTINGHAM COUNTRY GARDEN CLUB (NCGC) 

On Thursday, February 1, 2018 Nottingham Country Garden Club 

(NCGC) will feature Dinah Weems. Dinah will be speaking on the topic 

Bayou Bend/Miss Ima Hogg - Great Texan Collector. This presentation 

will provide a history of Miss Hogg, Bayou Bend and some highlights 

in the collection. 

Monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month 

from September through May. We welcome all people interested in 

gardening and gardening related topics. We serve the West Houston 

and Katy areas. You do not have to live in the Nottingham Country 

neighborhood to belong to our group! NCGC is a non-profit organization 

affiliated with the Houston Federation of Garden Clubs, the Texas 

State Garden Clubs and the National Garden Clubs. The purpose of 

the club is to promote the beautification of our community, support 

local and national educational and civic organizations and educate 

the community about our environment. Donations from the NCGC are 

funded by our annual Spring Sale and projects that vary each year. 

Meet and greet time begins at 9:30 AM and the program will begin 

at 10 AM, followed by the NCGC business meeting. Please join us at 

the Municipal Utility Building #81 at 805 Hidden Canyon Drive, Katy, 

77450. For more information, see our website: www.ncgctx.org. 


Sports Injury and Concussion Seminar 

Weekend warriors and young athletes are invited to learn about how to prevent and manage 

sports injuries and concussions. Board-certified doctors from Houston Methodist Orthopedics 

& Sports Medicine at West will present and answer your questions. 

Thursday, Feb. 22 | 6-7:30 p.m. 

YMCA at Katy Main Street 

1350 Main St., Katy, TX 77494 

To register for this free event, call 832.522.5522. Refreshments provided. 

Dr. Winfield Campbell 

Orthopedic Surgery, 

Sports Medicine 

Dr. F. Alex Schroeder 

Orthopedic Surgery, 

Sports Medicine 

Dr. P. Timothy Sprockel 

Primary Care Sports Medicine, 

Concussion Management 

TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS LIST 

If you are between 12 and 18 and would like to be added to the teenage 

job seeker’s list, please fill out the form on our website (www. 

krenekprinting.com, click submissions and choose Jobseekers) 

with your name, birthdate (mo. & yr.), phone number, year you will 

graduate and the name of your newsletter/subdivision. Check the 

list of jobs you want on your form. Please make sure your email is 

correct, we send emails in the summer to make sure all the info is 

still good and that you want to stay on the list. If we do not hear back 

from you after 3 tries, we will remove you from the list until we do. 

Must have parent(s) permission. 

DISCLAIMER 

Neither the subdivision, nor Krenek Printing is responsible for those 

listed on the Teenage Job Seeker List. Please ask for and check out 

references if you do not personally know those listed. This is just a 

list of teenagers from the subdivision who wish to find part time jobs. 

Responsibility for any work done by these teenagers is between those 

seeking helpers and the teens and their parents. 

CODE KEY: 

B - BABYSITTING, CPR - CPR CERT., FAC - FIRST AID CERT., RCC - RED CROSS CERT., 

SS - SAFE SITTER, SL - SWIM LESSONS, PP - PET/PLANT SITTER, P - PET CARE ONLY, 

H - HOUSE CARE, L - LAWN CARE, C- CAR CARE/DETAILING, T - TUTORING 

TEENAGE JOB SEEKER’S LIST MAY NOT BE 

VIEWED ONLINE AVAILABLE IN PRINTED 

NEWSLETTERS ONLY 


5

Flu Prevention Tips 

Family 

Focus 

Why They Love Living in Katy 

“Our family has lived in Katy for over 30 years and we couldn’t imagine 

our children growing up in a better city. Katy has the hometown feel of 

the both small towns that Patrick and Melissa were born in. Patrick is 

originally from Lumberton, Texas and Melissa was born in Hardinsburg, 

Kentucky. People in Katy are friendly and always willing to lend a 

helping hand to their neighbors. Katy is “country” with all the amenities 

of the city and Houston is close enough that if you want to see a major 

sporting event, concert, theater, etc., you are able to. We love the 

people and pride in Tigerland!” 

What They Love to Do 

This family most enjoys the local parks 

in Katy, feeding ducks and being in 

the outdoors. They love to explore the 

local businesses in Old Katy, especially 

antique and resale shops where hidden 

treasures are often found. The Katy 

Rice Harvest Festival is one of their most 

anticipated events of the year, as well 

as the parade and the Katy Rodeo. 

Love is in the Air 

How They Express It: “Something you will hear many times a day in our home is one person will say 

‘Love y’all’ and you will hear all the other family members reply with ‘Love y’all.’ Levi is usually the first 

one to prompt this but we all do it when we want to. I think this makes our family unique because we 

do remind each other through our love language of what we mean to each other, daily.” 

Celebrating Valentine’s Day: The family gets in the spirit of this holiday by enjoying mom’s decorating 

in a special part of their home, and indulging in a nice meal together at home or at a restaurant. 

They give each other special tokens of their admiration for each other and of course, enjoy creating, 

crafting and delivering their Valentines. 

What Makes It Tick: They love reminding their family and friends about how much they mean to them, 

which is what Valentine’s Day is all about for this tribe. Keeping in mind how much Jesus loves them 

and how He asks them to love one another is also an important reflection on this holiday. 

Family Roster 

Dad: Patrick, Machine Shop 

Supervisor (Precision-Hayes, 

Sugar Land). Machinist for 

over 25 years, learned the 

trade in his dad’s machine 

shop in Beaumont, TX. 

Avid gun collector, enjoys 

spending time on the gun 

range. 

Mom: Melissa, Accounting (Linco 

Construction, Katy). Loves crafting, 

decorating, traveling and supporting 

her boys in all they do. World traveler 

and especially fond of Germany and 

German culture (spent many summers 

with grandparents there). Aspires 

to own a farm one day with cows, 

chickens lambs and lots of dogs. 

Koen: 11 YO boy. Loves to ride his hoverboard, 

bike and go-kart. An avid gamer, enjoys building 

things on his computer. Member of the National 

Junior Honor Society, loves joining various clubs 

at his school. Has played soccer with FFPS since 

he was four years old, has been a great way for 

the family to spend time together cheering him on. 

Aspires to be a singer and will be starting music 

and voice lessons in 2018! 

Levi: 8 YO boy. Enjoys playing outside, on 

his computer, and with friends. Greatest past 

time is spent building Lego sets. Has also 

played soccer with FFPS since he was four 

and the family loves cheering him on. Straight 

A student, made it to the finals at his school’s 

spelling bee this year. Wants to own a farm 

with mom one day and help raise all the 

animals, family calls him the “animal whisperer.” 

Atlas: 3 month old fur 

boy (mini schnauzer). 

Although he is a 

fur baby, he is most 

definitely one of the 

family – he fills their 

hearts with such joy. 

We Would OVE to Feature Your Family! 

6 

Each month, one family will be chosen from one of our communities. To feature your family, February email familyfocus@krenekprinting.com 

2018 | Community Newsletter

SCOUTING... 

NEWS 

Brownie GS Troop Openings 

For 2Nd Grade Girls-Katy Wide 

Troop 128006, a Katy wide 2 nd Grade Brownie Girl Scout Troop, 

has opening for 2 nd grade girls. We welcome new to GS, returning 

& existing 2 nd grade Girl Scouts. Meetings: Every other Monday, 

6:30-8 PM, 20000 Franz Road area. Contact Lee at gstroop128006@ 

gmail.com for more information. 

Scout It Out And Come 

Join Cub Scouts With Pack 353! 

Field trips. Camping. Racing. 

Fitness. Friendship. 

Pack 353 has been keeping the Scout spirit alive since 1982. With 

over 60 scouts and 20 dynamic leaders, we are gearing up for a funfilled 

year with a wide variety of activities that help boys develop 

leadership skills, build character, strengthen communication 

skills and demonstrate good citizenship. 

Boys entering first through fifth grades are welcome to join us 

anytime throughout the year. If you would like more information 

on joining Cub Scouts and participating in our summertime 

activities, please contact our Cubmaster Randy Barras at: 

353katy@gmail.com. Keeping it fun. Doing our best. 

Homeschool Pack 164 

Cub Scouts is a fun way to teach boys about character, respect, 

responsibility and many other traits. Pack 164 is a Christian, home 

school Cub Scout Pack that services the Greater West Houston/ 

Katy area. Pack 164 promotes service to God, to country and to 

others. If you are interested and your son is entering 1 st through 

5 th grade, please contact Jack M. Jones at 281-558-5722. 

LEADING MEDICINE 

STARTS WITH 

HOUSTON METHODIST 

PRIMARY CARE 

At Houston Methodist Primary Care Group, 

your family is at the center of all we do. From 

simple checkups to more complex concerns, our 

board-certified physicians provide the 

compassionate care you need as well as access 

to our leading network of world-class specialists. 

Schedule online today, 

visit houstonmethodist.org/pcg or 

call 713.394.6638. 

Become a Dental Assistant 

in just 10 weeks! 

10 Week Course 

Tuition $3250 • Payment Plans 

Training Since 1995 

Spring Session begins 

April 7, 2018 

Open House: 

February 16th • 4-7 pm 

Houston Dental Assistant School 

Located in Katy and Spring/The Woodlands 

www.hdas.biz 

For info packet call 281-363-0600 or email us at admin@hdas.biz 

Approved by the TWC Career Schools and Colleges 


7

Katy First UMC 

Ash Wednesday Service 

February 14, 2018 

-8 AM 

Evening Service & Ashes 7 PM 

5601 5th Street—Katyfirst.org 

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus 

We are looking for volunteers 18 years old and up, be committed once 

a week 3-4 consecutive hours for a minimum of six months. Different 

assignments are available to choose from 7 AM-midnight Monday - 

Sunday to support patients, families and staff. Please contact us if you 

are interested at 832-227-1185 or www.waystogive.texaschildrens.org/ 

ways-to-give/volunteer/. 

Volunteers Needed At 

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital 

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital has volunteer opportunities available. 

Whether you are interested in working in the nursery, at our reception 

desk, in our gift shop or even transporting patients, we have a place for 

you. For more information, please contact Heather Rojas, Manager of 

Volunteer Services at 281-644-7581. 

Volunteer Opportunities 

For Wildlife Advocates 

Enjoy a rewarding volunteer experience with wildlife. Texas Wildlife 

Rehabilitation Coalition, Inc. is a non-profit organization, which serves as 

an emergency care and rehabilitation facility for orphaned, ill, and injured 

native Texas wildlife. Volunteers are welcome in the areas of assisting in the 

daily functions of the center, assisting with public education programs, and 

wildlife rehabilitation. Located at 10801 Hammerly, Suite 200, the facility is 

open seven days a week to help wildlife in need. TWRC has a mentor program 

in place to assist volunteers with “hands on” training for those interested in 

becoming permitted rehabilitators. We invite you to join our organization in 

saving Texas wildlife - one animal at a time. Call the center at 713-468-8972 

for more information or email the Volunteer Coordinator at coordinator@ 

twrcwildlifecenter.org. Visit our website at www.twrcwildlifecenter.org. 

Pregnancy Help Center 

Seeks New Volunteers 

Invest your time by volunteering with Pregnancy Help Center 

of West Houston educating and supporting men and women in 

making healthy choices for life in sexual integrity, unplanned 

pregnancy and post-abortion loss. Volunteer opportunities include 

mentoring, facilitating small groups, administrative assistance, 

medical services, donation room and development. Discover your 

calling! 

For information inquire through the web site vsc@phckaty.org or call 

281-578-0078, Volunteer Services Coordinator. The Pregnancy Help 

Center of West Houston is a non-profit faith based organization. 

SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic 

Equestrian Centers 

Nothing else can compare with therapy on horseback. Equine-assisted 

activities improve physical balance and coordination, mental acuity, 

emotional stability and social interactions. At SIRE, we see miracles on 

horseback happen every day. The work of our dedicated volunteers 

helps guarantee that children and adults with disabilities in the Greater 

Houston Area will have the programs they need to live longer, healthier, 

more productive lives. 

In addition to their weekly work in the arena, many of our volunteers 

donate their time and talents at fund-raising events such as our annual 

Ride-A-Thon and the yearly Trailblazers Luncheon. Volunteers are on 

hand during the NARHA on-site certification and annual SIRE Show-Off 

and volunteers are vital to our Clients’ successes at the Top Hands Horse 

Show, during the Houston Rodeo and competition at the regional and 

state Special Olympics. Therapeutic horseback riding creates a bond 

of success between the rider and their horse. Volunteers are their own 

personal cheering section and the instructor is their mentor and coach. 

Clients become more empowered and better equipped to fully live their 

lives, each day. 

To volunteer, please call one of our arenas and ask to speak with a 

volunteer coordinator. SIRESpring, call 281-353-6160. SIREHockley, call 

281-356-7588. SIRE Fort Bend, call 281-344-4308. 


FM 1463 

Spring Green Blvd FM 723 

WESTHEIMER LAKES DENTAL 

COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY 

• • 

• Digital X-Rays 

• Extractions, Crowns, Bridges 

• State of the Art Technology • Partials and Dentures 

• Friendly and Caring Staff • Senior Citizen Discount 

• Cosmetic Dentistry • Financing Available (WAC) 

S. Fry Rd 

Westheimer Lakes N Dr. 

26440 FM 1093, SUITE 340 

RICHMOND, TX 77406 

281.394.7581 

WWW.WESTHEIMERLAKESDENTAL.COM 

EXAM, CLEANING & X-RAYS 

FOR NEW PATIENTS 

ADULTS & CHILDREN 

EXPIRES 2/28/18 

WESTHEIMER 

LAKES DENTAL 

FM 1093 / Westpark Tollway 

LOWES 

KROGER 

$ 

99 ZOOM! 

REG. $258 

Rose Vuong, DDS 

MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 

EVENING APPOINTMENTS 

AVAILABLE 

Whitening $ 399 

EXPIRES 2/28/18 REG. $450 

Volunteers Needed At 

Autumn Grove Cottage 

Do you enjoy spending time with seniors? 

Autumn Grove Cottage is an assisted living 

facility for individuals with Alzheimer’s or 

dementia related illnesses. We are interested 

in volunteers socializing with our Residents. We 

are a small cottage, close to your neighborhood, 

with just 16 Residents. If you would like to 

volunteer in a cozy, home-like atmosphere then 

call the Volunteer Coordinator at 281-398-6845 

or visit our website www.autumngrovecottage. 

com. Come be a part of our philosophy - “To 

honor our Residents and those who love and 

care for them.” Volunteers will need to complete 

a volunteer application and attend a brief 

training session. 

Become A Sunrise Volunteer 

Fond memories and treasured traditions start 

here! Enrich lives through your generous gift 

of service as a Sunrise Volunteer. Please call 

the Activity and Volunteer Coordinator for 

opportunities and details at 281-240-0500 or 

email cinco-ranch.avc@sunriseseniorliving. 

com. Sunrise Assisted Living of Cinco Ranch is 

located at 21939 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy, Texas, 

77450. For more information, you can also visit 

our website at www.sunriseseniorliving.com. 

Volunteer Katy 

Meet with other local people who will gather 

and discuss/plan community service projects 

and try to figure out the best way to make a 

difference in our community. All volunteers 

welcome. Contact: Linda Wilson at 281-222- 

1771 or visit 

http://volunteerism.meetup.com/230. 


Katy Community Giving 

Circle Needs Volunteers 

The Katy Community Giving Circle is open to any 

resident in the Katy area who wants to make a 

difference by giving collectively. Our mission is 

to create a circle of giving in our community by 

collectively contributing to organizations that 

will benefit or improve the lives of the people 

in our neighborhoods. By combining members 

tax deductible donations of just $10 per month, 

we are determined to make a greater giving 

impact! In our first year we have been able to 

gift grants to 2 local organizations and we are 

building a community of giving friends. For more 

information, please visit our Facebook page 

facebook.com/katycommunitygivingcircle. 

Clothed By Faith 

We are looking for volunteers to join our 

amazing team! Please see our website www. 

clothedbyfaith.com for more information or 

email yiasmere@clothedbyfaith.org. Located 

at 802 Dominion Drive, Suite 100 in Katy. CBF 

demonstrates God’s love through the provision 

of gently used clothing to those in need. 

Houston Children’s Charity 

Join a group of people dedicated to improving 

the lives of children. If you are searching for a 

good cause to lend a hand to, you need look no 

further. Houston Children’s Charity is a 501(c) (3) 

non-profit organization dedicated to improving 

the quality of life for underprivileged, abused 

and disabled children who have been otherwise 

left behind. The scope of our support is limited 

only by the availability of resources. Our goal, 

the rainbow that we chase, is to leave no 

legitimate request for assistance unanswered. 

Do you have the time and desire to volunteer 

to help a great cause? We are always in need 

of volunteers to help throughout the year. 

This is a great way for school age kids to get in 

community service hours. Do you have gently 

used children’s clothing, shoes and jackets? At 

Houston Children’s Charity we are setting up 

the “HCC Closet.” All of the items donated will 

be given to children - not sold at a retail store. 

Please contact our office at 713-524-2878 or 

visit our website www.houstonchildrenscharity. 

org for more information on our organization. 

Standup For Kids 

How would you feel if you saved a kid’s life? 

StandUp For Kids is an all volunteer organization 

dedicated to saving the lives of at-risk and 

homeless kids through volunteer outreach efforts. 

Our volunteers search the streets in order to find, 

stabilize and otherwise help homeless and street 

kids improve their lives. Every day throughout the 

US thirteen kids die on the streets from abuse, 

disease and suicide. According to recent statistics 

Houston has up to 2,500 kids living on the streets 

at any given time. Texas has the highest rate of 

homeless youth in the U.S. 

StandUp For Kids needs supplies for our 

Houston program, which provides food, 

clothing, counseling and a safe environment 

for the homeless youth of Houston. If you or 

your organization would like to hold a food 

or clothing drive for StandUp For Kids, please 

contact me at HeatherE@standupforkids. 

org to learn more about StandUp For Kids or 

how you can help, visit our website at www. 

standupforkids.org. The single greatest need, 

for homeless and street kids is our continuous 

caring and real support. We must convince 

them that we care, we want them back and we 

want to help them get off the streets. 

9

FEBRUARY IS CREATIVE ROMANCE MONTH 

February is being Creative Romance Month and many of you may feel like that is a 

lot of pressure! Don’t worry though because we’ve put together a list of romantic, 

yet creative ideas to make the month of February full of romance. 

Krenek Printing 

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTERS 

www.krenekprinting.com 

281-463-8649 

RESIDENTS: 

Please support the businesses within 

this newsletter. It is because of their support 

that you receive this paper at no charge 

to you or your HOA. 

Share your community news with us. 

Non-profit, scouts, school, dated events, etc. 

send to news@krenekprinting.com 

ADVERTISERS: 

Want your ad to be placed in this newsletter 

and mailed to the homeowners every month? 

For more information, pricing or to view 

newsletters online please visit 

www.krenekprinting.com or email 

ads@krenekprinting.com 

BUSINESS FINDER: 

Search for businesses in your local area 

and find great deals on the goods and 

services you are looking for! 

LLC 

Go On A Surprise Trip. What better way to spend time together than by going on a 

surprise trip? Instead of just telling your partner that you planned a getaway, make 

them work to figure out what their Valentine’s present is. Write the name of the destination 

on a piece of paper and cut it up into pieces that they have to put together. 

If you want to really build up the anticipation, you can always give them one piece 

of the puzzle a day leading up to Valentine’s Day. 

Kidnap Them For A Day. If your partner is into fun gags, put a blindfold on him or 

her and drive them to your chosen destination before you take the blindfold off. It 

can be something as simple as a romantic dinner to their favorite restaurant or a 

visit to their favorite museum. Tell them little clues along the way to see if they can 

actually guess where they are going. 

Act Like A Tourist. Just because you have lived in a city for a while it doesn’t mean 

that you’ve visited everywhere there is to go. For Valentine’s Day, do a little bit of 

research about restaurants or attractions that you and your partner have never been 

to before. Then on Valentine’s Day, act like tourists at the place you end up going 

too. Don’t just rush through the experience. Really soak it all in, spend a lot of time 

there and just have a good time overall. 

Can’t Get Away For A Few Days? Book A Hotel Room. If you and your partner want 

to go on a vacation, but don’t have the time, consider booking a really nice hotel 

room for 1-2 nights. Even though you won’t actually be leaving your city, it might 

feel like it if you choose the right hotel. Not only should the hotel you choose have 

plenty of activities and amenities, but it should be in a location that will allow you 

to easily enjoy restaurants and shops within walking distance. 

Share The Romance. If you and your partner are the kind of couple that likes to outdo 

one another, consider trading off. On even days you could plan romantic activities 

and on odd days it’s your partner’s turn. This can last for only a few days, a week or 

the entire month of February! If you really want to wow them consider going on a 

day cruise on your day or going camping for the night. 

Source: www.blog.atlastravelweb.com 

NEWSLETTERS: 

View your newsletter online! You can 

read your community news on our website 

or download it to take with you and print. 

Archived issues are also available. 

MOBILE: 

You now have access to our full website optimized for 

your mobile device, making it even easier to find the 

things you need on the go! 

MORE: 

Find information about advertising 

opportunities, article submissions, our 

company, frequently asked questions, 

and submit your classified ads online. 

NOW OFFERING FULL COLOR 

PRINTING SERVICES! 

Call today for a quote! 


Engagement Stories 

featuring your neighbors! 

Chelsea & William 

What was supposed to be a family vacation to Las Vegas/the Grand Canyon 

the week before Thanksgiving, ended up turning into the most picture 

perfect proposal. The morning we were supposed to leave for the Grand 

Canyon, I wasn’t feeling well, and said I would stay back. However, William 

was very insistent that I come. I took some medicine, got ready really 

quickly, and we hopped into the car for our grand excursion. When we got 

to the Grand Canyon, it was freezing outside (to Texans of course!) and 

there was even some snow on the ground. It looked so magical (especially 

considering I have only seen snow a couple of times)! As I was getting out 

of the car, I noticed that one of my fake nails had fallen off (I had gotten my 

nails done the week prior) ON MY LEFT HAND! William’s mother had 

asked, “what hand did the nail fall off from?”, which I thought was a funny 

question to ask. When we got to the Grand Canyon, we stopped to take 

pictures (and get me a jacket because I did NOT plan for freezing weather). 

During one picture, William had bent down to sit for the picture, but in 

my head I was thinking “THIS IS IT! THERE IS WHERE WE GET EN- 

GAGED!” My heart started racing and I was so excited. But....all that was said was, “Chelsea, sit down so we can take the picture.” I was slightly disappointed, 

but I wouldn’t let it ruin my time. We went to go grab a bite to eat, and William and his family were asking when sunset was so we could go to one final stop: 

Yavapai Point. By the time we got there, I was freezing and felt like my hands and legs were going numb and was apprehensive to take more pictures. Then, in 

the most perfect spot, right as we were posing for a picture, William got down on one knee and showed me the most beautiful ring that he picked out himself. 

I didn’t even let him talk I was so in shock that I just went in for a giant hug. When his family asked what I said, I responded with, “oh he never asked!” He 

officially asked, I said “YES!!!!!!!”, and the rest of our “grand” love story is history! 

Lisa & Matt 

My wife and I met on a blind date – we were immediately attracted 

to each other. Later, when the time came, I wanted to have the 

perfect way to propose to her, so I conspired with my mother to 

create the ‘perfect day’. First, my sister, Rachel, took a picture 

of me at our favorite place – Castlewood State Park outside of St. 

Louis, Missouri. From this picture, a wooden jigsaw puzzle was 

created – the largest piece in the center being a sign with my special 

message… ‘Lisa, Will You Marry Me?’. The remaining pieces 

of the puzzle were randomly divided into handmade velvet bags 

that each had a handwritten calligraphy poem on them created 

by me describing a new location for the ‘Treasure Hunt’. Each location 

has some significance since it was a place where we had 

experienced something special together. At the last location, I 

presented her with the final piece and the diamond ring. My wife 

is a very special person who has given me so much…I love her. 


Violet & TJ 

"They" say that after a storm, comes a rainbow....it turns out that "they" 

are correct. I met my fiancé, TJ, about 20 years ago. Nothing became 

of it, except seeing the familiar face from time to time throughout the 

years. On July 15, I ran into the familiar face, yet once again. Except this 

time, it was God's timing and we were engaged on September 16. He is 

the biggest teddy bear with the kindest soul. He is the happily ever after 

that me & daughters needed for so long.... We will say "I do" on 2/11/18. 11

ADVANCED 

HOME EXTERIORS 

WE DON’T TRY TO DO IT ALL... 

WE ONLY DO WHAT WE DO BEST! 

SIDING, WINDOWS & ROOFING 

HardiePlank Siding & Exterior Painting 

 

 

$500 OFF * 

HardiePlank and Window Replacement 

*Minimum purchase required 

Hardie ColorPlus from 

Advanced Home Exteriors 

is recommended by 

Tom Tynan, HomeShow Radio 

Financing Available 

Call Today for Your Free Estimate! 

832-363-3772 

FAT TUESDAY 

FEB. 13, 2018 

MARDI GRAS 1/6-2/13/18 

FUN FACTS: 

WOULD YOU BELIEVE? 

• More than 500,000 king cakes are sold each year in New Orleans 

between January 6 th and Fat Tuesday. 

• The king cakes include a tiny plastic baby doll inside; the person 

who finds the doll is declared “king” and must buy the next 

cake or give the next party. 

• The metro area’s 37,000-plus hotel rooms are traditionally 

95% filled during Mardi Gras weekend. 

• An economic impact study released by the University of 

New Orleans estimates that Mardi Gras generates over 

$840 million annually. 

• The largest of about one dozen Mardi Gras supply houses in 

New Orleans sells an estimated one billion pairs of beads for 

a Mardi Gras season. 

• The super parades of Endymion and Bacchus, feature a combined 

total of 67 floats, 60 marching bands and more than 250 units. 

Their 4,200 members toss more than 1.5 million cups, 2.5 million 

doubloons and millions of beads. 

• One of the most photographed objects in all of Mardi Gras is the 

Boeuf Gras float in the Rex parade. Since the Middle Ages, the 

bouef gras (fatted bull) has been the symbol of the last meat eaten 

before Lent. 

Courtesy: neworleanscvb.com 

Smile! 

Invisaligg Elite Premier Provider 

Braces for Children & Adults 

Complimentarr Consultations 

Most Insurances Accepted 

GARDENING TIPS FOR FEBRUARY 

FLOWERS 

• Plants to set: Alyssum, Calendula, 

Canterbury Bells, Carnations, Columbine, 

Cornflower, Daisies, Delphinium, 

Hollyhock, Larkspur, Lobelia, Nicotiana, 

Pansy, Petunia, Phlox (Louisiana), 

Shrimp Plant, Snapdragon, Stock and Verbena. 

VEGETABLES 

• Plant beets, broccoli (plants), brussel sprouts (plants), cabbage 

(plants), carrots, cauliflower (plants), celery, chinese cabbage 

(plants), chives collards (plants), endive, kale, lettuce (leaf and head), 

mustard, onions (plants), parsley, garden peas, radishes, rutabagas, 

spinach, tomato (seeds) and turnips. 

1260 Pin Oak Rd. 

Suite 208 

Katy, TX 77494 

• • • • • 

KCCortho.com 

281-392-0888 

TREES AND SHRUBS 

• Finish all transplanting, get everything in the ground for a good 

spring spurt of growth. Transplant balled and burlap, container-grown, 

bare-root deciduous evergreen trees, shrubs, roses and 

vines while still dormant. 

• Finish pruning roses. Weed and cultivate lightly all beds. Replenish 

mulch as needed. 

• Control early spring insects like thrips on glads and aphids on young 

tender growth. Spray with Malathion, Diazinon or Orthene. 

• At the end of February: peach, apple and pear fruit must be thinned 

to insure quality production at harvest. 

• Give groundcovers a haircut. They will spread faster. 

• Divide daylilies, daisies and other perennials now. 


WINTER CLEANUP SPECIAL 

20% Off Entire House or Roof Cleaning 

Free Estimates & Demos 

www. k- 

mpw. 

com 

support@k-mpw.com 

SERVICES OFFERED: 

Roof Cleaning - No Pressure Damage Free 

Power Washing - Low Pressure Damage Free 

Pressure Washing - High Pressure 

Marcus Raif - Owner / Operator 

Exterior House Cleaning Specialists 

and egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream mixture. 

Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture almost 

comes to a simmer and thickens, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and 

black pepper to taste. 

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook fettuccine in boiling 

water, stirring occasionally, until nearly cooked through, about 7 minutes. 

Drain. 

Stir parsley, 1 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano and cream mixture into the 

pasta. Remove from heat, cover and let sit for a few minutes until thick. 

LIGHTER CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO 

You could make this on National Fettuccine Alfredo Day February 7 th ! 

INGREDIENTS: 

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts 

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 

4 cloves garlic, minced 

ground black pepper to taste 

2 cups heavy cream 

2 egg yolks 

salt to taste 

1 pound fettuccine 

1 sprig chopped fresh parsley 

2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided 

DIRECTIONS: 

Combine chicken breasts and chicken broth in a saucepan over medium-high 

heat. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low; simmer for 5 

minutes. Turn breasts, cover and simmer another 5 minutes. Remove from 

heat and let sit with the cover on for 15 minutes. 

Remove chicken breasts from the broth and set aside to cool, reserving 

the broth in the saucepan. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, cut 

into bite-size slices. Return the chicken broth to medium heat and cook 

until reduced to 1 cup. Stir garlic, black pepper and heavy cream into the 

reduced broth; bring to a simmer and remove from heat. 

Whisk egg yolks in a bowl until smooth. Beat 1 tablespoon of the warm 

cream mixture into the eggs until thoroughly incorporated; repeat until 

about 1/2 cup of the warm cream mixture is used. Whisk the warm cream 


Fold chicken and 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano into the pasta mixture to 

serve. Source: allrecipes.com 

CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES 

You could make this on National Cream Cheese Brownies Day Feb. 10 th ! 

INGREDIENTS: 

1/2 cup all-purpose flour 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips 

5 tablespoons shortening 

1 cup white sugar 

3 eggs 

3 tablespoons cream cheese 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1/2 teaspoon almond extract 

1/2 cup chopped almonds 

Cream Cheese frosting - optional 

DIRECTIONS: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 9 inch square 

baking pan. 

In top of a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and shortening, stirring 

frequently until smooth. Pour into a large bowl and mix in sugar, cream 

cheese and eggs. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually mix in flour, 

baking powder and salt. Fold in almonds and pour the batter into pan. 

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until toothpick inserted 

near the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan before cutting into bars. 

Add Cream Cheese frosting if desired. Source: allrecipes.com 

13

T 

E 

X 

A 

S 

JOIN US FOR THE $50,000 GSEC 

SHOW JUMPING GRAND PRIX 

The Olympic sport of Grand Prix show jumping blends the excitement of thoroughbred 

racing and the thrills of downhill Slalom skiing! Horse and Rider combine as a team 

providing a level of excitement that is unmatched in most other sports. 

FEBRUARY 24TH, 2018 

PRE SHOW- 6:30PM, GRAND PRIX - 7:30PM 

PARKING $10 

Great Southwest Equestrian Center 

2501 S Mason Road 

Katy, Tx 77450 

Katy, Texas 

GSWEC.com 

For event information contact Val Garza (210) 870-4584 

Artwork: “Leap of Faith” © Joanna Zeller Quentin www.MoosePantsStudio.com 


Front row (L-R) - Ema Rhea, Amy Rhea and Maris Baughman. Middle Row (L-R) - Ashley Nighswander, Abby McKasle, Nykol Pratt, Audrey 

Pennington, Laura Campbell, Lindsey Mumey and Payton Hanks. Back Row (L-R) - Alexis Champagne, Ella Vincent, Paloma Ames-Zuniga, 

Abby Bender, Amanda Saxman, Emma Bordeaux, Claire Fortier, Devan Andres, Bailey Gatz and Jordyn Jones. Photo is taken by Nikki 

Guest Photography 

NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE EVENT HONORS GRADUATING SENIORS 

The National Charity League, Inc., Azalea Chapter honored its graduating seniors at its annual Senior Recognition in early January at 

the Sugarland Marriott. At the dinner and dance, attended by family and friends, chapter members celebrated the accomplishments 

of each of the girls in the Azalea Class of 2018 and recognize her contributions to the community during her six years of service in The 

National Charity League (NCL) program. The seniors are students at Cinco Ranch High School, Seven Lakes High School, Taylor High 

School, Tompkins High School and Faith West High School. 

The mission of the NCL is to foster mother daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, 

leadership development and cultural experiences. The Azalea Chapter was formed in 1999 and in the past year its members have served 

over 10,000 volunteer hours in support of 24 charitable organizations in the Katy area. 

BASHANS PAINTING 

& HOME REPAIR 

• Interior & Exterior Painting 

• Wallpaper Removal 

• HARDIPLANK ® Installation • Custom Texturing 

• Sheetrock Repair 

• Pressure Washing 

• Cabinet Painting 

• Fence Repair/Replacement 

• Wood Replacement 

• Garage Floor Epoxy 

• Interior Carpentry 

• Custom Staining 

• Crown Molding 

• Roofing 

• Faux Painting 

• Gutter Repair & Replacement 

NO No MONEY moNey UP up FRONT froNt 

25+ Years Experience • References Available 

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL 

CommerCial/residential 

- FREE Free ESTIMATES- estimates- 

BashansPainting@earthlink.net 

** FULLY INSURED ** 

FULLY INSURED 

281-347-6702 office 

281-731-3383 cell 

We accept all major credit cards 


15

Above is a picture of the Taylor High School Expressions with Director Kevin Riehle, Marsha Smith (retired Taylor counselor), 

Gail Land (Founder of Taylor Expressions) and Mary Kelly (retired educator and parent) from the beginning days of the Taylor Expressions. 

KATY AREA RETIRED EDUCATORS (KARE) 

On December 6, 2017, Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE) held their Christmas Luncheon at Midway Barbeque, with the Taylor High School 

Expressions performing a variety of Christmas Carols. Many thanks to Midway Barbeque who is hosting KARE meetings until the Merrell 

Center is restored. For more information about the Katy Area Retired Educators check out our website at www.localunits.org/KARE/. 

ELECTRICIAN 

$20 Off Any 

Service Call! 

1 Not to be combined with any other discount or offer. 

WIRED 

Electrical Services 

Residential & Commercial 

Award Winner 

Master #100394 • TECL #22809 

24/7 Service 

5 Year 

Warranty* 

100% Customer 

Satisfaction 

Guaranteed! 

P Mount Flat Screens 

P Generators 

P Lighting 

P Add Circuits 

P Panel Replacement 

P Cable/Phone 

713-467-1125 

281-897-0001 

www.wiredes.com 

Family Owned 

& Operated 

WHY YOU SHOULD HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT 

YES, YOU! 

This time of year, the 100 or so high school exchange student programs 

in the U.S. are beginning to seek host families for the coming academic 

year for both one semester and full academic year students. 

About 28,000 students come to the U.S. each year for youth exchange 

programs of varying lengths. Not surprisingly, their motivations vary. 

They want to improve their English-speaking skills. They want to establish 

their independence from their parents. They want to see the America 

of Hollywood and the streets of New York. If they don’t have siblings, 

they would like one. They want to share the beauty and complexity of 

Japanese or Italian cooking. They want to play American football and 

be on the cheerleading team. They want to travel and see new places. 

They want to live life as an American teenager. 

I think cultural exchanges, including hosting high school exchange students, 

offer benefits far beyond being “a good citizen.” Beyond actually 

learning about another culture and how things might be done differently 

on a daily basis, it challenges one’s assumptions about other cultures, 

teaches communication skills and helps develop patience and flexibility. 

Few experiences can teach you - and your children - the small but critical 

differences between cultures as living with someone from another 

country. 

The benefits to America children - both our own children and others 

who are attending school with exchange students - are significant in 

ways that are difficult (if not impossible) to quantify. It’s not something 

adults often think about. Even school administrators don’t always think 

through how exposure to other cultures can benefit students in their 

districts. Think about communication for just a moment. Although 

your children will, of course, speak English to their exchange student, 

the potential for miscommunication is huge when you are talking to 

non-native English speakers. The processes of learning how to re-shape 


your thoughts, speak more clearly and make sure what you intend to 

say is what is heard are important skills. Think about your assumptions 

about other cultures - your assumptions and those of your children 

and their friends, about another country’s foods, habits or attitudes. 

Think about relationships and learning how to adapt, become more 

cooperative and developing an ability to be flexible. 

You *do* have something to offer. 

Many families tell me they can’t host because “we aren’t a good host 

family.” People assume they must be outgoing, that they need to be 

a family that travels a lot or that they must be a family that goes to 

museums, events and activities all the time. People assume that it is 

critical for a host family to live in a big city so it will be “fun” for a teen, 

that it is important to provide a student with his or her own bedroom 

or that they must live near the high school. Many people assume you 

must have a high school student in your home in order to host a high 

school exchange student. The list of “why we’re not a good family” goes 

on, but most of these pre-conceptions simply aren’t accurate. Is it nice 

to travel with your student? Of course, because it’s fun to share your 

city, your state or your country’s beautiful places. But not everyone 

travels much. Is it nice to live next to the high school? Of course. But 

let’s face it, most people don’t. Is it “fun” for a teen to live in the city? 

Sure. But nice people who have the desire, capability and emotional 

intelligence to be a host family live everywhere. 

for an American teen. They can play on the soccer team or have a role 

in the school play no matter where they live and no matter what the 

composition of their host family. 

The key to hosting a student is not in who is in your family, but who 

you are as people. Good host families are people who want to share 

their own culture and community and learn about someone else’s. 

Good host parents look to give their families a glimpse of the world 

and introduce them to new customs and cultures. 

STS Foundation is currently looking for host families in our area. If 

you are interested in hosting a student and enjoying this enriching 

experience, please contact Vicki Odom at 832-455-7881 or email me 

at vicki.stsfoundation@gmail.com for more information. 

The truth is, there is no typical American host family, because there is 

no single “typical” American family. American host families have teens 

and don’t have teens. They have young children and toddlers. They 

have children who are now grown and living elsewhere or no children 

at all. They have dogs or not, large homes or small ones. Single parents 

are families, as are grandparents. American families live in large 

cities, suburban areas and in small communities. The students are not 

here to travel, have a tour guide, just have “fun” or to have an easy 

life with a five-minute school commute. They’re here to go to school, 

learn about our country, live with a family and to learn what life is like 


17

HOUSTON AREA EVENTS AND ROAD TRIPS 

FEBRUARY 2018 

February 2 nd -13 th - Mardi Gras Galveston. If you’re looking for a 

unique Mardi Gras experience in 2018, grab some beads and hit the 

beach! Mardi Gras! Galveston, the third largest Mardi Gras celebration 

in the United States, offers the unique chance to experience sand 

between your toes and gorgeous beach sunsets while taking in the 

revelry and lavish parades known to dominate Galveston Island 

during carnival season. The island’s 107 th Mardi Gras celebration, 

is expected to draw more than 350,000 attendees for 30+ concerts, 

parades, balcony parties and several elegant balls. At Mardi Gras! 

Galveston, the extravagance found in Texas’s largest Mardi Gras 

celebration starts with the beads! More than 3 million beads will be 

thrown at Mardi Gras! Galveston and that’s just the beginning of the 

elaborate parades, headliner performances, family events, feasting 

and other festivities that come with hosting Mardi Gras island style. 

For more information, visit www.galveston.com/mardigras/. 

February 7 th - The Houston RV Show is now the largest in Texas with 

over 600 units on display. This includes Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, 

Tent Campers, Fifth Wheels and Van Conversions. Recreational 

Vehicle related vendors representing campgrounds, resorts, parks 

and RV supplies. The Annual Houston RV Show will be in the NRG 

Center Halls C, D, E. Parking rate in the past was $12 per space, cash 

only. For more information, visit www.guestservices@nrgpark.com. 

February 8 th - Texas Monthly 2 nd Annual Whiskey Affair. A premium 

whiskey tasting event that will highlight up to 50 brown spirits and 

celebrate the whiskey lifestyle with delicious chef pairings, couture 

cocktails and live music provided by Doc Watkins, owner of Jazz, TX. 

Texas and international brown spirits makers will serve straight pours 

and cocktails from their portfolios with spirit seminars led by Texas 

Monthly Editor in Chief Tim Taliaferro and Wine & Spirits contributor 

Jessica Dupuy. The event will also feature up to ten award-winning 

chefs and mixologists serving dishes to compliment a wide array of 

whiskies. For more information, visit www.texasmonthly.com. 

February 9 th -11 th - Texas Home and Garden Spring Show. Houstons’ 

Premier “One Stop Shopping Opportunity” for all your home & 

garden needs. From Windows and Doors to Ceilings and Floors over 

700 experts, products, services and ideas all under one roof. Adult 

Tickets are $10, Seniors and Military $8 and children 14 and under 

free. For more information, visit www.guestservices@nrgpark.com. 

February 9 th -11 th - Tristar Collectors Show. Your trusted source for 

sports autographs, trading cards and collectibles. Tristar will be held 

in NRG Arena, Hall C and D. For more information, visit 

www.guestservices@nrgpark.com. 

February 17 th - 2018 Lunar New Year Festival. This year’s Lunar New 

Year Festival is from 10 AM-4 PM at the Chinese Community Center, 

9800 Town Park Dr., Houston 77036. Free Admission & Parking. 

For more information, visit www.ccchouston.org. 

February 22 nd - 24 th - Houston Livestock Rodeo Cookoff. More than 250 

teams, led by barbecue aficionados, compete in the World’s Championship 

Bar-B-Que Contest. While most team tents are invitation-only, visitors can 

enjoy several public venues, including The Garden, Rockin’ Bar-B-Que 

Saloon and the Chuck Wagon. Plus, the carnival is open, for wild rides and 

fun games. The Miller Lite Stage at The Garden features some of the best 

up-and-coming and established artists in Texas country. The Rockin’ Bar- 

B-Que Saloon also features live and DJ music and has an outside patio for 

visitors to enjoy. Inside the saloon is the Chuck Wagon, where visitors can 

pick up their complimentary sliced beef sandwich with chips and beans. 

February 24 th - Rodeo Run. Run for a cause! Proceeds from the event 

benefit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational 

Fund. The 2017 Rodeo Run had more than 9,500 participants in the 

wheelchair race, 10K race and 5K fun run/walk. Since 1988, nearly $5 

million has been contributed to the Rodeo. For more information, 

visit www.rodeohouston.com. 

February 24 th - Downtown Rodeo Parade at 10 AM. Every February 

since 1938, the nation’s fourth largest city is transformed from 

a bustling metropolis to a down-home celebration of Western 

heritage. Decorative floats intermingle with thousands of men and 

women on horseback to fill the streets with hoof beats and marching 

bands. Enthusiastic Houstonians join out-of-town spectators to line 

the streets and sidewalks to be involved in one of Houston’s most 

popular celebrations! For parade route, street closures and parking 

information, visit www.rodeohouston.com. 

February 24 th - Love tribute bands? Love food trucks? Join us for 

the 2 nd Annual Texas Classic Rockin’ Food Truck Rally presented by 

Shiner Beers. Our goal is to not only be the biggest food truck rally but 

one of the most amazing rockin’ roll shows the Gulf Coast has ever 

experienced! Come out early to get your grub on with ALL YOU CAN EAT 

samples from all of your favorite food trucks from Noon to 3 PM, while 

supplies last. Vote for your favorite gourmet food truck as they compete 

for the Grand Champion of the Texas Classic Rockin Food Truck Rally 

title and all the bragging rights that come with it. Come prepared to 

rock! There will be an amazing lineup of bands. The event will be at the 

Galveston County Fairgrounds. General Admission is $20, kids under 

12 are free. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for the show and no coolers 

are allowed. For more information, visit www.texasfoodtruckrally.com. 

February 25 th - It’s official! The Houston Kosher Chili Cook-off is now 

the largest kosher food event in Houston. The 8 th Houston Kosher Chili 

Cook-off will be held at the ERJCC. There will be MORE cooking teams, 

MORE food, MORE money raised for local charities and MORE fun! At 

12 PM, the public is invited to sample chili, mingle, enjoy children’s 

activities, listen to music and simply have a great time in an outdoor, 

festival atmosphere. The event will conclude with the selection of the 

winning chili by celebrity judges. So, don’t miss this “hot” event! For 

more information, visit www.houstonkosherchilicookoff.com. 


DATED EVENTS 

GRAEME’S RUN 5K & 1 MILE WALK 

February 10, 2018 

No Label Brewery 

Registration 8:30 AM, Run Starts at 9 AM 

Family Entertainment: Face Painting, Bounce Houses, Food Trucks, 

Raffle, Chris Boise and Righteous Cause Band 

Register & Learn More: www.graemessuperheroes.org 

*All funds raised benefit The Children’s Heart Foundation 

MARVEL COMIC - BLACK PANTHER MOVIE VIEWING 

Acorn to EXcellence is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded 

to promote interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and 

Mathematics), entrepreneurship and business related fields. Acorn 

to EXcellence in association with the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Iota 

Phi Lambda Sorority will host a movie viewing event for the highly 

anticipated Marvel Comic ‘BLACK PANTHER.’ During the reception 

meet the “community superheros and sheroes” comprised of 

professionals, athletes and business people who have made an 

impact to society. 

This will be a fun-filled event for adults and children. Special guests, 

private reception, door prizes and more! Tickets are tax deductible 

and are $20, which includes reception, seating, drink and popcorn. 

Purchase tickets at https://blackpanthermovie.eventbrite.com. 

The reception and movie viewing will be held at the Regal Grand 

Parkway 22 Cinemas at 7301 Grand Parkway, Richmond, TX on Sunday, 

February 18, 2018, 2-6 PM. Sponsorship opportunities are available. 

Help to positively shape the direction of our youth through the richness 

of this movie and give them motivation to dream big! Contact: Donna 

Mitchell at acorntoexcellence@gmail.com or 832-844-8265. 

SPORTING CLAY TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER 

Benefiting The Ballard House (501©3) 

Once again, The Ballard House will be having its annual Sporting 

Clay Tournament Fundraiser at the Westside Sporting Grounds 

(Brookshire, TX) on Saturday, February 24, 2018. 

Executive Director, Kathy Alt states, “This is an important time in 

the life of our organization after being effected by Hurricane Harvey. 

The Ballard House is still rebuilding and will reopen soon and be 

even bigger and better than before due to all the hard work of our 

volunteers and people in the greater Katy area.” 


The Sporting Clay Tournament is tremendous in helping to raise the 

necessary operational funds to keep the doors open at The Ballard 

House. Teams compete with their shooting skills for fun and fundraising 

to benefit this great cause. Teams and individuals can register on the 

website or by calling the number provided. Lots of sporting activities 

are planned throughout the day with the tournament starting at 9 

AM and concluding with lunch and a program. The Ballard House 

provides a safe, family-friendly environment and home-away-fromhome 

for those undergoing life threatening illnesses and treatment in 

the Houston area, all at no-cost. Patients come to The Ballard House 

from all over the United States and World. If you would like more 

information about this topic, please contact Mary Raines at 281-804- 

8414 or email at mary.raines@att.net. 

JOIN US FOR THE $50,000 GSEC SHOW 

JUMPING GRAND PRIX 

FEBRUARY 24, 2018 

The Olympic sport of Grand Prix show jumping blends the excitement 

of thoroughbred racing and the thrills of downhill Slalom skiing! 

Horse and Rider combine as a team providing a level of excitement 

that is unmatched in most other sports. 

PRE SHOW- 6:30 PM 

GRAND PRIX - 7:30 PM PARKING $10 

Great Southwest Equestrian Center 

2501 S Mason Road - Katy, Tx 77450 

GSWEC.com 

For event information contact Val Garza 210-870-4584. 

1 ST ANNUAL REIGN OVER 

CANCER WALK 

FEBRUARY 25, 2018 

Due to the massive flooding the Katy 

community experienced as a result of 

Hurricane Harvey and the continued 

efforts to recover from the devastation it 

caused, the Reign Over Cancer (“ROC”) 

Walk has been postponed until Sunday, 

February 25, 2018. The walk will be held at 

Cane Island and will begin at 2 PM. Plan to stick around after the walk 

to enjoy complimentary food and beverages, music and family-friendly 

activities. 

The ROC Walk will recognize people in the community currently 

undergoing cancer treatment, highlight survivors and raise money 

to fund GEST Foundation grants. Register as an individual or a team 

online at www.GESTfoundation.org. Proceeds from the ROC Walk will 

provide grants for services including grocery delivery, home cleaning, 

home wound care, transportation or even counseling to help with the 

internal wounds that come with facing the news “you have cancer.” 

The walk will be fun for ALL ages, so grab your family and friends and 

join us at the beautiful Cane Island for an afternoon of fun while raising 

money for a very important cause. 

Registration for the ROC Walk is still open and we encourage everyone 

to sign up! Register now at www.GESTFoundation.org. For up to 

19

the minute race information and updates, follow us on Facebook. 

Sponsorship opportunities for the Reign Over Cancer Walk are still 

available! We have several options to fit all marketing needs and budgets. 

Contact Aaron or Michelle Perzan at 956-832-9187 or 956-832-1988. 

For more information about the GEST Foundation, Inc., how to donate 

or become a walk sponsor or how to submit a grant for financial 

support, please contact Michelle Perzan at 832-377-1367, 956-832-9188 

or email via at michelle.perzan@gestfoundation.com. 

Flewellen Way 

FM 359 

WellPet 

Center 

S. Fry Road 

FM 1463 

CVS Wendy’s 

H 

Shell 

McDonalds 

FM 359 

FM 1093 

2 ND ANNUAL KATY TASTE FEST 

www.KatyTasteFest.com 

Katy Taste Fest, the city’s first festival for foodies will again be held 

at Villagio Town Center March 24, 2018, 11 AM-2 PM. The festival 

celebrates all things food from some of the best Katy restaurants. It is 

a foodies’ paradise with emphasis on food, family and fun. The festival 

will focus on celebrating the diversity of the local restaurant scene with 

bites from 30 local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, beer/wine, 

a large kids zone, live entertainment and a silent auction. Fun for the 

whole family! Our inaugural event was a HUGE success with more than 

800 attendees and raised more than $13,000 for our local non-profit 

partners. We aim to exceed that number in 2018! 

NEW: This year’s event will feature a VIP Jazz Brunch: This is an 

opportunity to discover your new go-to favorites while savoring 

comfort foods you’ve loved for years. We have something for everyone 

from adults to kids. Katy Taste Fest has partnered with several local 

nonprofits that focus on abused, neglected and abandoned children 

including Katy Cares, Krause Children’s Center and Armor of Hope 

Foundation. Details and ticket information will be available on 

www.KatyTasteFest.com. 

About Katy Taste Fest: Katy Taste Fest aspires to turn tasters into diners. 

The festival explores the city’s diverse dining scene by sampling tastes 

from local restaurants. Attendees can enjoy cooking demonstrations, 

live entertainment, a silent auction and family-friendly activities for 

food lovers of all ages. Katy Taste Fest supports several local charities 

that focus on vulnerable children, including Katy Cares, ZOE, Krause 

Children’s Center, Helping Kids Ministry and Armor of Hope Foundation. 

CALL FOR ARTISTS: 

BAYOU CITY 

ART FESTIVAL 

MEMORIAL PARK 2018 

Bayou City Art Festival, 

produced by Art Colony 

Association, Inc. (ACA), is 

inviting artists from around the 

country to submit applications 

and have the opportunity to showcase their art at the nation’s premier 

spring outdoor fine art event Friday-Sunday, March 23-25, 2018. 

ACA produces Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the spring and 

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the fall. Now entering its 47 th year, 

ACA has provided a venue for over 20,000 artists to showcase their 

work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. Patrons have 

the opportunity to personally meet the artist, view original works and 

purchase world class art. The festival benefits local non-profits and 

features music, food, beverages, entertainment, a Children’s Creative 

Zone and much more for people of all ages to come and enjoy the city 

and the festival. 

Twice a year, over 1,000 qualified applicants from 19 different disciples 

submit their applications to be reviewed by the ACA jurors. For each 

festival, a new juror panel is invited and consists of artists, collectors 

and industry professionals. The panel of five to seven jurors are 

selected based on their specific interests, professional knowledge and 


Whether you need advertising, printed materials, branded merchandise, 

a website or other marketing for your business... 

We Have The Solution For Your Business! 

Krenek Printing 

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTERS 

LLC 

SERVICES: 

Advertising • Layout Design 

Printing Services 

Flyers • Brochures • Pamphlets 

Newsletters • Postcards • Envelopes 

Mailing Services 

Direct (EDDM) • Bulk • First Class 

Branded Merchandise • Marketing Services 

YOUR AD COULD 

BE HERE! 

281-463-8649 • 7102 Glen Chase Ct, Houston, Texas 77095 • www.KrenekPrinting.com 

background with the festival. Only 300 artists 

will be selected to exhibit at the 2018 Bayou 

City Art Festival Memorial Park. Cash Prizes 

are awarded for “Best in Show,” second and 

third, as selected by on-site judges. Ribbons 

are awarded for “Best Booth” and all winners 

receive jury exempt status for two years as well 

as priority booth placement. 

Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are 

available. For more information, please visit 

www.artcolonyassociation.org. For updates on 

social media, follow the official event hashtags 

#HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page 

or follow on Twitter and Instagram. 

THEATER/ ARTS 

KATY VISUAL & 

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 

(KVPAC) www.kvpac.org 

2501 S Mason Rd., Suite 290, Katy, TX 77450 

Season Tickets, including all new FLEX 

Packages, are on-sale now to lock-in the best 

price and choice seat. Pre-Sale Show Tickets 

are $15 Adults and $12 Seniors. Tickets 

increase by $3 at the door. Group rates are 

available at www.kvpac.org or in person. For 


Katy audience members who seek an evening 

at the theater, they can look to Encore Players 

as a source to enjoy the theater in their own 

home town without the long commute or 

high cost involved with heading to one of 

downtown Houston’s theaters. Katy Visual & 

Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) is a non-profit 

arts education organization helping artists 

find their light since 2001. 

THE HOUSTON CHORAL SOCIETY 

For more information, please visit the HCS 

website at www.houstonchoral.org. 

MILDRED’S UMBRELLA THEATER CO. 

MAINSTAGE SEASON 

All Shows at Studio 101, 

1824 Spring Street #101, Houston TX 77007 

WELL By: Lisa Kron February 1 st -3 rd at 8 PM 

MORE INFO/RESERVATIONS: 

www.mildredsumbrella.com, 

info@mildredsumbrella.com or 832-463-0409. 

STAGEWORKS THEATRE 

SPELLING BEE - Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, 

Sundays at 3 PM, January 19-February 11, 2018 

Stageworks Theatre is located at 

10760 Grant Road, Houston, Texas 77070. 

Website: www.stageworkshouston.org. 

NATURE PROGRAMS FOR 

PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN 

SATURDAYS IN NATURE 

This program is held on the fourth Saturday 

of each month at the Edith L. Moore Nature 

Sanctuary, held between 1 and 4 PM. A guided 

nature walk will begin at 2 PM. No reservations 

required. Donations are encouraged. This is 

a “whole family” program; parents or other 

adult guardians should participate with 

their children. Park in the Memorial Drive 

United Methodist Church parking lot at 12955 

Memorial Drive, enter the nature sanctuary 

through the marked gate and proceed on the 

path to the log cabin. Upcoming programs 

include January: Migration - Craft: Flying 

Duck. February: We Love Wildlife - Craft: 

Animal Valentines. 

The Titmouse Club 

The Titmouse Club is a nature program for 

children ages 2 ½ to 5 sponsored by the 

Houston Audubon Docent Guild. The program 

is offered every Tuesday and Wednesday 

morning, 10 to 11 AM, from mid-September 

until mid-May at the Edith L. Moore Nature 

Sanctuary, 440 Wilchester Boulevard. Each 

week features a different nature theme and 

may include nature talks, stories, hands-on 

activities and walks in the woods. For more 

information, go to www.houstonaudubon.org 

and look under Audubon Docents. The cost 

is $5 per child per session or a 5-session card 

can be purchased for $20. The child must be 

21

Air Conditioning Contractors of America 

Houston Business Insurance Agency 

Homeowner’s insurance from HBIA made easy. 

Just your home address will allow us to 

provide you with a quote within a minute. 

• No Credit Check 

• Payment Options, Including 12 Equal 

Installments (Credit Card, Bank Draft, 

Mortgage Payment) 

• AM Best A - VIII Admitted Insurance Company 

• A unique technology method resulting in 

competitive pricing 

• Guaranteed replacement cost on dwelling 

• Policies emailed shortly after purchase 

• Discounts available for fire/burglar alarms 

and sprinkler systems 

Call, email or text us today 

and start saving the easy 

way with HBIA! 

713-979-1001 

service@hbia.net 

3718 Mount Vernon, Houston, Texas 77006 

P.O. Box 541129, Houston, Texas 77254 

Phone: 713-979-1001 • Fax: 713-979-1005 

www.HoustonBusinessInsurance.com 

LOU'S PAINTING, Ltd. 

• Interior - Exterior 

• Power Washing 

• Sheetrock & Texture 

• HardiPlank ® Replacement 

• Minor Repairs 

Free Estimates 

*Available only on your primary residence or 

a second home as long as not rented to others. 

Be Safe! Service Heater Protect Home 

281-394-0028 

Free estimate or 2 nd opinion 

$25 off 

any 

repair 

License TACLB 24777E and Insured 

Expires 2/28/18 

FREE 

Wi-fi thermostat 

w/ equipment purchase 

• Annual 

Maintenance 

Programs 

• All repairs 

guaranteed 

• Serving area 

since 1994 

0% Interest 

financing available 

Expires 2/28/18 WAC 

Expires 2/28/18 

IdealAirServices.com 

Your home is an expensive investment! 

Painting beautifies & preserves that 

investment! 

281-492-2643 

Mike McKay 

"Doing business from the same location since 1978" 

accompanied by an adult during the program. Park in the Memorial 

Drive United Methodist Church parking lot at 12955 Memorial Drive, 

enter the nature sanctuary through the marked gate and proceed on 

the path to the log cabin. Upcoming programs include: 

February 6 th & 7 th : Art in Nature 

February 13 th & 14 th : Animal Valentines 

February 20 th & 21 st : What Do Animals Eat? 

February 27 th & 28 th : Nature Detectives 

March 6 th & 7 th : Gardening for Kids 

March 13 th & 14 th : (no mtg. - Spring Break Camp) 

March 20 th & 21 st : Butterflies & Moths 

March 27 th & 28 th : Animal Babies 

After School Nature Explorers Club 

Nature Explorers Club is designed for school-age children (ages 6-10, 

K-5 th ) who are interested in investigating the natural world. Each month 

we will explore a different ecology topic, focusing on our own native 

plants and animals. We will make a craft to take home, go on a nature 

hike, dip-net for fish and tadpoles in the ponds and get to know the 

plants and animals of the Bayou City! Fee/reservations are required. 

Reserve your child’s spot at www.houstonaudubon.org. For more 

information contact Bethany Foshee, Docent Programs Coordinator, 

bfoshee@houstonaudubon.org or 713-932-1639. Upcoming programs 

include: 

February 15 th : Wildlife Valentines 

March 22 nd : Baby Animals 

OWL PROWLS 

Houston Audubon Docent Guild sponsors 4 owl prowls for the 2017- 

18 season. Owl prowls begin with a lively program on owls including 

an opportunity to meet live, rehabilitated owls followed by a walk in 

the woods in search of wild owls. For more information, to reserve 

and pay online go to www.houstonaudubon.org. Owl Prowl dates are 

February 2, 2018 and March 9, 2018. Owl Prowls start at 7 PM, end at 9 

PM and begin in the log cabin at the Edith L Moore Nature Sanctuary. 

The fee is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 6-17). All prowlers 

must be at least 6 years of age and there must be at least one adult 

present for each two children. Dress for walking in the woods and the 

weather. Please park in the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church 

west parking lot at 12955 Memorial Drive or the Sanctuary’s small lot 

at 440 Wilchester. Pre-registration is required and there is a maximum 

number of participants for each prowl. 

COMMUNITY HEROES 

VOLUNTEER TO BE AN EVERYDAY HERO 

Volunteer firefighting is 

one of the most rewarding 

experiences you’ll ever 

have. Community VFD 

offers free fire training and 

volunteering is a great 

way to make a difference 

personally while having 

a positive impact in your 

community. Volunteers can 

fight fires, drive apparatuses, extract patients from vehicles at 

accident scenes, etc. 

Community VFD also provides emergency medical services (EMS) 

and provides opportunities for individuals with a Texas EMS 

certification to serve their community. 

Visit www.communityvfd.org 

or email Chief Steve Fowler at sfowler@communityvfd.com. 


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 

FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL SNACK FOOD MONTH 

IMPORTANT DATES & HOLIDAYS IN February 2018 

FEBRUARY OBSERVANCES & FUN FACTS 

February is observed as: 

• Black History Month 

• National Children’s Dental Health 

• American Heart Month 

• National Wise Health Consumer 

• Parent Leadership Month 

Discount Fence Company 

“When a good job really matters.” 

Residential and Commercial Fences 

• Wood Privacy Fences 

• Chain Link Fences 

• Fence Repairs 

• Insured and Bonded 

• Free Estimates 

• Tree Trimming (Certified Arborist) 

No Job Too Big 

or Too Small 

Daniel Burgess 

832-378-2337 

Birthstone: Amethyst 

Fruit & Veggies for February: 

• Oranges 

• Star Fruit 

• Calabaza Squash 

• Chayote Squash 

• Bitter Melon 

February Flower: Violet 

Astrological Signs: Aquarius and Pisces 

Holidays: 

2/2: Groundhog Day 

2/13: Mardi Gras 

2/14: Ash Wednesday 

2/14: Valentine’s Day 

2/16: Chinese New Year 

2/19: Presidents’ Day 


Roof Leaking? 

Specialized in Roof Repairs 

Our Family Trade Since 1945 

• Whole Roofs & Roof Repairs 

• Seamless Gutters & Downspouts 

• Wall Flashing 

• Soffit & Fascia 

• Skylights & Chimneys 

• Window Replacement 

• Other Difficult Repairs 

281-391-8257 

www.callenroofing.com 

WE FIX IT RIGHT 

THE FIRST TIME! 

23

School 

News 

KATY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 

WWW.KATYISD.ORG 

IMPORTANT DATES 

February 16 th - 

Early Dismissal for Campus Professional Learning 

February 19 th - 

District Professional Learning Day - Student Holiday 

KATY ISD FRANZ ELEMENTARY 

CELEBRATES NEW SPARK PARK 

Waving “Thank You” signs and singing along to a melodious gratitude 

song, the Franz Elementary (FES) Choir officially dedicated 

their new SPARK Park, which is now available for public use during 

non-school hours and on weekends. 

This park is a collaborative effort between Katy ISD, FES parents, 

students, staff, the PTA, as well as local entities, who together 

contributed to the SPARK grant, which was just under $130,000. 

Fundraising efforts included a $5,000 donation from the PTA and a 

week-long of SPARK fundraising activities at the school, that included 

taping the principal to a wall, crazy hair day and water games that 

included popsicles, of which $2,150 was collected. Other funding 

included $1,000 from the West Harris County MUD #7, $1,000 from 

Raintree Village Homeowner’s Association and the design work was 

paid for by Katy ISD. SPARK contributed $116,000 from The Kinder 

Foundation and Houston Endowment park desert initiative. 

The park includes a concrete trail, sensory play panels, musical instruments 

and four bollards covered with tiles painted by students 

and staff. When visitors walk through the park, they will notice a 

variety of trees, which include Monterrey oaks, Mexican plums and 

anacua trees. In total, 34 trees were donated by Trees for Houston. 

Principal Sylvan shared, “It has been said that ‘A true community is 

not just about being geographically close to someone or a part of 

the same social network.’ It’s about feeling connected and responsible 

for what happens. Humanity is our ultimate community and 

everyone plays a crucial role.” 

“We hope during the break, you will come and enjoy this park,” 

added Ashley Vann, Katy ISD Board of Trustees President. 

SPARK, an organization created in 1983 to increase park and recreational 

spaces in the Greater Houston area, has helped to turn 

underutilized school playgrounds into neighborhood parks at more 

than 200 locations. This is the third SPARK Park at a Katy ISD school. 

CINCO RANCH HIGH 

FOUR KATY-AREA ROBOTICS TEAMS ADVANCE TO FIRST LEGO 

LEAGUE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT 

The Cinco Ranch Junior High gym echoed with the sound of cheering 

as the CRyptonite robotics team from Cinco Ranch High School (CRHS) 

hosted their seventh annual FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition 

of Science and Technology) LEGO® League Katy Qualifier robotics 

tournament. Of the 24 teams competing, four from the Katy-area and 

two others earned a coveted “Golden Ticket” to advance to the FIRST 

LEGO League Texas South Region Championship Tournament, which 

was held January 27, 2018 at the British International School in Katy 

(www.fllhouston.com/previewchamp). 

FIRST LEGO League is an annual international robotics competition 

for students from 4 th to 8 th grade in teams of two to ten members. The 

teams create and program robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology 

to solve as many pre-determined missions as possible in a 2 ½ minute 

time period. They also research a real-world problem and create and 

present a solution to judges, all while demonstrating core values, such 

as having fun, gracious professionalism® and coopertition®. CRyptonite 

is a FIRST Robotics Competition team from Cinco Ranch High School 

that builds more advanced robots to compete in international competitions 

for high school-age students. The team is dedicated to developing 

engineering, problem-solving and teamwork skills. In addition to 

organizing and running the Katy Qualifier, CRyptonite members who 

were previously on FIRST Lego League teams helped coach three of the 

Katy-area teams that are advancing. 

According to Bella Riffle, CRHS senior and fourth year CRyptonite team 

member, who was Student Coordinator for the tournament, “CRyptonite 

is dedicated to developing the next generation of scientists 

and engineers and this tournament helps support that goal.” To this 

end, a Rookie Coach Award was given to Alex Dial for his work with the 

Computerized Coyotes team from Beck Jr. High. Dial, a second-year 

member of CRyptonite, was a on a FIRST LEGO League team at Beck. 

Added Kyna McGill, first year CRyptonite member and announcer for 

the qualifier, who also mentored an advancing team, “FIRST taught me 

many valuable lessons about teamwork, project management and more 

and motivated me to continue in robotics. Several team members are 

using this knowledge to help develop and give back to younger teams.” 


Qualifier Award Recipients 

Teams which won awards in the individual phases of the competition 

and received a Golden Ticket to compete in the FIRST LEGO League Texas 

South Region Championship Tournament in January were: 

• Champions Award - Banshees (Team 31103): Houston (rookie team) 

• Programming - Beck-O-Bytes (Team 15593): Beck Jr. High, Katy 

• Research - Brainiac Maniacs (Team 25108): Girl Scouts of San Jacinto 

County, Katy (Elementary age) 

• Presentation - Symbiotes (Team 30582): Beck Jr. High, Katy 

(rookie team) 

• Innovative Solutions - Cyberwolves (Team 13764): Beck Jr. High, Katy 

• Strategy and Innovation - Computerized Coyotes (Team 34795): 

Beck Jr. High, Katy (rookie team) 

Other awards presented at the tournament were: 

• Teamwork - SLJH1 (Team 21405): Seven Lakes Jr. High, Katy 

• Mechanical Design - Memorial Parkway Eagles Two (Team 27461): 

Memorial Pkwy Jr. High, Katy (rookie team) 

• Inspiration - Sabercats (Team 24061): Smith Middle School, 

Cypress (rookie team) 

• Gracious Professionalism - Bulldog Bots (Team 35602): 

Richmond (rookie team) 

• Robot Score - Brainiac Maniacs (Team 25108): Girl Scouts of 

San Jacinto County, Katy (Elementary age) 

For more information, please visit www.team624.org. 

SEVEN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL 

Water Heaters • Drain Problems 

Faucet Installation & Repair 

Gas Test • Water Leaks & Much More 

35+ Years Experience 

832-890-8449 

TonysPlumbing57@hotmail.com 

Always there for you! 

$30 off 

any Job 

Over $95 

Low Price Guarantee 

Licensed & Insured 

FREE ESTIMATES 

MPL#40815 

VICTORY PAINTING 

& WOOD ROT REPLACEMENT 

PROMPT - RELIABLE - AFFORDABLE - SINCE 1993 

Interior & Exterior Painting • Storm Damage Repair 

Siding Replacement • Custom Woodwork 

Extensive References • Free Estimates 

Will Meet or Beat Competitor’s Prices • Satisfaction Guaranteed 

www.VictoryPaintingTx.com • Victor@VictoryPaintingTx.com 

281-853-4575 

LICENSED 

TACLB021058E 

INSURED 

HEAT 

FREE 1st lb. Freon (R410 only) 

1/2 Priced Condenser Coil Cleaning 

1 Yr. Warranty On Parts Changed 

We Value Your Business 

All Brands Serviced 

Local Neighborhood Company 

Fast Personalized Service 

We Will Heat & Cool Your Castle! 

COOL 

SEVEN LAKES BEST BUDDIES 

Seven Lakes High School Best Buddies hosted their Thanksgiving and 

Holiday parties in November and December. Participants got to enjoy 

snacks, dancing and crafts. The Best Buddies program, in high schools, 

fosters one-to-one friendships between high school students with 

and without IDD. The Best Buddies High Schools program helps break 

through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life. 

For more information, go to www.bestbuddies.org. 


BEST BUDDIES 

MASQUERADE 

GALA AND 

FASHION SHOW 

Reagan Kallina and Alyssa 

Tran represented Seven 

Lakes High School 

Best Buddies at the 

Best Buddies Masquerade 

Gala and Fashion 

show held in downtown 

Houston in November. 

They walked the runway 

wearing fashions provided 

by Elaine Turner. 

The event brought in 

over $230,000 - money 

that will be used to 

help Best Buddies Texas 

expand in local elementary 

schools, middle 

schools and high 

schools in 2018. Best 

Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the 

social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). For more information 

and how to become involved, go to www.bestbuddies.org. 

25

Library 

News 

FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES (FBCL) 

Public Information Office - 281-633-4734 

www.fortbend.lib.tx.us 

FAMILY READING CLUB - THROUGH-MARCH 3 RD 

This six-week program is designed to encourage families to read, 

learn and have fun together. Families participate in the program 

by reading books and completing optional “challenges” that can 

be done at home. All Fort Bend County families are eligible to 

participate. Families who complete the program by reading 36 

books - 6 books per week - are eligible to receive a book bag for 

the family and will have their named entered into a drawing for a 

$50 dining gift card, donated by the Friends of the Library. Each 

branch library will have a drawing for the gift card on March 5 th . A 

single registration is required for each participating family. An adult 

(parent or guardian) is asked to register the family online by going 

to the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) and clicking on the 

“Family Reading Club Sign-Up” image. Families may also register 

at one of the libraries in the Fort Bend County library system. Upon 

registering, families will then have their own online page on which 

to record their books or reading time. There is no charge to join 

the Family Reading Club. The program is sponsored by Fort Bend 

County Libraries and the Friends of the Library organizations that 

support the county library system. 

CINCO RANCH BRANCH LIBRARY (FT. BEND CO. LIB.) 

2620 Commercial Center Blvd., Katy, TX 77494, 281-395-1311, 

Hours Mon. 12 Noon - 9 PM, Tues. 10 AM - 9 PM, Wed. 10 AM - 6 PM, 

Thurs. 10 AM - 9 PM, Fri. 12 Noon - 5 PM, Sat. 10 AM - 5 PM, Sun. Closed. 

To register online for any classes at the library’s website (www. 

fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Calendar,” select “Cinco Ranch Branch 

Library” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling 

the library at 281-395-1311 or by visiting the library. 

SPECIAL EVENTS 

• INCOME-TAX-PREPARATION ASSISTANCE - Mondays, 1-5 PM, 

Meeting Room. Representatives from the AARP will provide free income-tax-preparation 

assistance for low-income taxpayers. Patrons 

should bring the following information to the session if possible: photo 

ID; Social Security card(s) for self, spouse and all dependents; last 

year’s tax return; W-2, 1099s and any other compensation received 

in 2017; unemployment compensation statements and any other 

documents that are necessary to complete your return. This service 

is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Income-tax 

forms are not available at the libraries, but patrons may use 

the libraries’ computers and printers to download and print out the 

forms from the IRS website, www.irs.gov, during regular library hours. 

A library card is needed to use the printers and the cost to print is 10¢ 

per black-and-white page. 

• CHESS DAY @ THE LIBRARY - Saturday, February 3 rd , 10:30 AM-2:30 

PM, Meeting Room. People of all ages and skill levels - from beginners to 

advanced - who are interested in playing chess, are invited to practice 

their strategies while playing against others in a relaxed, stress-free 

environment. Learn a new chess move (or two) during this come-andgo 

activity. Experienced players will be on hand to provide tips and 

assistance. A limited number of chess sets will be provided, but players 

are welcome to bring their own sets as well. 

• HEALTHCARE AND YOUR RETIREMENT - Saturday, February 10 th , 

10:30-11:30 AM, Multi-purpose Room. Leslie Corley, a financial advisor, 

will talk about the steps investors should take to prepare for healthcare 

costs after retirement. Get tips on ways to prepare for Medicare and 

long-term care costs while maintaining a healthy retirement-savings 

account. 

• JOB & CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION - Monday, February 

12 th , 12 noon-1 PM, Computer Lab. This easy-to-use online resource 

can help job-hunters who are searching for a job or a new career. Learn 

how to create professional resumés and cover letters, get detailed 

and current information on a variety of occupations, match personal 

interests and skills with a desired career, improve interviewing skills 

and much more. The database includes detailed information on more 

than 1,000 different occupations and matches interests and skills with 

possible careers. It also provides more than five million up-to-the- 


minute local and national job postings. Reservations required. 

• JOB-SEARCH SURVIVAL WORKSHOP - Monday & Tuesday, February 

12 th and 13 th , 5:30-8:30 PM, Multipurpose Room. This workshop is 

designed to help all job-hunters, from those applicants applying for a 

position at a fast-food restaurant to executives looking for a position in a 

large company. The tips that are presented can help any applicant plan 

a more efficient job hunt and make a more favorable impression. Learn 

how to write a better resumé, research prospective employers, interview 

for a job, improve non-verbal skills, make a great first impression, network 

and much more. Reservations not required. Late arrivals welcome. 

Different topics each night. Refreshments are provided courtesy of the 

Friends of the Cinco Ranch Branch Library. 

• ANCIENT EMPIRES-GREECE - Saturday, February 17 th , 1-3 PM, 

Multi-purpose Room. In this second of three programs on Ancient Empires, 

former architecture professor Sheba Akhtar will talk about the 

roles that topography, mythology and science have played in the history 

and development of Greece. She will talk about the country’s city-states, 

philosophy, drama, art and architecture of the classical period, as well 

as Alexander the Great, the conquest of Asia Minor, Persia and Egypt 

during the Hellenistic period. She will also touch upon Mycenae, the 

Trojan War and Homer. 

• COLLEGE FAIR - Thursday, February 22 nd , 6-7:30 PM, Meeting Room. 

Representatives from colleges and universities will be on hand to share 

information about their programs with current high school students 

and parents or guardians. Learn about educational opportunities available 

at the colleges, as well as admission requirements, financial aid, 

student housing and more. For a list of colleges that will be here, check 

with the library. 

• GREYHOUND PETS OF AMERICA - Saturday, February 24 th , 10-11 AM, 

Meeting Room. Jessica Ford from Greyhound Pets of America/Houston 

will discuss the history of greyhounds. She will also talk about their care, 

their suitability as pets and the adoption process. Learn more about this 

breed of dog, their needs, energy levels and personalities. 

• ADULT COMPUTER CLASSES: All computer classes will take place in 

the Computer Lab. Reservations are required. 

MS Word Survival Basics: Tuesday, February 6 th , 10 AM 

MS Word: Intermediate: Tuesday, February 13 th , 10 AM 

MS Excel Survival Basics: Thursday, February 15 th , 10 AM 

MS Excel: Charts: Thursday, February 22 nd , 10 AM 

Introduction to Facebook: Monday, February 26 th , 12 Noon 

MS PowerPoint Survival Basics: Wednesday, February 28 th , 10 AM 

Open Computers Lab Q&A: Friday, February 16 th , 12 Noon, Learning 

Lab. (reservations not required) 

EVENTS 

• LITERARY LUNCH LEAGUE BOOK CLUB - Wednesday, February 7 th , 

12 Noon, Conference Classroom. The book to be discussed is News of 

the World, written by Paulette Jiles. Those attending are invited to bring 

a lunch, if desired. 

• CINCO RANCH NIGHT READERS - Thursday, February 15 th , beginning 

at 7 PM, in Conference Room. The book to be discussed is At the Water’s 

Edge, written by Sara Gruen. 

• BRIDGE NIGHT @ CINCO RANCH - Tuesdays, February 6 th and 20 th , 6-8 

PM, Multi-purpose Room. Bridge players of all ages and skill levels - from 

beginners to advanced - are invited to practice their strategies and share 

tips while playing against others in a relaxed, stress-free environment. On 

the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesdays of every month, the library will provide a fun, 

relaxed setting where Bridge players can gather to sharpen their skills and 

share their love of this popular card game with others. 

“We work as unto 

the Lord” 

RESIDENTIAL & 

COMMERCIAL 

Geyer roofinG 

Specializing in 

Re-Roofing 

Ron Geyer 

713-462-3898 

REMODELING 

• Kitchens • Bathrooms • Windows / Doors • Floors • Hardi Siding 

• Rooms Additions • Complete Renovations • Patio Covers 

Rob Geyer 

281-477-3456 

• ESL CONVERSATION CIRCLES - Fridays, February 9 th and 23 rd , 1-2 PM; 

Multipurpose Room. Fort Bend County Libraries presents a program for 

individuals of all nationalities who would like a place to practice their 

English language and conversation skills. The “Conversation Circles” 

provide an opportunity for non-English-speaking people to gather in a 

relaxed setting and discuss topics of their own choosing while practicing 

their English skills. 

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS teens grades 9-12 

• YA: VALENTINE CARDS - Wednesday, February 7 th , 4-5 PM, Conference 


27

NOW OPEN! 

PennyWise Resale Store 

323 S. Mason Rd., Katy, TX 77450 

To access Women’s Center Services call 281-342-HELP(4357) 

Classroom. Teens in grades 9-12 will create custom Valentine’s Day 

cards for friends and family. 

• FREE SAT PRACTICE-TEST SESSION - Saturday, February 10 th , 10:30 

AM-3:30 PM, Meeting Room. A representative from Princeton Review will 

administer a practice test to college-bound students in grades 9 through 

12. This practice test will prepare students for the actual SAT test. The 

scores on this practice test will only be shared with the student; they will 

not be sent to any educational institutions. Bring two #2 pencils and a 

non-graphing calculator if available. Registration is required. 

• YOUNG ADULT BOOK CLUB - Wednesday, February 14 th , 4-5 PM, 

Conference Classroom. Teen readers will have the opportunity to 

meet with others who share the same love for great books and have a 

lively discussion on the reasons a book or its characters were liked or 

disliked. Those attending are invited to talk about Every Day, written 

by David Levithan. 

• YOUNG ADULT ADVISORY COUNCIL - Wednesday, February 28 th , 4-5 

PM, Conference Classroom. At this monthly meeting, teens in grades 

9-12 are invited to express ideas organize upcoming activities and 

suggest new programs and books that would be of interest to young 

adults at the library. Earn volunteer/service hours and meet new friends 

while helping to shape the future of library services for teens! 

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS 

(The library is unable to accommodate daycares and school groups 

at these activities.) 

• Mother Goose Time: Tuesdays at 10:15 AM, provides caregiver/infant 

activities and songs especially designed for the youngest book-lovers, 

from age 1 month to 12 months. 

• Stories & Play: Tuesdays at 2 PM, for children from 1 to 3 years of 

age. Children will be treated to a story and then have open play time. 

• Toddler Time: Wednesdays at 10:15 AM and Thursdays at 10:15 AM 

and 11:30 AM - offers caregiver/child activities, stories and songs for 

older babies, from 12 to 36 months of age. 

• Story Time: Wednesdays at 11:30 AM. Age 3-6, where they hear stories, 

watch movies and participate in age-appropriate craft activities. 

• Pajama Night Story Time: Tuesdays at 7 PM - gives families an evening 

option for the activities presented during the daytime. 

• Family Story Time: 1 st Saturday of the month at 10:15 AM. All ages 

welcome. 

• Kinder Korner: 2 nd and 4 th Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM. 

A time for kindergartners to enjoy stories, movies, crafts and other 

activities. 

• After-School Breaks: 1 st and 3 rd Wednesdays at 4:30 PM. Crafts, 

movies and stories for school-aged children in grades 1 through 3. 

• Creative Connections: 4 th Saturdays at 2:30 PM. Activities for children 

in grades 4 through 8. 

• Minecraft Monday: February 26 th , 4:30 PM. Minecraft challenge for 

students in grades 4 through 8. Reservations required. 

All programs are free and open to the public. For more information, 

call the Cinco Ranch Branch Library at 281-395-1311 or the library’s 

Public Information Office at 281-633-4734. 

KATY BRANCH LIBRARY 

5414 Franz Road, Katy, TX 77493, 281-391-3509 

Hours of Operation: Monday & Tuesday 10 AM - 7 PM, Wednesday 1 

PM - 8 PM, Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM, Friday 1 PM - 6 PM, Saturday 10 


AM - 5 PM, Sunday CLOSED. Join online at www.hcpl.net or come 

by in person and we’ll help you sign up! 

MONTHLY PROGRAMS 

• Hispanic Book Group/Club Hispano de Libros - First Wednesday 

of each month, 6 PM. Every month, a group of Spanish speaking 

adults get together to discuss a chosen book. Les invitamos a que 

todos los meses se reuna con nosotros para conversar sobre un 

libro. Lláme para más información. 

• Superacion Personal - Second Wednesday of every month, 6 PM. 

The Katy Branch Library hosts motivational discussions in Spanish. 

• Spanish Computer Class/Clase de la computadora - Every Friday, 

4:30 PM. Basic computer classes taught in Spanish. 

• Adult Computer Classes - The Katy Library offers an array of computer 

classes in English - please call for more information. 

• Mango ESL Class - Every Friday, 3:30 PM. Learn English with a group 

going through Mango Languages, an online computer program. 

• Gardening Club - Every month on the 2nd Thursday, 11 AM. Join 

other gardeners in the area to learn new ways to grow. Bring your 

leftover seeds and exchange them for new seeds to try. 

WEEKLY PROGRAMS 

• Genealogy SQUAD - Every Monday, 2 PM. Bring your lunch and join us 

for an informal genealogy get-together. We’ll have computers, Ancestry. 

com and other genealogists to help each other with our searches. 

• Knotty & Nice Club - Every Wednesday, 1 PM. The Knotty & Nice 

Club is the place for you if you want to learn new needlework techniques, 

teach someone else or just hang out with other crafters. 

Come & join the club! 

CHILDREN 

Mondays, 10:15 AM - Baby Bounce 

Tuesdays, 10:15 AM and 11 AM - Toddler Time 

Thursdays, 10:15 AM and 11 AM - Preschool Storytime 


L-R, front row: Alyssa Reyher, Hailey Pausky, Karin Iligan and Paige 

Henrick. Back row: Bella Adams, Lauren Rothe, Dana Sheehan, Laci 

Gratkowski, Mayowa Olibale, Bridget Thompson and Coach Jerrick 

Cabrales. 

FO1 VOLLEYBALL 

Coming off the heels of their victory at the AAU National Championships 

in Orlando last season, FO1 Volleyball’s 15 Black Team came away with 

another victory at the FAST Warm Up Tournament here in Houston. This 

was the first tournament of the year and our local girls came away with 

seven straight victories to finish in first place. 

29

The Memory Tree 

Where your memories are preserved for years to come 

• Photos 

• Slides 

• Negatives Digitized 

• Old Photos Restored 

• Photo Books Created 

Mom! 

832-220-8034 

dglenn@photomemorytree.com 

http://www.photomemorytree.com 

Call Dianne 

Memory 

books 

for 

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR NATIONAL SYMBOL? 

Against Benjamin Franklin’s wishes, the Bald Eagle became our 

national symbol in 1782 and by 1970, they were nearly extinct. 

There are several reasons for this. It was legal to hunt eagles for 

sport and the long-held belief that eagles picked up lambs and 

children with their talons was another reason to kill the birds. Since 

the diet of the eagle is mostly fish, eagles were killed to protect 

fishing grounds. The use of pesticides proved disastrous to the 

survival of the eagles. The chemicals collected in the fish that were 

eaten by the birds. These chemicals severely limited their ability to 

reproduce and when they did produce, the egg shells were very thin 

and weak. The chemical DDT was restricted in 1972. When restrictions 

were put in place and DDT was banned, the eagle population 

began to rebound. It was removed from the US government’s list 

of endangered species in 1995 and went from being classified as 

endangered to threatened. In 2007 it was de-listed and has been 

assigned a risk level of “Least Concern.” 

Bald eagles mate for life but recent research suggests there may 

be an occasional “divorce” and if a mate dies, an eagle will “remarry.” 

They work together to construct the largest nest of any North 

American bird which they return to every year. The work to build 

the nest is what actually “cements” their bond. Typically the nests 

are 5 to 6 feet in diameter and 2 to 4 feet wide and since they tend 

to use the same nest every year, the nest can continue to get a little 

bigger every year. They prefer to nest in old growth at least 65 feet 

high, near open water and away from human habitation but have 

been seen in populated areas. 

Because the Bald Eagle is our national symbol, it has been given 

protection by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The Act 

prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the 

Interior, from “taking” bald eagles. Taking is described to include 

their parts, nests or eggs, molesting or disturbing the birds. The 

Act provides criminal penalties for persons who “take, possess, 

sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, 

export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or 

any golden eagle], alive or dead or any part, nest or egg thereof.” 

In the winter of 1999, a pair of Bald Eagles decided to make The 

Woodlands their home. Normally staying away from populated 

areas, these eagles didn’t seem to mind the noise and traffic in the 

area. The eagles have returned every year and have fledged 22 eaglets. 

The Woodlands Development Company in cooperation with 

the US Fish and Wildlife Service developed a habitat conservation 

plan protecting their nesting area from development. 

FAST FACTS 

• The only difference in appearance between the male and the 

female is that she is bigger. Eagles have an average wingspan of 

6 to 8 feet. 

By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center 

• Bald Eagles can live up to 35 years of age. Of course, there are 

older Bald Eagles on record. 

• During courtship, eagles will soar into the air, chase each other, fly 

upside down, lock talons and take death-defying spirals back to the 

ground. This is done with both potential mates and competitors. 

Timing is everything! Poor timing can result in death for both birds. 

• They lay 1 to 3 eggs and incubation takes about 35 days. The eggs 

hatch a few days apart in the order they were laid. It can take 12-48 

hours for them to hatch. 

• It’s not uncommon for the first-born to kill the smaller one. Parents 

do not intervene. 

• 40% of young eagles don’t survive their first flight. 

• They reach full adult size at 2 months. Eaglets fledge at about 3 

months but it takes 4 to 5 years to become an adult. This is when 

they get their distinctive white plumage. 

• The site of their first flight is where they will return to nest and 

raise their young. 

• Once fledged, the young ones will remain around the nest for up 

to 9 weeks learning to fly and hunt. The parents will continue to 

feed them. 

• Bald Eagles have 7,000 feathers. 

TWRC Wildlife Center is a 35-year-old 501(C)(3) organization that 

rehabilitates injured orphaned and displaced wildlife. Admissions 

average 6,000 animals/year. If you have wildlife questions or would 

like to explore how you can help, go to www.twrcwildlifecenter.org 

or call 713-468-8972. 


PET INFORMATION 

ATTENTION! PET POOPS / YOU SCOOP 

Please be respectful of community grounds and neighbors’ yards. If 

your pet poops during your walk, be prepared to scoop and trash. 

Come with a scooper and a recycled grocery bag or anything else. It 

may not be the most fabulous way to walk your pet, but it does show 

your respect for every homeowner and our beautiful community. 

Tompkins Fine Arts Department 

presents 

PLEASE NOTE - PETS ON LEASHES 

It is the law in Fort Bend County that all pets must be vaccinated 

for rabies, registered and restrained. All animals, when outside of 

an owner’s means of restraint (i.e., in a fenced back yard), must be 

on a leash. For the safety of all residents, please use all precautions 

with your pets and keep them on leashes when walking pets in the 

community EVEN IF YOU FEEL YOUR PET IS HARMLESS. If you see 

ANY animal roaming freely in the neighborhood, immediately call 

Animal Control at 281-342-1512. Even if you recognize the animal, 

be very careful approaching it, as you do not know how it will react; 

if you can safely retrieve the animal, then call the owner. Otherwise, 

Animal Control is your best and safest option. 

FORT BEND COUNTY “LEASH LAW” 

Animal control authorities are permitted to enter your Property to 

patrol and remove pets. Pets must be registered, licensed and inoculated 

as required by law. 

As a dog owner, you are responsible for the control of your dog. If 

your dog is one that ‘makes objectionable noise,’ you must make 

every effort to respect your Neighbor’s right to their ‘peace and quiet.’ 

When your dog is not in your yard, it is imperative that you keep your 

dog on a leash at all times. While your dog is friendly to you and your 

family, imagine the consequences if it were to harm someone while 

it was ‘roaming free.’ 

Please respect other resident’s right to walk the common area ground 

without fear of attack from an unleashed dog. 

Laws are written to ensure that owned animals are confined to their 

property or kept on a leash to free a community of unrestrained and 

free-roaming animals. Although most dog bites occur on the property 

where the dog lives, unrestrained or free-roaming dogs do pose a 

substantial threat to the public. In addition, unrestrained animals are 

at increased risk of being bitten by rabies infected wildlife. Enforcement 

of restraint laws is essential in enhancing the animal control 

program’s efforts to reduce the risk of rabies in our community. 

LICENSING OF DOGS AND CATS 

The primary benefit of licensing animals is identification, 

should that animal become lost. Licensing also: 

• Ensures that rabies vaccination are current. 

• Allows for quick identification in case of a bite incident. 

• Provides revenue to offset the administration costs of the 

animal control program. 

VACCINATION 

Rabies vaccinations are a prerequisite for licensing dogs and cats 

because they are an important control measure for the public health 

threat of rabies. In addition to protecting pets, rabies vaccinations 

provide a barrier between infected wild animals and humans. 


Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical 

is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure. “Once upon a time, there was 

a little ogre named Shrek....” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero 

who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey 

and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered 

bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, 

and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one 

on hand... and his name is Shrek. 

Irreverently fun for the whole family, on the stage of Tompkins High School 

Performing Arts Center, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre! 

February 1-2 @ 7PM February 3 @ 2PM & 7PM 

Students-$12 / Adults - $15 

Reserved Seating tickets go on sale January 15th at www.TompkinsTheatre.com 

General Admission Seating tickets sold in the PAC Jan 29th – Feb 2nd, 11am-1pm 

& at the door prior to each performance. 

Tompkins High School Performing Arts Center 

4400 Falcon Landing Blvd. Katy, TX 77494 

Assistance: tompkinsboxoffice@gmail.com 

YDR SERVICES 

Owner Operated 

LAWN & LANDSCAPE 

• LAWN AERATION 

• LAWN DETHATCHING 

• LAWN MAINTENANCE 

• LANDSCAPE DESIGN 

• YARD CLEAN-UPS 

• BED MULCHING 

• SPRINKLERS INSTALLED 

LI#8966 

• PONDS/PATIOS 

Pool Cleaning 

Maidservice/House Cleaning 

Service 

starting at 

$ 

22. 99 

Free 

Estimates! 

“I Will Meet Or 

Beat Any Written 

Estimate!!!” 

GRASS 

$179 

Per Pallet Installed 

281-788-2047 

31

Forever Landscape 

• Tree Trimming 

• Tree Removal 

• Tree Fertilizer 

• Stump Grinding 

• Trim Bushes 

• Flower Bed Design 

• Planting, Renovation 

• Stone Border 

• Pavers 

Call Everth 

281-891-0370 

Visit us at 

• Flat Stones 

• Drain System 

• Garden Soil, Top Soil 

• Grass Installation 

• Lawn Aeration 

• Lawn Dethatcher 

• Mulch 

• Clean Gutters 

• Wood Fence 

Free 

Estimates 

www.foreverlandscape.com 

Fully insured for your protection. 

Amelia Norabuena 

MAID SERVICES 

281-912-5036 

Office: 281/646-1136 • Mobile: 281/797-1600 • e-mail: bob@bobmiles.com 

Selling Your Home Is a VISUAL Thing 

Over 90% of all home buyers use the internet to search for a home 

Let me put you MILES ahead of the competition 

• Visual Tours linked to popular web-sites 

• Maximum quality photos linked to web-sites 

Show off your home with on-line photo marketing! 

www.BobMiles.com 

©2012 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. 

Better Homes and Gardens, the Better Homes and Garden Real Estate logo are registered service marks owned by Meredith Corporation and licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. 

Floors Mecca 

Your Neighborhood Flooring Store 

Work Truly Personalized 

Specials on Wood, Carpet, Tile, Countertops, 

Fireplaces & Full Bathroom Upgrades 

9006 South Fry Road • Katy, TX 77494 

832-913-6327 

www.FloorsMecca.com 

$ 

200 

OFF 

Purchase 

over $2,500 

With this ad. 

Not applicable 

with other specials.

Grayson Lakes February 2018

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?