Katy Coogs Award Student Scholarships
Pictured are the winners of the 2008 Katy Coogs Alumni Club Scholarship: Brenda Yoo from Katy Taylor High School (Left), Lananh Van from Cinco Ranch High School (Right) and Rom Crespo, President/Founder of the Katy Coogs Alumni Club (center). The Katy Coogs Alumni Club is a charter club of the University of Houston Alumni Organization that serves UH alumni in the West Houston area (Katy, Cy-Fair, Spring Branch, Alief, Memorial, etc.) to promote the University of Houston and to raise funds for scholarships to local high school seniors attending UH after graduating high school. For more info about joining the Katy Coogs or donating to the Katy Coogs Scholarship Fund, visit our website: www.katycoogs.com
Houston Community College Katy Campus Now Registering Students for Fall
College bound students can now enroll at the Houston Community College Katy Campus for the fall semester. On-campus registration starts on Monday, August 11, and classes begin Saturday, August 23. Click here to search the Katy Campus class schedule.
New HCC students will want to meet with a counseling staff member prior to registering for classes. Counseling is available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The counseling office will also be open on two successive Saturdays, August 16 and August 23, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. to accommodate students for fall registration.
Serving the Katy area since 1979, the HCC Katy Campus delivers quality academic programs and exemplary workforce training at an affordable price. With tuition costing less than half of a university and core classes guaranteed to transfer to Texas public institutions, the Katy Campus presents students the ideal “first step” into higher education. In addition to academics, several exemplary-rated workforce programs are offered at the Katy Campus including Drafting and Design Technology, EMS, Cosmetology, Horticulture, Business Administration, and Business Technology.
The HCC Katy Campus is located at 1550 Foxlake Drive, just east of the intersection of Fry Road and Park Row. Visit HCC online at northwest.hccs.edu to learn more about the exciting opportunities in your area!
We want to hear from you! Email community.outreach@hccs.edu, and let us know what programs interest you and how we can better meet your needs.
For more information about registering with HCC, call 713-718-5757.
Photo by Tom Haymes.
Morton Ranch High School Class of 2008 Leaves Behind Bronze Maverick
Senior Principal Rómulo (Rom) E. Crespo, from Morton Ranch High School in Katy ISD, standing next to the life size Bronze Maverick statue donated by the graduating class of 2008. This gift to Katy ISD and Morton Ranch High School was voted on by the Senior Class of 2008 and presented at the school’s Senior Chill Out held on Friday, May 23, 2008 and also during the MRHS Graduation Ceremony held at the Leonard E. Merrell Center on Sunday, June 1, 2008.
Katy Education Coverage by Kim Montgomery
We are pleased to announce OnlyKaty.com new education columnist, Kim Montgomery. Kim is an outreach and community builder for Houston Community College and maintains relationships with many local organizations to communicate the importance of higher education.
A native Houstonian and fervent supporter of higher education, Kim C. Montgomery works as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Houston Community College Northwest. After graduating with honors from James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas in 2001, she went on to finish 64 hours with HCC before transferring to the University of Houston.
Kim earned a B.A. in Corporate and Organizational Communication from UH in 2005, and upon completing her degree, Kim worked as a Transfer Admission Counselor for the UH Office of Admissions. As an admission counselor, she assisted students transferring from community colleges with their admission process into UH and collaborated with college administrators throughout the state of Texas to facilitate the ease of transition into a university setting for students.
Kim was also the founding advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association of the University of Houston, the alumni group for the two-year college international honors association. In July 2007 she began with HCC in the Public Relations department and has helped foster partnerships with businesses, community groups, and educational institutions. Kim assesses the needs of the community and finds opportunities for HCC to support. She develops and assists with on campus programs for students, faculty, and staff, has spoken about HCC and higher education at multiple public functions, and is actively involved in the Katy, Spring Branch, and West Houston areas.
Outside of work, Kim loves spending time with her husband of two years, Shain, and with friends and family. She is a movie fanatic and can often be found at Alamo Drafthouse on Mason Road seeing a new release or trying out unique and quaint dining destinations in Katy, her favorites being Cedars, The Bagel Café, La Olla, and Swampys.
We welcome Kim to the OnlyKaty.com family.
Houston’s Boom: Oil, Housing, Both?
Analysts and journalists seem to agree that Houston’s economy is doing very well right now, and stands to remain steady despite the rest of the country. But the reasons behind this are debated. Many sources are saying it’s the rising oil prices (with Houston serving as a hub for profitable oil companies) that make it such a stable place to live. A recent article in the Houston Business Journal by Ted Nelson of Newland Communities, discusses a combination of factors contributing to the economic success of Houston… stating that quality of life and long-term housing affordability are two of the major advantages Houston has over comparable cities. Read more
Wii Fit Tour at Katy Mills Mall
Katy Mills invites Katy residents to test their fitness level with the new Nintendo Wii Fit, the first fitness game sold with a balance board. Beginning Thursday, July 24, shoppers will practice yoga, do push-ups, walk tightropes and more at Katy Mills. Shoppers will receive free one-on-one product demonstrations to learn about the 40+ interactive exercises and activities that Wii Fit offers. The action will be located in the AMC Plaza in Katy Mills. Read more
It’s Summer Contest Time!
With Summer break for the kids coming to a close in a few weeks time, many families are looking for last minute fun things to do before embarking on another school year. And here is where all the readers come into play.
OnlyKaty wants to know what your favorite summer activity to do with the family is. Is it something as simple as going to get ice cream on a warm summer night? Or is it a fabulous day trip around town? What is it that you like to do with your family to make memories and special traditions?
We want to know. We really do.
And we are prepared to give away three $10 gift cards to Target for your input. We know everyone could use a gift card to Target, right?
How To Enter:
All you have to do is leave a comment on this article telling us what your favorite family activity or memory is. Simple enough! That is really all you have to do. We want to know how our readers spend time with their families making memories and traditions.
The deadline to enter will be Sunday, August 3rd. We will then randomly draw three of the people who commented and post their favorite activities.
Winners will be announced Monday, August 4th.
Move & Be Moved: Walk MS Katy
Hundreds of Katy-area residents will lace up their shoes for the Walk MS: Katy at Katy Mills Mall on September 27. The goal – to raise $30,000 to help the estimated 20,000 Texans living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families served by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter. Read more
The Greatest Show On Earth!
The Greatest Show On Earth has arrived in Houston! This 137th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus promises to be one to remember. This is definitely an event any parent or child would enjoy – with exotic animals, including Asian elephants, Royal Bengal and white tigers – as well as jaw-dropping stunts, high-wires and so much more! Read more
FHA Guidelines Changed as of 7/14/08
For the last few months, buyers have been able to obtain loans despite their FICO scores through FHA manual underwriting. In changes that were enacted to the FHA programs beginning 7/14/08, a minimum FICO score of 580 is now required.
Other changes include: Read more
Ron Tarvin: OnlyKaty Real Estate Contributor
OnlyKaty.com welcomes local real estate expert, Ron Tarvin to the team! Ron is a local REALTOR® and comes to us with a background in real estate investing. Ron specializes in internet marketing of homes, realizing that almost 90% of today’s home buyers begin their search on the internet. Ron’s mixture of internet savvy and hands on customer service has led him to numerous achievement awards with Keller Williams Realty, Katy@Cinco Ranch. Read more
College Funding Workshops at Cinco Ranch
By Katy ISD Communications.
College Financial Aid Parent Workshops for the classes of 2009 and 2010 will be held at Cinco Ranch High School July 15 and again on Aug. 19, beginning at 7 p.m. Classes are sponsored by Katy ISD Community Education and are open to the public and without cost. Read more
OnlyKaty is Now iPhone-Ready
The new Apple iPhone 3G hit the stores today with a welcomed $199 price tag and a plethora of new features including GPS and faster internet speed. To celebrate, we have added a new feature to this website: If you visit OnlyKaty.com from an iPhone, you will be greeted with a special format that makes it easy and simple to read the latest local Katy news on the go. Read more
Arts & Crafts Show Coming to the Merrell Center
By Sammie Dwyer.
The Sami Show Marketplace is an arts & crafts affaire extraordinaire at the Merrell Center in Katy. It is coming to Katy on July 19th & 20th, 2008. Admission is $5. for adults, children under 12 are admitted free. Shoppers can browse through fine art, original pottery, gems and minerals, sports prints and precious children’s clothing all in one marketplace. Read more
Online Pre-Enrollment Now Offered for Katy ISD
Katy ISD parents who plan to enroll new students for the 2008-09 school year now have the option to pre-enroll their children online.
The main purpose for this option is to cut down on paperwork, clerical errors, and the system will also save parents time when they come to enroll their children on the designated registration dates in August.
Parents are still required to provide the mandatory immunization and residential documentation Read more
The Grand: New Katy Mall Set to Open in 2012
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UPDATE: 7/30/2009 – The project has been put on hold (indefinitely). The land is now for sale. See links in the comments below.
Simon Property Group, the Indianapolis based commercial real estate developer behind Katy Mills Mall (as well as 383 other commercial developments across America), is in the process of developing a brand new 1.1 million square foot open-air shopping mall named “The Grand” on the north side of I-10 in between Grand Parkway (99) and Mason. It will occupy the large area just behind the Gand Parkway Cinemark and will be visible from the Katy Freeway. Read more
Katy Teen Gets Popped for Fireworks Transport
Even though it is legal to carry and use fireworks in Harris County and Katy, local teen Stephen Gegenheimer was issued a citation for driving with fireworks in his trunk by an arson officer with the City of Houston’s Fire Marshals office. He was on his way home, and passed through a small, city-annexed stretch of Fry Road when he was busted.
Even though he bought the otherwise legal roman candles from a stand located in an unincorporated part of Harris County, and was headed to his house in Katy… the bored officer hit him with a fine that could amount anywhere from $500-$2,000.
TNT Fireworks, the wholesale distributor he purchased the candles from filed a suit against the city of Houston with the Civil District Court. The case? They are accusing officials of annexing roads for the sole purpose of enforcing fire codes that prohibit the possession of fireworks. Ok, sure.
Either way the red tape stretched to it’s limit by the Fire Marshals Office really puts a damper on the celebration. The story on Chron.com covers the details:
“We’re just enraged because we feel it’s as close to entrapment as you can get,” said Gegenheimer’s mother, Missy. “He’s a good kid. He’s never had a violation or a citation in his life and he was just trying to have fun on the Fourth of July.”
Judge Martha Hill Jamison, presiding over the civil court case was not impressed by the officers actions:
“I’d suggest you get word out to your fire marshals that it’s bad PR to be ticketing people who legally bought fireworks and are legally transporting them,” Jamison said.
The fireworks stand supervisor is screaming entrapment:
“We obviously didn’t have any idea that the HPD or the fire marshal was watching our stand with binoculars or whatever,” Kammerlohr said. “I realize the city of Houston can do what it wants, but it seems kind of peculiar that they can hopscotch down Fry Road and annex this block and not that block.”
It’s independence day… Let’s celebrate freedom, not bureaucracy. You can read the full story and check out a map of his travel route on Chron.com.
