Everything Spring August Newsletter

Putting Everything Spring at Your Fingertips!

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE: Back to School Tip of the Month Mommy & Me Photo Contest Virtual School Showcase FitTip Back to School It’s back to school time! Back to school activities begin this week. Please check the community calendar do find your schools events. Tax Free Weekend is August 15 -17. The 1st day of school is August 25, 2008! ExploreSpring.com’s Tip of the Month Ten Tips to Avoid Luggage Surcharges. With most major airlines now charging $25 each way to check a second bag (and some starting to charge for checking even one), it makes sense to rethink your packing routine so that you won’t bust your travel budget before you get to your destination. Read More…..   $35 Visa Gift Card Proud Sponsor of Press Release The ExploreSpring.com and Houston Work at Home Mom’s Mommy & Me Photo Contest ends on August 31, 2008. So upload your favorite photo of you and your child for a chance to win a $35 Visa Gift Card and other valuable prizes from ExploreSpirng.com. If you don’t have children, then logon an VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE TODAY! Houston Work at Home Mom’s is the proud sponsor of our August Mommy & Me Photo Contest. HoustonWAHMs is a networking organization for those who are currently or striving to maintain either a full or part time work-at-home business. If you would like to Sponsor a photo contest and be featured here e-mail info@explorespring.comfor more information. Community Invited to Spring ISD Virtual School Showcase Aug. 16    ”Business and community members are invited to experience the V-Zone at the Spring ISD Virtual School Showcase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, 900 Wunsche Loop. “  Read More….

FitTip  Interval Train to maximize your workout! Do a few strength exercises followed by a quick burst of cardio to keep your heart rate elevated. You will burn extra calories throughout your workout and continue to burn extra calories for several hours. Brought to you by OnceUponAWorkout.com.

 

	Congratulations to dancingbarefoot3 New Member Contest Winner!
Your photo could be featured in our newletter and in our photo gallery. Enter our monthly photo contest for a chance to win! Visit Photo_Contest by last day of the month and submit your winning entry!	Photo Contest Winner michi7
All winners please email info@explorespring.comor explorespring@yahoo.comto receive your prizes!

FEATURED BUSINESS OF THE MONTH Carol  Baker Kan-do Travel Services

FEATURED JOB LISTING Agents Wanted - AFLAC

Share your news on ExploreSpring.com. Annouce your accomplishments or special events in our articles section where you can annouce births, engagements, weddings, and more. Items for inclusion in next month’s edition need to be e-mailed to me at info@explorespring.com by no later than 23rd of the month. Please also use this opportunity to promote events that may be of interest to other members. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Here’s your up-to-date news from Everything Spring! EditorEmail us your annoucement and photos today or submit online here. Check out our online store. Post your garage sale on line FREE. Post your community events on our community calendar FREE. Post job annoucements FREE Make sure your business in listed in our business directory FREE or enhance your listing for as little as $3.97 per month. Stay in touch with community happenings and submit your church, business, and community events to our calendar! Help us spread the word about ExploreSpring.com. Send this newsletter to all your friends! ExploresSpring.com Putting Everything Spring at Your Fingertips! 1010 Spring-Cypress Rd #133 Spring, Texas 77373 (832) 579-8570

Did someone forward you this message? Opt in to receive ExploreSpring.com newsletter. This email was sent to you because you subscribed ExploreSpring.com newsletter. If you would like to unsubscribe, click here.

ExploreSpring.com Spring Texas’ Online Community And Pets Are Inn North Houston Announce The Winner Of July’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest

Skye Chosen as Spring TX Cutest Pet in ExploreSpring.com Monthly Photo Contest.

Spring, TX  August 08, 2008 - ExploreSpring.com and Pets Are Inn North Houston announces the

Skye, ExploreSpring.com July 2008 Cutest Pet Photo Contest Winner

winner in its month-long Spring TX Cutest Pet Photo Contest. The event attracted 7 entrants, each of which had the chance to be voted on by the general public. Pictures were entered and displayed online at the ExploreSpring.com website throughout the month of July. Votes were cast online, by registered users of ExploreSpring.com.

In the end, the picture that garnered the most votes was recorded as the winner. Earning top billing for July 2008 was “Skye,” owned by Michelina Fedele. As Spring’s Cutestet Pet contest winner, Skye won a 2 day stay with Pets Are Inn and an ExploreSpring.com Personalized Dog Bowl, and for her owner, a personalized ExploreSpring.com T-shirt with a picture of the winning photo on it.

Spring’s August photo contest is already underway with our Mommy & Me Photo Contest co-Sponsored by Houston Work-At-Home Moms honoring the relationship between a mother and her child(ren). Mom’s and children of all ages are eligible for entry and a chance to win a $35 Visa Gift Card. To enter please visit www.explorespring.com/pages/Photo_Contest.com and upload your picture today!

ExploreSpring.com is currently seeking sponsors immediately for 2008, and welcome businesses of all sizes to participate. For more information please email Elle at info ( @ ) explorespring dot com or call (281) 912-1107.

About Pets Are Inn North Houston
Pets Are Inn is a unique pet lodging alternative for those who may feel uncomfortable leaving their furry family member at a kennel or with friends or relatives. The staff at Pets Are Inn screens private homes to care for your pet as in a way their accustomed to. They also provide convenient round-trip pickup and delivery of your pet. The company Web site is located at http://www.petsareinn.com.

About ExploreSpring.com
Explore Spring Texas is a locally owned and operated online city guide and business directory for Spring TX. Here you can find all kinds of services - from restaurants and automobiles to shopping and home services. A online community guide and business directory for Spring Klein TX, providing local news, real estate, jobs, advertising, calendar, events and more.ExploreSpring.com provides a central online location 24 hours a day to find information relevant to the Spring TX Community. The web site is located at http://www.explorespring.com.

Why Sign the Spring-Klein Cityhood Petition?

A lot of us are unaware of what risks we face by not being an officially incorporated city. Some of us new to the area, may even assume that we are incorporated because Spring has multiple Zip Codes, Multiple Post Offices, and at first glance all the earmarks of a city. But….if you look up Spring, Texas or Spring, TX on YAHOO or Google Search Engines, what you will find is mostly business listings and links to Old Town Spring. However, one item did stand out in particular, the listing on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it defines Spring Texas as “a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston in northern Harris County, Texas and southern Montgomery County, Texas.” So what is a Census-Designated Place you ask? Again, Wikipedia explans that “A census-designated place (CDP) is a type of place (a concentration of population) identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages. CDPs are communities that lack separate municipal government, but which otherwise physically resemble incorporated places. CDPs are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. The boundaries of a CDP have no legal status.” Therefore according to the government and its definition of our beloved home and community it is only recognized for census purposes and falls under the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston and has no legal protection of a government to exercise authority within its boundaries.

The 2000 Census cites the population of Spring Texas CDP as 36,385 people and 3,400,578 people for Harris County. According to Census projections, the 2006 population of Harris County was 3,886,207 people. According to a recent speech by Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hickman, Spring TX makes up 54% of all growth in Harris county. So you figure if in 2000 Spring had 36,385 people and we make up 54% of the estimated growth in Harris County, then Spring has grown 720%!!!!!, THAT WOULD MAKE US THE LARGEST GROWING CITY IN TEXAS AND THE 8TH LARGEST CITY, behind Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, and Arlington respectively. That’s larger than Tallahassee, FL or Tacoma, WA and comparable to cities like Arlington, VA or Birmingham, AL.

So back to my original question, Why sign the petition?

1. Because we are unicorporated and have no control over what types of businesses go where. I remember just over 3 years ago a tar factory intended to build next to Northgate Crossing and right behind Old Town Spring. And while they followed the letter of the law in posting notifications, they undermined the spirit of the law by posting notifications in the Southern half of Harris County and smaller print newspapers. It wasn’t until Rep. Riddle held a town hall meeting that residents of Spring became aware of this and protested, and was able to shame the company into changing its plans. We need our own zoning committee!
2. Because we could we are growing faster than any other city in Texas and need to protect our schools and our children. 
3. Because we run the risk of slowly being chopped off in bits and pieces as our extraterritorial jurisdictor sees fit. I don’t know this for a fact, it was told to me that the FM 1960 area West of I-45 was once a Spring zip code, which would explain why we are often clumped in with that area as North or Northwest Houston and as you can see it now has a Houston Zip Code.
4. So we can have our community services, police department, water department, community center, hospitals, and fire departments. I know we have some of these services in place, but we are subject to other taxes that do not pour directly into our community, but are dispursed throughout the county.
5. So we can have some say over our property and sales tax.
6. JUST SO WE CAN HAVE A VOICE!

I don’t know about you, but I am getting tired of being considered a no mans land. Its like we don’t exist. We are home to the only Amusement Park in the Houston Metropolitan Area, have a historical landmark in Old Town Spring, libraries, museums, and excellent schools. We need to keep Spring a beautiful and wonderful residential community. But if we don’t stand up and speak out, we will soon lose our voice because we risk becoming a small part of a much bigger city. Now I don’t know if that is on the table at the moment or not. But Kingwood probably wasn’t expecting it when it hit them either. Let’s be proactive!. Let’s make our position known. We are Spring-Klein Texas and we want to control our future! So please sign the petition, pass the word and if you’d like to host a copy on your site. Post a comment here and I’ll be more than happy to send it to you.

Spring Klein Petition

Enter your name:

Display as “Anonymous”

Click here to read this petition.

Newest 10 of 10 signatures

10	bertha brantley	6/30
9	Samantha Weesner	6/25
8	Karen Krieger	6/23
7	Paul Proske	6/23
6	Anonymous	6/21
5	Anonymous	6/20
4	Staci Polonski	6/19
3	Anonymous	6/19
2	Clark Blair	6/19
1	dayakar moparty	6/19

To sign the petition in person visit one of these locations:

* Accelerated Paint and Body, 21714 I45 North, 77373
* Najjias Fine Furniture (6526 FM2920)
* Templeton Insurance Agency, 21120 Spring Towne Drive, Spring, 77388
* Alexander’s Academy, 625 Brandt (Old Town Spring), 77373
* Smoothie Factory(2920/Kuykendahl, Chase bank parking lot)
* Spinzers Corner Store (Kuykendahl/Willow Forest)

Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com

Sources:

http://factfinder.census.gov

 

 

http://factfinder.census.gov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring%2C_Texas  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritorial_jurisdiction  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census-designated_place

New Location Added to Sign Spring-Klein Cityhood Petition

The businesses and residents of the Spring and Klein Chamber of Commerce have add Templeton Insurance Agency to the list of locations you can sign the petition.

●   Najjias Fine Furniture (6526 FM2920)

●  Smoothie Factory(2920/Kuykendahl, Chase bank parking lot)

●  Spinzers Corner Store (Kuykendahl/Willow Forest)

●  Alexander’s Academy, 625 Brandt (Old Town Spring), 77373

●  Templeton Insurance Agency, 21120 Spring Towne Drive, Spring, 77388

●   Online at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/spring-klein-petition#signatures.

If you are a business owner and would like to host a petition signing, please email the Spring-Klein Chamber, at info@springkleinchamber.org.

Spring Texas 4th of July Celebrations

The Declaration of Independence brought this great nation into being over 230 years ago. The 4^th of July is more than a day off to eat barbecue, it is a time to reflect on those freedoms and to show our patriotic pride. Here are a list of local events in and around Spring and Klein TX.

Community 4th of July Celebrations

Lexington Woods - 4th of July Parade

The Parade will start at 9:30am at the back swimming pool on Deer Valley.

 

Oakwood Glen-Annual 4th of July Celebration!!!

Beginning at 10:00AM at the back park next to the clubhouse, an American flag-raising ceremony will take place followed by the parade of bicycles which will end at the pool area. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their bicycles to participate in the parade. There will be hot dogs and drinks for all and a moonwalk for the kids! The pool will be open to all members of the community.

 

Spring Creek Oaks

10:15 am Parade vehicles will assemble in the parking lot of the Church at the intersection of TC Jester and Louetta. Following the parade, cool off at the Clubhouse II pool.

 

Terra Nova 4^th of July Parade

10 am Friday, July 4^th. Decorate your bikes, wagons, and cars! All are invited! Come join the fun! Meet in front of the Terra Nova Clubhouse  5200 Woodville. The Klein fire truck will lead the parade from Woodville and Fireside.

 

Other Events

 

South Montomery County July 4 Celebration

Celebrate Fourth of July early with Radio Disney AM 1590 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion! This free family event takes place at the Pavilion located off of 45 North at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive and Radio Disney will be there for a pre-show from 6:30pm- 8:00pm! The Radio Disney Road Crew will have games, dances and awesome prize giveaways before the show! Then the Houston Symphony takes the stage to perform great American classics and traditional favorites!

 

Sam Houston Race Park

July 4^th Celebration at the Park, live Quarter Horse racing beginning at 5 p.m., fantastic holiday-themed dining packages, live entrtainment, family activities and more. Guests are encouraged to bring nonperisiable food items for the Park’s food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.

 

Downtown Houston’s Official July 4th Celebration

Four stages will feature a variety of music ranging from Pop, Latino, Country, Classic rock, and Oldies.

Admission is $6, and children under 10 are free

Eleanor Tinsley Park @ Buffalo Bayou

4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

 

Miller Outdoor Theatre July 4th Fireworks and Symphony

Houston Symphony Orchestra

Start: 8:30 PM

 

Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular over Clear Lake

9:30pm

 

Houston July 4^th Fireworks Cruise

Enjoy a barbecue dinner as you are ferried to the fireworks barge. Once there you have an unobstructed view of all the festivities.

$69* per adult, $39* for children under 12

Star Fleet Entertainment Yachts

280 Grove Rd

Kemah, TX 77565

Phone: (281) 334-4692

Kemah Boardwalk

 

If you have other events not listed here, please provide them with a comment.

New Petition to Incorporate Spring-Klein as a City

Spring, TX. The residents of Spring, Texas have initiated an effort to incorporate Spring and Klein Texas into its own city, which according to the Constable Ron Hickman, “makes up 54% of the growth in Harris County”. Please read the body of the petition below.

Spring Petition                                                                   June 5,2008

We the Citizens and Business owners of Spring-Klein, Texas enter into record this petition for the independent incorporation of Spring- Klein, Texas. We seek to remove the boundaries from servitude to the City of Houston as an additional territory.  Spring-Klein is located in northwest Harris County and southeast Montgomery County. This area through this affirmation for sovereignty by acting in its own interest for a Municipal Seal and that it receive funds from the State and US treasuries as a municipality with dominion to self government.  This is to include all such funds that provide for funding to municipalities from the General Funds and all other departmental funding through the State and Federal Government.

We the citizen of Spring-Klein, Texas declare our jurisprudence for our own City thereby we shall maintain the name Spring–Klein, Texas. Also keeping with the laws and statutes of the Great State of Texas demand our right to formulate our own City Hall with elections through the democratic process for Mayoral and City Council Seats etc. In addition that we’re also provided any additional congressional and senatorial seats in our national Electoral System. 

This transition will provide for this city to operate its own Emergency Response Systems for first responders and also shall provide a city government as well as to elect its legislative and senatorial seats at both State and Federal legislative branches in accordance to regulations and Statutes and the past practices  of formulating the independence of  other cities such as Sugarland, West University Place, Southside Place, Bellaire, Webster, Baytown, Etc. Due to our size and our population we find our position in order that of all the listed cites in this document Spring is the largest of them all.

We shall continue as an established part of the Metropolitan Area of the City of Houston and feel our position adds to the Metropolis. However our intent is to increase upon our growth and our ability to maintain Law and Order to our region keeping with the growth by the establishment of City Ordinances enforced by the Spring-Klein Police Department.

We as Citizens and Business owners of Spring maintain the right to all land trust pertinent to the laws and statutes of State of Texas demand all original boundaries be respected and any new territory by which there are undiscovered boundaries. We ask these and any boundaries are respected and all lands belonging to the Spring- Klein Area are indeed through this process protected from future annexation by Houston or the Woodlands.  This will insure proper taxation for the complete area and that no land be negotiated to Houston, The Woodlands or any area in the Metropolis thereto misappropriation by any means  

By the signature of the citizens of Spring-Klein this petition is duly entered into record that Due process for the aforesaid requests are reviewed by the legislation which will under the statutes of the Great State of Texas allow for this referendum be place on the ballot for the Citizens to weigh all issues and vote thereto. 

Plans are in the works for a Town Hall Meeting, however, the petition is available for signing at the following locations in Spring:

●  Online at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/spring-klein-petition

●  Najjias Fine Furniture (6526 FM2920)

●  Smoothie Factory(2920/Kuykendahl, Chase bank parking lot)

●  Spinzers Corner Store (Kuykendahl/Willow Forest)

●  Alexander’s Academy (Old Town Spring)

If you are a business owner and would like to host a petition signing, pleas email the Spring-Klein Chamber, at info@springkleinchamber.org.