Lufkin hit by tornado.

By Whitney Grunder -
LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Severe storms ripped through parts of East Texas Wednesday evening. Some Lufkin neighborhoods sustained extensive damage from a possible tornado.

Among them is the Lufkin VFW, which is now gone. The damage comes right after 10,000 dollars worth of recent tile work. A check for the construction was written Wednesday, before the storm hit.

One resident living near Gipson Funeral Home on Chestnut Street even reported seeing caskets in his backyard.
Jakoia Grimes and her children were happy to have made it safely out of their Lufkin apartment, before their entire roof collapsed. "I looked up and I just saw the light from outside and I had my girls come and sit by the door, and within minutes the entire roof caved in," said Grimes, who is now staying with family members.
Jennifer Mays watched the tornado touch down right outside Stephens Court Apartments. She described it as "massive." She said, "I couldn't believe it was so powerful to the point that it just opened up my door."
Next door, owners sifted through what remained of their welding business, part of Lufkin for 25 years. Max's Welding Shop on Denman Avenue was completely destroyed.
Owners said they can't blame God for the severe weather, and that fortunately another shop behind the building stands untouched by the storm.

"I think we're going to be able to salvage some of our equipment. I think we're going to be alright," said co-owner Betty Purgahn.
Cheddars employees also witnessed a tornado touch down in the middle of the Olive Garden parking lot. "I heard a bunch of commotion and they were talking about the patio chairs were nearly about to hit some cars so we ran to try to help," said Cheddars employee Brad Barrow.

According to witnesses, other than damaging a few of the vehicles parked in the Olive Garden parking lot, the tornado did not affect any of the buildings. The Department of Public Safety reported that the tornado lifted back up, and did not cause any injuries.
Utility crews were also working to remedy power outages caused by toppled power poles. Thursday morning, thousands of residents were without power. An Oncor spokesperson said approximately 2,500 customers were without power in the Lufkin area.

So far no severe injuries have been reported.

Captured escapee says prison staff helped him

by KHOU.com Staff

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 6:50 AM

CONROE, Texas—The escaped prisoner who was the focus of a week-long manhunt told a local activist that he had help from the inside. Convicted child rapist Arcade Comeaux said the weapon he used to hijack guards was in his cell for at least three weeks.

Questions still surround the prison system that allowed Comeaux to dupe authorities for years. The supposedly partially-paralyzed man managed to walk away from the guards and right into controversy.
Authorities are asking two questions; why didn’t prison officials realize Comeaux was faking his medical condition, and where did he get the gun?
Local activist Quanell X said Comeaux told him he had help from the inside.

“He named that guard and he also named someone who is involved in medical who had been giving him medical assistance,” Quanell X said.

But prison officials said Comeaux has not shared that information with investigators so there are no arrests at this time.
“This feels like the inmate is running the asylum,” said a former TDCJ staff member who remembers Comeaux clearly.
“He would sit in the food. Of course it would dry and start smelling. He refused to shower, refused to clean himself, basically saying ‘I’m immobile, I need someone to do this for me.’”

The former staff member said Comeaux orchestrated a deliberate campaign of extortion, despite medical reports that he was able to care for himself. He said Comeaux manipulated the system to get health assistance and better housing.
A grand jury on Thursday will hear the case against the convicted sex offender who was captured in northeast Houston Monday morning.
Comeaux is now facing aggravated kidnapping and felony escape charges. He was in custody in the Montgomery County Jail Tuesday, awaiting his hearing. Comeaux, who is currently serving three life sentences, was found when a salesman saw him trying to hitchhike in front of a business on East Little York.

The salesman called HPD, who came and took Comeaux into custody without incident.
Investigators said Comeaux escaped during transport from a prison unit in Huntsville to one in Beaumont.
As the prison van passed through Conroe, investigators said Comeaux pulled out a gun, held two transport guards hostage, handcuffed them in the back of the van, drove the van to Baytown, took the guards’ weapons, put on one of their uniforms and escaped.

Officials launched an extensive manhunt, but Comeaux managed to elude them for seven days before he was captured.
He had been confined to a wheelchair since 1997 when a stroke purportedly left him partially paralyzed, but when he was taken into custody, Comeaux was walking.

He has been in and out of the Texas prison system for 30 years.
Comeaux was first sent to prison in 1979 on three 10-year sentences for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child and burglary of a building—all out of Harris County. He was paroled four years later.

His parole was revoked and he returned to prison in 1984 to serve a 20-year sentence on a new charge of indecency with a child out of Harris County. He was paroled in 1991 but was in and out of prison for parole violations until 1996.
In June 1998, he was given a life sentence for aggravated sexual assault in Brazos County.
Comeaux was given two extra life sentences after he was convicted of stabbing his wife and another person in 1999. That attack occurred in the Jester III Unit in Fort Bend County when his wife came to visit him. The other person stabbed was a man who tried to stop the attack.

Still, those at the top want to correct the miscommunication between the workers inside prison walls.

“If you are in charge of a prison, and you see there is a disputes between medical’s and correction’s, come to us and ask for laws that would eliminate the controversy, ”said John Whitmire, chairman of the senate criminal justice committee. He is calling for a full investigation of prison and medical staff.

WATCH KHOU VIDEO REPORT HERE

News Alert: Comeaux now on most wanted list

(CNN) -- A Texas inmate in a wheelchair, who escaped on foot from two armed guards as he was being transferred between prisons, is now on the U.S. Marshals' list of the 15 most-wanted fugitives.
Arcade Comeaux Jr., 49, "produced a weapon and fired upon two correctional officers, took them hostage and forced them to drive to Baytown, Texas," the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement.
He then put the officers in the back of the van and took their weapons and one of their uniforms, the statement said.

Comeaux was serving three life sentences for aggravated sexual assault and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He escaped Monday during transport from Huntsville, Texas, to Stiles, Texas.
The 6-foot, 200-pound man was shackled and in a wheelchair, "which he had claimed was needed for mobility," Michelle Lyons, director of public information for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, said in a statement.

About 45 minutes into the trip, as they were driving through Conroe, 40 minutes north of Houston, the prisoner pulled out a pistol and ordered the guards to drive south to Baytown, east of Houston.
He fired once, but hit no one during the escape about 9 a.m., officials said.
Law enforcement officers found the unharmed officers an hour later.

Comeaux was being transferred so he could be near John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for treatment of the supposed paralysis he had suffered during a reported stroke, officials said.

At least $16,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to Comeaux's rearrest and a task force of more than 100 investigators is searching for him, focusing on the Houston area, where he grew up and has family.
His escape has led the man who oversees Texas' criminal justice system to call for a shakeup of the prison system.
"I just think enough's enough," said Sen. John Whitmire, the Texas Democrat from Houston who is chairman of the state Senate's Criminal Justice Committee.

"We need a complete shakeup of the leadership of our prison system and/or an outside review by third parties," he told CNN by phone Wednesday. "We just can't have security breaches of this nature."
Whitmire said the guards had failed to pat down Comeaux while he was in his wheelchair and before they began the trip.
"Sure enough, he has a firearm," he said. "The question is, are there others (in the prison system)? I think you have to assume that there are until you find out differently."

So far this year, more than 900 cell phones have been confiscated from the 112 locations that house the state's 158,000 prisoners. "It's pretty rampant," he said.

"I want the director to come forward and tell us what it's going to take" to solve the problem, he said.
John Moriarty, inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said such lapses are highly unusual in the state's penal system. "We have no open gun investigations other than this one," he said. "The last one was several years ago."
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston, who has been in the job since 2005, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Snow forecast in Houston area !

On average, once every four years even Houston gets visited by the Snow Gods. Although, this could be the second year-in-a-row for Houston snow. And if snow does indeed fall this Friday as forecasted, it would be the earliest snowfall on record.

Fred Schmud of ImpactWeather said to the Houston Chronicle, “Most of our forecasting data is caught right in the middle, meaning any subtle change in the position of the upper level disturbance will have huge consequences on how much, if any, snow falls across the Greater Houston area."

Right now NOAA is predicting a 70% chance of snow on Friday.

A Night in Bethlehem

Messiah Lutheran Church is once again hosting a special Christmas event, "A Night in Bethlehem," offered on Saturday and Sunday evenings, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 5-6.

Night in Bethlehem is an extended living nativity, portraying Bethlehem village on the night Jesus was born.The community is invited to stroll through the village and talk to the village shop keepers. Visit the stable where Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus can be found surrounded by livestock and shepherds. Visit the tents where children's activities are offered. Enjoy the free apple cider and coffee.

There is no admission charge. This evening is Messiah's gift to the community. As an option, one of the shops will sell free trade coffee and other artifacts with all profits going to native communities in South America and Africa.
Messiah Lutheran Church is located at 11522 Telge Road, ½ mile north of Highway 290. Regular worship times are at 8 and 10:30 AM on Sundays. The Education Hour is 9:15-10:15 AM on Sundays. For more information, 281-890-3013 or www.messiahlc.org .

Wreaths Across America

Honoring those fallen during holiday season
Wreaths Across America Houston will host ceremony honoring fallen heroes on Dec. 12 at Houston National Cemetery.
By KIMBERLY POORE
Updated: 12.01.09
The Northwest Houston community is gathering to honor fallen veterans with a ceremony of wreaths across their graves.

On Dec. 12 Wreaths Across America Houston, Houston Cy-Fair Lions along with several other organizations will gather at the Houston National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, at 11 a.m. to lay wreaths across veterans graves to honor those who served their country.

The Houston Cy-Fair Lions have spent the last few months collecting donations to purchase wreaths to be placed on the graves.

“We have been out selling wreaths and collecting donations to place the wreaths on the soldier’s graves,” said Houston Cy-Fair Lion Spokesperson, Theresa Casey. “Some of our group had participated last year, so this year we wanted to make sure everyone participated. We look for needs in the community and we try to help with that need. It is part of giving back to the community. We have raised more than $1500 for this cause.”

Casey said the community was more than willing to rally in support of this cause.

“The people are wonderful,” Casey said. “They are more than willing to help honor our soldiers. Several people bought several wreaths. We took names of specific soldiers buried in the cemetery and assured them that the solider receives a wreath. People even offered to help lay the wreaths and have three boy scouts troops coming out to help.”

The Wreaths Across America started fifteen years ago. The Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, MA began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of the Nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

Since the beginning the Worcester Wreath Company has donated over 75,000 wreaths which have been placed by volunteers in a wreath laying ceremony each December.

Houston did not have a Wreaths Across America program until 2007.

Scott DeMasi and his son wanted to attend the Houston ceremony when they were told there wasn’t one. At this time Houston National Cemetery only received seven large wreaths, representing each of the seven branches of services and the MIA/POW’s.

Wreaths Across America Houston began its challenge to honor fallen soldiers, raise funds, recruit volunteers and place a wreath on all 53,000+ grave sites at the Houston National Cemetery last year.

They were unable to reach there goal, but did place wreaths on more than 14,000 graves.

For more information on Wreaths Across America Houston program visit www.waahouston.com.

For more information on the Houston Cy-Fair Lyons visit houstoncy-fairlions.org.

LINK

Michael Jackson's doctor returns to work in Houston

Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, who is the subject of an investigation into the death of the singer, has returned to work.

The cardiologist has resumed work at his medical clinic in Houston for the first time since the late singer's death on June 25.

"He has not been able to earn a living since the death of Michael Jackson," his lawyer Ed Chernoff told the Associated Press. "His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family.

"His intentions are to attend to these patients who have continued to support him, despite the attention and despite the threats."

Man 18 charged with murder.

An 18-year-old man is in custody and charged with capital murder in the slaying last weekend of a 79-year-old woman as she unloaded groceries from her car at a northwest Harris County apartment complex.

Frank Anthony Benitez, 18, made his initial magistrate court appearance early this morning. He is accused of fatally shooting Muriel Kirkpatrick around 3:40 p.m. Saturday at the Landmark Apartments in the 2900 block of Barker Cypress Road.

A capital murder conviction carries the possibility of either life in prison without parole or death by lethal injection.

READ MORE AT THE CHRON

Jersey Vilage Expanding Cop Shop

Jersey Village is set to go out for bids for its planned expansion of the city’s police department at the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 16. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 16327 Lakeview Drive.
The firm of Hall, Barnum, Lucchesi, Architects is heading up the design work on the project, which will be the first expansion of the police department since its construction in the early 1990s.

The Council will also revisit its recent decision to prohibit putting out trash cans on garbage collection days and instead directing residents to only put out trash bags.

The decision was made after several discussions and the Council’s opinion that banning trash cans from curbs would improve the village’s aesthetics. However, Mayor Russell Hamley said he has received several communications from residents since the Council made the move to trash bags only and, in a recent newsletter, he said this issue spurred on more feedback from citizens than any other in his 10 years of involvement with city government.

In other City Council news, council members may meet on Thursday, Nov. 19 to attend a Harris County Mayors and Councils Association meeting at Monument Inn, 4406 Battleground Road, in Laporte.
Construction update

All of the new fire hydrants and related valves have been connected to the new water main on North Tahoe. Work has also been completed on the installation of new storm water system piping underneath two crude oil pinelines which cross the street from the west side to the east side. Work will continue to take place at the intersection of North Tahoe and Honolulu streets, where the contractor is installing storm sewer inlets and related piping.
The work is part of an $8.5-million bond, passed in 2007, which provides for larger storm water drainage features, replacement of water lines and road and sidewalk reconstruction to selected city streets.
Holiday event set

The city’s Recreation and Events Committee will be bringing the snow on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Carol Fox Park.
The committee’s Holiday in the Park event, from 1-4 p.m. at the corner of Senate and Jersey Drive, will feature two areas of snow, holiday vendors and Santa Claus who is expected to show up between 2-3:30 p.m.
For more information call the city at 713-466-2102.

CYPRESS & CY-FAIR TEXAS NEWS 2009

Fall 2009 Student Art Exhibition Opens
Cy-Fair - Cypress, Texas News
Posted Nov. 3, 2009

Don’t miss the Bosque Gallery’s Fall 2009 Student Art Exhibition set Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Dec. 3.

This end-of-semester exhibition featuring the work LSC-CyFair visual art students have completed in their classes, not only showcases the students’ talents, but the breadth of LSC-CyFair’s art program as well.

Meet the artists at an opening reception set from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19.

The Bosque Gallery is located in the Center for the Arts building on the Barker Cypress campus at 9191 Barker Cypress. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

For information, call 832-482-1038 or go to LoneStar.edu/bosquegallery. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


Community Millennium Humanities Forums Set at LSC-CyFair
Cy-Fair - Cypress, Texas News
Posted Nov. 3, 2009

Join the lively discussion on “Xenophobia: Is It Contagious?” at the Nov. 18 Millennium Humanities Forum at Lone Star College-CyFair.

Panel speakers will explore the definition of xenophobia as well as its symptoms and manifestations in today’s culture. Attendees are welcome to bring written questions to the session.

Three spring forums are also planned for Feb. 10, March 24 and April 21, 2010.

All forums will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Conference Center. Snacks and beverages will be available.

The forums are part of the Windows On the World program, which is designed to support teaching, cultural diversity and lifelong learning to enrich LSC-CyFair as well as the surrounding community.
For information, contact Stephen Mendonca at Stephen.J.Mendonca@lonestar.edu. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

Let the shopping begin! Early.
Cy-Fair - Cypress, Texas News
Posted Nov. 3, 2009

Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, Willowbrook Mall will open its doors at 6 a.m. so early-bird shoppers can get a jump on holiday gift giving. The shopping center will be open until 10 p.m. on Nov. 27. On Saturday, Nov. 28, Willowbrook Mall will open at 9 a.m. with shopping continuing through 10 p.m.*

To help today’s shoppers at Willowbrook Mall stretch holiday dollars and get greater value, the shopping center has planned a calendar full of exclusive shopping events, retailer sales and giveaways. In the MerryGiving spirit, from 6 a.m. to noon, while supplies last, shoppers can take advantage of the following:

GIFT WITH PURCHASE: Shoppers who spend $100 or more earn a $10 GGP Gift Card, while supplies last.
MARTHA STEWART LIVING SUBSCRIPTION: Shoppers who spend $100 or more can receive, while supplies last, a bonus one-year subscription to Martha Stewart Living magazine.
FREE HOLIDAY ‘MISTLE-TOTE:’ Shoppers will receive a free holiday ‘Mistle-tote’ that’s full of retailer goodies, including a booklet of ‘Ideas and Inspirations from Martha Stewart Living’ magazine, a Martha Stewart Living cooking utensil, recipe cards and retailer offers. These special holiday hand-outs will be distributed, while supplies last, to shoppers on both Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28.

Shoppers will find these fun holiday offers at the MerryGiving Gift Zone, which is located in Center Court near Sephora and will be easily spotted because it will be decorated with three giant red gift bags. For information on these events and giveaways, visit shopwillowbrookmall.com MerryGiving.com.

*Department stores, restaurants and entertainment venues at the shopping centers may keep different hours on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28. Please call for exact opening and closing times.

Willowbrook Mall will be closed Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving.

Cy-Fair school district officials said they will delay the construction of 10 schools due to budget challenges.

Pam Wells, Cy-Fair ISD's associate superintendent of facilities, planning and community relations, said during Cy-Fair ISD's 2007 bond steering committee's planning process, the committee recommended opening dates for all proposed school construction projects in that bond program. The district has delayed the openings of these schools from the original opening dates recommended by the bond committee.

Wells said the district had already delayed the opening of two schools by one year from the committee's recommended schedule. As a result, Debbie Emery Elementary School, which will be located at Round Robin Drive and Plantations Myrtle Drive, will open in 2010 instead of this school year; and the district's Middle School 17 on Fairfield Place Drive will open in 2011 instead of next school year.

Wells said the six remaining elementary schools designated in the 2007 bond referendum have been postponed. Elementary 53 on Cy-Fair ISD's multi-school site on FM 529, Elementary 54 in the Bridgeland community, and Elementary 55 on a future site west of Barker Cypress Road were scheduled to open in 2010-11, but have been respectively delayed until 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15. Elementary 56, Elementary 57, and Elementary 58, all planned to be built on sites located west of Barker Cypress, were scheduled to open in 2011-12, but have been respectively delayed until 2014-15, 2016-17, and 2016-17.

Two additional middle school projects were delayed: Middle School 18 on the district's multi-school site on FM 529, and Middle School 19 in the Towne Lake community were scheduled to respectively open in 2010-11 and 2011-12, but have been postponed to 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Two high school projects have also been delayed: High School 11 on the district's multi-school site on FM 529, and High School 12 on a site located west of Barker Cypress were scheduled to open in 2011-12, but have been postponed to 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Financial constraints

Wells said the district is postponing construction because of financial constraints, and not because the district has overbuilt schools. She said the district would benefit from opening additional schools. An additional 3,500 students are projected to enter Cy-Fair ISD this school year, and the district already has 240 portable buildings being utilized on campuses.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Texas man found asleep with corpse in closet

(AP) – Oct 12, 2009

HOUSTON — Authorities say a Houston man found asleep with a corpse inside a closet of a vacant Texas home faces misdemeanor drug charges.
Harris County Constable deputies discovered 21-year-old Cody Jean Plant on Sunday at the home in Cypress, which is about 25 miles northwest of Houston. The deputies went to the home after the owner reported hearing voices and seeing signs of forced entry.

Authorities didn't immediately release the dead man's identity.
Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman tells the Houston Chronicle that the men appeared to have been taking drugs. He didn't specify what kind.
Plant faces three drug charges and remains in the Harris County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. Jail officials didn't know Monday whether he has an attorney.

Thunder Over Houston Area May Be Jets!

The U.S. military has issued advanced warning that jet fighters could be scrambled in the Houston area on Oct. 6 as part of military exercises.

North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct the flights in the skies over Southeast Texas. The pre-planned flights will take place in the late morning and early afternoon and residents should expect to hear and see NORAD fighter jets as they practice intercept and identification procedures.

Although exact flight plans were not divulged, a NORAD spokesman at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado said Houston airspace “could be included” in the exercises.

NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the United States and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

October Calender of Events for Cy-Fair Area

CYPRESS & CY-FAIR TEXAS EVENTS 2009

ADD YOUR CY-FAIR EVENT - It's Free!

Submit details in the same format as the listings on this page to editor@cyfairmagazine.com
with the title "Cy-Fair Events."

Cy-Fair’s Cutest Cover Contest
Cy-Fair Magazine is looking for the cutest kids in the greater Cy-Fair area, ages 2-8. Email a head shot of your cutie to editor@cyfairmagazine.com. Include your name, your child’s name, age, and address. All contestants must live within the Cy-Fair ISD boundaries. Finalists and semi-finalists will be published in an upcoming issue. Up to ten finalists will be chosen to attend the cover photo shoot for the winter issue of Cy-Fair Magazine. One lucky Cy-Fair Cutie will be chosen as Cy-Fair's Cutest and featured as the Cover Model for our Winter Issue!

Cy-Fair Area Libraries Weekly Events


For Ongoing Events in the Cy-Fair Area, please scroll to the bottom.



10/3
The 5th Annual Autism/Disability Conference and Resource Fair
Graceview Baptist Church
22510 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball
8 am - 5 pm
Topics covering: Life/Estate/Financial Planning; Transition; Guardianship; Applied Behavior Analysis; Social Skills; Disability Ministry in Church; Behavior Intervention; The DAN Center for Autism; The Learning Lane; Bio-Medical Intervention with Kendall Stewart M.D.; Family to Family Network; The Shape of Behavior; Therapists on Functional Behavior Analysis in the Classroom, Special Education Law for Parents… and much, much more! Register online at HoustonAutismDisabilityNetwork.com. Special Thanks to our Community Star Sponsors who make this event possible! Contact information for conference, Michelle M. Guppy michellemguppy@yahoo.com, 832-341-3394. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.





10/3
Reflections of Glory Conference for Women
Fairfield Baptist Church
27240 Hwy 290
Cypress 77433
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost $45 (Group discounts available)
Visit FruitfulWord.org for details. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

10/8
If the Shoe Fits Bible Study, Part 2 of 3
Cypress Bible Church
Cypress

Shannon Perry, national songwriter/singer/women's speaker will present, Part 2 of "If the Shoe Fits." Shannon will teach you how to better appreciate others, how to choose words wisely and how to fill any emptiness you may feel in your soul. You will walk away inspired, knowing that there are others out there who struggle with day-day-day difficulties just like you do. Shannon will provide you with some of her scripturally-based tips and techniques for coping with daily living in a chaotic world. 281-469-6063 Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

10/9 - 12
Columbus Day Sale
Houston Premium Outlets
US 290 West at Fairfield Place Drive
Cypress

Don’t miss the annual Columbus Day Sale taking place at Houston Premium Outlets®. Enjoy fabulous savings on top of already low outlet prices. Featuring 120 stores including Burberry, Coach, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, True Religion and many more. Visit the Sales & Events page for a sample of in-store promotions. 281-304-5820, premiumoutlets.com. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

10/15
Quilting for the Holiday Season Class
Houston Arboretum
4501 Woodway, 77024
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Recession? Phooey! "When life gives you scraps, make quilts!" Give a gift of love this holiday season - made of scraps. Even a "designed" quilt requires only a small amount of cotton fabric. In this series of four 2-hour classes, Jackie Rutan will demonstrate all necessary techniques to make a beautiful quilt in holiday colors, using the machine-piecing patchwork style. Students will be encouraged to work on their own quilts between classes utilizing the techniques demonstrated. Cost: $110 for Arboretum members, $135 for non-members. Students must supply their own materials to craft their own quilts. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/14
Reach for the Stars Fundraising Luncheon
The Berry Center
9977 Barker Cypress Rd.
Cypress, 77433
12 - 1 p.m.
Free
Benefits Reach Unlimited. For more information contact Kris Young at 281-213-8323 ext. 307, or kyoung@reachunlimited.org. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/15
Relay for Life Cy-Fair Golf Tournament
Benefits The American Cancer Society
1 p.m. Shotgun start
Windrose Golf Club, Spring
Four-person scramble. Registration is quick and easy online at hprelayforlife.com/2009golfregistration.html. Registration Fee is $500 and includes Green Fee, Cart, Range Balls, and 2-Drink Tickets. Lunch and Dinner are underwritten by sponsors and raffle winners and any other awards are announced at dinner following the tournament. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/17
Fairbanks UMC 82nd Annual BBQ & Festival
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Festival & Blood Drive
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. BBQ Lunch
14210 Aston Street
Houston, 77040
82 years of tradition wrapped into one day of food, fun and fellowship! BBQ Meal Tickets are $10 (13 and older), $5 (3-12) and Free for 2 and under. Pre-order fully cooked briskets for $30, be sure to add $5 if you want it sliced! Festival admission is FREE: Enjoy the Noah’s Ark Toss, Samson Strength Slam, Goliath Challenge, Shake Hands with our Scarecrow, Enjoy Praise Music, Face Painting, Balloons, Petting Zoo, Donkey & Pony, Bounce & Slide, Target Throw, Custom Cars, Tree of Knowledge, Prizes, Country Store, Quilt Raffle, Smiles, Memories & More. St. Luke’s Blood Bus will be on site and the first 20 donors will receive $5 off their BBQ Meal Ticket. More details at fairbanksumc.org or 713-462-3206. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

10/22
Care for Kids Silent Auction
Benefits Texas Children's Hospital
Cajun Family Restaurant
25282 NW Frwy. #150
Cypress, TX. (290 & Skinner)
1 - 7 p.m.
1560 AM The Game live Broadcast
RE/MAX Lakeland is sponsoring a Silent Auction to benefit Texas Children's Hospital. Special menu items throughout the day with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Children's Miracle Network. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/22
Salute to the Stars
Berry Center
The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation presents the 12th annual “Salute to the Stars” gala. The gala recognizes teachers of excellence in Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D and funds both teacher grants and student scholarships for higher education. The gala will include entertainment, a Razzle Dazzle Raffle and a Live Auction. For more information please call 832-381-2333 or email marie@thecfef.org.


10/23
“JAZZHOTNCOOOL”
LSC-CyFair Jazz Ensemble
Main Stage Theatre
Center for the Arts
Lone Star College CyFair
9191 Barker Cypress Rd.
Musical Direction by Dr. John Wolfskill
7:30 p.m.
This production starts with the blues, swings to group improvisation of New Orleans Jazz, and finally moves through favorites of the swing and post war eras. Don’t miss it!
Reception immediately following performance. $10 General • $5 Senior and Students • LSC-CyFair employees FREE. For ticket information, call the box office at 281-290-5201 or visit lonestar.edy/boxoffice for more details. All shows and titles are subject to change. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

10/24
NAM's Jeans & Jewels
Woodlands Waterway Marriott
This year's Gala honorees are Jackie and Pat Riley. The Gala co-chairs are Dana Hines and Diane Porter. Dana and Diane have both volunteered at NAM for more than 20 years. This year’s Jeans & Jewels gala will feature dinner, dancing to the sounds of Yvonne Washington & The Mix, and live and silent auctions. Deborah Duncan of KHOU Channel 11 will serve as mistress of ceremonies. Tickets to the event are $175, and tables start at $1,750. For more information, contact Tanecia Snid at 281-885-4608 or at tsnid@namonline.org. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/24
Wags N Wheels Wash
Cypress Veterinary Hospital
1 - 5 p.m.
Drive thru and get your car and dog washed in exchange for a donation. Proceeds to benefit the Houston Dog Park Association. HDPA's mission is to promote safe dog handling and dog park proliferation though education and activism. HDPA is currently reaching out to the NW Houston community to develop a dog park in the Cy-Fair area. There will be vendor booths with doggy themes, K9 cookies and cakes, hot dog plates, face painting and more. houstondogpark.org. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/31
Towne Lake 1st Annual Craft Show
Towne Lake Welcome Center
9214 N. Bridgeport Pass Cir. W.
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Shopper hoping to get a head-start on holiday shopping will find an abundance of choices in the heart of Towne Lake master-planned community at Barker Cypress and West Road this fall. Towne Lake developer Caldwell Companies is inviting the greater Houston community to be a part of the First Annual Towne Lake Craft Show on October 31 from 1 am – 3 pm in the Towne Lake Welcome Center, 9214 North Bridgeport Pass Circle West. The event will feature a multi-faceted list of up to 30 vendors. Individuals and companies looking to reserve a spot at the Craft Show are encouraged to contact Rheaven Fitzgerald at 281-664-6629 or rfitzgerald@caldwellcos.com. There is no cost for admission for shopper and browsers. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/31
Howl-O-Ween Fest
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bridgeland
With a pooch parade of costumed canines, Bridgeland is transforming kids’ favorite candy-collecting holiday into a “Howl-O-Ween” celebration, Saturday, Oct. 31. Howl-O-Ween Fest will start at 10 a.m. in Bridgeland’s Oak Meadow Park, and end at 5 p.m. Highlights include the 2009 Space City Disc Dog Championship, costume contest, dancing dogs, trick-or-treating for kids and pups and more. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/31
Fall Festival
St. John Lutheran Church
Fellowship Center
15235 Spring Cypress
Cypress
(corner of Spring Cypress & Huffmeister)
1 – 4 p.m.
Bring your friends! Put on your costume – there will be a prize! Join us for hot dogs and drinks and test your skills at our various booths. Tickets are $.25 or five for $1


10/31
Towne Lake Craft Show
Towne Lake Welcome Center
9214 N. Bridgeport Pass Circle West
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Free for shoppers
For booth information contact Rheavan Fitzgerald at 281-664-6429 or rfitzgerald@caldwellcos.com Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/31
Wee Wuns Fall Festival
10 am - 2 pm
Cypress United Methodist Church
13403 Cypress North Houston
Food, games, pumpkin patch, costume contest, silent auction and much more! Wee Wuns, a ministry of Cypress United Methodist Church, has provided the community with excellence in early childhood education for over 37 years. All proceeds benefit the school. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.


10/31
Trunk or Treat at JVBC
Jersey Village Baptist Church
16518 Jersey Dr.
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 31 is a day to be a light to the world: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We will have trunks decorated and filled with candy and other treats. Children go from trunk to trunk trunk-or-treating (safe alternative to door-to-door activities). This is an event for ALL ages! Go to jvbc.org for more information. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

Actor Patrick Swayze Dies; Houston Native Had Battled Cancer

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2009)—“Dirty Dancing” actor Patrick Swayze, 57, has lost his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

Swayze died Monday with his family at his side, his publicist Annett Wolf said.

In March 2008, it was disclosed that the Houston native had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Despite the grim prognosis, Swayze continued to work on the A&E series “The Beast,” in which he starred, although he said the cancer put him “through hell.”

Swayze became a star in 1987 with his performance in the coming-of-age classic “Dirty Dancing.”

Three years later, his role in “Ghost” made him a big screen favorite.

Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the eldest child of Patsy Yvonne Helen (née Karnes; b. 1927), a choreographer, dance instructor, and dancer, and Jessie Wayne Swayze (1925-1982), an engineering draftsman.[6][7] He had two younger brothers, actor Don (born 1958) and Sean Kyle (born 1962), and two sisters, Vicky Lynn (1949-1994) and Bambi, who were adopted into the family.[8] His surname originated with an English immigrant ancestor named "Swasey".[7]
Until the age of 20,

Swayze lived in the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston, where he attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School,[9] Black Middle School,[9][10] and Waltrip High School.[9] During this time, he also pursued multiple artistic and athletic skills, such as ice skating, classical ballet, and acting in school plays. He studied gymnastics at nearby San Jacinto College for two years.

Patrick Swayze on Wkipedia.

9-9-09 - Does it mean anything?

And though the date lacks the pizzazz of the lucky sevens (07/07/07), that isn't stopping marketers, mathematicians and the marriage-minded from dressing it to the nines.

Hotels are offering discounts, couples are wedding in droves and "9/9/09" was among the top 100 search terms on the search engine Google on Tuesday.

Lottery users will undoubtedly try their luck by playing 999 Wednesday, and a lucky mother might see herself profiled on the news should she give birth at just the right time: 9:09.

So why not get in on the act?

After all, you're unlikely to experience another single-digit date in your lifetime. The next one won't roll around for 92 years -- until 1/1/2101.

Going to the chapel, gonna get married

In China, more than 10,000 couples were expected to register their marriages in Beijing on Wednesday and 6,000 more couples were set to tie the knot in Shanghai -- even though it's a weekday, said the Xinhua news agency.

In Malaysia, more than 500 ethnic Chinese couples married at a Buddhist temple in Kuala Lumpur.

That's because Chinese culture considers the number nine auspicious. In major Chinese dialects, the word for "nine" sounds similar to "longlasting."

Marriage also will be on the mind of many around the world who hope the date will translate to a life on cloud nine.

The Registry of Marriages in Singapore had more than 364 couples signed up to marry Wednesday, says The Straits Times newspaper. The average is 64.

Ditto for Australia. The state of Queensland has reported a threefold increase in the number of couples tying the knot.

"It's as simple as having a wedding anniversary that you can never forget," the registrar-general Helen Lucas told the broadcaster ABC.

Needless to say, the so-called marriage capital of the world -- Las Vegas, Nevada -- isn't about to let such an opportunity pass it by.

The Stratosphere is among several hotels and casinos offering quickie weddings. It is angling to marry off 99 couples at 9:09 p.m. for -- what else -- $99.09.

Hotels hope you book it!

Several hotels are offering special deals, tied to the date. The truth is that September is a slow time for the travel industry and any gimmick will do.

Hotels.com has been running a nine-day sale leading up to Wednesday, for rooms priced $99 or less.

Mathemagic

Those who like to play with numbers will have a field day on 09/09/09.

The date falls on a Wednesday in September, both of which have 9 letters.

September 9 also is the 252nd day of the year. 2+5+2

In addition, if you multiply a single-digit number by 9, the resulting two digits add up to 9. Consider: 8x9

Take me out to the ballgame

More than most, baseball is a game steeped in nines: nine players on the field at one time, nine innings, 90 feet between bases and nine strikes per inning.

You can celebrate by going to one of 15 games that Major League Baseball has on tap on Wednesday. Or you can commemorate along with MLB.com, which is inviting fans to vote for each team's best players, by season and position, in the All-Time 9s.

Tweet away ...

Republicans are asking Twitter users to log on at 9 p.m. ET for what is being billed as the "largest Twitter tea party ever."

... or take in a movie

The Tim Burton-produced sci-fi flick "9" comes out Wednesday, the 9th. It's a story about hand-stitched robots that battle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. How many robots? Nine.

Nine lives? Not today

The humor Web site URLesque has declared a one-day ban on all cat-related videos and stories on 09/09/09. The site doesn't specifically say so, but we suspect it has to do with feline luck running out after nine lives.

"Why only one day?" the Web site asks. "Well let's be honest, that's probably only as long as we'll last before a hilarious video comes crashing into our inbox."

A day in the life

An Internet project led by 25-year-old student Matthias Kluckert in Germany is soliciting stories from around the world Wednesday -- to capture an ordinary day on Earth experienced by people across cultures.

The project, "A Day on the Planet," hopes to collect the best stories and eventually publish them in eight languages.

Why 09/09/09?

"Because it is a date that is so easy to remember," the organizers said.

Speaking of the Beatles ...

It is a big day for the Beatles.

The group's entire music collection comes out digitally mastered.

Waterspout comes ashore in Galveston

By Chris Paschenko & Rhiannon Meyers / The Daily News & Kevin Reece / 11 News
GALVESTON, Texas — The National Weather Service confirmed a waterspout came ashore in Galveston on Sunday damaging buildings, knocking out power and injuring at least three people.

It happened soon after a strong line of storms moved into the county, and the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water.

Dolphin World, a souvenir shop in the 2900 block of Seawall Boulevard, was damaged about 9:45 p.m. Debris covered the streets.

Ironically, Dolphin World survived Hurricane Ike with very little damage. But after this storm, things were different.

“It’s very, very bad. Very difficult. Basically everything inside is gone. Brings back memory of Ike,” Schlomo Hamo of Dolphin World said.

Witnesses told The Daily News that a piece of the roof from Dolphin World struck a man who was pushing his bicycle down the seawall. They said he was taken away by ambulance.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

CNN) -- Three boaters who were stranded at sea for more than a week were being reunited with their families Sunday.

Three missing boaters were returned safely to Port Aransas, Texas, after their rescue on Saturday.

A day after the U.S. Coast Guard said it was suspending its weeklong search for the boaters, the men were found alive Saturday night.

The crew of a Good Samaritan vessel found Curtis Hall, 28, James Phillips, 30, and Tressel Hawkins, 43, sitting on top of their capsized 23-foot fishing vessel about 180 miles from Port Aransas, Texas, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The men had been missing at sea since they failed to return from a fishing trip on August 22.

The Coast Guard had called off their search Friday after it said it had looked over more than 86,000 square miles.

Hall went to a hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, but left after he waited too long in the emergency room, his mother told CNN. He returned to his home in Palacio, Texas, to rest and will see a doctor later on Sunday for what he thinks are second-degree burns on his legs from sun exposure, she said.

After the rescue, Phillips was on his way home to reunite with his family, his wife, Shane, told CNN. He did not seek medical attention, she said.

Hawkins suffered open sores on his legs after floating in the water for eight days, he told CNN from the emergency room of a Corpus Christi hospital. He plans to leave the hospital soon and head to Fort Worth, Texas, to reunite with his family, he said. E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share

Freak shooting claims boy

HOUSTON – KHOU A tragic accident has claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy in Southwest Houston.

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It happened on Wednesday evening.

Police say a telephone was ringing inside of his family’s home on Blanchard Hill Lane and the boy was trying to find it.

He tossed his mom's backpack to the floor and a pistol that was inside the backpack went off.

The boy was shot in the head and died.

Police say at this time it does not appear any laws were broken. The gun was in the home legally

Houston hair glue bandit victim videos prankster with cell phone

HOUSTON -- Another woman has come forward saying she too, was a victim of the so-called hair glue bandit. The woman says it happened in a Marshalls in Southwest Houston. She was looking at cookbooks when she felt something in her hair.

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"There was this man standing about a foot and a half beside me. He said, ‘Excuse me,’ and I said, ‘It's ok.’ But then I felt something warm on the back of my head," said the hair glue bandit’s latest victim, who wishes to remain anonymous. "There was this white substance on my hand. It dried instantly."

The victim says she was able to pull out her cell phone and capture video of the man who poured the glue on her.

Plus, because she didn't want him to disappear into a busy parking lot, she followed him out and took down the license plate of the car he was in. She then passed the information over to the police.

Over the past few weeks, glue victims have been studying a surveillance video taken from another attack. The latest victim claims the same man poured the glue in her hair.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Pearland man helps passengers on Continental flight 128

By Kevin Reece and Jeremy Desel / 11 News
HOUSTON – Passengers aboard Continental flight 128 arrived in Houston Monday with a terrifying tale to share.

As emergency vehicles rushed to the plane on the Miami tarmac, catering truck elevators were used to rescue injured passengers.

Diego Saavedra was on the plane. He said passengers and flight attendants were flying inside the cabin.

“All of a sudden, the plane like takes a dip and rises up and you see people going off their seats, people screaming,” said Saavedra. “One lady, she just came out of her seat and flew over the middle row, hit her head on the wall and landed on her back.”

Passengers took pictures inside the plane that show items falling out of the ceiling and cracked plastic.

The damage was caused by flight attendants and passengers hitting the ceiling, said John Norwood who was also on the flight.

“People who weren’t belted in flew up and hit the ceiling, so their faces and heads hit the plastics and broke the plastics all at the top,” said Norwood.

Celi Defaria hit the roof too. She has a scar that runs the length of the right side of her face.

“All of a sudden it came down. Everybody bumped heads twice because it came down again," she said. "It was terrifying. It happened in one faction of a second."

The incident occurred at 3:30 a.m. while most passengers were sleeping.

“I’ve never seen turbulence like that. I really thought we wouldn’t make it,” said Giovani Loss.


READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Aircraft bound for Houston hits turbulence/28 injured.

CNN) -- Severe turbulence shook a Continental Airlines flight Monday, injuring dozens of passengers and forcing the aircraft to divert to Miami, Florida, according to the airline and a fire official.


The diverted airliner sits on the tarmac at Miami International Airport.

There were 168 passengers and 11 crew members on Flight 128, which was heading from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas, according to a statement from Continental Airlines.

Ambulances and other vehicles were lined up on the runway to treat and transport the injured passengers when the plane landed at Miami International Airport at 5:35 a.m.

Continental said nine passengers were transported to nearby hospitals, and 28 other passengers were treated at the scene. Lt. Elkin Sierra of the Miami-Dade Fire Department said 26 passengers were injured, including four seriously.

The Boeing 767 hit turbulence about 50 miles north of the Dominican Republic at about 38,000 feet, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration. It landed in Miami an hour later with its seat belt signs illuminated, the airline said.

Those injured suffered from a variety of injuries, including bumps, bruises, neck pain and back pain, Sierra said.

The flight is scheduled to depart Miami for Houston later in the morning, according to Continental's Web site.

Feds Bust Medicare Fraud Ring In Houston Area

HOUSTON—Federal authorities arrested 27 people in Houston Wednesday in a major Medicare fraud bust that spanned across the country.

Medicare fraud raid

Investigators claim the suspects were scamming Medicare by falsely billing for medical items that were not needed or never used.

Arrests were also made in New York, Boston and Louisiana. In all, 32 people were taken into custody.

More than 200 agents worked on Wednesday’s $16 million bust, which included 12 search warrants at health care businesses and homes across the Houston area.

One of those businesses was Memorial Medical Supply on Dairy Ashford and I-10.

Shocked employees were met by federal agents when they arrived at work.

Federal agents raided several locations in Houston after a nationwide investigation into Medicare fraud.
The agents confiscated paperwork and a computer.

They were also seen removing boxes of evidence from the business.

Federal authorities say the businesses were giving patients “arthritis kits,” which were nothing more than expensive orthotics, including knee and shoulder braces. Patients told authorities they were unnecessary, and many never used them. But health care clinic owners billed $3,000 - $4,000 for each kit.

Houston’s other scam involved billing Medicare for thousands of dollars worth of liquid food for patients who can’t eat solids. Authorities said clinic owners never distributed the food to patients. In some cases, clinic owners billed patients who were dead when they allegedly received the items.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Tony Award-Winning Musical Comedy to Open

The Texas Repertory Theatre Co., Houston’s Uptown Classic Theatre, opens its 2009-2010 Season with the 2002 Tony Award-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris which won six Tony Awards in 2002, including Best Musical, as well as a host of other awards. The Texas Repertory Theatre Co. production opens on July 15, and promises to be another modern classic freshly reinvented by NW Houston’s critically-acclaimed professional theatre.

Based on the 1967 film of the same name, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love – a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take to delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China. It’s up to little Millie, a small town girl on a modern quest through the big bad city, to save the day, unravel the mysteries of the Orient, and finally marry her boss – whoever he may be. Filled with frisky flappers, dashing leading men and a dragon-lady of a villainess audiences will love to hate, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a perfectly constructed high-spirited musical romp that will have the audience dancing the Charleston - a perfect opener to The Texas Repertory Theatre Co.’s blockbuster 5th season!

Rachael Logue, who Texas Repertory audiences will remember from last summer’s Smoke on the Mountain returns to play the playful, energetic and undeniable modern Millie Dillmount, and is supported by an always-talented cast from Houston’s Uptown Classic Theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie previews July 15 & 16, celebrates its Opening Night Gala on July 17, and will run four performances a week through Aug. 9. For tickets or more information, call our box office at 281-583-7573 or log onto texreptheatre.org. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

Updated: Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

HOUSTON—The 4th of July means fireworks across the U.S. and Houston is no exception.

There are dozens of celebrations in our area, but the largest is the Freedom over Texas festival this weekend. It is presented by Shell.

The free event is at Eleanor Tinsley Park. This year, organizers are honoring Houston’s military heroes and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Country singer, Texas native Clay Walker will be the main act. He will take the stage at 8 p.m. Right after that at 9:30, fireworks will light the sky.

If you’re thinking about heading there you should know about some road that will be closed.

On Thursday, a couple of lanes along Allen Parkway were closed. They include roads between Taft Street and downtown.

Also, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Allen Parkway will be completely closed to traffic.

If you’re in The Woodlands, there are several events where you can celebrate.

First there is the Star-Spangled Salute which is being held Friday night at the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion.

You’ll hear patriotic music presented by the Houston Symphony.

Friday at 9 a.m. you can see the South Montgomery Parade which runs through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street.

Finally, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. you can head to the Red, Hot and Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza at Town Green Park and Waterway Square.

There’s also a lot to celebrate in Fort Bend County Saturday, July 4 th.

In Sugar Land, the festivities include The Red White and Blue Fest at Oyster Creek Park. Those events begin Saturday and run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The city of Stafford and the Fort Bend Symphony will celebrate by treating the public to a free patriotic concert.

Freedom Rings 2009 will be held at the Stafford Centre and starts at 5 p.m.

In Missouri City, the public is being treated to a July 4 celebration at Buffalo Run Park.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and the fireworks blare into the night sky at 9.

Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fireworks
Location: Eleanor Tinsley Park
website: www.chevysfreedomovertexas.com
This is by far the largest celebration in the city of Houston, and the fireworks display is one of the biggest in the state. Montgomery Gentry will headline. The festival starts at 4 p.m. with performances by local acts. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, you don't have to miss our on the fun; just tune in to ABC13 from the solitude of your couch.

The Houston Symphony 4th of July Celebration
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Herman Park
Led by principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski. Enjoy an All-American salute to commemorate Independence Day, and end the evening with fireworks presented by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

Sam Houston Race Park
website: www.shrp.com
The park celebrates Independence Day with special family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.

Firecracker Hotbox
Location: Gulf Greyhound Park
website: www.gulfgreyhound.com
Come see some of the nation's hottest greyhounds compete.

Kemah Boardwalk
website: www.kemahboardwalk.com
The 4th of July fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

SplashTown Fireworks Spectacular
website: www.splashtownpark.com
The park sends up the explosives after dusk.

LCS to hold open house on new facility on June 25th

The foyer of one of the buildings at the new LSCS facility is decorated.

Lone Star College System officials are inviting the community to an open house on June 25 at its new facility on State Highway 249 at Louetta Road.

The site, once home to Hewlett Packard's north campus and the former Compaq Computer headquarters, has been a mystery to most northwest Houston residents - a massive, beautiful complex with mirrored buildings, that could be seen tucked away neatly on SH 249 behind security gates at every entrance.

But now, since the purchase by Lone Star College System, college officials want to open the facility to the public by having perhaps a first-ever community open house.

The open-house event is set for Thursday, June 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. and all residents are invited to come by and visit the facility.

"This will be a family type event," said Ray Laughter, vice chancellor for external affairs. Hot dogs and other light refreshments will be served at the campus as part of the open-house celebration.

The open house will include tours of the facility and information booths will be featured about various aspects of the college system, like Lone Star Corporate College and its workforce programs, along with the Lone Star College-University Center.

"There may be those who even live nearby this facility who have never had the opportunity to see what it looks like past those security gates," Laughter said. "The tours on June 25 by our staff members will actually guide you through the buildings for a look."

The facility changed hands on May 7 when LSCS announced that it had purchased the core of the Hewlett Packard north campus on SH 249 at Louetta Road - 45 acres for a purchase price of $42.15 million.


READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Cy-Fair ISD considers getting rid of homestead exemption

Many homeowners are not happy about that option, but Cy-Fair's school superintendent says getting rid of that discount is the best thing to do in order to deal with their budget shortfall of $28.8 million.

"I think it’s bad. Everybody's hurting right now, and no one wants to pay more taxes," said homeowner Laverne Barrow.

But the $28.8 million shortfall is only for this year. The Cy-Fair School District estimates the deficit will rise to over $100 million by 2013.

"The school district has grown a lot, but I think they anticipated a bigger tax base. Now we've had the economic downturn, and they haven't had the houses built," said homeowner Karen Mugavero.

On Tuesday night, over 150 people attended a meeting to hear what the school board proposed. They also had the chance to have their say.

“They're spending more than they have, which you can't do. This is a recession. You need to stay within your budget and spend within your budget,” said one homeowner at the meeting.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Dynamics of dating violence program

You’re Living Proof, a nonprofit organization that assist survivors of domestic violence, will present a series of interactive workshops this summer to educate teens about the dynamics of dating violence.

The workshops are part of The Squeaky Wheel Project, that helps teens understand the dynamics of healthy dating relationships and identify and become a “squeaky wheel” about dating violence.

Squeaky Speaks, a coloring and activity book for children surviving domestic violence, co-authored by Doris Forté, founder and CEO of You’re Living Proof, and her daughter, Camryn Barganier, is a fundamental component of The Squeaky Wheel Project. It tells the story of how a little girl named Squeaky, a victim of family violence, broke her silence. The book includes a series of exercises called Stop Shops, and will be used as the textbook for the teen dating violence workshops.

The Squeaky Wheel Project will present the free teen dating workshops at Katy Budget Books, 2450 N. Fry Road in Houston, on June 25 and July 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For information, call the store at 281-578-7770. The program will be presented from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 11 at the Cy-Fair Public Library, 9191 Barker-Cypress Road; call 281-290-5248 for information.

The Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek, 16719 Clay Road in Houston, will offer the program from 1:30-3 p.m. Aug. 2. For information, call the library at 281-550-0885.

To learn more about The Squeaky Wheel Project and how to help end domestic violence, visit the Web site at www.Squeakyspeaks.com. To donate coloring books to local women and children shelters, e-mail: orders@squeakyspeaks.com.

The Squeaky Wheel Project teen dating violence summer workshops are underwritten by Bear Creek Neighborhood Wal-Mart No. 3452, Wal-Mart Richmond No. 3827 and Bear Creek H-E-B No. 553.

2009 Hurricane Forecast To Be Released Today

Forecasters to make predictions about 2009 hurricane season

Top federal weather forecasters on Thursday will be announcing their eagerly anticipated predictions for this year's Atlantic hurricane season -- a season likely to be as active as last year.

Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others will make their forecast public at a news conference to be held at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia.

On hand will be Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Bill Read, NOAA's National Hurricane Center director, along with a host of other federal officials.

Government forecasters were right on the mark with their 2008 predictions -- a very active hurricane season. The numbers: 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, five of them major.

Scientists had projected that the 2008 season would bring 12 to 16 named storms that would grow into six to nine hurricanes, two to five of which would be Category 3 or stronger.

Gerry Bell, NOAA's lead seasonal Atlantic hurricane forecaster, has said the gradual warming of the Atlantic Ocean, combined with an active tropical era of storms that began in 1995, will likely mean busy hurricane seasons in the future.

Florida was spared the worst of last year's hurricane season. Only Tropical Storm Fay struck the region hard.

That was not the case for our Caribbean neighbors. Cuba and Haiti got pounded by a succession of major hurricanes and storms, resulting in heavy damage and lost lives.

Cypress parents on the lookout after man approached child

CYPRESS, Texas-- Parents in one community are terrified of losing their children after a man allegedly used money to try to lure a child away.

Constables say he’s been spotted several times at two apartment complexes in the Cypress area of northwest Harris County.

According to witnesses, on April 11 the man was seen walking a puppy at Brandon Oaks Apartments. He then came up to a boy in the middle of the complex and allegedly asked the 6-year-old to take a quarter and meet him in a secluded breezeway on the other side of the complex.

The boy started walking, but then said he couldn't talk to strangers and gave the quarter back. He then ran away.

Since then, constables say the man has been back two more times.

The last time he was there, they gave him a warning for trespassing.

Residents say the man's been spotted driving slowly by nearby complexes.

The boy's father says he now won't let his son or daughter out of his sight.

"I'm glad nothing happened to my son. I'm glad in that split second my son knew what to say and did the correct thing. Luckily, there were other people watching, because if they hadn’t been around, my son may not have gotten away and nobody would've noticed," said the boy’s father.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Houston-Area Scouts to Launch 3,200 Rockets in Official World Record Attempt
Cy-Fair - Cypress Texas News
Posted May 1, 2009

On Sunday, July 4, 2010, more than 3,000 Houston-area Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts and leaders will attempt to break a Guinness World Record with a simultaneous launch of 3,200 model rockets.

The current official Guinness World Record is held by Troop and Pack 990 (Capital District Council in Austin, Texas), for launching 965 rockets in May 2007. Several months later, scouts at the World Scouting Jamboree in London launched over 1,000 rockets simultaneously. After reading about and watching the world record launches on the Internet, several boy scouts, a local rocket hobbyist and scout leader decided that Houston area scouts could celebrate the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America by breaking this record. In November 2009, scouts from around the Houston area will begin ordering their “World Record” rocket kits. Each of the rockets will be individually built and will include a Centennial Boy Scout logo and Guinness
World Record recognition sticker. The rockets will rise 500 to 1000 feet in the air and must launch within 5 seconds of each other to meet the standard set by London’s Guinness World Record committee.

Local and regional VIPs will be in attendance. Local Rocketry clubs will be providing some exciting demonstration launches as well as displays of their High-Power rockets. Food and hobby vendors will be on site as well. Local and national media are invited to attend the launch early to film the set-up, special guests and launch. Interviews with Scouts, Scout leaders and community leaders can be scheduled in advance.

The World Record Rocket Launch committee is seeking corporate and private sponsorships to help defray expenses. For additional information on this event, sponsorships or to sign up a scout unit to participate, we ask everyone to visit bsarocketry.org or to email andy@bsarocketry.org. Please mention you found this on CyFairMagazine.com.

First reported US swine-flu death occurs in Houston

The first reported death in the United States from the swine flu outbreak was that of a 23-month-old Mexican toddler who fell ill in Brownsville and was transported for treatment in Houston, where the child died Monday, city officials said.
Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, did not say which hospital treated the child or give any other details about the toddler.

There still have been no reported Houston-area cases of the disease, which is thought to have begun in Mexico but is being detected around the world. However, Barton said Houston should expect to see cases originate here.
She added that hospitals that handle any flu cases, swine or otherwise, take precautions to prevent its spread, such as masks, frequent handwashing and other sanitation measures.

"Even though we've been expecting this, it is very, very sad," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who made the initial announcement of a Texas death on several nationally televised morning shows today. "As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family."

Germany today reported its first three cases of swine flu. The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States before today rose to 66 in six states, with 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, but cities and states suspected more. In New York, the city's health commissioner said "many hundreds" of schoolchildren were ill at a school where some students had confirmed cases.

The world has no vaccine to prevent infection but U.S. health officials aim to have a key ingredient for one ready in early May, the big step that vaccine manufacturers are awaiting. But even if the World Health Organization ordered up emergency vaccine supplies — and that decision hasn't been made yet — it would take at least two more months to produce the initial shots needed for human safety testing.
"We're working together at 100 miles an hour to get material that will be useful," Dr. Jesse Goodman, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration's swine flu work, told The Associated Press.
The U.S. is shipping to states not only enough anti-flu medication for 11 million people, but also masks, hospital supplies and flu test kits. President Barack Obama asked Congress for $1.5 billion in emergency funds to help build more drug stockpiles and monitor future cases, as well as help international efforts to avoid a full-fledged pandemic.

"It's a very serious possibility, but it is still too early to say that this is inevitable," the WHO's flu chief, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, told a telephone news conference.
Cuba and Argentina banned flights to Mexico, where swine flu is suspected of killing more than 150 people and sickening well over 2,000. In a bit of good news, Mexico's health secretary, Jose Cordova, late Tuesday called the death toll there "more or less stable."

Mexico City, one of the world's largest cities, has taken drastic steps to curb the virus' spread, starting with shutting down schools and on Tuesday expanding closures to gyms and swimming pools and even telling restaurants to limit service to takeout. People who venture out tend to wear masks in hopes of protection.
New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Britain, Canada and now Germany have also reported cases. But the only deaths so far have been Mexican citizens, baffling experts.
The WHO argues against closing borders to stem the spread, and the U.S. — although checking arriving travelers for the ill who may need care — agrees it's too late for that tactic.

"Sealing a border as an approach to containment is something that has been discussed and it was our planning assumption should an outbreak of a new strain of influenza occur overseas. We had plans for trying to swoop in and knockout or quench an outbreak if it were occurring far from our borders. That's not the case here," Besser told a telephone briefing of Nevada-based health providers and reporters. "The idea of trying to limit the spread to Mexico is not realistic or at all possible."
"Border controls do not work. Travel restrictions do not work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva, recalling the SARS epidemic earlier in the decade that killed 774 people, mostly in Asia, and slowed the global economy.

Authorities sought to keep the crisis in context: Flu deaths are common around the world. In the U.S. alone, the CDC says about 36,000 people a year die of flu-related causes. Still, the CDC calls the new strain a combination of pig, bird and human.

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