Baker Hughes facility in Tomball nears completion

Transcription

Baker Hughes facility in Tomball nears completion
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TOMBALL | MAGNOLIA EDITION
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
NEWS
Volume 4, Issue 7 | April 3–May 1, 2014
Baker Hughes facility in Tomball nears completion
Education center
expected to bring
millions in revenue,
spur development
4 IMPACTS
Now Open, Coming Soon & more
6 DEVELOPMENT
Peck Station proposal
8 TRANSPORTATION
By David Pollan
FM 1774, FM 2978 updates
Medical Complex Drive Segment 3
11 CITY & COUNTY
12 ELECTION GUIDE
15 FROM THE WEB
FEATURES
Courtesy city of Tomball
The Baker Hughes Western
Hemisphere Education Center is
set to open within the next couple of months in Tomball and is
expected to not only bring tens of
thousands of employees through
the facility each year, but also to
net millions of dollars in revenue
for the city in its first 10 years.
Tomball is also garnering
interest from a number of developers looking to build hotels and
further develop the city’s east
side, an area of town that has
remained mostly undeveloped.
“To be able to say that the Baker
Hughes Eastern Hemisphere
Education Center is in Dubai
and its Western Hemisphere
Education Center is in Tomball
is really something,” said Kelly
Violette, executive director for
the Tomball Economic Development Corporation. “The opening
of the new Baker Hughes facility
really puts us on a global map
both in terms of bringing people here and name recognition
around the world.”
17 CALENDAR
The Baker Hughes Western Hemisphere Education center is located at FM 2920 and FM 2978.
Baker Hughes site
The $55.8 million Western
Hemisphere Education Center campus is at FM 2920 and
FM 2978 and will consist of
a 72,445-square-foot, threestory education building, a
36,000-square-foot workshop,
a 16,730-square-foot laboratory and auditorium, and a
156,000-square-foot yard with
STAAR Testing
subjects by grade
Students in grades three through 12 are required to
take the STAAR exams in Texas. The chart below
depicts the tests administered to each grade level.
Grade level
Subject Assessed
two non-producing oil training
rigs, Violette said.
The new facility is planned to
be a facility for major corporate
meetings and activities. It will be
an integrated facility to enhance
the educational opportunities for
both Baker Hughes personnel and
its customers, and will develop
skills and competencies needed
to support its customers, she said.
Texas Legislature decreases
course exams from 15 to 5
Math & Reading
4
Writing, Math & Reading
By David Pollan
5
Science, Math & Reading
6
Math & Reading
7
Math, Reading & Writing
8
Science, Math, Reading &
Social Studies
High
School
*EOC
Algebra I, Biology, English I,
English II, & U.S. History
High school students gearing up to take
the State of Texas Assessments of Academic
Readiness end-of-course exams will have a
lighter load this year as the Texas Legislature
implemented changes reducing the number
of tests that will be administered.
The reduction in the number of tests is a
move local administrators said will lessen
the burden on teachers and students and put
the emphasis back on subject matter mastery
*End of course
18 BUSINESS
Arbor Music
DellaCasa Pasta
20 DINING
Lunchbox
21 COFFEE WITH IMPACT
Chaille Ralph, HAR
See Baker Hughes | 28
STAAR test enters third year with new
guidelines for high school students
3
Source: Texas Education Agency
The facility expects to hire up
to 50 employees with average
annual salaries of $40,000 for
support personnel and $80,000
for trainers, Violette said.
Trainees at the facility will be
offered oil well training on-site.
The city made some changes to
its well ordinance to allow Baker
Hughes to put training wells on
rather than test preparation.
“We believe that we should be accountable
to our parents and our community, and the
STAAR test is one way of doing this,” MISD
Superintendent Todd Stephens said. “However, the overemphasis on testing in the last
few years has created intense pressure in our
system and pointed education toward the
test. The reduction in testing by the Legislature has helped to ease this testing fervor so
that we can get on with educating students
for success in their future.”
Under House Bill 5, which was passed
by the 83rd Texas Legislature, high school
See STAAR | 31
23 NOTABLE
Ken Walden
24 GUIDE
Crawfish
26 HISTORY
Stagecoach, Texas
27 REGIONAL
32 REAL ESTATE
Villages of Northpointe, 77377
COUPONS
33 IMPACT DEALS
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
3
FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
Over the course of the
next few weeks, students
will be undergoing the
annual STAAR testing.
The new standardized
testing was introduced
to students in grades
three through 12 in the
2011-12 school year. One
of our cover stories provides an update on the
testing, the House Bill 5
legislation and feedback
from administrators regarding the testing. It’s concerning as a parent that such high emphasis was placed on
the testing and that too much class time was being spent
on test preparation. Administrators say the STAAR, in
combination with the TEKS curriculum, is designed
to eliminate teaching to the test and to give students a
higher level of success learning the curriculum throughout the school year. For the lower grades, the program
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focuses on readiness for success in subsequent grade
levels, and at the high school level it ensures students are
prepared for college and the workforce.
We have included an election guide with a Q&A from
the candidates vying for positions in the upcoming May
10 election. Early voting begins April 28. Positions on
the May 10 ballot will be state Senate District 4 seat,
Magnolia City Council Position 4 and Magnolia ISD
Board Position 4. Don’t forget there will be a runoff
election May 27, which will include the races for the
Republican nomination for Montgomery County judge
and Montgomery County Precinct 2 commissioner. Be
sure and become an informed voter before the election.
I encourage you to attend local candidate forums and to
join us at 6:30 p.m. April 15, at Bear Branch Elementary
for a forum with the candidates running for the aforementioned positions.
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We see patients of ALL ages
Are you concerned with the growing
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NEWS
IMPACTS
1486
Magnolia
1488
1774
12
State Spur 149
Buddy
Riley Blvd.
Research Forest Dr.
D o b bi
149
n Hu
fs m i
th R
Wo
od la
d.
w
nd s P k
2
7
Friendship Dr.
B ut
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S tage
d.
ra R
Deck e r P
ra i
ri e
4
R o se
c oa
in
rd
Ha
ch R
d.
hill Rd.
249
o
St
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Rd
5 TopChic Hair Studio opened in
early February at 11407 Spring Cypress
Road, Ste. 450, Tomball. The full-service,
unisex hair salon owned by Phoenix Pham
specializes in hair coloring and highlights.
281-251-6700.
www.facebook.com/topchichairstudio
y.
K u y k e n d a h l R d.
21
Nichols Sawmill Rd.
18
17
11
2978
8
6 Fuzzy’s Taco Shop opened Feb. 24
in Vintage Park at 138 Vintage Park
Blvd., Ste. L. The restaurant serves
Baja-style beef, chicken and fish tacos
in addition to burritos, dinner platters
and salads. The new location also offers
beer and margaritas. 832-559-7133.
www.fuzzystacoshop.com
19
W. Main St.
9
1
16
20
Tomball
Holderrieth Rd.
249
g
p rin
6 13
er
Cent
Co mpaq
es s R d .
C y pr
Map not to scale
1 Three Dimensional Visions is the
Houston area’s only open access glass
blowing studio and is now open at
17442 FM 2920, Tomball. The studio
offers demonstrations and customers
can participate in private instruction
or a group workshop, and experience
working with hot and warm glass. Three
Louetta Rd.
Dimensional Visions also offers studio
rentals to those with experience.
spm3dv@me.com.
www.threedimensionalvisions.com
2 Magnolia Family Practice Clinic
opened Feb. 14 at 31350 Friendship Drive,
Magnolia. The primary care clinic offers
physicals, well woman exams, treatment
for diabetes and high cholesterol. The
5
Vi
Pa ntag
rk e
Bl
vd
.
Chasewood Park Dr.
Boudreaux Rd.
S
Now Open
15
d.
Mueschke Rd.
Cypress Rosehill Rd.
R
Telge
3
10
14
4 Toy Tech Auto Care, LLC opened in
March near the corner of FM 2920 and
Mueschke Road at 19730 FM 2920,
Tomball. The auto repair shop services
all foreign and domestic cars, trucks and
SUVs. ASE certified technicians
use industry databases and computerized
diagnostic equipment to identify
everything from complex problems to
small maintenance repairs.
281-516-9400. www.toytechautocare.com
clinic can also provide referrals to patients
and is open seven days a week.
281-377-6140. www.pcpforlife.com
3 J&J Scrap Metal Recycling is now
open at 18511 FM 2920, Tomball. Owner
Luz Gomez buys scrap metal. Gomez
will purchase car batteries, junk cars,
scrap metal, washers, dryers and more.
832-716-4405.
7 Level 4 Homes opened in March in
the former Enchanted Winery Property
at 37615 FM 1774, Magnolia. Level 4
specializes in building homes on the lot
from the mid-$400,000s and up. Level
4 is building homes in High Meadow
Ranch, Wimbledon Champions and
North Kings Village. 713-540-7681.
www.level4homes.com
Coming Soon
8 Kroger Marketplace is set to open
April 11 at 24350 Kuykendahl Road,
Tomball. The Kroger Marketplace is the
first one in the greater Houston area
to offer a department featuring brand
name adult and youth apparel, shoes
and accessories. The store will include
fresh food, furniture, home goods, small
appliances, fine jewelry, a fuel center and
pharmacy. 281-205-0532.
www.kroger.com
SPRING SPECIALS
$ 99 Watch
Batteries
3 LOCATIONS
5
THE WOODLANDS • 281.259.1231
FM 1488 & 2978
MUST PRESENT COUPON. EXPIRES 5/15/14
10% OFF
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Fine Jewelry Repair & Design by
www.TrinityFineJewelry.com
J
l
Repairs
Repa
Repa
Re
paiir
irs while
irs
whil
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TOMBALL • 281.351.1812
Historic Cherry & Main St. • 215 West Main St.
ain
M
W.
St.
N. Cherry St.
MAGNOLIA • 281.789.4030
FM 1488 next to NAPA
www.TrinityFineJewelry.com
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
5
Compiled by David Pollan
12 Freddy’s Frozen Custard &
Steakburgers is opening in June in the
former Arby’s location at 32910 FM 2978,
Magnolia. The fast-food franchise serves
up steakburgers, hot dogs, french fries,
frozen custard and other sweet treats.
www.freddysusa.com
13 Vein Clinics of America is planning
a new location in Vintage Park at 122
Vintage Park Blvd., Bldg. E, Ste. G. The
business offers consultation services
along with treatment options for varicose
veins. 866-923-8346.
www.veinclinics.com
14 Five Below is coming soon to 14375
FM 2920, Ste. 120, Tomball. The retail
store sells trendy merchandise to the
teen and preteen market. Its prices range
from $1–$5. Merchandise sold at its
15 U.S. Memory Care will open a new
location this spring at 10120 Louetta
Road. The facility cares for those with
Alzheimer’s and dementia, with various
medical and community services available.
www.usmemorycare.com
Relocations
1
Three Dimensional Visions opened in April at
17442 FM 2920, Tomball.
Expansions
16 Sears Home Appliance Showroom
in Tomball moved its operations March
20 from its original location at 14215
FM 2920 to its new location at 14099 FM
2920. The move was made to acquire
more space. The business operates as a
showroom and deals solely in appliances.
281-516-1421.
www.searsapplianceshouston.com
21 Canine Designs, a dog grooming
and pet retail store, is expanding its
business to include a larger retail section
and a do-it-yourself dog wash. Owner
Brenda Soyring has taken over additional
space at 28275 Nichols Sawmill Road,
Magnolia to expand her square footage
and make room for the additional
services. The do-it-yourself dog wash will
operate as its own entity called Lobo’s.
281-259-2145.
www.caninedesigns09.com
Anniversaries
17 Shady Brook Animal Hospital is
celebrating its 10–year anniversary at
29607 Nichols Sawmill Road, Magnolia.
There will be an anniversary celebration
from 2–4 p.m. on May 10 featuring live
music by Dr. Jose Salazar. All two–and–
four–legged friends and family are invited
to attend. 281-356-6611.
www.shadybrookvet.com
4
Jack Tomlinson opened Toy Tech Auto Care, LLC
in March at 19730 FM 2920, Tomball.
On the Web
Harris County Precinct 4 has teamed
with Shakespeare in the Shade to present
free live theater performances of William
Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” at
Burroughs Park.
“This classic comedy by William
Shakespeare will be presented in a
family-friendly format, with a modern
twist, so visitors of all ages can
experience the adventure of outdoor
theater,” a Harris County Precinct 4
news release stated.
There will be theater-style seating and
picnic tables under the covered pavilion
at the park, which will be available on a
first-come, first-served basis. Park goers
can bring food and nonalcoholic drinks,
according to the release.
There will be encore presentations at
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on April 5 at 9738
Hufsmith Road, Tomball.
18 Dillon’s Gunsmoke celebrated its
one-year anniversary in February at 18434
Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia. The military
surplus store, owned by Matt and Lynette
Dillon, buys, sells and trades military
surplus, firearms and ammo, as well as
survival and outdoor supplies.
281-259-4484. www.dillonsgunsmoke.com
19 Kitchen and Bath Design Center
celebrated its one-year anniversary in
March at 30512 Hwy. 249, Tomball. The
business offers granite countertops, as
well as tile, laminate and carpet. Other
services include sink installation and
complete bathroom remodeling.
281-849-4022.
5
Phoenix Pham, right, opened TopChic Hair Studio
in early February in Tomball.
10
The Egg & I is coming soon to Tomball at 14051
FM 2920.
News or questions about Tomball or Magnolia?
E-mail tomnews@impactnews.com.
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Courtesy Three Dimensional Visions
20 Shivers Shaved Ice, a gourmet shaved
ice company, celebrated its one-year
anniversary in March at 425 W. Main St.,
Ste. A, Tomball. The business sells soft
shaved ice mixed with flavored syrups.
Customers can choose from organic
syrups as well as flavors that are dye free.
Shivers also offers an artisan cold brew
coffee in a variety of flavors mixed with
homemade syrup.
www.shiversshavedice.com
Courtesy Toy Tech Auto Care
11 Davam Urgent Care will open
soon at 6022 FM 1488, Magnolia. The
facility offers urgent care treatment
when an emergency room visit is not
necessary. On-staff physicians can treat
colds, sprains, skin infections, burns,
lacerations and broken bones. The
facility houses digital X-ray facilities and
lab equipment. 281-583-1980.
www.davam.com
www.kitchenandbathdesigncenter.com
Chrissy Leggett
10 The Egg & I is scheduled to open
May 26 at 14051 FM 2920, Tomball,
in the Four Corners Shopping Center.
Near the southwest corner of FM 2920
and Business 249, The Egg & I offers
gourmet coffee and a variety of menu
choices, such as eggs Benedict, omelettes,
waffles and whole wheat pancakes. The
restaurant also offers an assortment of
non-egg dishes.
www.theeggandirestaurants.com
stores include everything from sporting
goods, games, fashion accessories and
jewelry, to hobbies and collectibles.
www.fivebelow.com
3/28/2014 11:03:54 AM
Courtesy The Egg & I
9 Owner Vinh Huynh plans to open
Boiling Spot in May or June at 15920 ½
FM 2920, Tomball. The Boiling Spot will
be mainly a to-go cajun seafood restaurant
specializing in boiled crab, crawfish and
shrimp. The restaurant will also have sit
down options for those wishing to dine at
the restaurant. 281-914-6781.
6
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
NEWS
DEVELOPMENT
Proposed Peck Station Development
By David Pollan
A team of developers presented plans
for a mixed-use planned development
near the northwest corner of FM 2920 and
FM 2978 to the Tomball City Council. It is
seeking approval from Tomball’s Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone
the property from single-family housing
to a planned development.
Damon Palermo, president of Palermo
Corporate Real Estate Advisors in The
Woodlands, and Jerry Hayley, president of
White Oak Developers Inc in Conroe, have
teamed up to form 2978 Panormus LP and
are proposing to build a 34.4-acre mixeduse planned development known as Peck
Station within the city limits of Tomball.
“We feel strong about the product we
can bring to Tomball as a catalyst to help
propel the development of the east side
of the city, an area of town that has been
dormant for some time,” Hayley said.
Palermo and Hayley purchased the
parcel of land for their proposed development in November 2013. The development
is intended to capitalize on the influx of
people coming to the Tomball area as a
result of the opening of the Baker Hughes
Western Hemisphere Education Center,
Hayley said. He said the large investment
Baker Hughes has made in Tomball was
the impetus for the start of development
on the city’s east side.
Peck Station will offer multifamily
housing options, office space and commercial uses, and a hotel. It will also extend
Winfrey Lane to connect Snook Lane to
FM 2978. If approved, the development
will take about three years and will cost an
estimated $50 million, Hayley said.
Before the proposed idea for Peck Station
can move forward, the city’s Planning and
Zoning Commission must first approve
the rezoning of the land intended for the
planned development, Tomball City Manager George Shackelford said.
The application for rezoning to a
planned development will be presented
for consideration at the April 14 Planning
and Zoning Commission meeting.
“Our biggest hurdle in this project is
going to be getting the land rezoned,”
Hayley said.
Shackelford said, if approved, the development would be built within Tomball
city limits and would directly benefit the
city in areas such as sales tax revenues
and hotel occupancy tax revenues.
Commercial
• Class A, low rise office, retail,
restaurant or light industrial uses
• Exterior finishes will incorporate brick,
stone and stucco
SERVICES
Join us May 10th, 2-4pm
Live Music by Dr. Salazar
Food, Fun & Friends
Bring your two and four
legged family members!
2978
2920
• Class A multifamily housing with no
subsidized housing
• 285–310 total units
• 1–2–and 3–bedroom units
• Branded hotel of recognized name
such as Hilton or Marriott
• 80–120 room hotel
• Average daily rate of about $110
W in f r e y L a n e
Impact 2013 add.pdf
Source: 2978 Panormus LP
2/23/13
9:41:21 AM
HONESTY • COMPASSION • INTEGRITY
Celebrating our 10th Anniversary in Magnolia!
Hotel
Residential
Snook Lane
Developers seek to build mixed-use
development within Tomball city limits
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
YOUR BACK AND NECK PAIN IS UNIQUE TO YOU.
SHOULDN'T YOUR TREATMENT BE, TOO?
FREE BACK AND NECK PAIN SEMINAR
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 • 6:00 - 7:30 P.M.
HoSun Hwang, MD
Neck & Spine
Join Dr. HoSun Hwang and a comprehensive team of world-class
specialists for a free seminar to learn about leading-edge imaging,
treatment and rehabilitative technologies to diagnose and treat
your back and neck pain.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Call 281.737.2500 or register online at houstonmethodist.org/spine-seminar.
This event is located at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital’s Conference Center - First Floor.
18220 State Highway 249 • Houston, Texas 77070
Refreshments • Door Prizes
HMWB_ad_Spine_CommImpact.indd 1
3/20/2014 3:18:47 PM
7
8
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
NEWS
TRANSPORTATION
FM 1774, FM 2978 road widening update
By David Pollan
Two road widening projects expected to lessen traffic on both
Magnolia’s west and east side are progressing on schedule,
according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
1488
Spur 149
The widening of FM 1774 in Magnolia is still scheduled for
completion in September 2014, however, TxDOT is expecting
possible delays on the project in the future.
1774
“The latest schedule received March 8 still has the project
scheduled for completion in September 2014,” TxDOT
spokeswoman Deidrea Samuels said. “We do, however,
anticipate the contractor requesting additional days due to
utility relocations and possible design issues.”
The project to widen FM 2978 from Conroe-Huffsmith Road
to Dry Creek Road has been split into two separate projects,
Samuels said. The first project that will widen FM 2978 from
Conroe-Huffsmith Road to the Harris County line is near
completion. The contractors are working on the punch list for
that project, which is a document used to ensure all tasks have
been completed before being finalized, she said. The second
project, which will widen the road from the Harris County line to
Dry Creek Road, is not yet ready to be bid on by contractors.
FM 1774 widening
FM 2978 widening
149
Source: Texas Department of Transportation
249
2978
.
Total cost: $11.3 million
Projected completion: September 2014
Contractor: Hassel Construction
Project length: 2.32 miles
Project scope: The widening will span from the FM
1774 and FM 1488 intersection to just south of West
Lost Creek Boulevard. The road will be widened from
a two-lane asphalt roadway to a four-lane concrete
roadway with a continuous center turn lane.
Rd
1774
2978
e H u f f sm i t h
Total cost: $4.19 million,
$1,065,380 (project 1)
Project length: 2.5 miles
Project scope: The
widening will span FM
2978 from ConroeHuffsmith Road to Dry
Creek Road. FM 2978
will be widened from a
two-lane road to a four-lane
road with a continuous
two-way left turn lane in
the middle.
C onr o
Nichols Sawmill Rd.
The contractor is working in areas where there are no conflicts
and is combining two phases to accelerate the process and
mitigate further delays, Samuels said. Phase 1, which widened
the existing roadway to the north side of FM 1774 along the
railroad tracks so traffic could be moved over for Phase 2, is
complete. The contractor is working on Phase 2 and 4, which
consist of placing the storm sewer, inlets and paving the
southbound side of FM 1774. Once completed, work on Phase
3 will commence, Samuels said. Phase 3 will move the traffic
so work can begin on the northbound side of FM 1774.
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
TRANSPORTATION
Tomball approves bid to construct
Segment 3 of Medical Complex Drive
By David Pollan
The city of Tomball approved a bid to
construct Segment 3 of Medical Complex Drive on March 3 at a City Council
meeting.
Council awarded the bid to Hassell Construction Company Inc. in the amount of
$5,879,967. Segment 3 of Medical Complex
Drive will connect the street from where it
dead-ends in the hospital area near Lawrence Street through to Cherry Street.
“The bid was a little over what we budgeted for, but it went over because of the
time it took to get it to bid,” Tomball City
Manager George Shackelford said.
The city had funding for this portion
of the project already secured, in part
from the Tomball Economic Development Corporation and funding in the
city budget, but was waiting on right-ofway acquisition before sending the project to bid. Shackelford said acquisition of
right of way on the west side of Cherry
Street took about a year to finalize and
that delay caused the bid to come in over
budget. He also said the rising cost of
concrete and the fact the city only had
four companies bid on the project were
also factors in the project being more
than the projected budget.
“We only had four companies bid on
the project, and we really need about eight
or nine bids to get the best price,” he said.
“Many of the construction companies are
really busy with all the projects going on
in the region.”
There is still one more parcel of land the
city needs to acquire through right of way
on the east side of Cherry Street, but it
will not hold up the start of construction
on the project, he said.
Segment 3 of Medical Complex Drive
will have two lanes in each direction
with a median in the middle and some
landscaping, Shackelford said. The length
of Segment 3 is just shy of a mile, with the
project measuring 0.9 miles. Sidewalks
will be constructed on both sides of the
road for the entire length of the Medical
Drive extension. Construction will begin
once contracts have been finalized and,
once started, Segment 3 will take less than
a year to complete, Shackelford said.
The Medical Complex Drive extension,
which will cost a total of about $50 million, is broken up into five segments. The
city is first focusing on Segment 3 of the
project, as it is the only segment that has
been funded by the city. The other segments will be funded as money becomes
available for the city to construct them,
Shackelford said.
The Medical Complex Drive extension,
as depicted on the city of Tomball’s major
thoroughfare plan, allows for east-west
traffic confined to FM 2920 to filter to the
south. The goal of this project is to divert
traffic to the southern half of the city,
Shackelford said.
“It’s going to be an east/west corridor
that will provide gained access to the
hospital and other medical facilities,”
Shackelford said. “It’s going to serve as
another major east/west thoroughfare in
addition to FM 2920, which should allow
for easier mobility around the city.”
Medical Complex Drive Extension
The Medical Complex Drive extension is split into five phases to allow for another east/west corridor through the city of
Tomball. The city is first focusing on Segment 3 of the project, which will extend Medical Complex Drive from where it
dead-ends near Lawrence Street through to Cherry Street. Segment 3 is 0.9 miles in length and will cost $5.9 million.
St.
R ow
Segment 2
Segment 3
Segment 1
Hufsmith-Kohrville Rd.
er r y
2920
Persim mon St.
h
S. C
Park
249
greener
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Segment 5
Segment 4
Telge Rd.
Source: City of Tomball
S. Cherry St.
School Rd.
Lawrence St.
Michel Rd.
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3/17/14 11:02 AM
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
CITY & COUNTY
News from Tomball and Magnolia
By David Pollan
Runoff needed for 2 Montgomery Co. races
Courtesy Craig Doyal
Courtesy Mark Bosma
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Mark Bosma
Craig Doyal
MONTGOMERY COUNTY Two
Montgomery County races are headed
for a runoff election after there was no
clear nominee following the March 4
primary election.
The race for Montgomery County
judge will feature a runoff for the
Republican nominee between Mark
Bosma, the county’s director of infrastructure, and current Precinct 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal.
There will also be a runoff election for
the Montgomery County Precinct 2 commissioner seat, which will feature Rob
Harmon and Charlie Riley.
After the March 4 primary election,
Bosma received 43.64 percent of the vote to
Doyal’s 43.39 percent with all 89 precincts
reporting. Doris Golemon, the third candidate vying for the nomination, received
12.97 percent of the vote.
In the Republican primary for Precinct
2 commissioner, Harmon tallied 43.48
percent of the vote to Riley’s 39.95 percent.
Ricky Rickett, the third candidate vying
for the nomination, finished with 16.57
percent of the vote.
The winner of both runoffs will run
unopposed in the November general
election as there is no challenger from the
Democratic Party.
Early voting for the primary runoff election will be May 19–23 and Election Day is
May 27.
Standard & Poor upgrades city bond rating
TOMBALL Standard & Poor’s ratings
services have upgraded the city of Tomball’s bond credit rating by two positions.
The city of Tomball had a previous rating
of AA- by Standard & Poor. After being
re-evaluated, its bond credit rating now
stands at AA+, Tomball City Manager
George Shackelford said. Anytime the city
sells bonds it gets rated by Standard & Poor
to determine the city’s latest financial situation. In this instance, the city has not sold
any bonds and has no plans to issue any,
but it was re-evaluated by Standard & Poor
as it is something the ratings service does
periodically, Shackelford said.
“We got a notice that they upgraded our
bond rating from a AA- to a AA+, which
means our rating jumped two positions,”
Shackelford said. “This is exceptional and
in the bond market arena, it means a lot.
It’s like jumping your individual credit
score from 500 to 750.”
Shackelford said the improved rating is
beneficial to the city in the event the city
were to sell bonds, it would get a much better interest rate.
When determining a city’s rating, the
ratings service looks at a number of factors. The rating reflects the assessment of
factors, such as the city’s economy, housing
market, location, employment opportunities and major employers within the city.
The bump in the bond credit rating is in
large part because of the city’s council and
staff, Shackelford said.
“The upgraded rating is a compliment to
the council and the city staff for adopting
good budgets,” he said. “In a city our size,
this rating is elite and there are very few cities and governing agencies in this category.”
Meetings
Tomball City Council
Magnolia City Council
401 Market St., Tomball
18111 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia
Meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third
Mondays of every month. Its next meetings
are scheduled for April 7 and April 14.
Meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of
every month. Its next meeting is scheduled
for April 8.
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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
NEWS
COMPLETE COVERAGE AT IMPACTNEWS.COM/VOTE-2014
ELECTION
EEL
GGUID
U ID
DDEE l 2014
LEEC
LE
ECT
CTIO
ION GUIDE
2014
Magnolia City Council Position 4
Election Date: May 10, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Early Voting: April 28 – May 3, May 5 – 6
*Incumbent
Magnolia ISD board position 4
PRIMARY
Jo Ann Schermerhorn*
Retired
Brenda Hoppe
Teacher
Years in Magnolia Area: 9
Years in Magnolia Area: 17
What makes you a qualified candidate
for Magnolia City Council?
What makes you a qualified candidate
for Magnolia City Council?
I am a concerned citizen of the community and
have served on City Council since 2012. I have
attended City Council meetings since 2006.
As a council member, I served on the Planning
Commission. I own a residence in the city.
If re-elected, what would your top
priorities be as a council member for
Magnolia City Council?
My top priorities would include, but are
not limited to, listening to the people and
addressing their concerns and needs, working
for the benefit of the residents, doing whatever
it takes to promote the city and holding those in
charge accountable for their actions.
How would you help plan for future
growth in the city if re-elected?
I would talk to as many business owners
as possible to encourage them to start
businesses or move existing businesses to
Magnolia and make them aware of the many
opportunities that exist here. I would promote
the benefits of living in the city to families
who are potential new residents. I would
encourage existing businesses to make an
effort to beautify their storefronts.
What are some of the major issues
facing the city, and how do you plan to
address these issues if re-elected?
At the present time our biggest issue is
traffic. Our roads are in need of repair. As a
council member I can investigate and explore
problems to act in a more responsible way.
How do you see yourself as an advocate
for who you will represent if re-elected?
I am actively involved in my neighborhood
association and am very concerned about
the rapid expansion of our city. I have lived
in the city of Magnolia since 2007 and have
worked as a teacher in MISD for 17 years.
If elected, what would your top
priorities be as a council member for
Magnolia City Council?
I would work toward a more transparent city
management. I would like to see top priority
placed on managing the infrastructure of
the city’s water system, streets, ditches and
traffic flow.
How would you help plan for future
growth in the city if elected?
I hope to be more involved in the 4A Economic
Development Corporation, 4B Community
Development Corporation and Planning and
Zoning Commission to understand more fully
their roles in the formation of our growing city.
What are some of the major issues
facing the city, and how do you plan to
address these issues if elected?
Maintaining, expanding and improving the
city’s water system, streets, ditches and
traffic flow are of utmost importance to the
city.
How do you see yourself as an advocate
for who you will represent if elected?
As a mother, teacher and resident in the city
of Magnolia, I feel it is my duty to represent
the community on important issues facing this
growing community.
Simply by listening to the people.
City of Magnolia Proposition 1 consideration:
The reauthorization of the local sales and use tax in the city of Magnolia,
Texas, at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to continue providing revenue
for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.
Kristi Baker*
Small business owner,
www.electkristibaker.com
Years in Magnolia Area: 6
What makes you a qualified candidate
for MISD school board?
Ginger Russell
Small business owner
www.votegingerrussell.com
Years in Magnolia Area: 20
What makes you a qualified candidate
for MISD school board?
I have eight years of proven, conservative
leadership experience in MISD. My previous
and current service in both campus and
district level organizations is evidence of
my dedication to the students, faculty, staff,
families and residents of MISD. I have a record
of responsible fiscal leadership in my work in
MISD campus organizations as well as during
my current term on the MISD board.
Two and half years ago I was made aware
of a controversial curriculum called CSCOPE
implemented in more than 800 Texas School
districts. Through my efforts, CSCOPE
became more transparent and was placed
under the review of the State Board of
Education. I will fight against any infiltration
of the progressive philosophy behind the
“Common Core” standards and the standards
themselves.
If re-elected, what would your top
priorities be as a member of the MISD
board?
If elected, what would your top priorities
be as a member of the MISD board?
My top priority, now and always, is to provide
every opportunity for our MISD students to
be successful in the future and to help build
a community that is a great place to live. I
believe academics are a vital component of
the experience we provide to families in MISD.
However, supporting the additional programs
we provide is also a top priority for me.
How would you help plan for future
growth in the district if re-elected?
We are preparing for the growth that is on
the horizon in the same way we have in the
past. The trustees will make the best use of
MISD residents’ tax dollars to provide the best
service possible for our community.
What are some of the major issues
facing the school district, and how
do you plan to address these issues if
re-elected?
With growth of the magnitude we are
forecasted to experience over the next five
years, growing pains are expected. The Board
of Trustees is preparing to educate a larger
number of children and to serve a larger
population of families and taxpayers. It will all
get done. And it will be done well.
I would be accountable and transparent to my
constituents and identify and solve problems.
I will ensure that the money coming into our
district is appropriated and utilized in the most
fiscal manner. I will create an environment
that attracts not just certified, but quality,
teachers and administrators to our schools.
How would you help plan for future
growth in the district if elected?
Plan ahead. I would help analyze the present
programs and identify any unnecessary
expenses with the main focus being
on student needs. If there is a need for
expansion, those in our community should be
part of the planning.
What are some of the major issues
facing the school district, and how
do you plan to address these issues if
elected?
Fiscal responsibility is always a major
concern. I want to ensure the district’s debt is
officially addressed with a clear path of paying
it off. I think special needs children deserve
to have their needs addressed on a more
personal level due to all these children having
different and specific needs.
Candidate answers have been edited to fit the allotted space. To read the
complete responses, visit impactnews.com/tom
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
13
EELECTION
N GUIDE
DE l 22014
DE
00114
LECTTIIOON
GUID
GUI
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COMPILED BY: DAVID POLL AN AND MAT T STEPHENS
State Senate District 4 | Special Election called to fill seat vacated by former senator Tommy Williams
Brandon Creighton
Steve Toth
Occupation:
Serving third term as
state representative
District 16
Occupation:
Serving first term as
state representative
District 15, owner of
Acclaim Pools and My
Pool Experts
Top priorities:
Private property
rights, state water and
infrastructure needs,
education, border
control, job creation
Website: www.brandoncreighton.com
Gordy Bunch
Top priorities:
Education, water,
elimination of entitlement
spending, border control
Website: www.stevetothfortexas.com
Michael Galloway
Occupation:
Serving first term
on The Woodlands
Township board of
directors, founder of The
Woodlands Financial
Group
Top priorities:
Fighting abusive federal
government, border
control, reducing tax
burden, infrastructure,
cutting spending
Occupation:
Owner of Galloway Energy
Company, an oil and gas
production company based
in Montgomery County
Top priorities: Cap
annual property tax
appraisals, border
control, term limits,
immigration
Website: www.electgalloway.com
Website: www.gordybunchfortexas.com
Q.
What makes you a qualified candidate for the position?
A. [As the District 16 Representative, I
have a] proven record on solving complex
transportation and water problems, a
proven record on reducing the size of state
government, and [have] delivered real and
measurable results for the conservative
movement in Texas. Republicans elected
me as the House Republican Caucus
Chairman during this past session. I
received national acclaim for major
legislation that I’ve authored and passed
into law.
A. As a current state representative, my
qualifications come from an unwavering
commitment to call state government back
to its proper role as defined by the Texas
Constitution. During the 83rd Session,
I gained a reputation in the House as
someone who did more than talk about
conservative values. I fought for and passed
the CSCOPE Transparency Bill that takes
on Common Core in Texas, carried and
passed the First Responders Estate Planning
Bill [and], in total, I passed 18 pieces of
legislation out of the House.
A. I believe my experience as a decorated
veteran, combined with a successful job
creation record and my proven ability to
cut spending, reduce debt and lower taxes
as an elected official, makes me uniquely
qualified to serve in this office. I started my
business, The Woodlands Financial Group,
with $10,000, a phone, a desk and a lot of
determination. Since 2001, we have grown
TWFG into one of the largest privately
held insurance agencies in America. This
experience and expertise will allow me to
deliver conservative, limited government
solutions that will protect the liberties
and freedoms of Texans while creating
greater opportunities for our families and
businesses.
Polling Locations
Area early voting locations
Election Day voting locations
City of Tomball
Precincts and polling locations
Voters may vote early at the following locations that coincide
with their area of residence from April 28–May 3, 8 a.m.–5
p.m.; or May 5–6, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Tomball City Hall,
401 Market St., Tomball
City of Magnolia
Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department Station 181,
18215 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia
Magnolia ISD
Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department Station No. 181,
18215 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia
Conroe City Hall Tower,
300 W. Davis, Conroe
South County Community Building,
2235 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands
Lone Star Community Center,
200 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery
E. County Courthouse Annex,
21130 Hwy. 59 S, New Caney
On Election Day, May 10, residents must vote at their precinct’s
polling location. Precinct numbers are printed on the voter
registration card. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
City of Tomball
Tomball City Hall,
401 Market St., Tomball
City of Magnolia
18 Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department
Station No. 181,
18215 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia
29 W. Montgomery County Community
Development Center,
31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia
Magnolia ISD
03 The Woodlands High School
Ninth Grade Campus,
10010 Branch Crossing Drive,
The Woodlands
06 Deretchin Elementary School,
11000 Merit Oaks Drive, The Woodlands
13 Decker Prairie Community Building,
32434 Decker Prairie Road, Magnolia
18 Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department
Station No. 181,
18215 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia
28 Decker Prairie Elementary School,
27427 Decker Prairie Rosehill, Magnolia
29 W. Montgomery County Community
Development Center,
31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia
30 Magnolia High School,
14350 FM 1488, Magnolia
34 Needham Fire Department Station No. 64,
15341 Lake Lamond Road, Conroe
39 Lone Star Elementary School,
16600 FM 2854, Montgomery
65 J.L. Lyon Elementary School,
27035 Nichols Sawmill Road, Magnolia
66 Outback,
30405 Dobbin Huffsmith Road, Magnolia
69 Barbara Bush Elementary School,
7420 Crownridge Drive, The Woodlands
74 Smith Elementary School,
28747 Hardin Store Road, Magnolia
76 Westwood Landowners Association Building,
406 Mackintosh Drive, Magnolia
81 Mitchell Intermediate School,
6800 Alden Bridge Drive, The Woodlands
89 Bear Branch Elementary School,
8909 FM 1488, Magnolia
A. I have worked for 30 years as a selfemployed businessman. I have also served
as a state senator from 1995–99. In my time
on the senate, I served as Vice-Chairman
of the Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations, as a member of the Senate
Committees on Health & Human Services,
Education, State Affairs, Special Committee
on Auto Emissions and the Special
Committee on Annexation.
City of Tomball
charter amendment
special election
The City of Tomball has called a special
election May 10 for the purpose of amending
its Home-Rule Charter and submitting the
changes to voters for approval.
The voters of Tomball will vote to either
approve or disapprove 34 proposed
amendments to the city’s charter.
The amendments to the charter, which are
several pages in length, contain a number of
language changes and removal of antiquated
and obsolete requirements, Tomball City
Manager George Shackelford said.
“The changes to the charter are mostly just
clean up changes,” Shackelford said. “The city
formed a committee for the purpose of cleaning
up the charter and bringing it up to date.”
The proposed amendments to the charter were
recommended by the charter commission and
approved by City Council, he said.
“We are hoping the voters of Tomball will get
out and vote on May 10,” Shackelford said. “A
lot of people don’t get too excited about charter
amendments, but it’s a necessary issue.”
14
NEWS
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
NEWS
15
FROM THE WEB
Abridged stories from our market website, impactnews.com/tom
Texas Crawfish Music Festival returns to Old Town Spring for 28th year
By John Rigg
As the weather warms up, the season for
crawfish, crayfish, mudbugs—whatever
you like to call them—gets into full swing.
Beginning April 25, Old Town Spring
comes to life with the 28th annual Texas
Crawfish Music Festival.
The event features carnival rides,
games and activities, a petting zoo, live
music, and of course, endless buckets
of crawfish. Local food vendors offer
burgers, pizza and barbecue. Beer and
wine are also served.
“We strive to bring in stellar music
combined with delicious crawfish and a
variety of other food vendors,” marketing
coordinator Elizabeth Grasso said. “We
also pride ourselves in providing fun and
entertainment for all ages with our impressive carnival and games. Last year was a
huge success and we are only planning on
going up from here.”
The 2013 Texas Crawfish Music Festival
attracted the largest attendance in 27
years, and with a variety of live performances and new entertainment options
event organizers are expecting the event
to draw a large crowd, Grasso said.
“This year we expect another great
crowd as we continue to build on the live
music experience with the addition of
another stage,” she said.
The festival’s music lineup includes
several headlining performers, including
the Charlie Daniels Band, Kevin Fowler,
Bob Schneider and the Los Lonely Boys.
Tickets for April 25 are $10, general
admission tickets purchased online are
$13, and tickets at the gate are $15. Kids
12 and under get in free. Weekend passes
and group specials are also available.
Guests can park at 435 Spring Cypress
Road for $10. Prepaid parking passes are
available.
Pre-Civil War cemetery uncovered at Spring Creek Park in Tomball
By David Pollan
A cemetery site containing the remains
of freed slaves and early Harris County
settlers dating back to before the Civil
War was discovered at Spring Creek Park
in Tomball.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle learned about the
potential historical site and instructed
parks personnel to protect the area. Cagle
then commissioned Janet Wagner, chairwoman of the Harris County Historical Commission, for her expertise and
participation in the project.
“We didn’t know exactly what we had,
but we wanted to preserve the dignity
of this cemetery that had clearly been
forgotten,” Cagle said. “What has been
discovered in archaeological and historical terms merits preservation and further
study into the local history.”
The Harris County Historical Commission unveiled a historical marker at
the cemetery during a ceremony Feb. 26.
According to the release, the cemetery
not only contains the remains of some
of Texas’ earliest freed slaves, but might
also contain the remains of victims of
the famous Confederate gunpowder mill
explosion, which took place in 1863. Wagner is tasked with researching and determining who is buried in the 6.6-acre site.
Harris County Precinct 4 will continue
active research on the cemetery and said it
hopes to provide opportunities for student
learning through educational partnerships.
“Precinct 4 parks are rich in recreational opportunities and also rich in history,” Cagle said. “It’s important for us to
learn about the people who lived here and
helped make the area what it is today.”
Spring Creek Park is at 15012 Brown
Road, Tomball. For more information and a
map of the park, visit www.hcp4.net/parks/
springcreek/index.htm.
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16
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
FEATURES
CALENDAR
Compiled by Kelli Ainsworth
12
The Woodlands Waterway Arts
Council presents the ninth annual Woodlands
Waterway Arts Festival, which takes place along
the Woodlands Waterway. 10 a.m.—7 p.m. $12.
Free (children under 12). 2099 Lake Robbins
Drive. www.woodlandsartsfestival.com
through 13
Montgomery County Fair
Courtesy Mike Baxter
Tomball Business and Professional
Women host their fifth Annual Benefit
Luncheon Spring Style Show. Guest speaker
Barbara Tibbetts, owner of T. Carolyn
Fashions, author and star of the show “Mother
of the Bride” addresses the audience. All
proceeds go to TBPW high school scholarship
programs and Women Helping Women. 1–4
p.m. Individual tickets, $35, sponsorship
tables are also available. Moffitt Oaks Grand
Ballroom, 20125 Cedars Lane, Tomball.
281-216-7431. www.tbpw.net
12
Sixth Annual Bunny Run 5K
and Family Walk
Families and running enthusiasts can
participate in the Sixth Annual Bunny
Run 5k, presented by Lone Star College–
Tomball. There is also a 1-mile walk
for those who want a shorter course.
Registration is open online at www.
racesonline.com or in person at City Hall.
12
24
25
Magnolia Historical Society’s
Depot Day
03 Zach Greenland, Alyssa Allen,
Corey Hightower, Presley Phillips
04 Real Life Real Music Young
Artist Show
09 Max Stalling, Heather Stalling
10 Shellee Coley, Mason Reed
11 Already Gone, Abbey Rode
16 Billy Joe Shaver, Carlton Anderson
17 Songtelling Show, Gordy Quist
18 Real Life Real Music Young
Strategies for Social Security
Informational Session
Artist Show
22 Michael Martin Murphey
23 Michael Martin Murphey, Mark Jones
24 Lincoln Durham, Kenna Danielle
GenuWine Tasting Room
6503 FM 1488 Ste 461
Magnolia • 832-934-2675
www.mygenuwine.com
03 Mike Faltin
04 DJ’s Brown and Ziebro
05 Smith Sound Trio
10 Keith Rea
11 RAE
12 Stan G
17 Ruth & Deigo
18 Terry & Amanda
19 Laura Meyer
24 Michael Player
25 Duane Vincent
26 Travis Caudle
Magnolia Relay for Life
Online Calendar
May
Apr
02
Voters are invited to attend a
candidate forum hosted by the Chambers
of Magnolia Legislative Alliance. The forum
features candidates vying for the state
Senate District 4 seat, Montgomery County
25
$
Find more or submit Tomball/
Magnolia events at
impactnews.com/tom-calendar.
Corks ‘n Canvas on the Stroll
The City of Magnolia and
Prosperity Bank host Corks ‘n Canvas
on the Stroll. Acoustic musician Willy
Wall performs all day, with Shea Domann
performing from 7-9 p.m. Food and drink
options include wine from Bernhardt Winery
and food provided by Walker’s Catering.
5-9pm. Free. The Stroll, Magnolia.
www.cityofmagnolia.com
COMLA Candidate Forum
SAVE
111 W. Main St.
Tomball • 281-290-0431
www.mainstreetcrossing.com
The American Cancer Society Relay
for life raises money to research and fight
cancer, celebrates those who have survived
cancer and honors those who have not.
Participants can take part in the relay, enter a
raffle and enjoy live music. The relay includes
a survivors lap to recognize cancer survivors.
4 p.m. (check in). 7 p.m. (relay). Free.
Magnolia Junior High School, 31128 Nichols
Sawmill Road, Magnolia.
713-706-5636. www.relayforlife.org
Families can come out and celebrate
Magnolia’s History at Depot Day.
Activities include games, food and craft
vendors, live and silent auctions, a petting
zoo, tug-of-war contests for kids, and
blacksmith demonstrations. Students
from Magnolia schools can participate in
a talent showcase. Proceeds from Depot
Day are used to maintain the Depot, the
Red Caboose, the replica of the first
Magnolia Post Office, Dr. Ware’s office and
the Pavilion as well as funding Historical
Society events throughout the year. 10
a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Historic Magnolia
Depot, 425 Melton St., Magnolia.
www.magnoliatxhistoricalsociety.com/
depot_day.php
15
Main Street Crossing
Klein Wealth Management hosts an
educational event, Strategies for Social
Security. Guest Speaker Elaine Simmons
addresses the audience on Social Security
and retirement planning. RSVP by April 21.
6:30–8:30 p.m. Free. Lone Star College
Elmer Beckendorf Conference Center, 30555
Tomball Parkway. 281-370-0300.
contact@kleinwealthmgmt.com
Courtesy Magnolia Historical Society
Spring Style Show
LIVE MUSIC
judge and Montgomery County Precinct 2
commissioner. 6:30 p.m. (meet and greet
with candidates). 7 p.m. (forum begins).
Free. Bear Branch Elementary School,
8909 FM 1488, Magnolia.
8 a.m. (5k). 9 a.m. (walk). $20 (5K run).
$10 (children under 11 for the 1-mile
walk). $15 (adults and children older than
11). Tomball’s Historic Downtown Depot,
201 S. Elm St., Tomball.
281-610-2595. www.tomballtx.gov
Families can enjoy the rodeo, carnival,
games and educational exhibits at the
57th Annual Montgomery County Fair.
Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 9201
Airport Road, Conroe. www.mcfa.org
06
through 13
Waterway Arts Festival
Courtesy The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council
APR
Lone Star College Tomball
Open House
Students and parents interested in Lone
Star College–Tomball can attend an open
house on campus. College representatives
are present to speak with attendees. The
open house provides prospective students
with information about academic programs,
financial aid and the admissions process.
4–7 p.m. Free. Lone Star College Tomball,
30555 Tomball Parkway.
281-357-3782. www.lonestar.edu
04
Featured
Worth the TRIP
April
Apr
03
17
To have Tomball/Magnolia events
considered for the print edition, they
must be submitted online by the
second Friday of the month prior to
the month they take place.
Sponsored by
281-401-7000 www.tomballhospital.org
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18
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
FEATURES
Arbor Music will relocate from its current address to
33311 Bear Branch Lane, Magnolia in May or June.
Photos by David Pollan
Mudbug Madness
Robin and Eric Williams have owned and operated Arbor Music in Magnolia for 10 years.
BUSINESS
Guitars are just one of many instruments available
for sale at the store.
Arbor Music
Couple driven by passion to teach music
By David Pollan
D
$5
off
$20 or more
excludes alcoholic beverages, coupon
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allow them to also make a living by
teaching music.
“We are just music teachers, not business people,” Robin said. “When we
opened this place we wanted it to be
comfortable and homey and a place where
kids want to come and see their teachers.
We have some really good teachers who
stick with us.”
The 12 music instructors who use Arbor
Music as a place to give lessons pay to use
the space and reserve time slots to teach,
much like a barber will pay for a chair in a
barbershop, Eric said. The instructors are
paid by their clients.
Eric teaches guitar lessons and Robin
teaches the violin and cello. All the
instructors combined teach lessons for
most instruments. However, there are no
instructors who teach brass or woodwind
instruments, Eric said. The lessons cover
a vast array of musical genres, and Arbor
Music has about 284 people of all ages
who take music lessons. The lessons focus
on all aspects of playing an instrument
from technique to hand positioning to
musical theory, Robin said.
“We are not just teaching our students one song,” she said. “We want to
teach them everything about the actual
instrument.”
After 10 years at 33219 Egypt Lane in
Magnolia, the Williams are planning on
relocating Arbor Music to 33311 Bear
Branch Lane in Magnolia. Eric said the
new property is double the size of their
current property and the move will take
place in either May or June of this year.
The business has grown significantly in
the last decade and the Williams are running out of space at their current location.
“We are kind of bursting at the seams
here,” he said.
Customers can find a number of musical accessories for sale, such as straps, strings and amplifiers.
Arbor Music sells both new and used instruments
and also offers instrument repairs.
Arbor Music
1488
2978
Egypt Ln.
281-255-8282
14441 FM 2920, Tomball, 77377
riven by a passion and love for
teaching music, Eric and Robin
Williams built and opened
Arbor Music 10 years ago in Magnolia
as a venue to offer music lessons and sell
music supplies.
“Our goal is not just to sell music supplies, but to teach people to play music for
life,” Eric said. “We want to teach a lot of
people how to play music.”
The idea to open their own business
spawned after the Williams spent years
teaching music. Eric taught lessons at
another music store and worked as a music
therapist at a psychiatric prison. Robin
taught orchestra in Katy. However, the
Williams were driven by a desire to make
a living teaching music and to do so in an
area that did not offer many opportunities to those looking to learn. They bought
their current property in Magnolia because
of its proximity to The Woodlands.
“We picked this area because it was
near The Woodlands, which was an area
that was growing and there wasn’t much
opportunity for music lessons,” Eric said.
“It felt like a good spot.”
The Williams renovated the property
on their own, Eric said. They built out the
rooms to offer lessons, installed all the
wiring and fixed the ceilings and walls.
“We did pretty good for a fiddle player
and guitar player,” Robin said.
To grow Arbor Music into a business,
the Williams added a retail component
to their venture. Through the years, they
have grown their retail to offer musical instruments, strings, music books
as well as repairs to guitars and other
instruments, Eric said. The other half
of the business is the offering of music
lessons. The Williams opened their doors
to other music instructors, which would
Research Forest Dr.
33219 Egypt Lane
Magnolia • 281-259-5585
www.arbormusic.com
Hours: Mon.–Thu. 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.,
Fri. 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
FEATURES
19
BUSINESS
DellaCasa Pasta
Owner brings homemade recipes to Tomball
By Kelli Ainsworth
832-524-8882
DellaCasa packaged pastas can be found at a number of farmers markets in the area.
Where to buy:
Online at www.greenling.com
Grogan’s Mill Village Farmers Market
7 Switchbud Place, Spring
Saturdays 8 a.m.–noon
Kelli Ainsworth
Tomball Farmers Market
Corner of Main Street and Cherry Street
Second and fourth Saturdays of the month
9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Luisia Obando founded DellaCasa to provide healthy
meals families can eat at home.
The Farmers Market at Bridgeland
16902 Bridgeland Landing, Cypress
Second Sunday of the month 12:30–3:30 p.m.
Gleannloch Farms Farmers Market
19393 Champion Forest Drive, Spring
Fourth Sunday of the month 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Courtesy DellaCasa Pasta
Phoenicia Specialty Foods
12141 Westheimer Road, Houston
DellaCasa Pasta
DellaCasa specializes in pastas made from scratch.
Hicks St.
Courtesy DellaCasa Pasta
249
DellaCasa products are made in-house at their
Tomball factory.
1599 Hicks St.
Tomball • 281-513-6866
www.dellacasapasta.com
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Kelli Ainsworth
T
wo years ago, DellaCasa Pasta
has to travel all these miles to get here,
moved from a rental kitchen
spending gas and causing contamination.”
where owner Luisa Obando made
The company was born out of Obando’s
her fresh, natural pastas and sauces using need as a busy mother to find healthy
KitchenAide appliances to its location off meals she could cook for her two children
Hicks Road in Tomball.
quickly and ones they would enjoy. HowBecause her pastas had become so
ever, she soon realized many of the foods
popular at local farmers markets that they she saw for sale in grocery stores did not
would sell out within an hour, Obando
meet all of these requirements.
needed a space where she could use
“When you go to the supermarket you
industrial machines to make DellaCasa
find all these products full of ingredients
products more
that are artificial,
efficiently. The
that we know now
“I’m a mother. I like the idea
pastas made in
are not good for
that I’m making something
the factory are
you,” Obando said.
that people can make and
sold at the fac“So I didn’t want to
eat at home,”
tory, online, in
feed my kids these
farmers markets,
things.”
—Luisa Obando, Owner
to Houston area
She decided to
restaurants and in select stores.
turn her hobby of making pastas into a
The factory was not initially meant to
more full-time pursuit. Her family and
be a place customers could come shop,
friends loved the pastas she served them,
but come they did.
so Obando started selling them at farmers
“Customers started finding us online
markets. It turned out other families were
and saw the products at the stores and
also searching for healthy meals that were
started looking for us, and they noticed
easy to prepare. Obando said several of
we were here so they started knocking at
her customers are busy moms and retired
our door,” Obando said.
people who want to spend less time in
DellaCasa specializes in fresh pasthe kitchen. Customers often buy enough
tas made from scratch, using natural
pasta to stock up for the week.
ingredients with no added chemicals and
At this time, DellaCasa’s pastas are
preservatives. The products include variavailable for sale in the factory, several
eties of fettuccine, linguine, orzo, ravioli
area farmers markets, Phoenicia foods in
and sauces. Customers can also purchase Houston and online at greenlings.com.
ready-to-bake lasagna. DellaCasa’s pastas However, Obando’s plans for the future
combine traditional Italian and Texas
include opening a point-of-sale and resflavors. While there are staples such
taurant. She envisions a location where
as cheese ravioli, there are also unique
customers can come in, order pasta and
offerings, such as jalapeno fettuccine.
eat it there, but still purchase items to
Whenever possible, the natural ingretake home and cook with their families.
dients used for DellaCasa’s products are
“I’m a mother,” Obando said. “I like
locally grown and produced.
the idea that I’m making something that
“Right now, there’s a big movement of
people can make and eat at home. Here,
local,” Obando said. “So you want local
there’s cooking time involved and there’s
products, you want a pasta that is made
some time sitting at the table with the
here versus a pasta that’s made in Italy and family together.”
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
FEATURES
Kelli Ainsworth
20
Courtesy Lunchbox
Lunchbox owners, Rick and Wendi Rodriguez, opened the restaurant in April 2013 at 17902 FM 1488, Magnolia.
In addition to salads and sandwiches, Lunchbox serves a variety of specialty burgers.
DINING
Owners focus on fresh, made-to-order menu
By Kelli Ainsworth
The Arbor Gate
Saturday, 5th • 10am
Tropical Paradise
Presented by Linda Gay
Tuesday, 8th • 10am
Favorite Wildlife-Friendly Natives for
Every Season
Presented by Diana Foss
Thursday, 10th • 10am
From the Garden to the Table
Presented by Jeremy Kollaus & Chef
Chris Crowder
Saturday, 12th • 10am
Container Herb Gardening
Presented by Henry Flowers
Lunchbox celebrates its one-year anniversary in April.
Lunchbox offers made-to-order salads, sandwiches and
daily specials.
Lunchbox
Ro
lling
Hills Dr.
1488
17902 FM 1488
Magnolia • 281-259-6306
Hours: Mon.–Fri. 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
.
M
lia
no
ag
e
ro
on
Rd
C
Take an ordinary journey to an extraordinary place!
281.351.8851 • 15635 FM 2920 • Tomball, TX 77377
Open 7 days a week • www.arborgate.com
April Events
Courtesy Lunchbox
Lunchbox enclosed its outdoor patio to provide indoor seating for its customers as part of renovations made in March.
ribeye steak sandwich and chicken
chipotle wrap.
The Rodriguez’ opened Lunchbox in
April 2013. The couple moved to Magnolia seven years ago after determining
there was not a restaurant concept quite
like theirs in the area, so they decided to
open Lunchbox.
“My family has owned a couple of
restaurants, so I grew up around the
restaurant business,” Rick said. “It was
just one of my passions to actually have
a restaurant of my own. Plus, we wanted
to bring some more creativity in terms
of food to Magnolia.”
They credit their success over the
past year to loyal customers and the
help of friends and family, in particular
Pasty Williams, who owned the land
on which the restaurant is situated and
who died recently.
“None of this would have been possible without Pasty Williams and family,” Rick said.
Kelli Ainsworth
L
unchbox in Magnolia just completed renovations, right in time
for its one-year anniversary in
April. Rather than hiring contractors,
owners Rick and Wendi Rodriguez did
all the work for the renovations themselves, including enclosing the patio to
provide indoor seating for customers.
They apply the same personal touch to
the daily operations of their restaurant.
“Whenever people come here, we
want them to feel like they’re at home,”
Wendi said.
Everything at Lunchbox is madeto-order. The food, from the fresh-cut
French fries to the croissants baked inhouse, is made using fresh ingredients.
All the recipes were either created by the
owners, or are family recipes.
Customers can choose from specialty sandwiches, burgers, salads, and
in cold months, soups. Popular items
include the pulled-pork sandwich,
signature burger, blackened fish tacos,
Courtesy Lunchbox
Lunchbox
More events & details available online
Saturday, 12th • 2pm – 5pm
Premier Sharpening
Mobile sharpening setup
Sunday, 13th • 1pm
The Natives are Restless
Presented by Mark Bronstad, Doremus
Nursery
Saturday, 26th • 10am
Self-Watering Containers
Presented by Angela Chandler
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
FEATURES
21
COFFEE WITH IMPACT
Chaille Ralph
Board chair, Houston Association of Realtors
Chaille Ralph, chair of the Houston Association of REALTORS board, has worked as
a licensed real estate broker since 1982.
The native Houstonian began her career by managing and marketing commercial
office buildings, and then it grew to include commercial construction and project management before shifting to residential sales in the mid-’80s.
Ralph often helps train aspiring and well-seasoned real estate agents, and she combines state-of-the-art technology solutions along with support for her sales associates to
bring a high level of service to costumers.
Through her career Ralph has served on numerous committees and task forces and
held leadership positions with the Houston Association of Realtors.
Today Ralph serves as the 2014 chairwoman of the HAR board, and she holds director positions with both the Texas and National associations of REALTORS.
How long is the Greater Houston
area expected to remain a seller’s
market? What are the projected real
estate trends in 2014?
We expect that certainly throughout
2014 and into 2015 that we are going to
see pretty much a seller’s market. We
think the market will stay strong well
into 2015. Sales are strong right now; they
continue to be strong on a monthly basis.
If property is priced right it tends to move
very quickly. Inventory is still low as of
the end of January. Our February numbers will be out next week.
Our January numbers showed 2.6
months of inventory throughout the
Greater Houston area currently on the
market. And that’s everything single family. You can drill down into price point,
you can drill down into neighborhoods,
and so we really encourage people to consult with a Realtor if you have questions
about what’s happening in a specific area.
When is the current and planned
future home construction expected
to catch up with the demand in
the Greater Houston area and
is the market expected to turn
back toward a buyer’s market in
upcoming years because of new
construction? Is there any fear of
overbuilding?
We really think ... that we have learned
our lesson in the overbuilding. I think
we have probably started a little slow in
the last couple of years building because
the market was still coming back. I think
you will start to see again, probably in
2015-16, a lot of that catch-up because
right now they really can’t keep up with a
lot of the demand. We have buyers in all
market areas.
What factors are taken into
consideration when determining
housing costs? Oftentimes housing
costs will increase or decrease
dependent on a number of factors,
but what are some major factors
that either drive costs up or down?
Certainly inventory is going to drive
prices up. When you have lower inventory
your prices for land go up as well.
When you have a market such as we are
in, you also end up with issues with supply,
you have issues with contractors to do the
work, and the cost of materials goes up.
That in itself will drive up the cost.
Several of Houston’s suburbs are
seeing an influx of new multifamily
housing options. How do these
developments typically affect local
economic and demographic trends?
Certainly when you have the high
Shawn Epps
By Jesse Mendoza
density your traffic patterns are going to
change somewhat. Townhome developments where you have larger density
of people living there, I see the biggest
[negative] impact [being] traffic patterns
and things like that.
It brings more people to the grocery
stores, it brings more people to the restaurants, it brings more people to the facilities that are in the area, so it has a positive
impact on the economy.
What kind of impact is the
ExxonMobil relocation having on
the housing market in north Harris
and south Montgomery counties?
It’s having a huge impact. The months
of inventory around that market are 1.5
months of inventory. So if nothing else
came in the market, basically, the inventory would be depleted in a month and a
half, so it’s definitely a big effect. It’s in all
price ranges that we have out there that
the inventory is low, so the new construction is really important.
I think people are fearful of putting
their house on the market because they
don’t have any place to go. People are
thinking, ‘Should I wait to list my home
in The Woodlands? Should I wait to list
my home in the northwest side of town?’
Am I going to get more for it in the next
two or three years?’ If we had that crystal
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ball it would be great. It’s still a great
time to move, and it’s a great time to buy
and to sell.
Both Tomball and Magnolia are
experiencing a significant rise in
the number of homes being built in
the region. How does rapid growth
of this kind affect the real estate
climate in these areas?
Well when the new homes come in,
obviously you are going to start to see the
older homes price values go up as well,
and the newer homes are going to be more
expensive. The supply and demand is the
real key to what is happening in our market right now. The inventory is incredibly low. Again, 2.6 months of inventory
throughout the Greater Houston area at
the end of January.
We need listings. New construction is
coming on the market, but the resale is
selling just as quickly as it hits the market.
I think one of the areas that we have seen
a lower value over the last year or so is the
end of the $80,000 mark, so the Greater
Houston area has probably reached a
point where there is not much for or
under $80,000.
Gone are the days that you could buy a
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
FEATURES
23
NOTABLE
Ken Walden
Station agent keeps Depot history alive
K
en Walden, volunteer “station
agent,” looks exactly like he
belongs in the Tomball train
Depot. Dressed in an old-fashioned train
conductor’s suit and hat, with a white
beard and wire rim glasses, he spends
weekends volunteering at the Depot,
sharing stories and giving tours to visitors of all ages.
In the step-back-in-time atmosphere of
the Depot, antique train station benches
and illustrations of the station hanging
on the wall remind visitors of Tomball’s
history. Walden tells stories to help keep
that history alive.
Walden was involved with the Tomball
Centennial Committee in 2007, during
which the city decided to build a train
museum. Walden, a retired construction
industry man, said he always liked trains,
so his job as the official train expert at
Tomball’s Depot made sense.
“I worked in the construction industry
that was affiliated at times with the railroad, because I just liked trains,” Walden
said. “I always have. I remember the old
steam engines from the 1950s and my fascination with trains hasn’t waned since.”
Walden is the only person to volunteer
as station agent, a job he requested.
“I asked to be involved with the museum
and that’s how I got the job of ‘station
agent’,” Walden said. “Like any hobby one
might have, the knowledge one has about
it is always growing. I am the curator and
historian of the Depot, but I’m also something of a train buff myself. If one is interested in steam engines, it automatically
becomes a history research endeavor.”
Tomball Chamber of Commerce
President Bruce Hillegeist said Walden has
brought more than history to residents and
visitors to the museum and the city.
“He is true and faithful and he just
beams whenever you talk to him about the
museum or trains,” Hillegeist said. “He
was on the cover of the chamber of commerce’s annual magazine a few years ago
and people have never picked up an issue
of the magazine quicker. I feel that his job
of historian and curator brings a lot of joy
to learning about history and interest in
the town, not just preserving the history.”
Hillegeist said that as Tomball moves
forward, its history gains more importance.
Courtesy Mike Baxter
By Meredith Mohr
Ken Walden has volunteered as the station agent at Tomball’s Historic Downtown Depot since 2007.
“The bottom line is that we don’t know
where we are going until we know where
we have been,” Hillegeist said. “The
railroad industry had a huge influence
on shaping Tomball and with corporate
relocations and expansions involving the
energy industry, as well as talks of a possible high–speed rail line linking Houston and the outreaches of the oil and gas
industry, we are going back to our roots,
in a way. For citizens to remember that
history is so important.”
For Walden, his lifelong interest in
trains and the railroad industry keeps
him sharing that knowledge. He said he
particularly enjoys sharing the history
with young people because that’s how the
history keeps on going.
“I think the thing I enjoy most about
this job is that there are a lot of youngsters who haven’t heard a lot about trains
because they aren’t much in our lives
today,” Walden said. “As a historian and
storyteller at the museum, I get to share
a little bit of my interest for trains with
them. A lot of the visitors come back to
relive the railroad industry days or are
learning about it for the first time. I really
enjoy that aspect of making the history
come alive for them.”
24
peel & eat crawfi sh
o
t
w
o
H
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
FEATURES
Compiled by: David
Separate the
head from the
tail by grabbing
and twisting
the two parts.
STEP ONE
e
d
i
u
G
h
Crawfis
Grasp, twist and snap
Pollan
Peel back the
first layer of
shell on the
tail to expose
more meat
Pull
Pull out the tail
meat with your
fingers or teeth.
If needed, pinch
the bottom of
the tail to help
push the meat
out easier.
Crawfish are typically farm-raised on rice fields in a process that plays out over the course of a year.
1 Farmers plant rice crops from late spring to the beginning of summer.
2 Seed stock, a natural crop of crawfish, which mainly comes from the Atchafalaya Basin in
Louisiana, is put into the flooded rice field mid-summer.
3 The field water is drained and crawfish begin to burrow in the ground in late summer.
STEP THREE
where do crawfish come from?
STEP TWO
Peel
Crawfish season happens every year, from around the first of March through the
beginning of summer. Many Gulf Coast residents enjoy the season with backyard boils
or restaurant events, but some may not know where these tiny lobster-like creatures
are raised.
4 Rice is harvested in late summer or early fall. At this time, crawfish have burrowed underground to
Suck the head
5 After the rice has been harvested, farmers re-flood the rice field, and crawfish come out of the
If you choose, suck the head of the
crawfish. This is where most of the
flavor gathers during the boiling
process.
ground with their babies mid-fall.
6 Baited wire traps are placed in the field between the end of fall and mid-winter—typically 10
traps per acre.
7 Crawfish harvest begins in November or as late as January.
STEP FOUR
begin their reproductive cycle.
8 Crawfish season occurs when they are market size—around 10 to 12 per pound—and runs from
the beginning of March to late June.
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
FEATURES
where to get crawfish
Snookie’s Fish Camp and Grill
106 Market St.
Tomball • 832-559-8862
www.facebook.com/fishcamping
Hours: Tue.–Wed. 5–9 p.m.;
Thu.–Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: Cost per pound varies depending on market price
Frey’s Backyard Cafe
14441 FM 2920
Tomball • 281-255-8282
www.freysbackyard.com
Hours: Tues.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.;
Sun. 11 a.m.– 8 p.m.
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: $6.95 per pound of boiled crawfish
GoCrawfish.com
6923 FM 1488
Magnolia • 281-814-3655
www.gocrawfish.com
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: Call for cost and availability of live crawfish
Crawdaddy’s Cajun Café
9311 FM 1488
Magnolia • 281-789-7568
www.crawdaddyscajuncafe.com
Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sat. noon–11 p.m.; Sun.
noon–8 p.m.
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: $6.99 per pound of boiled crawfish, $4.75 per pound of
live crawfish (must reserve in advance)
Tailgators Pub & Grill
33418 Egypt Lane
Magnolia • 281-259-5343
www.tailgatorspub.com
8000 Hwy. 242
The Woodlands • 936-271-4200
www.tailgatorspub.com
25
upcoming crawfish festivals
Hours: Sun.–Sat. 11 a.m.–2 a.m.
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: $5.99 per pound of boiled crawfish
April 4–6
Pearland Crawfish Festival
The three-day festival features food, music on three stages, and rows of vendors selling crafts,
gifts and food. Musical performances include Jesse Roach from American Idol and the blues
band Brad Absher and Swamp Royale. The event benefits the Pearland, Alvin and Fort Bend
school districts and the Houston Blues society.
Wolfie’s Restaurant & Sports Bar
22522 Hwy. 249
Houston • 281-374-9653
www.wolfiesusa.com
11 a.m.–10 p.m. (April 4, 5), 11 a.m.–6 p.m. (April 6). $8 (one day), $21 (three-day pass),
free (children 12 and under and military personnel with ID). 281-802-2776.
www.pearlandcrawfishfestival.com
Hours: Sun.–Sat. 11 a.m.–12 a.m.
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: $6.99 per pound of boiled crawfish, to-go orders
available
Hebert’s Hot Tails Crawfish
5025 Louetta Road
Spring • 281-257-9988
www.hebertshottails.com
April 25–27, May 2–4
Hours: Open during crawfish season only.
Wed.–Fri. 5–9 p.m.; Sat. noon–9 p.m.;
Sun. noon–6 p.m. (or until out of crawfish)
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: Cost per pound of boiled crawfish varies depending on
market price, $3.75 per pound of live crawfish (cash only)
Texas Beer Garden
Texas Crawfish Music Festival
The event focuses heavily on the live music aspect, which will be headlined by the Charlie
Daniels Band. Other acts include Kevin Fowler, Los Lonely Boys and Whiskey Myers. Food,
drinks, carnival rides, a petting zoo and vendors are also a part of the festival.
6 p.m.–midnight (April 25, May 2), Noon–midnight (April 26, May 3), Noon–8 p.m. (April 27,
May 4). $13 (online), $15 (at the gate), $10 (April 25 only), free (children 12 and under). Old
Town Spring off Aldine Westfield Road. www.texascrawfishfestival.com
7214 FM 1488, Ste. 101
Magnolia • 281-356-2337
www.texasbeergarden.com
Hours: Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 11–2 a.m.
Crawfish availability: Thursday through Sunday during
crawfish season
Price: $6.99 per pound of boiled crawfish
Texas Crawfish Barn
May 3–4
Hours: Thu.–Fri. 4–9 p.m.; Sat.–Sun. noon–9 p.m.
Crawfish availability: Seasonal
Price: $5.95 per pound of boiled crawfish
The two-day festival, which is in its third year of existence, offers food, live music and
crawfish. Scheduled to perform May 3 are Ezra Charles & His Texas Blues Band, Bayou Roux
and Texas TNT. Live music on May 4 will include performances by The Fab 5, Mango Punch
and the Posse Band. The event will also include competitive boudin ball and hushpuppy
eating contests.
14540 Cypress Rosehill Road
Cypress • 713-206-8859
www.kyleclay2001.wix.com/texas-crawfish-barn
Tomball Rails & Tails Mudbug Festival
11 a.m.–6 p.m. both days. Free. Tomball’s Historic Downtown Depot, 201 S. Elm St.,
Tomball. www.tomballtx.gov
FREE DOCUMENT SHRED DAY
SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH 8:00AM - 4:00PM
281-364-4828 No Hardcovers or 3 Ring Binders Please
Located at 8111 Ashlane Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382
At the corner of Ashlane Way & McBeth Way
One block off of Woodlands Parkway on Ashlane Way
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
FEATURES
David Pollan
26
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Stagecoach is located between Tomball and Magnolia in the southwest corner of Montgomery County.
HISTORY
TEXAS
Stagecoach, Texas
City maintains small, quaint environment
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he city of Stagecoach got its
start when Thomas J. Stansbury
obtained four areas of land on Jan.
15, 1847, by a land grant from the state
of Texas. W. L. Schweinle purchased the
land in 1926 and operated a sawmill on
Sulphur Creek until it was closed during
the Great Depression. Then in the late 1950s, Real Estate
Diversified Inc. of Houston subdivided
and platted the area, and the name Stagecoach Farms was chosen by the developers, which was intended to pay homage to
a stagecoach line that passed through the
area during the 19th century as well as
the small farms that had been in the area,
according to the city’s website.
Located between Tomball and Magnolia
in the southwest corner of Montgomery
County, a short distance from Hwy. 249,
the city center of Stagecoach is tucked
away in the back of the town so one can
see the homes surrounding its two lakes—
Lake Hardin and the larger Lake Apache.
The first road in Stagecoach, now called
Shady Oaks Drive, is lined with some of
the first homes built in the city. Campbell
Meath and his wife were the first family to
own a home in Stagecoach Farms in 1958. The population of Stagecoach was 340 in
1990 and 455 in 2000. The current population is 538, according to the 2010 census.
“We are getting close to maximum
capacity as there aren’t many lots left
for building,” City Secretary Brenda
Rutt said. “There are two houses under
construction.”
In 1965, the Stagecoach Farms Civic
Club was created to maintain the lakes
and parks in the area, and the club still
owns them today. Since its inception, the
civic club has played a significant role in
the development of the city, from building
barges, restrooms and pavilions to erecting entry, street and traffic signs.
In 1967 and 1968, the Stagecoach Farms
Home Demonstration Club was formed
and submitted Nevaire Richardson as a
nominee for the Montgomery County Contemporary Woman of the Year. Richardson
was chosen for the honor. She and her husband, Joe, were active members of the community and had been living in Stagecoach
the longest before both died in 2013.
The city was incorporated in 1974
and at the time had 72 homes, about six
weekend homes and a population in the
city of about 165 residents. Sandy Henshaw designed the city flag after winning
a contest in 2005.
With the exception of the city secretary
and two police officers, all of the work in
Stagecoach is done through community
volunteers, Rutt said.
Connor Webster, who has been a resident
since the 1960s, is now the person who has
lived in the city the longest. He had been a
judge for the city, even holding jury trials
in a garage at one point, Rutt said. Carolyn
Cox, a resident, is now the municipal judge.
Before the city center was constructed,
residents would open their homes up for
City Council meetings. They even held
elections at the park before there was
electronic voting, Rutt said.
Stagecoach had at one time looked into
annexing the entire Stagecoach Road, but
ended up keeping things the way they
were. The aim of the city is to continue to
be a quiet residential area, Rutt said.
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
FEATURES
REGIONAL
Abridged stories from our Houston metro editions
27
Full stories online at impactnews.com
TOP STORIES
Employment opportunities expand
THE WOODLANDS Home values
have risen substantially across south
Montgomery County during the last
five years, and with notices soon to be
mailed out by the Montgomery Central Appraisal District in March, residents can expect their property values
to see yet another spike in 2014.
MCAD Chief Appraiser Mark Castleschouldt said home values are rising
countywide and across the state—particularly in cities and communities surrounding metropolitan areas—and The
Woodlands area has seen a substantial
increase over the past five years, as average home values in The Woodlands rose
10.9 percent from 2009 to 2013.
Although much of the value increases
are because of population growth,
Castleschouldt said home values have
risen because of the lack of new home
construction and the rising demand for
homes in the area.
“For values to increase, somebody has
to want it,” Castleschouldt said. “You
have to follow the old rule of economics. It’s really a supply and demand type
situation. If you want a house and there’s
a limited supply, then prices are going to
go up.”
Homes in Montgomery County are
appraised annually based on home sales
and the sale prices of homes within
communities, Castleschouldt said.
MCAD uses mass appraisal techniques
to determine fair prices for homes within
particular areas.
“It is impossible to do an independent
CY-FAIR private education, oil
and gas, health care and management of companies are among
the fastest growing areas of
28,318
30,000
+20%
employment in the 12 ZIP codes
25,528
that unofficially make up the Cy+17%
Fair boundaries. Between 2008
25,000
The job market in the
and 2013, total jobs in Cy-Fair
12 ZIP codes making
increased by 8 percent, compared
up the Cy-Fair area
20,000
to a roughly 4 percent increase
has seen significant
growth since 2008.
in Houston during that time.
“The north and northwest
2008
2013
15,000
Houston areas are looking particularly robust right now as areas
8,705
that are primed for employment
10,000
+25%
growth,” said Patrick Jankowski,
vice president of the Greater
4,172
2,952
Houston Partnership. “Some peo5,000 +36%
+21%
ple are saying the northwest area
could become a second energy
0
corridor, or an ‘energy wedge’
with I-10 and I-45 as the boundaries and the Grand Parkway
coming in to serve as the arc.”
Given Houston’s reputation
growing industries in Cy-Fair between
as the oil and gas capital of the U.S., it is
2008 and 2013 are management of comnot surprising to see oil, gas and minpanies, health care/social assistance and
ing positions coming in as the secondaccommodation/food service.
fastest growing job sector in the Cy-Fair
Among the most significant factors
area, Jankowski said, pointing out that
contributing to Cy-Fair’s strong job
it was only a matter of time before those
market is the development of the Grand
positions began to spill over into the
Parkway—a highway serving as an outer
booming northwest Houston area. The
loop around northwest Houston congrowth in private education can be tied
necting I-10 to Hwy. 59—and the relocato more private schools opening up and
tion of major corporations to the area,
the importance of education to people in
the Cy-Fair area.
such as ExxonMobil and Noble Energy.
Rounding out the top five fastest
Full story by Shawn Arrajj
Full story by Matt Stephens
Shawn Arrajj
Cypress Rosehill Rd.
14540 Cypress Rosehill Road
Cypress • 713-206-8859
Hours: Sat.–Sun. noon–9 p.m.
Full story by Matt Stephens
Souce: Texas Workforce Commission
Ga
s
M
an
ag
em
en
t
He
alt
h
ca
re
Fo
od
se
rv
ice
il
O
Sawdust Rd.
.
Rd
290
ill
d.
ess R
Cypr
g
n
i
r
Sp
sM
THE WOODLANDS It is not hard to
find the regulars at Woodlands Fine
Cigars. Walking in the front door,
there is bound to be one or two seated
and enjoying another cigar, having the
same conversations they have tossed
around since the shop first opened
its doors nearly two decades ago.
“It’s a lot like ‘Cheers,’” said Chuck
Wellman, a customer at Woodlands
Fine Cigars for 15 years. “The guys
up here are great. We’ve become good
friends.”
Owner Mike Gager takes pride in the
casual atmosphere the shop provides,
comparing the experience to an oldschool barber shop offering more than
900 types of cigars.
an
CY-FAIR With crawfish season in full
swing, the Bennett family in Cypress
has brought back the Texas Crawfish
Barn for another year. Run by Brian
and Francie Bennett, the barn gives
residents the chance to pick up fresh
Louisiana mudbugs by the pound,
which can be consumed in a picnic
area on-site or taken home to enjoy.
The concept for the crawfish barn
was inspired by a friend of the owners
who runs a similar restaurant in Crosby
called Crawfish Shack. The increasing
popularity of crawfish festivals around
Houston and the lack of places for
people to buy them in bulk led Brian
and Francie to launch their own version
in Cy-Fair.
og
Woodlands Fine Cigars
Gr
Texas Crawfish Barn
Full story by Shawn Arrajj
&
l
io
na
at
uc
BUSINESS
Matt Stephens
DINING
Ed
appraisal on every single property in
Montgomery County,” he said. “We
break them down into neighborhoods.
We’re not going to value lake front property the same as golf course property, or
property that’s interior or property that’s
out in the country. They’re all grouped in
a similar manner.”
Growth has a significant effect on
annual home values, Castleschouldt
said, whether it is population growth
or the addition or expansion of businesses within a region. However, with
a shrinking supply of new homes being
built and existing homes on the market,
the rising population growth and influx
of new business exacerbates the housing
demand.
“It’s not just people moving in, it’s
businesses moving in,” he said. “Exxon
going [in] across in Harris County has
made a significant difference in southern Montgomery County. If you move
that many people down here, with the
numbers we’re already getting, then the
supply’s going to shrink even more.”
Tim Welbes, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company, said the
entire Houston area is experiencing a similar supply shortage and increased housing demand. A slowdown in construction
because of financial constraints after the
recession and a labor shortage in the construction industry have hindered developers to keep up with the 140,000 new
people moving annually to the Greater
Houston area, Welbes said.
(To t al J o bs)
S. Montgomery County home values rising
582 Sawdust Road
Spring • 281-296-0202
woodlandsfinecigars.com
Hours: Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sat. 10
a.m.–6 p.m. closed Sun.
28
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
Baker Hughes
Continued from | 1
the property, Tomball City Manager George Shackelford said. The
training well does not go down
into the water and is safe and
cased in concrete, he said.
“The well will allow them to do
training out there on a 24-hour
basis,” Shackelford said. “That’s live
training. It doesn’t get any better
than that. They are training these
people to go out on these wells.”
Economic stimulus
The Baker Hughes education
center is expected to bring in 5,500
trainees per month, or 66,000 per
year, Violette said. The total net
benefit to the city of Tomball is
estimated to be $7.8 million in the
first 10 years. Violette said the net
benefit includes all the direct and
indirect benefits to the city, which
includes the sales, property, utility and hotel occupancy tax revenues generated from the visitors
and the employees, and jobs created by the center. This figure also
takes into account any costs the
city may incur.
The city of Tomball annexed
the 100-acre site where the campus is located into the city limits
and provided Baker Hughes with
a tax abatement for 10 years for
the building and improvements,
Shackelford said. The tax abatement means Baker Hughes does
not have to pay property taxes
on the building for 10 years. The
land, however, is still taxable.
By annexing the Baker Hughes
facility within city limits, it allows
the city to benefit economically in
a number of ways, he said.
“The 66,000 [people] per year
coming through that facility is
Developments coming soon
to Tomball
Zion
The Baker Hughes Western Hemisphere Education Center is set to open soon in Tomball and is expected to bring thousands of trainees through the facility each month. As
a result of this influx, there are a number of projects underway in and around the city
to help accommodate the projected 5,500 people a month coming to Tomball.
Road
Baker Driv
e
4
P ar k w
249
Mahaffey R o a d
ay
Source: City of Tomball, TEDC
3
ll
Tomba
S. Cherry Street
1
Holderrieth Road
2978
2920
2920
Medical Complex Drive
249
Holderri eth Road
Tomball city limits
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2978
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A traffic light that will
be installed at the
Hufsmith-Kohrville Road
and Holderrieth Road
intersection is in the final
design phase.
Plans to widen HufsmithKohrville Road from just
south of Willow Creek
Estates to Holderrieth Road
are also underway.
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
going to have a tremendous impact
on the economy,” Shackelford said.
“They are going to stay here, they
are going to eat here and shop here.”
Shackelford said he is not going
to increase any spending in the
2014–15 budget and is holding
off until he sees some history as to
the revenue increases the city will
see by having thousands come
each month.
Tomball business owners are
also anticipating the arrival of
thousands of people to the area.
David Frey, owner of Frey’s Backyard Café, said the area is growing at a very fast pace and businesses, restaurants and hotels will
all benefit.
“More people means more
mouths to feed and [fewer] people
means we all go broke,” Frey said.
“It’s a good thing for everyone.”
Hotel occupancy
With the anticipated arrival of
thousands of trainees each month
through Tomball, the city’s hotels
will be filling up, which will help
build the city’s coffers through
hotel occupancy tax revenues,
Shackelford said.
“That’s basically 5,000 room
nights a day,” he said. “Let’s just
say that half of them drive or are
within driving distance, that’s still
2,500 room nights every day. That’s
a huge impact on the economy.”
Violette said interest from hotel
developers has increased significantly over the last few months
from those looking to build hotels
2978
Peck Station
2920
on the east side of the city near the
new Baker Hughes campus and
the Tomball Business and Technology Park.
“There has been a lot of interest in the east side of town due
to Baker Hughes, the business
park and the road improvements,
which make it a more attractive
area,” she said. “The first development that goes in on the east side
will be the catalyst for continued
growth. We are definitely going
to see continued growth on Tomball’s east side.”
There are two new hotels that
will be built in and near Tomball in the coming years. A fourstory, 94-room Staybridge Suites
is scheduled to break ground in
August at FM 2920 and Mahaffey
Road, an area that lies outside
Tomball’s city limits but is in close
proximity to the city’s east side,
said Bruce Hillegeist, president of
the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce.
A Holiday Inn Express with 74
rooms will be built within Tomball
city limits near Hwy. 249 and Medical Complex Drive, Shackelford
said. A mixed-use planned development called Peck Station—which
would contain multifamily housing, commercial and office space,
and a hotel—has been proposed by
developers to be built near FM 2978
and Snook Lane, he said.
HOT revenues
With one hotel planned within
the city limits and another
Baker Hughes
Western
Hemisphere
Education
Center
2920
Baker Hughes Pressure
Pumping Technology Center
3
A mixed-use planned development known as Peck Station, which
will offer multifamily housing, commercial space and a hotel has
been proposed to be built in close proximity to the two Baker Hughes
facilities.
Mahaffey Road
A four-story, 94-room Staybridge Suites is scheduled to break ground
in August at the northwest corner of FM 2920 and Mahaffey Road.
4
proposed to be within the city
limits, the hotel occupancy tax
revenues are expected to increase,
Tomball Marketing Director Mike
Baxter said. Hotel occupancy tax
revenues are used for a myriad of
purposes, which include funding
the city’s marketing department.
The city holds seven festivals
throughout the year, which are
designed to be a tool for generating economic growth in the Tomball area, he said.
“Any funds coming into our
program is a big benefit for us,”
Baxter said. “It will not only help
us to stage larger events with bigger name talent as a headliner, it
helps us down to being able to
advertise the events more, outside
of just the metro area.”
It is unknown how much hotel
occupancy tax revenues will
increase as a result of two new
hotels, but Baxter said he and
Shackelford project it to be around
$150,000 per year. However, the
city will not see those benefits
until the 2016 fiscal year, which is
largely dependent on how fast the
new hotels are built, Baxter said.
Find related stories at impactnews.com.
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Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
Results for the STAAR tests given to students in grades three through eight in Tomball and Magnolia ISD in 2013
were released in late January. The following shows how each grade level scored in each subject and draws
comparisons to the average scores in the state and each ISDs respective region.
Grade 3
Subject
Reading
Math
Grade 4
Reading
Mathematics
Writing
Grade 5
Reading
Mathematics
Science
Reading
Mathematics
Reading
Mathematics
Writing
Reading
Mathematics
Science
Take the poll online at impactnews.com/tom-poll
Do you agree with the changes to decrease the number of
end-of-course exams for high school students?
Social
Studies
Year
TISD
Region
04
MISD
Region
06
State
2013
91%
81%
83%
83%
81%
2012
89%
79%
82%
80%
78%
2013
84%
71%
73%
75%
70%
2012
84%
71%
74%
72%
69%
2013
86%
73%
76%
75%
72%
2012
91%
78%
81%
80%
77%
2013
89%
72%
72%
73%
69%
2012
87%
73%
73%
74%
69%
2013
82%
72%
72%
73%
70%
2012
84%
73%
71%
73%
72%
2013
90%
77%
76%
78%
77%
2012
90%
79%
82%
78%
78%
2013
92%
76%
75%
77%
74%
2012
89%
80%
80%
78%
78%
2013
87%
74%
74%
75%
73%
2012
85%
75%
79%
76%
73%
2013
89%
74%
75%
75%
72%
2012
89%
78%
81%
79%
76%
2013
92%
76%
76%
78%
74%
2012
90%
79%
82%
81%
77%
2013
87%
80%
80%
80%
78%
2012
90%
80%
85%
79%
77%
2013
88%
73%
76%
73%
72%
2012
71%
73%
77%
74%
71%
2013
81%
73%
75%
73%
71%
2012
87%
75%
77%
75%
73%
2013
94%
84%
84%
84%
83%
2012
81%
83%
87%
82%
88%
2013
89%
78%
78%
81%
76%
2012
87%
75%
78%
79%
73%
2013
87%
78%
81%
79%
75%
2012
81%
74%
82%
72%
71%
2013
80%
67%
71%
67%
64%
2012
61%
64%
73%
62%
61%
Source: Texas Education Agency
TEKS curriculum
Texas has a list of all the Texas Essential Knowledge Skills for every grade
level and every subject, which the law
requires all schools teach and is the basis
for all questions on the STAAR exam,
TISD Director of Communications Staci
Stanfield said.
Teachers prepare their students for the
STAAR by teaching the required TEKS
as the main focus of the curriculum. The
TEKS, which was created by teachers and
approved by the state, is designed to provide
students with the knowledge and learning
strategies to be successful in higher education or the workforce, she said.
“The STAAR test is one of many methods we use to determine the effectiveness
of our instruction and to identify areas that
need improvement,” Stanfield said. “Some
students with special needs are provided
alternative versions of the STAAR test, but
all students are provided an opportunity to
master the grade level standards.”
MISD also places a strong emphasis on
teaching the required TEKS and emphasizes application, analysis and problem
solving, Hebert said. The TEKS standards
are rigorous, much like the STAAR exam,
and proper teaching of these standards
will allow students to be successful on the
STAAR exam, she said.
“We work to minimize ‘test practice,’
focusing instead on mastery of the skills
STAAR exams
The purpose of the STAAR exams is
to determine if students are prepared to
move forward, Stanfield said. At the lower
levels it determines if the student is ready
to advance to the next grade level. At the
high school level, the end-of-course exams
are used to determine if the student is adequately prepared for post-secondary education or workplace entry, she said.
“The STAAR program is a more rigorous testing program than the former
TAKS test,” Hebert said. “It was designed
to measure student readiness for the next
grade and ultimately for college and career
preparation. Its focus is on application of
skills, higher-level analysis and multistep
problem solving.” All students in grades three through
eight are required to take the appropriate
STAAR test, and all high school students
are required to take the five end-of-course
exams, Stanfield said.
High school students who fail to pass
the end-of-course exams will have multiple opportunities to retest. Often, students
who fail the exam will move ahead and
will receive tutorial instruction the following year to help them pass the retest,
Hebert said.
Students in the fifth and eighth grades
are required to pass the STAAR mathematics and reading tests to advance to
the sixth and ninth grades, respectively.
Students who do not pass these tests are
provided with three additional opportunities to pass and advance to the next grade,
Stanfield said.
If a student still does not pass, then
teachers and principals meet with the parents to take into consideration grades and
other factors to determine what is in the
best interest of the student. If the student
is advanced to the next grade, a plan will be
implemented to help the student prepare
for the next test, she said.
“There has been a correlation to grades
in the classroom and scores on the STAAR
exam because the material tested on the
exam is the same material that is taught
in the classroom,” Stanfield said. “Seldom
does a student who makes stellar grades
in the classroom fail to be successful on
the STAAR. A student might have a bad
day or not try on the test, but if they are
prepared, they should pass the test by the
third administration.”
Tomball & Magnolia ISD
2013 STAAR test
Grade 6
students are now required to pass five
STAAR end-of-course exams to meet the
new graduation requirements, said State
Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia. Before HB5
was passed, high school students had to
take 15 end-of-course exams. The five
assessments under HB 5 include Algebra I,
English I, English II, biology and U.S. history, all of which must be passed to be eligible to graduate from a Texas public high
school, he said.
HB 5 also eliminated the 15 percent
grading requirement, which stated that
a student’s score on the STAAR end-ofcourse exams would have counted for 15
percent of the student’s final grade in each
tested subject area. The STAAR end-ofcourse cumulative score component was
also eliminated, Bell said.
“We are happy the legislature listened to
the parents and helped us not be so testfocused by reducing the number of tests at
the high school level,” said Anita Hebert,
assistant superintendent for curriculum at
MISD. “We were required to administer
15 and now it’s five, and we are happy they
listened to us because now students don’t
have to be so focused on passing a bunch of
tests to graduate.”
Hebert said changes to STAAR testing
for elementary students in grades three
through eight were proposed by the Legislature but did not pass, so no changes were
made to the tests administered or the time
allotted for each test.
and thinking required in the curriculum,”
Hebert said. “Our teachers plan interesting
lessons that involve the students in higher
level learning and check student progress
throughout the year in both informal and
formal ways. Our goal is that students will
be successful on the STAAR exam due to
high quality instruction in the classroom
every day.”
Grade 7
Continued from | 1
Grade 8
STAAR
32
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
REAL ESTATE
Data compiled by
Keller Williams - The Woodlands & Magnolia
281-356-5858 | KWmagnolia.com
Featured Neighborhood
Villages of Northpointe, Tomball, 77377
Overview
Featured homes
Build-out year: 2010
Builders: Multiple
19015 Rustling Ridge Lane
13118 Milstream Bend Lane
4 Bedroom / 3.5 Bath
3,467 sq. ft.
$299,000
Agent: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Gary Greene, Amy Lippincott,
832-392-8818
4 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath
2,688 sq. ft.
$229,000
Agent: RE/MAX Legends, Ronnie Matthews,
281-440-7900
18706 Condrey Court
18515 N. Bristol Point Lane
4 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath
2,948 sq. ft.
$215,000
Agent: Keller Williams Realty Professionals, Joy Fraley,
281-802-2968
3 Bedroom / 2 Bath
1,436 sq. ft.
$176,500
Agent: Weddington Realty, Pamela Saenz-Valle,
832-253-4974
Square footage: 1,970–6,200
Home values: $120,000–$350,000
HOA dues (estimated): $650
Amenities: Swimming Pool, Park, Hike & Bike Trails
Chrissy Leggett
Nearby attractions: Lake Conroe, Willowbrook Mall
Northp ointe B
l vd
.
Property taxes:
Harris County
Harris County Department fo Education
Harris County Esd 16
Harris County Flood Control
Harris County Hospital
Harris County Mud 281
Harris County Emsd 11
Lone Star College System District
Northpointe Wcid
Port Of Houston Authority
0.4146
0.0064
0.0492
0.0283
0.1700
0.8600
0.0475
0.1160
0.3850
0.0172
Total (per $100 value)
2.0942
Homes on the market (As of March 2014)
No. of homes for sale
4
No. of homes under contract
5
Average days on the market
46
Annual home sales (Jan. 1, 2013–Jan. 31, 2014)
249
No. of homes sold
117
Square footage (low/high)
N. Eldridge Pkwy.
1,882/3,869
Selling price (low/high)
$139,500 / $340,000
Market Data
On the market (March 2014)
Monthly home sales
Number of homes for sale/ Average days on the market
Number of homes sold/ Average price
Price Range
77354
77355
77362
77375
77377
Price Range
77354
77355
77362
77375
77377
Less than $100,000
12/99
28/186
3/51
27/54
7/195
March 2014
32/$325,558
21/$286,846
2/$123,500
62/$223,152
39/$239,256
$100,000–$149,999
16/59
13/62
0
37/68
4/27
March 2013
29/$232,129
23/$219,608
3/$195,050
59/$170,591
29/$232,129
$150,000–$199,999
19/41
12/95
2/77
44/110
36/96
February 2014
17/$269,323
36/$268,677
2/$182,500
42/$157,584
27/$239,839
$200,000–$299,999
20/96
10/91
1/68
25/87
20/81
January 2014
36/$258,722
17/$259,352
2/$180,650
42/$153,397
27/$229,098
$300,000–$399,999
19/76
13/66
3/108
21/81
8/72
December 2013
47/$277,000
26/$263,000
2/$141,000
76 /$216,000
56 /$261,000
$400,000–$499,999
11/100
8/82
1/27
8/80
2/85
November 2013
51/$283,900
49/$266,000
2/$104,338
83/$196,000
51/$226,400
$500,000–$749,999
7/130
19/96
1/67
21/106
4/45
October 2013
46/$281,000
34/$213,000
4/$263,000
73/$150,000
37/$254,000
$750,000–$999,999
7/115
5/155
0
11/81
4/128
September 2013
67/$295,714
37/$294,880
9/$137,568
94/$185,543
74/$237,271
$1 million +
4/130
11/140
2/540
6/86
2/281
August 2013
56/$278,999
39/$226,727
5/$159,213
71/$153,148
54/$192,518
the woodlands & magnolia
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N. Cherry
N. Oak
Commerce St.
Peach St.
Houston St.
www.grannyskorner.com
Great retail therapy provided!
Tyler St.
Mixture
M
i t off primitives,
i itti
shabby
h bb chic,
hi antiques,
ti
jewelry,
j l fabulous
f b l
junk
j k
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St.
.
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M
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El
N.
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S. C
Florence St.
201 MARKET ST. • TOMBALL, TEXAS 77375
281-351-8903 • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Check out o
LAY-A-WAY AVAILABLE
WE CLEAN ORIENTAL RUGS
Check out our s
Celebrating 20 years, a ProSteem Company
Sandwiches, Soups, Ice
Cream, Milk Shakes,
Malts, Ice Cream Sodas,
Sundaes, Banana Splits and
Homemade Specials!
A ProSteem Company
“Spot” leaves spots....let us
clean your oriental rug
102 Market Street
Tomball, TX 77375
281-516-1942
RUG CLEANING
Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday 11-6pm
Friday - Saturday 11-8pm
Sunday 12 - 6pm | Closed Monday
of
Free cup
soup
Cannot be combined with any other offer, one
coupon per customer. Expires 5-15-14
pick up and delivery
Cannot be combined with other offers.
Call for information. 281-255-0024. Expires 5/15/14
Restrictions apply. Expires 5/15/14
call for details
See our process at www.AmericanRugCleaning.com
Located in the Barns at the Depot across from the Historic Depot Plaza
with
purchase
of any
sandwich
free
2 0 % C a s h & C a r ry
Discount
RUG CLEANING
RUG REPAIR
PET ODOR REMOVAL
PROTECTIVE COATING
CUSTOM FIT RUG PAD
MOTH GUARD
BUY
ONE
Free
ice cream kid cone or cup
get one
Cannot be combined with any other offer, one coupon
per customer. Expires 5-15-14
281-255-0024
212 E. M A I N S T. TOMBALL , TX 77375
www.AmericanRugCleaning.com
Other services available: carpet cleaning - tile cleaning - upholstery cleaning
Up to a $200 dollar value. Restrictions apply.
WWW
WW
36
More coupons online at impactdeals.com
IMPACT DEALS
Unique Fashons
Jeans
Macie Bean Boots
6
S
TX
J
DeGayner Home Services
Corky Flip Flops
Jewelry - Belts - Purses
and More
No Job is too big or too small
Residential & Commercial • Interior & Exterior • Insured & Bonded
SIX SHOOTER JUNCTION
YOU WILL LOVE OUR PRICES!
17645 FM 1488
Magnolia, TX 77354
149
1488
281-259-7134
6
S
TX
J
$5 OFF
ANY PURCHASE OF
$25 OR MORE
With Coupon. Not valid w/any
other offer. Exp 5/15/14.
$10 OFF
ANY PURCHASE OF
$50 OR MORE
With Coupon. Not valid w/any
other offer. Exp 5/15/14.
Powerwashing • Roofing • Fencing • Painting • Flooring
Landscaping • Moving Services • Property Maintenance
510 10th St.
Hempstead, TX, 77445
979-921-9011
$20 OFF
ANY PURCHASE OF
$100 OR MORE
With Coupon. Not valid w/any
other offer. Exp 5/15/14.
Champion Oaks
$100 OFF
DRAPERY
Custom Draperies • Pillows• Roman Shades
FREE
In-Home
Consultation
832-524-1127
WWW.CHAMPIONOAKSDRAPERY.COM
any service over $500. Promo Code: Impact
832-330-4166 • degaynerhomeservices@yahoo.com
Crawdaddy's Cajun Cafe
Where the BUGS are hot and the BEER is cold!
We do beer, wine and ‘ritas
• Kids eat free on Tuesday
• Steak Night on Wednesday
• Karaoke Family Fun! on Friday
Open Mon-Thurs. 4-9pm
Fri. & Sat. 12-11pm
Sun. 12-8pm
(2.5 Miles West of FM 2978 on FM 1488)
Lake Windcrest
Golf Club
FM 2978
FM 1488
Pa ty-C aw
at Crawdaddy’s
ad a
a
ad
Live
Crawfish
h
for Sale
Free
$5 Off
With any
order of $20
or more
With purchase
of $20 or more!
Appetizer
Must present coupon. Not valid with
any other offer. Expires 5/15/14.
Dine-in only. With this coupon.
Excludes alcohol. Expires 5/15/14.
9311 FM 1488 Magnolia, 281-789-7568
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
IMPACT DEALS
TopChic
AUTO TINT SPECIAL
$
TRUCK ACCESSORIES
Guards • Bugshields • Tool Boxes
Nerf Bars • Grille G
Billet Grilles • BE
BEDCOVERS and so much more!
281-351-1925
281-3
SPRAY ON BED LINERS
COMMERCIAL OR
RESIDENTIAL TINT
50OFF
$15
Color Services
GET
(Reg. Price)
With coupon. Minimum 200 sq ft.
Expires 5/15/14
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT • LIFETIME WARRANTY CHEMICAL
RESISTANT RUST/CORROSION • RESISTANT UP TO 1/4” THICK
27920 Tomball Pkwy, Suite 240
281-351-4372
familyfarmhealth.com
Hwy. 249
FM 2920
Hair Studio
With coupon. Expires 5/15/14
$
27503 Tomball P
Pwy #9, Tomball 77375
(Reg. Price)
COMPLETE VEHICLE TINT
· Computerized Cut Film
· Lifetime Warranty 25 Years
Experience
Theis Ln.
OFF
exp 5/15/14. Cannot be combined w/any other offer
281.251.6700 • 11407 Spring Cypress Rd, Ste. 450, Tomball, TX 77377
The way you look is our business!
281-259-0333
*Across
from Goodson’s
277 Magnolia Blvd.
(corner of FM 1774 & Nichols Sawmill)
281-259-3400
NEW HOLISTIC SERVICES!
32502 FM 2978, Ste. A
Acupuncture, Raindrop Therapy, Reiki,
Cranial Sacral Therapy, Touch of Healing.
Call or come by to book your appointment!
$5.00
OFF
A Retail Purchase
of $20 or more!
Expires 4/30/14
*ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER PER VISIT
FM 1488
(across from Ainsworth Meat Market)
l Rd.
wmil
ls Sa
Nicho
FM 1774
Tinters
10OFF
Research Forest
FM 2
978
Tomball
37
FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY IN THE MAGNOLIA AREA
5 OFF
$
$
10 OFF
1.19 each
$
Any $20 Dry Cleaning Order
Any $30 Dry Cleaning Order
Shirts Laundered with Dry Cleaning
Must present coupon at drop off. Limit one per
customer. Not valid with any other offer.
Expires 5-15-14
Must present coupon at drop off. Limit one per
customer. Not valid with any other offer.
Expires 5-15-14
Must present coupon at drop off. Limit one per
customer. Not valid with any other offer.
Expires 5-15-14
Expires 5/15/2014 CI
Expires 5/15/2014 CI
Expires 5/15/2014 CI
Expires 5/15/2014 CI
38
More coupons online at impactdeals.com
IMPACT DEALS
Handmade Boots, Shoes, Belts, Equestrian Boots, and Custom Gun Holsters
RICCA
BOOTS AND SHOES
MADE TO MEASURE
103 WEST MAIN ST.
TOMBALL, TX 77375
281-255-6067
$200 OFF
New and Gently Used Designer Brand
Prom Dresses in oday’s styles for a
fraction of Reail Prices.
S
for some
Credit Repair Specialist/Consultant
Spring
281.808.0598
Cleaning!
www.carmelascreditrepair.com
$25 OFF with this coupon
Get ready for P
rom!
Ladies Designer Consignment Boutique
290
Carmela Gamber
EXPIRES 5/15/14
ANew-U
ng
pr i
Get Ready
FIRST ORDER OF CUSTOM BOOTS OR SHOES.
RICCABOOTSHOP.COM
249
Credit Repair Service
FREE
Walk Gate
FREE ESTIMATES
281-356-2496 • www.acefence.com
CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
A 3ft. gate with purchase of
100 ft. of fence. With coupon
only. Expires 5/15/14
FM 2920
ess Rd.
Cypr
960
Serving the Tomball and Magnolia area for over 35 years
FM 1
$5 off of $30
“A fence to you, a reputation to us.”
Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Offer.
Must Have Coupon. Exp. 5/15/14
Earn EXTRA $$ Consignmens Acceped Daily. Call for deails
11407 Spring Cypress Road | Tomball, 77377 | 281 . 257. 8989 | Monday–Saturday 10am – 5:30pm
One call SOLVES IT ALL
PEST & TERMITE • RODENT & WILDLIFE • LAWN & LANDSCAPE • POOL & SPA • AC & HEATING • SECURITY
LAWN & LANDSCAPE
HOME & COMMERCIAL SERVICES
3HVW‡3RRO‡/DZQ‡ $&‡+HDWLQJ‡6HFXULW\
TPCL#6398
LI#0018431
B-17954 ACR-1764910
TACLB56387E
PEST, TERMITE
& ANIMAL TRAPPING
HVAC & SECURITY
713-730-9500
ABCHomeandCommercialHouston.com
CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER
OFFER. EXPIRES 6/1/2014
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
IMPACT DEALS
39
MVP LIQUOR
LARGE SELECTION OF LIQUOR, BEER, KEGS, WINE, CIGARS, & CIGARETTES
6606 FM 1488 ROAD
(NEXT TO KROGER)
MAGNOLIA, TX 77354
936.321.0036
5% DISCOUNT FOR LIQUOR BY THE CASE
FREE BAG OF ICE
W/ANY $15 PURCHASE. EXP. 5/15/14
Baker’s Hardwood Floors
C U S T O M
F L O O R S
F O R
Y O U R
C U S T O M
H O M E
Fre
Est
ima
281-658-9254
4
e
tes
!
special
iz
in sandin ing
g and
refinish
ing
of all w
ood
floors!
Why replace what you can repair?
FREE ESTIMATES • NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL
G E N E R AT O R S
• A U T O M AT I C S TA N D B Y F O R Y O U R H O M E O R B U S I N E S S
Life is better
with
PECOS
GRILLING COMPANY
power
28900 TOMBALL PKWY
TOMBALL, TX 77375
(281) 290-9200
Visit website for full menu
www.pecosgrillingco.com
Up to
Pecos Grill is now a smoke-free environment.
10 Year
Warranty
Having the right generator
installed in your home is the key
to an easy mind during any storm
or power outage. Wired Electrical
Services will do a turnkey
installation of your generator.
Your Next
Service Call
Limited time offer. Limit one
per address per year. Not to
be combined with any other
discount or offer.
Electrical Services
ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS FINANCING AVAILABLE
Master #100394 TECL #22809
AK HOUSE
$30
OFF
*call for details
Electrical Services
STE
• Panel Upgrades
• New Construction
• Home Inspections
• Troubleshooting
• Remodeling
• Repair & Service
• Structured Wiring
• Landscape Lighting
• TV Install/ Mounting
• Recessed Lighting
• Home Generators
• Cable/Phone
713-467-1125 • 281-897-0001 • www.wiredes.com
$5
OFF
$25 or More
BUY ONE
GET ONE ½ OFF
With purchase of 2 beverages
Saturday
S
d
only,
l 11
11am–10pm.
10
Up to $7 Value.
Dine in only.
Limit one coupon/visit/table. Dine in only.
Limit one coupon/visit/table.
Not valid with other offers.
Exp. 5-15-14
½ off meal must be of equal or
lesser value. Not valid with other offers.
Exp. 5-15-14
40
IMPACT DEALS
More coupons online at impactdeals.com
Connected
A GUIDE TO TOMBALL AND MAGNOLIA IN 2014
This one-of-a-kind publication provides
detailed guides to the region’s restaurants,
shops, parks, annual events, transportation,
real estate, education and history.
INSIDE YOUR NEXT ISSUE
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
IMPACT DEALS
Magnolia Wood Mulch
Sweet Magnolia
Pickins Artisans
and Farmers
Market
We Accept Trees & Brush for a Small Fee
Mulch
Tree removal
Soils
Ponds
Compost
Firewood
1st & 3rd Sundays 11am-3pm
FM1488 @ FM1774
Open all year round
Mulch with this ad
Land clearing
one per custom er Ex p.5/15/14
30862 Old Hockley Rd.
www.woodmulch.net
281.907.2333
832-934-2938
www.magnoliafarmersmarket.net
Sponsored by www.dragonweyrfarms.com
Ret ail Therapy
FM 1488
FM 2978
9201 FM 1488 Rd.
(2 miles West of FM 2978)
Monday-Friday 6am-7pm Saturday 8am-3pm
Children’s, ladies, & mens resale shop
Now accepting men’s clothing
Softer Clothing • No Shrinkage • Formal & Wedding Dresses Cleaned & Heirloomed
S
In by 9am, Ready after 5 pm Monday-Friday
5
OFF
10
OFF
$
Local Produce
and handmade
artisan craft
goods
Magnolia
Homegrown / Homemade / Handmade
20% OFF
Road base
41
$
1
$ 39
10782 Grant Road
each
Any $20
Dry Cleaning Order
Any $30
Dry Cleaning Order
Shirts
Laundered with Dry
Cleaning
Must present coupon at drop
off. Limit one per customer.
Not valid with any other offer.
Expires 5-15-14
Must present coupon at drop
off. Limit one per customer.
Not valid with any other offer.
Expires 5-15-14
Must present coupon at drop
off. Limit one per customer.
Not valid with any other offer.
Expires 5-15-14
Houston, Texas 77070
281-955-0806
www.retailtherapyresale.com
25% OFF
Total Purchase
Must present this coupon.
Not to be combined with any
other offers. Expires 5/15/14
Hours: Monday-Friday 10-6 | Saturday 10-5 | Closed Sunday
GRAND OPENING!
BUY ONE BOWL
GET SECOND BOWL
1/2 OFF
For Adult Bowls Only. One coupon per table,
cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 5/10/14.
Sushi & Sashimis Lunch Special Rolls Chef’s Special Rolls Sushi Rolls
Lunch Sushi Combination Sushi Dinner Entrees Super Yummy Classic Stir-Fry
Appetizers Soups Salads Desserts & Ice Cream Cake Kids Menu
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
FREE
Sushi
Roll
with purchase of any
two Chef Special Rolls
One coupon per table, cannot be combined with any
other offer. Expires 5/10/14.
facebook.com/superyummytx
Saw
dust R
d
Budde Rd
www.superyummystirfry.com
588 Sawdust Rd, Spring TX 77380
281-419-7777
1/2 Price
Appetizers
before 4pm
One coupon per table, cannot be combined with any
other offer. Expires 5/10/14.
42
More coupons online at impactdeals.com
IMPACT DEALS
Let us Package & Ship for you
during this Special Occasion!
We’ll get your packages to your
W
destination safely and securely.
$5 OFF packing & shipping with
UPS
UP or FedEx
Eagle Postal Center - EXP 5/31/14
** Ship early for Easter and Mother’s day **
25610 Candy Lane, Magnolia, TX 77355 | 281-877-2002
www.texasvictoriavillage.com | nancyr.victoria@gmail.com
Victoria Village
A Great Place to Call Home
New Home
s
Available
NOW!
SPRING SALE
• Students attend Tomball ISD
• Spacious Kitchens
Mon-Sat 10-6
• Family-Friendly Community
• Pet Friendly
• A great option for College Students!
2 Bedrooms starting at $600
28048 Tomball Parkway • 281-351-9677
facebook.com/DaphneysBoutique
119 Magnolia Blvd. Magnolia, TX 77355 | 281-789-7587
SA$ VE
5
IMPA1381
5/15/2014
MEXICAN
RESTAURANT
Fri. and Sat. Live Music.
Banquet room available for all occasions.
Birthday
Wish-tini.™
DAILY SPECIALS
Dine-in only. Not valid with any other special.
MONDAY & TUESDAY: ALL DAY MARGARITA
AND DRAFT BEER SPECIALS
WEDNESDAY: DINNER FOR 2 - $15.95
THURSDAY: FAJITAS FOR 2 - $5 OFF
SUNDAYS: PARRILLADAS FOR 4 - $10.00 OFF
$5 OFF
With Purchase of 2 Meals & 2 Drinks
Dine-in only. One coupon per table. Not valid with any other special, 1/2 off
margarita days or lunch special menu or on holidays. Expires 5/15/14
DAILY!
Lunch Specials
from
$6.75
Buy one meal, get second meal
half off
Dine-in only. One coupon per table. Not valid with any other special, 1/2 off margarita
days or lunch special menu or on holidays. Expires 5/15/14
www.losarcosmexrest.com
Shake up your next get-together.
Introducing the Fresh-tini™ collection! Five new fresh fruit bouquets
arranged in a stylish martini container. edible.com
14257 FM 2920 Road Suite 170
Tomball, TX 77377
832-559-8793
2820 I45 North Suite 500
Conroe, Texas, 77303
Phone 936-756-6633
*Offer valid at participating locations shown. Containers may vary. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Visit edible.com for
details and restrictions. Edible Arrangements®, the Fruit Basket Logo, and other marks mentioned herein are registered trademarks
of Edible Arrangements, LLC. © 2014 Edible Arrangements, LLC. All rights reserved.
Tomball | Magnolia Edition • April 2014
IMPACT DEALS
WHERE OUR PINKIES
ARE NEVER RAISED!
A Neighborhood Gathering Place
WITH A TEXAS FLAIR!
Texas Beer Garden serves
OVER 30 BEERS
FROM LOCAL BREWERS.
FOOD AND FUN
6 MONTH ANNIVERSARY!
Saturday, April 18th
Cask Beer & Live Music
See website for details.
Serving up
BBQ, BURGERS, TEXAS SAUSAGE,
FRIED STEAK AND MUCH MORE.
We LOVE local and use
TEXAS-BASED
SUPPLIERS AND PRODUCTS
LIVE MUSIC
OUTDOOR PATIO
Come try our Flight of Beer
3 FREE
SMOKED TEXAS WINGS
WITH ENTRÉE PURCHASE. EXP 5/15/14
BEER GARDEN
7214 FM 1488, Ste 101
Magnolia, TX 77354
(1/2 mile west of 2978)
281-356-BEER (2337)
Non-Smoking inside
.
TAMINA RD
Low Country Boil
Crawfish, Shrimp, & Sausage
FM 1488
FM 2978
www.TexasBeerGarden.com
43
Get the most out of your health insurance. Call 281-516-1000.
At Affinity Medical Associates, you’ll find compassionate care for women at every stage of life, including
comprehensive prenatal care, treatment for complicated pregnancies, well-woman care, infertility treatment,
menopausal medicine and minimally invasive procedures. We have multiple locations to serve you in the
northwest Houston area. We accept most insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Ask us about services your
plan may cover at no cost to you.
Elcy John, M.D.
Board-Certified OB/GYN
455 School St., Suite 29
Tomball
Members of the Medical Staff at Tomball Regional Medical Center
Laura Davidson, M.D.
Board-Certified OB/GYN
647 James St., Suite 130
Tomball
AffinityMedTX.com
TOMBALL / MAGNOLIA EDITION
Marianne Peck, M.D.
Board-Certified OB/GYN
455 School St., Suite 29
Tomball
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
COMMUNITY IMPACT
PERMIT NO. 173
77429
Printed on recycled paper
Dedicated to women’s
unique healthcare needs.