Is Your Pet Registered?

If you reside within the City of Katy and your pet gets out, you may be in for more than you expected.  Unknown to many Katy residents, it is required by City Ordinance that all domestic pets (in particular, cats and dogs) four months or older must be vaccinated and registered yearly with the City of Katy.

Registration insures that your pet can be easily identified and associated with your phone number and address by Animal Control in the case that it is found.  Read more

Dangerous Behavior

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was upset because her auto insurance rates were increased due to her ‘bad habit’. I learned that some auto insurance companies penalize smokers by increasing their policy rate because it is considered high risk behavior. To some degree, I understand this, but what I have noticed in the past few weeks is much more dangerous on the road than smoking while driving – cell phone users. Big deal right? It’s common to see people talking on phones while driving this is not new. But when the culprit is an 18-wheeler on I-10, that’s a different story. Read more

Fighting Poverty in Katy, Texas

Today is the second annual Blog Action Day, when all bloggers around the world agree to focus one day on a single cause, and this year the subject is “fighting poverty” in an effort to encourage a global discussion. I would like to shine the official OK spotlight on an organization that is helping fight poverty in Katy’s own backyard: The Katy Christian Ministries. Read more

The Pink Magnolia and the Price You Pay

The Pink Magnolia in Old Town Katy has been an object of question for many passers-by for a few years now. The business wears many hats, offering an art gallery, small gift/art shop, a quaint tea bar, and a beautiful garden including a cabana that hosts weddings, receptions, and more. Located on Avenue A and being owned by a local, The Pink Magnolia seemed like it was the place for me right off the bat. Unfortunately, things took a turn. Read more

Axe a Catalog, Save a Tree

Recently, I took 20 minutes to save a tree. Actually, let’s make that many trees. I rid my mailbox of catalogs in one simple step, by signing up with CatalogChoice.org. In a few minutes, I was able to request my name be removed from over 20 different catalogs that somehow appear without my approval in my mailbox. It was liberating to know that the amount of junk catalogs will be reduced to nothing in the coming weeks. Since I registered an account with Catalog Choice, anytime I receive a catalog I no longer wish to receive, I can add it to my list. The cost for this service? Absolutely nothing. Read more

What Happened to The Golden Rule?

Do I sound frustrated? You bet, I am! I’m just coming out of a lose/lose real estate situation that resulted in an unhappy insulted seller and a failed disappointed buyer. This fiasco was totally avoidable.

If the prospective buyer had followed professional advice and respected the seller, he would be on his way to happy home ownership. Instead…early on, when the buyer’s initial offer could only be categorized as “low ball”, the buyer also asked for the seller’s personal possessions. Read more

The Woman and the Burundanga-Soaked Business Card

A reader contacted me recently asking about an email she received describing an incident at a Katy Gas station where a woman was given a drug-soaked business card by a stranger.  According to the email, the woman took the card from the man (who was posing as a painter) and she was followed.

Apparently, this email has been circulating not only around the Katy area, but around the entire nation since early this summer.  Here is a copy of the email (in one of it’s forms): Read more

Looking on the Bright Side of Ike

This past week has been hard on many Katyites, which is an understatement I’m sure to some. But in light of all the various forms of hardship, there seems to be something that says “we will be okay”. Katy was spared the brunt of Hurricane Ike, and we have to look at the bright side. Although some may be without power or phone line, or suffered damage to their homes, overall we weathered the storm. Families have gotten closer, new friendships have been made, and overall, the mood is upbeat. I think we became stronger as a community. The best in people really is coming out, and for that I am grateful. Read more

Images from Ike: Hurricane Damage in Katy Texas

Katy residents have been recording the damage in Katy Texas caused by Hurricane Ike.  Here is a collection of photos and videos of Ike’s damage compiled from sources around the Internet.  The following photos were taken by Katy resident Derek Alfonso, who hosts the nationally syndicated technology radio show, Power of Information.  Be sure to check out the YouTube videos below. Read more

Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike

I learned only one thing as a result of Hurricane Ike – being prepared for hurricane season all these months (and years) was advantageous. I had my bottled water, the essentials recommended by the Red Cross and other county and state agencies, and any important documentation ready to go just in case I had to evacuate.

This may sound glib, but it was a no-brainer when the warnings started popping up that Hurricane Ike was coming towards Houston. I listened, and paid attention from the beginning. I didn’t wait until the last minute to top off my gas tank, I did it as soon as it looked like this storm could be coming this way. I think at the time it was in Cuba, which really isn’t all that far away when you think about it. You never know what could happen in a couple hours time to change the course of a storm of this magnitude. In other words – never underestimate the power of Mother Nature - she is one fickle lady. 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.

Wal-Mart, Taxes, BBQ and SUV’s.

Another Wal-Mart Supercenter has opened on the intersection of West Little York & Fry Road. This will be followed by yet another opening set to take place later this year near the intersection of Grand Parkway and the Westpark Tollway. This will make Katy home to 4 different Wal-Mart supercenters. Recently, Helen Eriksen over at Chron.com asked the question:

But could this good news spell doom for the numerous “mom and pop” stores in the Katy area?

The responses spun off a heated conversation where many Katy residents gave their two cents on not only Wal-Mart, but Katy ISD, local Katy resident attitudes, debts, soccer moms, BBQ and SUV’s. Here are just a few opinions gathered from this lively conversation: Read more