August 2010

Everything you need is just minutes away in The Woodlands. From a morning workout at the YMCA to a romantic dinner on The Woodlands Waterway®, you’ll never run out of fun things to do in Texas’ most celebrated community.

Discover Jagged Ridge in The Woodlands’ newest village, Creekside Park. This beautiful new neighborhood features home designs by Chesmar, Gracepoint and Lennar priced from the $190’s –$260’s. Coming soon is Jagged Ridge Park, planned to include a pavilion, playground, picnic area and open play area. Nearby is Tupelo Park, 72-acre Lake Paloma, Rob Fleming Park & Aquatic Center and the new Creekside Forest K-6 school. Find out why more than 980 families are experiencing life’s next great adventure in Creekside Park. Priced from $199,990, the Sam Houston by Lennar

The Woodlands Homefinder Center.

Tupelo Park

6 The Woodlands Township salutes the montgomery County sheriff’s office

7 Law Enforcement Advisory Council

8 National Night Out

0 The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meetings in August

2 it’s hurricane season

4 Pool Schedule

5 WoodlandsAlert

20 get Plant smart: learn to Recognize Poison ivy

22 Pink Tags Required for Excess Household Trash

24 let’s Talk about Water: a message from The Woodlands Joint Powers agency and The Woodlands muds

26 The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau

28 The Woodlands Township Opens Tupelo Park

on the Cover

Tupelo Park opened earlier this summer in the Village of Creekside Park and features a canoe and kayak launch, in addition to a lovely large picnic pavilion and multiple other features. Please see the article on page 28 for more information about Tupelo Park. Cover photo by Mary Connell.

29 Raising Your Own Fall Salads and Other Vegetable Secrets

30 Making a Difference: Green Student Ambassadors

3 Riva Row Boat House Monthly

3 Message from the Chairman

6 Calendar of Events

8 The Woodlands Village News

www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

The Woodlands ToWnship

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive the Woodlands, texas 77380

Main Line

All Offices and Departments 281-210-3800

Board Chambers

10001 Woodloch Forest Drive, suite 600, the Woodlands, texas 77380 281-210-3800

service Center

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive, the Woodlands, texas 77380 281-210-3800

law enforcement and neighborhood services annex 2202 timberloch Place, suite 222, the Woodlands, texas 77380 281-210-3800

The Woodlands Fire department (non-emergency)

9951 grogan’s Mill Road the Woodlands, texas 77380 281-367-3444

Parks, Recreation and environmental services 8203 Millennium Forest, the Woodlands, texas 77381 281-210-3900

Recreation Center

5310 Research Forest Drive, the Woodlands, texas 77381 281-210-3950

Convention & Visitors Bureau

10001 Woodloch Forest Drive, suite 600, the Woodlands, texas 77380 281-363-2447

oTher service providers

The Woodlands Joint Powers agency (Water) 281-367-1267

montgomery County sheriff’s office 281-297-6500 • 936-442-7797

harris County sheriff’s office 713-221-6000

montgomery County Constable, Precinct 3 281-364-4211

harris County Constable, Precinct 4 281-376-3472

emergency 9

August is a busy month for The Woodlands Township. School starts back up this month, we keep an eye on the tropics for any potential storms, and The Woodlands Township Board adopts its 2011 budget and sets the tax rate.

The Township’s highest priority is public safety, and as such, public safety will play a major role in the budget discussions. This month’s magazine features an article about the success of the Township’s partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office—did you know that 86 percent of the bank robberies that occurred in our area last year have been solved? That’s a pretty impressive rate. The Township takes pride in the continued safety of our community and the professionalism of our law enforcement. If you want to find out more about law enforcement in The Woodlands in a personal way, mark your calendar for Saturday, October 2, 2010, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Northshore Park. Members of law enforcement and safety agencies such as the FBI, Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, The Woodlands Fire Department, Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol, Harris County Constable Precinct 4, Montgomery County Fire Marshal and more will be on hand with vehicles and demonstrations. The event is free.

The Township recently changed its structure from 11 board members to seven, and also changed its meeting schedule to include daytime and evening meetings. This month, the budgeting process will necessitate a few additional meetings, so be sure to check our Web site for updates if you plan to attend any of the sessions.

Please stay informed, stay prepared, and read our magazine for information on activities and events in The Woodlands Township. More information is always available with just a click or a phone call. You may reach The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3800 during business hours, or at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov at any time.

Board of d irectors

Woodlands

The Official Magazine of The Woodlands Township

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

Cham P ions sTa FF

President, Publisher James E. Callahan, Jr. account executives

Connie Krell

Charlotte Blanco

Cheryl Kirsch

Creative director Lori short graphic designers

Jami Davis

Charlene strine

T o W nshi P sTa FF director of Community Relations Nick Wolda editor Mary Connell

Copy editors Elena smith

Laura garvey editorial assistant terri Jefferies

advertising inquiries, rate requests and change of address/delivery inquiries may be directed to:

PRINTING & PUBLISHING

6608 fM 1960 W., suite G houston, texas 77069 281-583-7661

www.championsprinting.com

editorial inquiries may be directed to The Woodlands Community Magazine, P.O. Box 7859, the Woodlands, tX, 77387-7859, telephone 281-210-3800. Editorial deadlines are the 15th of every month, approximately six weeks in advance of publication. the editors reserve all rights to accept or reject any submissions and reserve all rights to edit for clarity and space. The Woodlands Community Magazine is the official information source of the Woodlands township. Its purpose is to inform Woodlands residents about the activities of the community and the services provided to them as Woodlands residents

The Woodlands Community Magazine is a past recipient of The Communicator Award of Distinction and the Bronze Quill Award of Merit from the Houston Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

Printed on

the woodlands township

salutes the

montgomery county

sheriff’s office

TheWoodlands Township Board of Directors recently recognized the outstanding efforts of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in solving 13 of the 15 bank robberies that occurred in the county in 2009, with some taking place in The Woodlands.

“We are fortunate to have the outstanding Sheriff’s Office consisting of deputies, detectives and investigators diligently working to resolve and close so many of these crimes,” said The Woodlands Township Chairman of the Board Bruce Tough. “The Woodlands Township, our residents and our businesses thank you for your exemplary work and dedication to our policing partnership to keep our community safe.”

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Major Crime Unit has worked 15 bank robberies since January 2009 and now counts 13 of the 15 robberies as solved. All of the identified suspects in these robberies have been arrested, indicted and have either pled guilty to the charges or are awaiting trial.

“These types of cases take months of detailed work by the detectives and crime scene investigators on top of their ever-growing case load,” said Sheriff Tommy Gage.

According to Lt. Bill Bucks with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and F.B.I. statistics, there were 5,943 bank robberies in the United States last year with a clearance rate of about 50 percent. The Major Crimes Unit for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has solved 86 percent of the listed bank robberies since the unit began in 2008.

For information on these cases and more, please visit The Woodlands Township’s Web site, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, click Public Safety, then Law Enforcement Advisories.

The Woodlands Township spends $7.5 million a year in its enhanced public safety partnership with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The 2010 budget of The Woodlands Township is funding 77 of 82 contract personnel that serve

The Woodlands in District #6 via the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). This year, a new district (#6) was created within Montgomery County to serve The Woodlands. It is staffed by a new dedicated Captain, Andrew Eason. Of these 82 authorized positions, 78 are currently filled and the MCSO is in the recruitment process for the remaining four (4) individuals.

Law Enforcement Advisory Council

TheWoodlands Township’s mission statement includes protecting the well-being and safety of our residents, visitors and businesses. This includes developing and implementing options that improve safety and that educate residents on the role they can play in making their community safer.

In this effort, the Township formed a Law Enforcement Advisory Council, consisting of appointed members who are representatives of, or active in, their businesses or villages.

In general, the council includes one representative from each of The Woodlands villages plus a business representative, a Township board member and a representative from The Woodlands Development Company, and is chaired by the

Township’s Director of Law Enforcement or designee. The group meets periodically to provide input and feedback to Township staff on current and proposed initiatives related to law enforcement. The group does not direct staff or develop policies or procedures. All policy authority is reserved to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors.

Along with Neighborhood Watch meetings, Watch Talk Wednesday presentations, WoodlandsAlert and other programs, the Law Enforcement Advisory Council is part of The Woodlands Township’s Community Policing Program, which improves safety through a philosophy of community policing and building communication between residents and law enforcement.

The Woodlands Township encourages residents to call whenever suspicious activity is observed in neighborhoods. “It is the observation, vigilance and communication of our residents that plays a major role in our community policing partnership that allows us to apprehend the offenders,” Captain Eason said.

If you witness any criminal activity, it is important to call 9-1-1 immediately. If you see activity that is suspicious in nature, but you do not believe it is an emergency, call 936-442-7797 for Montgomery County and 281-376-3472 for activity in Harris County.

For more information on The Woodlands Township, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

NaTiONal NighT OuT

2010

america’s Night out against Crime

Natio N al Night o ut Community-Wide KiCKoff

Saturday, October 2, 2010 Northshore Park • 1 - 5 p.m.

a day of food, fun and public safety demonstrations for the entire community! Free parking available at hewitt associates, 2601 Research Forest Drive.

Natio N al Night o ut neighborhood Parties

Tuesday, October 5, 2010 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Register for a chance to have law enforcement personnel or the Woodlands Fire Department visit your party. Contact your Village liaison at 281-210-3800 or neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

t he Woodlands t o W nship Board of directors meetings in august

Budget Workshop #5

(Only if needed)

monday, august 2, 200

8:30 a.m.

township Board chambers

10001 Woodloch forest drive, suite 600 the Woodlands, texas 77380

Public hearing #

Thursday, august 2, 200

6 p.m.

township service center

2201 Lake Woodlands drive the Woodlands, texas 77380

Public hearing #2

Tuesday, august 7, 200

6 p.m.

township service center

2201 Lake Woodlands drive the Woodlands, texas 77380

Board Workshop

Thursday, august 9, 200

9 a.m.

township Board chambers

10001 Woodloch forest drive, suite 600 the Woodlands, texas 77380

Board meeting

Wednesday, august 25, 200

6 p.m.

township service center

2201 Lake Woodlands drive the Woodlands, texas 77380

special Board meeting

(adopt 2011 budget and 2010 property tax rate)

Tuesday, august 3, 200

9 a.m.

township Board chambers

10001 Woodloch forest drive, suite 600 the Woodlands, texas 77380

Please note, additional meetings and public hearings may be scheduled.

Please check www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov for the latest information.

FriDAY, AUG. 20

Houston Ballet

Three F or T he AGes

8 p.m., Gates open at 7 p.m.

“Fancy Free” (1944) Music by Leonard Bernstein, Choreography by Jerome Robbins

“Apollo” (1928) Music by Igor Stravinsky, Choreography by George Balanchine

“Falling” (2005) Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Choreography by Stanton Welch

$15 orchestra seating

F ree mezzanine and lawn seating sponsored by Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, George P. Mitchell and The Wortham Foundation

ThUrs DAY, s ep T. 2

Houston Symphony

BroADwAY shows T oppers

8 p.m., Gates open at 7 p.m.

Michael Krajewski, conductor Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston

$15 orchestra seating

F ree mezzanine and lawn seating sponsored by The Wortham Foundation

Love it!

it’s huRRiCane season

now is the time...

Have you prepared what you and your family should do if disaster strikes our area?

The Board of Directors of The Woodlands Township urges all residents of The Woodlands to be prepared during this hurricane season.

Hurricane season lasts until November. Make sure that you and your family are prepared if disaster strikes our area.

A great source of information is the Homeland Security Web site located at www.ready.gov. This Web site has all kinds of information about different types of emergencies, such as tornadoes, lightning, flash floods, biological threats and nuclear blasts.

Tips To stay informed

• For emergency information specific to The Woodlands, listen to K-Star Country, KVST 99.7 FM, official

emergency broadcast partner of The Woodlands Township.

– Fully-redundant power

– Locally owned and operated – North Houston and Conroe coverage area

– Local news, weather and traffic Listen live daily at 99.7 FM or online at kstarcountry.com.

• Visit The Woodlands Township Web site www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

• Sign up for WoodlandsAlert at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov and click WoodlandsAlert Signup. Be sure to select your preferences,

which you may update at any time. Prior to an emergency, you may want to add your cell phone number or change your information so that you can receive messages when you are out of your usual routine.

• Sign up for advance weather warnings for our area by visiting www.mc911.org and clicking CodeRED.

• Sign up for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class. Contact Rachel Mitchell at The Woodlands Fire Department for more information at 281-367-3444.

• Call The Woodlands Township to schedule a Get Ready – The Woodlands presentation. This presentation includes the basic steps to get prepared for an emergency as outlined by the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security. Join The Woodlands Watch and schedule your neighborhood presentation today by calling 281-210-3800.

• Watch television newscasts.

In the event ALL communication efforts fail, The Woodlands fire stations will have the latest information available for residents.

Central Station – 9951 Grogan’s Mill Road

Station 2 – 9303 Gosling Road

Station 3 – 1522 Sawdust Road

Station 4 – 7900 Bay Branch Drive

Station 5 – 10100 Branch Crossing Drive

Station 6 – 1100 Windsor Lakes Boulevard

emergency supply Kits

Assembling a basic emergency supply kit will put everything you need to get by in one place. Recommended supplies to include are:

• One gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both.

• Flashlight and extra batteries.

• First aid kit.

• Whistle to signal for help.

• Filter mask or cotton T-shirt to help filter the air.

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

• Manual can opener and utensils if kit contains canned food.

• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place.

• Important family documents.

• Items for unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers.

• Emergency phone numbers.

www.metroministorage.net

2010 P OOL sEA s ON One pass...13 pOOls

P OOL sCHED u LE

Regular Pool Season

Continues through August 22, 2010.

P OOL s

Alden Bridge Pool

7725 Alden Bridge Dr. closed Mondays

Bear Branch Pool

5200 Research Forest Dr. closed Wednesdays

Cranebrook Pool

11800 Cranebrook Dr ............closed Thursdays

Creekwood Pool‡

2282 S. Panther Creek Dr closed Thursdays

Falconwing Pool

5160 Rush Haven Dr closed Wednesdays

Forestgate Pool‡

7505 S. Forestgate Dr. ............. closed Mondays

Harper’s Landing Pool

2 Blair Bridge Dr closed Thursdays

Lakeside Pool‡

5001 W. Alden Bridge Dr. closed Fridays

Ridgewood Pool

4192 Interfaith Way ..................closed Tuesdays

Rob Fleming Aquatic Center

6535 Creekside Forest Dr. closed Mondays

Sawmill Pool

2200 Millpark Dr closed Tuesdays

Shadowbend Pool‡

4192 Lake Woodlands Dr................. closed Fridays

Windvale Pool

7600 Windvale Cir closed Tuesdays

HO u R s

Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

‡ Monday through Saturday noon to 6 p.m.

Sunday 1 to 6 p.m

D AILy A DMI ss ION

Daily Pass (except Rob Fleming) $6

Daily Pass for Rob Fleming

48 inches and taller $10

Under 48 inches tall $8

Pu NCH C ARD s

Resident Punch Card, all pools (six visits) ............................... $30

Non-Resident Rob Fleming Punch Card (six visits) $50

DIV E - IN MOVIE

august 7, 200

Rob Fleming Aquatic Center Planet 51

• Pools open at 8 p.m.; movies begin at 8:30 p.m.

• $5 per person; children two and under are free

• Concessions available

PRIVAt E POOL PAR ty

sEA s ON P OOL PA ss E s

Resident Season Pass

0 to 2 years ....................................... $6

3 years and up $40

Senior (55 and up) .......................... $10

Additional family pass (over 4) $8

Non-Resident Season Pass

0 to 2 years $20

3 years and up $100

No additional family discount, no senior discount. It’s easy to purchase a season pass! Go to www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or visit The Woodlands Township Recreation Center at 5310 Research Forest Drive, 281-210-3950.

Rent a pool for a birthday party, neighborhood gathering, family reunion, sports team celebration or any social event. Lifeguards are provided.

Prices reflect pool rental attendance of up to 150 people in the facility. There will be an additional charge of $1 per person over 150. Pools are not available for rental on July 4. All pools are ADA compliant. Please call 281-210-3900 for details.

P O st- sEA s ON P OOL sCHED u LE Begins monday, august 23

Post-season Weekday use

Pools: Bear Branch Pool

Dates: August 23 - September 3

Hours: Monday - Friday: 1 to 6 p.m., Closed Wednesdays

Post-season Weekend use

Pools: Bear Branch Pool, Cranebrook Pool, Falconwing Pool, Harper’s Landing Pool, Creekwood Pool, Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, Sawmill Pool, Alden Bridge Pool

Weekend Dates: August 28 - 29, September 4 - 6, September 11 - 12, September 18 - 19, September 25 - 26

Hours: Saturday: noon to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 to 6 p.m., Labor Day Monday: noon to 6 p.m.

WoodlandsAlert

began serving The Woodlands on June 1, 2008. More than 9,200 residents now subscribe to WoodlandsAlert, and the number is growing every day. Based on feedback from residents, The Woodlands Township recently added law enforcement updates on significant investigations as well as community crime reports and community-wide events.

Signing up for WoodlandsAlert is easy. Visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov and click WoodlandsAlert on the left side of the home page. Once you register on the WoodlandsAlert site, click Edit My Alerts, and you can select the types of alerts you want to receive. You can also choose how you want to receive information. Although e-mail is the fastest way to relay WoodlandsAlert messages, residents without e-mail service can receive messages via telephone by calling The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3800.

When you receive a message from WoodlandsAlert, you immediately know what type of message it is by the logo that precedes it. Law enforcement and emergency-related alerts have the familiar blue and red WoodlandsAlert logo, while informational alerts have a new logo with the wording “Official Community Information from The Woodlands Township.”

WoodlandsAlert only provides residents with information about significant events. As a result, you are not inundated with e-mails or phone calls. In addition, The Woodlands Township keeps the e-mail addresses and phone numbers you provide confidential, and they are not disclosed to any other organizations.

TAkE ThE TIME TO sIGN Up fOr WOOdlANdsAlErT TOdAY!

August

monday, august 2

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Budget Workshop #5 10001 Woodloch Forest Drive, suite 600 8:30 a.m. 281-281-3800

Tuesday, august 3

Creekside Park Village Association Meeting

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive 7 p.m.

281-210-3889

Healthcare Provider CPR Class

Emergency training Center 6:30 to 10 p.m. to register, please call 281-210-5823.

Wednesday, august 4

Development Standards Committee Meeting*

Thursday, august 5

Residential Design Review Committee Meetings*

Lone Star College-University Center at Montgomery-Advising & Registration Fair 3232 College Park Drive 4 to 7 p.m.

For information, call the student services Office at 936-273-7510 or 281-618-7140.

Aerosmith

the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 7:30 p.m. ticket required.

Friday, august 6

Brad Paisley

the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 7:30 p.m. ticket required.

Waterway Nights

Waterway square

6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call 281-363-2447.

Gorilla Hole

the Recreation Center

7 p.m.

281-210-3950

this event is geared to 5th and 6th graders. there is a $7 admittance fee.

saturday, august 7

American Idol Live! Tour 2010 the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 7:30 p.m. ticket required.

Dive-in Movie

Planet 51

Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, 6535 Creekside Forest Drive 8:30 p.m.

For more information, call 281-210-3950.

Admission is $5 per person.

Tuesday, august 0

Heartsaver CPR

Emergency training Center 6:30 to 10 p.m. to register, please call 281-210-5823.

Alden Bridge Village Association Meeting 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive 7 p.m.

281-210-3886

Indian Springs Village Association Meeting 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive 7 p.m.

281-210-3887

Thursday, august 2

Residential Design Review Committee Meetings*

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Public Hearing #1

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive

6 p.m.

281-210-3800

Panther Creek Village Association Meeting

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive

7:30 p.m.

281-210-5808

Christina Aguilera

the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 7:30 p.m. ticket required.

Friday, august 3

Waterway Nights

Waterway square

6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call 281-363-2447.

saturday, august 4

Healthcare Provider CPR Class Emergency training Center

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to register, please call 281-210-5823.

Free Fall Vegetable Gardening Class

8203 Millennium Forest Drive

9 a.m. to noon

For reservations, please call 281-210-3900.

sunday, august 5

Lilith the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 3 p.m. ticket required.

monday, august 6

Grogan’s Mill Village Association Meeting

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive

6:30 p.m.

281-210-5808

College Park Village Association Meeting Emergency training Center 7:30 p.m.

281-210-3889

Tuesday, august 7

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Public Hearing #2 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive 6 p.m.

281-210-3800

Healthcare Provider CPR Class Emergency training Center

6:30 to 10 p.m. to register, please call 281-210-5823.

Wednesday, august 8

Development Standards Committee Meeting*

Law Enforcement Advisory Council Meeting

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive 6:30 p.m. 281-210-3800

Jack Johnson: To the Sea Tour 2010 the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 7 p.m. ticket required.

Thursday, august 9

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Workshop 10001 Woodloch Forest Drive, suite 600 9 a.m.

281-281-3800

Friday, august 20

Healthcare Provider Renewal CPR Class

Emergency training Center

9 to 11 a.m.

to register, please call 281-210-5823.

Waterway Nights

Waterway square

6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call 281-363-2447.

Gorilla Hole

the Recreation Center

7 p.m.

281-210-3950

this event is geared to 5th and 6th graders. there is a $7 admittance fee.

Houston Ballet’s Three for the Ages

the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 8 p.m.

Free mezzanine and lawn seating.

saturday, august 2

Touch-a-Truck

Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, 6535 Creekside Forest Drive 9 to 11 a.m.

For more information, please call 281-210-3950.

Heartsaver CPR

Emergency training Center 9 a.m. to noon

to register, please call 281-210-5823.

First Aid Class

Emergency training Center Noon to 2:30 p.m. to register, please call 281-210-5823.

sunday, august 22

Goo Goo Dolls

the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 7 p.m. ticket required.

continued on page 21

holiday Garbage collection schedule

There will be no waste collection service on Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day. Everyone’s waste collection will be moved to the day following the regular service day. All services are affected. Please refer to the chart below.

Regular Collection

Holiday Collection

Monday, September 6 .................... Tuesday, September 7

Tuesday, September 7 .................... Wednesday, September 8

Wednesday, September 8............... Thursday, September 9

Thursday, September 9 ................. Friday, September 10

Friday, September 10 ..................... Saturday, September 11

Normal schedule will resume Monday, September 13.

Please remember to store your trash carts and other receptacles out of view when it is not your garbage pickup day. Leaving trash carts out longer than necessary detracts from the curb appeal of neighborhoods and becomes an eyesore to neighbors. Trash and recycling receptacles may be placed at the curb on the day prior to trash pickup and should be removed from the curb by the end of the day of trash pickup.

alden Bridge

Our monthly residents’ meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. We’ll meet at 7 p.m. at the Township Service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Our Yard of the Month program continues through September.

Congratulations to our latest winners, the Southard family on Glentrace! Please send your nominations for best front yard in the village to abinfo@comcast.net. Winners receive gifts from Lowe’s, the Pavilion and Chick-fil-A!

Once again Alden Bridge is participating in the villages’ night at the Astros game, so please e-mail abinfo@comcast.net to determine whether we have tickets left. The game will be an Astros/Dodgers contest on Saturday, September 11, 2010. The $12 ticket price includes the bus trip downtown and back.

Our e-mail newsletter is distributed periodically to more than 800 residents. Please send us your e-mail address so you can receive the most current news of Alden Bridge. Your e-mail address will not be shared and will be used solely to distribute news of our village. Also, don’t forget to check out our Web site for news between newsletters – www.aldenbridge.org.

A new school year is nearly here, so be extra careful when driving around our community. Please look for the

school zone speed limit signs and obey them. Let’s have a safe and happy new school year!

Submitted by Darla Bell

cochran’s crossing

Fun Business

Ok, so the Astros haven’t been in the win column all that often this season but they’re sure to breakout soon! So hey – if you want a fun evening at a bargain price here’s the deal. Our annual outing to Minute Maid Park is Saturday evening, September 11, 2010. It’s your chance to see the ’Stros tangle with the LA Dodgers – a strong National League contender. A mere $12 buys a ticket plus cool, comfortable bus transportation. Sign up now: Call Doug at 281-362-1801.

O fficial B usiness

Amendments to the Cochran’s Crossing Village Association By-Laws will be on the agenda at the August 24, 2010, board meeting. It is expected current by-law references to The Woodlands Community Association (WCA) will be eliminated. Additionally, amendment(s) affecting the election of board members (area representatives and officers) will be considered.

Submitted by Bill Mara

creekside park

The 2010 Splash into Summer event was sponsored by The Woodlands Creekside Park Village Association. It was a family fun day at the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center which included a free pool day, model sail boat regatta race, pony rides, bouncy house and slides, YMCA tours and free goodies for the kids. The winner of the “Most Creative” award went to the Belforti family of Paloma Point and the winner of the model sail boat regatta went to the Toups family of Wilde Creek. Thanks to all of the

sponsors, volunteers and participants for another fantastic community event!

On Saturday, June 12, 2010, The Woodlands Development Company and The Woodlands Township held the Grand Opening of Tupelo Park which is the 118th park in The Woodlands and is the third of five parks to open in The Village of Creekside Park. The park is 11.50 acres with a pavilion, playground, lighted tennis court, lighted basketball court, picnic area, multi-purpose field, restroom and a terraced lake connected to Lake Paloma with a canoe launch. The upper portion of the lake has a fountain and the lower portion has a waterfall, which is the third waterfall in the community.

The Woodlands Creekside Park Village Association meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The August meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at 7 p.m., located at The Woodlands Township Service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Participation by homeowners in Creekside Park is very important and you are invited to get involved. If you are interested in getting active with the Social Committee to help plan upcoming events for the residents of Creekside Park, please e-mail Sue Tedesco, events chair, at sue@creeksideparkvillage.com.

Please visit our Web site at www.creeksideparkvillage.com.

Submitted by Nancy Decker Lent

e vents in you R nei G h B orhood

Grogan’s Mill

June 2010 Yard of the Month Winners

Connie and Stephen Coale of Rain Fern Court.

Submitted by Franklin Palmer

panther creek

Panther Creek Picnic Celebrated Flag Day

The Panther Creek Picnic at Ridgewood Park on June 12, 2010, celebrated Flag Day. John Nanninga hung his collection of flags around the pavilion to create a patriotic atmosphere for the occasion. VFW Post 12024 and American Legion Post 305 also provided literature on proper flag etiquette.

Many residents enjoyed seeing old friends once again. Food and drink were provided to everyone. Entertainment was provided by Jamie’s Balloon Art and a visit by Puffy Pine Cone. The picnic was an enthusiastic success.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped on the picnic. Special thanks to Peggy Hausman and Kim Lewis for planning and preparing the picnic and entertainment. A number of volunteers helped set up the tables and service. Barby Carroll, Bill Bootz, Damon Palermo and Mitch Hausman worked the charcoal grill cooking hamburger and hot dogs throughout the picnic.

Baseball fans from The Woodlands will root for the Astros in their battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 11, 2010. Panther Creek fans will travel in comfortable buses from the village center to Minute Maid Park for the game. Call Mary Bootz (281-296-9960) for any tickets that may be available.

The next monthly meeting of the Panther Creek Village Association will be held at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 12, 2010, at The Woodlands Township Service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. All Panther Creek residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Submitted by Everett

sterling ridge

Have you heard the news from the Events Chair? Here is what Sue says: “It’s time once again for our SRVA – BBQ Challenge and Kids Festival!” This year our big event will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Cranebrook Park.

We have had a great turn out the past three years with more than 2,000 Sterling Ridge Village residents enjoying the fantastic barbeque and the large number of kids activities. Our local businesses have also provided fantastic door prizes that you will not want to miss! Don’t wait to sign up your team or it will be too late! We will only take the first 10 neighborhood teams that sign up!

Each team will challenge each other and see if they have what it takes to out cook our local fire department and sheriff’s department teams! Sterling Ridge Village Association will supply the meat and our village BBQ Challengers will supply everything else needed for the show down! *Rules and information can be located on our Web site – www.Sterling-Ridge.org. Contact Sue Young at srevents@sterlingridge.org to sign up or to ask questions!

continued on page 23

aL den Brid G e

the Alden Bridge Village Association (ABVA) meets on the second tuesday of each month, 7 p.m at the township service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Web site www.aldenbridge.org

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-3886 or Village Association President Phillip Barker at 281-364-1623.

c ochran’s c rossin G

the Cochran’s Crossing Village Association (CCVA) meets on the fourth tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at the township service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-3887 or Village Association President Nancy Becker at 936-321-4264.

c o LL e G e Park

the College Park Village Association (CPVA) meets on the third Monday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at the Woodlands Emergency training Center. Please join us!

Web site www.villageofcollegepark.com

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-3889 or Village Association President glen Bernstein at 936-273-3274.

c reekside Park

the Woodlands Creekside Park Village Association (tWCPVA) meets on the first tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the township service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Web site www.creeksideparkvillage.com

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-3889.

Gro G an’s Mi LL

the grogan’s Mill Village Association (gMVA) meets on the third Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the township service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Web site www.grogansmillvillage.com

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-5808 or Village Association President Deborah sargeant at 281-292-5341.

i ndian sP rin G s

the Indian springs Village Association (IsVA) meets on the second tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the township service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Web site www.indianspringsvillage.com

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-3887 or Village Association President Ron Kostelny at 281-362-8677.

Panther c reek

the Panther Creek Village Association (PCVA) meets on the second thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at the township service Center, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive. Please join us!

Web site www.panthercreekvillageassociation.org

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-5808 or Village Association President Everett Ison at 281-298-9524.

s ter L in G r id G e

the sterling Ridge Village Association (sRVA) meets the fourth Monday of each month, 7 p.m. at the george and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library meeting room, 8125 Ashlane Way. Please join us!

Web site www.sterling-ridge.org

Questions? Call your village liaison at 281-210-3888 or Village Association President Phillip givens at 281-419-9331.

“Leaflets of three, let it be.,” may be a familiar adage, but those of us with limited outdoor experience may not be confident about what “it” looks like. Everyone needs to learn to identify poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and to avoid it. In the spirit of back to school, it’s time to get plant smart!

Learn to Recognize Poison Ivy

Unintentional encounters with poison ivy are commonplace when walking on the trails, working in the garden, retrieving frisbees from the woods or petting our dogs and cats (themselves immune) fresh from exploring their surroundings. “Leaflets of three” describes the single leaf of poison ivy. Each threeparted leaf attaches alternately along the stem. The stalk of the center (terminal) leaflet is longer than the stalks of the other two. The variety of growth forms attributes to poison ivy’s stealth nature—from a creeping groundcover to an erect shrub or a large climbing vine sending out its own perpendicular branches.

A common native deciduous vine in the woods of the eastern United States, poison ivy is quite ornamental in autumn when the leaves turn yellow and red. All parts of the plant including the yellowgreen flowers, white fruits, the bare woody stems and rootlets produce urushiol, an oily resin in the sap that causes a blistering

rash in 85 percent of the human population. Even dead plant parts remain potent.

Because the oil is transferred so easily, it is possible to develop the rash without ever coming into physical contact with the plant. Exposure to smoke from burning plants is particularly dangerous because the vaporized oil can be inhaled and is very damaging to lung tissue. Don’t be deluded if you have escaped a reaction in the past, because “immunity” can be lost with repeated contact.

Of course, eradication is impractical in natural areas. Besides, from a wildlife perspective poison ivy is preferred vegetation! The white berried fruit is especially appealing to numerous songbirds in winter. In spring and summer the dense foliage is a source of cover and is browse for small mammals and deer.

Interestingly, one local twist of global warming is “pumped up poison ivy”. Recent research demonstrated that plants subjected to elevated carbon dioxide levels

grow faster and become more toxic. If we continue to add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere at the current rate we will undoubtedly get to know poison ivy! Can you tell the real thing from the imposters?

Don’t confuse poison ivy with other native deciduous vines possessing compound (many-parted) leaves — peppervine and Virginia creeper. Virginia creeper (five-parted, palmate leaf) and/or peppervine (bi-pinnate – “double feather” leaf) are often mistaken for the toxic vine especially as young sprouts. In summer and fall, when fruits are present on mature plants the distinction is easier— both lookalikes produce black berries NOT white as in poison ivy. Slender aerial roots become dense and “hairy” in appearance on older growth. Since all parts are toxic, including stems and rootlets, we need to recognize the vine year round. Know the difference and preserve the innocuous native vines in your yard. Can you spot the poison ivy below?

Calenda R

continued from page 17

monday, august 23

Post pool season hours begin. Visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or see page 14.

Sterling Ridge Village Association Meeting Mitchell Library, 8125 Ashlane Way

7 p.m.

281-210-3888

Tuesday, august 24

Healthcare Provider CPR Class Emergency training Center

6:30 to 10 p.m. to register, please call 281-210-5823.

Cochran’s Crossing Village Association Meeting

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive

7:30 p.m.

281-210-3887

Wednesday, august 25

Watch Talk Wednesdays

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive

Noon to 1 p.m. 281-210-3800

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meeting

2201 Lake Woodlands Drive East/West Board Rooms

6 p.m. 281-210-3800

Friday, august 27

Waterway Nights Waterway square

6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call 281-363-2447.

Sheryl Crow

the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 8 p.m. ticket required.

Tuesday, august 3

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Special Meeting

10001 Woodloch Forest Drive, suite 600 9 a.m.

281-210-3800

*Please visit the calendar at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov for listings, or call the office at 281-210-3800.

www.absolutelyoutdoors.net

Pink Tags Required For Excess Household Trash

If your family reunion or household reorganization results in excess household trash that is not recyclable and will not fit in your 96-gallon cart, purchase pink tags and avoid service delays! Just attach one tag to each extra bag of household trash, and place bags next to the trash cart on your service day.

Pink tags are available from The Woodlands Township and at the service counters of local grocery stores. On July 1, the price of pink tags increased by 25 cents per tag, to $1.75 each.

Reduce the need for pink tags by recycling as much as you can. Waste Management is not required to dump overloaded trash carts or those with lids not completely closed.

For information about solid waste services and recycling, please call The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3900. Or visit www.thewoodlandstownshiptx.gov to download a Donation Guide and a list of Local Recycling Facilities

• One pink tag required for each bag of excess household trash.

• Effective July 1, 2010, price increased to $1.75 per tag.

• Available at Kroger, Randalls, the Woodlands township service Center and Parks, Recreation and Environmental services Facility.

• yard waste does not require a pink tag.

Large items, such as appliances and broken furniture, do not require a pink tag. schedule pick up of large items by calling Waste Management at 800-800-5804 or e-mailing southtxcallcenter@wm.com.

Village n e W s continued from page 19

Sterling Ridge offers up a great, big and heartfelt thank you to all of our residents and fellow patriots for their support and unwavering good spirit for our Fourth of July Parade. We could not have had another fantastic Fourth without the hard work and dedicated efforts of our community, here in The Woodlands, “only in America.”

The STAR (Serving To Advance the Ridge) program is attracting many new and familiar faces from within our neighborhoods in Sterling Ridge and we are grateful, as well as excited, about the wonderful show of support. We still want to encourage all of our residents to sign up to Serving To Advance the Ridge and meet folks while doing something fun! Feel free to sign up at our monthly meetings or visit our Web site at www.sterling-ridge.org.

So good to meet you! Sterling Ridge has been on a “Meet & Greet” mission. Every other month Stephanie Carlton (Public Relations Chair) and other Board members will be out in a neighborhood near you. As Stephanie reminds us, “This will be a great way to meet our neighbors and make stronger village ties.” For more information about this and other Sterling Ridge Village Association programs, please visit our Web site!

Take me out to the ball game! Tickets, which include transportation, are available for the Astros game on September 11, 2010, when they will be playing the Los Angeles Dodgers. E-mail srevents@sterling-ridge.org for event information and to purchase tickets.

Want to submit a news idea? Want to receive regular updates? Know something about our village that needs attention? Please e-mail srva_information@sterling-ridge.org. We love to hear from our residents!

Sterling Ridge Village Association typically meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the Mitchell Library located on Ashlane Way. Please check the calendar on the Web site to verify the dates, times and locations of meetings.

A MessAge froM

The Woodlands Joint Powers agency and The Woodlands muds

let’s talk about water...again

For almost a decade, The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency (WJPA) and your local Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) have emphasized that the days of cheap and plentiful water are behind us. We have initiated aggressive campaigns to encourage using our vital water supplies more efficiently. For the residents who have embraced water conservation in theory and in practice, thank you. For those who have not, there are some changes on the horizon that may provide the incentive you’ve been waiting for.

The cost of water is going to increase…starting right now.

“A number of situations have ‘collided’ that are driving water and sewer rates up,” explains James M. Stinson, PE, and WJPA general manager. “First, while our community continues to grow and prosper, we have an aging water infrastructure that requires constant and significant maintenance, rehabilitation and repair. Increases in these critical expenditures have outpaced our ability to pay for them. Even if no other operations and maintenance issues were on the table, the need to keep our water and wastewater systems in good operating condition would trigger a rate increase.”

The Woodlands’ 11 MUDs have grappled with ways to encourage lower per capita water use (which can translate to lower revenue) while building a contingency reserve adequate to cover ordinary and extraordinary repairs and replacements, such as bringing a new water well online. The problem, Stinson points out, is that the current contingency reserve is no longer adequate because, for example, costs to replace a water well have increased dramatically in recent years.

“Our water and wastewater infrastructure is getting old, and while our MUDs routinely incorporate the costs associated with rehab and repair into their annual budgets,” Stinson said, “we’re getting to a situation where the emergency cost to remedy a catastrophic failure of a water well, or the need to replace a segment of the wastewater system couldn’t be met.”

Conversion to surface Water

In compliance with a Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District mandate, all Montgomery County large volume groundwater users - including The Woodlands MUDs - are required to decrease their reliance on groundwater. The strategy is aimed at controlling subsidence and giving the critical aquifers from which groundwater is pumped an opportunity to recharge. North and West Harris County and North Fort Bend County are in the process of accomplishing similar conversions and are constructing the necessary new water delivery infrastructures to comply with groundwater reduction mandates. A similar mandate, initiated more than two decades ago in Galveston County, did indeed halt serious subsidence in the area and accomplish the desired aquifer recharge.

Paying for the conversion to surface water and construction of new water delivery infrastructure will be accomplished through the assessment of a Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) fee paid to the San Jacinto River Authority by all water users in Montgomery County participating in the GRP. This fee, initially $0.50 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped, will be billed to The Woodlands MUDs. The fee will then be passed through to our water customers

and likely shown on their bi-monthly bills as a Montgomery County Groundwater Reduction Plan fee.

“We are experiencing a tremendous period of transition in the source and cost of potable water here in The Woodlands and across Montgomery County,” Stinson said. “No one likes the idea of higher prices, but our water resources have been undervalued for too long, and we have reached that crossroads where it is time to acknowledge and remedy that. It is also necessary to take positive action to preserve and protect the aquifers that supply this area. Failure to do so is not an option if we are to sustain the legendary quality of life The Woodlands has to offer, and to meet the increasing water demands of a growing economic base.”

The Woodlands MUDs have initiated a number of water efficiency programs, some of which are aimed at reducing the substantial amount of water wasted through excessive lawn irrigation. One of the most important conservation measures was the adoption of a tiered water rate structure. Instead of encouraging water consumption, after a certain threshold, the more water you use, the more you’ll pay for it.

“The good news is that even during last year’s extreme drought, and our only time to call for mandatory water restrictions, the community responded to the emergency and curbed consumption enough to maintain the required flow for fire fighting and sanitary needs.”

Stinson explained. “In this same spirit of cooperation, we urge everyone to do their part to use water more efficiently and stretch this vital resource for future generations.”

For more information about the water efficiency programs and incentives offered by the WJPA, please visit www.wjpa.org.

Waterway Nights continues at Waterway Square

Join The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau every Friday evening at Waterway Square for Waterway Nights through August 27, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. This series is free to the public and features a variety of strolling entertainers like jugglers, mimes, balloon artists and live music. Bring a date, co-workers, friends, family, or the kids and head down to Waterway Square for great entertainment!

Picnics, chairs, blankets and coolers are allowed. Waterway Nights is produced by The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information on Waterway Nights visit www.thefountainsatwaterwaysquare.com.

The Woodlands

C onvention & v isitors B ureau

Waterway Nights Entertainment Schedule

August 6 Face Painter & Musical Duo

August 13 Mime, Clown Balloonist & Clint the Snake Man

August 20 Clown & Musical Duo

August 27 Clown Balloonist & Face Painter

Picnics, chairs, blankets and coolers are allowed. Waterway Nights is produced by The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau and sponsored by The Woodlands Development Company, Ace Parking, Berripop, State Farm Insurance –Kyle Sherburne, University of Phoenix and Munday Chevrolet. For more information on Waterway Nights visit www.thefountainsatwaterwaysquare.com.

Live at Night – Fall Series: Every Wednesday, September 8 – 29, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Live at Night is back for a Fall Series at Waterway Square with an exciting new schedule of bands! Waterway Square is the place to be from 6 to 8 p.m. for fantastic live music and fun for all ages.

Live at Night – Fall Series Entertainment Schedule

September 8 The Woodlands Idol

September 15 Adam and Lena

September 22 33 1/3RPM

September 29 Toast and Jam

Picnics, chairs, blankets and coolers are allowed. Live at Night is

FFPS

soccer league promotes fun, fair positive soccer— just as it should be.

Sign

Give your child the chance to play for a greater goal. Sign up at www.ffps.org or 800.828.7529 today, and join the positive side of soccer.

• Boys and girls ages 4* to 18

• Full uniform

• Trophy to every player

• Equal playing time

• Play every position

• Balanced/coed teams

• No tryouts

• One practice per week

• Positive coaching

• No Travel

• All games played on Saturday at The Woodlands High - 9th grade *4-year-olds must turn 5 by 12/31/10

produced by The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau and sponsored by The Woodlands Development Company, Ace Parking, Berripop, State Farm Insurance – Kyle Sherburne, University of Phoenix and Munday Chevrolet. For more information on Live at Night visit www.thefountainsatwaterwaysquare.com.

Mark your calendar for November 20, 2010

The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau is kicking off the 2010 holiday season Saturday, November 20, 2010, in The Woodlands Town Center with the 28th Anniversary of The Lighting of the Doves™, alongside the highly anticipated International Winter On The Waterway™ (iWOW) festival. November 20 also marks the opening of The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center™ season as well as the season opening of Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland. Join us for this joyous occasion!

For more information on holiday events in The Woodlands visit www.HolidayInTheWoodlands.com.

The Woodlands Discovery Guide and Visitor’s Guide

Request your free copy of The Woodlands Discovery Guide & Savings Book and The Woodlands Visitor’s Guide online!

Plan your next meeting in The Woodlands!

The Woodlands has become a popular place for a variety of tourism activities with more than five million square feet of shopping, dining,

hospitality and entertainment. With 10 hotel properties containing 1,500 hotel rooms now located within The Woodlands Township boundaries, visitors come for business meetings, conventions, corporate events, sporting events, festivals, reunions, weddings and more. Visit www.MeetingsInTheWoodlands.com for all the details!

Follow us on Facebook!

Join The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Facebook fan page to receive up-to-date information on events, new stores, and other special offers! Visit www.Facebook.com/ VisitTheWoodlands.com.

Contact Information for The Woodlands

Convention & Visitors Bureau

10001 Woodloch Forest drive, suite 600 The Woodlands, Texas 77380

www.VisitTheWoodlands.com

Phone: 281-363-2447

Fax: 281-210-3499

info@thewoodlandscvb.com

the Woodlands township Opens Tupelo Park

The Woodlands Township opened its newest park, Tupelo Park, on Saturday, June 12, 2010, with games, crafts, face painting, kayak demonstrations, informative presentations and an official ribbon-cutting.

The park is an 11.5-acre facility with a canoe launch, pavilion, playground, lighted tennis court, lighted basketball court, picnic area, multi-purpose field and restroom. The upper portion of its terraced lake has a fountain, and the lower portion has a waterfall and is connected to Lake Paloma. The 118th park to open in The Woodlands, Tupelo Park is located at 240 West Tupelo Green Circle in the Village of Creekside Park.

For more information, please contact The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department at 281-210-3900. For more information on The Woodlands Township government, please call 281-210-3800 or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Township and community officials gathered for the official

Pictured

to

Township Parks and Recreation Director Chris Nunes, Creekside Park Village President Nancy Decker-Lent, Township Chairman Bruce Tough and Township Secretary Claude Hunter.

Convention and Visitors Bureau President Nick Wolda, Township Director Tom Campbell, Township Vice Chairman Lloyd Matthews, LJA Director of Planning Jim Wendt, The Woodlands Development Company Vice President of Public Affairs Joel Deretchin, Township Assistant General Manager John Powers, The Woodlands Development Company Manager of Recreation Facilities Development Bob Bruce and Township General Manager Don Norrell.

The Woodlands CommuniTy magazine introduces

QR Code Technology

Beginning this month, The Woodlands Community Magazine will contain a QR (Quick Response) Code. A QR Code is a two-dimensional barcode that, when viewed through the camera lens of a smart phone running a particular app, will jump the user directly to a website. It is designed to have its contents decoded at a high speed and makes capturing websites and storing their locations in your phone a snap.

Using your smart phone with a QR Reader App, such as MobileTag (FREE download) for iPhone, simply open the app, aim your camera at the printed code to the right, and you will be immediately directed to The Woodands Township web page containing the magazine icon. Touch the icon and ...Voilà! you can flip through the pages of your favorite magazine! The

URL (web address) will automatically be stored in your history of MobileTag so you can access the web page anytime without needing to capture the QR Code again. You’ll also be able to navigate the entire Township website once you’ve landed on the Magazine page.

Watch for this magazine’s QR Code on page 4 in future issues and look for it on advertisers’ display ads to access information directly from their websites.

Raising Your Own

Fall Salads and Other Vegetable Secrets

Woodlands residents who want to try their hand at vegetable gardening and salad gardening can attend “Raising Your Own Fall Salads and Vegetables” seminar, Saturday, August 14, 2010, from 9 a.m. until noon.

The three-hour seminar, presented as a free service of The Woodlands Township, will feature Tom LeRoy, Texas Agrilife agent for Montgomery County and co-author of the book The Southern Kitchen Garden.

The event will be held in the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Services Building II at 8203 Millennium Forest Drive, The Woodlands. Seating is limited. Please call 281-210-3900 for reservations.

www.woodlandswellness.com

Green Makin G a d ifferen C e: Student AmbASSAdorS

Green Student Ambassadors, a program sponsored by The Woodlands Township in partnership with The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., gives teens the opportunity to plug-in, accumulate volunteer service hours and gain valuable work experience, paving the way to college admission and scholarships.

Making a difference in the community, Green Student Ambassadors participate in tree planting, recycling projects, pathway clean-ups, mosquito surveillance, special events and other stewardship projects. The year-round calendar of volunteer opportunities enables students with demanding schedules to log community service, a significant component of college applications.

Open to all area high school students, including home schooled, the program is co-sponsored by The Woodlands Township and The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. Active members in Student Ambassadors earn extra points in the non-profit’s annual scholarship competition. Waste Management and State of Texas Recycling Alliance also reward environmental stewardship with college scholarships.

For more information about the Green Student Ambassadors, contact The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3900 or Debra Wymore at www.thewoodlandsgreen. org, click on Student Green

important Notice: By submitting letters, photos and other materials to The Woodlands Community Magazine (TWCM) you agree that the materials submitted will become the property of TWCM and will not be returned. You also agree that TWCM, its assigns, and the publisher, have been granted the non-exclusive right to use and /or reproduce the materials in any manner and for any purpose. You also agree that you have made no other considerations for the use of any submissions unless authorized in writing by TWCM and the Publisher. They may be submitted to The Woodlands Community Magazine, P.O. Box 7859, The Woodlands, TX, 77387-7859. For more information, please call 281-210-3800.

Photographs may be submitted, and are encouraged, for publication either within the magazine or on the cover. There is no payment for photographs featured either within the publication or on the cover. Both amateur and professional slides and photographs, featuring Woodlands people and scenes, are welcome.

Disclaimer: The Publisher, Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. (CP&PI), and The Woodlands Township assume no responsibility for the advertising content within this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be addressed directly with the advertiser. The Publisher retains exclusive rights to the acceptance or denial of all advertising copy. Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and or misprints in this publication, Champions Printing & Publishing, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. Under no circumstances shall The Publisher, The Woodlands Township be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to the

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