Convenience Big Store: Father-daughter duo behind The Refuge opens new family-friendly Woodlands sports bar

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Tiny cat rescued from the middle of Lake Conroe: 'Look at this big cat!'

A Kingwood man found an unexpected species of cat-fish when fishing on Lake Conroe Wednesday.

Mac Mayo, 66, was about to pack up his fishing gear when the two men noticed something small floating in the water near a bridge pylon.

"I said, 'that's a darn cat," Mayo said. "He was drifting along and barely moving when we got to him. He was near death, he used up a couple of lives yesterday."

The two didn't see the cat fall into the water but figured he either fell or was thrown from the bridge since he was so far from land. Efforts to find a home for the cat, which Mayo said is around three months old, are ongoing.

We've unofficially elected to name the cat "Buoy" or "Bobber." Read the full story here.

There's lots of good news to start the week, including a heartwarming story of how a newsletter reader saved Christmas for 75 kids from fellow reporter Claire's Katy Insider. Let's keep it coming! What's some good news you've got going on this week? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Growing Woodlands

A feature brick wall at Southern Ice Co. is seen, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in Tomball.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Father-daughter duo behind The Refuge opens family-friendly Woodlands sports bar Southern Ice.

The family behind The Refuge bars and restaurants in The Woodlands are paying homage to their Houston icehouse roots with a new family-friendly sports bar in Creekside Park.

An artist rendering of the new 24,000-square-foot expansion coming to Conroe's Lone Star Family Health Center. The expanded area is scheduled to be open in September 2024.

Photo by: Photo Courtesy The Lone Star Family Health Center

Big expansion coming to Conroe's Lone Star Family Health Center.

Construction is underway on a 24,000-square-foot expansion at Lone Star Family Health Center's Conroe branch. The move will make sure their services keep up with the rapid growth in Montgomery County.

Need to Know

Rabbi Mendel Blecher lights a nine-foot menorah during the annual lighting to celebrate Hanukkah at Market Street, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in The Woodlands. For the last decade, Chabad of The Woodlands has held the event in celebrate the Jewish holiday tradition as a community-wide celebration.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

A menorah lighting in The Woodlands; other Hanukkah celebrations in Montgomery County.

What to know about Market Street's 13th annual menorah lighting and other Hanukkah celebrations in The Woodlands and Montgomery County this year.

Ann Snyder, chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, leads a meeting of The Woodlands Township, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in The Woodlands.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Ann Snyder will again to lead The Woodlands Township board; Bob Milner steps down.

Three Woodlands township board members officially started two-year terms as board member Bob Milner stepped down for newly-elected member Cindy Heiser to take his place.

Openings and Closings

Dog boarding, training and spa company Central Bark is expanding to The Woodlands at its new 21223 Blair Rd location. It will celebrate with a dog-themed Christmas celebration and grand opening from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 9 featuring pet adoptions, pictures with Santa and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Shout out

Former Los Angeles-based actors Steve and Alana Monroe—names you might recognize from films Promising Young Woman and Miss Congeniality—have brought their craft from Hollywood to Conroe.

They're now starring and producing independent film "Lonesome Soldier" from the Military Movies production unit.

One last thing …

It's college application season, a time of year which almost seems intentionally stressful and complicated.

From info on first-gen students to college application tips, the Chronicle's Stress to Success series documents what Houston-area students are experiencing as they apply.