Blog entries - October 2009

Conroe ISD Rowing Team Takes Home Victories

Greg Rivera — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Team spirit and hard work are the ties that bind The Rowing Club of The Woodlands Juniors team and lead to success. The team is made up of juniors from two different high schools from The Woodlands - The Woodlands High School and The Woodlands College Park High School. Their hard work and determination has started the rowing season in victory as they lead one of the best seasons in the history of the program.

“This is a very united team,” said Mariana Bandera from Woodlands High School, “We are a family.” This attitude and determination is strengthened by year long training, weekend trips to regattas and two seasons of competitions that bring them together as a team as they learn to work hard and encourage each other to their best work.

The rowers this year may be smaller in general, but their motivation is high and is strengthened by the multiple medals they’ve brought home. On October 17, 2009 the group won eight gold medals at their hometown Regatta “Slay the Dragon,” and the week prior they had won two gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals.

This year Leonard Anderson, RCTWJ coach, leads 26 students, and while their team is pretty full, he is always willing to coach more. “If we have 40 sign up, we’ll find some way to get them rowing,” he said. Now in his ninth year of coaching his attitude shows his spirit and commitment to the team, a reflection of the students’ commitment and hard work as well.

Anderson shares of rowing, “The sport is one of the most technical. It also gives a full body workout and requires a heavy time commitment.” Several former junior rowers have gone to college on rowing scholarships and the hard work may pay off for current rowers as many are aspiring to the same goal.

If you’d like more information or if you’re a high school student interested in signing up for the 2010 team, please visit www.woodlandsjrcrew.com

Source: www.hcnonline.com/conroe_courier

Conroe Montgomery County News

Greg Rivera — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The MCFA, Montgomery County Fair Association, has been awarding scholarships to high school students from Montgomery County for 16 years, contributing approximately $100,000 in award money to students each year.

This year's MCFA Scholarship Fundraiser has a new flavor - An Evening of Wine Tastings and Food Pairings - which will be held to raise money to fund future students. Charlie Owens, co-chair of the event, has a desire to see the MCFA grow, and has a taste for good food and wine. This year he asked, "Well, how about pairing the two?"

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be used for MCFA Scholarships in the coming year. Tickets are $75 each, and for those wishing to contribute larger amounts Sponsorships are available in amounts/levels of $500, Malbec; $1,000, Chardonnay; $2,500, Merlot; $5,000, Cabernet; $10,000, Champagne; and $25,000 Vintner. The event will be held at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center (2301 N. Millbend Drive) from 6:30-9:30pm. For those purchasing Sponsorships, an additional reception will be from 5:30-6:30pm.

"There hasn't been a more important time to raise money for scholarships," Owens said, "because more families are struggling to send their children to school."

For more information on how you can contribute or get information on scholarships for your family, please call the MCFA office at (936)760-3631 or visit www.mcfa.org.

Source: www.hcnonline.com/conroe__courier

Conroe Residents Cross Paths with the Local Law Enforcers

Greg Rivera — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Conroe residents came together to take part in the 26th Annual 'National Night Out' - an educational program, hosted by local law enforcement, that encourages people to meet their neighbors and work together to make the community safer. It allows neighbors and community residents a chance to get to know each other and work together to fight crime and prevent drug abuse. This year's event was held at Candy Cane Park in Conroe, TX.

This year's event was held at Candy Cane Park in Conroe, TX. Residents were able to meet with their neighbors, get to know their law enforcement and get a closer look at fire trucks, police cars, and other emergency response equipment. Firefighters, local police and other emergency response groups were available throughout the evening to answer questions, meet residents, and get the community informed. They even offered kids a first hand experience on the seat of their new motorcycles.

Sargeant Jon Buckholtz of the Conroe Police Department was enthusiastic, "It's a great opportunity for families and kids to meet and interact with law enforcement personnel in a fun, social environment." The event was not only informative, it was also fun for the family with recreational activities, free food and free toys for the kids from Target, one of the main sponsors of the event.

For more information on National Night Out, visit www.nationalnightout.org

Source www.hcnonline.com/conroe_courier

CISD Help Local Students through the Weekend.

Greg Rivera — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Conroe Independent School District Schools rallied together to help their fellow students by raising donations for the Montgomery County Food Bank and the Backpack Club.

The Backpack Club is a nation wide program that identifies the hungriest children in schools by faculty and staff referral. Then, the hungriest of the hungry are identified and are signed up for the program. As Doris Goleman, Director of the MCFB put it, “These children are coming to school famished. They’re starving because they haven’t eaten all weekend and that doesn’t help their learning.”

The program provides seven meals each weekend for selected children throughout the academic year. This is to ensure that children who would normally go without any food are able to eat dinner from Friday, as well as each meal through the weekend, to dinner on Sunday.

Over the last five to six years CISD teachers brought food to donate during their week of inservice before school starts, and in five years collected 60,000 pounds of food. This year however they were able to do even more, as it was determined that a $1 donation can purchase 11 pounds of food, not to mention monetary contributions are more convenient.

To kick off the school year all of CISD schools participated in a program deemed “Change for Change” and encouraged kids to donate any loose change they had to make a positive change in the lives of hungry children – their fellow classmates. The total donations came to around $20,000 for this one week of effort.

There are currently 203 students in the Backpack Club, with 75 more students scheduled to join. The Food Bank is hoping to extend the program to all of the CISD Elementary schools, and the more donations and food available the more they can reach out and feed not just the hungriest of the hungry, but the hungry children as well.

If you would like to take part in this outreach the Montgomery County Food Bank is always accepting monetary or food donations. You can contact Director Doris Goleman at mcfb@consolidated.net or call the MCFB at 936-539-6686.

Linda Watson Art Gallery Supports Local Artists

Greg Rivera — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Local artists in Conroe have a new place to display their artwork! In honoring a well-known art teacher and friend from Montgomery County, Joe and Jean Fleshner have opened the Linda Watson Art Gallery. Located at 204 N. Main St in Conroe, the gallery will feature local artists' works. Their mission is to make the art gallery a place for the community's "many talented artists ... to show, sell and teach," according to Joe Fleshner.

"Any artist can show here, any school group can show here," Fleshner said. "There are a lot of good artists around here."

The new gallery will give an open feel, and less cluttered than Fleshner's previous gallery 10 years ago. "We'll keep this almost museum-like," he said. "I don’t want a lot of clutter."

A room in the back even offers space for teaching. It will highlight a variety of work ranging from sculptures, to landscapes, still life, fabric art and more.

Currently the gallery is award winning works from the Conroe Art League's recent show. More artists are encouraged to bring their works here, as there is no charge. "We charge no space and we take no commission," Fleshner said. "This is not a money-making proposition for me."

Fleshner plans on setting up special events to create buzz for the art gallery. Currently it is open from 11 am to 7 pm on Monday through Friday, and plans to open it from 7 am to noon on Saturdays soon.

"We'll be open Saturday mornings for special events 52 weeks a year," he said. "If we're successful, we'll have 200 to 300 people here on Saturday mornings."

Although the Linda Watson Art Gallery is open now, an opening gala is planned for 5 pm on October 30th, along with the Bella Sorella performance at Crighton Theatre. Art will be on display for visitors along with food and wine. Admission is free, as will all events be, according to Fleshner.

"We don’t charge admission," Fleshner said, "but we do encourage checkbooks."

Source: The Courier of Montgomery County