Tune in to HGTV’s hit national television show, House Hunters, this Thursday, January 26 at 9 pm central standard time, and watch as a young family explores The Woodlands in search of their dream home.

With coordination by The Woodlands Film Commission, a crew from HGTV’s House Hunters followed a San Francisco couple and their two children as they toured The Woodlands, talked about what they were looking for in a new home and why the community is ideal for their family.

“Segments with the family were shot on a Waterway Cruiser, a Waterway Trolley and atWaterway Square, highlighting some of The Woodlands’ most distinguishing features,” saidConnie DeGuerre of The Woodlands Area Film Commission, an organization that promotes The Woodlands as a viable area for the production of commercials, corporate videos and still photography. The commission also facilitates the production process by scouting locations, identifying crews and securing housing.

The Woodlands Area Film Commission is part of the South Montgomery County/Woodlands Chamber of Commerce with support from The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, visit thewoodlandsareafilmcommission.com.  To read the complete story, click here.

 

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A record-setting number of skaters enjoyed The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center in its 13th season!  The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureauannounced the 48,335 paid ice skaters visited the rink since the special preview weekend November 12 and 13, 2011 through closing day, January 16, 2012.

“We continue to see an increase in demand for The Ice Rink during the holidays,” said Nick Wolda, President of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Ice Rink is a favorite for residents and visitors to The Woodlands during the holiday season and works well with the eight million square feet of shopping, dining, hospitality and entertainment venues in The Woodlands.”

Several incentive events also contributed to the increase in attendance, including Rock’n Skate Nights, complete with laser light shows and a DJ; a balloonist, face painter and artist on various days; a Frequent Skater Card; and budget-friendly promotions generated by Ice Rink sponsors.

To read the complete story, click here. For more information on the Ice Rink and other amenities in The Woodlands, visit www.thewoodlandscvb.com.

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If you have been waiting for the opportunity to sign your child up for theInterfaith Child Development Center (ICDC), Public Registration and Open Houses will take place in January and February. The state-licensed and nationally accredited school is located at 5630 Rush Haven Drive in the Village of Indian Springs.

Public registration is set for Saturday, February 18 from 8 – 11 am, plus there will be two Open Houses on Sunday, January 29 from 2 – 4 pm and Thursday, February 16 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. The Open Houses provide the opportunity for parents to tour the award-winning school, meet outstanding teachers and inquire about the school’s programs. The public registration provides an opportunity for parents to enroll new students.

Children 12 months as of September 1, 2012 to four years of age are eligible to enroll at ICDC. School age children in kindergarten through 4th grade may enroll in the before and after school program. Pictured are ICDC students Noni Americo and Maia Miquel.

“Interfaith’s Child Development Center helps students to achieve their true potential by focusing on a literature-based curriculum and low student-to-teacher ratios,” said Bobbie Hrycushko, Director of ICDC. The school also produces an amazing environment for learning in its own Science Lab and Children’s Library. The Center also offers several unique programs including Spanish, extra-curricular activities such as dance and sports, and has an on-site certified RN available.

For more information about ICDC, call 281-292-3617 or visit www.interfaithkids.org.

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Don’t miss the Grand Opening of Interfaith of The Woodlands’ Veggie Village, The Woodlands Community Donation Garden. The event is scheduled for Sunday, January 29 from 2 – 4 pm atAlden Bridge Sports Park on SH 242 near Greenbridge Drive. Children will enjoy appearances by special guests, Mr. & Mrs. McGregor and Puffy Pine Cone, Lovable Mascot of The Woodlands.

Mr. & Mrs. McGregor will host games and activities at the garden including story time, planting seeds, tours of the garden and a worm farm, refreshments and entertainment.

For more information, e-mail veggievillage@woodlandsinterfaith.org or visitwww.woodlandsinterfaith.org.

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Visit The Woodlands Children’s Museum on Saturday, January 28 to celebrate the start of the Year of the Dragon. According to Chinese belief, the Year of the Dragon is about energy, charisma, luck at love and warm-heartedness. The Dragon symbolizes natural born leaders, good at giving orders and doing what is necessary to remain on top.

“We have some very energetic and charismatic activities planned that will usher in the Year of the Dragon much to the delight of children,” said Angela Colton,Executive Director of the Museum. “New Rising Star Dance Studio Director, Xing Chen, will have his students perform a Dragon Dance, and the children attending will be able to make masks, Chinese lanterns and enjoy some very creative play.”

Mr. Chen’s team will also perform Tai-Chi and Chinese Martial Arts between 11 am and 1 pm.

The Woodlands Children’s Museum is located at 4775 W. Panther Creek in the Panther Creek Shopping Center next to Sears Hardware. For more information, call 281-465-0955 or visit www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org.  To read the full story, click here.

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Congratulations to Magnolia High School students Senior Katlynn Hallisey and JuniorKatrina English, who were selected as Gold Medal winners at the recent Magnolia ISD Rodeo Art Show sponsored by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. They will have their artwork on display at Reliant Arena for the duration of the Livestock Show and Rodeo season and will be honored at a special ceremony on Saturday, March 3. They will also have the opportunity to enter their artwork into a competition with the artwork of other Houston area winners for a chance to be auctioned in the Rodeo’s School Art Auction.

Pictured left is Katlynn Hallisey’s artwork, “Bone White”, and pictured right is “The Original Alarm” by Katrina English.

Students living in the area of May Valley in the Village of Sterling Ridge in The Woodlands attend Magnolia ISD schools. For more information, visitwww.magnoliaisd.org.

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Beginning Friday, January 27, theSpotlight on the Arts Gallery atThe Woodlands Mall, located on the mall’s upper level near the Food Court, will feature an exhibit of murals created by community organizations under the direction of artist Vickie McMillan. The new exhibition highlights local organizations including2011 Montgomery fires, Children’s Safe Harbor, the Montgomery County Women’s Center and Montgomery County Youth Services.

Spotlight on the Arts is a community project partly funded by The Woodlands Mall and designed in partnership with BAM! (Because Art Matters!), the community and education outreach arm of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council; ARTreach, an organization supporting the development, funding and delivery of specialized art programs and services to underserved populations; and the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), whose mission is to advance the state economically and culturally by investing in a creative Texas.

BAM! reaches out to schools, social service organizations and other not-for-profit organizations in the community with meaningful art projects and encourages people to actively engage in the arts.

To read the complete story, click here. For more information about The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council’s outreach programs, visit www.thewoodlandsartsfestival.com.

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The South Montgomery County YMCA, with three branches in The Woodlands, has added Zumbatonic®for kids to its action packed group exercise schedule. Zumbatonic classes are high-energy fitness-parties that offer real results. Packed with specially choreographed routines and the latest music, like hip-hop, reggaeton and cumbia, Zumbatonic classes increase focus and self-confidence, boost metabolism, and improve coordination.

More than just a great reason to head to the gym, Zumbatonic classes make getting fit a fun family experience too. While kids are having fun in their own Zumba® class, Zumba is available at the same time for teens and adults. Zumba is an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health. Class times are Mondays at 7:30 pm, Tuesdays at 5:45 pm and Wednesdays at 6:45 pm at the Shadowbend YMCA.

The South Montgomery County Y also offers Zumba Gold® for baby boomers, which takes the Zumba® formula and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the active older participant, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about all Zumba® programs at the YMCA, call 281-367-9622 or visitwww.ymcahouston.org/south-montgomery-county for a detailed schedule.

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Two custom homes by Gracepoint Homes and one by Post Custom Homes will be open for touring this weekend, Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29 from 1 – 4 pm.  The homes are located in the golf course neighborhoods ofPlayer Point and Player Oaks surrounding theGary Player Signature course.

38 Player Point
Post Custom Homes
$1,395,000

91 Player Oaks
Gracepoint Homes
$798,990

39 Player Oaks
Gracepoint Homes
$791,990

For more information about these homes and other available custom homes in The Woodlands, visitthewoodlandscustomhomesonline.com or call 281-367-4550.

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Memorial Hermann Healthcare System this week was the only hospital system in Houston and one of only two in Texas named among the nation’s top 15 health systems by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. The prominent award is based on criteria such as clinical outcomes, patient safety, patient satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Researchers from the Thomson Reuters’ 100 Top Hospitals® program analyzed the clinical quality and efficiency of more than 300 health systems to identify the top 15.

“We are extremely delighted and proud to receive this distinguished recognition,” said Dan Wolterman, President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. “This award was based on objective public data – not reputation – meaning that our keen focus on patient safety and quality differentiated Memorial Hermann from any system in Houston, and placed us among the top healthcare systems in the nation.”

Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, located at 9250 Pinecroft Drive in The Woodlands is part of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System.  To read more, click here.  For more information, visit www.memorialhermann.org.

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• Operation Pets Alive (OPA), a nonprofit animal welfare organization based in The Woodlands, recently sponsored another animal rescue trip by transporting 45 dogs from the Montgomery County and Conroe Animal Shelters to various New England states where they will find new homes. These life-saving trips are made possible by generous contributions from area pet lovers. To sponsor a dog for “Flight for Life” or “Pups on Trucks”, visit www.operationpetsalive.org.

• Get the new year off to a healthy and tasty start by attending the free cooking technique classes at Williams-Sonoma in The Woodlands Mall Courtyard. The classes are every Sunday at 2 pm in February, with the next class on February 5 highlighting Big Bowls of Chili, just in time for the big Super Bowl game!  Reservations are required, but classes are free.  Call 281-298-6915 or stop by the store to register.

• Interfaith of The Woodlands and the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties, Inc.will host a new Spring fashion show event, Giving Goes Glam: A Gorgeous Excuse to do Something Good on March 30, 2012 at 11 am at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.Fashion icon Tootsies will be headlining the “New York style” runway show. For more information, contact Kathy at 832-615-8230 or visitwww.woodlandsinterfaith.org.