Not all plants are designed to be in a container, much less in a hanging basket. Many times a beautiful plant is brought home, planted it in a hanging basket, and within two weeks it is dying. Choosing the proper plant is critical for success, along with creating a basket that helps meet that plant’s needs.
For proper plant selection, first consider the dimensions of the basket. A shallow basket will not support a tall plant that has deep roots. Accordingly, a plant that spreads out widely will struggle in a basket that is too small in diameter or width. Reading the plant information on its given tag or researching that information on a computer is paramount. If we are to meet the needs of the plant, we must know what those needs are.
Second, think about the amount of moisture the plant will need and how you are going to supply it. The way you choose to water will determine plant selection as well. If a plant requires moderate to moist soil, you will need a way to water it frequently. Plants in baskets tend to dry out much faster than those in the ground; therefore, it’s important to check basket moisture frequently and water only when they need it.
Finally, accommodating the plant with basket construction can help with plant needs. A plant that thrives in a drier environment needs well-draining soil with maybe a little coir lining the basket to retain moisture long enough to give roots a chance to drink. If you have a plant that needs more moisture, you may want to add an oil cloth lining or plastic liner with holes punched in it around the coir for drainage. Using a soil that is not quite as porous, such as a loam-based compost with a small amount of perlite, may also be helpful.
Take time to consider the size of the plant, volume of the basket, soil you will use, and the plant’s moisture needs. In doing so, you may find less stress on the part of the plant as well as on your wallet and emotional state. Healthy, flourishing plants bring a sense of satisfaction and a smile to our faces. We enjoy how they just make our surroundings more beautiful. When you find plants through thoughtful trial and error that thrive in the conditions you provide, TAKE NOTE and rinse and repeat for next year. And remember: some plants are just plain finicky! Take note of those, too, and choose ones that are not so hard to please.
Vegetable gardening in Montgomery County really comes into its own as we move into the fall and winter season. It’s kind of interesting to note that even experienced vegetable gardeners in Montgomery County don’t know what a wonderful time of year fall is, for the vegetable garden. Prolonged periods of mild temperatures ensures the production of high quality produce.
The diversity of plants that perform well in the fall vegetable garden always seems to amaze people. Believe it or not, we begin fall gardening in July with the planting of fall tomatoes. As we move into September the diversity of vegetables being planted grows exponentially.
Green beans top the list of September planted vegetables. I’d suggest going with bush types for fall because of their concentrated set and shortened time to maturity. The quality of green beans in the fall garden is exceptional. The plants grow during the warm temperatures of early fall and the bean pods mature during the milder temperatures of late October and November.
You might even consider planting a few yellow or zucchini squash plants early in September. Select early maturing varieties to ensure production before the first winter freeze.
The cabbage family comprises a large group of vegetables which includes: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, collards, Brussels sprouts and kale. All of these perform beautifully in the fall and winter garden and our mild winters rarely produce enough cold to cause any damage to these extremely cold hardy vegetables. They can be planted with great success from September all the way through January. It’s important to remember that these leafy vegetables are heavy nitrogen feeders, requiring regular light applications of a good nitrogen fertilizer.
Leaf lettuce should be included in all fall and winter gardens. They are very well adapted to our winter climate, take up very little space and produce an abundant harvest throughout the winter season. We’ve tested hundreds of varieties over the years with great success. The main thing to consider when selecting a variety is your personal taste, the type you prefer (bibb or butterhead, romaine, crisphead, oak leaf, loose-leaf) as long as you stick with the leaf types.
Iceberg lettuce does not seem to perform well for most gardeners in the Montgomery County. Lettuce can be planted from transplants or seed. If you decide to try growing lettuce from seeds, it’s important to realize that lettuce seeds need light to germinate so be sure to plant them very close to the surface. I suggest planting the seed on the surface and lightly dusting them with compost or vermiculite. Also don’t get in a big hurry to plant lettuce.
It requires cool temperatures and generally that means waiting until well into October before planting.
Spinach is always worth a try. Sometimes our winter season is too warm which can result in spinach bolting to seed. Spinach like lettuce should not be planted until temperatures really begin to cool off. Warm temperatures can delay germination and even result in death of young seedlings. I usually find it necessary to wait until late October or even early November before putting spinach plants or seed out in the garden. The quality of fresh spinach is wonderful here during the winter gardening season but two weeks of warm weather (over 80 degrees Fahrenheit) can cause the plants to bolt to seed.
Texas is known all over the country for its mild winter onions. We grow short day varieties such as: Grano, Granex, or Texas Supersweet. Many people try growing onions from seed which are generally planted in this area in November. I recommend using transplants, which should be planted in January. Feed stores and garden centers generally carry a good selection of onion transplants in January.
Lastly, is the candy of the winter vegetable garden, edible podded peas. These plants are generally not overly productive but the sweet, high quality fruit are well worth the time and effort it takes to grow them. Edible podded peas are generally planted in late September or October and then again in January and early February. Although hard freezes will generally knock off the flowers and developing pods, the plants are very cold hardy and will come right back into production as soon as the cold snap has passed. Climbing varieties such as Sugar Snap and Super Sugar Snap are great. Don’t be surprised if most of these get eaten right out in the garden.
Don’t forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe TX 77303 or e-mail me at mpotter@ag.tamu.edu.
A new early education and daycare center is coming to Magnolia as the city continues to grow.
The Learning Experience, which was founded in 2002, is a center that offers infant daycare, early childhood education and structured learning. With nearly 400 centers and 250 more in development, the Magnolia location off Hufsmith Conroe Road is expected to feature a building that could be as big as 10,000-square-feet with a playground that could reach 5,000-square-feet.
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David Slavny, the vice president of the organization, attributed the growth in the area as a reason for opening a location in the city of nearly 3,000.
“The Learning Experience also does research into potential areas to see if there is a growing demand for childcare/early education there in order to determine if it would be beneficial to build there,” Slavny said.
While the cost wasn’t made immediately available, the cost of constructing the building is estimated to be $3 million, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The center is expected to employ as many as 30 staff members and certified teachers to serve upwards of 180 children between 6 weeks and 6 years old with daycare and early childhood education, Salvny said.
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The opening of the new center comes after officials project the city could increase by 600 percent in 2039 and have a population of 53,000.
In January, officials launched a survey to help improve the city’s parks and recreational spaces in hopes to bring more summer programs for kids and families. In 2023, officials unveiled a planned $1.2 billion master thoroughfare plan to improve the city’s transportation network, which included roads, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and trails.
A $34 million Lone Star College center is being built in Magnolia as one of the college system’s last projects from its nearly $500 million bond in 2014. Expected to open its doors in 2026, the new center recently broke ground along FM 1486 on June 27.
For more information about the early education and daycare center, visit thelearningexperience.com.
In the midst of downtown Conroe’s revival in recent years, new shops and restaurants have emerged in the district around the Montgomery County Courthouse square.
As the area continues to evolve, summer has brought some shifts to the downtown businesses.
Here’s what to know about downtown retailers that have closed, opened, moved or returned this summer:
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A Game Changer closes
Conroe’s first bar arcade on Metcalf Street A Game Changer has closed this month after opening in November. The closure was confirmed by the building’s owner this week.
A trio of Houston hospitality experts brought the new concept for downtown to the old MoCo Food Hall at 109 Metcalf Street. The food hall was open from August 2022 to July 2023 after a major renovation of the historic building near the north/south train tracks.
A Game Changer offered vintage arcade games and a variety of arcade-style games, dining and “A Bank Job” bar which was a hidden bar that ran the length of the venue.
The last post on A Game Changer Facebook page was June 27 and invited patrons to enjoy downtown Conroe’s Fourth of July fireworks from their second-story balcony.
No new plans for the building have been announced.
Small Town Famous moves
The storefront for the vintage Western wear boutique Small Town Famous at 312 Metcalf Street has closed and owners Farralyn Withrow and her daughters Libby and Katey now have booth No. 77 inside of Conroe Central Market at 225 N Thompson Street still in downtown Conroe.
Katy native Withrow said she has always loved Western wear and vintage finds and Small Town Famous opened in the old State Hotel building in April 2023. The shop helped outfit Montgomery County residents for the Montgomery County Fair, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and more with unique styles.
The shop specializes in pearl-snap shirts, vintage Wranglers, boots, belts, belt buckles, hats, leather purses and jewelry. An online shopping experience is also in the works for Small Town Famous.
Withrow continues to host the weekly Main Street Market on Thompson Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Galavant’s Coffee is back
Galavant’s Coffee stand is back in downtown Conroe. In early 2021, Brad Bailey opened the mobile coffee cart at Main and Metcalf streets.
Bailey had worked at a coffee shop in Houston and a few others locally, but was ready to strike out on his own. The cart kept going through April 2022. After a hiatus, Galavant’s Coffee cart opened again in June at Clover House Antiques, 118 North San Jacinto Street.
“Thanks again for all the love and continued support y’all are the best,” Bailey wrote on the Galavant’s Coffee Facebook page in June. Visit the Facebook page for open days and hours.
Kofe Num Pang out of commission
Kofe Num Pang opened at 330 N. Main in downtown Conroe in June 2023. Prior to that the spot was Vernele’s Bayou Bakery and Café and has been a host of other restaurants over the years.
Kofe is a nod to everyone’s favorite morning jolt. Num pang is a style of Cambodian sandwich. The location is operated by the Cheng family that also owns the Taste the Asian food truck and Dragon Bowl C Noodle Bar in downtown Conroe.
The location is temporarily closed as they continue to make repairs caused by recent rains. No reopening date has been given. Earlier this year, the Cheng family opened a second location of Dragon Bowl C at Hop Scholar and Sabbatical Spirits in Spring.
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Newer arrivals
Paulette Café is a French restaurant in downtown offering breakfast, crêpes, pizzas, pastries at 406 N. Thompson Street. The spot opened in December 2023 on the first floor of the Moreland Professional Building.
On July 1, Erika Prothow’s E.Free’s On Main had its grand opening in the former location of candle and soap shop Almost August across from the Crighton Theatre on Main Street.
After launching her own loose-leaf tea brand, Teavotion, in the Houston area in 2022, in February she had the soft opening for her E.Free’s On Main tea shop in downtown Conroe that carries her Teavotion teas and other tea-related finery.
Additionally the Conroe Collective has become The Collective in Downtown Conroe and has a new owner. The space has even more vendors and coffee is coming soon to the business at 213 N. Thompson Street.
A Willis-based nonprofit community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025 with plans to expand its facilities to provide more affordable housing to future residents, additional classroom space, a community and recreational center and assisted living services.
Mike Painter, president and CEO of New Danville, says the population in the city of Willis has exploded in the past several years.
“And with that comes a population explosion of folks that have (intellectual) disabilities,” he said.
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The Meadowbrook Community, which sits on 42 acre ranch off Shepard Hill Road and is owned by the nonprofit, already houses 36 residents with a waitlist of more than 80, Painter said.
“We suspect the residential portion, even with the huge expansion that we’re doing…the need will start to grow again,” Painter said. “And the good news is that we have the space to do it. And as long as we have the community support for it, I’m all in.”
What is New Danville?
New Danville has served the community since 2005, according to the organization’s website. It serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, with both residential and day programs to maximize personal independence by offering an environment that allows opportunities to learn social and work skills.
Expansion project plans
The expansion project, also refereed to as Vision 2025, is broken up into three phases.
The first phase includes 15 new homes to house an additional 35 residents. By the time construction is finished, the community will be able to hold about 90 residents, Painter said.
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Phase two includes the building of the community and recreational center the will provide social, dining, and fitness areas for residents and clients, according to the organization’s website. Phase three includes assisted living facilities with space for six men and six women to start, the website states.
Plans also include additional classroom space and a country-style, non-denominational church with a social hall that can be rented out for weddings and events.
While the construction for the additional residential homes is expected to take up to 18 months, construction on other facilities is dependent on funding from community members, Painter said.
However, the organization plans to wait until phase one is finished before working on funding efforts for the other phases, he said.
‘The need is out there’
New Danville isn’t the only organization to announce an expansion this year.
In April, the long-standing Montgomery County community Bridgewood Farms, a community for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, announced plans for a new $2.5 million building on the farm that would encompass all the programs and administrative duties of the group.
According to a 2023 report by the nonprofit Providers Alliance for Community Services of Texas, approximately 475,000 Texans have an intellectual or developmental disability.
In Montgomery County, Painter said there’s about 17,000 people with these disabilities.
“The need is out there,” he said. “If we can provide it, I want to be a part of the solution.”
Texas grapes are being harvested mostly through the interior of Texas. Hybrid grapes along the Texas Gulf Coast were harvested in June and the first week in July before Hurricane Beryl came ashore. As the emerging Texas Wine Industry is blossoming, a Texas tradition of Grape Stomps is beginning to emerge at a variety of Texas wineries.
These Grape Stomps are either done in a small, three-foot-diameter plastic tub such as held at Messina Hof Winery or in a six-foot-diameter wood vat as found at Bernhardt Winery, similar to what was in the epic “I Love Lucy” television show. These Grape Stomps are fun, slippery, and produce a lot of purple grape stains on your feet, legs, clothing, and more. I suggest a clean set of clothes to change into after the stomping of the grapes and a towel and possibly WIPES to remove some of those purple grape stains. Those purple stains will eventually wear off in a few days. It does help to go online to find out more details on the Grape Stomp events, including timed stomping contests where the amount of juice from the stomp vat is measured to determine the winner.
Those small juice tubes at the bottom of the vat get plugged so use a wire or pipe cleaner to assure your grape juice bucket get ALL of the juice from the vat in these contests. Most Texas wineries will have commemorative Tee Shirts so you can implant an impression of your “purples piggies” on the back of the Tee. In additional, several Texas Wineries have “Lucy Look-A-Like” contests. Several Texas Wineries also host LIVE Concerts. Of course, wine tastings are available at all Texas Winery Tasting Rooms. This is all fun in celebration of a great Texas Harvest of Texas grapes.Below is a partial listing by date with these Grape Stomps occurring on the weekends when the public can stomp those grapes:
Aug. 3
• Messina Hof Winery in Bryan with “Blessing of the Grapes” on August 2nd• Lost Oak Winery near Burleson 17th Annual Grape Stomping Event from, 6-9pm with Lucy Look Alike Contest• Barons Creek Vineyards near Georgetown• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg • Hye Meadow in Hye • Enoch’s Stomp near Harleton
Aug. 10
• Bernhardt Winery near Plantersville noon to 5pm• Hye Meadow in Hye• Messina Hof Winery in Bryan • Texas Wine Collective near Fredericksburg• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg
Aug. 17
• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Texas Hills Vineyard near Fredericksburg • Messina Hof Winery in Bryan• Pedernales Cellars near Stonewall• Hye Meadow in Hye
Aug. 24
• Texas Hills Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Messina Hof Winery in Bryan • Hye Meadow in Hye• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg
Aug. 31
• Wildseed Vineyards near Fredericksburg • Becker Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Texas Hills Vineyards near Fredericksburg• Messina Hof Winery near Fredericksburg
Sept. 12-15
• Grapevine Annual Grapefest
It is imperative that you plan ahead to visit the winery’s website. We are in the middle of hurricane season so weather is always a factor. In most cases, tickets will need to be purchased ahead of the event to help defray the costs of the stomped grapes. Please plan ahead for an enjoyable day of celebrating the Texas Harvest!
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Two kinds of mysteries dominate the literary world. In every medium, we encounter stories of crime and detection — a dead body in the library; an old woman who deduces the murderer; the kind of thing Sherlock Holmes investigates, declaring, “The game is afoot!”
But another sense of mystery involves manifestations of the inconceivable — manifestations as varied as a Houdini underwater escape and the resurrection of Christ. This is the kind of thing St. Paul refers to when he writes, “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed….” Both mysteries–and more–put in an appearance in a gem of a production currently on stage at Houston’s Alley Theatre: Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None.”
Christie is most usually linked to the first kind of mystery: one where Hercule Poirot solves the “Murder on the Orient Express.” But in her 1939 novel that is the source for this play, a book published just two months after England entered World War II, she manages to take up mystery in both forms. In the book and the theatrical adaptation made by Christie herself in 1943, plenty of corpses litter the stage; almost every weapon in a “Clue” game does its work, and the audience tries to find “who-dun-it.” The plot set-up is devilishly simple: ten strangers are brought together on an isolated island only to find themselves falling prey one-by-one to an unknown killer.
But within her crime plot, Christie sets off another mystery: the realization that subtraction leads to addition. The more the victims succumb to their grisly fates, the more the play adds to the suspense and anxiety of the characters and the audience, the deeper it plunges into the psyche and history, mirroring — the war anxiety that British subjects on their island in 1939 must have felt as the invisible threat of the Luftwaffe began to manifest itself in nightly terror from the skies. This plunge into mystery leads to another: how could this writer’s imagination be so prescient?
Such thoughts may seem strained and overly abstract for a play that the Alley is using to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its “Summer Chills” productions, but in achieving a multiple immersion into mystery this production and the Alley’s cast and crew merit unambiguous praise. We are given our cake and something of substance to chew on, too. This happens because the production sticks closely to the script, returning to the original story line of Christie’s plot that is marked by bleakness and despair for an England trembling on the edge of World War II. It gives us a killer-thriller, a psychological portrait of living at the margins of national disaster, and also reminds us of the depths that can lurk in popular entertainment.
Director Elizabeth Williamson deserves a huge slice of the credit. She allows the play to have its slow, wooden start — the arrival of stereotyped characters the audience can’t help but give twitters of laughter. She keeps the exposition simple, using Christie’s device of a mysterious phonograph recording to explain the “crimes” that lie behind the stereotypes: the greedy servants, the careless surgeon, the reckless driver, the unethical judge, the self-righteous biddy, the cad of a military man, the jealous old general. And she gets the murders started, staging the action to give the audience no clue of who the killer is, slowly strangling the play’s early giggles and using sound and lighting effects for maximum benefit.
The large cast, mostly Alley regulars, play their roles well, and whether their characters are fated to be on stage for most of the show or make early “unplanned” departures, they make them breathe with life. Susan Koozin as the spinster Emily Brent is a prime example. She makes her every moment on stage matter, even if she’s only yawning and knitting in the background. She doesn’t eat the scenery; she defines it, enriches it —something her fellow cast members echo as they bicker, debate, drink, and wonder who will die next; “how can I avoid the victim being me?”
It’s an intentional plainness that the production pulls off at every turn. Nick Vaughan’s scenic design stresses this. At first look, it appears boringly art deco: uncomfortable furniture, concrete walls and banks of windows looking out on a vague horizon. But eventually, audience eyes will notice a startlingly white bear rug, splayed in front of a dead fireplace like the chalk outline of a murder victim — an ever-present reminder of what this place is all about. Similarly, Isabella Byrd’s lighting grows richer and darker as the play progresses, ending in Rembrandt-like blacks and shadows — the perfect arrival point for this plot.
Go to “And Then There Were None” for the usual escape of an intriguing murder mystery, but don’t be surprised if something more sneaks up on you. This is a delightful summer show none should miss.
“And Then There Were None” is at Houston’s Alley Theatre through Sept. 1.
Robert Donahoo is a professor at Sam Houston State University and writes theater reviews for The Courier.
To make the most of farm-fresh produce grown in Montgomery County, farmers markets have sprouted in multiple locations across the county.
The longest-established one is The Woodlands Farmers Market at Grogan’s Mill which has been in operation since 2008. Others have thrived in Montgomery, Conroe, New Caney and Magnolia.
Here’s what to know about some of Montgomery County’s various farmers markets:
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Main Street Market
Location: Conroe, 301 N. Thompson Street in front of the Montgomery County Courthouse
Time and date: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
Farralyn Withrow launched the Main Street Market in Conroe in April 2021. It was first in the juror parking lot in downtown but moved to North Thompson Street where the street is closed off Saturday mornings.
Withrow said the market has grown this summer with the new shaded location in the shadow of the courthouse. The market is made up of smaller, locally owned businesses with most being located in Montgomery County. The market features artisan and hand-crafted items along with local produce and food items like olive oil, coffee, honey, bakery items and meat vendors.
Deep Roots Farm 2 Table is a regular produce vendor. However, Hurricane Beryl had deep impacts to their crops and they will supplement produce at the market from PEAS Farm also in Montgomery County. PEAS Farm has tomatoes, squash, onions and bell peppers year round.
Farmers Market at Grogan’s Mill
Location: 7 Switchbud Place, The Woodlands in Grogan’s Mill Center
Time and date: 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays (summer hours)
This long-time farmers market started in 2008 as a project of the the Grogan’s Mill Village Association. It’s a year-round market featuring more than 60 vendors including prepared foods, produce, pet items, farm-fresh meats, beverages, health and beauty items, food trucks, beverages and artisan goods.
Fans can sign up for a weekly newsletter that shows the vendors featured that Saturday. Market profits go back to the community through Grogan’s Mill Village Association’s charity projects.
New Caney Community Market
Location: 11985 Grand Parkway, New Caney in the Valley Ranch Town Center
Time and date: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first and third Sundays of the month
In August, the market will only be on the first Sunday. In September, markets will resume the first and third Sunday schedule. The market features 60-to-65 vendors with fresh local produce, honey, fresh-baked bread, artisan items, candles, clothing, flowers and plants, pet items, food trucks and more.
Montgomery Farmers Market
Location: 19785 Texas 105 West at the KOA Holiday Campground
Time and date: 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays
This farmers market launched in October 2021 with a mission of providing pure and nutritious foods to the local community. Featured vendors offer baked good, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken, raw milk, free-range eggs, produce and microgreens, honey and organic foods and beverages.
Vendors also host events for kids, health and homestead classes and cooking classes. There’s a place on the website to sign up for weekly vendor lists and pre-ordering options.
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Farmer’s Market on Tamina
Location: 32907 Tamina Road, Magnolia
Time and date: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays
This market has on-site restaurants including Victory Pie Co. Café, Brick & Brews, Wing Nuts Express and Magnolia Eats & Treats. Each Saturday brings 40 to 50 vendors including micro-green farmers, grass fed/pasture raised meat and egg farmers, specialty food producers, bakers and cookie makers, soaps and body care products and handmade goods.
Lazy M Farms Farmers Market
Location: 33310 Lois Lane, Suite No. 2, Magnolia
Time and date: Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Featured items include bakery items, produce, fruits, juices, breads and cheeses. Blueberries are currently in season.
The farm also offers free delivery seven days a week within a five-mile radius on orders over $15.
A part of heading back to school for a new year includes having updated shot records on file with the school district.
As Houston-area schools are set to return in mid-August, organizations are offering free and discounted opportunities to get immunizations up to date.
Here is where to find free and reduced-cost immunization events across Houston:
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Children’s Museum of Houston
Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston, will administer free vaccinations to children six weeks to 18 years of age who qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program in August at the Children’s Museum of Houston at 1500 Binz Street, Houston.
The vaccine event is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 1, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. If the child has received a vaccination, parents are required to bring documentation of children’s vaccination records.
Pre-registration is required. Call Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program at 832-824-6355 to register. For questions and eligibility, call 832-824-6788.
Lone Star Family Health Center
In Montgomery County, Lone Star Family Health Center’s 7th Annual Don’t Miss the Bus event takes place through Aug. 9.
“Don’t Miss the Bus” is a two-week event across all family health center locations focused on back-to-school health services. Well child visits and vaccines are free for children without insurance. For those with insurance, there is typically no out-of-pocket expense for preventive services. Well child visits with a licensed medical professional are required to receive immunizations at the event.
To make an appointment for Don’t Miss the Bus, call 936-539-4004. If uninsured, request to speak to an eligibility specialist prior to making your appointment. All patients must bring a list of required immunizations from their school and a current shot record. Space and vaccine stock are limited.
Houston Health Department
The Houston Health Department offers immunizations for children at its four health centers including — La Nueva Casa de Amigos, 1809 North Main; Northside Health Center, 8504 Schuller; Sharpstown Health Services, 6201 Bonhomme and Sunnyside Health Center, 4410 Reed.
Call 832-393-5427 or email TVFChouston@houstontx.gov to schedule an appointment. The free immunizations are available to children eligible for the Texas Vaccines for Children program.
Spring Branch Family Development Center
The Spring Branch Family Development Center hosts a back-to-school vaccination event at 8 a.m. Aug. 10. It’s at 8575 Pitner Road, Houston. The event is for students with Medicaid or Chip, uninsured or insurance does not cover vaccine cost.
Participants are asked to bring the child’s shot record or letter from school nurse and bring as few people as possible to the appointment.
The organization serves more than 12,000 Houstonians each year through a multi-agency collaboration that provides educational, recreational, health and social services in English and Spanish.
Galveston County Health District
The Galveston County Health District’s immunization services division protects the health and well-being of the community by providing children and adults protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
A child must be eligible for the state-supplied Texas Vaccines for Children program, age 18 or younger and meet certain criteria.
There is an administration fee of $13 for one vaccine and $25 for two or more vaccines per visit. Administration fees may be waived due to inability to pay. For more information call 409-938-2201.
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Fort Bend County
Access Health and the Fort Bend County Health System hosts back-to-school health fairs from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 3 and Aug. 10 at 307 Texas Parkway, Missouri City. No appointment is needed. During the fair there will also be a backpack and school supply distribution, health screenings and limited sports physicals.
A three-day, after-hours vaccination event at Ridgemont Family Clinic is set from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 7-9 at 5353 Ridgecreek Circle, Houston. Walk-ins welcome, call 281-634-7234 for an appointment. Bring a copy of child’s vaccine record. Parent or adult guardian must accompany children younger than 18.
Katy area
The Texas Vaccine Institute will be offering August dates and times for any student enrolled in Katy ISD, insured or uninsured, to receive the necessary required immunizations for school entry.
August clinics are set for 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 9, Aug. 10, Aug. 11, Aug. 15 and Aug. 16.
The vaccines are given at the Professional Development Annex at 6361 S. Stadium Lane, Katy. Enter using Pavilion Annex doors. No appointments necessary. Vaccine prices range from $15 for one to $35 for three.
For additional information contact the Health Services Department at 281-396-2629.
With August brings the start of a new school year and a return to routine.
Before the bell rings on the first day and after there are some community events ahead in August and some that help families prepare for back to school and the upcoming fall.
Here are some Montgomery County events coming up in August:
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Back-to-school sale
Just Between Friends Back-to-School sale is billed as the largest resale event in Texas. It begins Thursday and continues through Aug. 4 at the Lone Star Convention Center and Expo Center in Conroe at 9055 Airport Road.
Expect more than 900 sellers with 200,000 items up for sale at the annual event that is spread out over 53,000 square feet. Items for babies through teens. Admission is $3 at the door.
Thursday is presale day. See selected times for special groups like VIP shopping, military families, first time parents and grandparents. Friday the event is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Southern Star Beer Run
The annual 5K run at the brewing company in Conroe is set for 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 10 on the brewery grounds. Southern Star Brewing has changed hands and the property will host its grand opening soon. The original grand opening set for Aug. 3 was delayed by Hurricane Beryl.
The run starts and finishes at Southern Star Brewing Co and then cool off with a craft beer. Once runners cross the finish line, collect a souvenir pint glass and enjoy up to four 8-oz pours of beer, included with entry and a 2024 race T-shirt.
Registration is open at the Run In Texas website.
Montgomery County Funky Junque Market
The Montgomery County Funky Junque Market returns to the Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Road from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 17.
Shop holiday items, decor, handcrafted items and more with more than 125 small business vendors featuring fall and holiday items. Entry is $5 cash at the door.
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Texas Red Fest
The music festival Texas Red Fest is set for 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at Heritage Place Park in downtown Conroe. The festival features bands including The Lacs, Justin Champagne, Rehab, Cypress Spring and Austin Toliver. Tickets are $30.
Wellness Expo
A two-day Wellness Expo is set for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe. More than 75 exhibitors featuring products and services for mind, body and spirit. Shop for nutritional products, energized jewelry and stones, essential oils and air purifiers.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is $7.