The Starbucks Mixed Media Series: Sept 6

By Kelly Ann McColm
The Starbucks Mixed Media Music Series at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is back for its final installment of 2008. The late-night music series will take place Saturday, September 6, from 8 p.m. to midnight, showcasing an eclectic mix of music from James Pants, Small Town DJs and returning resident DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives. The event draws inspiration from END GAME – British Contemporary Art from the Chaney Family Collection, which showcases the provocative work of a generation of artists who changed the art world. Read more

Ooh La La Bakery: Best Dessert Boutique?

Just got word from Freckletown about the nomination of Katy’s own Ooh La La dessert bakery in the list for best Houston dessert place on CitySearch.com.  This dessert boutique specializes in homemade jumbo cupcakes (the signature dessert), cakes, cookies, pies, pastries and more created by pastry chef Vanessa Newbill. The bakery also offers many specialty drinks and coffee, including espresso, lattes, cocoa, tea and smoothies. They have an outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi, and a drive-through… Just in case you need a jumbo cup cake on the run (who doesn’t?). Read more

Five Fresh New Schools in Katy Now Open

By Julie Fuelling at FuellingKaty.com
When my little ones were transferred to a brand new elementary school, Schmalz, they went “kicking and screaming”. The mascot wasn’t right and the colors were unacceptable. They missed their old principal and school song. A great deal of their friends were still districted to the old school. It was not a pretty picture at my house.

Are you facing the same resistance this year? Our wonderful school district is exploding in size with four new school opening on Monday, August 25th. Two elementary schools and two junior highs will be added to the school roster. A Ninth Grade Center is also opening. Read more

Houston Comets Inspire HCC Students

The Houston Comets presented a basketball skills clinic for the Houston Community College and Spring Woods High School girls basketball teams on Friday, August 22 at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.  Assistant Coach Laurie Byrd and guards Roneeka Hodges and Erica White led the two teams through a series of training exercises to help improve their playing ability and show them the importance of teamwork.

Coach Byrd, a first year coach with the Comets, emphasized the importance of repeating the same drills to help the players perfect their game.  She also spoke to the group about the necessity of communication to help the girls learn more about one another’s abilities and to ensure that the team has players that complement one another. Read more

So How’s the Katy Real Estate Market?

That’s a question that I get asked just about every day. It’s a complicated question though. You see, real estate is LOCAL. Real Local. So comparing the reports of huge sales declines and price drops nationally to the Houston Market doesn’t make much sense. It may not make much sense to compare areas of the Houston market either.

Recently, the Houston Association Of Realtors released their statistics for the month of July. It made for some interesting reading because it showed a general Read more

Students and EPA “Do Lunch”

Recycling … energy conservation … air quality … not the topics you think you’d hear discussed during the  4th and 5th grade lunch period, unless you’re in Katy tomorrow.

The lunch meeting with students is part of a site visit by EPA representatives to Katy ISD, winner of the EPA’s Tools for Schools 2007 National Model of Sustained Excellence Award for outstanding indoor air quality management and the National Sustained Mentorship Award, which recognizes the significant amount of mentoring that the department provides to other districts in implementing indoor air quality programs.

Who: A select group of 4th and 5th graders, who have been or will be involved in environment-related school programs at, will meet with representatives of the EPA.

What: For lunch and a kid-to-adult chat about things they can do to make the world greener

When: Thursday, August 28, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Hutsell Elementary School 5360 Franz Rd., Katy TX. Phone: 281-237-6500

The 2008 USAT Cinco Ranch Triathlon

Held Saturday September 20, 2008 from 11:30 am – 6:00 pm, The Cinco Ranch Triathlon in Katy is Houston’s original triathlon and is considered a premier triathlon throughout the Southwest United States. Its reputation as a competitive and challenging triathlon is what keeps triathletes returning every year. It will begin at The Lake House at Cinco Ranch – 25202 Springwood Lake Drive, Katy, Texas. Read more

Profile: Dexter Clay & The Katy Nation

By Todd Smith of Regal Magazine.
What defines a successful man? Is it financial status and prestige? On the other hand, is it using your God-given talents to make a difference in the lives of others? For former professional football player and actor Dexter Clay, it is leaving the world a better place than he found it.

Many people dream of one day having their names in the bright lights, but few realize those dreams. Clay is one of the few individuals who experienced the pros and cons of both Hollywood and professional sports, before dedicating his life to inspiring others by writing motivational books such as KatyNation. Read more

The Katy Nation Reality Series?

Katy High School has won five state football championships starting in 1959 and then again in 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007.  Football is big in Katy, and everyone wants to know what the secret is.  In January of 2007, Author and actor Dexter clay released Katy Nation, a book covering the history of the amazing Katy sports program, and exploring the connections between Katy’s winning mentality and the American way. Read more

Katy ISD Offers TAKS and TAAS Retests

By Katy ISD Communications:
Students who did not receive a high school diploma because they did not meet standard on sections of the Exit Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) or Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) will have the opportunity to retake the necessary portions of the tests in October.

Currently enrolled students currently enrolled in school who need to retest are automatically registered. Those who are out-of-school must register either by submitting a paper registration form or register on-line by Sept. 19, 2008.   Registration packets are available at any high school campus, the Katy ISD Education Support Complex at 6301 South Stadium Ln., or any education service center. Read more

Michaels Arts & Crafts Now Open in Katy

I  just learned via Freckletown that the grand opening event for the new Michael’s Arts and Crafts superstore at Westheimer and Grand Parkway (99) is August 24th at 11AM.  They will be holding special workshops and giveaways.

Michaels Stores, Inc. is the largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts. With more than 900 stores in the United States and Canada, the company carries a wide selection of arts and crafts merchandise. Michaels also operates specialty stores under different brand names including Aaron Brothers and Artistree manufacturing facility.

Each Michaels store carries more than 40,000 products in an average selling space of 18,400 square feet. Stores offer a wide range of products in the following 13 categories: apparel arts, bakeware, beads/jewelry making, fine art, floral, framing, general crafts, kids crafts, home décor, paper crafts, seasonal, wedding, and yarn and needle crafts.

The Solana at Cinco Ranch Senior Community

The Solana at Cinco Ranch will be located at 24001 Cinco Village Center Boulevard in Katy, Texas, next to LaCenterra, Cinco Ranch’s Main Street-styled center of shops, boutiques, and restaurants.  It will offer 126 independent living and 32 assisted living rental apartments for seniors. The community is scheduled for completion in Fall of 2009.

The active adult community will feature concierge services, multiple dining venues, a wine bar, a terrace club activity room, and other amenities. Its developer, Formation Development Group, says research shows strong demand by Cinco Ranch residents seeking luxury senior living accommodations for themselves or for their aging parents. Read more

Video: The Katy Heritage Park Tour

In 1979 a group of concerned citizens who wanted to save the old MKT depot, which was slated for demolition, formed the Katy Heritage Society. Since that time, the Katy Heritage Society has been working as a charitable organization to fulfill one mission: to further educational and cultural development of the community by preserving and restoring historical landmarks and documents.

Today, The Katy Heritage Society opens our historic homes for free public tours, we host free community concerts from our bandstand, conduct tours for students and tourists and serve as a key source for historic information and research in the area. Read more

Students Allowed Cell Phones at Some Katy ISD Schools

KHOU Channel 11 reported this week a change in the Katy Independent School District policy regarding cell phones.  Once classes begin next week, junior high and high school students will have permission to bring their cell phones to class.

KISD Assistant Director of Communications Steve Stanford indicated that students will need to act appropriately given their new privilege.

“It’s just like on the job,” he said.  “We don’t talk on cell phones, hopefully, during meetings.  We have a certain level of responsibility that we have with our cell phones and students need to learn that.” Read more

GCC Car Show in Katy this October

By Ed Winegar
We would like to invite you to our 2nd Annual GCC Car Show in Katy, Texas, Saturday, October 18 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. Trophies will be awarded at 3:00PM. Car Registration is $15 with a T-Shirt and $10 without a T-Shirt. The location is Grace Christian Church located at 2001 Greenbusch Rd in Katy TX 77494.

We will have a live band on site and hot dogs and drinks. We are looking forward to a great time. Read more

Katy ISD Gifted & Talented Awareness Session

By Katy ISD Communications:
Parents of children in grades one through 12 who are new to Katy ISD for the 2008-2009 school year are invited to attend a Gifted and Talented Program awareness session on August 28, 7 p.m., in room 1200 at the Katy ISD Education Support Complex located at 6301 S. Stadium Lane. Participants should enter through the Staff Development entrance.

The purpose of this session is to inform parents of the opportunity to refer their child for the gifted and talented program and to explain the GT program options available to Katy ISD students. General information about the Katy ISD gifted program, as well as the district screening, identification and appeal process will be shared. Read more

Plans For New Industrial Business Parks Released

Plans for a new industrial office and manufacturing park in Katy were announced by Clay Development and Construction to members of the Katy Economic Development Council last Tuesday, August 12th.  The Stonegate Business Park will offer distribution space from 17,500 sq. ft. to 148,000 sq. ft. on parcels from three to 25 acres and a total of 40 acres are available located east of Pederson Road between I-10 and US 90. Read more

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