CHANGE FOR CHARITY: MARKET STREET MAKES DONATION. The Woodlands’ Change for Charity program continued with a donation of $2,300 to the Montgomery County Pet Partners, a nonprofit committed to enhancing the quality of life in individuals through the human-animal bond.

As an added bonus, The Woodlands Car Club’s “Coffee & Cars for a Cause” donated an additional $500 to Montgomery County Pet Partners.

Market Street’s Change for Charity Program represents the coins deposited by shoppers into Market Street’s curb-side Change for Charity receptacles during the third quarter of 2010.

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DAR HOUSTON AREA REGENTS COUNCIL PROMOTES GOD, HOME AND COUNTRY. The Houston Area Regents’ Council represents 13 Houston area chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, all dedicated to carrying out the DAR motto, “God, home and country.”

HARC commemorates Flag Day and Constitution Week each year by hosting luncheons with speakers. The council also assists the VA Voluntary Service with two holiday veterans’ parties during December for in-patient and homeless veterans at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The council also decorates the Houston Fisher House for the holiday season.

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BUZZFEST SELLS OUT AT PAVILION. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Live Nation awarded a plaque commemorating the 25th consecutive sell-out of Buzzfest at The Pavilion to Vince Richards with Clear Channel Radio. Buzzfest XXV was held in October with more than 16,000 concertgoers in attendance.

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AES CORPORATION PARTICIPATES IN MCUW DAY OF CARING. AES Corporation’s office in The Woodlands took part in a Day of Caring with Montgomery County United Way. The Day of Caring was planned in conjunction with The Woodlands Township to support AES’ annual “Values Day,” a day where the organization’s 90 employees give back to the community.

For this project, 10 volunteers answered the call of one local senior in need. Woodlands resident George Hogan, who is 86 years old, was in need of home and yard maintenance.

AES volunteers spent nearly four hours bagging more than 25 bags of leaves and pine needles, washing the siding of the home, sweeping the roof, mulching flower beds, and cleaning the windows, doors and eaves of the home.

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JAGUAR LAND ROVER HOUSTON NORTH SPONSORS ICE RINK AT THE WOODLANDS. Jaguar Land Rover Houston North returns as the presenting sponsor of The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center.

“Jaguar Land Rover Houston North is thrilled to be a part of the 13th Annual Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center. We look forward to this event each year and take great pride in being a part of the holiday season in The Woodlands,” said Jason Lacher, general manager of the dealership.

The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center, produced by The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, is the largest seasonal outdoor ice rink in the southwest United States and is located at the northeast corner of Lake Robbins and Six Pines Drive. The Ice Rink is open daily through Jan. 17.

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ANADARKO VOLUNTEERS SPRUCE UP INTERFAITH HAND ME UP SHOP. Approximately 25 volunteers from the Treasury Department of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation spent a day volunteering to help “spruce up” the Interfaith Hand Me Up Shop.

Volunteers worked hand-in-hand performing a variety of tasks including painting the showroom, workroom, volunteer restroom and area behind the customer help desk.

Volunteers also worked organizing donations, as well as in the showroom filling the shop with coats and jackets, sorting clothing and organizing and cleaning.

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PINK LIGHTING EVENT AT THE WOODLANDS MARKET STREET. The University of Texas MD Anderson Regional Care Center in The Woodlands recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month by brightening The Woodlands Market Street Central Park with pink lights during its weekly concert series.

A dozen physicians, nurses, administrative staff and volunteers from the center took part in the festive evening, sharing information about the center as well as cancer prevention, survivorship and advances against the disease. The Woodlands team helped the crowd of more than 500 concertgoers get into the spirit by giving away pink glow necklaces.

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SCI://TECH POSTER DESIGN CONTEST. Area residents cast their votes in the Wright’s Printing 2011 SCI://TECH Poster Contest in November. Talented local high school students competed to win the $500 Student Achievement Award and have their artwork featured on all SCI://TECH T-shirts, posters and collectable mugs. The contest moved on from Woodlands Mall to Lone Star College Montgomery for additional votes, and the final votes were cast by board members of the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber and Greater Conroe Lake Conroe Area Chamber.

See the winning design at SCI://TECH Expo 2011 on Feb. 26 at Lone Star College Montgomery where memorabilia will be available for purchase. Register to judge at www.efta-us.org.

EfTA is a nonprofit organization that engages volunteers to prepare K-12 students for success in business and life, and serves as the Education Team for the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber.

Vote every 15 days, until Dec. 31, for EfTA to win $25,000 for local education in Entergy’s Power to Care Challenge. Go to www.facebook.com/ThePowerToCare.

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HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES AT CENTRAL LIBRARY. Children enjoyed a special Halloween storytime at the Montgomery County Memorial Library System. A Halloween-themed puppet show was presented by Carranza Puppets, and the children paraded throughout various library departments to trick-or-treat.

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GHBA AND HOMEAID HOUSTON PRESENT MCYS WITH NEW STORAGE FACILITY. The Montgomery County Builders and Developers division of the Greater Houston Builders Association and HomeAid Houston presented Montgomery County Youth Services with a new 600-square-foot, climate-controlled storage facility for MCYS’ BridgeWay and Fairway homes at a ribbon cutting and dedication.

A HomeAid Care project, the new storage facility was funded by HomeAid Houston, along with the donations of GHBA remodelers and their trades, and provides the MCYS home with much needed space.

“We are so grateful to everyone who contributed their time and resources to MCYS,” said MCYS Executive Director John Bracken. “These can be tough times for our residents, and the addition of our new storage facility will allow us to provide them with more living space and a more comfortable environment as we move items that have been stored in the home out to the new facility.”

Mike Dishberger, vice president of the GHBA; builder captains Ron Martin and Marc Jungers of Grand View Builders; Scott Stevens, president of MCBDD and Alex Sutton, board chair of MCYS recognized all vendors, suppliers and volunteers for their work.

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DAR MEMBERS “THINK PINK” DURING CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. The Heritage Trails Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution’s October meeting featured the “Petticoats and Parasols Fashion Show,” presented by the Cypress-Woodlands Junior forum. The program featured charming vignettes of women’s history and fashion from the past century.

The Heritage Trails DAR chapter raised money for the Susan G. Komen Cancer Fund, and this donation was doubled by Mrs. Canant in honor of her late husband.

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EFTA CHOICES PROGRAM. Forty-one volunteer presenters offered the “Choices” program, which engages students in order to reveal to them the power of their choices today on their lives tomorrow. This year’s EfTA program was presented to 1,600 students at four campuses.

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WILL HERNDON SERVES AS HONORARY TREE LIGHTER. Seven-year-old Will Herndon of The Woodlands, a courageous boy who is battling a rare neurological disease, was the official tree lighter of Market Street’s soaring, 70-foot tall Christmas tree which, when lit on Nov. 18, culminated an evening of celebration and thanks. Market Street’s Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony began with music and celebration followed by Will flipping the switch that lit Market Street’s Christmas tree.

Dozens of nominations were submitted, each describing why a deserving child should be named as its 2010 Tree Lighter. Jenny Taylor, Market Street’s marketing director, says choosing one is always the toughest part of her job.

Will’s nomination, submitted by Laura Miller, described the challenges the Herndon family has faced. In her letter, Miller writes, “When I first met Will about four years ago, he was a like any other child, a fun-loving, happy, spirited little boy. He was blessed with beautiful green eyes and a cherub face.  He could run, swing, play soccer and basketball, play video games, watch movies, play with trucks and cars — all the things normal little kids of his age like to do. Tragically, that has now all drastically changed. Will was diagnosed with Juvenile Batten disease.”

In her letter, Miller concluded, “Although he won’t be able to see the smiling faces around him or the beautifully lit tree before him, he’ll be able to hear the joyous roar of the crowd and thunderous applause once the tree is lit, and he will be able to feel the presence and excitement of so many people who are there cheering for him.”

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DRT PRESENTATION ON THE “ALAMO TRUNK SHOW.” At a meeting of the Judge Nathaniel Hart Davis chapter, The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, re-enactors Larry and Barbara Stevens provided a lively and enlightening story depicting the events leading up to the Battle of the Alamo.  They showed clothing, furnishings, guns and historical items that were used during the days of the Republic of Texas. The meeting, held at the Carriage Inn in Conroe, gave insight into how these ancestors lived, worked and cared for their families.

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INTERFAITH’S S.O.S. A SUCCESS. Interfaith of The Woodlands’ Serving Our Seniors annual day of service was another huge success, helping approximately 50 seniors at 29 different sites. Working with Interfaith, more than 140 volunteers including individuals from corporations and member congregations, spent one day serving community seniors through various projects.

“Not only did the volunteers repair fences, clean closets and homes, rake leaves, paint houses and organize kitchens, but they built friendships with many community neighbors,” said Debbie Repka, assistant director of Interfaith’s Programs and Services. “This event is so rewarding for both the senior and the volunteer.”

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PLANNING UNDER WAY FOR THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY ARTS FESTIVAL. Planning is under way for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival 2011 on April 9-10 along The Woodlands Waterway and in Town Green Park in The Woodlands Town Center.

This juried art show featuring 200 international, national and regional fine artists is celebrating its sixth year. The Planning Committee, comprised of local artists, teachers, art enthusiasts and marketing professionals, is under the direction of Jenny Wright, who was appointed festival director. The festival is presented by The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council Inc.

More than 15,000 people attended last year’s festival, featuring art in diverse mediums including painting, watercolor, clay, metal, woodworking, mixed media, jewelry and photography.

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BENTWATER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS FOR MCUW DAY OF CARING. More than 40 volunteers from the Bentwater community on Lake Conroe, “Bentwater Cares,” participated in a Montgomery County United Way Day of Caring. Volunteers helped with building multiple raised planting beds, freshening up landscaping, staining fences and sheds, and extracting and bottling honey at New Danville.

The special raised beds will allow clients and residents in wheelchairs to assist with growing vegetables and herbs. The honey  will be resold with proceeds benefiting the clients of New Danville.