Cy-Fair Events and Happenings in Cy-Fair Area

beginning APRIL 18

BP MS 150 Bike Ride

The 25th Anniversary BP MS 150 Bike Ride expects to attract 13,000 cyclists from all 50 states, two U.S. territories and 15 foreign countries for the two-day, 180-mile trek from Houston to Austin on April 18-19.

The Tour starts at sunrise in Houston on April 18 and finishes in downtown Austin near the Texas Capitol on April 19, after an overnight celebration at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange. Three starting points will be offered this year: Tully Stadium, 14555 Fern Drive, Houston; Rhodes Stadium, 1733 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy; and Waller Stadium, 2402

The Ireland Zone will host performances by Beoga, a five-piece traditional band based in County Antrim, Ireland.

beginning APRIL 18

international festival
2009 spotlights ireland

The 38th annual International Festival brings the sights and sounds of Ireland to Houston during the weekends of April 18-19 and April 25-26 (Saturdays, noon-10 p.m.; Sundays, noon-9 p.m.). iFest Free Preview Day is April 17, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The festival will take place in Downtown Houston, including City Hall, Upper and Lower Tranquility Park, Bagby Street and Upper and Lower Sam Houston Parks.

Seven international entertainment-themed zones will feature performers from around the world —Cajun, zydeco, blues and rock, to country, folk, Latin and reggae. Zones include Ireland, International, Target Kids, Louisiana, Texas/Latin, Jamaica and African/Caribbean.

The centerpiece of this year’s festival, the Ireland Zone, will celebrate the rich history and cultural influences of Ireland. A replica of the legendary Blarney Castle, a world landmark built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland ’s greatest chieftains and a reproduction of an Irish crannog, an ancient settlement/artificial island built for fortification, will highlight the Chevron Ireland Living Museum. Visitors will be encouraged to try wattling, the traditional method of weaving the walls and fences of a structure with branches. Interactive exhibits and artisan demonstrations depicting the arts, culture and history of Ireland, from the Flight of the Earls and Irish literature and history, to a display about the Golden Age of Christianity and Irish in America, will emphasize this year ’s Irish theme. Festive Irish dance groups will gather on Center Stage to entertain festival-goers. A traditional Irish Pub across from Center Stage will bear a resemblance to an Irish pub straight from the streets of Dublin.

From April 1-13, Early Bird admission is available online and at H-E-B stores for $10. Regular admission is $15. For more information, call 713-654-8808 or access the Festival Web site at www.ifest.org.

Save recyclables now for drop off at may health expo

Cy-Fair ISD urges the community to start saving recyclable products now in preparation for the Cy-Fair Community Health Expo Saturday, May 16, at Berry Center. The Expo will feature convenient drive-up and drop-off recycling sponsored by CFISD ’s recycler, Abitibi Paper Retriever, as well as Houston Computer Recycling and Sustainable Living in Houston.

The recycling point will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Parking Lot B on the east side of Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Road.

Visitors can recycle without even leaving their vehicles, as volunteers from Sustain-able Living will carry the recyclables from cars to bins in a hassle-free setup. Accepted recyclables include paper, plastic (Plastic Identification codes 1, 2, 5 or 7, indicated within recycling arrows on plastic products), metal, batteries, household electronics including computers, faxes, phones and old or broken eyeglasses. Items that will not be accepted are: televisions, car batteries, microwaves, appliances, copiers or medical equipment.

For more information, visit http://cyfairhealthexpo.org.

Computer Classes at the Library, during april

Dave Smith, computer instructor, will be teaching seven different computer classes at the Barbara Bush Branch Library in April. The classes are computer basics, Introduction to the Internet, e-mail, MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher. Each class meets for one 2-hour session. As class size is limited to 12 people, pre-registration is required for each class. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the library at 281-376-4610 for more information and to register. The classes are held in the Barbara Bush Library Friends Computer Lab. Check out the online registration at http://www.hcpl.net/calendar.php.

teen activities at the
barbara bush branch library

Author Cynthia Leitich Smith will visit the library on April 3 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. She is an award-winning author and called a “rising star” by Multicultural Review.

The Chess & Go Club will meet on Wednesdays during the month from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. in EER.

Sam T.’s SAT Prep will be held on April 4-5 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Registration is required.

The Home School Book Club meets on April 16 from 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. They will discuss Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington.

The SAT Prep Hosted by Princeton Review will be held on April 18 from
10 a.m.-2 p.m. and April 25 from 10 a.m. -noon. Registration is required; call
281-376-4610.

Teen Movie Day will be held on April 25 at 2:30 p.m. in EER.

teen support group, mondays

Vanessa Gonzales, Hispanic outreach specialist, and Cynthia Martinez, education specialist, are offering a teen support group through the Montgomery County Women ’s Center.

The group meets Monday evenings from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at 1600 Lake Front Circle in The Woodlands. Female teens, between the ages of 13 and 17, who are victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are invited to participate. The group meeting is free of charge.