Buyers and sellers need to come to terms on the new price reality, for the commercial real estate market around the country to recover.

“The quicker we get there, the better off we are all going to be. We’ve got to create an environment where business people have confidence in the future,” according to Mark Dotzour, chief economist and director of research for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M; University

On Thursday at the South Florida chapter meeting of NAIOP chapter, the commercial real estate development association, Dotzour gave his economic outlook.

“There’s a lot of demand out there. There’s a lot of people that want to buy real estate. They just won’t because they’re convinced it’s not priced properly,” Dotzour added.

The banks not wanting to write down the value of the assets on their books and continue to play the game of “extend and pretend” is what is holding this up.

Rather than accept the new reduced value of the real estate, that’s when a bank extends the loan coming due.

Dotzour stated that compared to 2007 values, current prices for commercial real estate have decreased between 35% and 50%.

In 2010, improvement in the real estate market is set to start with a stronger recovery by 2011, at which point three should be an increase in absorption of vacant space, rents are to start to rise, as well as property values, Dotzour forecasts.

Source: miamiherald.com

In partnership with Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services, Klein ISD in Spring, Tx is set to operate free H1N1 vaccination clinics for Klein students, family members, staff and the Spring community at Wunderlich Intermediate and Krimmel Intermediate on Saturday, January 30, from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

At no cost, the H1N1 flu vaccine is set to be provided on a first come, first served basis.

Persons of all health status and ages may participate. In order to receive the vaccination, all persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Children 9 years old and younger need two doses of vaccine about a month apart to be fully protected from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

For those of whom children will use one of these clinics for their second dose, parents should take each child’s 2009 H1N1 vaccination card to the clinic with them.

Those not eligible to receive the flu vaccine are infants younger than 6 months of age.

Family members and other close contacts are recommenced to receive a vaccination to protect the infant from the flu.

“Because the flu season lasts until May, and additional waves of flu activity may still occur. The best way to protect your family and yourself against the 2009 H1N1 flu is for everyone to get a flu shot,” Ms. Laurie Combe, the district health coordinator stated.

Wunderlich Intermediate is located in Spring, near luxurious communities such as Champion Forest and Memorial Northwest.

Source: kleinisd.net

On Sunday, January 31st, many of Northwest Houston’s private schools are scheduled to be hosting a preview event at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Spring, Tx.

Champion Forest Baptist Church is located at 15555 Stubner Airline Road.

The preview event gives parents the opportunity to meet representatives from 23 area private schools.

Attendees are set to have a chance at winning a $500 tuition voucher.

Schools that will be in attendance include: Epiphany Lutheran School, Concordia Lutheran High School, Houston Christian High School, Rosehill Christian School, Our Savior Lutheran School, St. Anne Catholic School, The John Cooper School and The Banff School, among several others.

Feel free to contact Sherry Johnson at 281.351.8114 Ext. 204. For more information on the event.

Champion Forest Baptist Church is located in Spring, near beautiful subdivisions such as Memorial Northwest and Lakes of Sterling Gate.

Source: houstonnewcomerguides.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completed construction of a meetinghouse that is set to serve almost 1,100 of its members who reside in the Spring, Tx area.

This building is located in the Gleannloch Farms community, located at 19920 Champion Forest Drive. Sunday meetings are scheduled to begin there this Sunday.

Complementing the existing neighborhood construction, the 15,600-square-foot, wood-framed meetinghouse is constructed of stone veneer and red brick.

It consists of a chapel that seats an estimated 300 people, 18 classrooms for Sunday instruction and mid-week activities, a large “cultural hall” for sports and cultural arts activities and 3 offices.

Local Spring Latter-day Saints are preparing an open house for the public with tours of the meetinghouse from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to celebrate the opening

At 1:00 p.m. that day, the church choir is scheduled to perform. People of all faiths, ages and backgrounds are welcome.

With the number in Texas over 278,500, current membership of the world-wide Church is over 13.5 million people.

Virtually every day of the year, the church website reports that worldwide, new buildings are being completed in order to house growing membership.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Spring, near gorgeous neighborhoods such as Champion Forest and Gleannloch Farms.

Source: ultimatespringtx.com

For all boys and girls, and their parents, interested in joining for the 2010 track season, on Saturday, February 6, the Northwest Flyers Track Club in Spring, Tx is scheduled to host its yearly free information / registration breakfast.

The breakfast is the yearly chance for youth athletes to meet the Northwest Flyers coaches and staff, and other new and returning athletes and to register for the 2010 summer track season.

At the Cypress Creek Christian Community Center Forum, located at 6823 Cypresswood Drive, the breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.

The event is set to be featured with a guess speaker from the world of track and field.

Affiliated with USA Track & Field, the Northwest Flyers Track Club is a youth track group that includes a stacked program of sanctioned “track” events such as hurdles, sprints, middle distance, distance and relays, and sanctioned “field” events like triple jump, long jump, high jump, discus, pole vault, shot put and javelin.

The Northwest Flyers is a member of a partnership between USATF and the American College of Sports Medicine, the “Win with Integrity” program.

The Northwest Flyers has an estimated 285 members, boys and girls. 23 years ago, to help the development of youth track & field in the Northwest Houston area, the club was founded by Olympic gold medalist Fred Newhouse.

In order to promote keeping active, healthy lifestyles, and living with integrity through the sport of track & field, “Win with Integrity” brings school-aged kids and elite track & field athletes together.

The Cypress Creek Christian Community Center Forum is located in Spring, near wonderful subdivisions such as Champion Forest and Memorial Northwest.

Source: ultimatespringtx.com

Local Spring, Tx author Don Dilmore is scheduled to be signing two books, Danny’s Red Jacket and Adult Report Card -We Are Failing Our Children this Saturday, January 16. From 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., he is set to be at Once and Again Books, located at 385 Sawdust.

Dilmore stated Adult Report Card is a book every adult needs to read and it involved a year of research. In providing guidance to today’s younger generation, he talks about schools, parents, churches, and government’s responsibility.

Every 24 hours 1,439 teens in the United States will commit suicide, 2,795 teenage girls will get pregnant, 4,109 new cases of STD’s will be transmitted, and 2,000 teens will drop out of school, Dilmore stated.

Also, he talks about churches entertaining instead of teaching, government spending and parents who want to be buddies instead of parents.

Set in the 1930′s, Danny’s Red Jacket is fiction about a family. On a consistent basis, Danny’s dad compares Danny to his older twin brother and sister, who excel in music and at school. Danny’s likes to ride his bike and play ball, and is a free spirit.

Danny is charged with arson when a series of fires hit their small town. Convincing his own dad of his innocence is his problem.

Dilmore also writes many articles for numerous different magazines. For fifteen years, Dilmore and his wife have lived in Montgomery after returning to Texas from Cochrane, Alberta where Don served as Vice-President of a seminary.

Once and Again Books is located in Spring, by luxurious subdivisions like Benders Landing and Cypresswood Lake.

Source: woodlandsonline.com

Spring, Tx residents can take a look back in time thanks to the antique clocks on display at the Barbara Bush Branch Library.

With a description of the maker and the materials out of which each was made, Refurbisher Bob Kleeman’s treasured timepieces are accompanied. At the library, about 10 clocks are on display, ranging in value from $200 to $1,500.

“I hope people will get an appreciation of the skills that were used at the time of when these clocks were made. They were made so well that they will last for 100 more years,” Kleeman stated.

Kleeman stated there was a big clock industry in Massachusetts and Connecticut in the early 19th century. He stated, “Some of the buildings where clocks were made were a block long and four stories tall.”

The clock industry was the first to use interchangeable parts despite the popular belief that the gun industry was the first, according to Kleeman.

Kleeman added, “Before that, clocks were made by highly skilled people who created individual pieces for each clock. So when one person was able to make many of the same parts it became easier to produce a large number of clocks.”

He has always shown an interest in making and repairing things. He built model airplanes as a teenager, Kleeman stated. He was looking for a hobby and moved to making clocks, in preparation for retirement from AT&T.;

Kleeman stated, “I come from a woodworker’s background. My dad and my uncles all made chairs, tables and bedroom sets, and I’ve always liked to tinker with mechanical things.”

He joined a local clock club, bought a few beginner clock repair handbooks and started expanding his skills. For almost 20 years now, Kleeman has been repairing clocks and still gets great satisfaction from restoring a timepiece to its original working condition.

He has repaired all ages and all types of clocks, the oldest ones being from the mid 1800s. He found those clocks very well manufactured and designed and is happy that they will be around hundreds of years from now.

“The older the clock is, usually the more repairable it is. The older clocks are made a little better and have a more simple build,” Kleeman stated.

Barbara Bush Branch Library is located in Spring, near beautiful subdivisions such as Gleannloch Farms and Memorial Northwest.

Source: hcnonline.com

Quality dental care through the use of its state-of-the-art mobile dental equipment, Washington Mobile Dentistry will roll into Spring, Tx next week,with the goal to provide community access to affordable.

On Tuesday, January 12, Northwest Assistance Ministries will partner with the Washington Mobile Dentistry Unit to provide affordable dental care to adults and children from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Northwest Assistance Ministries parking lot.

Dr. Sharhonda Washington founded the practice and stated the program has given her an increased understanding of how to treat medically compromised and disabled patients.

“Since I’ve always worked in the public health environment, it is kind of in my nature to help low income people who don’t have a lot of resources as far as dental treatment goes. I wanted to offer dental services to them at a decrease cost but still provide great service. And it’s a great feeling to help people like this. It gives meaning to my life and why I am doing this work,” Washington stated.

Using a mobile unit brought to Texas businesses, schools and communities, Washington Mobile Dentistry performs comprehensive, preventive and cosmetic oral health services.

For an initial exam or cleaning, prices for dental services range from $40, $50 for a single surface filling, $150 for zoom whitening, $50 for a simple extraction, to $400 for a deep cleaning with x-rays.

“We are delighted to be able to provide affordable dental care through our partnership with Washington Mobile Dentistry. This is a great need in the community, especially during these tough economic times,” stated Carole Little, Northwest Assistance Ministries president and CEO.

Traveling as far as Dallas on occasion, Washington Mobile Dentistry Unit tries to provide the low cost service.

“There are a lot of things that have to be worked out ahead of time. Of course there has to be a site available in the area, appointments made and staff scheduling. But we try to do this every weekend,” Washington stated.

Northwest Assistance Ministries is located in Spring, by luxurious communities like Champion Forest and Lakes of Cypress Forest.

Source: hcnonline.com

Northwest Assistance Ministries’ Rotary Learning Center is Spring, Tx class schedule will change, starting in 2010. With the exception of Spring ISD’s Even Start clients, all students participating in GED and ESL classes will resume classes on January 19, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

On January 5, Even Start clients only will resume, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. At Northwest Assistance Ministries’, English as a Second Language and GED classes are offered through a partnership with the Lone Star College System.

ESL classes are for adults who do not read or speak English as their native language. The program has levels consisting of beginner, intermediate and advanced. The courses focus on developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills needed for everyday life.

For students, GED/Pre-GED classes are designed, needing to develop writing, mathematics, reading, critical thinking and job skills, in addition to the skills needed to be successful in a GED class.

The classes provide practice and instruction in all areas of the GED test. Also, transition classes are available for high level ESL students needing to develop reading, writing, critical thinking, and job skills, in addition to the skills needed to transition to GED or college classes.

From the fall 2009 semester, Adult Education classes are continued and students are already enrolled. For the spring 2010 semester, there are limited spaces. As placement is based on a first come, first served basis, there are no fees to attend any classes.

Northwest Assistance Ministries will also host a series of job search seminars in January, through its partnership with Workforce Solutions.

In January, the seminars will be held each Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Northwest Assistance Ministries, 15555 Kuykendahl Road in Room 432.

The facilitator will be available in the Computer Lab (Room 421) until 5:00 p.m. for assistance with resumes or other job-related documents, after each workshop. Though walk-ins will be allowed if space is available, seating is limited.

Please feel free to call the NAM Rotary Learning Center at 281-885-4616 to reserve a seat or for more information for one of these free classes.

Northwest Assistance Ministries is located in Spring, by beautiful neighborhoods like Auburn Lakes and Augusta Pines.

Source: hcnonline.com

The Barbara Bush Library in Spring, Tx is scheduled to present a Senior Movie Morning on the first Thursday of each month, starting this month.

Library patrons themselves is where the idea for the movie showings came from. The library has received more and more requests for classic movies over the last few months.

“Seniors who regularly come to the library said they would like to have a movie day, where they could come in and see movies that they are familiar with from their younger days. I think they all wanted a place to gather and watch the movies together and share the experience,” stated Valerie Sandham, reference librarian.

Sandham added, it also prevents the need for seniors to go to the video store to rent a movie and then have to take it back.

The late 1930s to the early 1950s is the era of the movies shown will range from.

“The seniors like the old movies because they have no cursing and no sex. They also don’t like how the new movies have so much action with the camera all over the place,” Sandham stated.

The library expects six to 10 seniors to attend the Senior Movie Morning, but is hoping more seniors come and take a look back at a classic movie to start with.

The movies will begin to be shown every first Thursday of the month, starting Thursday, January 7, at 10:00 a.m., at Barbara Bush Library, located at 6817 Cypresswood Drive.

Every movie program will be shown free of charge. For more information, feel free to call 281-376-4610.

Barbara Bush Library is located in Spring, near beautiful neighborhoods such as Memorial Northwest and Northampton.

Source: hcnonline.com