TOWNSHIP AMENDS WATERWAY SQUARE AGREEMENT & EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH RIGHT MANAGEMENT - As part of an ongoing effort to coordinate the transition of the community associations and the Township, a recommendation was made to the Township Board of Directors to amend an existing Park and Fountain Maintenance Agreement between The Woodlands Township and The Woodlands Community Service Corporation (WCSC) Parks Department, with regard to oversight of The Fountains at Waterway Square (pictured) in the Town Center.  The Township will pay an additional $87,761 annually to the WCSC for more extensive and detailed attention to ensure the proper and safe operation of Waterway Square.

The Woodlands Township Executive Committee also voted unanimously to send a recommendation to the Township Board of Directors for a modification of its contract with Right Management. The Township retained the consulting firm in June to study and make recommendations regarding the future management structure of the Township relative to the Transition Agreement with the community associations. The Executive Committee also agreed to recommend that the Board of Directors authorize Chairman Nelda Blair to contract with Right Management on an as-needed basis at the hourly rate, through December 31, 2008.  The contract extension will come before the full board on August 27, 2008 at 7:30 am at The Woodlands Township offices.

THE WOODLANDS HIGHLANDERS ON THE AIR IN 2008 -  With the excitement of football just around the corner, 10 regular season football games of The Woodlands Highlanders will be broadcast on KAFR, 88.3 FM. 

Nick Wolda will provide play by play. Texas State Representative Rob Eissler will provide commentary, and attorney Bret Strong will be on the sidelines to make up the broadcast team covering The Woodlands home and away games this year. 

The season opens with The Woodlands taking on Cy-Fair at the new Woodforest Stadium in South County on Friday, August 29, 2008.  The pre-game show will start at 7:15 pm with a kick-off at 7:30 pm. The broadcast is brought to listeners by Jim Cochran State Farm, The Woodlands Development Company and participating sponsors.

Pictured from left to right are Nick Wolda, Highlanders Coach Mark Schmid, State Representative Rob Eissler and Bret Strong.

MEMORIAL HERMANN THE WOODLANDS HOSPITAL GETS ACCREDITATION FOR CANCER PROGRAM - The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) has granted a three-year approval with commendation to the Community Hospital Cancer Program at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital (pictured).  The hospital’s Cancer Program is the only accredited program in Montgomery County.

“Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer is a testament to the strength of our cancer program and illustrates the scope and caliber of services we provide to patients close to home,” said Steve Sanders, CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital. “We earned this accreditation with Outstanding Achievement by securing all nine optional commendations – quite an accomplishment for our first survey.”

The Commission on Cancer was established by the American College of Surgeons in 1922 and is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients.  Currently, only one in four hospitals in the United States and Puerto Rico has earned CoC accreditation.  Accreditation is granted only to those facilities that commit to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and are willing to undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.    

LIFESTYLE FITNESS HELPS MONTGOMERY COUNTY WOMEN’S CENTER - The members of Lifestyle Fitness Center are donating food and toiletries for the Montgomery County Women’s Center (MCWC) food pantry. “Our clients have been hit particularly hard over the past few months.” said Sarah Raleigh (pictured with food donations from Lifestyle Fitness Center), executive director for MCWC. “Our counselors are noticing that many of our clients and their children are going without food. We have always had emergency food stores for these situations, but our capabilities are really being stretched now.”

Scott Bauer, co-owner of Lifestyle Fitness Center, is also on the board of directors for the Women’s Center. He knew he could help. “At Lifestyle, we think of our members as a family, not clients. I knew if they were aware of this situation, they would help.” Bauer continued “At Christmas their generosity was overwhelming when we collected coats for the women and children at the Shelter; so it was no surprise to me when they gave whole-heartedly to this project!”

The Montgomery County Women's Center serves the victims and survivors of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sexual abuse in Montgomery, Harris, and Liberty counties. To make a donation, or if you have questions, call 281-292-4155. The 24-hour crisis hotline is 936-441-7273.

MCUW KICKS-OFF 2008 PACESETTER CAMPAIGN - The Pacesetter portion of the 2008 Montgomery County United Way (MCUW) campaign recently began with a kick-off breakfast held at The Woodlands Homefinder Center.

Representatives from Pacesetter companies that attended the kick-off breakfast are pictured: Bridgewood Farms, CB&I, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Consolidated Communications, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, Montgomery County United Way, Montgomery County Women’s Center, Montgomery County Youth Services, South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce, Shumate Industries, St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, The Woodlands Development Company, and Winstead, P.C.

For more information about the MCUW campaign and the community services it supports, call 281-292-4155, ext. 227, or visit the MCUW website, www.mcuw.org.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL RELOCATES TO CARLTON WOODS CREEKSIDE - Usually found in Southern Coastal areas, a Roseate Spoonbill was recently spotted in the enclave of Johnathan Landing in the gated community of Carlton Woods Creekside in the Village of Creekside Park. This pink, wading bird was enjoying a pond in Johnathan Landing with an egret friend.