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St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital marked a construction milestone with an official “topping out”ceremony. Located at 17400 St. Luke’s Way, just southwest of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital Medical Arts Building II, the new hospital will be dedicated to providing comprehensive heart and orthopaedic care.

During the ceremony, a tree was hoisted by a crane on top of the building, n keeping with tradition to represent the successful attainment of the highest point of construction.

Attending the event were: Debra F. Sukin, chief executive officer of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital; Diane McNamee, chief nursing officer of St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital; Stephen Pickett, senior vice president and chief financial officer of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System; David Koontz, senior vice president of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System; Rev. Randall Trego, who gave a blessing, several of the physician partners in the joint venture, Jack Roberts and other members of W. S. Bellows Construction, and several members of the hospital ’s executive team.

Set to open in late fall of 2009, St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital will feature 77,830 square feet and include 30 patient beds,13 pre-op/post-op rooms, four operating rooms with capacity for expansion, two cath labs, and diagnostic imaging including MRI, CT and Nuclear Medicine. In-patient/out-patient procedures will be performed.

Woodforest Charitable Foundation presented a $5,000 contribution to the Conroe Family YMCA’s Recreation Center in Willis.

In 2007, the Conroe Family YMCA, Willis Independent School District and the city of Willis ‚ Community Development Corporation entered into a partnership arrangement to enhance after-school programming by providing positive, fun, creative, community beneficial activities in a safe, caring environment.

This project will provide programs suitable to junior high-aged youth. The aspects and service of the programs will include after school supervision by YMCA staff, nutritious snacks, homework time and tutorial assistance, recreational activities and group games, arts and crafts activities and adult mentoring programs. Financial support by the community is essential for the ongoing success of the Willis Teen Program.

The Willis Teen Program launched in the spring of 2008 with the Conroe Family YMCA operating an after-school program in an existing Willis school site with some financial support of the Willis Community Development Corporation.

Montgomery County schools will receive an estimated $22 million for education and public schools, and approximately $4 billion will be headed to Texas as part of the federal economic stimulus bill.

Some of the money is allocated by formula and other funds will come down to local school districts in the form of grants. School districts receiving money to be directed to special programs are expected to spend a large amount for technology, equipment, energy enhancement and construction.

Throughout the country, government entities are watching to see how the funding will flow and who will have oversight. Once the money is released, a federal Web site, www.recovery.gov will allow citizens to see how it is spent.