H-E-B thinks bigger is better in Katy
Chain’s largest store features café, gas station

By KIMBERLY PIÑA
Chronicle Correspondent

Taking its place amidst booming home development, enhanced medical facilities and new shopping centers, the largest H-E-B in the Houston area has made Katy its home.

The 125,000-square-foot store, called H-E-B Plus, is the company’s approach to offering one-stop shopping. The store, opening Aug. 2 at 6711 South Fry Road on the corner of Grand Parkway, will offer the staple foods found at all H-E-Bs as well as new items like iPod, windshield wiper blades and paint supplies.

“What we’ve done is added a lot of general merchandise,” said Phil Bittle, the store’s general manager. “It makes it really nice and easy and convenient for folks.”
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Surplus anticipated in fund balance

By BETTY L. MARTIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

The Katy school district unveiled a proposed budget Wednesday that is based on an 18 1/2 -cent cut in the property tax rate and projects a $1.67 million fund-balance surplus at the end of the next school year.

The proposed $430.4 budget was calculated using a tax base of $13.8 billion — a 9.18 percent increase over last year that reflects rising Katy property values, said Bill Moore, the district’s deputy finance superintendent. …more…

Cinco Ranch is holding several upcoming special events.

Evening concerts will be held on July 30 and Aug. 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Park at Lake Pointe.

Radio Disney’s “Back to School Bash” will be held on Aug. 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Water Park Recreation Center.

July 10, 2006, 10:53PM
Katy’s WoodCreek Reserve to see Martha Stewart home models

By JUDITH HINDMAN
Chronicle Correspondent

Katy home buyers could see the first Martha Stewart-designed homes in WoodCreek Reserve by October or November, the president of the KB Home Houston division told the Katy City Council on Monday.

Joe Zimmerman said the company plans to start construction “very soon” on a sales center and three models. …more…