Suspect arrested for local sexual assault

Montgomery County Sheriff has arrested a suspect who is allegedly responsible for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl that occurred on January 24, 2011. Daryl Lee Beeson, 49, has been arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child. His bond was set at $400,000.

Suspect

According to authorities, the victim was lured by a white male into a green Honda Civic. Inside the car was religious literature and pamphlets. The victim reported that she was taken to a trailer house off of Rayford Road in South Montgomery County and sexually assaulted. She was then released at a restaurant on I-45 were she reported the incident to police. 

Similar automobile used in crime

Detectives believe there may be additional victims and urge anyone with information about the suspect to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 281 297-6510.

Children's Museum in The Woodlands Texas

Mr David Dunlap, CEO Superior Energy Services

On September 24 2010, a grand opening event was conducted at The Woodlands Children's Museum at their new location in Panther Creek. It was in honor of David Dunlap, President of this non-profit learning museum for children under 6 years old. "This is the first opportunity to show our family learning center to the community. Our admission of $5 is to encourage all children of varying financial resources to experience the museum and learn something here. Membership at $59 is also very reasonable to encourage involvement and support within the community. We came here because we wanted to be in this community for this community and area. Our current location is better than before, because it is more accessible to the residents of The Woodlands. We need additional board members, so if there are some of you who can help us move forward, we would appreciate you volunteering some time to a worthy cause."

Scott Hollingsworth

The theme of this event was "Magic at the Museum". Scott Hollingsworth, a popular Houston area magic entertainer was present to wow visitors with his tricks.¹

Patches

This young man, Patches, has a magic act that is fascinating. It was especially geared to children, but I can tell you it baffled me as well. He had three balls and would switch them around on me. I was never correct which ball(s) was in my hand or his! He is part of the JL & Company Productions. ²

Donna Wick, Angela Colton, Jenny Wright (Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival)

Donna Wick (left) organized the event. To her left is Angela Colton, Executive Director.

Tea please, Mr Hunter!

Claude Hunter, Woodlands Township Director, playing in the children's play kitchen, serving his wife Peggy some play tea.  

Visitors learning what they can do to help and some history of the museum from the President, Mr David Dunlap.

Social interaction was enjoyable by all. Everyone who came was there to help promote this non-profit organization.

As this lady expressed it, "this is a perfect place to bring the grandchildren". We were experiencing the water play area where the children have boots and aprons so they can play with water toys. 

A large aquarium provides an attractive and interesting place for adults and children. 

There are innovative sponsorship projects that can be funded by businesses or private individuals. This stand showed what is available and gives visitors a "market place" to explore funding opportunities.

Museum staff who makes it happen

Donna Wick, Cynthia Martinez (intern with MC Youth Services)

Entrance as viewed from the street

The event was organized by Donna Wick. It was sponsored by Jaspers Gourmet Backyard Cuisine, Exit Realty Group, JL Co Productions, Mr Scott Hollingsworth, Bryan and Deb Stuart of Ultimate Pools, and Vino 100 in Sterling Ridge Shopping Center.   

Since Mervyns closed their doors at The Woodlands Mall and abandoned their space, the Woodlands Children's  Museum has continued to blossom and grow here in The Woodlands. The huge facility of 25,000 sq ft at the mall was premium and costly real estate. It really was not the right place for this educational museum. In July of 2010, the museum moved to the Panther Creek Shopping Center, the previous site of a dance studio and another business. Two business locations were combined and remodeled into this 10,000 sq ft facility.  Although the previous location was 2.5 times the size of this one, you would not know it when you arrive. There is still plenty of room for the activities of visiting children. The museum has a seven year contract with the shopping center owner. It has been working with the local development standards group to get a suitable sign, so their establishment will be easily visible from the parking lot. Until there is an agreement, they will have this temporary sign. 

Did you know this non-profit project started as the museum in 2005 at the mall but started originally from a small group of mothers in The Woodlands?  Today, they have something going on every day. Got a two-year-old? Go! Got a five-year-old? Go!  Check out the calendar from their webpage. <sup>3

1</sup> Scott Hollingsworth Entertainment

² JL & Company Productions - total entertainment portfolio

³ The Woodlands Children's Museum

ONLY IN AMERICA! July 4th in Woodlands needs your help!

The South County 4th of July Committee is seeking volunteers for 2010. The committee is a group of volunteers who organizes the 4th of July Parade in The Woodlands. This year, the committee is seeking 130+ volunteers to produce the 2010 parade, scheduled for July 3rd in The Woodlands Town Center. This year’s theme is ONLY IN AMERICA! Over the years, the event has evolved from a small hometown parade with families riding bikes to a large-scale parade attracting 20,000 – 25,000 spectators from around the region. Last year, the parade had approximately 145 entries and 2,000 to 3,000 participants. The parade route is approximately 1.3 miles and will begin and end at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. The parade starts at 9 a.m. and typically lasts an 1.0 to 1.5 hours.

Why volunteer for this event? The story of the birth of the United States is thrilling and inspiring, full of heroes and their words and deeds. We hope this inspires you as it does us. Volunteering for the 4th of July parade is your opportunity to give back to your community, in arguably the largest family oriented event in The Woodlands area. There are a number of volunteer positions still available. Breakfast and refreshments are provided on the day of the event. The volunteer orientation will be held Wednesday July 1, 7pm at the United Methodist Church. If you have volunteered before and would like a specific location and/or duty, please let the coordinator know.

AREA		Positions	TIME (on July 3rd)
Traffic		Traffic Control - 20	7:00 – 11 am
Staging		Staging - 57	6 am – 10 am
Staging		Emergency vehicle staging - 2	6 am – 9:30 am
	Judges Area	Judges/Judging stand - 2		7:30 am – 11 am
	Judges Area	Judges’ families - 2		7:30 am – 11 am
	Entry Check-in	Pre-Parade Entertainment – 4		7:30 am-10 am
	Parade Marshall	Parade Marshals - 24		7:30 am – 11 am
	Senior Tent	Senior Tent – 2		7:30 am – 11 am
	Hospitality	Dignitaries – VIP Breakfast – 4		6 am – 9:30 am
	Hospitality	Dignitaries Breakfast - Set up		2:30 – 4:30 pm  July 2

Please fill out the volunteer form (this currently has to be printed from this site; make sure  you use the print option in the website or you will get more than one page printed. You can download the .doc file to your computer and fill it out electronically using WORD) and return to Kelly Dietrich at kdietrich@thewoodlandtownship-tx.org. If you’re not available to volunteer, we hope you and your family will join us to watch the parade on July 3rd.

Our children are returning to school

It's that time again in The Woodlands to start school. TISD (Tomball) starts classes on Monday, August 24th 2009, MISD (Magnolia) on Tuesday, August 25th, and CISD (Conroe) on Monday, Aug 24th. There may be a challenge for parents who want to take their children to school by automobile if they must travel on The Woodlands Parkway. There is considerably more congestion now with the construction on the parkway, so give yourself more time and avoid the parkway if you can.

Don't forget to inform the school district of your need for bus transportation. They have to plan their routes based on your input.

For older children, encourage them to join clubs or other extracurricular activities at school. These are supervised and keep children involved in productive activities. For example, there are no less than 49 organizations in The Woodlands High School offering extracurricular activities. Get them involved from the beginning. Don't wait until later. Do it now if you have not already done so. Statistically, involvement is a means to keep them off of drugs, away from the wrong crowds, and challenged to set higher expectations of themselves. Parents, take the tiger by the tail and help them work through the shyness or lack of interest in activities at school. That will save you a lot of pain in the future. Students who are not involved are more apt to partake of drugs, especially alcohol.

As a driver, be careful! There is a new law that may be implemented soon in the districts. If posted for the school zone, cell phones are not allowed to be used and the penalty for breaking this law is stiff. We are all interested in the safety of our children. Please obey the law. A posted 20 miles an hour means a maximum of 20 miles per hour, not 25 or 30. A stop sign means a complete stop and looking both ways before proceeding, not a slower speed while speaking on your cell phone. If you are in a hurry and feel like you cannot obey the law, please do not route yourself through a school zone. Some children will cross the street on a whim at unexpected moments, regardless of age.

No matter the mode of transportation, never allow your student to be alone on the way to or from school. Plan the safest route to walk or bike. Practice the route several times, teaching your child how to safely cross streets and what to do at an intersection. Discuss the importance of walking/biking directly to and from school. If your child is a bus rider, discuss safety issues and bus etiquette.¹

If you are traveling to and from school with your student, make sure to lock all doors at your home before leaving. If your child goes home alone after school, make sure the rules at home are clearly understood, that doors remain locked and are not opened for strangers or guests not approved in advance by parents.

With a small amount of planning now, you and your student can have a pleasant and safer experience for the beginning of the school year and beyond. Have a safe and productive school year!
¹Nelda Luce Blair, Chairman of the Township Board and Chief Bill Harness, Chief of Police, Conroe Independent School District

Family evenings - Summer Nights, Waterway Lights

The first in a series of shows on the waterway kicked off on Friday evening, July 31st on the Woodlands waterway. The series is produced by a partnership between The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Parks & Recreation Department of the Community Associations of The Woodlands. Every Friday and Saturday evening through September 19, 2009, there will be entertainment at Waterway Square from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

This weekend series will feature jugglers, mimes, face painters, stilt walkers, balloonists, magicians, and/or caricaturists with the backdrop of the colorful fountains. On Saturdays, various musicians will provide live entertainment. Mark your calendar to attend one or more of these events. Children and adults will be happy with the venues.

This series will be only one attraction of several on the waterway during the remaining months of the year.

Parking is available at 24 Waterway Parking Garage and the corner lot at Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue for a minimal cost. Waterway Square, located along Lake Robbins Drive between Waterway Avenue and Woodloch Forest Drive, is open seven (7) days a week from 6:00 am to midnight.

The square features a 120-foot long, 10-foot high stone water wall where ribbons of water flow down seven terraced levels to a lower pond with 20 cascade jets. The water wall is flanked by stairs and stepped water cascades, all leading to an upper fountain containing 80 jets and three boomer jets that shoot water up to 75 feet high. The water jets, waterfalls and cascades are designed to create a variety of displays and effects ranging from the subtle flow of water over a stone wall to dancing columns of water, to intense bursts of water shooting several stories into the air. Waterway Square features seven speakers on the upper level and 12 speakers on the lower level. For directions and more information, about the event, visit www.thewoodlandscvb.com and click on Events or call 281-363-2447. Google Map of the square.

Crazy for You - a musical

Were you at the parade on July 4th? Did you see the performers of this play sing and dance. They were great! So much enthusiasm and talent. Are you going this weekend or next weekend to the show? We are! It is at McCullough and starts at 7:30pm except for one show on Sunday (see schedule below). Additional photos of the parade and related article can be found by clicking here.

ALL DANCING!! ALL SINGING!! ALL GERSHWIN!!

Friday, July 17 ~ 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 18 ~ 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 19 ~ 2:30 pm
Friday, July 24 ~ 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 25 ~ 7:30 pm

Tickets: www.classactproductions.org
Nancy Bock Center for the Performing Arts
3800 S. Panther Creek Drive

Class Act Productions is a non-profit performing arts group that provides education, training, and participation in professional-quality musical theatre productions for students in The Woodlands, Texas and surrounding areas. By participating, students learn teamwork and responsibility as well as the technical, performance, and artistic elements of musical theatre.

Lower photos courtesy of DWC Photography

2009 Fireworks in The Woodlands Texas - where to view

It is best to read this before going to the fireworks display unless you arrive very early. It is a popular event here. Many people have their favorite places to go. Here is some advice for those who do not know where to go.

This year will the the 12th annual display. I am lucky to have been at the 2nd but missed the first year. It's a great show for the family! Presented by Woodforest National Bank, the 20-minute show begins at dusk (approximately 9:15 p.m.). For the best views of this year’s fireworks extravaganza, grab a lawn chair or blanket and head to one of these locations: · Waterway Square (one of the locations for the Red, Hot & Blue Festival) · North Side of The Woodlands Waterway · East of Waterway Avenue Bridge · Turning Basin by Town Green Park Parking is available for $5 in the Town Center Parking Garage located on Six Pines Drive, the parking lot at the corner of Lake Robbins and Six Pines Drive, and 24 Waterway Parking Garage located on Lake Robbins Drive. Visitors may park for free at the orange, yellow and green lots along Timberloch Place. Trolleys will operate from 11 am to 8 pm on July 4.

July 11 Wellness Center fundraiser for the Women's Center

The local "Connect 2 Wellness Center" is hosting A Grand Opening fundraiser celebration benefiting the Montgomery Women's Center (MCWC) at the Wellness Center on Saturday, July 11, 9am-5pm. This will feature a live band, moonwalk, snow cones, cotton candy, face painting and more. Cafe Del Mar of Spring will provide Free breakfast and coffee. Anderson has donated a wine dinner as the Grand Prize for one luck winner.

Pictured is Donna Wick, director of Outreach and Communications for the Montgomery County Women's Center, (left) standing with Rodney Anderson, owner of Crescent Moon Wine Bar, and Dr. Amber Smith and Amanda Stephens, of "Connect 2 Health Wellness Center".

For more information about this event: Connect 2 Health (281) 419-8555 or, Connect 2 Wellness Center

The MCWC serves victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and counseling support. All services are free of charge. The 24-Hour Crisis Hotline is (936) 441-7273.

Woodlands Community, promoting organizations in The Woodlands

For pleasure or for cause, we have excellent opportunities for attending events here in The Woodlands. There are a number of hard-working residents in south county helping others right here in our home town, as well as many volunteers helping to deliver a better quality of life for residents and nearby communities. These efforts usually go far beyond the boundaries of The Woodlands, Texas, and sometimes even go unnoticed. Therefore, this blog has been established to bring events and organizations forward to the readers of The Woodlands Commentary. If you have an event or organization that you wish to be available to the public in this area, please send me a draft of what you want to say. This blog will be especially interested in events with a theme to help people in times of trouble or difficulty. The more refined the story is, the more of a chance I will be able to publish it. Individual's efforts are recognized in the "WHO's WHO of The Woodlands" blog. Organizations and causes are recognized here.