October 31
Trick-Or-Treat Down Main Street
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The public is invited to grab their little goblins and head to LaCenterra's Trick-or-Treat down Main Street this Halloween. A safe alternative to trick-or-treating door-to-door, the free event is open to kids 12 and under accompanied by a parent (or guardian). Who's treating? Parents should look for participation pumpkins denoting retailers offering tasty treats. The first 200 kids will receive treat bags courtesy of LaCenterra retailers. Bags will be available for pick-up in Heritage Square (central courtyard) beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year's event includes a pirate-themed family funhouse presented by the Cinco Ranch Ladies Club. Admission is free, however, donations are welcomed as proceeds benefit Carrie's Heart, a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the education, community involvement and overall quality of life of children with disabilities worldwide. For information on Carrie's Heart, visit carriesheart.org.

October 31
The Great Pumpkin Party
Parkway Fellowship Church
Cinco Ranch High School
23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd
6 p.m - 8 p.m
There will be various carnival booths, inflatables, costume contests, food, and plenty of candy for the whole family. All activities will be FREE, however all food combo meals will be $1.00. There will be activites for all ages, so come out for a night of family fun!

October 31
Simon Kidgits Club Boo Bash and Mall-o-Ween
Katy Mills Mall, AMC Plaza
5000 Katy Mills Circle
2 - 6 p.m. and 6 - 9 p.m.
Festivities will kick off with the Simon Kidgits Club Boo Bash. pumpkin coloring, a cake walk with goodies from Great American Cookie Company and Ooh La La Dessert Boutique, a crocodile obstacle course and a limbo contest complete with monster music will take place in the AMC Plaza. From 6-9 p.m., kids will have the chance to trick-or-treat at the mall in a safe environment. Call 281-644-5009 for more information.

October 31
Golbow Elementary Fall Carnival
3535 Lakes of Bridgewater (east of Mason and Clay Rd)
5 - 9 p.m.
Wear your Non-Scary Family-Friendly Costumes and come for an evening of Games, Prizes, Inflatables, Food and lot of Family Fun! Tickets on sale in advance or at the carnival. For more information contact Kelly at kellygbasket@sbcglobal.net.

October 31
Fall Fest and Maze
CrossPoint Community Church
700 S. Westgreen Blvd., Katy
6 - 9 p.m.
Put on your favorite costume and come to CrossPoint Community Church for the annual Fall Fest and Maze. This indoor festival is open to the whole community and will feature free games and activities, live music, loads of candy, good food, and best of all, the legendary CrossPoint Maze. This year, the festival will conclude with a fireworks display at 9:00 pm in the northwest corner of the church grounds. All Yodas, Hannahs and other non-scary costumes are welcome! For more information call 281.398.6464.

Watch out when you are driving through the streets in the Katy Mills Mall. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour (and has always been 25mph)...and the Katy Police are looking to slow down the traffic that has been speeding through the lots. Remember...our kids go to the mall so SLOW DOWN!

Signs will be posted within the next three weeks on AMC Drive, Bass Pro Drive, Bell Patna Drive, Heritage Lane, Katy Mills Boulevard, Katy Mills Circle, Katy Mills Drive, Katy Mills Parkway, Madison Drive, Market Place Drive, Prairie Parkway, Star Lane and Texmati Drive.

Cinco Ranchis an enormous Master Planned Community about 20 miles west of Houston. Developed by Newland Communities, Cinco Ranch has become a measuring stick for other Master Planned Communities. Because of the size of Cinco Ranch we will divide it into three distinct sections...East of Grand Parkway, West of Grand Parkway, and Cinco Ranch Southwest.

East of Grand Parkway:

This is the oldest section of Cinco Ranch. Most of the homes in this section were built between 1990 and 2000. This section is know for larger trees, brick homes, and a host of amenities which include parks, lakes (including both North Lake and South Lake), boating, tennis, pools (including the BeachClub), a nature preserve, walking trails, and the Golf Club at Cinco Ranch. Homes in this section of Cinco Ranch range in price from under $150,000 to about $1,000,000. You will find large estate style homes, patio homes, and a variety of one and two story traditional homes. The Villagio Retail Center, the Katy Family YMCA, the huge Lifetime Fitness, and many small shops, stores, and restaurants are scattered throughout based on the original master plan. The close proximity to I-10, the Westpark Tollway, and the Houston Energy Corridor make this an ideal choice for relocation clients who want the feel of a more mature community. The Award winning KatyISD Schools add to the appeal!

West of Grand Parkway:

This section of Cinco Ranch is virtually built out (with just the final few homes under construction). Lots of amenities dot this section including the Cinco Ranch Water Park, the Lake at  Lake Pointe, parks, tennis, nature trails, walking trails, and pools. This section is also highlighted by the LaCenterra Mall (an outdoor style mall designed after an old Texas town square), Cinco Ranch High School (one of the top rated high schools in Texas), and Commercial Center Blvd with its shops, offices, and stores like the new Super Target. Homes in the section West of Grand Parkway range from about $150,000 to well over $1,000,000 and townhomes are available for around $125,000 to $140,000. This section is also home to Heritage Grand, an active adult 55+ section that boasts its own amenities! An easy commute to the Houston Energy Corridor and Downtown Houston as well as the Award Winning KatyISD Schools make this an ideal choice for those looking for newer homes with all the appeal of the original section of Cinco Ranch!

Cinco Ranch Southwest:

The newest section of Cinco Ranch, Cinco Ranch Southwest has been building since 2007 and expects another three to five years of building. This section has a new 31 model home village that allows you to quicly view homes from many builders and and price ranges (from under $200,000 to over $1,000,000 in the new custom home section). The new Community Center is one of the first Green Built Community Centers in the nation and the entire section is using low water consumption Bermuda Grass. This section is highlighted by Seven Lakes High School (one of the largest and most technologically advanced high schools in the Nation), and the new 36 acre recreational lake. As with all Cinco Ranch sections, the pool, recreation center, parks, and walking trails are all available to any Cinco Ranch resident. This section is a quick commute to the Westpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway so rides to the Energy Corridor or Down Town will be easy! This has been a popular choice for new Texas residents and oil company transferees!

Contact Your Cinco Ranch Experts: Team DiMuria at 832-687-0706 or go to www.KatyHomeFinder.com for more info!

The Solana at Cinco Ranch is going to be one of Katy's premier luxury senior living developments. When complete in the Third Quarter of 2009, the project will feature concierge services, multiple dining venues, a wine bar, a terrace club activities room, among others. The Solana at Cinco Ranch marks the first time that independent living for seniors, along with assisted living, is being provided in the master planned community. Research shows strong demand by Cinco Ranch residents.

The Solana will offer 126 independent and 32 assisted living rental apartments,. The independent living accommodations will include one bedroom plus den and an extra half bath, and two bedroom apartments. They will include features such as balconies or patios, walk in closets, kitchens with granite countertops. All assisited living apartments come equipped with wireless emergency call system, individual climate control, a television, phone, and data cabling.

Cuisine will be chef-prepared and dining venues will range from The Signature, a high-end restaurant style dining room, to a cafe and wine bar, patio dining, and a club room with billiards, large screen televisions, and an outdoor terrace.  A cyber center, high-speed Internet, theatre, woodworking shop, art studio, Wii game center, will also be offered.

Health, fitness, and activity programs are also a major focus. Ameninites will include a fitness center, a wellness and therapy center, a spa with massage, a heated pool as well.

Luxury sedan and community bus transportation services will be available to residents, along with transportation by golf cart to shopping, dining, and entertainment at LaCenterra!

Monthly rents will start at $2,795 for independent living and $3,995 for assisted living. The grand Opening is scheduled for Fall of 2009!

On October 16th, 2008 the Katy Independent School district will hold a College and Career Night for all KatyISD students at the Merrell Center from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The Merrell Center is located at 6301 South Stadium Lane.

The school district will have Representatives from many major colleges and universities who will answer questions and provide information about their programs to students. The school district will also have non-post graduate alternatives like the military on hand.

Here is a list of the committed participants straight from the district website:

Texas Schools

Abilene Christian University
American InterContinental University
Angelo State University
Art Institute of Houston
Austin College
Baylor University
Concordia University Texas
Dallas Christian College
Dallas Baptist University
Galveston College
Hardin Simmons University
Houston Baptist University
Howard Payne University
Jarvis Christian College
Lamar University
Lubbock Christian University
McMurry University
Midwestern State University
Northwood University - Texas
Our Lady of the Lake University
Paul Quinn College
Prairie View A & M University
Rice University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University-College of Criminal Justice
Schreiner University
Southern Methodist University
Southwestern University
St. Edward's University
St. Mary's University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Sul Ross State University
Tarleton State University
Texas A & M University - Commerce
Texas A & M University - Corps of Cadets
Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University - Galveston
Texas Chiropractic College
Texas Christian University
Texas Lutheran University
Texas Southern University-Jesse H. Jones School of Business
Texas State University - San Marcus
Texas Tech University
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Woman's University
Trinity University
University of Houston - Downtown
University of Houston-College of Natural Science & Mathematics
University of Houston-Conrad and Hilton College
University of Houston-Cullen College of Engineering
University of Houston-The Honors College
University of Mary Hardin Baylor
University of North Texas
University of St. Thomas
University of Texas - Arlington
University of Texas - Dallas
University of Texas - Houston Medical School
University of Texas - San Antonio
University of Texas - School of Nursing at Houston
University of Texas - Tyler
University of the Incarnate Word
West Texas A & M University
Westwood College

Out-of State

Arizona State University
Belmont University
Birmingham Southern College
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Chatham University
College of Santa Fe
College of William & Mary
College of Wooster
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Cornell University
Drexel University
Drew University
Duke University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Fisk University
George Mason University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Grinnell College
Harvard College
Hendrix College
Hope College
Iowa State University
Indiana University
Kansas State University
Kettering University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana Tech University
Loyola University - New Orleans
Marietta College
McNeese State University
Michigan State University
Mississippi College
Mississippi State University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Northwestern University
Northwestern State University
Ohio State University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma State University
Ouachita Baptist University
Penn State University
Purdue University
Regis University
Rensselaer Pollytechnic Institute
Samford University
Savannah College of Art & Design
Stephens College
Sweet Briar College
Syracuse University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas - College of Engineering
University of Arkansas - Sam Walton College of Business
University of California @ Berkeley
University of Colorado - Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
University of Kansas
University of Louisiana @ Lafayette
University of Mississippi 
University of Missouri - Columbia
University of Nebraska
University of New Mexico
University of New Orleans
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Phoenix
University of Tulsa
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Tech
Washington and Lee University
Wellesley College
West Virginia University
Western State College of Colorado
Yale University

Two- Year, Junior Colleges and Specialty Programs

Aviation Institute of Maintenance
Blinn College
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services
Cottey College
Culinary Institute of America, The
Everest Institute
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Houston Community College
KD Actors Conservatory
ITT - Technical Institute
Lon Morris College
Mayo-Hill Centre for Modeling
Media Tech Institute
Remington College
Texas Academy of Animal Control Officers
Texas Culinary Academy
Texas State Technical College - Waco
Tulsa Welding School
Tyler Jr. College
Vet Tech Institute
Westwood College
WYO Tech

Military

Prairie View A&M University - Army ROTC
Texas A&M University - Army ROTC
Texas Army National Guard
University of Houston Air Force ROTC Program
University of Houston Army ROTC Program
US Air Force Academy
US Air Force Recruiting Service
US Army
US Coast Guard
US Marine Corps
US Military Academy @ West Point
US Merchant Marine Academy
US National Guard
US Naval Academy
US Navy  
US Navy ROTC Scholarships

Testing/Preparation

ACT
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
The Princeton Review
Test Masters
Collegiate Zone

The Grand Lakes Community Garage Sale will be happening this weekend...Saturday Oct. 11th from 7am until 2pm. Many homeowners within the Master Planned Community of Grand Lakes will participate.

Shoppers from all over the Houston Metro area looking for treasures are welcome to come and drive through the community...and find that nugget you have been searching for!

The Master Planned Community of Grand Lakes is located in Katy Texas. To get to Grand Lakes from Houston take I-10 west to 99 (The Grand Parkway), head south on the Grand Parkway to Fry Rd. Get off at the Fry Rd exit and begin your search for stuff (you are now in the heart of Grand Lakes!)

As Katy residents and Grand Lakes experts Team DiMuria would be happy to help with any of your real estate needs...please do not hesitate to contact us...or go to www.KatyHomeFinder.com to find out more!!!

Have you ever been to LaCenterra Mall in Katy? It is located in the heart of Cinco Ranch right on Cinco Ranch Blvd. It is an outdoor mall concept that has shops, restaurants, and other services as well. What a great place to come to whatever the occasion!

If you are looking for clothing, there are plenty of great stores for everyone here. For the kids, there is Gymboree. For the ladies there are many, including Bartons, Chicos, Cold Water Creek, Talbots, White House Black Market to name a few! For the guys there is Jos A Banks, Eddie Bauer(this one is for everyone).

Hungry? There are numerous restaurants as well, which include Fish City Grill, Baker Street Pub & Grill, Johnny Rockets, Kenzo  Sushi of Japan, Mission Burrito to name a few.

Just want a light snack? Be sure to check out Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Nestle Tollhouse Cookies.

How about sitting down and relaxing with a nice glass of wine? Try The Wine Next Door, this locally owned business  has tables inside and out, and has an extensive wine list and very knowledgeable and helpful staff.

Many times there are different events sponsored by local businesses happening right at La Centerra, such as the Farmer's market on Saturday mornings from 8-12, Thursday Jazz Events once a month. On Halloween Night this year, the Cinco Ranch Ladies Club will be sponsoring a Haunted House for all the kids! This is a FREE event! They can also go trick or treating afterwards to all of the shops right in La Centerra, a great time for all of the family!

Tired form all that shopping? Why not relax in the courtyard and let the kids play in the water fountains that also light up at night!

As you can see, LaCenterra has something for everyone! Even if you do not live in the area, it is definitely worth the trip! You can make a day of it with the family or just with your friends.

WoodCreek Reserve is a Master Planned Community in the northwestern part of the Katy area south of I-10 and east of FM1463. The first thing you will notice when driving into WoodCreek Reserve is the trees...in fact the beautiful natural setting is what sets WoodCreek Reserve apart from many of the surrounding subdivisions. The beautiful trees, lakes, trails, and amenities really give WoodCreek Reserve its own flavor.

The neighborhood has a wide variety of homes and price ranges available to potential buyers. Price range from under $300,000 to over $1,000,000 with a variety of styles from single story production homes to large custom style estates.

Two new schools have been built and opened directly within the confines of WoodCreek Reserve...both are part of the Award Winning KatyISD School District. The new elementary and middle schools are quickly gaining popularity with the residents of the area!

To take a look at what WoodCreek Reserve has to offer take I-10 west from Houston to FM1463. Make a left at FM1463 and the community will be on your left just a short way up the road.

This looks like it will be a huge year for voter turn out an Fort Bend County has decided to start early voting at several new locations to ease the rush and get as many voters as possible out to the polls.

Fort Bend now has 20 early voting sites and they will be open during the week...and have weekend hours as well. Please remember to register by October 6th if you have not already done so. Early voting will begin on October 20th and run through October 31st.

go to www.fortbendvotes.org for additional details and early voting schedule.