Rotarians are team players. We work within our communities to make the most of challenging situations to address problems. One challenge Rotarians have focused on is the complete eradication of Polio. It killed a U. S. President and kept many young children in the USA indoors during the summer, avoiding water sports. Then came a preventive shot created by Dr. Salk.
Eventually that evolved into an oral dose that could be taken orally. In a matter of a few years, Polio was no longer the dreaded disease it was in the 1940’s. The oral dose of Polio immunization rapidly eliminated Polio in the 1960’s 70’s, and 80’s. Polio was still repent in “third world countries.” Rotary teamed up with the Bill Gates Foundation and worked together spending billions of dollars in working to eradicate Polio. This past year, the Polio epidemic on a world-wide basis appeared to be working with months and months of no disease found. Then Polio raised its ugly head in Afghanistan with several cases in rural villages appearing.
Now, war-torn Gaza has the Polio virus found in its wastewater system. Sleeves are rolled up again to fight this contagious disease and money is being allocated to address these two outbreaks to finally curtail and eradicate Polio. Rotary has pledged to work world-wide disseminating the oral Polio doses all over the world, especially in hard to reach places. Polio will be meeting its match with the additional dollars and manpower coming from Rotary, the Bill Gates Foundation and other to wipe out this disease. It is only a matter of time with time on our side!
However, time is not always on the side of Rotary. The Rotary Club of Conroe and the Daughters of the American Revolution have teamed up to acquire “living history” videos of the remarkable women who have serve in the Armed Forces of our Country. The Rotary Club of Conroe has paired up with the D. A. R. local Chapter to present a total contribution to the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County in the amount of $3,500 to video our women war heroes with such videos available for free online at heritagemuseum.us.
The first to be interviewed will be Marcey Phillips who is the Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4709 on Semands Street in Conroe. She and eight others will be interviewed by Glory White, President of the Heritage Museum for this series of living history documentaries of women in the war zone. Commander Phillips served our Country in the Middle East conflicts. Commander Phillips will be selecting the other women who will be interviewed. This is all possible via a generous donation of the Rotary Club of Conroe and the local Chapter of the D. A. R. which meets monthly at the Heritage Museum. It is collaborations of Rotarians and the Community to leverage activities and money to get things done.
For more information on Rotary, please contact Ron Saikowski at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Conroe Noon Lions are having an action-packed Summer and never let the heat stop us from giving back! Our lunch meeting on Wednesday was full of surprises and opportunities to greet old friends and meet new ones. The program was presented by the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber staff members Pauline Veazey and Steve Scheffler, and Chairperson Jennifer Millington “shook things up” by teaching us Chamber information through a fun and competitive game of Trivia. The Lions like nothing better than a little friendly competition! The winning team had an almost perfect score thanks to wise team member Lion Donnie Buckalew. Lions are life-long-learners and are always anxious to hear about ways to care for our community. We received updates concerning what has been happening and alerts for what’s coming up in the future. We want to Congratulate our ‘Lions of the Month’! A big round of applause for Lions Ed Roth and Michelle Greif; your dedication and hard work does not go unnoticed.
The Blood Drive committee extended a BIG thank you to everyone who donated blood at the Summer Blood Drive on July 24. Because of your generous donations, 85 lives were saved. You truly make a difference!
Hannah Medley and Morgan Freeman showed a fantastic video recap of the first year for the Leo Club. Participating High School students from local schools, including home schoolers, from around the community have had an action-packed year. They performed numerous service projects, having fun together and learning what it means to be a Lion.
Lion Andrew Perry let us know that Service Saturday is this Saturday, August 3rd at Reaves Elementary. NOTE the time change: we will be meeting from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Let’s make an impact in our adopted Elementary School. We will be helping the staff prepare the school for the children to arrive in a few short weeks.
PLUS – speaking of Reaves, we’ll be collecting school supplies to help students prepare for the upcoming school year. If you’re out and about grab some colors, pencils, paper, folders, etc and bring to the club meetings over the next 2-weeks we’ll have a box to collect, and the committee will deliver to the school.
This week’s quote goes hand in hand with “True Grit” that President Bryan keeps mentioning. “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart”. Lions’ willingness to make time for others has always stood out. Where there’s a need there has truly been a Lion. Let’s show our true grit as Lions over the next few months as our schedules fill up.
If you are interested in learning more about the ‘Greatest Lions Club in the World’, contact the Lions club office at 936-760-1666. Visit our webpage https://www.conroenoonlions.org/
By the time you read this, the main entry to the dog park will have been regraded and the concrete pad will have been enlarged considerably, making access and egress much cleaner and neater and less muddy for our furry friends’ (and our) enjoyment. Stop by and check it out.
Meanwhile, we’re in the midst of the political season and I’m reminded of Grandma, once upon a time, describing one particular politician as being an absolute snake in the grass. Though I didn’t understand exactly what that meant at the time, I was pretty sure it wasn’t intended as a compliment. Though she was the most genteel soul ever, she tended to call a spade a spade (I didn’t know what that meant either back then). Yet, compared to some of the superlatives we hear in our political discourse these days, calling someone a snake in the grass sounds pretty tame. Almost cute. That is, of course, unless there really is actually a snake in your grass. And chances are pretty good there’s at least one. Right now.
Seems that the warm weather and ample rain have combined to cause critters without shoulders to procreate with gusto, and their offspring are roaming a bit earlier than usual this year. That means that, if you haven’t already, you’re likely to cross paths with one (or several) in the coming days. According to Google, there are over a hundred species of snakes in these United States, though only nineteen are deemed to be a threat to humans, and even fewer are dangerous enough to possibly be fatal. Problem is, pretty much all the ones that can make life uncomfortable for you (or your pets) are here in Texas. Probably in Montgomery County. Perhaps in Bentwater. Maybe even in your backyard. Grandma just knew stuff. For example, she explained that if I didn’t want to itch from mosquito bites, all I had to do was smack them as soon as they lit on me. And, sure enough, Grandma’s advice worked every time.
That is, if I saw them before they were ready to chow down. Similarly, more of Grandma’s wisdom was that your best defense against snakes is just to see them first. You’re welcome. So, check that wound-up water hose before reaching for it. And before you start wading through the stickers thanks to that slightly errant golf shot, consider exactly what price you might be willing to pay for that $4 ball. You will, after all, be tromping through their backyard, so you should expect that some critters might object. Grandma would suggest a simpler solution. Just keep it in the fairway. Feel free to use my name when sharing these bits of wisdom with your grandkids. As for politics, if Grandma was still around today, she probably wouldn’t be so polite. Just sayin’…
Send Bentwater fun news and social tidbits to Bruce at Bruce@TheLakeConroeGroup.com
This Thursday is the Free Concert Series at Heritage Park, August 8 with the Spicolis, an 80’s music tribute! Join the fun with your Cyndi Lauper neon mini skirt with leggings, with big, bold jewelry, and big hair! Guys get out the track suits or acid washed jeans with a Miami Vice blazer or “Members…
Not all plants are designed to be in a container, much less in a hanging basket. Many times a beautiful plant is brought home, planted it in a hanging basket, and within two weeks it is dying. Choosing the proper plant is critical for success, along with creating a basket that helps meet that plant’s needs.
For proper plant selection, first consider the dimensions of the basket. A shallow basket will not support a tall plant that has deep roots. Accordingly, a plant that spreads out widely will struggle in a basket that is too small in diameter or width. Reading the plant information on its given tag or researching that information on a computer is paramount. If we are to meet the needs of the plant, we must know what those needs are.
Second, think about the amount of moisture the plant will need and how you are going to supply it. The way you choose to water will determine plant selection as well. If a plant requires moderate to moist soil, you will need a way to water it frequently. Plants in baskets tend to dry out much faster than those in the ground; therefore, it’s important to check basket moisture frequently and water only when they need it.
Finally, accommodating the plant with basket construction can help with plant needs. A plant that thrives in a drier environment needs well-draining soil with maybe a little coir lining the basket to retain moisture long enough to give roots a chance to drink. If you have a plant that needs more moisture, you may want to add an oil cloth lining or plastic liner with holes punched in it around the coir for drainage. Using a soil that is not quite as porous, such as a loam-based compost with a small amount of perlite, may also be helpful.
Take time to consider the size of the plant, volume of the basket, soil you will use, and the plant’s moisture needs. In doing so, you may find less stress on the part of the plant as well as on your wallet and emotional state. Healthy, flourishing plants bring a sense of satisfaction and a smile to our faces. We enjoy how they just make our surroundings more beautiful. When you find plants through thoughtful trial and error that thrive in the conditions you provide, TAKE NOTE and rinse and repeat for next year. And remember: some plants are just plain finicky! Take note of those, too, and choose ones that are not so hard to please.
Vegetable gardening in Montgomery County really comes into its own as we move into the fall and winter season. It’s kind of interesting to note that even experienced vegetable gardeners in Montgomery County don’t know what a wonderful time of year fall is, for the vegetable garden. Prolonged periods of mild temperatures ensures the production of high quality produce.
The diversity of plants that perform well in the fall vegetable garden always seems to amaze people. Believe it or not, we begin fall gardening in July with the planting of fall tomatoes. As we move into September the diversity of vegetables being planted grows exponentially.
Green beans top the list of September planted vegetables. I’d suggest going with bush types for fall because of their concentrated set and shortened time to maturity. The quality of green beans in the fall garden is exceptional. The plants grow during the warm temperatures of early fall and the bean pods mature during the milder temperatures of late October and November.
You might even consider planting a few yellow or zucchini squash plants early in September. Select early maturing varieties to ensure production before the first winter freeze.
The cabbage family comprises a large group of vegetables which includes: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, collards, Brussels sprouts and kale. All of these perform beautifully in the fall and winter garden and our mild winters rarely produce enough cold to cause any damage to these extremely cold hardy vegetables. They can be planted with great success from September all the way through January. It’s important to remember that these leafy vegetables are heavy nitrogen feeders, requiring regular light applications of a good nitrogen fertilizer.
Leaf lettuce should be included in all fall and winter gardens. They are very well adapted to our winter climate, take up very little space and produce an abundant harvest throughout the winter season. We’ve tested hundreds of varieties over the years with great success. The main thing to consider when selecting a variety is your personal taste, the type you prefer (bibb or butterhead, romaine, crisphead, oak leaf, loose-leaf) as long as you stick with the leaf types.
Iceberg lettuce does not seem to perform well for most gardeners in the Montgomery County. Lettuce can be planted from transplants or seed. If you decide to try growing lettuce from seeds, it’s important to realize that lettuce seeds need light to germinate so be sure to plant them very close to the surface. I suggest planting the seed on the surface and lightly dusting them with compost or vermiculite. Also don’t get in a big hurry to plant lettuce.
It requires cool temperatures and generally that means waiting until well into October before planting.
Spinach is always worth a try. Sometimes our winter season is too warm which can result in spinach bolting to seed. Spinach like lettuce should not be planted until temperatures really begin to cool off. Warm temperatures can delay germination and even result in death of young seedlings. I usually find it necessary to wait until late October or even early November before putting spinach plants or seed out in the garden. The quality of fresh spinach is wonderful here during the winter gardening season but two weeks of warm weather (over 80 degrees Fahrenheit) can cause the plants to bolt to seed.
Texas is known all over the country for its mild winter onions. We grow short day varieties such as: Grano, Granex, or Texas Supersweet. Many people try growing onions from seed which are generally planted in this area in November. I recommend using transplants, which should be planted in January. Feed stores and garden centers generally carry a good selection of onion transplants in January.
Lastly, is the candy of the winter vegetable garden, edible podded peas. These plants are generally not overly productive but the sweet, high quality fruit are well worth the time and effort it takes to grow them. Edible podded peas are generally planted in late September or October and then again in January and early February. Although hard freezes will generally knock off the flowers and developing pods, the plants are very cold hardy and will come right back into production as soon as the cold snap has passed. Climbing varieties such as Sugar Snap and Super Sugar Snap are great. Don’t be surprised if most of these get eaten right out in the garden.
Don’t forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe TX 77303 or e-mail me at mpotter@ag.tamu.edu.
A new early education and daycare center is coming to Magnolia as the city continues to grow.
The Learning Experience, which was founded in 2002, is a center that offers infant daycare, early childhood education and structured learning. With nearly 400 centers and 250 more in development, the Magnolia location off Hufsmith Conroe Road is expected to feature a building that could be as big as 10,000-square-feet with a playground that could reach 5,000-square-feet.
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David Slavny, the vice president of the organization, attributed the growth in the area as a reason for opening a location in the city of nearly 3,000.
“The Learning Experience also does research into potential areas to see if there is a growing demand for childcare/early education there in order to determine if it would be beneficial to build there,” Slavny said.
While the cost wasn’t made immediately available, the cost of constructing the building is estimated to be $3 million, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The center is expected to employ as many as 30 staff members and certified teachers to serve upwards of 180 children between 6 weeks and 6 years old with daycare and early childhood education, Salvny said.
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The opening of the new center comes after officials project the city could increase by 600 percent in 2039 and have a population of 53,000.
In January, officials launched a survey to help improve the city’s parks and recreational spaces in hopes to bring more summer programs for kids and families. In 2023, officials unveiled a planned $1.2 billion master thoroughfare plan to improve the city’s transportation network, which included roads, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and trails.
A $34 million Lone Star College center is being built in Magnolia as one of the college system’s last projects from its nearly $500 million bond in 2014. Expected to open its doors in 2026, the new center recently broke ground along FM 1486 on June 27.
For more information about the early education and daycare center, visit thelearningexperience.com.
In the midst of downtown Conroe’s revival in recent years, new shops and restaurants have emerged in the district around the Montgomery County Courthouse square.
As the area continues to evolve, summer has brought some shifts to the downtown businesses.
Here’s what to know about downtown retailers that have closed, opened, moved or returned this summer:
BUDGET SEASON: Montgomery County’s preliminary budget is $22 million higher than 2024. Here’s why.
A Game Changer closes
Conroe’s first bar arcade on Metcalf Street A Game Changer has closed this month after opening in November. The closure was confirmed by the building’s owner this week.
A trio of Houston hospitality experts brought the new concept for downtown to the old MoCo Food Hall at 109 Metcalf Street. The food hall was open from August 2022 to July 2023 after a major renovation of the historic building near the north/south train tracks.
A Game Changer offered vintage arcade games and a variety of arcade-style games, dining and “A Bank Job” bar which was a hidden bar that ran the length of the venue.
The last post on A Game Changer Facebook page was June 27 and invited patrons to enjoy downtown Conroe’s Fourth of July fireworks from their second-story balcony.
No new plans for the building have been announced.
Small Town Famous moves
The storefront for the vintage Western wear boutique Small Town Famous at 312 Metcalf Street has closed and owners Farralyn Withrow and her daughters Libby and Katey now have booth No. 77 inside of Conroe Central Market at 225 N Thompson Street still in downtown Conroe.
Katy native Withrow said she has always loved Western wear and vintage finds and Small Town Famous opened in the old State Hotel building in April 2023. The shop helped outfit Montgomery County residents for the Montgomery County Fair, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and more with unique styles.
The shop specializes in pearl-snap shirts, vintage Wranglers, boots, belts, belt buckles, hats, leather purses and jewelry. An online shopping experience is also in the works for Small Town Famous.
Withrow continues to host the weekly Main Street Market on Thompson Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Galavant’s Coffee is back
Galavant’s Coffee stand is back in downtown Conroe. In early 2021, Brad Bailey opened the mobile coffee cart at Main and Metcalf streets.
Bailey had worked at a coffee shop in Houston and a few others locally, but was ready to strike out on his own. The cart kept going through April 2022. After a hiatus, Galavant’s Coffee cart opened again in June at Clover House Antiques, 118 North San Jacinto Street.
“Thanks again for all the love and continued support y’all are the best,” Bailey wrote on the Galavant’s Coffee Facebook page in June. Visit the Facebook page for open days and hours.
Kofe Num Pang out of commission
Kofe Num Pang opened at 330 N. Main in downtown Conroe in June 2023. Prior to that the spot was Vernele’s Bayou Bakery and Café and has been a host of other restaurants over the years.
Kofe is a nod to everyone’s favorite morning jolt. Num pang is a style of Cambodian sandwich. The location is operated by the Cheng family that also owns the Taste the Asian food truck and Dragon Bowl C Noodle Bar in downtown Conroe.
The location is temporarily closed as they continue to make repairs caused by recent rains. No reopening date has been given. Earlier this year, the Cheng family opened a second location of Dragon Bowl C at Hop Scholar and Sabbatical Spirits in Spring.
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Newer arrivals
Paulette Café is a French restaurant in downtown offering breakfast, crêpes, pizzas, pastries at 406 N. Thompson Street. The spot opened in December 2023 on the first floor of the Moreland Professional Building.
On July 1, Erika Prothow’s E.Free’s On Main had its grand opening in the former location of candle and soap shop Almost August across from the Crighton Theatre on Main Street.
After launching her own loose-leaf tea brand, Teavotion, in the Houston area in 2022, in February she had the soft opening for her E.Free’s On Main tea shop in downtown Conroe that carries her Teavotion teas and other tea-related finery.
Additionally the Conroe Collective has become The Collective in Downtown Conroe and has a new owner. The space has even more vendors and coffee is coming soon to the business at 213 N. Thompson Street.
A Willis-based nonprofit community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025 with plans to expand its facilities to provide more affordable housing to future residents, additional classroom space, a community and recreational center and assisted living services.
Mike Painter, president and CEO of New Danville, says the population in the city of Willis has exploded in the past several years.
“And with that comes a population explosion of folks that have (intellectual) disabilities,” he said.
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The Meadowbrook Community, which sits on 42 acre ranch off Shepard Hill Road and is owned by the nonprofit, already houses 36 residents with a waitlist of more than 80, Painter said.
“We suspect the residential portion, even with the huge expansion that we’re doing…the need will start to grow again,” Painter said. “And the good news is that we have the space to do it. And as long as we have the community support for it, I’m all in.”
What is New Danville?
New Danville has served the community since 2005, according to the organization’s website. It serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, with both residential and day programs to maximize personal independence by offering an environment that allows opportunities to learn social and work skills.
Expansion project plans
The expansion project, also refereed to as Vision 2025, is broken up into three phases.
The first phase includes 15 new homes to house an additional 35 residents. By the time construction is finished, the community will be able to hold about 90 residents, Painter said.
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Phase two includes the building of the community and recreational center the will provide social, dining, and fitness areas for residents and clients, according to the organization’s website. Phase three includes assisted living facilities with space for six men and six women to start, the website states.
Plans also include additional classroom space and a country-style, non-denominational church with a social hall that can be rented out for weddings and events.
While the construction for the additional residential homes is expected to take up to 18 months, construction on other facilities is dependent on funding from community members, Painter said.
However, the organization plans to wait until phase one is finished before working on funding efforts for the other phases, he said.
‘The need is out there’
New Danville isn’t the only organization to announce an expansion this year.
In April, the long-standing Montgomery County community Bridgewood Farms, a community for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, announced plans for a new $2.5 million building on the farm that would encompass all the programs and administrative duties of the group.
According to a 2023 report by the nonprofit Providers Alliance for Community Services of Texas, approximately 475,000 Texans have an intellectual or developmental disability.
In Montgomery County, Painter said there’s about 17,000 people with these disabilities.
“The need is out there,” he said. “If we can provide it, I want to be a part of the solution.”
Texas grapes are being harvested mostly through the interior of Texas. Hybrid grapes along the Texas Gulf Coast were harvested in June and the first week in July before Hurricane Beryl came ashore. As the emerging Texas Wine Industry is blossoming, a Texas tradition of Grape Stomps is beginning to emerge at a variety of Texas wineries.
These Grape Stomps are either done in a small, three-foot-diameter plastic tub such as held at Messina Hof Winery or in a six-foot-diameter wood vat as found at Bernhardt Winery, similar to what was in the epic “I Love Lucy” television show. These Grape Stomps are fun, slippery, and produce a lot of purple grape stains on your feet, legs, clothing, and more. I suggest a clean set of clothes to change into after the stomping of the grapes and a towel and possibly WIPES to remove some of those purple grape stains. Those purple stains will eventually wear off in a few days. It does help to go online to find out more details on the Grape Stomp events, including timed stomping contests where the amount of juice from the stomp vat is measured to determine the winner.
Those small juice tubes at the bottom of the vat get plugged so use a wire or pipe cleaner to assure your grape juice bucket get ALL of the juice from the vat in these contests. Most Texas wineries will have commemorative Tee Shirts so you can implant an impression of your “purples piggies” on the back of the Tee. In additional, several Texas Wineries have “Lucy Look-A-Like” contests. Several Texas Wineries also host LIVE Concerts. Of course, wine tastings are available at all Texas Winery Tasting Rooms. This is all fun in celebration of a great Texas Harvest of Texas grapes.Below is a partial listing by date with these Grape Stomps occurring on the weekends when the public can stomp those grapes:
Aug. 3
• Messina Hof Winery in Bryan with “Blessing of the Grapes” on August 2nd• Lost Oak Winery near Burleson 17th Annual Grape Stomping Event from, 6-9pm with Lucy Look Alike Contest• Barons Creek Vineyards near Georgetown• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg • Hye Meadow in Hye • Enoch’s Stomp near Harleton
Aug. 10
• Bernhardt Winery near Plantersville noon to 5pm• Hye Meadow in Hye• Messina Hof Winery in Bryan • Texas Wine Collective near Fredericksburg• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg
Aug. 17
• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Texas Hills Vineyard near Fredericksburg • Messina Hof Winery in Bryan• Pedernales Cellars near Stonewall• Hye Meadow in Hye
Aug. 24
• Texas Hills Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Messina Hof Winery in Bryan • Hye Meadow in Hye• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg
Aug. 31
• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg • Becker Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Texas Hills Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Messina Hof Winery near Fredericksburg
Sept. 12-15
• Grapevine Annual Grapefest
It is imperative that you plan ahead to visit the winery’s website. We are in the middle of hurricane season so weather is always a factor. In most cases, tickets will need to be purchased ahead of the event to help defray the costs of the stomped grapes. Please plan ahead for an enjoyable day of celebrating the Texas Harvest!
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
