Kingwood Now

Alspaugh's BBQ & Street Dance Set For Saturday July 5th

Get ready to cut the rug... or should we say pavement at another Kingwood, Texas tradition. Alspaugh's Annual BBQ and Street Dance will be on Saturday July 5th at Alspaugh's Ace Hardware from 6pm to 11pm.

The band 8 Seconds will be performing to the thousands expected to attend and will take the stage at 7pm.

The BBQ is free but a tip jar will be set as proceeds will benefit the Gold Start Moms. The Gold Star Moms, an organization of mothers who lost a son or daughter while serving their country, will raffle off a new Cadillac during the evening.

�You can buy a ticket up until 8 o�clock,� said Alspaugh. �Bring your cooler and your lawn chair. It�s always been a huge success. I know this year will be even better.�

Alspaugh's Ace Hardware is located at 2720 West Lake Houston Parkway.

Click Here For Photos From Last Year's Event

Thunder Forecasted For Kingwood's H-E-B July 4th Festival

The band Thunder will take the stage from 2:30pm to 6:00pm on July 4th at Kingwood's Town Center Park. Thunder's musicians have decades of professional experience in playing and performing in one venue or another. The band "Thunder" is constantly updating it's play book to reflect the changing trends in music. Thunder just loves the growing popularity of Classic Rock. Recently, Thunder has added the favorites of the Classic Rock era which has been loosely defined from the mid 1960's through the mid to late 1980's. Because Thunder has a love of this period and has a horn section and vocal team to do it, you can hear "Chicago" "Blood Sweat and Tears" Etta James, Stevie Wonder, The Blues Brothers, Van Morrison, Billy Joel, The Beatles and many more as they should be played.

Thunder will be followed by the band Level One who will be play till 9:00pm. The event will close with Kingwood's spectacular fireworks display.

Auditions For The Swarthy Seadog On August 17th & 24th

Calling all actors, dancers and singers. The Nathaniel Center will host auditions August 17th & 24th for ages 10-25+ for the upcoming performances of The Swarthy Seadog.

It�s a tall tale, that�s sure and true! Billy�s dreams, delightfully inconsistent with reality, take us on the journey towards Port Haven, land of rainbows and light. Pirates, swords and ships disguise what he loves most�. his favorite bedtime Bible stories. You�ll find Billy�s beloved Bible heros and heroines dressed in rags and riches. Their situations are a tangled morass of details. Though fear now runs rampant aboard the mighty Seadog & everyone dreads the worst! Is it really the end? Or is it the only the beginning? Billy begins to grow up and out of his dreams. He will never forget his adventures aboard the swarthy Seadog and takes with him surprising encouragement from the whole crew.

To receive an audition script please call 281.797.8386 or email camnet2001@aol.com. You may also visit www.curtaincallcafe.com .

How To Get Involved In Kingwood's July 4th Activities

The Kingwood Civic Club organizes many of the 4th of July activities, including the fishing rodeo, the bike judging contest and the always popular parade. These festivities will be held on Friday, July 4th, 2008.

The fishing rodeo is from 6-8am and is held at the Foster's Mill ponds at the corner of Kingwood Drive & Forest Garden. Kids age 15 and younger are invited to bring their fishing gear to the ponds and compete for trophies in different categories. No registration is required.

The bike-judging contest will begin at 8am at Creekwood Middle School, located at the corner of West Lake Houston Parkway and Sandy Forks. Decorate your bike to impress the judges and you may just win a trophy! No registration is required.

All parade participants must register and complete an application. Commercial sponsors, please register with a minimum donation of $30 at the Kingwood YMCA on Lake Houston Parkway. Float entry for non-profit sponsors is no charge. To register, you must complete an application, which can be obtained from the Kingwood YMCA or can be emailed to you. From this website, you may email a request for an application. Lineup for the parade begins at the corner of Feather Lakes and West Lake Houston Parkway at 8am. Float judging will begin at 9am and the parade will kick off at 10am from Creekwood Middle School on Sandy Forks. The parade will end when all participants reach Kingwood High School.

All registration & donation payments must be paid either at the YMCA (cash or check) or may be mailed to PO Box 5126, Kingwood TX 77325 (checks only). For further information, please call the YMCA at 281-360-2500.

The HEB July 4th Festival and fireworks show will be held at Town Center from 2pm till 9pm.

The Annual Alspaugh's BBQ & Street Dance will be on July 5th at Alspaugh's Ace Hardware. (more information coming soon).

Click Here For Photos From Last Year's Events

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Level One Band To Headline Kingwood's H-E-B July 4th Festival

There are many events that have become Kingwood traditions and the 4th of July is one of the most popular. The HEB July 4th Festival will be held on Friday July 4th from 2pm � 9pm. The event will close with Kingwood's spectacular fireworks display. In the afternoon the 10-piece band "Thunder" will play from 2:30 to 6pm and the keynote musical group from 6pm - 9pm will be popular group Level One.

Level One Band got together in Houston, TX in 2000; soaking in the style of vintage Aretha Franklin, Motown, Disco, Jazz and Old School Funk. The Level One Band developed a following that has kept them in constant demand with Houston�s hottest venues as well as private parties and festivals across the country.

The HEB July 4th Festival is a great opportunity for local businesses to gain exposure to families in the Kingwood, Atascocita and Humble area. Held in a beautiful park setting, the event will include live music, arts and crafts and food and beverage booths.

Click Here For More Information

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Joe LoCascio and Woody Witt Live at Amedeo's

See one of Houston's legendary jazz pianists Joe LoCascio and saxophonist Woody Witt as they make a rare appearance in Kingwood on Thursday June 26th at Amedeo's from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

"Pianist and composer Joe Locascio has been one of Houston�s musical treasures for over two decades. As a pianist he has been at the forefront of modern jazz, recording and performing with the likes of Chet Baker, Tim Hagans, Randy Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Liebman, and countless others. As a composer, he's arguably one of the most gifted ever to call Houston home. His compositions, always strong melodically, lead listeners through a maze of unexpected twists punctuated with enticing harmonic content." - Andrew Lienhard, jazzhouston.com

�It is evident that Witt's formidable technique -- which ranges from energetic and inspired solos that pour forth effortlessly, to breath-full coloring in ballad playing -- is a conduit for something even deeper.� - Michele Brangwen, Arts Houston

Enjoy half price appetizers and drink specials all night long while listening to these two amazing talents. There are less than 80 seats available so make your reservations now by calling 281-359-4451. Amedeo's is located at 22704 Loop 494.

Visit Amedeo's Online Here

Keller Williams Donates Diapers To FamilyTime

Keller Williams Realty Northeast associates prepare to load packs of disposable diapers destined for FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center in Humble. FamilyTime is a non-profit organization which provides free crisis intervention, counseling, support groups and legal advocacy to victims of crime including family violence, sexual assault and child abuse. On hand to accept the donation was Judy Cox, FamilyTime�s executive director. She thanked Keller Williams for holding the diaper drive saying: �This is not just for our shelter (The Door), a lot of our counseling clients are struggling too. We are in constant need of diapers, because we constantly have children.�

Pictured from left are: Debra Vicary-Row, Pamela Love, Cox, Letitia Whipple, Diana Heffner and Chris Sears. Heffner and Love are co-chairs of the Keller Williams Denim & Diamonds New Year�s Eve Gala which will also benefit FamilyTime. For information about gala tickets or sponsorships, contact them at Keller Williams: 281-358-4545 or www.clickkwne.com

Show Your Patriotism This 4th With Kingwood Rotary Club�s Flags Across Kingwood

Give your family, street, and neighborhood a gift of patriotism with flags from the Rotary Club of Kingwood.

�This is the perfect way to celebrate 4th of July." says Kingwood Rotary Club President Tommie Buscemi. "Kingwood residents and businesses have been very supportive of our fundraiser, and the funds will be used to help our community. Everyone always comments about how great the 8 flags look along the street at Alspaugh�s Ace Hardware, and we appreciate their support. Plus, they get to show their patriotic spirit. We�ve accomplished lots of service projects to support the residents in our community and beyond but this project will provide us with the funds to do even more. It would be great to see flags on every street in Kingwood.�

The Rotary Club of Kingwood, as a way to fund its many community service and educational projects, started a new fundraiser, Flags Across Kingwood. With a contribution of $50 annually, the Rotary Club of Kingwood places a 3� x 5� American flag, which is made in the U.S.A., on an 8 ft. pole in your front yard, or at your place of business, on the following holidays: Memorial Day (May 26th), 4th of July, September 11th, and Veterans Day. Check with your accountant�your $50 yearly subscription fee may be tax deductible. Each flag will be placed close to the curb in your yard a few days before, and removed a few days following, each of the four holidays. Installation, removal, storage, and maintenance are provided by the Rotary Club of Kingwood.

Locally, the proceeds of this program will be used to support our scholarship program for local students, the Humble ISD Education Foundation, Lake Houston YMCA, FamilyTime Foundation, Humble ISD Science Fair, Blue Star Moms, our area Humble ISD High School Interact Clubs, sending local students to Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Camp, and many more. Globally, the funds will be used to immunize children in developing countries against Polio, assist developing countries with clean water plus other projects.

Show your patriotism and support your community by letting us place a flag in your front yard on the next four patriotic holidays. To subscribe, please contact Robert Westover with the Kingwood Rotary Club at (281) 358-0684, email westoverinsurance@yahoo.com.

Kingwood Rotarians are dedicated business men and women who provide humanitarian services to people throughout our community and our world. If you would like more information about any of their projects and how you can get involved or join, please visit their website at www.kwrotary.org for contact information.

Poe's Turn Out The Lights Speech Passes 3 Million Views on YouTube

This video of Congressman Ted Poe speaking about compact fluorescent light bulbs has passed 3 million views on YouTube. In his speech held on May 13, 2008, Poe outlines the dangers of using compact fluorescent bulbs, which will replace the reliable incandescent light bulb beginning in 2012.

To view the speech titled Turn Out The Lights--The Party's Over, click on the video itself to play.

Kingwood's East End Park Website Launched

East End has become one of the premiere nature parks in the Houston area. However, many Kingwood residents have yet to explore it. Now they can�online at eastendpark.com.

The website details attractions found in Kingwood�s largest nature preserve. During the past three years, the Kingwood Service Association has spent more than $200,000 to upgrade and extend the trail network in the park. It now contains more than five miles of trails including a half-mile of boardwalks through marshy areas and a mile of trails that border Lake Houston.

The website, eastendpark.com, contains dozens of nature and wildlife photos taken in the park. It also contains trail maps and tables that show the length of each trail for hikers and joggers.

The park is also popular with birders. The Lake Houston Nature Club has documented more than 130 species of birds in the park�s meadows and marshes, including several species that are threatened or endangered.

The site also contains links to other popular nature areas in the vicinity. Visit www.eastendpark.com .