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Spring Klein Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 2 MAY 16 JUNE 16, 2025
Local nonpro ts step in to aid foster youth Malaina and Alaina Jones changed resi- dences more than 10 times—living with their biological mother, their grandpar- ents, foster families and potential adop- BY EMILY LINCKE, DANICA LLOYD & RYAN REYNOLDS
tive parents—by the time they were 14, adoptive mom Allanda Nichols said. Moving to so many di erent homes was di cult, especially since no one explained what was happening to them, Malaina Jones said. While Malaina and Alaina Jones’ biological home wasn’t the best t for them, Arrow CEO Scott Lundy said in other cases, keeping chil- dren with their birth families may be better than entering foster care, which he called a “tough system to navigate.” “If we can … keep kids to
where we can get them back home … we’ll normally get better outcomes,” he said. Since 2015, when a federal
judge deemed Texas’ child welfare system “broken,” lawmakers and government agencies have worked to improve the system. E orts have included shutting down inadequate facilities, funding the hiring of more Texas Department of Family and Protective Services case workers and partnerships with nonpro ts. The DFPS has reported a steady decline in the number of children in foster care in recent years, correlating with state-level reform e orts.
Allanda Nichols and Christopher Jones adopted twins Alaina (left) and Malaina Jones (right) in November 2020 after the girls spent almost 10 years in the foster care system. (Jamaal Ellis/Community Impact)
Find out more inside
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Impacts: See what’s on the menu at Bun B’s new Trill Burgers location (Page 6)
Education: Get a breakdown of Klein ISD’s 2022- 23 accountability ratings (Page 11)
Transportation: Find out how a new bill could bring more road local project funding (Page 13)
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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact
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Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools is a registered trademark of Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. ©2025 Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. All rights reserved. Primrose School of Spring-Klein 22003 Bridgestone Lane | Spring, TX 77388 281.350.9595 | PrimroseSpring-Klein.com Congratulations to our Pre-K and Kindergarten graduates!
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SPRING KLEIN EDITION
Impacts
SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE PKWY.
2 Pizzaiolo’s Owned by Luis Hernandez, the eatery serves pizza, pasta, subs, salads, wings and gelato. • Opened April 28 • 9305 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. 109, Spring • www.pizzaiolospizza.com 3 Pho Nam Owned by Phuong Dinh, the eatery serves Vietnamese cuisine, including pho, vermicelli, banh mi sandwiches and fried rice. • Opened April 9 • 2019 Spring Stuebner Road, Ste. 400, Spring • Instagram: Pho Nam 4 Busta’s Burgers Owned by Robert Lira, the restaurant serves gourmet burgers, salads and grilled chicken wraps. • Opened April 1 5 Tous The retailer offers jewelry, bags and accessories. • Opened April 9 • 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Ste. 1220, Houston • www.tous.com 6 The Patch Boys The business serves northwest Houston, offering plaster repair, drywall installation, popcorn ceiling removal and texture matching services. • Opened March 31 • 16510 Northchase Drive, Ste. 141, Houston • www.thepatchboys.com • 9228 FM 1960, Houston • www.bustasburgers.com
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Coming soon
7 Party Mini Golf The family-friendly business will feature a 19-hole mini golf course, music from across the decades, TVs, a party pavilion, and drinks, such as beer, seltzers and sodas. • Opening this summer
members from different generations. Nachos, taco salad, quesadillas, fajitas , burritos and enchiladas are on the menu. • Opened in February
Now open
1 Susanita’s Tex-Mex Y Ritas The family-owned restaurant serves Tex-Mex-style food and margaritas, with recipes created by family
• 4915 FM 2920, Spring • www.susanitas.com
ONE FAITH, ONE FAMILY, ONE LEGACY NORTHLAND CHRISTIAN A Top Pre-K3 to 12th Grade College Prep School
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• 14443 Vintage Preserve Parkway, Houston • www.partyminigolf.com
What's next
Now open
8 Nothing Bundt Cakes The specialty bakery offers bundt cakes in various sizes and flavors. • Opening in 2025
• 2150 FM 2920, Ste. C, Spring • www.nothingbundtcakes.com
9 Top One Buffet The business will offer Chinese, Japanese, Mexican and
American cuisines. • Opening in 2026 • 100 Cypresswood Drive, Ste. 1100, Spring
14 Sam’s Club Sam’s Club, a membership-based warehouse retailer, is anticipated to open a 166,664-square- foot location at the corner of Hwy. 249 and the Grand Parkway within The Grand at 249 retail center, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. All information, including costs and timelines, is subject to change. • 13255 N. Grand Parkway W., Tomball • www.samsclub.com
17 Trill Burgers Houston native Bun B, a rapper and entrepreneur, has opened his second location of Trill Burgers in Spring. The fast-casual restaurant is known for its OG Burger, which features two smashed patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce and American cheese on a potato roll. The menu also offers a Triple OG Burger, vegan burgers, kids meals, fries and Trill Lemonade. • Opened April 25 • 6810 Louetta Road, Houston • www.trill-burgers.com
10 Amped Fitness The fitness center will offer a women-only section, cold plunges, red light therapy saunas, tanning, dry saunas, an athletic zone and personal training services. • Opening this summer • 17355 Hwy. 249, Ste. 150, Houston • www.ampedfitness.com 11 Chispas Paletas y Nieves The shop will offer ice cream, paletas and bolis flavors, including rice milk, lime, mango and coconut. • Opening date TBD
• 14297 Stuebner Airline Road, Houston • Facebook: Chispas Paletas y Nieves
• 411 Lantern Bend Drive, Ste. 240, Houston • www.sunshinepediatricdaycenter.com
In the news
12 Echo Lake Apartments at the 326-unit complex in City Place will range from 556-1,824 square feet.
15 MRT Optimal Fitness The gym, which offers group fitness classes, personal training and personalized nutrition coaching, celebrated its first anniversary April 12. • 4033 Kreinhop Road, Ste. 200, Spring • www.mrtoptimalfitness.com 16 Sunshine Pediatric Day Center Owned by David Maymon, the day care and therapy center for medically complex children marked one year in business this April.
Closings
• Opening in the second quarter of 2026 • 2002 Spring Stuebner Road, Spring • www.feincommunities.com
18 Bearded Fox Brewing Company The brewery opened in 2017 and closed its doors in March. Owner Joshua Govea said he plans to reopen in the future. • Closed March 13 • 11729 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. R, Tomball • Facebook: Bearded Fox Brewing Company
13 Willow Creek Manor The new affordable housing complex will add 264 units in the Kohrville neighborhood. • Opening in 2027
• 10621 Cossey Road, Houston • www.pedcorcompanies.com
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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION
SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2022 A29
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Alison Sanchez STEM scholarship
Candida Herrera STEM scholarship
Chasidy Jones STEM scholarship
Elizabeth Gardner STEM scholarship
Alison Sanchez STEM scholarship
Candida Herrera STEM scholarship
Chasidy Jones STEM scholarship
Elizabeth Gardner STEM scholarship
www.springisd.org
www.springisd.org
www.huntsman.com
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— HUNTSMAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS — Huntsman is honored to recognize the outstanding achievements of 19 Spring ISD 2023 graduates with academic scholarships. Sixteen seniors will receive scholarships of $5,000, renewable for up to four years for a total of $20,000, for attending an accredited college or university and majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or business-related fields. Three more students will receive Huntsman Trade Certification scholarships, which awards $1,250 for up to two years to pursue an industry trade certification. Huntsman is proud to invest in your future! Huntsman Corporation Awards Scholarships to 16 High School Students
C'Nia Rodgers STEM scholarship This year, 16 students from the Class of 2025 were recognized during this year’s annual awards ceremony, held at the Randall Reed Center in Spring, Texas, and attended by the scholarship recipients and their family members, along with Spring ISD educators and leadership, school board members, and Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa. Huntsman associates were also in attendance including, Peter Huntsman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Phil Lister, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, and Wade Rogers, Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources and Chief Compliance Officer. Diego Abirasniette STEM scholarship SPRING HIGH SCHOOL In 2020, Huntsman Corporation and Spring Independent School District (ISD) established a partnership rooted in the commitment at giving back to the community by supporting higher education. Now in its fifth year, the scholarship program offers graduating students $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years for a total of $20,000, for attending a 4-year accredited university and majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or business- related fields. Amy Garay STEM scholarship “We considered several options with Dr. Hinojosa and her team, and we all agreed that contributing to these students’ educations could help them today, tomorrow, and possibly even for generations to come,” said Wade. “This partnership goes beyond financial support; we provide mentorship, internships, and real-world opportunities that allow students to thrive.” Five years after the scholarship program began, a total of 91 students from Spring ISD have received nearly $1 million in scholarships. “Huntsman Corporation has been an unwavering supporter of our district, our students and our entire community,” said Dr. Hinojosa. “We’re excited to continue growing this partnership that changes lives, and to see how far our students will go with Huntsman by their side.” Jaliah Dewalt STEM scholarship DEKANEY HIGH SCHOO L Zion Thomas STEM scholarship Diamond Tran STEM scholarship Jessica Ly STEM scholarship “In a school district where over 60% of its students are categorized as economically disadvantaged, our company is proud to partner with Spring ISD’s educators and administration on a program that benefits both an individual student and their communities,” said Peter Huntsman. “This is the best investment that our company can make – an investment in the future.” Led by Wade Rogers, Huntsman began working with Dr. Hinojosa in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic to identify the most meaningful way to support the successful futures of Spring’s young scholars. Jerome Schaubert STEM scholarship Albert Williams STEM scholarship Brandon Perez Trade scholarship Brania Hernandez Trade scholarship Leeann Hartman Trade scholarship WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Michael Izulu STEM scholarship Monya Nayil STEM scholarship Patrick Ojanga STEM scholarship CARL WUNSC HE SR. HIGH SCHOOL
Alison Sanchez STEM scholarship
Candida Herrera STEM scholarship
Chasidy Jones STEM scholarship
Elizabeth Gardner STEM scholarship
www.springisd.org
www.huntsman.com
Dekaney High School
Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
Spring High School
Westeld High School
8
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY EMILY LINCKE
Klein ISD OKs $55.8M in campus renovations Guaranteed maximum prices of $17.3 million and $38.5 million for renovations of Greenwood Forest Elementary School and Wunderlich Intermediate School, respectively, were unanimously approved by Klein ISD trustees on April 14. A Greenwood Forest Elementary School B Wunderlich Intermediate School
SISD superintendent announces retirement
During the April 8 board of trustees meeting, Spring ISD
A
Both schools are more than 50 years old, and each will undergo a “comprehensive moderniza- tion,” according to an April 14 video presentation from KISD. The renovations are funded by KISD’s $900 mil- lion bond, which was approved by voters in May 2022. Both projects are slated to be completed in the summer of 2026, according to a KISD website dedicated to the bond. The speci cs Wunderlich’s renovation will be similar to the renovations of Hildebrandt and Strack intermedi- ate schools, according to KISD. Greenwood Forest’s remodel is slated to be similar to Northampton and Haude elementary remodels.
Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa announced her plans to retire e ective June 30. Hinojosa’s last o cial day with SISD will be
B
Lupita Hinojosa
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June 1, and she will assist with the leader- ship transition for her remaining contract time, according to an April 9 news release. In January 2022, Hinojosa rst stepped into her role, becoming the rst woman to serve as superintendent in SISD’s history, as previously reported by Community Impact . Hinojosa replaced former Superintendent Rodney Watson, who resigned e ective January 2022.
As previously reported by Community Impact , projects for schools have included: • New and redesigned classrooms • Added windows for classrooms • Improvements to electronic door access systems, security monitoring infrastructure and interior doors
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SPRING KLEIN EDITION
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Transportation
BY LIZZY SPANGLER CONTRIBUTIONS BY MELISSA ENAJE
Under Senate Bill 2722—authored by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston—excess Harris County Toll Road Authority revenue would be distributed to commissioner precincts based on the percentage of roads they maintain. Precinct 3 oversees 47% of unincorporated county roads, Commissioner Tom Ramsey said, while Precincts 1 and 2 each oversee 15%. Precinct 4 oversees 23% of unincorporated county roads. “I’m being severely underfunded,” Ramsey said during testimony to the Senate Transportation Committee on April 9. Bill targets toll road funds Breaking down the bill Under SB 2722, HCTRA toll road revenue would be required to go toward operating, expanding, maintaining, or administering a toll project or system; or to retire debt related to a toll project or system. Of the revenues that remain after paying the costs of the above: 70% goes to Harris County for road maintenance
On the other hand
Funding breakdown For Harris County’s fiscal year 2024-25, each precinct received the following amount from the county’s mobility fund:
While the HCTRA is responsible for operating and maintaining the safety, reliability and sus- tainability throughout Harris County’s toll roads, the county’s jurisdiction does not include feeder roads, county officials said. Harris County’s mobility fund utilizes its surplus HCTRA revenue to fund eligible transportation projects across all four county precincts. Precinct officials’ project oversight must fall under the umbrella of the Texas Transportation Code that includes costs related to the design, construction, maintenance, repair or operation of roads, streets, highways or other related facilities, according to county budget documents. The bill also would require independent audits to ensure toll revenue funding is allocated properly—a notion HCTRA Executive Director Roberto Trevino said already takes place through independent audits.
$79.8M
Precinct 1 Precinct 3 Precinct 2 Precinct 4
$39.9M $72.1M $68.6M
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
“There has been a lot of information shared by various agencies about the validity of this pro- posed legislation. This includes interpretations of HCTRA’s financials as well as its law enforcement and incident response services on the toll roads. Those testimonies do not reflect a true picture of HCTRA’s critical role in providing mobility options for the growing region,” Trevino said in a statement.
Before you go
Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones spoke out against the bill during Commissioners Court on April 10. As of press time, SB 2722 passed the Senate on April 29 and had been sent to the House, according to Texas Legislature Online. A companion bill, House Bill 5177, was left pending in committee as of press time.
During testimony before the Senate’s transportation committee on April 9, Houston Fire Chief Thomas Munoz and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz testified in support of SB 2722. Christine Lee, the director of legislative affairs for Precinct 2, testified against the bill on behalf of Commissioner Adrian Garcia. Other officials who testified against the bill include Trevino and Adam Haynes, the policy director at the Conference of Urban Counties.
30% goes to Houston for reimbursement of toll road- related emergency services
95% of the funds must be allocated to commissioner precincts based on the percentage of roads owned and maintained 5% can be allocated to other county departments or projects
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION
From the cover
Local nonprofits step in to aid foster youth
A closer look
In a nutshell
2024—a 55% drop. A big challenge for the child welfare system is a shortage of foster care parents who are trained to help children experiencing trauma, said Brandon Anderchuk, executive director of Hope’s Path. The nonprofit helps young men who have aged out of the foster care system. “This lack of trained caregivers contributes to instability in the children’s lives, as they often encounter multiple placements throughout their time in foster care,” Anderchuk said.
Texas Education Agency data shows that the number of students in foster care and attending a public school district in Region 4—which covers a majority of the Greater Houston area— dropped by about 11% from 2017-25. Data from the Family Freedom Project, a Texas-based nonprofit focused on defending parental rights and protecting families from government overreach, shows a shift in recent years, with Texas removing over 20,000 chil- dren from their homes in 2018 and just 9,220 in
The Texas Legislature has approved several reforms in the state’s child welfare system over the past decade to address high caseload numbers and turnover rates among case workers, Community Impact previously reported. The DFPS reports a 38% decline in Texas foster care children since 2015 while Harris County’s foster care population has dropped 49%. “Over the last several sessions, this committee has taken a leading role in the historic transformation of the Texas child welfare system, and because of your work, Texas is now an example for the rest of the nation,” Andrew Brown, vice president of policy for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said at a May 7 Texas Senate committee hearing. Statewide, daily caseloads for case workers have gone from an average of 21.1 in 2015 to 11.8 in 2024, the DFPS reports. In Harris County, case worker turnover rates have remained around 25%, while Child Protective Services employee salaries are up 38%.
Children in substitute care
Foster care students
Harris County
Spring ISD
Texas
Klein ISD
60,000
500
48,889
50,000
400
338
40,000
27,405
300
30,000
186
200
20,000
246
Foster care reform efforts
5,640
2,389
80
100
10,000
December 2015: A federal judge declares the Texas foster care system is inadequate. May 2017: Senate Bill 11 creates the Child Protective Services Legislative Oversight Committee; House Bill 871 makes it easier for state agencies to work with faith-based organizations. January 2020-December 2021: Statewide, 21 facilities housing 13 or more children are shut down or have their licenses revoked. September 2021: The Texas Legislature funds $83.1 million in SB 1 to hire 312 caseworkers; HB 5 allots an additional $90 million to the DFPS. October 2021: Gov. Greg Abbott approves a new panel to analyze the rising number of foster care children without a placement. Jan. 29: Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston files House Bill 2216. June 2: 89th Texas Legislature ends.
0
0
*WHEN A CHILD IS REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME, SUBSTITUTE CARE CAN INCLUDE FOSTER CARE, GROUP HOMES OR PLACEMENTS WITH RELATIVES. SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Who it affects
Brittany Valdez—a 22-year-old nursing student at Lone Star College-University Park who entered foster care around age 15—said she wishes biological parents could get more sup- port before their children are removed. Valdez said her mother struggled financially for years before her parental rights were terminated, but Valdez always had food and a place to sleep. “She just needed help. ... Because she had a tough childhood as well, so she only followed what she learned from as a child,” Valdez said. Local nonprofits help bridge the gaps for individuals in the foster care system and those who have aged out. In addition to foster care and adoption facilitation, many organizations offer mentorship, education and career guid- ance, and transitional living opportunities. Operation Achieve Independence has helped
Statewide, in 2025: 41.8% of DFPS-involved children are in kinship settings 90.5% of emergency reports get a face-to-face response within 24 hours
31.3% is the turnover rate for Child Protective Investigations employees 91.8% of nonemergency reports get a face-to- face response within 72 hours
Brittany Valdez (left) is one of the many individuals Tina James has supported.
EMILY LINCKE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Valdez and many other students prepare for college, founder and President Tina James said. “The problem with the resources out there is sometimes there’s so much red tape that the young adults just freeze up,” James said.
14
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY EMILY LINCKE, DANICA LLOYD & RYAN REYNOLDS
Also of note
Get involved
Services offered
Arrow Child and Family Ministries www.arrow.org
Alongside local agencies, state leaders are working to address challenges in the system. House Bill 2216, filed this session by Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, would raise the threshold for removing children from their birth families. The bill aims to extend the provisions under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act to all Texans. The ICWA requires strong evidence before Native American children are removed and prioritizes placement with family or tribal communities. HB 2216 would raise the standard for terminat- ing parental rights and emphasize placing children with relatives whenever possible. The bill passed 140-4 in the Texas House on April 23 and was moving through the Texas Senate as of press time. While the bill has received support, some have said it raises safety concerns. “As a parent of adopted children, I’m especially aware of the potential risks and consequences my children could have faced if reunification were enforced by the courts,” Anderchuk said.
Arrow officials said every city and county across the state has an “urgent need” for foster care families, particularly for those willing to welcome children with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as children over age 8. But fostering and adoption aren’t the only ways locals can support children in the welfare system and the organizations serving them. “I love to see a community rally around their kids, and there’s always something that every person can do to help in the child welfare system,” Lundy said. James said Operation Achieve Independence educates volunteers about supporting children who have lived through trauma. “The kids you work with with that foster care history—a lot of them were very angry, very frustrated, very guarded. ... But you’ve got to just give them grace and develop that relationship,” James said.
• Adoption facilitation; foster parent support • Behavioral health help and in-home therapy • Residential community for women ages 13-21 • In-school support Hope’s Path www.hopespath.org • Residential program for young men who have aged out of foster care • Life skills and financial literacy classes • Job placement and college assistance Operation Achieve Independence www.oaicares.org • Transitional living support • Education, career prep, guidance and mentorship for those in and who have aged out of foster care Passion for Families www.passionforfamilies.org • Temporary and permanent homes for children in need • Resources and training for foster parents • Medical, therapy and educational services
SOURCES: ARROW CHILD AND FAMILY MINISTRIES, HOPE’S PATH, OPERATION ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE, PASSION FOR FAMILIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION
Business
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
FINS Swim School CEO Liam Goudeket said swimming is a life skill that should be taught to children at a young age to avoid accidents. It’s also a skill that requires consistent practice to prevent regression. “Drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental death for children under 5, so we saw a need in the community and an opportunity as a business,” he said. Founded by his parents Bill and Kathy Goudeket in 2000, FINS Swim School has grown from a single location in Spring to seven locations across the north Houston area. The inspiration Goudeket traces his passion for swimming back to his childhood, inspired by his father who was a former college swimmer. He, along with his sisters, joined in the family sport by forming a swim team of their own as children and following in their father’s footsteps. Goudeket further immersed himself in the sport in 1997 by giving swim lessons to neighborhood kids in the Tomball area where he grew up. FINS Swim School came about after Goudeket’s parents purchased the former George Campbell’s Olympic Swimming Academy. They went on to rename the business with a concept focused on safety. After wearing several hats at his parents’ busi- ness and years of dedication, Goudeket took over as CEO of FINS Swim School in 2024. Diving in deeper FINS Swim School o ers a guarantee that students will move up a level after ve lessons. Lessons range from $27-$38 each. Although Goudeket said the most e ective age to learn to swim is from 18-24 months, swimming is a skill that can be taught at any age. “The most important thing is going to be water safety,” Goudeket said. “[Swimming] is a life skill, unlike any other activity that a child might learn.” FINS Swim School also o ers a tness program for experienced swimmers over 18 years old. During the FINS Aqua Fitness Program, swim- mers can partake in a 45-minute low-impact workout held weekly for $40 a month. FINS Swim School promotes water safety in north Houston
At FINS Swim School, students are guaranteed to move up a level after ve lessons.
Instructors are required to pass a background check and go through an extensive interview process.
Parents can watch their children during lessons.
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7827 Spring Cypress Road, Spring www.swimat ns.com/spring
Liam Goudeket took over as CEO in 2024.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Dining
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
The falafel over rice platter ($10.99) menu item is a customer favorite.
Sami’s Smashed Burger ($12.99) is served with fries.
PHOTOS BY JOVANNA AGUILAR COMMUNITY IMPACT
Sami’s Gyro House o ers halal meats in Spring Yousaf Mohtsham, a Pakistan native, said he moved from New York to the Spring area after 20 years, leaving everything behind to open Sami’s Gyro House in April 2024. A year later, Sami’s Gyro House has expanded with a new location in south Houston and plans to open a third location in Katy. Craving a gyro?
stand out is his experience and care for his recipes and customers. On the menu With years of experience cooking and burning dishes in Pakistan, Mohtsham said a good gyro is mastered over time. The Greek dish consists of thinly-sliced meat served in pita bread with vegetables and tzatziki sauce. Customers can select from several entrees, gyro platters and gyro sandwiches made with toppings included. Mohtsham said a customer favorite is the Sami’s Smashed Burger made with beef patties, American cheese, sauteed onions and pickles.
Yousaf Mohtsham serves gyro platters at his restaurant.
Named after his wife Sameend, Mohtsham said Sami’s Gyro House o ers halal meat, which is carefully slaughtered to ensure a humane way of consuming meat. Aside from quality meats, Sami’s Gyro House prides itself on its attention to detail and e cient service. Mohtsham said what makes his cooking
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6224 Spring Cypress Road, Spring www.samisgyrohouse.com
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17
SPRING KLEIN EDITION
Events
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Art Unleashed: Creativity You Can Feel Attend a family-friendly art exhibit featuring textured pieces at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts. • May 31-Aug. 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 6815 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.pearlmfa.org
May
Live music
Firelight Shadow Theatre Celebrate Jewish American heritage at the Barbara Bush Branch Library with a puppet show featuring folktales from the Jewish tradition. • May 23, 11 a.m. • Free Fajita Fest Shop from local vendors with Houston’s best fajitas while enjoying live music, games and a bounce house at Clark Henry Park. • May 24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 7804 Equador St., Jersey Village • www.fajita-fest.com • 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • https://hcpl.bibliocommons.com Blood drive The Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 is holding a blood drive. • May 26, 8:30 a.m. • Free • 18334 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring • www.harriscountyesd11.gov
The Centrum 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring www.cypresscreekface.org • May 17: Michael Cavanaugh, 7:30 p.m. The Grove at Swanny’s 6224 Theall Road, Houston www.swannysgrill.com • June 6: Double Header, 7:30 p.m. • June 14: Fab 5, 7:30 p.m. • June 28: Six Gun Sound, 7:30 p.m. Main Street Crossing 111 W. Main St., Tomball
June
‘Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play’ Stageworks Theatre presents a play about spies, murder and love in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast. • June 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21, 7:30 p.m.; June 8, 15 and 22, 3 p.m. • $26-$38.75 (admission)
Momma-Palooza The free community event for moms at Spring Chateau showcases resources, businesses and products for families. The event will feature a $500 giveaway, food trucks, face painting, a bar, photos booths and a panel of speakers. • June 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4010 FM 2920, Spring • www.bit.ly/momma-palooza
Six Gun Sound is performing at the The Grove at Swanny’s on June 28.
• 10760 Grant Road, Houston • www.stageworkshouston.org
Michael Cavanaugh will perform at The Centrum on May 17.
www.mainstreetcrossing.com • May 20: Metalachi, 8 p.m.
COURTESY MICHAEL CAVANAUGH
COURTESY SIX GUN SOUND
Financial literacy workshop Learn the fundamentals of building a business at a ve- part workshop for children ages 10-14 at the Barbara
• May 21: The Young Dubliners, 8 p.m. • May 22: Yacht Rock tribute, 8 p.m. • May 23: James McMurtry, 8 p.m. • May 24-25: Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, 8 p.m. • May 27: The Secret Sisters, 8 p.m. • May 28: ZZ Top tribute, 8 p.m. • May 29: Albert Cummings, 8 p.m. • May 30: Bob Seger tribute, 8 p.m. • May 31: Beach Boys tribute, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
MB Speakeasy 417 Gentry St., Ste. A, Spring www.oldtownspringlivemusic.com • May 22: Jonny Pride, 7 p.m. • May 24: Jay Bee, 7 p.m. • May 25, June 1 and 8 : Yelba and Roy, 4 p.m. • May 29: Mike Gallo, 7 p.m.
Vintage Park 110 Vintage Park Blvd., Houston www.vintageparkhouston.com • May 23: AJ Santana, 7 p.m. • May 24: Joseph Rauma, 7 p.m. • May 25: Louis Chacón, 7 p.m. • May 30: Dan Golvach, 7 p.m.
Bush Branch Library. • June 9-12, 1-3 p.m. • Free
• 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • https://hcpl.bibliocommons.com
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20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!
A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison
OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts
Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.
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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION
DETOURS
Clods and Monsters
Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.
acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”
The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314
YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”
The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH
OH. —Lauren Larson
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
MADE IN TEXAS
The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL
OUT THERE
Meanwhile, In Texas
In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.
THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.
Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda
Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.
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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION
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