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Posted on Jun 24, 2009 | Tagged in: economy , City of Friendswood
The City of Friendswood has its eye on a juicy piece of land that it plans on turning into a park and ball-sports area. It’s all a go, too, but only if Alvin says so.
The land in question is 60 acres of prime undeveloped property located in Brazoria County within Alvin city limits and therefore under the city’s control. If the deal goes through, the land ownership will be transferred to Friendswood, but as of right now the city won’t know if they can purchase it until next month when a state judge issues his ruling in Austin.
Friendswood only wishes to provide a fun and close area where youth residents “can play ball in Brazoria County.” Alvin city officials think it’s a great idea, but have yet to formally meet with Friendswood council members and officially go over plans. Both cities have “expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached,” but as of yet, the plans are still in their initial development stages.
“For what they're using it for, I think it's going to be a great thing. I think it's going to be awesome,” said Alvin City Council member Charles Batty. The friendly optimism was also reciprocated by Friendswood’s Mayor David Smith: “Alvin, they've been great neighbors," he said. "We have inter-local agreements with them, we work wonderfully with them on many different things and I don't expect it to be any different with this.”
To learn more, read the full article at Houston Community Newspapers.
Posted on Jun 24, 2009 | Tagged in: Oakhurst at Kingwood , healthcare
A new department of the Kingwood Medical Center has officially opened this week.
The new HCA-affiliated HealthOne Express Care Kingwood Clinic is now available to the public to treat minor emergencies and will be staffed by physicians from the medical center’s emergency department. Any minor injury or ailment, from coughs, colds, flu and back pains will be treated with care and promptness for both adult and pediatric patients. The clinic will also have x-ray and lab services available on site.
The facility will be open daily from 10 am to 9:30 pm. It is located at the south end of the Kingwood Medical Center campus on the west side of U.S. Highway 59 and Kingwood Drive. For more information, visit www.kingwoodmedical.com or call 281-348-8000.
Source: Houston Business Journal
One of the many advantages offered to residents in Heritage at Towne Lake is the community’s close proximity to Lone Star College Cy-Fair. Located less than one-half mile from The Heritage at Towne Lake, Lone Star College has a wealth of resources, activities, events and opportunities for students of all ages to expand and enrich their academic life.
In addition to a broad curriculum of courses, Lone Star College Cy-Fair offers residents in the area to join the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) - an organization for active, older adults (50+) offering classes and social activities for continued intellectual and personal growth. Learning is a lifelong pursuit that opens minds, enriches lives This Academy is a membership-based organization for active learning adults and offers a program of special events, informal activities and classes right here in the community. The Academy for Lifelong Learning focuses on the mature learner and is actually managed by members of the community who want to be involved in an important and stimulating pursuit.
The required membership fee is just $10 and entitles members to:
- Take Academy for Lifelong Learning courses at LSC-CyFair free of charge or at a reduced fee;
- Participate in social activities;
- Share a love of learning with people who will broaden their lives;
- Study under the guidance of members who represent a wide range of expertise and life's experiences;
- Share their avocation or formal training as an ALL instructor;
- Develop friendships within a diverse group of people; and
- Be a part of a collective voice of active adults in the community.
“An increasing number of residents in Heritage at Towne Lake are actively involved in this wonderful organization,” said Christine Draughn, Marketing Director for Heritage at Towne Lake. “It’s the perfect compliment to the active lifestyle that is attracting more and more new-home buyers in growing market.”
The Heritage at Towne Lake features new homes priced from the $180,000s to the $300,000s by Village Builders and Four Seasons by K. Hovnanian. Decorated models and sales offices are open daily in the community, representing the wide variety of luxury, low maintenance patio homes that are now available.
Posted on Jun 17, 2009 | Tagged in: Heritage at Towne Lake , active adult
An integral part of the Heritage at Towne Lake, the community created for new-home buyers age 55 and up, is the clubhouse which is the focal point of community activity. Available exclusively for the residents in this new community, the new lodge-style clubhouse is a place where residents can meet, visit and participate in a wide range of activities.
The new 16,000 square-foot multi-million dollar facility decorated in a rustic, welcoming lodge style, offers a well-planned design that features rooms for a wide variety of activities. A library with built-in shelves houses a number of different books and offers an ideal place for meetings, and a private business office offers residents the use of computers, internet and a fax machine. An open seating area in the front of the Lodge has plenty of room for small or larger groups and showcases a gas log fireplace and expansive windows offering views of the community.
A separate hobby room surrounded by walls of windows has a flexible design that accommodates a variety of hobby workshops or classes. The billiards room is spacious and includes pool and game tables and the fitness center, which is state of the art, also has separate access for residents who like to work out in early morning hours. This room also features views of the pool and lake.
The grand ballroom easily accommodates large groups and includes a stage and state of the art sound system, as well as access to the kitchen. Men’s and women’s locker rooms complete the interior of the facility. Outside are a resort-style heated pool and spa and extensive seating and gathering areas. Complimenting this facility is=2 0an on-site staff that includes a full-time activities director who works closely with residents and coordinates a monthly calendar of events and activities.
“The residents truly enjoy this facility and take advantage of all of its benefits,” said Christine Draughn, Marketing Director for Heritage at Towne Lake. “This facility is the focal point of Heritage at Towne Lake.
Posted on Jun 17, 2009 | Tagged in: events , City of Friendswood
Big plans are underway for the City of Friendswood’s 114th Annual Fourth of July Celebration on Saturday, July 4th, themed “Family, Friends and Friendswood, a Standing Tradition."
The day will be packed from morning to night with parades, live entertainment and of course, a “fantastic fireworks extravaganza!”
The fun begins at 10 am with the Grand Parade marching down Friendswood Drive from the corner of FM 518 and Heritage Drive to Stevenson Park. Once at the park, the grounds will be filled with over 50 booth entries and will sport rides, games, food and activities for the whole family. Live performances will be held by the Zydeco Dots musical group and other patriotic presentations.
The evening program starts at 7:30 pm with the Bellamy Brothers headlining the night’s entertainment at Friendswood’s Centennial Park, followed by local performers. And the Grand Finale will begin shortly after 9 pm with a spectacular fireworks show, guaranteed to be one of the best in the Houston area.
A free shuttle service will be provided for admittance, beginning at 6:30 pm in the evening for the lack of public parking at Centennial Park. The shuttle will be available from Clear Brook High School at 4607 FM 2351, and from the Friendswood Community Church at 2821 Parkwood Avenue.
Both the Hometown Bank of Friendswood and the Friendswood ISD Education Foundation are celebrating their own 10-year anniversaries. In honor of the event, Hometown Bank maintains its tradition of donating $5,000 to the Foundation every year. So far, the Bank has given $50,000 to the organization that rewards grants to recognized teachers and the school district, all for the betterment of the children.
“We are happy to partner with Friendswood ISD to impact children and teachers in the exemplary district,” said Vice President Allan Rasmussen. “As both of us celebrate 10 years, we stand together and look forward to the next 10.”
This positive attitude is echoed in the bank’s optimistic outlook for the economic future. “I am very excited about the local economic outlook for 2009. The performance of a community bank is a direct reflection of the local economy we serve. Our citizens have a strong will and a determined heart, and their positive attitude will move our economy forward,” said Bank President and CEO Jimmy Rasmussen.
Source: Friendswood Journal
Posted on Jun 15, 2009 | Tagged in: Lakemont , education
The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District has earned top honors in the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award and $100,000 that will benefit the district’s education foundation. LCISD was recognized in a recent awards ceremony in Austin.
LCISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle led the Lamar CISD delegation on hand for the awards banquet. Lamar CISD earned $5,000 for being one of five finalists named in March. Velasquez Elementary teacher Sharon Horn was named a finalist in the Leadership category, earning her and her school a $1,000 check from H-E-B.
The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards was created to celebrate and recognize the contributions of public school professionals whose leadership and dedication inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.
This program is the largest monetary recognition program for educators in Texas and one of the largest in the nation. H-E-B awards more than $500,000 in cash prizes to deserving teachers, principals and school districts.
The awards are judged in cooperation with The Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals and the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.
Noted for its outstanding student and teacher achievement and strong community support, LCISD serves school-age children in Lakemont. One of the district’s newest schools – McNeill Elementary opened last fall and is located just past the entrance of Lakemont.
Posted on Jun 9, 2009 | Tagged in: economy
Economists Brian S. Wesbury and Robert Stein, CFA of
First Trust Portfolios highlighted some positive economic points in their "Monday Morning Outlook" on June 8, 2009. According to the economists, American investors, spectators, prospective homeowners, and citizens in general may look forward to a pre-crisis return by the end of this year.
Key Points
- Since February, consumer confidence has had the fastest three-month increase on record. This heightenin g signals an overall economic growth.
- Container shipments both into and out of the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports - key measures of international trade - have traced a V-shaped recovery. This signals that shipments were only briefly low and proceeded to have a rapid recovery.
- The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is back up to 3.86%, almost exactly where it was in August 2008, just before the current economic issue became overwhelming.
Another testament to the outstanding student achievements in the Friendswood Independent School District is the announcement of a NASA internship awarded to a Friendswood High School student. Elizabeth Conger of Friendswood ISD has been chosen along with 344 other Texas high school juniors to be a part of the High School Aerospace Scholars Programs. Soon she will be traveling to NASA’s Johnson Space Center to participate in a one-week summer internship.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Conger was selected as one of 354 high school juniors from across Texas to participate in this prestigious program. Prior to being chosen, students had to complete 10 web-based assignments during the school year and maintain at least an 86 average in order to qualify for the internship.
The New Caney Independent School District, which serves school-age children living in Oakhurst at Kingwood, has a new Superintendent. In May, the New Caney Independent School District Board of Trustees hired Kenn K. Franklin, to be the new superintendent and on June 1, his new position was in effect.
Prior to joining the New Caney district, Franklin was superintendent of Marshall ISD since 2005 and before that, he was the superintendent of Marfa ISD. He has a total of 21 years of experience in education including six years as a teacher/coach and 15 years as an administrator in other districts including Tyler ISD, Athens ISD, and Dallas ISD. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree, Masters of Education degree, and superintendent certification from University of Texas at Tyler.
