pineda

You're right, my bad, the current building being used by students and being proposed by the bond committee for demolition is 45 years old, not 65 years old. BTW, any idea what a TEP/DAEP program is? It is listed on the bond proposal to be built concurrent with the re-build of Klein High for a proposed cost of $23 million. The Klein High re-build is already over $133 million in proposals, with inflation expected to add to that. Un-friggin'-believable!!

I belive that it's by Krimmel.

I thought that that site has already been dismissed by the bond committee because according to Dr. Cain, the Grand Parkway would take too much of the land and therefore the site would no longer be a viable stadium location.

That's sad. I went to KHS, I'd hate to see the old bird demolished. There's a lot of history in those buildings. The school has been around for over 65 years.

At one of the bond committee meetings, someone gave some background information about Klein High School. They said that the original building had been built in 1963, making it 35 years old, not over 65 years old. Maybe you're thinking of the original one-room schoolhouse, but not the school currently located at Steubner Airline & Louetta.

they could add on to Klein Oak or Klein Collins.

In the current bond proposal, I believe there is a provision to add an extra wing onto Klein Oak, in lieu of building High School #6, even though that is the area of the greatest projected growth in the district.

Has anyone mentioned yet the location of the site of the proposed new stadium? And beware, if you don't like Berry Center, you won't like what's being discussed for the plan of the new Klein stadium.

The district has already conducted a preliminary phone poll to gauge the public perception of the bond outcome and has characterized the overall feeling from the district citizens as weak support for the bond issue.

I personally think they're going to have a tough time getting this bond election passed.

Wow, I was just on my other favorite forum, 5A Texas Football, and was reading all about Katy and Northshore. Go Tigers, Go Mustangs!

Is it me or are the trains getting worse. I'm getting really fed up with the 2am 3am 4am trains I really dont think its necssary to honk the horn for 2 mins staright on our intersection. Does any one else agree with this? Its driving me nuts I can hear it thru my house even though I live 1mile away from it. Last I heard this was going to be a quiet zone please tell me this is true....

I'm referring specifically to the train that runs through Spring Cypress Rd. / Old Louetta. Then On to Louetta itself which I can hear as well and I think there is a small intersection right before Louetta / Old Louetta. I really wish we coudl get a petition together on this one.

Yes, they're getting worse, in that they are running more frequently than ever. We have talked with officials with Union Pacific and they have said that their business with Mexico has really picked up in the last few years and that you will likely see the train traffic double in our area soon because of that. Plus, in some areas, such as ours, Union Pacific does a lot of clear-cutting near their tracks to discourage kids from hanging out too near the tracks and that does reduce the noise barrier somewhat. But, it's their tracks and they (Union Pacific) can do as they want, end of story.

A Ferarri and Rolls Royce Dealership is slated to open in Shenendoah. The cars sold there are considered as "hard to find models" and will treat customers to a "7-star showroom." The vehicles are to be priced in the neighborhood of 200-400k and cater to CEO's, Movie Star's and yes...preachers.

http://www.thewoodlandsvillager.com/site/n...32533&rfi=6

Twice now, on Gosling near F.M. 242, we've seen two Ferarri's pulled over at the same time by the local Montgomery County cops. Not only was it a coincidence, but both times we wondered how one cop could get two Ferarri's to pull over!

When the call of nature strikes, and you really MUST sit on a toilet away from home, which place do find the least offensive and actually kinda nice.

Personally, I find just about all bathrooms away from home gross, but if I had to go,

The most gross:

Home Depot (gross)

Target (strangely gross)

Chili's (the most gross)

The most pleasant:

Cheesecake Factory

Hotel Derek

I wonder which Home Depot, Target and Chili's you go to. The Home Depot(s), Target(s) and Chili's (all) near us are all some of the cleanest ones around. I can't speak as to C.F. or H. D. as I don't get much chance to "go" there!

Fish Tales on the Seawall, hands-down best oysters and martinis I've had anywhere, ever! The rest of my group loved everything they ordered, too. Interesting place that has a lot of character(s) to boot. Enjoy your trip! menu

I'll admit that public transportation wouldn't work very well in The Woodlands, other than the park-and-rides already in use, but other places in Montgomery County, like Conroe, could implement a transit system. Does anyone know if there is any work or research being done for such a system? The Woodlands isn't the only source of traffic in Montgomery County.

Brazos Transit

So has anyone verified if Sizzler is really here now, once again (like topic seems to imply)???

The one at F.M. 2920 & Kuykendahl has been open for business for a few months now. Just noticed last week that there is an IHOP or Denny's going in near the Sizzler also on 2920. Looks like it's almost built.

Wow, not a single Longhorn Steakhouse in the states of Texas, New Mexico or Oklahoma!

We went to the Texas Roadhouse on 1960 & I-45 not too long ago, it was really packed and the food was great!

Grand Parkway Constructors are Williams Brothers Construction and Dannenbaum Engineering

A joint venture led by a road construction company and an engineering firm has asked Harris County to enter into a public-private partnership to build and operate the 197-mile Grand Parkway as a toll road.

Commissioners Court will consider today whether it wants to study the unsolicited offer to undertake the $5.3 billion project to build an outermost ring skirting the metropolitan area.

-snip-

If the court decides to go ahead with a partnership between the county and Grand Parkway Constructors, the joint venture would need approval from the Texas Department of Transportation.

Grand Parkway Constructors' principals are Williams Brothers Construction and Dannenbaum Engineering.

Executives at both companies did not return calls Monday.

-snip-

The idea of a Grand Parkway encircling the metropolitan area outside Highway 6 has been around for decades. Critics long have contended that it is a highway sought by road builders and developers who intend to build subdivisions and strip malls in the still undeveloped areas.

Regardless of one's stance in that debate, the Legislature and TxDOT have decided the Grand Parkway will be built.

-snip-

TxDOT officials hope to have agreed on a plan for building the Grand Parkway by the end of next year, Dennis said.

First, the agency will negotiate with Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Waller and Montgomery counties over potential toll rates on the road that will go through the five counties. That process should be completed by March, Dennis said.

TxDOT then will ask the Houston-Galveston Area Council to approve tentative rates and future rate hikes.

Based on that information, TxDOT will calculate the market value of the Grand Parkway

I don't really think North/South traffic is a problem at all. Not now at least. What sucks is the East/West traffic. That's one reason I'm happy about the grand parkway.

Just curious, how will the Grand Parkway improve east/west traffic flow? For you, specifically?

We're getting there...quickly as possible. The City of The Woodlands.

Or, better yet, The City of The Woodlands in The State of The Texas

Yeah, that's it; 2978.

The Woodlands is cool and all, but it takes forever to get to the freeway. At least 249 and Grand Parkway won't be too far from these new pieces of land.

----

I know a good portion of this land is theirs too. I'm not sure how much though. Have they built houses back there yet? I know they've got a big Woodlands sign in front of it now.

That would be Creekside Park, off Gosling.

Has anyone heard when Gosling will be continued through to Loop 336 in Conroe? I had heard work would begin next year.

Logically, one would have thought that village would have been tied to Klein, but guess it is right on the northern border of that district. I think I heard it is going to have its own high school, in time.

I heard something like that. I heard that Tomball ISD will be building a new school, but not that it will be located inside Creekside Park.

uh.....ok.

It's The Woodlands with a Spring, Tomball OR Conroe zip code. No different than The Colony up near Dallas. Klein has a Spring zip too.

You people nit pick over the weirdest things.......

Yeah, it does get confusing, doesn't it?

Like in the Woodlands' newest neighborhood, Creekside Park.

Located in Harris County, not Montgomery County.

Zoned to Tomball schools, not Conroe schools (like all the Woodlands schools are).

Tell me those people moving in there aren't going to have some headaches there!

Our MUD sees plans like this all the time. Sometimes they go through, most times they fall through. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

In the end, the primary stakeholders are the regional commuters.

The Grand Parkway group considers the local landowners that might be affected to be the primary stakeholders.

Woody-

You must be privy to some information I haven't seen. Last I heard, there still was no funding for the Grand Parkway, Segment F-2, which I'm guessing is the one segment you must be referring to. But, maybe you mean Segment G.

The Klein area will have good access to 249 which as you know will be an excellent artery to Tomball (it is a bit congested now) and to the Northwest Houston area. The Grand Parkway would be useful to have today!

I'm not sure what you're trying to say with this part. The Klein area already has good access to 249 & 2920. I really don't believe that the ~$200 million Segment F-2 is not being built to help out anyone in the Klein area.

If you do find out where the funding is coming from for Segment F-2, please post that information here. Thanks!

has good access to the new freeway system to be completed by 2015

What "new freeway system" is this?

Katie-

I'm not disagreeing with you there. I see Governor's Perry legislation as just an attempt to (1) stop the brain drain of good university candidates from leaving the state and (2) just get anything passed in the state legislature.

As to the topic at hand regarding educational choices; if I wanted the best possible education for my child in any public school, I would pretty much disregard the current system of grading schools "Recognized", "Exemplary", etc. because I think that whole system has been shown to have fatal flaws and is not a true reflection of what's happening in the classrooms.

I would, however, discuss with my child, early and often, the benefits of being a good student and what it takes to become one. I also would make sure I met each teacher and got their e-mail address, website address and any other classroom materials they asked for my child to have as soon as possible, and try to work with the teachers as a team.

When you look only at school ratings, or whether schools have special programs like I.B. or A.P. or whatever else, you will never get an adequate feel for what's really going on in the school, much less in the classroom. Things like school ratings can be manipulated and are therefore almost meaningless. Becoming actively involved with the educational process; making sure your kid understands the value of a good education and working with them to achieve that goal, keeping the lines of communication open with the teachers, principals, counselors, and supporting the school's programs are all more meaningful ways of achieving the best possible education for your child.

You can't just look at a school district's list of schools and say, "I think this school is better because it got a rating of Exemplary, it must be better than all the rest." And, then think that because you chose that school, that your involvement with the educational process is over, and that the teachers will take care of the rest. That is just tiny piece, looking at ratings. All schools, even the "Exemplary" ones, have good teachers, not so good, and downright awful ones. As a parent, it is in your best interest and that of your child, to stay actively involved in the process. Be the "pesty parent", be the "squeaky wheel", but also let principals, counselors, school board members and even superintendents know when your child actually has an exceptional teacher as well.

If I have to pick amongst schools in any given district, I think safety would be my first concern. Is the learning taking place in a safe environment? Will my child feel safe here? Then look at the ratings, but take them with a grain of salt. Then, meet with the principals of the schools you're interested in. Teachers seem to follow the cues of their principals. If you have a really good principal as the leader of the school, and people seem to happy when you walk into the front office, that's a good indication of what you'll find throughout the school.

Finally, when your child is in school, support the programs at that school. Go to the football games, show up at the choir concerts, and band concerts, and school musicals. Join the booster clubs of the extracurricular activities your child is into. There are all different levels of participation available in these things, and your kid will pick up on the fact that you are actively encouraging and supporting their interest. If you don't think you're qualified to help out with say, "running the chains", at your kid's junior high football game, rest assured there will be people to help teach you how to do it.

Yes, it sounds like a lot to ask of a parent. But exceptional students typically have exceptional and involved parents.

I'm pretty sure that I will be the winner, so everyone can just settle down now.

Why? Because I think I may be the only one on HAIF who really has no clue what a Nano is!