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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11 MARCH 26 APRIL 22, 2021
ONLINE AT
Winter event sends shivers through Texas
Widespread effects
Two days after outages peaked statewide, 29,600 residents across seven ZIP codes in the Lake Houston area were without power. The Atascocita, Humble and Houston re departments responded to 695 calls between Feb. 14-20. At its peak Feb. 18-20, 3.47million Harris County residents were under a boil-water notice. SOURCES: CENTERPOINT ENERGY, ENTERGY TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ, MATT DULIN, KELLY SCHAFLER & EVA VIGH
When winter storms brought record-low temperatures to Texas in mid-February, millions of people lost power for days, and tens of thousands of homes su ered plumbing damage caused by frozen pipes. Among the residents and businesses a ected by the storm’s turbulence was Autumn Grove Cottage Humble, CONTINUED ON 14
Local resident Rossi Morgan photographed the icy West Lake Houston Parkway in Kingwood the morning of Feb. 17. (Courtesy Rossi Morgan)
Disabilityorganizationso er stability throughout pandemic
WEIGHING IN
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities conducted its second survey last fall to explore the needs of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities amid the pandemic. Here are the survey results.
51%
56%
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
The TCDD’s third survey, which aims to gather more feedback from the community, will remain open through April 30.
93% of 114 respondents said access to health care had worsened. said their socialization had worsened.
said access to therapies had worsened.
Shortlyafter the rst casesofCOVID-19werereported in Harris County in March 2020, sta at The Village Centers—a Kingwood nonpro t that o ers services for adults with developmental disabilities—said they called the families of assisted-living clients and asked if they wanted them home to avoid exposure. Executive Director and founder Kim Brusatori said
65% were concerned about school safety protocols.
To take part in the survey, visit surveymonkey.com /r/tcddcovid21
SOURCE: TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COVID 19 2020 SURVEY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
CONTINUED ON 16
CAMP GUIDE 2021
Harris County, Houston acquire land for detention
LOCAL SUMMER CAMPS
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHISMONTH
FROMKIM: Spring is ahead! We added one hour of daylight this month to enjoy the weather and the magni cent spring owers blooming across our area. Bluebonnets are the o cial ower of Texas, and you can nd them right here in the Humble area at Mercer Botanic Gardens; there is a patch in its wild ower section. You can read about the garden’s 40-acre expansion on Page 9. Kim Giannetti, GENERALMANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROMKELLY: One of the front-page stories this month looks at the e ects of the recent winter storm on the Lake Houston area. Between Feb. 14-20, local re departments in Kingwood, Atascocita and Humble responded to a combined 695 calls, including res and collapsed ceilings from broken water pipes. Almost 30,000 local residents remained without power Feb. 17 before most areas regained power Feb. 18. Kelly Scha er, EDITOR
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BUSINESS &DINING Local business development news that a ects you
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2021
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
COMPILED BY ANDY LI & KELLY SCHAFLER
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4 IONE Flooring , a locally owned business, opened Feb. 26 at 1424 Northpark Drive, Ste. D, Kingwood. Owner Oscar Solorzano said his business sells various ooring for homes, businesses and builders, including hardwood, vinyl plank, carpet and porcelain tile. The business also provides in-home measurements and installation. 713-484-9975. www.ione ooring.com 5 Dunkin’ opened March 4 at 991 Northpark Drive, Kingwood. The new location features the chain bakery’s new modern design; drive-thru lanes; and a new tap system o ering signature drinks, such as co ees, iced teas, cold brew and nitro-infused cold brew. Dunkin’ serves doughnuts, sandwiches and other baked goods. The business does not yet have a phone number. www.dunkindonuts.com COMING SOON 6 Pavilion at The Groves , a luxury apartment community, will open in late spring at 15951 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble, according to a property management coordinator from Martin Fein Interests. The 318-unit community will have one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as three-bedroom townhomes. Pavilion is part of The Groves, a master-planned community in Atascocita. 281-458-3580. www.pavilionatthegroves.com 7 Mr. Gatti’s Pizza , a pizza franchise, will open an eatery in late April or early May at 1345 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood. Franchisee owners Jessi Juarez and Viviana De La Cruz said the eatery is a full-service bu et o ering pizzas, pastas, salads and chicken wings and has an arcade. The pizza chain has two other locations in the Houston area. 832-644-8780. www.gattispizza.com 8 Kalera , a national farming company, will open its biggest vertical hydroponic farm in late spring or early summer at 7159 Rankin Road, Humble. Kalera will manufacture living lettuce and salad mixes from this facility. Kalera Chief Information O cer Jeremy Johnston said the company is hiring employees, including horticulturists, a team lead and a general manager. Candidates can apply at https://careers.kalera.com. 407-574-8204. www.kalera.com
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FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON Nonpro t organization Texas Litter Control will open a new clinic in May at 19333 Hwy. 59 N., Ste. 230, Humble. The organization will o er various low-cost veterinary services, such as spaying, neutering, exams, vaccines and heartworm prevention. TLC Executive Director Deana Sellens said the organization, which opened in February 2013, also provides adoption services, community education and surgery training for high-volume spay and neuter veterinarians. The Humble clinic will replace the Greenspoint clinic at 412 N. Sam Houston Parkway COURTESY TEXAS LITTER CONTROL Texas Litter Control will also o er dog and cat adoptions at its newHumble clinic.
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E., Houston. 281-528-1238. www.texaslittercontrol.org
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NOWOPEN 1 Krab Kingz Seafood opened at 9526 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Ste. 3113, Humble, on March 17. Co-owner Sam Wright said the Cajun seafood franchise is special for its commitment to fresh food. The eatery’s menu features various seafood platters that can include snow crab, lobster tail, fried sh, and fried and grilled shrimp. 346-342-1986. www.facebook.com/ krabkingzseafoodhumble 2 Kiddie Academy of Atascocita opened Jan. 3 at 12010 Madera Run Parkway, Humble, according to Ashlar Development Vice President Mike Miller. The academy is located in The Groves community and is N . L A K E H O U S T
one of 21 Kiddie Academy locations in the Greater Houston area. The early-education franchise provides child care ranging from infant and toddler care to kindergarten to after-school and summer camp programs. 346-444-8700. www.kiddieacademy.com /academies/atascocita 3 Lux Dental Studio , a locally owned business, opened in early March at 12230 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Ste. 225, Houston. Dr. Yarima Newlin o ers various dental services, including veneers, implants, endodontics, temporomandibular joint treatment, teeth whitening and routine exams and cleaning at the Summerwood-area business. 281-768-8920. https://luxdentalstudio.com
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9 Camp Bow Wow , a national dog care franchise, will open a location in late April or early May at 11321 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Humble. Franchisee Christine Reese said the facility will o er a variety of services for dogs, including day care, boarding with a 24-hour monitoring system and grooming. The facility will also o er training in the future. 832-304-3641. www.campbowwow.com
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2021
TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES
COMPILED BY KELLY SCHAFLER
KINGWOOD
LAKE HOUSTON bridge just south of Lowe Road, while B Segment 2 is from the bridge to 400 feet south of Northpark. Timeline: fall 2021-23 Cost: $6.4 million (Segment 1); TBD (Segment 2) Funding source: Montgomery County Precinct 4 ONGOING PROJECTS 2 Rankin Road improvement UPCOMING PROJECTS 1 Sorters McClellan Road expansion Montgomery County Precinct 4 will bid the Sorters McClellan Road expansion project in April. The project, which has two segments, will expand the road from two to four lanes with a center turn lane between FM 1314 and Northpark Drive. A Segment 1 spans from FM 1314 to the The city of Humble broke ground in March on the Rankin Road improvement project. The project will widen and repave the roadway between the Union Pacific Corp. railroad and South Houston Avenue. It will also install a new storm sewer, replace the existing water line and install a pedestrian bridge on the south side of the road
3 Community Drive improvement Construction began March 10 on Montgomery County Precinct 4’s Community Drive improvement project in New Caney. The two-lane road is being expanded to have two lanes with a continual turning lane between the Hwy. 59 service road and Loop 494. New storm sewers will also be constructed to improve drainage. The project will take 180 days to complete. Timeline: March 10-September Cost: $1.61 million Funding source: Montgomery County Precinct 4 4 Timber Forest Drive extension A joint project from Harris County precincts 1 and 2 and Humble ISD to extend Timber Forest Drive south of Madera Run Parkway to Lakewood Pines Boulevard began in late December. The project will create a four-lane bridge over the Union Pacific Corp. railroad with a median and sidewalks. The project will create a thoroughfare to HISD’s Centennial Elementary School, which is located at the corner of Timber Forest Drive and Lakewood Pines. The project will wrap up in May or June. Timeline: Dec. 30, 2020-summer 2021 Cost: $7.64 million Funding sources: Harris County precincts 1 and 2, Humble ISD
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running across Garners Bayou. Timeline: March 1-March 2022 Cost: $3.65 million Funding source: city of Humble
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 22. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT LHKNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
ENVIRONMENT City, county acquireWoodridgeVillage for regional detention basin
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Kingwood area as well as many homes along the county line,” Martin’s statement said. Harris County and the city of Houston approved an interlocal agreement in December to buy Woodridge Village. Negotiations had been ongoing for months as Harris County requested Houston match all of the county’s ood plain development standards before an agreement could be reached. The city reportedly agreed to the development criteria, according to Harris County Flood Control District o cials. “This is a great example of government doing what government is supposed to do—listening to the people who live in those neighborhoods and working to protect them from future ooding, and I appreciate the added bene t of getting the city of Houston to adopt stricter regulations closer in line with those of Harris County,” Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle said in the news release.
FORD RD.
After more than a year of negotiations, the city of Houston and Harris County sealed the deal on acquiring the in-progress Woodridge Village development, which the entities are seeking to transform into a regional stormwater detention facility. The land is north of Kingwood in Montgomery County and was meant to be a community from Figure Four Partners, a subsidiary of Perry Homes. The roughly 268-acre development was accused of causing ooding in Kingwood neighborhoods twice in May and September 2019. The Harris County Flood Control District announced the $14 million land purchase from Figure Four Partners in a news release March 4. Houston Mayor Pro TemDave Martin, who represents District E in Kingwood, said in the release he was thrilled to see the city and county partner on the ood-mitigation project. “This purchase is integral for investment in the future of the
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The in-progress Woodridge Village residential development was accused of ooding Kingwood neighborhoods twice in 2019. (Courtesy Bob Rehak at reduce ooding.com)
NEXT STEPS FOR THE LAND
The city of Houston and Harris County purchased the 268-acre Woodridge Village property—located north of Kingwood—and will now focus on turning it into a regional detention facility.
• An engineering analysis will determine stormwater detention volume, the project’s bene t to the community, and the project’s cost and funding. • The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority board of directors has
discussed taking out a $30 million bond to help fund the detention area. • Lawsuits are still ongoing from Kingwood residents who led against Figure Four Partners—a subsidiary of Perry Homes—and other connected parties.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2021
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Mercer Botanic Gardens begins rst phase of park’smaster plan rebuild
AMASTER PLAN
Harris County Precinct 4 began Phase 1 of a master plan redesign for Mercer Botanic Gardens in March. The preliminary design for the 40-acre eastern expansion includes numerous new features, but they may change as development moves forward.
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
“We’ve always talked about that property south of us, so it’s kind of exciting [after] all the years I’ve been here to be able to obtain it and start growing the gardens more,” he said. Construction on Phase 1 of the master plan began March 8 and will be completed in late September, Ludwig said. The $4.98 million phase includes building a wet-bottom retention area and three new greenhouses and using the soil from the retention basin to elevate the property to the ood line of Harvey. The new greenhouses, which will be south of the garden’s future maintenance and operations center site, will replace the greenhouses in the Central Garden that were ooded by Harvey. Ludwig said the existing greenhouses will be removed and turned into a green space for events. County o cials have said they hope to return to the preliminary master plan in 2022 to determine future phases, build-out timelines and funding, he said.
New greenhouses (Phase 1) Retention pond (Phase 1) Mercer Conservatory Center Oval Lawn Seven Sisters Greenhouses
Japanese Garden Ziggurat (a spiral mound) Outdoor amphitheater Boardwalk Community event barn
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Harris County Precinct 4 began construction in March on the rst phase of a master plan to redesign Mercer Botanic Gardens, a roughly 400-acre park between Spring and Humble o FM 1960. The garden, located at 22306 Aldine West eld Road, Humble, is on both sides of Aldine West eld Road. The east side of the garden consists of the botanic gardens, at Baldwin Boettcher Library and several miles of trails. The west side is the arboretum with a playground, picnic areas, a bog, a swamp and walking trails. Mercer Botanic Gardens Director Chris Ludwig said a master plan emerged after Hurricane Harvey brought 10 to 12 feet of oodwaters through Mercer in August 2017. In late 2019, the preliminary redesign for Mercer was completed, including ood-mitigation strategies and plans for the 40 acres the precinct acquired to the garden’s south.
40 ACRE EXPANSION EXISTING PARK TRAILS
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Humble, NewCaney ISDs continuemaskmandates for now
County hires new health director
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
amend the resolution. Additionally, trustees said they worry on-campus attendance will decline if they lift the mandate before the school year ends, a move that would a ect the district’s average guarantee—which began at the start of the pandemic to ensure school districts would receive funding based on attendance projections made prior to the public health crisis—is o ered if on-campus attendance rates do not decline or remain at 80% or higher, per state leaders. Trustee Robert Scarfo said HISD daily attendance funding. The state’s hold-harmless could lose $7 million if roughly 2,200 students moved to virtual. While HISD will revisit the mask policy, other local school districts extended the requirement through the school year. New Caney ISD announced March 9 it would continue requiring masks through the end of the school year.
CHAINOF EVENTS When Gov. Greg Abbott announced March 2 that the statewide mask mandate would be lifted, it created a domino e ect of state and local educators making quick decisions on their COVID-19 policies. March 3: The Texas Education Agency releases updated guidance recommending mask mandates stay in place but allowing school districts to submit a waiver to determine their local mask policies. Educators and school sta become eligible for the vaccine. March 9: New Caney ISD announces it will continue to require masks through the 2020-21 school year. The Humble ISD board of trustees vote to inde nitely continue the mandate but discuss it again at the next meeting. April 13: HISD trustees will revisit the mask mandate. SOURCES: HUMBLE ISD, NEW CANEY ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Humble and New Caney ISDs decided to keep mask requirements in place for the time being following Gov. Greg Abbott announcing in early March that the statewide mask mandate would be lifted March 10. The Texas Education Agency then released updated health guidance recommending masks be worn but added school boards could determine local mask policies. At the March 9 school board meeting, HISD trustees unanimously voted to create their own mask policy as to not adhere exactly to the TEA’s mask guidelines, which were reportedly more strict than the district previously had in place. Trustees agreed the mask policy should continue—at least
Harris County commissioners unanimously voted BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
March 9 to name Barbie Robinson the next executive director of Harris County Public Health. Robinson will take the reins from interim Director Gwen Sims, who took over following the resignation of Dr. Umair Shah in December. Harris County launched a national search for Shah’s replacement in November, and the decision to select Robinson was made at a March 9 Commissioners Court meeting following an executive session. Robinson serves as director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services in California. A date has not yet been given for when Robinson will take over HCPH. Barbie Robinson
temporarily—to allowmore educators to get vaccinated.
However, a trustee asked to discuss the mandate again at April’s board meeting, leaving room for HISD to
9
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2021
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A lot. Even small steps can make a big difference. Start with a visit to a primary care doctor at a Harris Health community health center near you. As your partner in good health, we can help you lower your blood pressure, lose extra weight, prevent diabetes or even learn to cope with stress and anxiety. get healthier? What can I do to
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2021
C A M P G U I D E
GUIDE
A noncomprehensive list of camps in the area
COMPILED BY DANICA LLOYD & KELLY SCHAFLER
School of Rock , a Kingwood music facility, o ers ve-day camps, including a beginners Rock 101 camp, a songwriting camp and more advanced camps for fans of Green Day and The Beatles. Campers ages 7-17 of any skill level can learn to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. ART DAY Dates: June 7-11, June 21-25, June 28-July 2, July 16-19, July 19-23 Cost: $495 per week 1580 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood 281-358-7625 https://locations.schoolofrock.com/ kingwood/music-camps Summer Nature Camp is a four-day camp at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center for ages 5-12. At Amazing Arthropods, campers are split into three age groups in which they can hike, play outdoor games and do crafts. Harris County residents receive priority registration May 3. DAY NATURE Dates: June-August Cost: free 20634 Kenswick Drive, Humble 281-446-8588 www.hcp4.net/parks/jjp Summer Science Safari is a science-oriented camp that takes fth- through eighth-graders on eld trips to rock climb, scuba dive and zip-line. Masks and temperature checks are required. All adult leaders must be vaccinated, and students must test negative for COVID-19 before camp. A+ DAY NIGHT Dates: June 7-11, June 21-25, July 12-16 Cost: $699 3603 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood 832-305-8572 www.summersciencesafari.com YMCA Camp Cullen o ers campers ages 5-17 activities such as water sports, horseback riding, nature exploration, science, arts and drama. Teen leadership camps are also o ered. ART NIGHT SP
Parents looking for camps for their kids have a number of options to choose from in the Lake Houston, Humble and Kingwood area, including virtual options for families looking to socially distance during the pandemic. This list is not comprehensive.
A+ Academics ART Arts DAY Day NIGHT Overnight SP Sports NATURE Nature/outdoors
Preschoolers can play, craft, do obstacle courses and dress up. Other ages attend eld trips, swim and play games. DAY Dates: June 1-Aug. 5 Cost: $207-$239 per week 3838 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood 281-358-9446 www.kidsinaction.net Krafty Shack o ers camps on weekdays for age 5 and older. Campers of all abilities can choose from ceramics, slime, embroidery, jewelry making and decorating. ART DAY Dates: May 31-Aug. 6 Cost: $20 per day 2614 Chestnut Ridge Drive, Kingwood 281-359-7775 www.kraftyshack.com Mercer Morning Club is held on Wednesdays in June and July. Ages 6-11 can explore science and nature by learning about habitats, mammals, reptiles, birds and insects as well as hiking and crafting. Limited space is available. DAY NATURE Dates: June 23 and 30, July 14 and 21 Cost: free 22306 Aldine West eld Road, Humble 713-274-4160 www.hcp4.net/parks/mercer Pinspiration o ers ages 5-12 the chance to do up to three crafts, listen to stories and do exercises. Themes include Pirates and Mermaids, Under the Sea and pets. A+ ART DAY Dates: May 31-Aug. 6 Cost: $45 per day; $210 per week 1310 Northpark Drive, Ste. 800, Kingwood 832-480-2526 www.pinspiration.com/kingwood
SUMMERCAMPS Camp Olympia has one- to three-week sessions for ages 6-16 that feature sports, kayaking, sailing, swimming, dance, arts and crafts, drama, horseback riding, mini-golf, yoga and other activities. ART NIGHT SP
Mercer Morning Club COURTESY HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4
Dates: June 6-Aug. 7 Cost: $1,295-$2,795 460 Cullen Loop, Ste. A, Trinity 936-594-2274 www.ymcacampcullen.org YMCA Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides a place for campers ages 5-15 to do numerous activities, including sports, swimming, art, hiking, archery and fort building. The Lake Houston Family YMCA hosts ve-day camp sessions in which all sta are required to wear face coverings. ART DAY SP Dates: June 1-Aug. 13 Cost: $175-$215 per week 2420 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood 281-360-2500 www.ymcahouston.org/lake-houston- family-ymca VIRTUAL CAMPS Language Kids World o ers virtual camps in Kingwood for ages 4-11. Campers can register for the general Spanish program or create their own program and choose from Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, English or American Sign Language. A+ Dates: June 1-Aug. 27 Cost: $75 per week 281-565-1388 www.languagekids.com
Dates: May 30-Aug. 7 Cost: $1,925-$4,750 723 Olympia Drive, Trinity 936-594-2541 www.campolympia.com
Creativity Shell o ers a ve-day camp for ages 5-17 to sew, craft and cook. Class themes include Gnome Sweet Gnome, interior design, Harry Potter recipes, costumes and fashion. ART DAY Dates: June 1-Aug. 6 Cost: $200-$250 per week 1580 Kingwood Drive, Ste. A, Kingwood 832-943-9767 www.creativityshell.org Imagine Early Education and Childcare Atascocita o ers three camp options for ages 5-13 that campers can choose from weekly. The traditional camp features themed activities, such as arts and crafts and educational games. Speciality camps focus on speci c themes, such as cooking, science or tness. The facility also o ers services for pre-kindergarteners. A+ ART DAY NATURE SP Dates: May 31-Aug. 13 Cost: $150-$250 6002 Atascocita Road, Humble 281-623-5965 www.imaginechild.com/atascocita Kids in Action o ers camps for Humble and New Caney ISDs students ages 3-11.
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11
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2021
BUSINESS FEATURE
BY ANDY LI
PERFECTLY BALANCED BREW Although many elements go into developing and crafting beer at Megaton Brewery, there are three basic elements to a beer. Grain bill is the type of barley that is roasted to di erent degrees depending on the type of beer, such as an ale or a stout. Yeast is a fungi that provides speci c avors and smells within a beer. Hops is a ower that provides bitterness, scent and stability to beer.
The brewery crafts several of its own beers. (Courtesy Megaton Brewery)
Megaton hopes to bring local artisans and performers into its taproom. (Courtesy Megaton Brewery)
Megaton Brewery opened in March 2019—one year before the pandemic forced it to adapt. (Courtesy Megaton Brewery)
Megaton Brewery Gaming taproom looks to bring guests together as COVID 19 restrictions lift A fter creating a steampunk atmosphere and brewing its own beers, Megaton of a video game universe,” he said. Montgomery and Sarvadi brew many of the beers at Megaton it was nothing like its previous gaming taproom experience.
The taproom reopened in a limited capacity in October, but Sarvadi said they plan to allow larger groups in the taproom now that businesses are allowed to return to full capacity as of March 10. Additionally, the friends also hope to soon bring in vendors for local artisan markets and performers for regular musical nights as well as celebrating Megaton’s anniversary April 24, since the pandemic prevented them from truly celebrating last year. “There is nothing around that does live music, so we’re trying to ll the void, make [Megaton] the House of Blues, per se, of the north side of town,” Sarvadi said.
MegatonBrewery 808 Russell Palmer Road, Kingwood 281-973-9043 www.megatonbeer.com Hours: Fri. 4-11 p.m., Sat. 1-11 p.m., closed Sun.-Thu. From left: Co-owners Chris Sarvadi and Jered Montgomery run Megaton. (Andy Li/Community Impact Newspaper)
Brewery’s owners said they look forward with uncertain hope. Co-owners Jered Montgomery and Chris Sarvadi, who have known each other since 2012, always hoped to open a brewery together. After forming industry connections, the friends opened Megaton Brewery in Kingwood in March 2019. For the brewery’s decor, Montgomery said he wanted to incorporate the steampunk aesthetic of video games such as “Fallout” and the fun of arcades as an homage to his youth in the ‘80s. “We have a lot of fans that love what we do, and so they bring us di erent things that come right out
Brewery, which include ales, stouts, ports and India pale ale brews. The process of creating a new brew begins with an idea, Sarvadi said. “It starts with a whiteboard and beer. That’s it,” Sarvadi said. Montgomery said brewing involves nding a balance between basic ingredients, such as hops, malts and yeast, and less traditional avors like honey—used in their agship beer, Atomic Chariot. The brewery celebrated its rst year in business shortly before the coronavirus pandemic caused businesses to close last March. The brewery opened for drive-thru and to-go drinks, but Montgomery said
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
PEOPLE Merle Aaron Mayor of Humble to retire after two terms
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
As mayor of Humble, Merle Aaron starts every day by sitting down and having co ee with his wife, Linda. By 8:30 a.m., Aaron is at Humble City Hall, visiting with the Humble Police or Public Works departments. He takes phone calls from the Humble ISD board of trustees or local residents, and participates in the bimonthly City Council meetings. In January, Aaron announced he would not seek re-election for a third term in the May 1 election. Instead, he will retire in May to spend more time with his wife, whom he has been married to for almost 63 years, and travel as soon as it is safe to do so. “Not long after I retire, I’ll be 83 [years old],” Aaron said. “I plan on spending the rest of my time making 84 and 85 years with my wife more pro table. ... We’re a pretty simple couple. We love our kids; we cater to them, and then we just like to travel and do things together.” The founder of local business Aaron Mechanical, Aaron has spent the last 16 years serving the Humble community: 10 years as a City Council member and six years as mayor. He and his family have lived in the Humble area for almost 60 years. Aaron was rst elected to a vacant seat on City Council in 2005, and his top priorities were improving infrastructure and nancial stability. While serving in government, Aaron said he is most proud of his role in transforming Harris County’s old annex building into the courthouse and restoring the Humble Cemetery. When he decided to run for mayor
in 2015, Aaron said his wife, three children, eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren were supportive. With his family campaigning while donning purple T-shirts that read “Merle Aaron for Mayor” and “Pa-Pa for Mayor,” Aaron was elected the 14th mayor of Humble in May 2015. Throughout his six years as Humble’s mayor, Aaron helped the city weather through four major storm events as well as the coronavirus pandemic. Aaron said he has most enjoyed knowing his door was always open to the community. “Everybody’s equal,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anybody that walks in that door [who] has less importance to me than the other one does.” Two candidates have led for his position in the May election: Arliss Bentley and Norman Funderburk. The advice Aaron said he would give the victor is to sleep on big decisions and attend as many local and regional meetings as possible. “I would say no knee-jerk reactions,” he said. “Think about it, and be a good listener and read everything that you can get your hands on.” Once retired, Aaron said he will not likely stop participating in the community, whether it be at his church—United City Baptist Church— or a nearby hospital. He said he looks forward to watching Humble’s growth and downtown revitalization. “I think the best days for Humble are ahead,” he said. “I think that we will see an atmosphere in Humble that will be envied by a lot of people and a lot of cities.”
Merle Aaron, who has served as the 14th mayor of Humble since 2015, will retire in May. (Photos by Kelly Scha er/Community Impact Newspaper)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Humble Mayor Merle Aaron has been in city government for 16 years. He helped make changes within the city. City Council member (2005-15) • Transformed Harris County’s old annex building into the City Courthouse • Approved the Downtown Improvement Program in April 2015 • Restored the Humble Cemetery Mayor of Humble (2015-21) • Secured the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County’s General Mobility Program rebate through 2040 • Saw the city’s property tax revenue nearly double • Opened the new Humble Museum in November • Was recognized in the Texas Legislature in 2018 for his contribution to Humble MAJOREVENTS Aaron also navigated the city through numerous large-scale events. • Memorial Day ood in May 2015 • Tax Day ood in April 2016 • Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 • Tropical Storm Imelda in September 2019 • COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020 SOURCES: MERLE AARON, CITY OF HUMBLE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Aaron’s wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren supported him when he ran for mayor in 2015.
Aaron helped transform an old annex building into the city’s courthouse.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2021
Off the Grid
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas oversees the state’s electric grid. Meanwhile, areas of east Texas are part of the Eastern Interconnection, and its reliability coordinator is the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, which powers 15 U.S. states.
Millions of CenterPoint Energy customers in the Houston area were without power the week of Feb. 14-19; countywide outage estimates have not been provided. About 60,000 Entergy Texas customers in Montgomery County were also without power.
CenterPoint Energy Entergy Texas (Montgomery County only)
1.5 million
1.37M 1.34M
Outages & Consequences ERCOT • 4.3 million Texans without power at 9 a.m. Feb. 16 • 1.42 million out of 2.4 million CenterPoint Energy customers in Texas were a ected by outages Feb. 15 • CenterPoint, which is part of ERCOT’s grid, services the Greater Houston area. • ERCOT board members resigned; CEO red • Under investigation by Texas Legislature
1.2 million
99 TOLL
900,000
891,771
600,000
494
1314
PORTER
300,000
57,966 36,657 15,000
22,134
11,469 2,377
59
0
5,374 1,160
N/A
Feb. 14 Feb. 15 Feb. 16 Feb. 17 Feb. 18 Feb. 19
KINGWOOD
MISO
of CenterPoint Energy customers were without
of Entergy Texas customers were without power Feb. 15.
power Feb. 15. 59.17%
32.82%
half of the calls were for emergency medical services, per AFD data. AFD Chief Michael Mulligan said the department responded to 50% of its monthly call volume in six days, leading AFD to watch sta closely to ensure they were not overworked. “We try to do this during unusual circumstances, although the last 12 months have all been unusual,” he said. “Our hope is that wewill maintain the physical and emotional wellness of our members.” Additionally, the Humble and Houston re departments responded to a combined 288 calls between Feb. 14-19 in Humble and Kingwood, o cials at the departments said. Harris County Engineering Department o cials estimated around 55,000 homes in unincorporated areas had pipe damage, with some of that happening in local school districts. Humble and New Caney ISDs • 155,238 out of 473,000 Entergy Texas customers were a ected by outages at its peak • Entergy, which is part of MISO’s grid, services Montgomery County. • No apparent investigation into MISO. • Lawsuit against Entergy has been led
K I N G
NOTE: ENTERGY TEXAS DID NOT PROVIDE HISTORICAL OUTAGE DATA FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY. OUTAGES LISTED WERE PEAK OUTAGES AS REPORTED BY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER; THE NEWSPAPER DID NOT TRACK OUTAGES ON FEB. 14. CENTERPOINT ENERGY DATA SHOWS OUTAGES AT 6 P.M. DAILY. SOURCES: CENTERPOINT ENERGY, ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS, ENTERGY TEXAS, MIDCONTINENT INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
HUMBLE
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1960
CenterPoint Energy and Entergy Texas. CenterPoint is in the state’s grid and is coordinated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Entergy is part of the Eastern Interconnection, and its reliability coordinator is the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, which powers 15 U.S. states. Prior to the storm, ERCOT did alert generators and distribution partners that the storm would bring “record- breaking demand” to the system, but some lawmakers said decisions made years ago—such as failing to protect facilities from harsh cold conditions— set up the grid for potential failure. Entergy had winterized its power plants and transmission grid by adding wind breaks, heaters and insulation, said Allison Payne, senior communications specialist of Entergy Texas. Still, the company will review of what could have been done better.
reported damages from burst pipes, with NCISD estimating $500,000 in damages. HISD o cials said the cost of damages were not yet available. Although a portion of the Lake Houston area is serviced by a separate grid, the isolated energy grid that services most of the state was one of several faults pointed out by critics that contributed to devastating outages that have since led to a political reckoning. “Texans accept a culture of independence and competition— until it fails. Then it’s a test of our culture,” said Bruce Race, a University of Houston professor and director of the Center for Sustainability and Resilience. “This was a shock, an event that, as shocks do, they reveal theweak points in any system.” Maintaining thegrid The Lake Houston area is serviced by two electricity providers:
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an community that specializes in memory care in Atascocita. On Feb. 16, the ceiling collapsed around the facility’s 15 residents and one caregiver, causing at least $20,000 in damages, said David Keaton, president of Retirement Center Management, the facility’s management company. He said the cold temperature burst the building’s sprinkler system. assisted-living “The generator was red up, but it was still just so darn cold that the heat in the building was not su cient enough,” he said. Atascocita Fire Department responded to the call, transporting residents and caregivers to a Rice Village memory care facility; residents returned home several days later. That was one of 407 calls AFD responded to from Feb. 14-20. About
I N- STORE & ONL I NE MAR 19-APR 17
*Twin Sourced Wine Sale runs 3/19/21-4/17/21. Discount applies to two or more bottles of Twin Sourced Wine. No further discount on Sale Items, Final Few, or Closeouts. Sale valid in-store and online at www.twinliquors.com. Some exclusions apply. Please drink responsibly.
TWO OR MORE BOTTLES OF SOURCED WI NE *
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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