Tomball Business & Professional Women 13th Annual”Fall Food Fest” will be h

Last year we were able to give 6 high school Seniors scholarships plus one additional scholarship to Lonestar college and one scholarship to Leadership North Houston. We are hoping that we will even be able to give more this coming year.

This event serves as our organization’s primary fund-raising effort to secure funds for scholarships for high school graduates in Tomball & Magnolia School Districts as well as a scholarship to someone attending Tomball College. Additionally our organization’s fund-raising contributes to numerous community needs.

Local restaurants will be providing samples of their food.
Pizza
Cassaroles
Blackened catfish
Soups
Mexican food
Catfish
Cakes Pies
and More

Adult Plates are $8.00. Seniors 60 and over are $5.00 and children under 10 are $2.50. If you don’t have time to stay To Go Plates are also available.

A raffle, along with a silent auction, is part of our fund-raising efforts for this event. Raffle tickets are presently being sold with the winners of the raffle items announced at the Food Fest. Raffle tickets are $5.00 apiece or 5 for $20. In previous years I have sold 4 winning tickets.  You could be my next winning ticket!

Please come and support our scholarships for High School seniors and others in need.

We appreciate Tomball United Methodist Church on Baker Street allowing us to use their Church for our fundraiser. This is an easy location to get to. If you are coming from 2920 turn north on Baker and you will curve to the church on the left. If you are coming from SH 249 turn to the east on Baker and the Church will be on your right.

For all your Spring/Tomball/Magnolia TX Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

Tomball is celebrating the National Day of prayer by having a prayer event at the historic Tomball depot.  The event will take place Thursday May 5th at 12:00 noon.  They are asking us to meet at the Gazebo by the Tomball depot.

This years theme is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”.

The National Day of Prayer was officially created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President Harry Truman. Since 1952, every president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation. President Barack Obama on Friday April 29th proclaimed May 5th 2011 as the National Day of Prayer, continuing a long tradition in the face of protest. For the complete story here’s an article from the Christian post.

I am planning on being at the Gazebo at noon. I hope you will join me on May 5th in praying for our nation, our military and all these national disasters we are experiencing in our country.

For all your Spring/Tomball TX Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

In the homes built prior to around 1998 you will probably find the conventional septic systems.  After 1998 most of the septic systems are going to be Aerobic septic.  In both Harris and Montgomery Counties I think the only septic that is available is now the aerobic septic.  As these conventional septic tanks get older many of them don’t pass inspections.  When they don’t pass inspections the remedy usually ends up being with the owner having to put in a new aerobic septic.  You are probably looking at a cost of $6000 to $8000 depending on how big of a system that you get. This is something that is regulated by the state and counties so you will need to get your permits.

The Aerobic septic acts like a small scale sewage treatment system.  It is similar to a tank system but produces a high quality secondary effluent which is sterilized and then used for surface irrigation.  This means that at someplace on your property there will be a sprinkler system that will go off at night watering the yard so to speak with the discharge.  You will want to mark the sprinkler head so you don’t run over it with the mower.  Should you have any problem with the sprinkler heads you can find replacement parts at your local hardware store.

You MUST have a maintenance contract with an aerobic septic system company.  This is a requirement and if you don’t chances are the county will find out and ask you to see them in court.

There’s not a lot of maintenance involved but you will have to put chlorine tablets in (believe me you will know if you forget to put them in).  These are not the same tables as you use for a pool.  Typically you can put in two tablets at a time and then check every 2 weeks to see if it needs more.

Basically the difference between the aerobic system and the old tank system is that the fluids are moved to the end of the line and then they are disbursed onto your lawn by a sprinkler system.  I know that sounds gross but it does not smell and you will probably find that to be the greenest part of your yard.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring TX, Magnolia TX or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Magnolia-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Sunday, April 10th from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at 30331 Winfro Drive, Tomball, Texas 77375.

Proceeds from this event will help to provide scholarships to local youth, and, new this year, one scholarship will be given to a woman in our community in need of continuing education.

Ticket cost is $35.00.  Along with the benefit of the proceeds going to help local scholarships the event itself will be a showcase of current fashions from  local Tomball retailers.  These retailers  include; Dahlia’s Boutique, Foxworthy’s, Mas Boutique, Branded Western Wear, and GiGi’s Baby Boutiques.

Entertainment will be provided by the Texas Repratory Theatre Company; and an  intermission show provided by Cindy Jeager Designs, featuring “How to tie a proper bow”.

Lunch and desserts will be provided by The Whistle Stop Tea Room and The Market Street Bakery, and the complimentary Mimosa fountain can’t be missed.

In addition to everything mentioned, there will also be a Chinese and Live Auction and a Kentucky Derby Style Hat Contest, and all guests will leave with their own bag of Party Favors.

If you would like to buy a ticket or get more information give me a call at 832-721-8332.

If necessary there will be a make-up date due to weather on April 17, 2011.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring TX, Magnolia TX or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Magnolia-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Tomball economic development corporation is a type B sales tax organization; which means it is funded by sales tax revenue and that is its only funding.  Betty told us for the last 6 months the sales tax revenue has been up which means the economy of Tomball is doing quite well.  This is good news as in 2008 & 2009 the sales tax was down about 4 to 7%. In the last 6 months it has been up 10 to 12% over the previous year.  Economic outlook is extremely good from sales tax and the interest in Tomball.  Since January the economic development corporation already has 5 new projects.

One of the projects is water, gas and sewer to Brown road all the way down to Spring Creek Estates. EDC cannot spend money on utility extensions for residential so from there it is city.  It opens up about 100 acres in 5 different parcels.  This will be a boom for commercial construction on Brown road. A prime example is Paloma Energy Consultants LP whom are relocating their corporate headquarter to 14405 Brown Road within the City of Tomball.  They will be relocating 58 employees and are looking to add additional employees.  This is the type of project that is perfect for Tomball.

There’s still a lot of land in the City of Tomball that does not have utilities.  The Tomball EDC is looking for those projects that will open a lot of tracts. They are not going to put utilities in to help a developer sell his one development but they will do it for 5 to 10 developments.

Another project of the EDC is the Tomball Market Center (which most people call the Academy Center).  The Tomball market center started in 2007 but then the downturn happened and up until the present it has just been Academy Sports.  Hopefully that is soon to change as Betty said a big anchor store has signed their lease and have their plans in to review with the Tomball city council.  If that should happen then leases than have been pending such as Ross & Best Buy would happen as they have just been waiting for a big anchor store.  Community Bank of Texas is also going in to Tomball market place

Betty told us that during the downturn of the last few years a number of the companies that she has been working with have had to lay people off but now they are re-hiring which is a promising sign.

Several Tomball companies are expanding right now.  To name a few are Walker Shaw Pierce Industries on Hicks Street , Theo Technologies on South Cherry Street & Hole specialist on Commercial Park Dr. Hole Specialists Inc., plans to expand its facility by 25,000 square feet and add between 15 and 25 new jobs. Persimmon Business park just added a 10,000 square foot building.  Jameson products took an existing building remodeled it and doubled their size. Chestnut business park will have 8 building in it; office/warehouse space.  Glass Tech Enterprises getting ready to start construction.

Toro Downhole tools has begun construction of a 25,000 square foot corporate headquarters and tool service facility on the northeast corner of FM 2920 and Buescher Road, just west of Tomball.  Fabcorp Incorporated is relocating to a facility on Red Fox lane.  This will bring 52 employees with fabrication and machine operation.  Even though these two companies are not located within the City limits of Tomball they are still important as their employees will be living, working, shopping and eating in Tomball.

Tomball is also slated to get a Veterans clinic.  At the moment they have three sites in Tomball they are looking at.  They expect to have 65,000 patient visits annually.  That is 65,000 people coming to Tomball and while there many will spend money.  On top of that it is GREAT for the veterans to have this accessibility.

America’s Best Value Inn (38 rooms) is about ready to open.   They are located at the corner of FM 2920 and Park Road on one acre of land.

Another exciting project is the expansion of Medical Complex drive; they are in the process of buying right away and easements.  It will start on east side of 2920 and come around to the west side of 2920.

The last thing Betty talked about was the Economic Development Corporations grant program. EDC will pay up to 50% on business improvements with their grant program.  There are 4 categories of funding; facade improvements, signage (must be major signage), property improvements (such as demolition of buildings) and landscaping. You can go to the website and look under business improvement grants.  From there you can apply online and submit your request.  They added the additional landscaping category as a person who needed help with landscaping and driveways would have to decide which one was more important.  This way they can apply for two grants.  The grants are up to $10,000 with a maximum of 30,000 a year.  A committee goes through all the applications and approve/disapprove.

As an interesting aside the census report from 2000 showed that high growth areas were 10 miles from Tomball. In this last 2010 census the high growth was 5 miles from Tomball.  Who knows what the next 10 years will bring!  Tomball the hometown with a heart has a bright future ahead!

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring TX, Magnolia TX or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Magnolia-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.

My husband has been with a major airline for almost 25 years and two times in his employment we have had to take 10% pay cuts.  It was not easy but the alternative was to be without a job.  Unless something is done quickly according to Dr. Cain they are going to have to be sending out pink slip notices in April and this story is going to be repeated statewide.  I’m hoping that a bill is making its way through the Texas House to address this as I write this.  I can’t imagine that our Texas teachers would mind taking a small cut if it meant there would not be layoffs.   The rest of us are having to buckle our belts and I can’t imagine that they would not like that opportunity also. The other thing that could be done is some of the teacher work days could be furloughed without pay and that according to Dr. Cain would have a huge impact on their bottom line.

The other thing that I found out at this meeting was the law that the state of Texas has on the books only allowing a 22 child class size in grades kindergarten through the 4^th grade.  He told us that if a certain grade was full at 22 students per class and a new student entered that put that total over 22 per class  they immediately had to hire a new teacher and make a new class.  That is NUTS!!  When my children were small we lived in another state where the schools were very liberal and so I had my children in private Christian schools and I’m telling you the private school class size was huge.  I think there was something like 35 in each class but they did have a teacher and an aide.  Our children got an incredible education from that school.

We moved here when our children were in the 5^th grade and 9^th grade and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Klein ISD was still teaching reading, writing & arithmetic.  My children got a great education from Klein ISD.  My daughter ended up getting a degree in Communication Design at UNT and our son is now a sophomore at Texas A&M in Ocean Engineering.  He took the longer route as he was an Intelligence Analyst in the Army for almost 5 years.  The reason he joined the Army was because he scored so high on their entrance exam.

Like I said I hope a bill is already in the works as the public schools have to make key decisions in April and pink slips will be going out.  I am writing this as I want to see other people’s children have those same options that were available to my children and from what I can see something needs to happen quick or that is going to be in jeopardy.

I’m a real estate broker serving the  districts of Klein ISD, Spring ISD,  Tomball ISD, Magnolia ISD, Montgomery ISD and Cypress ISD.  All of these districts have done nothing but grow in the last few years.  Even though times are hard we are still in a big growth stage.  The boys and girls of Texas are the future and we need to protect our future.

Please consider writing your local Texas legislatures right away about this problem.  You can find ways to contact them at texas legislatures online.  Representative Rob Eissler is the public education chair.  I found that I could not email him through the website as I am not in his constituency but I called his office at 512-463-0797 and they were happy to give me his email address.  I don’t think I should put that address on the web but if you want to contact his office you can either call that number or email me and I will be glad to personally give it to you.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring TX, Magnolia TX or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Magnolia-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Found cow in Tomball TX!

I was driving in to Tomball today and passed a sign that said “Found Cow”. Considering there’s a whole pasture of cows next door I’m not sure how you tell one from another but someone has lost a cow.

I absolutely love Tomball and where else would you find someone advertising that they had found a cow. The nickname for Tomball is the hometown with a heart and it truly is. The people are incredibly friendly and quite honest as you can tell from the found Cow sign.If you have lost a  cow in Tomball you can  locate your cow off of Hufsmith road not too far from FM 2978.

Found cow in Tomball TX

All kidding aside this is one of the reasons that you might want to consider living in a subdivision even if you live in the City of Tomball. Tomball has light restrictions which do allow cows to live in the city.

I have written several post that relates to this subject of deed restriction and Home owner’s associations.  For additional information please visit them at:

• Why you deed restrictions in Harris and Montgomery County
• Why you need to live in an HOA!
• The Vegetable Patch; no deed restrictions in Spring TX!
• Municipal Utility Districts in Harris & Montgomery Counties
• Why buy in a Homeowner’s Association if you live in Northwest Harris & Montgomery Counties

Hopefully that cow has found her home!

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If you are buying or relocating to  Tomball Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®,  Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Tomball please visit my websites at http://agentwithresults.com and at http://www.resultsrealtytx.com/.

Want to find out about new Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS

Leadership North Houston workshop February 25, 2011

Leadership North Houston Alumni present
A Leadership Workshop and Luncheon

Leadership starts with you – Guest speaker Germaine Porche

Friday February 25, 2011
Taking place at – Lone Star College System
5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands TX

Register online at:
www.LeadershipNorthHoustonAlumni.org

This workshop is being offered by the Leadership North Houston alumni and is available to the entire Northwest Harris and Montgomery County communities. The workshop is designed to expand and deepen leadership skills in almost any role you play whether it be work, home or a volunteer capacity.

According to a recent survey by Towns Perrin only 21% of the workforce is fully engaged with 38% being disengaged.  (It sounds like that 20/80 theory is still alive and well).

During tough economic times, most of us are stretched and long to have others step up without having to beg and nag them. During this interactive session you will gain the tools and insights to help you examine and enhance your leadership capabilities.

Learning objectives for the workshop are .

• Determine your leadership style through self assessment
• Gain tools to expand & deepen leadership skills in you and others
• Enhance communication and listening skills to engage others.

Cost:
$79 Workshop and Luncheon
$35 Luncheon with Keynote address -

Leadership:The art of engagement

Please note that if you cannot attend the morning session you can still attend the luncheon and hear Germaine Porche speaking on the art of Engagement.

• 8:00- 8:30 A.M.      Check in and Breakfast
• 8:30-11:30 A.M.      Workshop
• 11:30-12:00 A.M.    Networking
• 12:00-1:00 P.M.       Luncheon with Keynote address
  

Sponsorship:
Become a $500 workshop sponsor and receive the following:

• Recognition in the event
• Marketing table at the luncheon
• Recognition in the LNH Alumni newsletter

Register online at:
www.LeadershipNorthHoustonAlumni.org

Crape Myrtle murder has started early in Spring-Tomball-Magnolia TX this year.  I have been driving around watching the landscapers out pruning for the last few weeks.  The sad thing is that there’s absolutely no reason to scalp murder a tree the way they do.  I expect many of you have heard the story of Grandma’s roast.  It seems Grandma cut the end of the roast off, so Mom cut the end of her roast off and so on.  Finally someone got around to asking Grandma why she cut the roast off and her answer was so it could fit in the pan.  To me that’s  a good analogy of the crape myrtle murder that goes on in our area.  From everything I have read and actual experience I cannot see that it does any good to the Crape Myrtle tree.

I made the small video above showing exactly what I’m talking about.  We are having subnormal cold weather right now and I also hope these trees don’t go into shock.

There are a lot of different ideas on how to take care of the crape myrtles.  You see varying degrees of pruning to not pruning at all.  I did quite a bit of research and the general consensus was that they should be lightly pruned.  Over pruning reduces the number of blooms.  I also read where there is a mistaken belief that lopping off the tops of all the branches is necessary to promote flowering.  This is what is called Crape murder.

Flowering on a crape myrtle occurs on the new branches that are produced in the spring; so light pruning in late winter encourages the production of flowering branches.  One of the articles said that if the trees are tipped back lightly after the first flush of bloom, some trees are likely to bloom a second time.  Cutting the trees back heavily can shock them and slow down the growth of flowering branches.  If you don’t prune at all this article said the flower clusters that emerge in the summer will be smaller but more prolific.

From everything I have read over pruning where people chop the crape myrtle back to the knuckle each and every year reduces the number of blooms that will be produced during the summer and the new branches that do grow will be far too long and will not be able to support the weight of heavy blossoms; especially when they get wet.  Thus these long branches often break off during heavy rains and our area is known for those heavy rains.

As I was posting my video I found the video below and he gives some excellent advice on how to take care of your crape myrtles.

Not being originally from this area dealing with crape myrtles has been a new and learning experience for us.  When we first moved here we lopped off those branches every year and then wondered if we had bought dwarf crape myrtle.  The last few years we tried the method that I have described here and not even pruning at all.  You can see from my picture below that we have had a wonderful success not pruning. The picture was taken at dusk as it just set the flowers off.

Crape Myrtle at dusk that was not pruned!

Cold Facts to save your Spring-Tomball-Magnolia TX foliage!

Last year the Houston Chronicle had a great article about plant survival in freezing temperatures. Since it is almost February I was thinking I was going to get away without having to post about this but it is not to be; we are looking to have several days of frigid temperatures starting tomorrow (lows in the low to mid 20′s). Here in Houston we rarely have frigid temperatures and for sure not several days in a row. I love all the tropical plants that I’m able to grow in Spring and by using what they said I saved my plants last year and plan to again this year.  This year I also have a winter garden going and I sure don’t want to lose my lettuce.

After reading the article I realized that I’ve not been going at this correctly. What you want to do is mulch, water and cover. If it has not rained you need to water first which I had to do last year but this year we have had rain. Water and mulch should be enough for certain plants. Those plants would be abelia, azalea, boxwood, eleagnus, Hawthorne, holly, ligustrum, loropetalum, mahonia, nandina, roses, wax myrtle and yaupon. After an extended freeze these shrubs will probably show foliage damage without cover but should put on new leaves in the spring.

We went the extra step covering plants with fiber row covers, sheets & blankets. This will raise the temperature a few degrees depending on the cover. For even extra protection we added a layer of heavy plastic over the cloth covers and secured it with bricks and stones. The article said not to place plastic directly on the plants. (This is where I have been going astray). My plants are again double wrapped and I feel that again I will have healthy plants after the cold snap. Of course we have moved our potted plants inside.

Protecting your plants from cold weather in Spring TX!!

Do not wash frost or ice off the plants the morning after the freeze. If you wash the frost off it raises the temperature too fast and can damage the plant’s cell tissue. After the frigid temperatures are over  assess the damage but DO NOT prune. The freeze damaged wood will protect live wood farther down the branch (should we have more frigid temperatures).

In the spring prune to green at your normal pruning time. I have always heard mid February for pruning.

I hope this is it for our frigid weather. We have lived here 14 years and I don’t ever remember covering plants this late in the season. I remember a radio commentator years ago saying we have two seasons in Houston summer and January. It looks like winter is going in to February for us this year. Hopefully this will be the last time to cover the plants.