FYI

Wilderness Park to present amphibian show

Lake Houston Wilderness Park will present Amazing Amphibians from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24.

The event will feature an opportunity for all ages to learn about the lives and characteristics of frogs, toads and salamanders.

Admission is free with a $3 park entry fee and reservations are not required. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The park is a 7,786.6-acre wilderness area with activities that include hiking, biking, canoeing, camping and horseback riding.

Lake Houston Wilderness Park is located at 25840 FM 1485, New Caney.

For more information, call 281-354-0173.

Civic Club wants residents to deck their homes

Kingwood Civic Club will hold a holiday decorating contest for residents on Dec. 6.

Participants should decorate their yards by Dec. 6 and have the lights on. A designated representative from each of the 29 community associations will pre-judge yards in their neighborhoods and determine the nominations from Thursday, Dec.  6 through Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Final judging will be completed between 5-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14 by Kingwood Civic Club volunteers.

Winners will have a sign placed in their yards.

Categories include best traditional, Santa’s best, best religious, best doorway, best lights and best block spirit.

For more information or to request your home for nomination, email kingwoodcivicclub@yahoo.com.

Area group seeks donations for ministries

National Charity League Kings Trails Chapter Class of 2013 is seeking donations for Humble Area Assistance Ministries.

The group is seeking toys for children of low-income families.

Those interested in contributing to the cause should bring unwrapped toys to drop boxes located at Kapok Tree Toys, 4580 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood; or Kingwood High School, 2701 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood.

Donations will be accepted until Saturday, Dec. 1.

For more information, call 281-973-9001.

Kingwood disc golf course to close temporarily

The Kingwood Service Association’s disc golf course will be temporarily closed while the committee assesses realignment of three fairways, ways of improving long-term maintenance and removing dead trees.

According to a press release, the KSA committee voted in October to relocate fairways 4, 5 and 6, and on Thursday, Nov. 1 it voted to temporarily close the course.

“This will give us a chance to evaluate alternatives, formulate a plan for renovation and approve funding for changes,” Dick McGucken, chairman of KSA’s park committee, said in the release.

In addition to relocating fairways, many dead trees that resulted from last year’s drought will be removed.

“A lot of residents love this course,” McGucken said in the press release. “We don’t want to close it, but we do want to improve it.”

The committee plans to reopen it as soon as possible, and asks that residents respect all signs and refrain from using the course until improvements are complete. Changes could take a couple of months, but there is no firm date for re-opening.

Community associations in Kingwood will be able to give feedback once the new plans that are approved and funded.

TxDOT begins reforestation at U.S. Highway 59

 Reforestation has begun next to Kingwood Medical Center as part of a group effort by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Kingwood Service Association and the KSA Parks Foundation.

 The project, which will focus in the on the west side of U.S. 59 at Kingwood Drive, is taking place in three phases, according to a joint press release.

 The first phase has already been completed and included the removal of trees killed by the drought last year.

 The second phase, already underway, is focusing on uprooting of stumps and development of a plan for planting new trees and providing irrigation for them.

 During the final phase, TxDOT will plant seedlings and work with the KSA and KSA Parks Foundation to plant larger trees. Planting will begin early next year before the growing season.

 “The best time to plant trees is while they are dormant,” said Dick McGucken, KSA Parks Committee chairman, in the release.

 The reforestation will restore what some residents said they felt was an aesthetic loss to a city entrance and as an investment in the value of local properties.

 “Everyone was heart-broken by the loss of the majestic pines on the corner adjacent to the hospital,” said

Bob Rehak, president of the KSA Parks Foundation, in the joint statement.

 “Part of KSA’s mission is to maintain and improve the entrances to Kingwood,” said Dee Price, KSA president, according to the release. “We worked extensively with TxDOT during Highway 59 reconstruction to upgrade the entries at both Kingwood Drive and Northpark Drive. We see this as investment that will help sustain home and business values for everyone in Kingwood.”

 Discussions are underway with specialists and engineers to develop implementation plans and cost estimates.

 The KSA is seeking public input on the project from residents and community associations. People who wish to participate can attend upcoming meetings, which take place at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the South Woodland Hills community room, 2030 Shadow Rock Drive, Kingwood.

 The organization is also accepting donations on behalf of the reforestation effort.

 KSA and KSA Parks Foundation are nonprofit charities dedicated to improving the quality and life and environment in Kingwood. Visit www.kingwoodserviceassociation.org for details.