Welcome

For  07/31/2016

Kris Nordstrom McBride

 

 

      There are some fun new characters roaming around Memory Park this summer!
      Memory Park has become a sizzling "Pokeman Go" hot spot in Montgomery. Recent visitors to the park report that the weekends have been full of people chasing the wily little creatures on their phones. We're thrilled to see new folks visiting the park, enjoying nature and getting some exercise, but we want to remind everyone to please be careful! You've heard the warnings on social media, TV and here in The Courier, but they bear repeating. Be aware of your surroundings, watch your step and proceed with caution so you can enjoy your game without an accident or injury. And please be a polite game player and respect other visitors and photographers enjoying their time in the park too.
    There's more! Phase I of the park's new "StoryWalk™ Project" has just made its debut in the park, and it is the beginning of what we know will be a fun and exciting new addition to the developing east side of the park. The Rotary Club of Lake Conroe is excited to be partnering with The Friends of The Charles B Stewart Library to create this reading adventure, which is a series of sign stations with book panels for young readers. The little ones walk from station to station reading as they go along.  The StoryWalk™ Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library. Story Walks are popping up all over the USA and are a wonderful way to create excitement for beginning readers. The books will be changed periodically, so the children can come back again and again for a new adventure. And as we know, every good book is worth reading more than once!
      Right now, the panels are just set in a row, between the Butterfly and Literacy Gardens.  Next Thursday, Lake Conroe Rotarians will don their work clothes, move seating to the area and rearrange the panels so the kids have a longer "adventure" as they read the book. This will be the StoryWalk™ Project, Phase II, which will stay through at least the summer.
     Then the real work begins for us! Rotarian and landscaper Peter Wakefield, the designer of Memory Park, is working on a blueprint for a colorful and child friendly garden to surround this project. All it takes is money, and we're working on that. Keep your fingers crossed, and in the meantime, take the kids out to see this first phase of the new addition to the park. While you are there, be sure to walk over to the Literacy Garden just a few steps away, and pick a book from the lending library. There are benches where you can sit and read, all shaded by the tree cover. It's a lovely way to spend some time with the little ones.    
     In other Rotary news, The Rotary Club of Conroe has a new Instagram account. Follow RCC @rc.conroe. The club also has a great new online newsletter, which you can subscribe to by visiting their website.

     Conroe President Ron Saikowski sends us this message - " On July 31, 2016, Russell Reynolds will retire from the Conroe Police Department serving our community for 38 years. The Rotary club of Conroe was honored to have him as a Rotarian in our Club. (last week) The Board of Directors voted unanimously to honor Russell Reynolds with the lifetime title of Honorary Rotarian. Thank you Russell for serving our community for 38 years. We LOVE you!"

Congrats Russell!