Largest distributed newspaper in northwest Houston. 107,864 circulation.

Community Impact Newspaper

SAVINGS GUIDE

SEPT. 17–Oct. 15, 2010 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

Valuable coupons and offers from local businesses starting on Page 31

www.impactnews.com

What’s News HealthSouth, a nationwide rehabilitation service provider, announced it would construct a new 40-bed rehabilitation hospital on the northeast corner of Hwy. 290 and FM 1960. | 23

Federal gas tax

gallon 18.4¢ per

State gas tax Molly Ryan

gallon 20¢ per

Season’s Harvest Cafe, an oldfashioned family-run restaurant, opened Sept. 10 at 10609 Grant Road, Bldg. A. Owners Joanne and Becket Griffith serve breakfast and lunch using fresh meat and produce from local farms. | 4

Betsy Ellison

The City of Jersey Village approved the installation of a new red-light camera at the westbound intersection of West Road and Hwy. 290 and relocation of the Senate Road camera to monitor the two northbound lanes of FM 529 at Hwy. 290. | 16

What’s Inside Bazaar and festival guide provides information about many of the Houston-area festivals. | 20

Courtesy Cy-Fair ISD

Local History

Cy-Fair ISD: The road to becoming a school district | 25

What’s Online

www.impactnews.com

The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce hosts its third annual Mobility Forum Sept. 30 at the Berry Center. Speakers include transportation officials, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. more.impactnews.com/9674 After a fire destroyed all of Harris County’s voting machines, county officials immediately formed a plan to ensure all voters have access to voting devices on and before Election Day. more.impactnews.com/9687

Rocky road ahead for transportation funds

How the gas tax works Every time a customer purchases a gallon of gas, two taxes are added to the total: the state gas tax and the federal gas tax. These taxes go toward maintaining existing roadways, creating new roadways, funding public education and more. As cars become more fuel efficient, they use less gas and generate less gas tax revenue, which means less money for transportation projects.

State gas tax

Gas price

Story Highlights

Federal gas tax Most revenue from the federal gas tax goes to reimburse the state for federal highway and transit projects. In the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years, the federal government provided $6.8 billion to the State Highway Fund for transportation projects.

• Road use in Texas increasing as funding for road maintenance and new roads decreases • The state gas tax is outdated and does not raise enough revenue to support transportation projects • State legislators consider possible funding sources but have no ideal solution

25 percent of the state gas tax goes to public education funds and 75 percent goes to the State Highway Fund, which funds TxDOT projects, the Department of Public Safety and portions of other state agencies. In the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years, the gas tax generated $4.5 billion for the State Highway fund and $1.5 billion for public education.

By Molly Ryan Transportation agencies in Texas are in crisis mode. More cars are on the road, roadway conditions are deteriorating and transportation funds are not increasing fast enough to support the needs of the population. The Texas Department of Transportation forecasts it will need $370 billion from 2011 to 2035 to fund transportation projects to ease congestion and maintain commuter routes across the

Interest in recycling increases Greenstar recycling facility brings new opportunities to area By Betsy Ellison In the past three years, recycling has seen its ups and downs within residential communities, but with the rise of independent recycling companies and single-stream processing regional recycling interest could begin to rise. 100 percent recycled The latest trend in recycling is the singlestream process, where residents are no longer asked to presort materials before placing them in curbside bins. One company working to implement this service to HOAs and MUDs in Northwest Houston is Greenstar, a global entity dedicated to recycling. Headquartered in Houston, Greenstar is working to enhance its facility at 1200 Brittmoore Road, just north of I-10, to provide single-stream recycling opportunities. The facility has been in existence since the 1970s as a recycling plant, but in 2007, Greenstar purchased the site with plans for the future. This will be the first single stream recycling facility in Houston. This enhancement will not only help to increase recycling rates within the area but trash haulers will also have the opportunity to transport comingled materials to this refurbished facility.

Decomposing trash If the following items were placed in a landfill today, rather than being recycled, they would fully decompose by:

Plastic bottle

Glass

Disposable diaper

1,002,010 AD

1,002,010 AD

2510 AD

Batteries

Aluminum can

Paper

2110 AD

2060 AD

Oct. 2010

Source: www.recycleinfo.org

Local HOAs and MUDs can contact Greenstar Houston about using its services, and in return, Greenstar will recommend waste haulers that transport materials to its facilities with the best available prices and services in the communities’ location. “Successful recycling programs often begin with grassroots efforts,” said Daryl Smith, general manager for Greenstar Houston. “Form an action committee and help bring

CONTINUED ON | 14

state. Transportation revenue sources are only expected to raise $54 billion by 2035, leaving a shortage of $316 billion. The Texas Legislature will take up the issue at the upcoming legislative session in January 2011. According to the Texas State Demographer, the state’s population is expected to increase by more then 40 percent by 2035. In the greater Houston area, the

CONTINUED ON | 12

National diabetes center to open in area hospital By Betsy Ellison Joslin Diabetes Center, a diabetes research, education and care facility, will open its first Texas site at the Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Oct. 16. “There is a huge diabetes epidemic in Texas,” said Janice Murphy, director of national affiliated programs with Joslin Diabetes Center. “We are going to do great things together in Houston.” Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a national investor-owned hospital management company, has been working with Joslin for more than a year to establish diabetes centers in its facilities—Cy-Fair Medical Center being one. This location is the pilot site for launching the centers within Tenet- operated facilities. As one of 31 nationwide and two international locations, this center will provide in treatment for diabetes and patient education and support. “Cy-Fair is eager to bring a leader in diabetes care and education to our community,” said Terry Wheeler, chief executive officer of Cy-Fair Medical Center, in a press release. “Diabetes is a major health issue affecting our local community, and we look forward to bringing high levels of care and education to our patients.” Comment at more.impactnews.com/9711

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September 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

Join us for the Second Annual Towne Lake Craft Show

A Day of Fun in Towne Lake! Saturday, October 30 NW HOuSTON HeArT WALk • Participate in the 2010 NW Houston Heart Walk benefiting the American Heart Association • Opening ceremonies start at 9 a.m. • www.nwharrisheartwalk.org

TOWNe LAke CrAFT SHOW

To

Ho

us

to

n

• Get a head start on your holiday shopping with a wide array of handmade arts and crafts. • 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Towne Lake Welcome Center • 9214 West Bridgeport Pass Circle Bring your family and friends and enjoy a day of fun activities in Towne Lake.

TowneLakeTexas.com • 281.256.2772

067-561 CraftAd CommImpact 10x12.25 MECH.indd 1

9/7/10 3:02 PM

Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com September 2010

Market Publisher’s Note

9601 Jones Road, Ste. 222 Houston, TX 77065 • 281-469-6181 www.impactnews.com Publisher / Chief Executive Officer John P. Garrett, [email protected] Northwest Houston Market Publisher | Jason Culpepper Editor | Cathy Kincaid Reporters | Betsy Ellison, Molly Ryan Senior Account Executive | Christi Love Lead Designer | Rhonda Bowers Copy Editor | Sara Cress Editorial management Associate Publisher | Claire Love Executive Editor Cathy Kincaid, [email protected] Managing Editor | Shannon Colletti Assistant Managing Editor | Rebecca Nordquist Creative Director | Derek Sullivan Ad Production Manager | Tiffany Knight Administrative management Chief Operating Officer | Jennifer Garrett Chief Financial Officer | Darren Lesmeister Business Director | Misty Pratt Circulation & Operations Manager | David Ludwick About us Community Impact Newspaper is Northwest Houston’s first direct-mail news organization aimed at delivering necessary and relevant information to more than 107,000 homes and businesses the third Friday of every month. The paper is committed to local, unbiased reporting in the fast-growing Cy-Fair market.

Contents

Last week, I was reflecting on the past 12 months with one of our clients who has become a good friend. When we get together, we discuss what’s new in the business community, and what the latest rumors are for who will move into the shuttered Randall’s building on Jones Road. There have been many newsworthy items reported in Cy-Fair this year. We broke the story of Sysco Food’s plans to move into the old Hewlett-Packard building, reported on the expansion of the Premium Outlets and this month we report on another hospital breaking ground. Just as important, though, is the opportunity we have had to report on the opening of small businesses that continue to carve out their niche within the close-knit community. I’ve had the privilege of carving out

Community Impact Newspaper’s niche, too, by going from being a not-so-involved resident of Cy-Fair to one who now chairs a committee at the Cy-Fair Chamber and volunteers time along with my staff to serve local organizations. I am grateful for the welcoming nature of this community. On another note, I am happy to announce we are extending our mission of being a local, useful newspaper that everyone gets to the Tomball and Magnolia areas beginning Oct. 1 as we launch our second edition of Community Impact Newspaper. We will provide that area with the greater understanding and appreciation for their community that we have provided for the Cy-Fair readers.

Reader Feedback

impactnews.com

Jason Culpepper

[email protected]

Local jobs

Are you in favor of a public defender office?

Post your résumé and search for local jobs at impactnews.jobing.com.

Yes. I believe it will provide high-quality services for defendants who cannot afford attorneys.

July employment trends

57%

Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown unemployment—8.8% Unchanged from June

No. I believe the court-appointed defense system works efficiently and Harris County does not need another defense system.

State unemployment—8.2% Unchanged from June

36%

National unemployment—9.5% Unchanged from June

I have no opinion on Harris County’s indigent defense system.

Subscriptions

7%

Subscriptions to our other editions are available for $3 per issue. Visit impactnews.com/subscribe.

Unscientific web survey collected 7/16/2010–8/16/2010

The hospitality industry remained one of the strongest industries across the state. Houston saw a job loss of 17,000 after a five-consecutive-month gain. Source: Charla Lovelace, Jobing.com

See more poll results at impactnews.com/polls

NNA Better Newspaper Contest Award-winning Newspaper

M•E•D•I•A

I N C O R P O R A T E D

©2010 JGMedia, Inc., All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.

Online-exclusive content

Pool safety

Visit the Northwest Houston home page for up-to-date community news, information and a full calendar of local events. Find us online at impactnews.com/northwest-houston.

more.impactnews.com/9399 The boy featured in this photo is my son, Zakary, at 25 months of age. My husband and I are so grateful to Shauna and ISR for providing my son with the skills to save himself, if God forbid he is ever in a dangerous situation involving a pool. This training is a must for pool owners.

Impact your inbox

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—Marianne K.

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7 Community Events 9 Business Profiles b. ellen boutique Bones2Go! 11 Neighborhood Dining Little Red Barn Hamburger 13 Nonprofit Profile Rosehill Social Club 16 City and County Notes 18 Inside Information Drinking water safety 19 Education Focus Lone Star College–University Park 20 Bazaar and festival guide 22 Service Profile Rotary Club 23 News Report HealthSouth to build rehab hospital in Cypress 24 Community Close-up Weiser Airpark 25 Local History Cy-Fair ISD 26 Transportation Report Tuckerton Road 27 Community Profile Gary Elkins, State Representative, District 135 28 Vote 2010 United States House of Representatives, Districts 7 and 10 29 Residential Real Estate 30 Commercial Real Estate

“Our new, 40-bed hospital will enable patients in Northwest Houston to have access to highquality, cost-effective 23 rehabilitative services. The new facility will offer the latest rehabilitation treatment and technology and all private patient rooms. We intend to be the rehabilitative provider of choice for this area.” — Frank Brown, president of HealthSouth’s Texas region

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4 Community Impacts

In This Issue

Contact us News or press releases | [email protected] Advertising inquiries | [email protected] Reader feedback | [email protected]

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September 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Houston Edition

6

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CONSULTATION R d.

12300 Dundee Court, Ste. 202

uston Rd. Cypress N. Ho

5

23 Queenston Rd.

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Cypress, Texas 77429

Small business bookkeeping and tax services

17 West Rd.

• Personal and business tax preparation

Windfern Rd.

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290

Fallbr ook D r.

1 Hem pste ad R d.

14 9 8

11

10 15

Logenbaugh Rd.

• Internal audits and audit support

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• Business start-up specialists Map not to scale

www.sagabusiness.com

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281-213-8381

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Now Open 1 Offering a variety of women’s apparel,

accessories, handbags, infant clothing and more, B’Dazzled Boutique is now open for business at 12925 FM 1960 W., Ste. B-1. The store also offers online shopping. Call 281-849-3299 or visit www.bdazzledboutique.com.

2 Xpress Clips is now open and taking appointments at 12303 N. Eldridge Pkwy., Ste. C. Services include shampoo and haircuts for all ages, specializing in men and boys haircuts. Styling and coloring are not available. Call 281-807-1618. 3 Joanne and Becket Griffith opened

Season’s Harvest Cafe, an old-fashioned family-run restaurant, Sept. 10 at 10609 Grant Road, Bldg. A. The Griffiths serve breakfast and lunch using fresh meat and produce from local farms. Call 281-807-9000.

4 Cypress Springs Family Care, a general practice doctors office, offers medical care such as vaccinations and annual physicals for patients ages 2 and up. The office at 7630 Fry Road is open Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins and appointments are welcome. Call

19

Gessner Rd.

Jarvis Rd.

13

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529

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249 Jones Rd.

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