How our area is growing

According to a story in Wednesday, June 17th's Houston Chronicle,
East Montgomery County is doing well in housing growth and in fact exceeds virtually all of the greater Houston region. The East Montgomery County, area 40 or Southeast area on their map, ranked third overall in the geographic areas covered by their story.

Leading the way in home sales percentage change from May, 2008 to May, 2009 was Grimes County with a 25.0% increase, followed by Bellaire West with 14.3% increase. Our area shows a 10.8% increase for this time period. The only other positive areas were the South Katy Area at 9.5% and the Central downtown Houston area at 3.1%. All other areas showed negative results with the highest being Central downtown West at negative 54.7%. Other areas in Montgomery County, all with negative numbers, were Northeast -30.5%, Southwest -23.1% (which includes The Woodlands), and Northwest -12.9%. The area defined as Far Northeast (which covers Kingwood) showed a negative 23.6% change. The area referred to as Northeast (which would include Humble and areas south of there) showed a negative 26.5% change.

Our area shows a 18.2% positive increase in the price of homes with a median home price in May, 2009 of $152,500. These are indeed good indicators of the many positive things happening in our area.

New Caney Fire Department hosts volunteer graduation

The New Caney Fire Department hosted the graduation ceremony of nine volunteer firefighters in the area. On the bottom row, from left, are Lonnie Cantwell and Randy Porter; top row, Lorren Goodrich, Steven Ray, Richard Mataska and James Parish. Not pictured are Bryan Wilson, James Witt and Jody Bell.

Besides four New Caney Fire Department volunteers – Lonnie Cantwell, Loren Goodrich, Bryan Wilson and Steven Ray – departments from surrounding areas were represented as well. Randy Porter and James Witt will work for Huffman’s fire department, Richard Mataska and James Parish for Bennett’s, and Jody Bell earned his certification to serve the Grangerland department.

“We always hope for a big graduating class to help keep our retention numbers up because these guys are volunteers and they may not want to stay with the department for a long time,” said Jeff Taylor, New Caney fire chief.

Men who donate their time and safety to protect their neighbors are always in demand. In the New Caney Fire Department, there are 35 paid employees and around 20 volunteers, Taylor said.

“Most of the gentlemen in this class have the desire to pursue a career in fire service, so they will go on and continue training while they are a volunteer firefighter,” Taylor explained.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Texas Sawmill Festival holds activities for community

Alvin Smith showed the community how a sawmill worked in the 1800s at last year's Texas Sawmill Festival. The demonstration will take place again at this year's event on April 18.


By ROYCELYN BASTIAN
Updated: 04.08.09
In conjunction with the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County, the R.B. Tullis Library is getting on the Texas Sawmill Festival bandwagon.

On April 18, the third annual festival, which is a fundraiser for the chamber, will attract community residents to the East Montgomery County Improvement District and library’s parking lots to participate in games, activities and more.

“We are planning activities to help enhance this year’s event,” said Daniel Schwartz, R.B. Tullis Library branch manager, said.

At the R.B. Tullis Library, which relocated next to EMCID in 2007, the will host a gaming event from 1 to 4 p.m. inside the library for teenagers to come out and play “Dance Dance Revolution” on the library system’s Wii machine. Barring inclement weather, Friends of the R.B. Tullis Library will hold a book sale in the parking lot.

“We hope these activities will get people into the library to see what we have to offer.”

Historical side


In addition to the book sale and gaming event, the library’s parking lot will also have Grandma’s and Grandpa’s Tool display by the East Montgomery County Historical Society. This display will feature tools that both men and women used in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

“This exhibit will show people, especially children, what tools people used back then to make a living and the home,” said Jerry Gay, president of the historical society. “It will show them how hard life was back then without all of the things that we have today.”

At the Sawmill Festival, the historical society will also feature its museum filled with photos, documents and and other items depicting the history of East Montgomery County.

“We are involved in this event and others in the area because we are capturing and showing the history of EMC,” Gay said.

In the spirit of capture, the organization will set up its Old Timey Photo Booth where community residents can have their picture taken inside of an old pioneer home wearing old shawls, hats and overalls and holding various items such as a musket or a bowie knife.

“We will have a computer and printer on site to take the photo, print it out and give it to people,” Gay said. “There will be a fee (not yet determined), which will go towards us renovating the old Porter Community House into our museum.”

The Old Timey Photo Booth and the historical society’s museum display will be in the EMCID’s parking lot.

Entertainment


The annual Sawmill Festival will feature headline entertainer, Sundance Head, a 2007 American Idol contestant, who will perform in the afternoon. In addition to Head, Juda Myers, Fretted Friends, Catch 22 and Julia Hammock and Southbound will also perform outside. Elementary and junior high school choirs and junior high and high school bands from New Caney Independent School District, Splendora ISD and Caney Creek feeder zone will take turns performing inside EMCID.

Games and Activities


While the entertainment is ongoing, groups of junior high and high school students, chosen by the Porter Fire Department, New Caney Fire Department and Splendora Fire Department, will participate all day long in friendly competition activities.

“Students from Splendora, New Caney and Caney Creek junior high and high schools will compete against each other at various firefighter training exercises,” Behnken said. “At the end of the day one group will be declared the winner and will have bragging rights.”

This is the first year the friendly competition games will be held and students will compete in pumper races, tug-of-war, water polo and rock climbing. The rock climbing wall is provided by the United States Army Recruiting Services.

“We are getting involved in these games because we want to get the youth more involved in community activities,” said Walter West, fire prevention officer for Porter Fire Department. “This will boost our mentor program and engage the schools in our youth services.”

Middle or high school groups that want to participate in this competition can call one of the three fire departments.

While the competition games are going on, there will be a variety of vendor booths that will sell arts and crafts; jewelry; food and more to community residents.

For guests that are not old enough to participate in the friendly competition games, there will be many activities for children including moonwalks, a petting zoo, the rock climbing wall, carnival games and more.

“The library will also have a variety of activities for children, young adults and adults to participate in,” Behnken said.

The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) will have activities for senior adults as well.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

"Nothing more valuable than shade"

By MATTHEW HUISMAN

Residents of East Montgomery County may have recently noticed lights hovering above the county courthouse west of U.S. Highway 59. The lights are for the new baseball, softball and T-ball fields.

The fields, which are currently having sod and trees installed on them, are due to open the first week in June. In all there are 10 fields: four softball, four baseball and two T-Ball fields.

“This field is not only exceptional to Montgomery County but throughout the state as well,” said David Kleimann, owner of U.S. Trees of Texas. Kleimann’s company installed 160 trees of mixed variety for the facility, including live oaks, elms, wax myrtles and red maples.

In addition to Kleimann’s trees, the Wal-Mart of Porter donated an additional 200 fruit trees.

“There’s nothing more valuable than shade,” Kleimann said.


READ THE FULL STORY

HERE!

SHS Academic Decathlon claims third at state

The Splendora High School Academic Decathlon team admire all the medals they earned at the regional and state competitions.


By ROYCELYN BASTIAN
Updated: 04.03.09

The Splendora High School Academic Decathlon Team gave up hanging out with their friends and days during their winter break to study. Their hard work and effort led the team to win first place at the Regional 7 Competition.

“This is my first year to participate on the academic decathlon team and I wanted to do it because it is a tight close knit group and I have been an observer for the past couple of years,” said Kristi Gordon, a senior at Splendora High School. “The team has taught me how to better manage my time and develop better study skills.”

With their high marks a regional, the academic decathlon team went on to earn third place at the small state competition, something that their coach is proud of. At the 2008-2009 Small School State Competition at San Antonio College, the SHS decathlon team earned 37,902 points, which is 3,494 more points than they earned at regional.

“These group of students figured out early that they have to work as a team and I am very proud of all the work and effort they put in this year,” Denise Moore, academic decathlon head coach, said.

To participate in academic decathlon, each team receives materials on next year’s subject before the end of the school year. This allows students to begin reading the information. Once the next school year begins, the students meet, continue studying the information and take tests to determine if they will make the team.

“Just prior to the winter break, I make my decision on who will be on the team. Each student has to try out each year no matter if they were on last year or not. No spot is guaranteed,” Moore said.

The team is comprised of three a, three b and three c students for a total of nine members. This year, the team had to study Latin America and Evolutionary Biology. In the materials, they learn and read all about the culture, music, ideas and themes related to the two subjects. During the regional and state competitions, the students are tested on that material as well as math, science, essays, speech and interviewing skills.

“Being a part of the academic decathlon team has been one of the best things that I have done so far,” said Ryan Moyer, a sophomore. “We had to find a way to juggle being on the team with all of the other organizations that we belong to. We also had to cut down on the time that we had to relax, but it was well worth it.”


READ THE FULL STORY HERE

New Caney band competes in California

New Caney High School band members traveled to San Diego, Calif. during Spring Break and took home honors and awards at the Hertiage Festival.

The concert band won a gold rating and second place, with the jazz band earning a silver rating and second place. The concert band was also invited to attend the Festival of Gold where the best bands throughout the country compete.

County officials discuss legislative issues, construction projects

Issues to be discussed during the 81st Texas Legislature and current construction projects in the area were the topics of conversation at the monthly Concerned Citizens of East Montgomery County meeting March 2.

Ann Car, chief of staff for Montgomery County Judge Alan B. Sadler, addressed members regarding legislative issues they may want to consider during this session.

“Many of us know that the 81st Texas Legislature is in session and there are many important issues they are discussing,” Carr said. “They will be discussing the conversion of ground to surface water, gaming in Texas and puppy mills.”

According to Carr, the conversion of water from ground to surface is an important issue for residents in Montgomery County because it will decide who will convert to surface water, who will stay on ground water and who will pay for it.

“It will also decide how we are going to get the water to the people,” she said. “Everyone should pay attention to this, because it will affect all of us.”

Gaming in Texas is another hot item that has been discussed for years and more recently after the destruction of Hurricane Ike in Galveston.

“That sounds really easy because most of us think, ‘I am for it. Yes, I want casinos here. Yes, it will create more jobs and tax revenues,’ but there is a flip side. Right now it is called destination resort casinos,” Carr said.

REad the full story at The Observer HERE.