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The Greater Magnolia Chamber of Commerce will host a public forum, to discuss the Lone Star College System (LSCS) bond election, at 7 p.m., Monday, April 29, at the West County Community Development Center, 31355 Friendship Dr. This forum is open to the public.

LSCS Vice Chancellor Ray Laughter and LSC-Tomball President Dr. Susan Karr will make a presentation followed by a Question & Answer session. Questions from the public will be accepted at the forum. LSCS has called for a $497.7 million bond referendum, which will help accommodate student enrollment that is projected to exceed 100,000 by 2018.

Last February members of the LSCS Board responded to a committee of citizen leaders by voting unanimously to put a bond referendum in front of area voters for approval. The citizens' committee, representing area businesses, education, government and civic sectors, recommended the college system build new learning facilities and infrastructure to accommodate the historical growth the system is experiencing.

The bond referendum that goes before voters on May 11 includes a Magnolia satellite campus.

For more information please call the Chamber at 281-356-1488 or email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

With transportation being critical to the Magnolia area and transportation improvements in progress and on the way, the Greater Magnolia Chamber of Commerce will host a Transportation Update. This forum featuring Dr. David Ellis of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Lamar Casparis of the 249 Partnership will be at the Chamber's Monthly Business Luncheon, Feb. 28.

Ellis is a senior research scientist and manager of the Infrastructure Investment Analysis Program at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. He is also a visiting professor of urban planning in the Department of Urban Planning, College of Architecture at Texas A&M University. He received his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics, a master's of Urban Planning, and a doctorate in Urban and Regional Science, all from Texas A&M University. His areas of interest include transportation finance and economics, demographics, and tax policy.

Casparis is a founding member of the 249 Partnership, a regional alliance dedicated to developing the SH 249 area from Houston to Bryan-College Station and beyond. He is also the 2013 chairman of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce. As a certified public accountant with Fitts Roberts & Co., P.C. in Houston, Casparis holds multiple credentials in valuation and forensics and is a certified information technology professional. He is the current chairman of the American Board of Forensic Accountants.

Both Ellis and Casparis will offer an update on transportation in the greater Magnolia area. Mont-gomery County Commis-sioner Craig Doyal will be the chamber's special guest as well.

Doors for the MACC Business Luncheon open at 11:30 a.m. in the Celeste Graves Education Support Center, 31141 Nichols Sawmill Road. This Monthly Business Luncheon is open to the public and RSVPs are available by emailing, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling the Chamber at 281-356-1488. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Dillon's Gunsmoke, located at 18434 Buddy Riley Blvd., Ste. 4 in Magnolia, recently joined the Greater Magnolia Chamber of Commerce and the chamber recognized them with a ribbon cutting. Dillon's Gunsmoke is an outdoor and firearms supply center owned by Matt and Lynette Dillon. For more information call 832-521-3664 or email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .