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March 19–april 15, 2010VOlUME 1, iSSUE 7

NW Houston communities prone to flooding

CONTINUED ON | 10

Story highlightscopperfield coalition advocates for the residential community’s flood prevention•hearthstone community experiences street flooding in areas near horsepen creek•

Kumon of Fairfield opened in January on Mason Road. The after-school program teaches reading and math for enrichment or remedial work. | 4

The Mueschke Road and Perry Road construction continues in various stages through the northwest Houston area. | 20

The 23rd U.S. census begins in March with residents receiving a 10-question survey used to determine how the federal government will allocate $300 billion in funding. | 21

Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant opened March 2 with an upstairs bar featuring karaoke and salsa dancing. | 4

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District proposed a $711 million budget for the 2010–11 school year at a recent board meeting. more.impactnews.com/7447

Sysco Corporation has purchased a former Hewlett-Packard building in Cypress with plans to create a shared services center over the next several years. more.impactnews.com/7446

What’s Online www.impactnews.com

CONTINUED ON | 12

Through march 21 “South Pacific” Theatre Under the Stars hosts the award-winning musical featuring classic songs. | 5

march 27 1st Annual Miss Cy-Fair Houston Pageant Girls have an opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship. | 5

What’s Ahead

What’s Inside

Local Business Profile

Local gardening centers help residents plant healthy gardens. | 6

The Family Impacts Guide lists area activities for children of all ages. | 16

By Kimberly StaufferIn Harris County, flooding is

a constant occurrence as the flat landscape across Southeast Texas allows the ample rainfall each year to quickly swell bayous, creeks and, most damaging, streets.

SBA loans spur Houston economyGovernment program creates and preserves local jobsBy Kimberly Stauffer

Tasked with creating more jobs and pour-ing dollars back into the economy, the U.S. Small Business Administration Houston Dis-trict Office used a portion of the 2009 stimu-lus package to increase its loan guarantee from 75 percent to 90 percent and waived all borrow fees to promote economic growth in the community.

As of Feb. 26, the federally funded agency returned to its 75 percent guarantee with required fees after it exhausted its stimulus funding. Of the $780 million parceled out from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $375 mil-lion used to increase the guarantee was first emptied in November, but Congress extended the program with an additional $125 million approved in December. Now, the SBA and area banks involved in lending SBA-backed

Northwest Houston commu-nities depend on the creeks and tributaries of the Cypress Creek Watershed to handle the rain. The area is outlined with desig-nated 500-year and 100-year or less floodplains that actually only

loans must wait for Washington to create new legislation to continue the program.Mission statement

The SBA’s mission is twofold—to create new jobs and preserve jobs. Russell Hughes, lead business development specialist with the SBA, said new businesses with 20 employees or less account for 60 percent of all new jobs and rep-resent 50 percent of all jobs. The SBA is respon-sible for more than $20 billion in new loans

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nationally with about 1,100 banks lending with SBA-backed loans in the last year. While lend-ing was down last year in Houston because of the recession, Hughes said the agency is track-ing the 2010 fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, to be similar to one year before the recession that hit in 2008.

Hughes said the recent end of the 90 percent

In fiscal year 2008, which ran from Oct. 1, 2007, •to Sept. 30, 2008, 1,583 loans totaling $409 million were approved in Houston. In fiscal year 2009, 776 loans worth more than $289 million were approved.

The SBA received a total of $780 million from the • $787 billion stimulus package in 2009, $375 million of which was used nationally to raise the 75 percent guarantee to 90 percent and waive all borrowers’ fees to promote economic growth.

Fiscal year 2010, which is Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010, •is tracking to be similar to one year before the recession hit in 2008.

SBA loans Tracking the money

Source: SBA

If interested in learning the steps to apply for a bank loan, see Page 13.

10-year flood

100-year flood

500-year flood

Chance of flooding:

Chance of flooding: Chance of flooding:

0.2% in a single year6% during a 30- year mortgage

1% in a single year26% during a 30-year mortgage

10% in a single year95% during a 30-year mortgage

A CHANCe OF FLOOdINg: What living in a floodplain means

Source: Harris County Flood Control District

cover a small portion of the area.Local projects

The Harris County Flood Con-trol District began the Cypress Creek Stormwater Management Program in 2001, a six-part proj-ect in response to concerns from the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition, a grassroots organi-zation that works with state and local officials. The district has

examined the overall watershed to identify where additional channels could be created to con-tinue facilitating drainage. Using a $600,000 Flood Protection Planning Grant and in partner-ship with the Texas Water Devel-opment Board, the district is out-lining stormwater management

Most floodplains in the northwest Houston area are drawn along creeks and bayous, not across open land.

2 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

It’s New Models aNd Cash

To Houston

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• Buyer incentives up tO $25,000 in trendmaker andnewmark design center upgrades

• register in the welcOme center tO win $500 cash• hurry and Qualify fOr federal tax credits• prize giveaways and refreshments in all mOdels

Immerse yourself in stunning new model homes. Then leap, feet-first,into home-buying seminars, decorating and design displays.

Come out and visit our newest catches, Trendmaker andNewmark Homes. Join us April 10 and April 11, 1pm – 4pm.

067-491 OpenHouse CommImpact 10x12.25 MECH.indd 1 3/8/10 11:07 AM

Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 3

Who We AreWhat is Community Impact Newspaper?Publisher John Garrett began Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 after recognizing the need for intelligently reported news covering north Austin. Four years and eight newspapers later, the northwest Houston newspaper brings the same well-rounded coverage, providing detailed maps, illustrated graphics and in-depth stories exploring important local issues.

Why is it free?Readers will not be billed because the paper is ad supported. Editorial content is never paid for and has a journalistic integrity uncommon for a free publication.

Who gets it?Our paper is mailed monthly to all homes and businesses in the coverage area. We do not mail to post office boxes, but copies are available at the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce and the Community Impact Newspaper office on Jones Road. The articles are available online at www.impactnews.com.

Jason culpepperjculpepper@impactnews.com

My wife and I have what has turned into a weekly discussion of where to spend our Saturday with our 16-month-old son

to “run him,” or get his energy out. We started a weekend tradition of taking one Saturday a month to pick a local restau-rant for family breakfast and then spend-ing the morning at some type of outdoor activity. This allows us to discover the places that make Houston unique, such as the Houston Zoo, the Oil Ranch and Miller Outdoor Theater.

One recent Saturday adventure was to Buffalo Bayou. We were both raised in Houston and have never walked along this downtown destination. It is free, outdoors and provides walking paths along the bayou with waterfalls, and area buildings act as a backdrop. The paths wind through

the edge of downtown and along Allen Parkway. If you are looking to take your adventure to the next level, rent a canoe, kayak or take a boat tour and see the sky-line views from a different perspective.

If you look for activities such as this, or just new places to get out and enjoy your free time, you will find them in our Fam-ily Impacts Guide on Page 16. Most of the places listed are free or have a nominal fee. Lack of time is always going to be an issue, but I hope this listing gives you inspiration to visit one or two of these places in the coming months.

Market Publisher’s Note Contents 4 Community Impacts

5 Community events 6 Business Profiles Local gardening centers Dogwood Dog Training and Sports Center 11 Neighborhood dining Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant 14 Local History Hot Well Hotel and Sanitarium

16 Family Impacts guide 18 Nonprofit Profile Sustainable Living in Houston 19 education Focus Center helps veterans transition 20 Transportation Report Mueschke Road and Perry Road 21 News Report 2010 census takes roll 22 Inside Information Preparing for tax season23 Residential Real estate24 Commercial Real estate

9601 Jones Road, Ste. 222Houston,TX77065•281-469-6181

www.impactnews.com

Publisher / Chief Executive OfficerJohn P. Garrett, jgarrett@impactnews.com

Northwest Houston

Market Publisher | Jason CulpepperMarket Editor | Kimberly StaufferSenior Account Executive | Brittany UtterbackAccount Executive | Christi LoveLead Designer | Rhonda BowersContributing Writers | K. Jenney, Michelle LeBlanc, Josef Molnar, Molly Ryan, Kara Vaught

impactnews.com

General Manager | James Wickett

Editorial management

Associate Publisher | Claire LoveExecutive EditorCathy Kincaid, ckincaid@impactnews.comManaging Editor | Shannon CollettiAssistant Managing Editor | Rebecca NordquistCreative Director | Derek SullivanAd Production Manager | Tiffany Knight

Administrative management

Chief Operating Officer | Jennifer GarrettChief Financial Officer | Darren LesmeisterBusiness Director | Misty PrattCirculation & Operations Manager | David Ludwick

About usCommunity Impact Newspaper is northwest Houston’s first direct mail news organization aimed at delivering necessary and relevant information to more than 105,000 homes and businesses the third Friday of every month. The paper is committed to local, unbiased reporting in the fast-growing Cy-Fair market.

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Contact us

News or press releases | nwhnews@impactnews.comAdvertising inquiries | nwhads@impactnews.com Reader feedback | nwhfeedback@impactnews.com

M • E • D • I • AI N C O R P O R A T E D

©2010 JGMedia, Inc., All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.

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Impact your inboxSign up to receive Community Impact Newspaper’s weekly update featuring local

news, and you automatically will be entered to win a $50 Home Depot gift card. The drawing will be held April 30, 2010.

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Have you seen an increase in the last year in crime in the northwest Houston area?

Are you more inclined to drive to The galleria or visit Houston Premium Outlet for upscale shopping?

See more poll results at impactnews.com/polls

See more poll results at impactnews.com/polls

Yes

50% No

24%Not really

26%

The Galleria

13% Houston Premium Outlet

33%Both

27%Neither

27%Results from an unscientific web survey collected 2/19/2010–3/12/2010

Results from an unscientific web survey collected 2/19/2010–3/12/2010

On page 21, the “Average days on market” in the Market Data section is incorrect. This information has been updated online. more.impactnews.com/7052

February correction

4 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Community Impacts | Northwest houston

News or questions about northwest Houston? E-mail nwhnews@impactnews.com.

NMap not to scale

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Just Opened1 C&T Mortgage LLC opened its first

office in December at 25250 Hwy. 290, Ste. 260. Specializing in mortgage lending and refinancing, company president Tami La Coe Channel said the business’s dual roles as broker and bank works to clients’ advantage as C&T Mortgage can choose from several different lenders to find the lowest rate and closing costs. The company moved to the 1,550-sq.-ft. office after working out of Channel’s home since 2007. Call 832-220-1480 or visit www.cntmtg.com.

2 Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant opened March 2 at 25250 Hwy. 290, Ste. 190. A two-story Mexican restaurant with an upscale bar scene upstairs and restaurant service downstairs, the Cypress location will feature karaoke, drink specials every day, salsa dancing nights and a projector to show UFC fights and games. The 8,700-sq.-ft. restaurant with an upstairs deck and 800 sq. ft. patio will allow residents to experience the downtown bar scene in their own backyard. Call 281-758-4000 or visit www.donjulios.com.

3 The Haston Law Firm, P.C. opened a new office in February at 12807 Jones Road. Moving two doors down from a four-story building where the office leased space, the firm now operates out of its own 4,000-sq.-ft. building practicing family law. Call 281-890-1300 or visit www.hastonlaw.com.

4 Kumon of Fairfield opened in January at 15202 Mason Road, Ste. 500 and is owner Sue McLean’s second location in the Cy-Fair area. An after-school educational program developed in Japan 50 years ago, Kumon teaches reading and math to students age 3 through adults with elementary through high school material and advanced college mathematics. Students enroll in the program for remedial work and learning enrichment. Call 281-703-1955 or visit www.kumonfs.com.

5 Made Ya Smile Dental opened a new office March 17 at 24324 Hwy. 290. Dr. Mike Kesner’s second location, the office offers all phases of dentistry, including general and cosmetic dentistry. A specialty of the office is cosmetic lumineers, which in two weeks give patients permanently white and straight teeth without shots or grinding down

teeth. Dr. Kesner’s office does not charge for exams, X-rays or consultations. The office accepts most dental insurance. Call 281-213-9000 or visit www.madeyasmile.com.

Coming Soon6 Mathnasium will open March 22 at

12344 Barker Cypress Road, Ste. 150. A math learning center that provides after-school supplemental learning for second grade through pre-calculus students, owners John and Catherine Labuda opened the franchise to expand their tutoring program to a broader audience in the Cy-Fair area. Students complete assignments on-site at the 1,750-sq.-ft. facility with customized lesson plans twice a week. Call 713-786-2032 or visit www.mathnasium.com.

In the NewsHigh school seniors can earn college scholarships by entering the 2010 Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program with a 350-word essay detailing how the state can better fight against litter. The program offers one $3,000 grand prize and two $1,000 second place prizes.Eligible seniors must plan to enter a two- or four-year program at any

Texas college. The submissions must be postmarked by April 16 and mailed to the Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program c/o EnviroMedia Social Marketing at 1717 W. Sixth Street, Ste. 400, Austin, TX 78703. Visit www.txdot.gov.

7 The Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 24 at the Ponderosa Forest Fire Station at 17061 Rolling Creek Drive. Open to members and the public, the meeting will feature speaker Michael D. Talbott, P.E., the director of the Harris County Flood Control District, who will present an overview of the district’s local activities and projects in the Cypress Creek area. Visit www.ccfcc.org.

8 Mackel Private School at 12811 Cypress North Houston Road will host an open house and kindergarten roundup at 6:30 p.m. March 31. The school offers before- and after-school tutoring for children 18 months to 5 years old. Call 281-955-2002 or visit www.mackelprivateschool.com.

Relocating9 Air Depot Air Conditioning

relocated to a larger building Feb. 1 at 12920 Cypress North Houston Road. The company installs air conditioning and heating systems and also services equipment in both residential and commercial properties. Expanding from 3,650 sq. ft. to 8,750 sq. ft., the business will expand its inventory of Bryant, Amana and Lennox products. Call 281-477-3700 or visit www.airdepot.com.

10 Reeder Flooring LLC relocated to 11911 Windfern Road. The company offers free consulting and measurements with a free pad with carpet purchase. Owner Wayne Reeder said the company can complete a flooding remodel in about three days at a home or business and is one of only a few businesses to carry Karndean products. Known for working with Realtors to prepare homes for sale, Reeder is expanding his family-owned business to include more retail. Call 713-896-8030 or visit www.reederflooring.com.

Ribbon Cutting11 The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting and Business After Hours event at Reveal Cosmetic Surgery 5 p.m. March 24 at 9533 Huffmeister Road.

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 5

Sponsored by

Community Events

Air depot Air Conditioning will be expanding its inventory after relocating to a larger building.

9

Kumon of Fairfield provides remedial and enrichment learning.

4

don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant opened March 2 and features an upscale bar scene on its second floor.

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Mackel Private School will host an open house and kindergarten roundup March 31.

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The Haston Law Firm, P.C.,which specializes in family law, opened a new office on Jones Road.

3

Calendar events must be submitted by the 5th of the month. Submit events to calendar@impactnews.com and find our northwest Houston calendar online at www.impactnews.com/calendar.

SAM HOUSTON

MarchThrough March 21“South Pacific”The Tony Award–winning musical tells the story of two couples on a tropical island in the midst of World War II and how their love is threatened by war and prejudice. The production features a full orchestra and cast of 34 perform-ing songs like “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “This Nearly Was Mine.”

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St. Ste. 200 • 713-558-2600 • www.tuts.com

26 “World Music Festival”The Lone Star College-CyFair choral spring event will include song and dance exploring different cultures with art and costumes.

9191 Barker Cypress Road • 7:30 p.m. • 281-290-5201 www.lonestar.edu/boxoffice

Through March 27 “Waiting To Be Mended”The play, presented by Theatre Suburbia and directed by Judy Reeves, is about a young woman who arrives as a boarder at a family home, and the household soon erupts with hate, as the past becomes the present.

Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West Drive 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. • $14 (adults), $13 (seniors and students), $12 (matinees) • 713-682-3525 www.theatresuburbia.com

271st Annual Miss Cy-Fair Houston PageantThe event will feature girls ages 15 to 19 being judged on beauty and poise with the winner of the inaugural show receiving a $1,000 scholarship. The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce will host the event.

Copperfield Church, 8350 Hwy. 6 N. • 1–5 p.m. $12 (adults) and $8 (ages 5–19) for online tickets, $15 (adults) and $10 (ages 5–19) for tickets at the door 281-373-1390 • www.misscyfairhouston.com

28 Spring Blood driveTo schedule an appointment, visit www.giveblood.org or login to Digital Donor and enter sponsor code L389.

Rose Hill United Methodist Church, 21022 Rosehill Church Road • 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. • 281-252-0720 www.giveblood.org

29 Texas Roadhouse golf ClassicHosted at the Houston National Golf Course, the event benefits Birkes Elementary and Aragon Middle School. For sponsorship or player information, call 832-237-3015. For information on volunteering or to donate a raffle item valued at $10 or more, call 281-855-1660.

Houston National Golf Course, 16500 Houston National Blvd. • Noon • $125 (per individual), $500 (per team)

April24 7th annual Rise and Shine Fun RunBenefiting the Rise School of Houston, the children’s run/family walk event will feature live music, children’s booths, refreshments and a rock wall. The walk will begin at 8 a.m. and the 5K run at 8:30 a.m.

George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas • 7–10:30 a.m. • Registration is $20 (adults) $5 (children) • 713-532-7473 • akress@riseschool.org

24–25 25th Annual Spring FestivalThe event will feature a grand raffle for a new car, dancing, face painting, games, rides, bingo, a flea market and barbecue dinner with live entertainment, including music and clown shows.

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, 11507 Huffmeister Road • Sat. 6–11 p.m., Sun. noon–7 p.m. • 281-469-5533 http://ctrcc.com/festival

Live music venues

Baker St. Pub & grillLive music Tuesday through Saturday evenings17278 Hwy. 249, Houston281-517-0828 • www.sherlockspubco.com

March20 | Cold Shot26 | Shinolah31 | The Reds

Cork CaféLive music from local artists Thursday 8–9:30 p.m. • Saturday 7:30–9 p.m.25712 Hwy. 290, Ste. C, Cypress281-758-1682 • www.corkcafe.com

March20 | Tquan25 | Debbie Forrestapril10 | Rod Branch15 | Red Watterson

Cypress SaloonLive music Friday and Saturday 9 p.m.12710 Telge Road, Cypress281-304-7777 • www.cypresssaloonlive.com

March19 | Little Texas with Johnny Falstaff20 | Snit’s Dog and Pony Show26 | Tom Gillam27 | Luke Robinsonapril 2 | Bobby Duncan 3 | Midnight River Choir 9 | Charlie Lucas10 | Zack Walther & the Cronkites

goode Co. Texas Bar-B-QLive music every Friday 7 p.m.20102 Hwy. 290, Houston832-678-3562 • www.goodecompany.com

March19 | Driftwood26 | Slow Rollin Lows

Texas Tavern13800 Cypress North Houston Road, CypressLive music Tuesday through Saturday • popular Texas and country bands Friday and Saturday nights

March19 | Brian Loftin20 | Jamie Talbert Band26 | Whiskey South27 | Lost Immigrants 2 | Jason Marbachapril 3 | Aaron Navarro Band16 | Lonely Road17 | Legends Band

6 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

By Josef MolnarWith winter’s stubborn grip finally

beginning to loosen on the Gulf Coast, residents are ready to add life and color to their yards, and local landscaping and gardening companies are prepared to sup-ply the spring flora.

At Beyond Paradise Nursery, Alicia Banos is already fielding calls from area residents about planting shrubs and trees. She recommends homeowners invest in

trees for the long-term benefits.“Trees are really good for your yard and

your house because [they] provide a lot of shade that can help you save on energy costs,” she said. “It also makes the value of your house go up, especially if you mix it with some landscaping.”

Banos should know about the value of a good tree: The 24-year-old grew up in Tomball with her fingers in the dirt, and many of the trees she sells are ones she

Alicia Banos of Beyond Paradise Nursery knows trees and recommends customers invest in them due to their long-term benefits.

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Business Profile | local gardening centers

grew from seedlings. Her father, Hum-berto Diaz, started Beyond Paradise 15 years ago.

“My dad started it with my uncle,” Banos said. “He had a tree service com-pany where he took down oak trees, and we took the acorns and grew oak trees. From there we now have different types of trees and now have 30 acres where we farm our trees.”

She meets with customers at their 3-acre lot and educates them on the best types of trees and landscaping plants to place in their yards.

“It really depends on the kind of land-scape they have. We take them on a little tour and give them ideas. We have plants with labels, and it gives them an idea of how tall they grow, what kind of tempera-ture they can handle, and the sun and shade,” Banos said. “I use a little notepad to keep notes and recommend plants based on their ideas.”

Banos also warns people about the long-term effects of the plants, such as trees with deeper and longer roots, and plants that grow much larger over time.

“Oak trees grow long roots, and they can mess up the foundation [of the house], so we tell people to plant them at least 15 to 20 feet away from the house,” she said.

The recent drought and especially cold

winter is pushing people toward hardier native plants that can survive the weather extremes.

“For the past three years, we’ve been doing tropicals, but due to the freeze this year, people are moving to more native plants,” she said. “We also have some people who want to start growing their own fruit trees, so we’re thinking about adding those, too.”

When it comes to landscaping, some-times the recommendations include some restraint.

At The Yard Depot, Josephine Garcia tells people to keep the beautification in line with the design of their homes. The business sells mostly gravel, flagstones and decorative additions, such as retain-ing wall materials.

“With the simple house designs, you don’t want to do too much because it will be too messy,” she said. “You want to work with what you have and make it fit to the house. You don’t want to outdo your house; you want to make it look good.”

She recommends homeowners with smaller yards pick a couple of improve-ments from a short list, such as a few well-placed shrubs around windows; a garden; a tree; a decorative walkway or plants around existing trees.

“Some people go all the way, though,” Garcia said. “They’ll gut out the front

GO TO WWW.JONESROADTREESERVICE.COM FOR YOUR SPRING DISCOUNT

281-469-0458 • 281-703-5729

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Our services include:• Tree Trimming • Tree Pruning • Tree Removal • Tree Healthcare

• Stump Grinding • Emergency Service• Tree Preservation

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Member of:• Better Business Bureau • Tree Care Industry• Cy Fair Chamber of Commerce • International Society of Arbor Culture

When you hire Jones Road Tree Service, you get:• Workers’ Compensation Insurance• General Liability Insurance• Verify these policies with our insurance company

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 7 Jo

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yard and remake it into what they want. It doesn’t cost too much; if you have a 1-acre to 5-acre tract, you’ll spend more money, but if you have a quarter-acre lot, there’s not a lot to redo.”

Whatever their customers choose, both

women said they focus on clients’ needs.“We try to give the best service,” Garcia

said. “We’re not the cheapest, but we’re also not the most expensive and we have quality products. The biggest thing for us is quality in everything.”

Q&A with local landscaping expert

What are the benefits of garden mulching?

What do you recommend for walkways?

What about using gravel instead of mulch?

Any advice about putting them in?

That’s what we call “lazy gravel.” People who do that usually don’t want to mulch, but it doesn’t work; the weeds will still grow in between the rocks. Gravel is good for aerating the soil, especially if you have a lot of clay, but mulching looks better and helps control weeds.

Be sure to trim out the grass where you’re going to put the flagstones first. If you lay the stone on top of the grass, it will die out, turn to hay and deteriorate, and the flagstones will sink and get mud on top of them. What you should do is cut out the grass and place some granite gravel at the level you want, usually an inch and a half deep, and put the flagstone on top.

It keeps weeds down, keeps the moisture in your flower beds and it looks good. We have different grades of mulches, depending on what people want. Cedar repels bugs and snakes, but some people like brown native for its color. This is about the time of year that people start putting it in their gardens.

Flagstones are really good for walkways; it depends on the thickness and color, but most of them will work well. We have different thicknesses and stones, from peach to white, and we get them from all over.

Josephine Garcia, the manager of The Yard Depot, offered some suggestions about mulching, using flagstones—and avoiding the “lazy gravel” method.

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NMap not to scale

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8 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 9

Business Profile | Dogwood Dog Training

By Molly ryanAny dog owner knows that whoever

coined the term “man’s best friend” must have had a well-trained dog.

However, training a canine is not always an easy task. Luckily, Dogwood Dog Training and Sports Center in north-west Houston has a staff of dog training and competition experts to help any nov-ice or champion dog and its owner perfect their obedience, agility and companion-ship skills.

Dogwood first opened its doors in 1999 when Debby Quigley, a dog trainer and competitor for more than two decades, decided to turn her hobby into a business. Since then, Quigley has trained hundreds of dogs in her classes, which range from “Basic Dog Obedience” to “Beginning Competition” and “Agility.”

In basic obedience classes, dogs and owners learn to communicate effectively with one another. In addition, students learn traditional dog training skills such as how to heel, come and recognize com-mands. More advanced classes teach dogs and owners skills for competitions and how to run through obstacle courses.

Many of Quigley’s students go on to compete in dog competitions throughout Texas and the United States, but Quigley said the most rewarding part of teaching at Dogwood is “working with all the indi-vidual owners and helping them obtain their goals.”

Quigley also takes pride in helping owners who are having trouble training and living with their dogs keep them at home.

“To me, that’s the biggest help [to the community]—helping to keep dogs out of shelters,” Quigley said.

Besides dog training classes, Dogwood offers private lessons and has a dog mas-sage therapist, a dog chiropractor and a dog behavioral specialist on staff. In the future, Quigley plans to have video

training and consultations to help dog owners around the country.

Students like Jodie Broussard travel three hours with her golden retriever, Flip, from Lake Charles, LA. once a week for a beginning competition class.

“They are the best,” Broussard said.Another student, Lesley Young, is a

professional dog trainer who teaches classes in The Woodlands. Young said she comes with her border collie, Paddy, or “The Padinator,” because “you still need teaching even if you instruct.”

Dogwood Dog Training and Sports Center separates itself from the pack with highly skilled instructors and quality facilities.

“One thing that makes [Dogwood] special is we have a good program for any endeavor,” said Dogwood instructor Judy Ramsey, who has trained dogs for around 30 years. “There are common threads through all of our classes in concept and philosophy. Also, there are not a lot of facilities in Houston that have the caliber of instructors we do.”

Dogwood Dog Training8425 West Road, Houston713-849-9115www.dogwood-dog-training.com

Notes for FidoDogwood dog training classes are offered •Monday through Thursday. Most classes take place after 7 p.m., but a few select classes are offered during the day.

Dogwood offers more than 10 types of dog •training classes and has expansive indoor and outdoor facilities.

Fairb

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10 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

HCFCD is building a new channel to divert flood waters from Jersey Village.

White Oak Bayou project

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plans for the nine major tributaries within the watershed.

During the extreme rainfall in April 2009 that measured between 8 inches and 10 inches, 70 percent of the 2,300 homes in the Copperfield and Hearthstone com-munities that were flooded were not in a floodplain.

“What we saw was primarily the design parameters for street systems were simply obliterated and overwhelmed given the intense rainfall,” said Fred Garcia, com-munications director for HCFCD. “The street systems are not designed to handle that amount of water.”Copperfield

Jan Perino with Copperfield Coalition said the community organization plans to meet with county officials this spring to discuss street flooding issues.

“It used to be that the streets [of Cop-perfield] would flood and then drain, but what we’re finding now from all the resi-dents is the high water that used to drain is staying in the street as the infrastructure is unable to take it away in the existing sys-tem,” Perino said.

Copperfield Coalition completed a resident flooding survey in March that identified if homeowners experienced flooding during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the severe rainfall in April 2009. The coalition is investigating whether nearby commercial and residential construction has impacted the subdivision’s drainage capabilities.Hearthstone

Another community reporting flooding problems is Hearthstone. Mike Looney, chairperson for the Hearthstone Hom-eowners Association Flood Committee, said 186 homes received water or flooded last April when 8 to 10 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours. Looney said the HOA believes the cause of the flooding is nearby Horsepen Creek topping its banks.

Looney, who has lived in Hearthstone since 1978, said he has never seen this type of flooding before and pointed to area con-struction like the widening of Hwy. 6 and FM 529 as well as commercial develop-ments laying too much concrete.

But Heather Saucier, media relations for HCFCD, said while the flooding is

a problem, it may not be because of the creek. Horsepen Creek has a 100-year floodplain capacity, meaning it can handle vast amounts of water before overflowing its banks. Street flooding, she said, is often due to sheet flow, which is when water begins to pool and rise when it cannot find a bayou or detention pond.

Looney said he wants Harris County to de-silt the areas of the creek that run through Hearthstone.

“Horsepen Creek may have the same ability to handle the same amount of water, but it’s receiving a lot more runoff now,” he said. “We’d like to see the county take some action and not take the position that we don’t have a problem.”

Garcia said the agency has evaluated Horsepen Creek three times in the last 10 years—above average for a creek with superior capacity.

“I don’t dispute that there have been some flooding issues out there, but our evaluation of Horsepen Creek through [Hearthstone] has told us time and again that there is not an appreciable build up of silt reducing its capacity,” Garcia said. “This is our engineering opinion, not just somebody sitting back and saying, ‘Oh, it’s fine.’ It’s based on technical evaluation.”

HCFCD has started a project along the Hearthstone section of the creek not to de-silt it but to fix collapsed areas and ensure there is no further deterioration. Garcia said they have begun surveying the area

from Hwy. 6 through Hearthstone down to FM 529 and West Little York.

“We’re doing a rehabilitation to make sure the integrity of the channel is there,” he said.History of HCFCD

HCFCD is a special entity separated from the city and county but answerable to Commissioners Court. Saucier said the district was formed in 1937 in response to two massive flood events in 1929 and 1935, both of which devastated the city and con-vinced officials they needed government intervention.

“We needed the Army Corps of Engi-neers to come down here to build projects to stop the water from coming out of [Buf-falo Bayou’s] banks,” Saucier said.

The Army Corps of Engineers needed a local entity to sponsor it to begin design-ing and implementing flood reduction plans, so HCFCD was born. The district has jurisdiction over 22 watersheds with 2,500 miles of open channel and streams, the distance from Los Angeles to New York City.

“Flooding remains our No. 1 natural threat. We get about 4 feet of rain each year. It’s our climate plus being vulnerable to hur-ricanes and tropical storms,” Saucier said. “The soil is made of heavy clay imperme-able to water. It doesn’t absorb much water, so water basically just ponds or pools.”

CONTINUED FROM | 1

Floodplains

Comment at more.impactnews.com/7515

Harris County Flood Control District began the six-part Cypress Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Program in 2001 to reduce flood damage throughout the area.•

Beginning with conceptual plans of the nine tributary watersheds, HCFCD used the information to design better management plans for future urban growth and drainage methods. •

The program will use the data to create flood damage reduction strategies and provide planning guidance.•

Mound Creek

dry Creek

Spring gullySealsgully

Lemmgully

Faulkeygully

Pillot gully

Little Cypress Creek

290

1960

2920 249

6

I-45

Cypress Creek watershed

Source: HCFCD

Sub-watershed study areas for the Cypress Creek watershed

dry gullyCypress Creek

In the Cy-Fair area, HCFCD is constructing a $5.3 million channel that will divert water around the city of Jersey Village from White Oak Bayou during severe rainfall.

“The channel will primarily benefit residents of Jersey Village, much of which lies in a 100-year and 500-year floodplain,” said Heather Saucier, media relations for HCFCD. “Working in conjunction with two stormwater detention basins recently excavated upstream of the city, the channel will further reduce flooding risks and damages from White Oak Bayou spilling its banks.”

Designed to carry 30 percent to 40 percent of stormwater from the bayou during high flow, construction on the 1.2-mile channel began in June 2009 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Saucier said the channel will run from White Oak Bayou west of Jersey Meadow Golf Course eastward paralleling Honolulu Street to just west of Gessner Road and then south to reconnect with White Oak Bayou north of West Gulf Bank.

Copperfield Coalition• , created in 2005, is a grassroots advocacy group that works to develop the Copperfield community in a way that retains its small-town atmosphere and preserves residents’ property values. The coalition has taken an interest in the neighborhood flooding by posting a community survey online to gather information from residents to present to local authorities. The information is intended to help build a plan to prevent future flooding and flood damage. www.copperfieldcoalition.org

Hearthstone Homeowners Association Flood Committee• represents residents’ interest in reducing flooding and flood damage caused by street flooding and nearby Horsepen Creek, which residents report topping its banks during severe storms. www.hearthstonehoa.org

Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition• works with local government agencies, such as HCFCD and Harris County commissioners, to reduce flood damage in neighborhoods and prevent erosion of creeks and bayous. The coalition also works to preserve and promote recreational areas, forests and parkland in the Cypress Creek watershed. www.ccfcc.org

Community organizations

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CFCD

Northwest Houston experiences street flooding during

severe rainfall events.

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White Oak Bayou

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 11

Neighborhood Dining | Del pueblo Mexican restaurant

By Kimberly StaufferSilvia Rincon never knew she wanted to

own and run a restaurant until she started Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant.

Rincon opened the eatery in 1996 with her husband, Alfonso Rincon Jr. Always a dream of his, Rincon said he decided to take the plunge after 20 years working in the restaurant industry.

The couple opened in a storefront on the end of a shopping center complex at Jones and Grant roads and were success-ful from the start.

“It was great because since the begin-ning, when we opened on the first day, it has been a success,” she said.

Five years later in 2001, Rincon and her husband decided to expand the business and moved farther back into the center to a larger space to accommodate their growing clientele.

While Alfonso accomplished his dream to own a restaurant, he died five years ago, leaving Rincon to handle the every-day responsibilities of the business after years working behind the scenes as an accountant.

“He always wanted to have his own restaurant. He loved what he did,” Rincon said of her husband. “When he passed away, I talked to the employees and said, ‘Well, maybe I need to hire a manager,’ but they said, ‘No, we can help you.’”

Most of her customers have no idea Rincon is the owner as she works daily with the staff on the restaurant floor, handling the business with her two sons. She has minimal turnover with employ-ees, Rincon said, because she runs the restaurant with a light touch and trusts her staff.

“I’ve learned everything about run-ning a restaurant,” she said. “I could not picture myself any other place. [My employees] are like my family now. I don’t have to say anything because they know what to do.”

Rincon opened a second location in Pearland last October.

The restaurant’s popularity all stems

from the quality of its food and drink, Rincon said, which includes its well-known margaritas.

“We always have the best quality meats, and the margaritas are awesome,” she said. “We have the best liquor and tequila.”

A meal at Del Pueblo always starts with tasty tortilla chips and a choice of mild and spicy salsas. The “Tres” option ($5.99) off the lunch menu consists of a juicy and crispy chicken flauta with a tasty cheese enchilada bookended by small islands of refried beans and Mexican rice.

Another lunchtime dish, the “Cinco” option ($5.99) is a pork tamale paired with a crispy beef taco. The cook does not skimp on meat, as the restaurant is known for its specialty chicken and beef fajitas, and the platter is complemented by refried beans and rice.

The restaurant’s dinner menu boasts its fajita dishes, a variety of enchiladas and combo platters.

Silvia Rincon, owner of Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant, opened the eatery with her husband in 1996.

Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant is known for its margaritas.

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Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant13235 Jones Road, Houston281-970-1600www.delpueblomexicanrestaurant.com

Grant Rd.

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Mills Rd.

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SBAguarantee would not affect banks’ willing-ness to make SBA-backed loans.

“[The SBA] program in conjunction with [the stimulus package] is vital to the econ-omy at the current time,” Hughes said. “If you have a 90 percent guarantee or not, it is still very attractive. Banks are not going to refuse loans because the guarantee is 15 percent lower.”Insurance

The SBA-backed loan guarantee is insur-ance for banks hedging against losing money on startup or expanding businesses, said Al Johnson, senior vice president and manager of the SBA division at Westbound Bank in Houston. If a business, like a res-taurant, which has a 90 percent chance of failing within 15 months, closes, the gov-ernment will cover 90 percent of that loss.

“The banks have more of a comfort level [with the 90 percent guarantee], and the borrowers won’t have to spend as much money to get a loan,” Johnson said.

JeVaughn Sterling, vice president of Amegy Bank at Coles Crossing in north-west Houston and the SBA loan manager, said the guarantee acts as encouragement to area banks to continue lending money during the recession but does not simplify the process for prospective borrowers.

“I don’t believe it’s necessarily been eas-ier on companies because they still have

to meet the bank’s credit requirements,” Sterling said. “Bank requirements would be more stringent in this credit market, so looking at it from the standpoint of a bank, it’s easier to deal with the impact of the recession on companies when there is a higher guarantee.”Lending

In the current economy, Hughes said banks would rather lend money to expand-ing businesses or an acquisition, but that is exactly why the SBA was created—to entice banks to be more flexible.

“A startup business in good times is dif-ficult and most lenders want collateral,” he said. “That’s a major risk compared to an existing business that has a clientele.”

Sterling said Amegy Bank, like most, is generally interested in making loans and quality assets.

“In the absence of a higher guaran-tee, we will still make loans and hold to a higher credit standard. I doubt we would be less willing to lend money. We knew the [guarantee] increase was temporary, so we didn’t become overly aggressive.”

Hughes said while the stimulus was “well-thought out,” the SBA program has a long history of achievement with or with-out a 90 percent guarantee.

“The program was very successful before the recession and it will continue to be so,” he said.

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SBA loan helps family start business

Joe and Linda Hutson opened a Kids ‘R’ Kids childcare center with their daughter, Jessica, in October 2009 with the help of a Small Business Administration–backed loan from Amegy Bank.

Joe said the process to acquire the loan was meticulous, but worth it, as the family received better interest rates on the loan.

“Without a SBA loan, we wouldn’t have been able to buy the property,” he said. “It really came in handy.”

The Hutsons bought an existing childcare center on Fry Road, but startup costs piled up. The SBA loan allowed them to keep more money in the business and avoid large payments.

“When starting a new business, the SBA loan leaves more money in the coffers every month

to pay your people and suppliers,” Joe said. “It’s a huge help, in my opinion.”

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7110 Fry Road, Cypress281-463-3700www.krk48tx.com

Linda, right, and daughter Jessica Hutson started Kids ‘R’ Kids on Fry Road with husband Joe, not pictured, with the help of a SBA-backed loan.

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 13

LSC-CyFair9191 Barker CypressCypress, TX 77433

LSC-Fairbanks Center14955 Northwest Freeway

Houston, TX 77040

affirmative action/eeo college

take a tour

meet the friendly staff

learn about college programs and courses

get financial aid and college application help

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5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 6

LoneStar.edu/SneakPeek

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way.

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Stop by for a Sneak Peek at

By Kimberly StaufferWhether starting a new business or

expanding an existing one, the Lone Star College Small Business Development Center is a resource for entrepreneurs in need of guidance and assistance.

The center, based at the community college’s system office in The Woodlands, will counsel anyone who walks in about his or her shop, restaurant or business plan. Sal Mira, director of the center, said his staff provides an unbiased view of a client’s ideas and business plans.

“We provide an objective assessment to their dreams because we don’t have an emotional attachment,” Mira said. “We tend to peel the onion back and give them a realistic assessment of what owning a small business really is.”

Mira and his team understand the small-business world from a personal perspective, as each member owned a business before joining the SBDC. A con-sultant serves each of LSCS’ five cam-puses—Cy-Fair, Montgomery, Tomball, North Harris and Kingwood.

“The community doesn’t really know who we are and what we do, but we provide a tremendous service,” Mira said. “It’s free. A business that is in trouble can’t afford to go to a consulting business. And that’s why we’re here.”

The SBDC is one of 15 centers that report to the University of Houston SBDC. The university provides access to several resources beyond what is avail-able at any one center, including UH-LAW, a program that for $100, third-year law students work to resolve real-world problems, and UH-IT, which can design clients’ websites to elevate them from amateur to professional.

The U.S. Congress created the SBDC

Source: Karen Cavallaro, LSC SBDC senior consultant for Cy-Fair and Magnolia

Obtaining a bank loan is a difficult prospect in today’s economic climate even for borrowers with good credit. Here is a guide to acquiring the necessary financing to start a business.

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Loan application process

Potential borrowers need to prepare a thorough business plan—a blueprint for building a successful company that includes a business summary, management resumes, explanation of products or services as well as market analysis, a marketing plan and cash flow projections. The Lone Star College Small Business Development Center can provide sample business plans and guidance to creating one.

Check your credit score. A good score should be a minimum of 700. A credit score can be obtained for a nominal fee through several outlets, including www.annualcreditreport.com, which also provides a free annual credit report.

Borrowers need adequate collateral against the value of the loan. A lender requires assets they can liquidate to pay the loan value if the business fails. Assets could include equipment, commercial real estate, real estate that is not your homestead and cash accounts.

Borrowers must be able to provide at least 20–30 percent of the startup costs from their own funds. For example, if a business requires $100,000 to start up, the owner needs to be able provide $20,000–$30,000 of personal funding. Additionally, many banks now require at least six to eight months of available working capital after startup expenses are incurred.

Lenders like for potential borrowers to have experience in the business they want to start. Without any experience, borrowers need to have someone on the management team who does.

Contact the Lone Star College Small Business Development Center at 832-482-1057 or karen.s.cavallaro@lonestar.edu for help.

program in the 1980s to help small busi-nesses grow and compete in the market with training and professional guidance. Mira said when the program first started at LSCS there was an overwhelming per-centage of clients wanting to start a new business. Now, many business owners are seeking training opportunities, avenues for loans and ways to survive the reces-sion. One of the center’s more difficult roles, Mira said, is knowing when to give a client a good dose of reality and when to encourage them.

“The thing we have to avoid is provid-ing our bias on whether a business will succeed,” he said. “We don’t want to discourage the next Bill Gates.”

The center can lay out data on area demographics, per capita income and local competition—all-important infor-mation for startup entrepreneurs.

“[Clients] overestimate sales and under-estimate costs and as a result are under-capitalized,” Mira said. “That’s why they say there is a 90 percent fail rate. You can do it; we can help.”

Karen Cavallaro, a senior consultant serving the Magnolia and Cy-Fair area, said she helps facilitate the process of finding lenders, gathering the appropri-ate documents and helping clients write a good business plan to attain a bank loan.

Cavallaro also assists clients with research and hundreds of leads each year to help them achieve a thriving business.

“Knowledge is power,” she said. “I try to give them enough information so they can run their business better.”

While the SBDC provides business owners the information and guidance they need, Cavallaro said what people want the most is encouragement.

Small business impact

Category

New jobs

Business starts

capital infusion ($ in millions)

Total clients

Extended engagements*

FY 2007

26

3

$1.8

271

38

FY 2008

213

41

$5.8

423

73

FY 2009

525

69

$24.8

702

67

Lone Star College System Small Business Development Center tracks its impact on local businesses.

The Lone Star College System Small Business Development Center works with existing companies to help them grow and compete in today’s global economy. SBDC services are available for companies in every phase of the business life cycle, helping entrepreneurs make sound decisions and succeed. The SBDC also works with individuals to assist them with the development of new businesses and their operations. The resulting improvement in business performance leads to job creation, investments and economic growth in our community.

What is the SBdC?*Extended engagements refers to the SBDC’s work with business owners that goes beyond 10 hours.

Program aids small businesses in northwest Houston

14 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Local History | hot Well hotel and Sanitarium

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April 22, 2010 • 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.Houston National Golf Club

16500 Houston National Blvd. • Houston, TX

Your admission is free! More info: www.cyfen.org

Cy-FairWomen’s Expo

�

By Michelle leBlancVisitors to the Hot Wells Shooting

Range in northwest Houston would never guess the land was once the site of a unique resort.

It all began in 1904 when wildcatters lost their drill bit while looking for oil in Cypress. During a two-week search for their tool, they discovered a hot artesian well. A two-story hotel was built near the artesian well with two large concrete basins to hold the water—the beginning of the Houston Hot Well Hotel and Sanitar-ium. The mineral waters were said to heal the sick and bring general good health to all that bathed in them.

“People came from Houston and all over the country to the sanitarium and pools—they were very soothing and people thought they were healthful,” said Jane Ledbetter of the Cypress Historical Society. “[Hot Well] was advertised as being a health spa, so to speak ... it was also a picnic area and a nice place to visit.”

The two basins held the water at two different temperatures. One was for hot water, as it flowed from the ground; the other was an overflow basin for the water that had cooled. The temperature for the hot pool ranged from 95 to 102 degrees. Later, a large Olympic-sized pool, com-plete with a high dive and several lower diving boards, was added.

The hotel included a large dance hall with bingo games. On weekend nights, it became one of the more popular meeting places for locals.

“When we were in high school, there would be class parties at Hot Well,” Ledbetter said. “I remember having my eighth-grade banquet in that hotel.”

Over time, renovations and improve-ments were made to the land. A picnic area, two lakes, rowboats, dancing and food were just a few of the attractions, which made Hot Well a popular place for an outing.

“I can remember I got the worst sun-burn of my life there,” said Joyce Kleb, also of the Cypress Historical Society.

Hot Well not only provided recreation, but jobs for residents as well. Some of the women got jobs cleaning rooms or mak-ing beds in the hotel. Others served food in the dining room.

“My mother worked there when I was a child,” Kleb said. “She made one dollar a day renting lockers and bathing suits.”

The hotel burned down in the 1950s. By the mid ’60s, the swimming pool was still operating, but was not as popular as in previous times—homeowners had their own pools or residents used neighborhood pools. The artesian springs stopped flow-ing completely in 1981. The shooting range opened in the 1980s.

Cypress resident Alvin Klein stands outside the Houston Hot Well Hotel and Sanitarium in an undated photograph.

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Hot Well housing boomDuring the 1930s and ’40’s, Hot Well experienced a real boom. The property around the springs was subdivided into lots and sold. But years later when relatives inquired about the vacant lots, no one could prove ownership as deeds were never issued.

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 15

Caring today for the legends of tomorrow877-300-4543 | www.legendhc.com

EAST/CHANNELVIEW15880 Wallisville Road

Houston, Texas 77049281-447-6462

NW/JERSEY VILLAGE8902 West RoadHouston, Texas 77064

713-849-0990

WEST/COPPERFIELD7107 Queenston Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77095281-463-7333

NORTH/WILLOWBROOK12921 Misty Willow

Houston, Texas 77070281-469-7881

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When confronted with continuing care options for a parent or loved one that is hospital-ized, terms such as Skilled Nursing, Transitional Care and Long Term Care can be quite overwhelming as the vast majority of consumers are not familiar with these terms.

The combination of an aging population and the emergence of Medicare eligible baby boomers have created the need for Transitional Care facilities, which have become a necessity in assisting people in their transition from a hospitalization back to their home.

Legend Healthcare’s Transitional Care model raises the bar of excellence for reha-bilitative care through customized care plans that are unique to the individual and the specifi c illness or medical procedure that required hospitalization. These care plans are updated and adjusted regularly by the Transitional care team. Healthcare services delivered during the Transitional care stay include but are not limited to:

The highest level of skilled nursing care• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy• State of the Art Rehabilitation Gymnasium and equipment• Exclusive, advanced therapy systems such as the “Pneumex” machine which • supports all body weight, eliminating the “fear of falling”.Dedicated Social Service representative• Dietary Consulting•

The dedicated team of professionals at Legend Healthcare understands each individ-ual and their condition is unique. For those individuals that require a longer placement scenario, Legend Healthcare facilities provide the most modern, home like setting for residential needs.

Regardless if you goal is to return home or for residential care, Legend Healthcare facilities and professional staff are committed to providing you with world class care with a personalized touch.

What is Transitional Care?

For more information on Legend Healthcare, its ideology, what Skilled Nursing is and how it may be appropriate for your loved one, join

us on March 24th from 6-8 p.m. at our Copper-fi eld facility located at 7107 Queenston Blvd.

Please RSVP in advance to 281-463-7333.

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Legend Oaks Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center provides services without regard to race, color, creed, age, gender, handicap (mental or physical), or place of national origin.

Clinical Services:Skilled & Long-Term Care • Post-Acute Care • Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy • Vital Stem TherapyOccupational Therapy • Respiratory Therapy • Dialysis Management • Dietary Management • Hospice Services Pain Management • Wound Care • IV Medications • Onsite Physiatrist

Personal Amenities & Services:Laundry Services • Beauty/Barber Shop • Cable TV throughout • Wi-Fi Connections • Telephone Connections Scheduled Activities • Voting Capabilities • Social Services • Religious Services • Family & Resident CouncilPrivate Dining Room • Private & Semi-Private Rooms • Private Showers in Rooms (West & North only)Rehab Wing with Flat Screen Televisions

Insurance Accepted:Medicare/Medicaid • Texas HealthSprings • Today’s Options • Bravo • Care Improvement Plus • Humana Humana Gold Choice • Texan Plus (East only currently) • Aetna

16 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Mackel Private SchoolFamily owned for 15 years

www.mackelprivateschool.com | 281-955-2002

Spanish Computer Dance Piano Gymnastics

Academic Summer Camp for for All Ages with Field Trips!

Phonetic Reading Programand School Age Tutoring

Focusing on reading at an early age and school age tutoring

Cypress N. Houston Rd

Tall Forest Dr

Mile Dr

N. E

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Mackel Private School12811 Cypress N. Houston

Cypress TX 77429

GEORGE LIU, DDS

26 YEARS serving as your NEIGHBORHOOD DENTIST

Same Friendly, Caring Staff for 15 Years

“Dr. Liu and staff provide gentle, friendly dental care making dental visits less stressful.”

- Pam C.

281.955.6008 Major Credit Cards Accepted

11037 FM 1960, Suite B-3

Steeplechase Plaza

290

1960

Jones Rd

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Family DentistryInsurance Accepted with Prior ApprovalEmergencies Seen PromptlyNitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Home Bleaching

Near Cypress1 Blackberries of Houston

19531 Cypress Church Road, Cypress 281-373-5357•www.blackberriesofhouston.com

Hours: Season runs for 30 days, usually late May to June; 7 a.m.–noon, seven days a week Cost: Cash only Info: Buckets and take-home containers provided

2 Blue Bell Creamery 1101 S. Blue Bell Road, Brenham 1-800-327-8135•www.bluebell.com

Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., no weekend tours Cost: $5 (general admission); $3 (children 6–14), children 5 and under are free; includes scoop of ice cream

3 Brazos Bend State Park 21901 FM 762 Road, Needville 979- 553-5102 www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/brazos_bend

Hours: Friday–Sunday 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Cost: $5 per day, per person for13 and older 12 and under are free Activities: Great place to see alligators

4 Chappell Hill Lavender Farm 2250 Dillard Road, Brenham 979-251-8114•www.chappellhilllavender.com

Hours: Open weekends from March through October Cost: Free

5 Monastery of St. Clare Miniature Horse Farm 9300 Hwy. 105, Brenham 979-836-9652 www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 1:30–4 p.m.; open Fridays and Saturdays only in January, February and September Cost: Self-guided tours of the Miniature Horse Farm, Art Barn Gift Shop and Monastery Chapel are available for families, individuals and small groups. Admission is $4 (adults), $2 (children ages 3–12) $3 (seniors). Guided tours are given Monday through Friday by reservation only for groups of 15 adults or more. The fee is $5 per person, and the tour lasts approximately one hour. Info: New foals are born March through May.

6 Oil Ranch 23501 Macedonia, Hockley 281-859-1616•www.oilranch.com

Hours: Vary by season Cost: $12.95 per person 2 years and older Activities: Pony rides, cow milking, baby animal farm, train rides, hayrides and swimming

7 Showboat Drive-in Theater 22422 FM 2920, Hockley 281-351-5224•www.theshowboatdrivein.com

Hours: Friday and Saturday evenings gates open at 6 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m.; Sunday evenings gates open at 6 p.m. and showtime is 6:30 p.m. Cost: $5 (adults), $4 (children age 3–12), 2 years and under are free; cash only (ATM located in snack bar)

8 Zube Park 17400 Roberts Road, Hockley

Hours 8 a.m.–dusk, daily Cost: Free Info: 140 acres of parkland with jogging trails, playground, picnic area and a railroad track with a miniature steam engine that carries passengers

Family activities in the Houston areaWhether you want to act like a kid or just want to experience the city through the eyes of your kids, we have compiled a list of activities that are within the community or close by.

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1 Blackberries of Houston

4 Chappell Hill Lavender Farm

14 Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

16 Houston Zoo

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 17

Hours: M/T/Th 7am-6pm • Wed. 9am-8pm • Sat. 8am-12pmHours: M/T/Th 7am-6pm • Wed. 9am-8pm • Sat. 8am-12pmHours: M/T/Th 7am-6pm • Wed. 9am-8pm • Sat. 8am-12pm

BRING IN YOUR PUPPY FOR A NEW PUPPY EXAM!

20% OFFNew Puppy Exam

Must present coupon. Expires 4/15/10.

JEANNE M. LEJEUNE, DVM

9740 Barker Cypress Rd., Suite 101Cypress, Texas 77433

281.858.7511texvet@hotmail.com

Houston Area9 Bayou Bend

1 Westcott St., Houston 713-639-7750•www.mfah.org/bayoubend

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday 1–5 p.m.; hours vary for tours of the house Cost: $10 (adults), $5 (children age 10-17) Info: This is the former home of Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. Fourteen acres of

woodlands and formal gardens, the house features 4,800 various works of art. Children under 10 are welcome in the gardens but are unable to view the house. Family Day is the third Sunday of the month, with free afternoon performances, activities and crafts.

10 Children’s Museum of Houston 1500 Binz, Houston 713-522-1138•www.cmhouston.org

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday noon–6 p.m.; open select Mondays Cost: $7 (adults and children older than 1); 1 year and younger is free; free family night every Thursday Info: includes playroom for toddlers only

11 Discovery Green 1500 McKinney St., Houston 713-400-7336•www.discoverygreen.com

Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Cost: Free; fees apply to certain activities Activities: One-acre lake, children’s playground, interactive water features, amphitheater stage and slope, dog runs for large and small breeds, public art works, green lawns and restaurants

12 Downtown Aquarium 410 Bagby St., Houston 713-223-3474•www.aquariumrestaurants.com

Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–9.30 p.m;. Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Cost: $9.95 (adults), $6.25 (children age 2–12)

13 Hermann Park 6201-A Hermann Park Drive, Houston 713-524-5876•www.hermannpark.org

Hours: Open daily 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Cost: Free (fee required for train ride); includes Buddy Carruth Playground, Hermann Park Railroad, Garden Center (including sculpture garden), Japanese Garden, Molly Ann Smith Plaza (includes interactive fountains for children), Lake Plaza (paddle boat rental) and McGovern Lake (catch and release available for children under 12)

14 Houston Arboretum and Nature Center 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston 713-681-8433•www.houstonarboretum.org

Hours: Grounds 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m., daily; Discovery Room 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Cost: Admission is free (donations appreciated) Info: 155-acre nature sanctuary with 5 miles of trails

15 Houston Museum of Natural Science 1 Herman Circle Drive, Houston 713-639-4629•www.hmns.org

Hours: Vary depending on season and exhibit Cost: Permanent exhibits $15 (adults), $10 (children 3-11); butterfly center, planetarium, IMAX and special exhibits require additional entry fees Info: 13 permanent exhibits including Paleontology, African Wildlife and Space Science

16 Houston Zoo 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston 713-533-6500•www.houstonzoo.org

Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Cost: $11 (adults), $7 (children 2–11), free for children 2 years and younger Info: Rated one of the 10 best zoos in the nation by Parents magazine, newly renovated jaguar exhibit

17 Kemah Boardwalk Bradford Avenue and Second Street, Kemah 281-334-9880•www.kemahboardwalk.com

Hours: Vary by season and attraction Cost: Vary by attraction Info: 40-acre Coney Island–style boardwalk

18 Miller Outdoor Theatre 100 Concert Drive, Houston 281-373-3386•www.milleroutdoortheatre.com

Hours: All performances are free, with some offering ticketed assigned seating in the covered area on a first come, first serve basis. Lawn seating allows for lawn chairs on left, picnic blankets on right. Info: All performances are family friendly, but special children performances are available on occasion.

19 Moody Gardens Galveston One Hope Blvd., Galveston 1-800-582-4673•www.moodygardens.com

Hours: Daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Cost: vary by attraction

20 Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm 19531 Moorhead Road, Conroe 281-572-1265•www.moorheadsblueberryfarm.com

Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.–9 p.m. during May–July season Cost: $1.51 per pound Info: 20 acres of 20 different varieties of blueberries

21 Museum of Fine Arts 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston 713-639-7300•www.mfah.org

Hours: Tuesday–Wednesday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.– 7 p.m., Sunday 12:15 p.m.–7 p.m., closed Mondays except on holidays Cost: $7 (adults), $3.50 (children); admission free on Thursday; children under 18 free on Saturday and Sunday with any public library card; admission to the museum’s outdoor sculpture garden is free Info: Family tours on Sundays designed for kids with hands-on activities and looking games

22 Museum of Health and Medical Science 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston 713-521-1515•www.mhms.org

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 12 a.m.–5 p.m. Cost: $8 (adults), $6 (children ages 3–12) Info: All exhibits designed from a perspective of teaching kids about health; free family Thursdays

23 Space Center Houston 1601 Nasa Parkway, Houston 281-244-2100•www.spacecenter.org

Hours: Vary depending on season, check website Cost: $19.95 (adults), $15.95 (children ages 4–11)

24 Washington on the Brazos State Historical Park FM 1155, Washington 936-878-2214 www.birthplaceoftexas.com/visitor_info.htm

Hours: 8 a.m.–dusk Cost: Free Info: The 293-acre historic site sits on the original townsite of Washington, a major political and commercial center in early Texas. The three main attractions are Independence Hall, Barrington Living History Farm and the Star of the Republic Museum.

March 26–28 German Heritage Festival Old Town Tomball, 201 S. Elm St. www.tomballsistercity.org

Free admission

April 9–11, 16–18, 23–25 Old Town Spring Crawfish & Music Festival Old Town Spring, Spring 1-800-OLD TOWN (8696) www.texascrawfishfestival.com

$10 for adults, children under 12 are free

April 10–11 Bluebonnet Festival 5145 Main St., Chappell Hill www.chappellhillmuseum.org/festivals

10:30a.m.–6:30p.m.•Freeadmission, $5 parking

April 10–11 Houston Children’s Festival Downtown Houston www.houstonchildrensfestival.com Rated one of the world’s unmissable events by Frommer’s Travel Guide.

10:30a.m.–6:30p.m.•$8perperson,children under 3 are free

May 13–16 Festival of Greece 1100 Eldridge Parkway, Houston 281-451-5999•www.festivalofgreece.com

$3 admission, children under 12 are free

Spring festivalsSpring

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18 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

By Michelle leBlancBefore hybrid cars, cloth

grocery bags and trash recy-cling became popular, Jennifer Armentrout was interested in protecting the environment.

“My whole life I have been concerned about the environ-ment, from watching trash burn in burn barrels, the litter that built up on the roads and explo-sive growth in cities during the ’80s,” said Armentrout, director

of Sustainable Living in Hous-ton. “I have always recycled, even when it wasn’t easy; used cloth bags when stores wouldn’t let me in for fear I would shoplift; and picked up others’ trash.”

This concern led Armentrout, along with husband Darrell and Laura Ellason, to form SLiH in 2008. SLiH is a small grass-roots organization in northwest Houston that provides education and resources to those with little

or no knowledge of the environ-ment and sustainable living. The organization also answers ques-tions from the public regarding recycling and waste, how to clean a home with natural ingre-dients and general living while protecting the environment, Armentrout said.

Co-director Monica Johnson joined SLiH because of her inter-est in recycling and the environ-ment. She said she enjoys talking to people at events and providing them with information.

“Education is our No. 1 prior-ity,” Johnson said. “It’s reward-ing to me to know that I’m educating these people, and they will start doing these things once they know how.”

SLiH holds many events in northwest Houston, but the most popular is the annual Drop and Swap! The event is two-part: The first part begins in the morning when people drop off electronics, household batteries, paper, plas-tic, aluminum cans, glass, cloth-ing, household items, books, athletic shoes and more. All but the clothing, household items and books are taken to local

Nonprofit Profile | Sustainable living in houston

Volunteers participate in Sustainable Living in Houston’s quarterly clean up.

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recyclers. Then, in the evening, people can shop for free.

“All the clothing, household items and books are up for grabs,“ Armentrout said. “People bring in wheel barrels and wag-ons, making several trips to load up their vehicles.”

In 2008 and 2009, SLiH facili-tated the recycling of more than 40 tons of electronics, 15 tons of paper, 10 tons of aluminum and four to five 28-foot trucks of clothing.

Small steps, instead of radical

A Sustainable Living in Houston member dumps metal to be recycled.

Sustainable Living in Houston281-304-2257www.sustainliving.org

Providing quality urgent care for your child when your doctor’s offi ce is closed.

Open Mon.-Fri. 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Weekends & Holidays Noon-7 p.m.

NOW OPEN!19708 Northwest Frwy., Ste. 500

Houston, Texas 77065

713.957.2020www.nightlightpediatrics.com

changes, can help northwest Houston residents with sustain-able living.

“Rather than asking everyone to reach utopia, especially in the suburbs, we would rather ask that each person, not just house-holds, participate in eliminating one aspect of excess disposal,” Armentrout said. “Eat locally one day a week, use alternative transportation one day a week, completely cut out littering and buying for long-term use. Even with that, the impact is huge.”

Sustainable Living in Houston causes

recycling:• SLiH brought temporary recycling ports to areas that needed them.

complete streets:• SliH supports groups who want changes in street layouts.

local/organic foods: • SLiH provides education on the importance of knowing the source of food and works with producers/vendors to promote healthier foods.

Sustainability:• SLiH encourages everyone to adopt one action.

Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 19

By Kimberly StaufferThe new Veterans Affairs Center at Lone

Star College-University Park provides all necessary educational, financial and counseling services for veterans attending the community college programs.

The centralized location allows veter-ans to visit the center to be certified to receive their GI Bill education benefits, talk with a clinical counselor from the VA who visits weekly and find answers to any pertinent questions concerning their education and status.

Tony Castillo, director of the center, said the catalyst to open the center was the number of veterans enrolled at LSCS. In spring 2009, LSCS enrolled 931 veter-ans, and in fall 2009, the college reported an enrollment of 1,576 veterans. Castillo said when certification is completed this semester, he expects to see more than 1,700 veterans attending LSCS.

“This is one-stop shopping,” Castillo said. “It’s important for them to have these services here instead of driving downtown to the VA. And as a college system, why shouldn’t we have these services?”

Castillo said the center is instrumental in helping veterans transition back into the community.

“It’s hard enough to transfer from military to civilian life. Why make it more difficult?” he said. “I’m trying to help create a center where the services are here and convenient to them just like on a military installation.”

Castillo said the center is also concen-trating on helping veterans take advan-tage of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides educational and housing finan-cial support effective Aug. 1, 2009. The bill also offers the ability to transfer benefits to dependents, such as a spouse or child.

The center includes work-study areas, a computer lab, break room and confer-ence room for veterans’ use. Castillo said

the VAC is the first of its kind in Houston and has already received a “tremendous” response from the community. Its services eventually will extend out to the other five colleges to serve all veterans within LSCS.

Sheena Sharma, a Marine discharged in 2006, is involved in the center’s work-study program while taking classes at University Park. When she first started at LSCS several years ago, she was left on her own to discover necessary information to become certified to receive her education and disability benefits.

The VAC is providing free tax services to veterans.

“I think it’s mandatory to have a place like this,” Sharma said. “It’s a centralized location that you can go to for anything now, not just education benefits, but any benefits for veterans in general. The people here are more than ready to help.”

Castillo said many Houstonians are unaware of the number of veterans in the city and surrounding communities, including northwest Houston, that come here for job opportunities.

“They’ve served us, and now we’re serving them,” he said. “LSCS is ready to serve our veterans so they can succeed in whatever goals they set.”

Education Focus | center helps veterans transition

Tony Castillo, director of LSCS Veterans Affairs Center, helps Mark Rushing, a Marine, in the work-study program.

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Houston • Dallas • San Antonio • Austin • Orange County Scottsdale • Nashville • Washington State • Charlotte

Our turn-key “HASSLE FREE” building process includes:• Up to 100% fi nancing • Purchasing & Development of Property • Architecture & Space Design Planning

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Building a Business – Not Just a Building

Lone Star College System Veterans Affairs and ServicesLSCS–University Park20515 Hwy. 249, NRB, Ste. 210, Houston281-290-2922www.lonestar.edu/veterans-affairs.htm

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20 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Fun, stress-free, and all-inclusive. It’s no coincidence we’re called Holiday.

All-inclusive, month-to-month rent

Around-the-clock live-in managers

Three chef-prepared meals daily

Life enriching programs and activities

Pets warmly welcomed

Exclusive travel program

Complimentary shuttle service

So much more

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Copperfield Estates makes Independent retirement Living simple and enjoyable by taking care of life’s daily details, leaving our residents free to pursue their passions. And with all of the many benefits included in one convenient monthly fee, retirement living at Copperfield Estates is an incredible value. Welcome to Holiday. Welcome home.

Copperf ield EstatesI n d e p e n d e n t R e t i r e m e n t L i v i n g

16820 West road, Houston, TX 77095 | 800-470-8005 | copperfieldestates.com

Transportation Report | Mueschke road and perry road By Josef Molnar

Mueschke Road from Hwy. 290 going north to Sandy Hill

Jose

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Mueschke Road construction Perry Road construction

Phase two of the Mueschke Road construction runs from 1 mile north of Hwy. 290 to Sandy Hill Circle. The two-lane asphalt road will be replaced with a four-lane concrete boulevard with a raised median and an underground storm sewer system. The construction is part of a four-part series of projects that runs to Wilks Drive. Phase one, completed last year, ran from Hwy. 290 one mile north to the phase two project starting point.

Second phase: The second phase was a rebuilding of the road from Hwy. 290 to Sandy Hill.

Third phase: The third phase runs from Sandy Hill to Little Cypress Creek.

Fourth phase: The fourth phase runs from Little Cypress Creek to Wilks Drive.

Timeline: The second phase of the project is 60 percent finished and is scheduled for completion in August. The third phase is in the design phase and will begin this fall. The fourth phase is also in the design phase, with bids expected in 2011. A target bid date has not been finalized.Funding: Harris County Precinct 3Budget: $5.5 million

The two-phased Perry Road project runs from FM 1960 to south of Hwy. 249 and will include the widening of Perry Road from a two-lane asphalt roadway with open ditch drainage to a four-lane concrete boulevard section. The work will also include a storm sewer system and the installation of traffic signals on Perry Road at Lou Edd Road and Perry Road at Mills Road, including traffic signal modifications along that length to accommodate traffic.

First phase: The first phase runs from FM 1960 to just past Mills Road.

Second phase: The second phase runs from north of Mills Road to south of Hwy. 249.

Timeline: The first phase is scheduled for completion in November. The second phase is in the design phase and has not yet gone to bid. Bids are expected to be placed in early summer.Funding: METRO General Mobility ProgramBudget: $3.2 million

Sandy Hill Cir.

Little Cypress Creek

Edworthy Rd.

Bauer Hockley Rd.M

uesch

ke Rd

.

Cypr

ess R

oseh

ill Rd

.

Wilks Dr.

N

Perry

Rd.

Mills Rd.

Lou Edd Rd.

Grant Rd.

249

1960

290

N

(Phase two)

(Phase four)

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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 21

News Report | Stand and be counted: 2010 census takes roll

By K. JenneyIn March, the U.S. is taking roll call as

the country (and Puerto Rico) undergoes its 23rd census. More than 120 million homes will receive a 10-question survey that determines the characteristics of the population by asking for information such as name, gender, race and ethnicity.

Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is designed to count the number of people living in the country every decade and also provide statistics used for allocat-ing more than $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments; dis-tributing congressional seats to states; and making decisions about what community services to fund.

“It’s important to complete the census,” said Jenna Steormann Arnold of the U.S. Census Bureau, Dallas Regional Census Center. “The future of individual commu-nities and states depends on it.”

Since many federally funded programs are based on income and need, the amount of money the government offers a commu-nity is proportional to its population.

Arnold said information obtained is kept confidential and is quick to complete.

“It actually takes less time to complete than opening an account at your local video rental store,” she said.

The Census Bureau began the 2010 process in spring 2009 when bureau

employees canvassed every street in the U.S. Using hand-held computers with GPS tracking capabilities, they identified every existing and potential residence.

In mid-March, printed census forms will be mailed. Residents are asked to complete and return the data in the postage-paid envelope by April 1—Census Day. House-holds that do not respond will be visited between April and July by a census taker who manually records data.

Census takers will carry badges that contain a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date. They may also carry bags with the census logo on it.

“Residents may ask for the name and telephone number of the census taker’s supervisor at the local census office if they are uncomfortable or would like verifica-tion,” Arnold said.

She said census takers should not ask for personal information like social security or credit card numbers. Nor should they solicit donations or e-mail information.

The Census Bureau must deliver popula-tion counts to the president no later than Dec. 31, 2010. Redistricting data to states will be delivered by March 2011, and demographic profiles and reports will be released between April 2011 and Septem-ber 2013.

For more information on the 2010 cen-sus, visit www.census.gov.

2006–2008 Census data

HOUSE AND FAMILy Average household size estimate: Median household income (in 2008 inflation-adjusted dollars): Families below poverty level:

POPULATIONTotal population:Population 18 years and over:High school graduate or higher: Bachelor’s degree or higher: White:Hispanic or Latino (of any race):Black or African-American:American Indian and Alaska native:Asian-American:

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: Some other race:Two or more races:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau’s 2006–2008 American Community Survey

2.66

$42,624

16.9%

2,024,3791,278,866

73.3%27.6%53.8%41.9%24.1%0.4%5.3%

0.1%

15.2%1.1%

2.61

$52,175

9.6%

301.2 million197.8 million

84.5%27.4%74.3%15.1%12.3%0.8%4.4%

0.1%

5.8%2.2%

A snapshot of the 2010 census formDistributed in both English and Spanish•Printed on eco-friendly paper•One of the shortest forms (10 questions) in census history•Responses are protected under law and not shared •with anyone

*To view a sample census form, visit www.census.gov/2010census

Houston United States

ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM

PURSUE YOUR DEGREEJUST ONE NIGHT A WEEK

Classes Start Year RoundClasses take 4-6 WeeksTextbooks Are Included

O U R M I S S I O N I S T O D E V E L O P C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S

12555 Ryewater . Houston, TX 77089 . 800.285.4252

concordia.edu/impactConcordia University Texas . Houston Center

Graduate & Traditional Programs Now Available at the Main campus in Austin

HOUSTON CENTER

12361 Barker Cypress #900 • 281-758-3560Located behind HEB. In front of Coles Crossing

Wine Sales • Wine Club • TastingsWine Bar • Wine Accessories & Gifts

Custom Gift Baskets

www.winestyles.net/cypressJoin the Only Wine Club with a Club House

Free Gift as a token of our thanks

Th ank you Cypress

for a successful 1st yearMention this ad to receive a

Anniversary events: April 11th-17th. Visit

website for event details.www.winestyles.net/cypress

While supplies last.

For Public Safety or Law Enforcement exhibitor information, please contact:

Chief Alan BraggSpring ISD Police Department281-891-6901

If you would like to sponsor or volunteer for this event, please contact the Cy-Fair Houston

Chamber of Commerce at 281-373-1390

16th Annual

www.SaluteToLawEnforcement.org

Sponsored By

Saturday, May 1, 2010 • 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Willowbrook Mall | FM 1960 West @ Hwy 249

The Largest Known Single Law Enforcement Exhibition Open to the Public!Over 100 Law Enforcement Agencies, Offi cers, Equipment

and Exhibits for the Community to See!

22 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

By Kara Vaught and Kimberly StaufferAfter the holiday parties and presents,

the bills begin to arrive. Scattered among them are documents that have the poten-tial to consume even more time and effort than holiday shopping: tax forms.

Charles Garcia, a certified tax pre-parer and owner of Liberty Tax Service in Cypress, said there are several documents that, depending on the individual, are needed for tax returns.

W-2 forms from employers•1099 forms for interest, dividends, •miscellaneous income and/or sale of securitiesK-1 forms from partnerships, estates, •trusts and S corporations, which elect to pass corporate income, losses, deduc-tions and credit to their shareholders for tax purposesSocial security information•Mortgage interest and property tax •figuresDocumentation of charitable giving•Documentation of auto purchases and •sales taxHealth Savings Accounts information•Tuition figures•Settlement statements for property sold •or purchasedTo make tax season smooth, Garcia sug-

gests creating a file to store tax documents during the year.

The next hurdles to tax preparation are the several new tax rules.Estimated tax payments

Individuals who own small businesses may be qualified to reduce their annual estimated tax payment to the lesser of either 90 percent of the tax shown on their 2008 return or to 90 percent of the tax shown on their 2009 return. Qualified individuals must have more than 50 per-cent of their gross income from a business with an average of 500 employees or less in 2008 and an adjusted gross income of less than $500,000 or $250,000 if married and filing separately for 2009.Motor vehicle tax deduction

State, local and excise taxes on the first $49,500 purchase price of qualified motor

vehicles may be deductible if the purchaser has a modified adjusted gross income less than $135,000 or $260,000 if married and filing a joint return. Automobiles, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles weighing less than 8,500 lbs. are qualified.Penalty for failure to file increased

Not filing a tax return by more than 60 days after its due date, including exten-sions, will result in a minimum penalty of $135 or 100 percent of the unpaid tax, whichever is less.Residential Energy Property Credit

The tax credit for homeowners who make energy-efficient changes to parts of their homes, such as windows and HVAC systems, increased to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying modifications. The maxi-mum credit is also raised to $1,500.Homebuyer credit

A federal housing act increased the first-time homebuyer credit to $8,000 for purchases made in 2009 and before May 1, 2010, and closed on before July 1, 2010. Individuals are not required to pay back the credit unless they move within three years after the purchase.Filing

Once prepared, individual tax returns or requests for extensions must be filed elec-tronically or mailed by April 15. Business returns are due March 15. Individuals who are granted an extension must file by Oct. 15 and businesses by Sept. 15.

An extension on filing a return does not enable a delay of payment. All or part of the estimated taxes must be paid by the due date to avoid penalties and interest.

Individuals earning an adjusted gross income of less than $57,000 may qualify to e-file their tax return at no charge through one of the authorized IRS e-file partners. People making more than $57,000 may also e-file, but are subject to fees imposed by providers. Refunds

If filing electronically with direct deposit, Garcia said residents can expect to receive their refund in as little as eight to 15 days. A mailed return can take four to six weeks if expecting a paper check.

Barbara Bush at Cypress Creek Library6817 Cypresswood Drive281-376-4610

Cy-Fair College Branch Library9191 Barker-Cypress Road281-290-3210

Fairbanks Branch Library7122 North Gessner713-466-4438

Northwest Branch Library11355 Regency Green Drive281-890-2665

IRS Forms and Publicationswww.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

Where to get tax forms

Tax informaTion

For more information, meet with an IRS representative or visit www.irs.gov.

Inside Information | preparing for tax season

Where to get helpTaxpayer Advocate Service1919 Smith St., Room 1650Houston

713-209-3660Free IRS problem assistance for individuals and businessesTaxpayer Assistance Center12941 I-45 NorthHouston281-721-7021

CYPRESS STATIONCYPRESS STATIONCAR WASH & LUBE

WWW.CYPRESSSTATIONCARWASH.COM

$10 OFF

$5 OFF

$10 OFF $20 OFF

$10 OFFAny Flush

Cypress Station Oil Service “Free Wash”

(reg. $31.99 plus $2.75 envir. fee)

Change oil with Penzoil up to 5 qts., 3.50 per quart, change oil fi lter, lubricate chassis,

check all fl uids and belts

Ultimate Salon

17322 Spring Cypress Rd.

281-256-4080

Final Destination

Detail Services Detail Services

synthetic oil change with synthetic oil fi lter

Not for use with other offers. Must present coupon when

ordering service. Original coupon only.

7322 Spring Cypress Rd7322 Spring Cypress Rd7322 Spring Cypress Rd

Locally Owned & Operated

Station hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

We use Blue Coral & Meguiar’s products when cleaning your vehicle.

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2828Stt ooon nnn hhohhohohohho rrrs:s::: rFrFFFFr 8FrFrrFrFrFFrFrF 888ononrrrrS MMMMStation hours: Mon.-Fri. 8

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Spring Cypress Rd.

Skinner Rd.

Hwy. 290

Hempstead Hwy.

CYPRESS STATIONCYPRESS STATIONCAR WASH & LUBE

Wash PackageUnion Pacifi c

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Not for use with other offers. Must present coupon when ordering service. Original coupon only.

Not for use with other offers. Must present coupon when ordering service. Original coupon only.

OR

Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com March 2010 | 23

Grant Road

N. E

ldrid

ge

Pkw

y.

Kluge Rd.

Wor

tham

Blv

d.

290Worth

am

Center Dr.

N. E

ldrid

ge P

kwy.

1960

Wortham Park - 77065 Lakewood Forest - 77070The community is conveniently located near Hwy. 290 and FM1960 as well as the West Road park and ride.

Cy-Fair ISD schools:Adam Elementary School•Arnold Junior High School •Cy-Fair High School•

Nestled among the trees, Lakewood Forest provides residents opportunities for peace and quiet.

Cy-Fair ISD schools:Moore Elementary School•Hamilton Middle School •Cy-Creek High School •

12515 Grove Hollow Court4 Br/2 Ba | 2,322 sq. ft. $184,900Agent: Katie Kohlhauff 281-893-8400RE/MAX Northwest Realtors

11814 Pebbleton Drive5 Br/3.5 Ba | 4,826 sq. ft. $465,000Agent: Ellen Proctor 281-444-5140Prudential Gary Greene

12907 Azalea Creek Trail5 Br/3.5 Ba | 3,345 sq. ft. $219,900Agent: George Kawaja 281-703-2167Broker information not available

11780 Quail Creek Drive4 Br/3 and 2 Half Ba | 5,425 sq. ft. $420,000Agent: Denise Flores 281-444-5140Prudential Gary Greene

12819 Apple Forest Trail4 Br/2.5 Ba | 2,864 sq. ft. $199,000Agent: Ruth Post 281-856-0808Keller Williams Realty

12210 Moorcreek Drive4 Br/3.5 Ba | 3,684 sq. ft. $259,900 Agent: David Brown 713-722-7653Sage Properties

12902 Magnolia Leaf4 Br/2 and 2 Half Ba | 2,540 sq. ft. $179,500 Agent: Sondra Petermann 281-367-7770RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring

11714 Pebbleton Drive4 Br/2.5 Ba | 2,582 sq. ft. $184,900 Agent: Nadeen Rhoades-Stepp 281-376-9900RE/MAX Surburban Northwest

Featured homes Featured homes

N N

Residential Real Estate | Neighborhoods at a Glance

Less than $149,999$150,000–$199,999$200,000–$299,999$300,000–$399,999$400,000–$499,999$500,000–$599,999$600,000–$799,999$800,000–$999,999$1 million +

February 2010February 2009January 2010December 2009November 2009October 2009September 2009

44532317632102625

26621229514570271963

11913491

169149221206

124140105181145177200

8087

10112121459115434

201

74747996

167164166230507

$134,728$134,634$138,553$145,045$143,141$139,605$146,198

$184,694$190,301$204,883$225,585$197,022$201,548$216,148

Price range Month

On the market* (February 1–28)Monthly home sales*

Market Data

Number of homes for saleNumber of sales

Avg. days on marketAverage priceNW Houston Cypress

NW Houston CypressNW Houston Cypress

NW Houston Cypress

Market Data provided by Mark DimasThe Professional Group Realty | 281-861-6199 | www.markdimas.com

Zip code guide77040 NW Houston77064 NW Houston77065 NW Houston77070 NW Houston

77095 NW Houston77429 Cypress77433 Cypress

The residential real estate listings were added to the market between 2/1/10 and 2/28/10 and were compiled from www.har.com. Although every effort has been made to ensure the timeliness and accuracy of this listing, Community Impact Newspaper assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Contact the property’s agent or seller for the most current information.

Lanie EvansApril Ryan Glaser Kristi Lindquist©2010. An independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. Prudential is a registered trademark of The Prudential Insurance Company of America. If your property is currently listed by another broker, please disregard this offer. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We cooperate with them fully. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors® — The Industry LeaderFor all of your Real Estate needs, please give us a call!

832.334.0001

Drop by our new Cy-Fair Location:

11734 Barker Cypress, Suite 116Cypress, TX 77433

Cross Streets are Barker Cypress & Queenston

v v v v v v v v

24 | March 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Commercial Real Estate property listings

77041 Houston 58588–5890 Cunningham Five at 12,000 $58/sq. ft. Ron Roberson Caldwell Companies 713-690-000077064 Houston 8430 N. Sam Houston Parkway West 19,625 Negotiable Lane Guinn JLM Commercial Advisors 713-784-777077064 Houston 10940 W. Sam Houston Parkway North 2,366 $17.75/sq. ft. Paula Murray Betz Company 281-873-444477065 Houston 9503 Jones Road 6,704 $18/sq. ft. Charlotte Blocker Farchi Global Realty & Management 713-252-638077065 Houston 11307 FM 1960 West 1,600 $24/sq. ft. Bill Ingram Coldwell Banker Commercial 281-364-800077065 Houston 11024 Neeshaw Drive 27,125 $1.55 million Joel C. English CEC Brokerage 281-897-955577095 Houston 16316 FM 529 1,200 $17/sq. ft. James Carter Prudential Gary Greene Realtors 713-818-627377095 Houston 7050–7066 Lakeview Haven Drive 670 $15.60/sq. ft. Mikel Leff Bernstein Perwien Properties 713-464-741177095 Houston 9770–9772 Whithorn 9,198 $7.20/sq. ft. Bill Ingram Coldwell Banker Commercial 281-364-800077095 Houston 9405 Huffmeister 6,200 $16.50/sq. ft. David F. Hummel Coldwell Banker Commercial 281-840-500077429 Cypress 12700 Grant Road 1,844 $18/sq. ft. Susan Roark Rizk Properties 713-203-983077429 Cypress 11115 Mills Road 2,850 $5.04-$6/sq. ft. Ron Bernell Bernell & Associate 713-526-109477429 Cypress 13040 Louetta Road 5,655 $13–$15/sq. ft. Megan Burke First Allied Corporation 585-359-300077433 Cypress Hwy. 290 and Fairfield Place Drive 500,000 Negotiable Joshua Jacobs Page Partners 713-595-953777433 Cypress 8190 Barker Cypress Road 3,600 $15/sq. ft. Jessica Inman Vista Management Company 281-531-530077433 Cypress 11808 Barker Cypress Road 1,200 $17/sq. ft. Jim Bayne Investar Real Estate Services 713-273-1363

Northwest Houston

Zip code city address Sq. Ft. price agent agency phone

16316 FM 529 $17/sq. ft.

5

2 12700 Grant Road1,844 sq. ft.Agent: Susan RoarkRizk Properties

$18/sq. ft.713-203-9830

3 9503 Jones Road6,704 sq. ft.Agent: Charlotte Blocker FarchiGlobal Realty & Management

$18/sq. ft.713-252-6380

11024 Neeshaw Drive $1.55 million

4

290 Telg

e Rd

.

Jone

s Rd

.

Neeshaw Dr.

Kluge Rd.

Grant Rd.

Huff

mei

ster

Rd.

Cunn

ingh

am

Rd.

W. Little York Rd.

West Rd.

2

3

4

5

1

249

1960

6

529

The commercial real estate listings were added to the market between 2/1/10 and 2/28/10 and were compiled from www.loopnet.com. Although every effort has been made to ensure the timeliness and accuracy of this listing, Community Impact Newspaper assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Contact the property’s agent or seller for the most current information.

Keith P. Grothaus, CCIM, SIOR713.690.0000 | kgrothaus@caldwellcos.com

(6) 1 Acre Pad Sites @ Barker Cypress & Lakecrest View Dr.

25 Acres @ West Road and Greenhouse (can be subdivided)

12 - 30 Acres @ Barker Cypress and Tuckerton Rd.

Pad Sites & LandNOW AVAILABLE

Caldwellcos.com

N1 5858–5890 Cunningham Road

(5) at 12,000 sq. ft.Agent: Ron RobersonCaldwell Companies

$58/sq. ft.713-690-0000