Kleinwood - April 2014 by Peel, Inc.

KLEINWOOD

K leinwood Krier Official Publication of the Kleinwood Homeowners Association

April 2014

Volume 4, Issue 4

Construction on direct connector from Hwy. 249 to Beltway 8 to begin in May by Shawn Arrajj

A direct connector from southbound Hwy. 249 to westbound Beltway 8 is expected to be open to drivers before the end of 2015, according to officials with the Harris County Toll Road Authority. With the final design phase underway, construction is expected to begin in May and last about 18 months. The connector will allow drivers to transit seamlessly at the interchange, similar to the existing connector to eastbound Beltway 8. Updates on specific, anticipated lane closures will be posted to HCTRA's website on an ongoing basis once construction begins, media relations coordinator Adam Collett said. “For most of the construction period, drivers can expect intermittent, shortduration lane closures on the frontage roads,” he said. “There will also be some intermittent, short-duration lane closures on the main lanes.” The project will cost an estimated $25 million, which HCTRA is paying for. The project was proposed in preparation of the Hwy. 249 toll road. Phase I of the Hwy. 249 toll road—three toll lanes in each direction from south of Spring Cypress road to north of FM 2920—is Copyright © 2014 Peel, Inc.

expected to be complete in spring 2015. Reprinted with permission: Community Impact News http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/cy-fair/construction-ondirect-connector-from-hwy.-249-to-beltway-8-/ The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

KLEINWOOD IMPORTANT NUMBERS KLEINWOOD MAINTENANCE BOARD Larry Chamberlin, President............................ 281-580-2222 Ronnie Brod, Vice President............................. 281-370-9200 Tom Houser, Secretary..................................... 281-379-6517 Jeff Gobbell, Treasurer...................................... 281-251-7767 Kelly Smith, Director at Large.......................... 281-370-9735 KLEINWOOD MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT Sherry Allard, President.................................... 281-923-8603 Joe Fratangelo, Vice President.......................... 281-251-3189 Bernie Bryl, Secretary-Treasurer........................ 281-251-2688 David C Guerrero, Assistant Secretary.............. 281-251-2773 Robert Ehmann, Asst. V.P. & Asst. Sec............. 281-251-8621 MANAGEMENT COMPANY Chaparral Management.................................... 281-537-0957 POOL MANAGEMENT COMPANY Southwest Pool Management........................... 281-370-2474 MUD FACILITY MANAGER & BUILDING RENTALS Roger Schuett................................................... 281-685-1275 NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATORS Jef Gobbel, Message Board Coord....... jeffgob1@sbcglobal.net Jeff Gobbell, Pool Liaison................................. 281-593-5405 Mona Currey, Newsletter Editor.......... mona@aegis-web.com Ronnie Brod, Tennis Liaison............................ 281-370-9200 John Bush, Signs..................................................................... Head Block Captain.....................................................OPEN SCHOOLS Mittelstadt Elementary..................................... 832-484-6711 Kleb Middle School......................................... 832-249-5500 Klein High School............................................ 832-484-4000

COMMUNITY SERVICES Emergency........................................................................911 Harris County Constable................................. 281-376-3472 C.C.E.M.S....................................................... 281-440-4300 St. Lukes Vintage Hospital............................... 832-534-5000 Methodist Willowbrook Hospital..................... 281-737-1000 Poison Control Center..................................... 281-654-1701 Waste Management.......................................... 713-686-6666 Klein VFD Business Office............................... 281-376-4449 Water/Sewer Repairs (24/7).............................. 832-467-1599 Water/Sewer Billing Questions......................... 832-467-1599 Reliant Energy/HL&P..................................... 713-207-7777 Centerpoint (report streetlight outings)............ 713-207-2222 Harris County Library, Barbara Bush Branch... 281-376-4610 Harris County, Precinct 4................................. 281-353-8424 Harris County Animal Control........................ 281-999-3191 Aircraft Noise Complaints................................ 281-233-3900 Environmental Development Partners.............. 832-467-1599 Harris County Dispute Resolution Center....... 713-755-8274 ....................................................... www.co.harris.tx.us/drc Domestic Violence........................................... 281-401-6250 Harris County Animal Control........................ 281-999-3191 Dead Animal Pick-up....................................... 713-699-1113 Harris County...........................................www.co.harris.tx.us Poison Control..............................................1-800-764-7661 Harris County Health Dept............................. 713-439-6000 .................................................................. www.hcphes.org Harris County Community Service.................. 281-353-8424 Ha.................................................................... www.hcp4.net Harris County Appraisal District...................... 713-757-7800 ......................................................................www.hcad.org Harris County Flood Control District.............. 713-684-4000 .....................................................................www.hcfcd.org NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER PEEL Inc.................................................... www.peelinc.com Advertising....................................................... 888-687-6444

Make an impact. 2

The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

KLEINWOOD

Cypress Symphony Saturday May 10th, 2014 at 7pm The Cypress Symphony presents

Protégés!

A night of soloists featuring: Kirsten Yon and Joanna Becker, violins; Patrick Moore, cello; Alecia Lawyer, oboe; and the Klein Oak High School Chamber Orchestra . The Cypress Symphony performs Shostakovich's electrifying Chamber Symphony. The performance will be held at The Centrum. Bohuslav Rattay, Guest Conductor. Student Tickets are FREE!!! All other tickets are available at cypresssymphony.org

EGG Stravaganza Market Klein United Methodist Church presents its 17th Annual EggStravaganza Market on Wed., April 9, 2014, 10am – 6pm, located at 5920 FM 2920 in Spring, TX. This upscale shopping market features unique gifts, home décor, plants, clothing, accessories, quilts and more! Join us for a tea-room style lunch, silent auction, and a great day of shopping!

www.kleinumc.org . 281-353-8202

The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

KLEINWOOD

Just a little reminder…

The 3rd Annual Klein ISD Kleinwell Family Fitness Fair, sponsored by Tomball Regional Medical Center, is from 8 a.m. – noon, Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Klein Memorial Stadium - 16715 Stuebner-Airline Rd., Klein. The event is free to all ages and includes vendors from the community, demonstrations, activities including Zumba dancing, strength training, kickboxing, massage chairs, games such as a moon walk, face painting and much more. Houston’s Radio Disney 1590 AM will broadcast live from the event. Also part of the Family Fitness Fair again this year is the One Mile Fun Run/Walk. Registration for the Fun Run/Walk is $10 per person and includes a t-shirt and awards. To register go to http://www.kleinisd.net/preview.aspx?name=hrbrm. registration2014 or call 832-249-4162.

SHALOM

Please be mindful of your neighbors when parking your vehicles, especially when you have more cars to accommodate than garage space allows. Parking on the street for extended periods presents difficulty and can become a safety issue. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

Rachael’s

Easter Sunday is Attention Retailer: April 20th

$2oo OFF

Please note that Hallmark has developed new brand identity reflected in the logos provided on this page and in the ad slic your store name reproduced in 18 point Gill Sans regular and Please do not run the Hallmark logo along with your store na to incorporate the logo in a specific graphic manner. Family Owned and operated since 2000

www. facebook.com/RachaelsHallmark

any $10 purchase

Note: Hallmark colors are Gold (PMS 130) and Plum (PM expires 4/15/14 *Not to be combined with any other offers or used on sale merchandise

5211 FM 1960 W @ Champion Forest - 281.440.5353 7312 Louetta @ Stuebner Airline - 281.376.2442

R E T T E L S W OUR NE MMUNITY NEEDS CO ON! I T A M R O F N I C I SPECIF

Hi Jewish Community. Let’s get connected! To share Shabbat dinners... Chanukah parties... Passover Seders... or simply get together! Interested? E-mail us at info@shalomcypress.org. Or visit our website at www.shalomcypress.org 4

The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

Putting together a newsletter for our community is quite challenging considering there is so much more to include in it than we do. Many residents have interesting news to share about upcoming events, personal milestones, issues of community interest, etc., but we never hear from you! Between our Management Company and the Board of Directors, we try to include items in our newsletter that not only inform owners of important business matters but also items of local interest. Don't forget that our newsletter is one of the best communication tools available in our community and in order to help our newsletter become more communityspecific we need to hear from YOU. If you would like to contribute, please email mona@aegis-web.com.

KLEINWOOD

Getting To Know Your Neighbors Creates Community In our fast-paced, stress-filled world we often don't create the opportunities that we need in order to get to know our neighbors. In days past, good neighbor relations were the staple of every strong community. Being able to share life's experiences, both good and bad, with those who live so close to us was once considered one of life's greatest blessings. These days it is the exception rather than the rule to take the time to create strong relationships with the people we share our community with...and we are each the poorer because of it. Each one of us has a story to tell, a hand to lend, a laugh to share, and friendship to give. What keeps us from extending so much of ourselves to the families that live around our own may be those

same things that prevent us from experiencing many of the great blessings of our parents or of our youth: A changing world that focuses more on the individual than the family and the need to remain isolated in order to feel "safe and secure." Someone once said, "If you always do the things you did, you'll always get the things you got." If we want to grow as a community then we have to risk breaking free from the bonds of isolation that are so easily created by and for us. We must reach out to our neighbors and let them know that they matter and that we care. If we do that, even in the most seemingly insignificant of ways - like a wave as we pass on the street - then we are moving toward a better community and a better way to live.

The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

KLEINWOOD

Harris County considers tighter rules on panhandling in unincoporated area by Marie Leonard

If proposed changes to the county's solicitation rules are changed, solicitation on the street, medians or islands will be against the law. Groups and individuals could still solicit from nearby sidewalks. Changes to panhandling could be on the way in Harris County as Commissioners Court received a report in late January on proposed changes to solicitation in unincorporated Harris County. The report calls for stopping all solicitation in lanes of traffic, citing safety issues as the main concern, but the job of enforcing the law—which would be up to patrol officers—is also an issue for one county commissioner. “There is definitely a safety issue, but there’s a lot of folks who believe some of the panhandlers have become aggressive and are complaining to police,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack said. “I believe those concerns are valid, but how do you allow some people to solicit in the street and some not?” Typically, before the county can pass a regulation, the state Legislature must first pass a law. In this case, a section of the transportation code instead allows county government to regulate solicitation. Last July, Commissioners Court appointed a committee to study the issue following a decision from a federal court in Houston that struck down a law regulating solicitation. “The courts have made it clear that public streets and sidewalks are traditional forums for speech, and that includes solicitation—whether its for the Red Cross or a meal for yourself—that’s all protected activity,” assistant county attorney Glen Van Slyke said. “Some think we should make distinctions and allow only charitable organizations to do this, but that’s why the state law was invalidated. They won’t allow the government to make a distinction like that.” Although the report suggests stopping all panhandling in lanes of traffic, medians and islands, groups would still be able to solicit from nearby sidewalks. “The most common problem is people standing in medians to solicit or sell things to the driver of a car waiting for the light to change,” Van Slyke said. “The primary interest is safety not only for pedestrians, but for motorists of the vehicles trying to get through the intersection and not having their 6

The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

attention distracted by fumbling around in a purse or wallet to find money to give to someone.” Because of the sheer size of Harris County, panhandling and solicitation is common throughout most precincts, but is mainly a problem at busy intersections. “It’s been an issue on FM 1960, but I don’t think it’s unique to this area at all,” said Barbara Thomason, president of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce. “People sometimes expect the firemen to come out once a year and do their rally on a Saturday, and I don’t think that detracts, but if you have a constant group soliciting—whether they’re sanctioned or not—you can go mentally numb from seeing them.” If the proposed regulations are approved in the future, charges would be filed in a justice of the peace court and violators would be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. “Our indication is that the patrol officers would give the person a warning and tell them they can get a ticket,” Van Slyke said. “I think it would be a public education effort to start with.” Before the proposed regulations are considered further by Commissioners Court, public hearings could be held throughout the county to receive public input on the report. “It’s going to be an extremely controversial issue,” Radack said. “You’re going to have some very interesting policy issues for the sheriff and constables to explore.” Reprinted with permission: Community Impact News http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/cy-fair/harris-countyconsiders-tighter-rules-on-panhandling-in-unin/ Copyright © 2014 Peel, Inc.

Sudoku The challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every 3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appear only once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box.

View answers online at www.peelinc.com DOWN ACROSS 1. Incline 1. Tack 2. Change 5. Giant 3. Small particle 9. Philippine dish with marinated 4. Compass point chicken or pork 5. Night bird 11. Journalist's question 6. Body snatcher 12. Tiny insects 7. Cultivate 13. Cut of beef 8. Volcano 14. School group 10. Change into bone 15. South 16. Musical productions 17. United States 18. Canadian prov. 18. Bottle need 19. Palladium (abbr.) 20. Upset 20. Many 22. Cow's chow 21. Perfect 23. Year (abbr.) 22. Captain (abbr.) 24. Computer makers 24. Institution (abbr.) 27. Brews 25. Swain 29. Sleep disorder 26. African country 31. Parent teacher groups 28. Fast plane 32. Strong rope fiber 30. Pastry 33. Bend 34. Decorative needle case © 2006. Feature Exchange

SUDOKU

Sudoku

2007. every Feature column, Exchange and The goal is to fill in the grid so that every©row, every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Each digit may appear only once in each row, each column, and each 3x3 box.

KLEINWOOD At no time will any source be allowed to use The Kleinwood Krier's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in The Kleinwood Krier is exclusively for the private use of the Kleinwood HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

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The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014

KLEINWOOD

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The Kleinwood Krier - April 2014