Every year, thousands of our teenagers are faced with the challenge of living and enjoying a Drug and Alcohol Free life. The parents of the Katy, Cinco Ranch, Mayde Creek, Morton Ranch, Seven Lakes and Taylor High School Seniors would like to “REMOVE” this temptation from our kids’ lives for a night of fun and safe activities after their respective graduation and/or Prom. That is why we have again joined together to organize the 9th Annual KISD Project Graduation/Prom Golf Classic to be held on Monday, April 5, 2010 at The Willow Fork Country Club.This event has raised over $100,000.00 for the last 8 years for this great worthwhile cause. The cost is $100.00 per Player or $400.00 per Team. Please contact Tony Garza, Tournament Director at (281) 451-8935 or tony_garza@msn.com.

Willow Fork Country Club is located at 21055 Westheimer Pkwy.

11:00 a.m. – Registration

1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start

Responding to requests from Katy residents, the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra will hold a chamber orchestra concert on Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s First United Methodist Church. The chamber orchestra, consisting of strings and woodwinds, will perform a variety of works including Mozart’s Overture to the Marriage of Figaro and Haydn’s Symphony No. 82 in C major, often called the Bear Symphony. Tickets are $10 and are available online at www.fbso.org, by calling 281.276.9642, or at the door. The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, now in its 18th season, is under the direction of Héctor Agüero, Jr. The church is located at 20775 Kingsland Blvd., east of Westgreen Boulevard.

St. Peter’s First United Methodist Church

20775 Kingsland Blvd.

7:30 p.m.

The Joy of Connecting® monthly event will be held on Saturday, March 27th from 10:30am – 1:00pm. This is a relaxed brunch/networking gathering designed just for women. Whether a business owner, entrepreneur, or professional business woman, you can benefit from attending this event. Our goal is to help you expand resources, foster and strengthen relationships and build your business. No membership requirement. Limited to 35 participants.Cost is $25. Make your payment in advance to reserve your spot. Make checks payable to Stephanie Stansbury. Mail along with your business and contact information to 565 S. Mason Rd., Ste 421, Katy, TX 77450. For more information visit http://www.thejoyofconnecting.com(click on “locations” then click on “TX”), email slstansbury@yahoo.com or call 1-800-398-7953.

The 1st Annual Benefit Golf Tournament for Addison Marshall will be held March 22, 2010 at the Weston Lakes Golf Course in Fulshear at 1:00 pm.  Not a golfer? Not a problem – this event offers plenty of fun for everyone! Includes dinner, a silent auction and an exciting raffle! Event proceeds benefit the Addison Marshall Leukemia Fund. To register or receive sponsorship info, please contact Melissa Green at 832-746-8220 or email misssassytrashtotreasure@yahoo.com.

Weston Lakes Golf Course is located at 32611 FM 1093 in Fulshear.

Imagination Campus is holding Camp JUNK (JUmp into Nothing Knew) at Imagination Campus March 15 – March 19 for spring break.

Spring Break Week will be anything but ordinary as they take “nothing new” and “everything old” to Imagine! Design! and Build! crazy contraptions and amazing masterpieces. Meet us in Imagination Campus’ Art Factory and create: Recycled Wrapping Paper, Solar-Powered Mini Cars, Wearable Art, and much more! Imagination Campus is for campers ages Kinder – 5th.  Visit  www.ImaginationCampus.com for details and registration information or call 281-394-PLAY.

Imagination Campus is located at 26440 FM 1093.

KVPAC presents ARTstravaganza: Spring into Art Spring Break Camps March 15th through March 19th.  Children ages 3-12 can turn their inner artist loose & take a creative journey exploring many facets of the arts: theatre, drama, storytelling, painting, music, clay & more. Children prepare a special presentation on the last day for family & friends. AM and PM camps have different projects. Campers are divided by age. Full-day campers bring a lunch & are supervised between camps at no extra charge. Please visit www.kvpac.org for camp details.

The Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center is located at 2501 S. Mason Rd #290, (located in the Great Southwest Equestrian).

KVPAC ARTS for ALL! Family Festival, Peace, Love & Art, is coming!  On Saturday, March 27th, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, LaCenterra will be host to this fun family festival.

There will be music, art projects, games, prizes, refreshments, magic shows and professional theatrical entertainment to entertain you.  

Admission and entertainment is all free, so you’ll want to check it out!  

La Centerra is located at 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard.

If you are a man who currently mentors with the Katy ISD KEYS program or if you’re a man who’s thought about becoming a mentor to a child on the brink of success but didn’t know how to start – please attend the Men Who Mentor Breakfast on Friday, March 26, 2010 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. at the Katy ISD Education Support Complex, Room 1200 (staff development entrance), 6301 South Stadium Lane.

There will be a manly breakfast along with great networking opportunities for those who do mentor and information for those who’d like to learn more about mentoring.

 You can RSVP at www.katyisd.org  and click on the KEYS logo in the right-hand column.

 Got any guy friends who might be interested in mentoring? Forward this email and invite them to come with you!

 Men Who Mentor and the KEYS Mentor Program are offered by Partners in Education, the Katy ISD department that brings the community into the classroom!

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital will be holding a one day class at 12:00 pm on March 13th to provide future parents the tools needed to make their birth experience the best it can be.  Become educated with factual information about pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the post partum period.  Fees are $70 per person/couple. Call 713-222-2273.

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital is located at 23900 Katy Freeway.

In May 2009, a new law, The Home Valuation Code of Conduct, or HVCC, became law.  One of the main rules prohibits mortgage brokers from ordering appraisals directly from, or having any contact with, a licensed real estate appraiser.

Also, a lender cannot approach a an appraiser with  relevant information, such as comparable sales. Lenders are forced to use third-party appraisal management companies who oversee all aspects of the appraisal process.

Valuation may come in low due to an out-of-area appraiser who is totally uneducated with respect to neighborhood nuances and values. Due to the decline in the housing market, based a great deal on inflated appraisals, appraisers now go back only three months, instead of the traditional six months, when considering comparable sales. Foreclosures are also factored in although they often skew the true value.

This being said, there are things that a seller can do to increase chances of their house appraising for the sales price.

• Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany him or her along the entire site inspection. Rather, be available to answer any questions about your property and point out any home improvements.
• Make sure that all areas of your home are accessible, especially the attic.
• Appraisers see hundreds of home a year and they will look past most clutter. However, a good impression can translate into a higher home value.
• Repair minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim. It is only human nature to assume that there is quite a bit of “differed maintenance” if the small things have not been fixed.
• If your borrower is applying for an FHA/VA loan be sure to address specific items such as install smoke detectors on all levels, especially near bedrooms. You must install handrails on all stairways. You should remove peeling paint and repaint the affected area. Ask a lender or your Realtor for more suggestions.