Cypress Edition | December 2023

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Cypress Edition VOLUME 15, ISSUE 4 DEC. 6, 2023 JAN. 11, 2024

Killian set to lead Cy-Fair ISD

BY DAVE MANNING

The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees unanimously approved Doug Killian as the lone nalist in the search for a new superintendent Nov. 13, concluding a ve-month search process. Killian will replace Superintendent Mark Henry, who held the post for 12 years. Henry’s retirement is eective this December, he announced in a May 8 message to the community. CFISD trustees who participated in the search process noted Killian’s dedication to service; his com- mitment to students’ welfare in supportive learning environments; his understanding of school nance and other legislative issues; and his readiness to embrace the district’s motto of “Opportunity for All.” Killian has 20 years of superin- tendent experience and is currently the superintendent of Pugerville ISD, where he has served since 2017. Prior to PfISD, Killian served as superintendent for Hutto, Human and Poteet ISDs. He began his career in United ISD as a rst grade teacher, according to a CFISD news release.

“I’d just like to say to the community of Cy-Fair that I do take the job very seriously; that it's a trust. And it's a job where I serve, and I want to commit to everybody here that I will serve the community in the best interests of children for the entire time I'm here.” DOUG KILLIAN, PFLUGERVILLE ISD SUPERINTENDENT

Cy-Fair ISD’s next superintendent, Doug Killian (left), and retiring superintendent Mark Henry support their alma maters at a Nov. 13 board meeting with Texas A&M University’s “Gig ‘em Aggies” and The University of Texas’ “Hook ‘em Horns” hand signals, respectively.

CONTINUED ON 28

COURTESY CYFAIR ISD

Also in this issue

Impacts: Crave Fusion Bistro & Cocktails opens in Cypress (Page 6)

Election: See outcomes of the Nov. 7 ballot items (Page 10)

Community: Where to shop for holiday gifts locally (Page 20)

Business: Escape Spa oers holistic wellness (Page 31)

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Impacts

• Opened Nov. 15 • 12215 Grant Road, Ste. E, Cypress • Facebook: Pichurro’s Mexican Grill - Cypress 5 Baker St. Pub & Grill The pub features a full bar as well as British and

G R A N T

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American cuisine. • Opened Nov. 15

L O U E T T

• 22432 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.bakerstreetpub.com

6 Vuori Houston Premium Outlets has opened Vuori, a California-based athleisure brand. • Opened Oct. 6 • 29300 Hempstead Road, Cypress • www.vuoriclothing.com 7 Hope Church The Christian church hosts Sunday services at 10 a.m. and oers a children’s ministry during services. • Opened Sept. 17 • 8301 Jones Road, Ste. 170, Jersey Village • www.hopechurchhouston.org 8 Popshelf The retailer oers merchandise priced at $5 or less, such as home decor, beauty items and cleaning supplies. • Opened Nov. 1 • 13244 Hwy. 290, Houston • www.popshelf.com 9 Moroccan Beauty Center The business provides facial treatments and hair, nail, waxing, microblading and makeup services. • Opened Sept. 19

HOUSE & HAHL RD.

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• Opened Nov. 9 • 18818 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.t2t.org/homeless-veteran-program 3 Charlie’s Sports Bar The new sports bar oers chicken tenders, wings, jalapeno peppers and other classic bar fare. • Grand opening held Dec. 1

Now open

1 Crave Fusion Bistro & Cocktails The eatery serves steak and seafood, such as grilled sh and crab cakes. The venue also oers a full bar. • Opened Oct. 28 • 11702 Grant Road, Ste. C, Cypress • www.cravebistro.com 2 Houston Veterans Village Tunnel to Towers Foundation renovated a Holiday Inn with 161 rooms for veteran housing.

• 16718 House & Hahl Road, Cypress • www.moroccanbeautycenter.com

Resume + Coee Karen Jackson oers remote and in-person resume and cover letter consulting as well as interview preparation. • Opened Aug. 4 • www.resumeandcoffee.com

• 8945 Hwy. 6 N., Ste. 290, Houston • www.facebook.com/charlies281

4 Pichurro’s Mexican Grill The family-owned eatery serves Tex-Mex dishes.

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Coming soon

Now open

In the news

10 The Daly Round The indoor golf facility and lounge oers a full bar and opportunities for team-building events and parties. • Opening in late 2023 • 11734 Barker Cypress Road, Ste. 116, Cypress • www.thedalyround.com

Relocations

11 Jersey Bagels Known for its hand-rolled bagels, the shop relocated to a larger space within the same shopping center. • Relocated in November • 9522 Huffmeister Road, Ste. 500, Houston • www.facebook.com/jerseybagels 12 HappiNest Marriage & Family Therapy Led by Rachel Higgins, the therapy o¤ce recently relocated from 17302 House & Hahl Road, Cypress. • Relocated in August • 17110 House & Hahl Road, Ste. C-13, Cypress • www.happinestmarriageandfamilytherapy.com 13 Cypress Dermatology The practice oers medical and cosmetic dermatology services and is relocating from Hwy. 290. • Relocating Dec. 15 14 Class 101 The franchise helps students prepare for college. It relocated from House & Hahl Road to a larger space. • Relocated Oct. 1 • 10242 Greenhouse Road, Ste. 301, Cypress • www.class101.com 15 Casari’s Paint & Body Shop The family-owned paint and body shop recently relocated from Windfern Road. • 14930 Mueschke Road, Cypress • www.cypressdermatology.com

16 Mochinut The brand oers mochi doughnuts, pastries that are a fusion of traditional American doughnuts and Japanese mochi. Korean rice our hotdogs, bubble tea drinks and soft serve are also on the menu. • Opened in mid-November • 12344 Barker Cypress Road, Ste. 140, Cypress • www.mochinut.com

18 Redsh Seafood Grill The restaurant celebrated its 20th anniversary Nov. 24. Locally owned and operated by Rolita and David Chang, the longstanding restaurant specializes in fusion cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood and sushi. In addition to lunch and dinner specials, the eatery also oers happy hour specials and a full bar.

• 19550 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.red§ishhouston.com

• Relocated Oct. 15 • 18107 Longenbaugh Drive, Ste. E, Cypress • 832-812-6728

In the news

19 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, construction is slated to start later this year. BJ’s serves pizzas, burgers, salads, steaks and more.

Expansions

17 Drake Plastics The local plastics company broke ground on its new 140,000-square-foot headquarters on Nov. 3. • Opening TBD • 14869 Grant Road, Cypress • www.drakeplastics.com

• 25660 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.bjsrestaurants.com

20 Shaka Power Yoga The business is celebrating its fth anniversary throughout December with a free week for new students. • 10611 Fry Road, Ste. 250, Cypress • www.shakapoweryoga.com

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Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE & JESSICA SHORTEN

Local governments are now looking to obligate and use any remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds before an upcoming December 2024 federal deadline. Counties received lump distributions of federal funding in 2021 to ll public revenue losses, invest in broadband and other infrastructure projects, and provide additional pay for essential workers, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury in a news release. Three of the counties which received funding in the Houston area include: • Harris: $915.5 million • Montgomery: $117.9 million • Fort Bend: $157.6 million Any funding not obligated by December 2024 and spent by the end of 2025 must be returned to the U.S. Treasury. County ocials must decide how to use remaining funding and continue supporting pandemic-era programs and employees. Counties balance ARPA shortfalls

ARPA funding allocations

Allocated

Unallocated

AS OF NOVEMBER

Harris County

Montgomery County

Fort Bend County

$158M

$7.4M

$40M

$915.5M Total

$117.9M Total

$157.6M Total

$757M

$110.5M

$117.3M

Jobs and education Housing Health Justice and safety

County operations

Remaining

$227.3M

$192.8M

$141.5M

Harris County

$147.5M

$47.5M

$158M

$39.8M

$42.4M

$2.9M

Montgomery County

$13.2M $11.6M

$7.4M

County ocials divided ARPA funding to meet the prioritized needs of each county.

$56.3M

$27.7M

Fort Bend County

$31.8M

$1.4M

$40M

SOURCES: HARRIS, MONTGOMERY, FORT BEND COUNTIESCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Zooming in

What the experts say

Stay tuned

One of the major expenses counties may need to cover are employees funded by ARPA. In all three counties, a number of employees were hired for positions on mental health teams, law enforce- ment and general infrastructure projects, such as a $21 million contract in Montgomery County to reopen a Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare center and a contract to expand the Harris County jail- based competency restoration program. During scal year 2023-24 budget workshops, all three counties outlined how to spend the remaining funds on new projects and infrastruc- ture eorts, while also considering the salaries which may need to be absorbed by the counties or eliminated once funding is depleted. According to ocials in each county, Harris County’s remaining funds are being targeted toward additional aordable housing eorts. Montgomery County reserved roughly $2 million to fund another year of salaries for ARPA-based employees. Fort Bend County pushed to help additional small businesses with employee funding and grants.

James Thurmond, professor at Hobby School of Public Aairs, said the one-time federal payout was historic for counties and provided an easy way to ll budget holes without requesting additional tax dollars. While ARPA funding was intended to help replace lost public sector revenue to counties, the responsibility of monitoring any budget decits with county funds fell to the counties themselves.

During the FY 2024-25 budget workshops next year, ocials with Harris and Montgomery counties said they will need to discuss employee and program needs to determine whether positions and programs have to be cut or if they can be sustained on county budgets or grants.

ARPA funding deadlines

December 2024: Deadline to allocate remaining funds December 2025: Deadline to spend remaining funds December 2026: Deadline to have all unused funding returned to Treasury

“You just need to be aware when you create a new demand or a new service, is it sustainable with your

current revenue? If it’s not sustainable, then what do you cut? “ JAMES THURMOND, PROFESSOR, UH HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CYPRESS EDITION

Election

BY DANICA LLOYD

3 new trustees, 1 incumbent elected to Cy-Fair ISD board

Three new trustees and one returning incum- bent will serve four-year terms on the Cy-Fair ISD board following the Nov. 7 election. Todd LeCompte, Julie Hinaman, Justin Ray and Christine Kalmbach each won their respective positions, according to results posted by the Harris County Clerk’s Oce. Hinaman is the sole incumbent who sought re-election this year, and she was successful in her race. Newcomers include LeCompte, a business owner; Ray, who works in business development; and local Realtor Kalmbach. All four have had children attend CFISD schools and have either run in previous school board elections or for state-level positions in the Texas House. Diving in deeper Although school boards in Texas are nonparti- san, LeCompte, Ray and Kalmbach were endorsed by the Harris County Republican Party, among

Election results

Incumbent

Winner

Position 1

Position 3

43.68% Todd LeCompte

43.49% Justin Ray

38.11% Tonia Jaeggi

17.35% Michelle Fennick 39.16% Leslie Martone

18.21% Cleveland Lane, Jr.

Position 2

Position 4

45.59% Julie Hinaman

51.06% Christine Kalmbach

42.95% George Edwards, Jr.

48.94% Frances Ramirez Romero

11.46% Ayse Indemaio

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT

other conservative elected ocials and groups. Hinaman and her campaign partners—CFISD volunteers and parents Tonia Jaeggi, Leslie Mar- tone and Frances Ramirez Romero—did not claim aliation with any one political party.

By the numbers About 55,000 votes were cast in each race—up from roughly 35,000 votes cast in each race in the last CFISD school board race in November 2021.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HANNAH BROL, MELISSA ENAJE & LIZZY SPANGLER

Harris Health’s $2.5B hospital bond approved Harris County voters approved funding Harris Health System’s $2.5 billion bond with 72% sup- port on Nov. 7. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia called the bond passage a “huge win” in his ocial statement. The background The bond funding will allow the system to replace and renovate Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital; expand the capacity of Ben Taub Hospital; and create new community clinics in precincts 2, 3 and 4. HHS CEO and President Esmaeil Porsa said the hospitals have failing infrastructure, and the county population is rapidly growing. The system is mandated by law to provide health care services to the uninsured and underinsured populations, but also serves the entire county. The bond is expected to cost the owner of a $300,000 property $6 more per month in taxes.

Voters approve 2 of 3 Jersey Village bond propositions Voters approved two of Jersey Village’s three bond propositions on the Nov. 7 ballot. • Proposition A would have issued $19 million in bonds for pool and park renovations, but 59.27% of voters didn’t support it. • Propositions B and C were approved. They will authorize the issuance of $15.8 million in bonds for water and sewer improvements and $18 million in bonds for road and bridge repairs, respectively. What they’re saying “With these funds, we’re not just xing problems, we’re investing in our future,” Mayor Bobby Warren said in an email Nov. 8.

In one year, Harris Health System serves:

854,313 clinic visits

147,496 emergency room visits

193,727 telehealth clinic visits

SOURCE: HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMCOMMUNITY IMPACT

A closer look Texas has the highest rate of uninsured people in the country, according to the 2021 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. In Houston, 1 in 4 people are without health insurance. Harris County’s population also continues to grow, making the county’s health system insucient in meeting current needs and future demands, HHS ocials said. Both hospitals run by HHS are operating at over 90%-100% daily occupancy.

Harris County ESD 13 has successful tax rate election

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13

Department, in an emailed statement Nov. 8. How we got here ESD 13’s commissioners opted to hold a tax rate election to help meet the needs of the Cypress Creek Fire Department in 2023-24. The district will maintain its tax rate of $0.091852 per $100 valua- tion instead of having to lower it due to legislative mandates.

Voters approved Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13’s tax rate election Nov. 7. According to the Harris County Clerk’s Oce, 62% of voters were in favor. “This will help us fund the projects ... including new apparatus and a maintenance facility, as well as helping the overall budget cope with the in¡ationary pressures everyone is experiencing,” said Richard Lieder, chief of the Cypress Creek Fire

249

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1960

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 13COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY APRIL KELLEY

Streak of daily trac fatalities reaches 23 years in Texas

Nov. 7 marked 23 years of daily tra c fatalities on Texas roadways, according to the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation. The gist According to TxDOT, Texas has not had one day without a tra c fatality since Nov. 7, 2000, and more than 83,000 people have lost their lives on roadways since. While there was one day in February which has a single tra c fatality, an average of 12 deaths occur on Texas roadways daily, according to a Nov. 7 news release. “Each life lost means a family, neighborhood and community are impacted for a lifetime, and we take safety very seriously as we work to end this horrible streak,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in the release. “But it’s going to take all of us working together to get this done.” A total of 4,481 tra c fatalities occurred in 2022 in Texas, down 16 from the 4,497 that occurred

5K 4K 3K 2K 1K 0 Trac fatalities 20032023

*AS OF OCT. 6

17.24% increase from 2003-2022.

SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

in 2021, according to TxDOT. Tra c fatalities, however, were higher in 2022 than they were in 2020, which saw 3,896 total tra c fatalities. Background TxDOT launched its #EndTheStreakTX cam- paign Nov. 15, 2016, to raise awareness of daily tra c fatalities and to encourage safe driving, with

the goal of ending the daily streak of deaths. TxDOT asks all Texans to: • Make the best and safest decisions behind the wheel. • Don’t drive under the inuence of alcohol and/or drugs. • Always wear a seat belt and obey tra c laws.

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Education

BY DAVE MANNING

Cy-Fair ISD board President Tom Jackson participates in Read Across America Day 2022.

TONY BULLARDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COURTESY CY FAIR ISD

Cy-Fair ISD board President Tom Jackson retires from trustee service after 12 years Cy-Fair ISD board President Tom Jackson has been a trustee since 2011 and did not seek re- election in November.

sub-population. There are several other areas: • Language immersion • Summer academic camps • Layers of safety • Higher salaries for teachers and sta • Enhanced technology capabilities of the district • Attractive and functional security fencing • Enhanced academic focus for athletes Is there anything you would have changed about your time on the board? If I had more time to give, I would spend even more time cultivating relationships with elected ocials to advocate for appropriate funding for the district. What sets CFISD apart from other school districts? Like all schools, we believe in opportunity for all. The dierence is how you implement the concept. We are somewhat unique in that we believe in asset protection, which translates into renovations at older campuses so that facilities provide similar benets irrespective of where you live. For example, we have librarians and pro- fessional nurses at all campuses in addition to reading and math specialists. The large campus footprint means we have no need for specialty campuses. For example, every high school has well developed [career and technical education]

oerings [including] welding shop, culinary department and cosmetology department. Every high school oers advanced placement and dual- credit opportunities for students. What are the pros and cons of having newer faces on the board following the Nov. 7 election? A benet is you have a completely fresh view. In my experience, it takes at least two years for a trustee to understand their job, and the scope of their job is much larger than their talking points on the campaign trail. Across the state, new board members are challenged by the concept that they’re part of a team with the superintendent. This takes time. What led to you serving the Cy-Fair community in so many capacities? As a child, I observed my parents and grandpar- ents helping others and being active in the com- munity. They never said, “This is what you should do.” But since they were active, I understood that this was [an appropriate path].

A certied public accountant by trade, Jackson said he devoted hundreds of hours of annual ser- vice for the district while serving as president of Green River Oil. He has been a member of several boards in the Cy-Fair community, and his three children attended CFISD schools. Jackson reected on his time on the board in a September interview. Why did you not seek re-election? When I rst ran as a trustee, I had already predetermined in my mind that I would serve either two or three terms, if the voters wanted me to serve. Three terms—or 12 years—is the academic cycle of a student. What are some of the accomplishments of the board during your tenure for which you are most proud? For the entire 12 years that I’ve been on the board, this district has been identied by an independent third party as among the top three districts in the state for being both eective and ecient ... based on funding provided over that time period [and] given its demographic makeup. In addition, the district—when compared to its peer group of very large districts, the state and the region—has outperformed in graduation and testing categories in every grade and every demographic

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

CYPRESS EDITION

Education

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

The Lone Star College System chancellor’s o ce is located in The Woodlands Leadership Building.

COURTESY LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM

CASSANDRA JENKINS COMMUNITY IMPACT

Mario Castillo appointed Lone Star College System’s fth chancellor Mario Castillo was appointed the fth chancellor of the Lone Star College System in August. Castillo follows former Chancellor Stephen Head, who retired this year. Castillo has served LSCS since 2015 as vice chan- cellor, general counsel and chief operating ocer. He is also the rst Hispanic LSCS chancellor. What are your thoughts on House Bill 8’s changes to the way community colleges are funded? I’m a much bigger fan of outcome-based funding.

That means we’re not going to be an enrollment- focused institution anymore. We are going to be a retention-focused institution, which means that what I’m more interested in is keeping the students that we have rather than recruiting more. What industries do you expect will have the most signicant workforce needs over the next 10 years? Information technology; computers, national security, information technology and computer chips. A lot of our computer chips come from overseas, and so we are vulnerable to countries that are not entirely friendly to the United States. What are some short- and long-term goals you have for the LSCS? I’m a big proponent of one LSC, so for the next 10 months, my goal is to get all 7,000 of our employees doing the same thing and working collaboratively

toward the same goal. Long term, I want to win the Aspen Prize and be the No. 1 community college in the country based on outcomes. How will you prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion, especially with the passing of Senate Bill 17 eliminating DEI o ces? Most of our processes were built to be compliant with all the laws that I think our state legislators were worried about violating when they passed their recent DEI statutes. We’re an incredibly diverse institution from the very top.

This interview has been edited for length, style and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

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BY HANNAH NORTON & JAMES T. NORMAN

TEA temporarily blocked from issuing new AF accountability ratings

What changed?

School district ocials have expressed concerns about several changes to the A-F system. The following information was shared by the TEA.

Based on performance from the 2021-22 school year, about 15% of Texas schools would receive lower A-F ratings under the new system.

temporary injunction Oct. 26 to prevent the agency from assigning or adjusting the ratings. TEA ocials said they would appeal the injunction. If the agency appeals, the injunction would stand until a nal determination is made, according to court documents. Kingsville ISD Superintendent Cissy Reynolds- Perez said districts would lose revenue if their accountability ratings drop, as some parents would send their children to other schools. “This ruling completely disregards the laws of this state and, for the foreseeable future, prevents any A-F performance information from being issued to help millions of parents and educators improve the lives of our students,” TEA spokesperson Jake Kobersky said.

A district court temporarily blocked the Texas Education Agency from issuing its new accountability ratings for public schools, siding on Oct. 26 with over 100 school districts that sued the agency calling the ratings “unlawful.” Some schools said updates to the TEA’s A-F accountability system would substantially lower performance ratings despite indications that performance has improved. A few weeks after the case—Kingsville ISD, et. al., v. Morath—was led in August, the TEA announced Sept. 12 it was delaying the release of the new ratings, which would be based on performance and test scores for the 2022-23 school year. District Judge Catherine Mauzy issued a

Meanwhile, 14% of schools would receive higher ratings and 71% would not change.

7% of elementary schools, 6% of middle schools and 47% of high schools would receive lower ratings.

Reynolds-Perez said many districts’ overall ratings would drop by one or more letter grades due to the changes, even if their performance improves. If a district or one of its campuses receives a failing grade for ve consecutive years, the state can intervene.

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The A-F accountability system was established by the 2017 Texas Legislature. Ratings are based on a variety of factors, including:

The framework TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the agency updated its A-F system to:

What’s next?

Account for students on alternate paths, including those who previously dropped out Increase focus on the “lowest- performing,” or most at-risk, students Align the STAAR test with classroom instruction Better reect student achievement coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic

The annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

“We look forward to future conversations with [TEA

Commissioner] Mike Morath about how to implement the assessment and accountability system in a manner that is fair and transparent for all school districts in the state of Texas,” the Texas Association of School Administrators said in a statement. The trial on the case will take place at 9 a.m. Feb. 12.

Academic growth

High school graduation rates

Student preparedness for college, a career or the military

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

Number of homes sold

October 2022

October 2023

Residential market data

21 22 32 23 30 15 39 34

44 54 64 52

The Cy-Fair area saw an increase in the number of homes sold from 374 in October 2022 to 397 in October 2023. About 58% of those were in the $200,000-$399,999 price range.

+4.8%

+22.73%

77040

77095

-28.13%

-18.75%

77064

77429

99 TOLL

144 197

-50%

+36.81%

77065

77433

290

1960

-12.82%

77070

249

529

Median home sales price

2022

2023

2022

2023

77040 77064 77429 77095

77065 77433

77070

77040

77095

-18.9%

+2.26%

$263,500

$328,000

$325,000

$320,750

Homes sold in Cy-Fair area by price point

77064

77429

-4.69%

$260,000

$335,000

$260,000

$351,500

77065

77433

-2.65%

-2.88%

$275,000

$439,478

$282,500

$452,500

October 2023

$800,000+

77070

+5.07%

$316,250

$301,000

$600,000-$799,999

Average days on market

$400,000-$599,999

105

-13.8%

-41.94%

-20.83%

+21.88%

+94.74%

-18.18%

+58.7%

$200,000-$399,999

230

<$199,000

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY BOUTWELL PROPERTIES 17506 BOBCAT TRAIL, CYPRESS. 2813058533. OFFICETHEBOUTWELLTEAM.COM

77040

77064

77065

77070

77095

77429

77433

Scan here for more safety tips

Wishing You A Wonderful And Safe Holiday Season! STAY SAFE BY FOLLOWING THESE SIMPLE TIPS:

• Choose Flameless Candles • Inspect Christmas Lights • Turn Off Decorations at Night & when you’re away

CONNECT WITH US!

@CYFAIRFD • #CYFAIRFD

WWW.CYFAIRFD.ORG

CYPRESS EDITION

Community

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR & DANICA LLOYD

Holiday Gift Guide

2023

For the crafter

For the unique

For the sweet tooth

Kani Kettu Kani Kettu oers yarns from Nordic countries as well as all-natural bers, such as alpaca; wool; and a selection of plant ber yarns, including linen, bamboo and cotton. Holiday promotions include a $25 gift card for those who register for a 60-minute crochet class as well as a $5 bonus plus a free sticker for every $50 gift card purchase. Customers who purchase six skeins of yarn will get one free, and patterns will be 25% o in-store. • 10211 Cypresswood Drive, Ste. 600, Houston • www.kanikettu.com

Lizzy G’s Fine Gifts The gift shop sells art and decor, jewelry, loungewear, stationery and accessories. Customer favorites include Kendra Scott jewelry, NEST candles, Nora Fleming tableware, Barefoot Dreams loungewear as well as a wide selection of new products for the holidays. Free gift wrapping is available. The shop will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 23 for a last-minute holiday shopping party with complimentary wine, cupcakes and giveaways. • 126-L Vintage Park Blvd., Houston • www.lizzygsªinegifts.com

Gulf Coast Bread Pudding Gulf Coast Bread Pudding is a gourmet bread pudding company that oers ¤avors including white chocolate, vanilla, pumpkin, coconut and banana pudding. The bread pudding shop also has special seasonal ¤avors on the menu for the holidays. • 17001 FM 529, Houston • www.gcbreadpudding.com

For the green thumb

For the coffee lover

For the fashionista

SowCUTE The shop sells small plants and cuttings, including monsteras, epipremnums, syngoniums and hoyas. SowCUTE is holding a giveaway through Dec. 23, oering customers a chance to win a variegated philodendron billietiae. • 16718 House & Hahl Road, Ste. J, Cypress • www.instagram.com/sowcute_ Reach Unlimited Gift Shop Reach Unlimited is a nonpro t organization that provides work opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Clients create artisan glass items sold at their gift shop, and plants are for sale in their greenhouse. • 11832 Mueller Cemetery Road, Cypress • www.reachunlimited.org/support/gift-shop

Bad Ass Co ee of Hawaii The shop sells a variety of coee, including the Coconut Rum Signature Blend, Signature Blend Volcanic Roast and Kona French Roast. Gift cards and accessories, such as coee mugs and sweatshirts, are also available. • 12904 Fry Road, Ste. 400, Cypress • www.badasscoffee.com

Jul’s Boutique Jul’s Boutique oers clothes, shoes and accessories in both trendy and timeless styles in-store and online. A Champagne and Crystal Holiday Open House is planned for Dec. 7, where guests will receive a gift with every $75 in-store purchase. • 15210 Spring Cypress Road, Cypress • www.lovejuls.com Retail Therapy Resale Boutique Retail Therapy Resale Boutique provides a unique and aordable selection of women’s apparel sizes XS-4X. The resale shops oer designer clothes, jewelry and shoes online and in-store.

For the unique

Houston Antiques Warehouse Houston Antiques Warehouse oers a variety of antiques, including furniture, home decor, collectibles, clothing and jewelry. • 10854 Jones Road, Houston • 832-758-2943 Traders Village Houston Traders Village is the largest market in the Texas Gulf Coast and oers a variety of items including tires and tools, electronics, comics, cards, crafts, collectibles, silk plants and ¤owers, truck accessories, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and garage sale bargains. • 7979 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston • www.tradersvillage.com/houston/shopping

• 10782 Grant Road, Houston • www.retailtherapyresale.com

For the sweet tooth

For the crafter

Kilwins Kilwins oers high-quality chocolates and sweet treats for holiday gifting, including gift boxes and tins with caramel corn, brittle and handcrafted chocolates. • 9945 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress • www.kilwins.com This list is not comprehensive.

Tandy Leather Tandy Leather specializes in leather artistry and sells tools, leather and equipment for crafters to customize their own products. In-store classes are also available. • 10947 FM 1960, Ste. 100, Houston • www.tandyleather.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

CYPRESS EDITION

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SPRING CYPRESS 22508 Hwy 249 (281) 379-7383

HUFFMEISTER 8945 Hwy 6 N (281) 859-5879

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR & DANICA LLOYD

Cy-Hoops invitational The annual basketball tournament features 24 teams, including 12 Cy-Fair ISD boys varsity teams, to raise funds for student scholarships. The tournament will be held at The Berry Center and Bridgeland, Cypress Woods and Cypress Lakes high schools. Game times and locations are online. • Dec. 7-9, times vary • $10 (tournament pass), $5 (single adult ticket), $3 (single student ticket) • Locations vary • www.berrycenter.net

Worth the Trip: MLK Day Parade in Midtown Houston

parade will feature more than 100 culturally diverse performance groups from across the nation. • Jan. 15, 10 a.m.-noon • Free (admission) • Midtown Houston, San Jacinto Street and Elgin Street • www.mlkgrandeparade.org

The 30th annual MLK Day Parade will be held in Midtown Houston originating on San Jacinto Street and Elgin Street with a “We Still Believe” theme. The

• 12527 Cypress N. Houston Road, Cypress • www.livinglegacycenter.com

• Dec. 15, 8 p.m. • Free (admission)

December

• 14102 Mueschke Road, Cypress • www.mosirishpub.com/cypress

‘Anastasia’ at Playhouse 1960 Playhouse 1960 is presenting “Anastasia,” a musical play based on the 1997 animated lm following a young woman who sets out to discover the mystery of her past. • Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16, 8 p.m.; Dec. 10 and 17, 3 p.m. • $22 (military, veterans, students, seniors), $25 (general admission) • 6814 Gant Road, Ste. 116, Houston • www.playhouse1960.com ‘Elf the Musical’ Cy-Fair High School is presenting “Elf the Musical,” based on the holiday classic “Elf” about a young orphan who crawled into Santa’s bag of gifts and was

Telemundo Houston Toy Drive Telemundo Houston is hosting a toy drive with games and TV personality Antonio Hernandez, who will be on-site receiving donations of new, unwrapped toys at Traders Village. • Dec. 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • 7979 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston • www.tradersvillage.com Chanukah celebration Chabad Cypress Northwest Houston is holding a celebration and pop-up show with its public menorah lighting and Chanukah event, featuring traditional food and entertainment. • Dec. 10, 5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 14350 Cypress N. Houston Road, Cypress • www.chabadcypress.com Cypress Ridge High School Orchestra winter concert Cypress Ridge High School is presenting its winter orchestra concert in the auditorium. • Dec. 12, 6 p.m. (nonvarsity), 7 p.m. (varsity) • Free (admission) • 7900 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston • www.cisd.net Naughty or Nice Christmas Party Mo’s Irish Pub in Cypress is celebrating the season with a holiday party with food and drink specials, and a DJ. Attendees are encouraged to dress up.

Movie night at the Civic Center The Jersey Village Civic Center is hosting a free showing of “The Grinch,” about a grumpy Grinch who ruins Christmas for the village of Whoville. • Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 16327 Lakeview Drive, Jersey Village • www.jerseyvillagetx.com Houston Choral Society performance Foundry Church is hosting a masterful oratorio, a performance that unveils the life of Christ with a blend of choral and orchestral arrangement composed in 1741. The event will start with an audience sing-along. • Dec. 16, 7-8:30 p.m. • $30 (general admission), $25 (seniors; active and retired military), $15 (students over 12 years old) • 8350 Jones Road, Houston • www.houstonchoralsociety.org

transported to the North Pole. • Dec. 7-9, 7 p.m.; Dec. 9, 1 p.m. • $10 (students), $15 (adults) • 22602 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.cisd.net

‘Holiday Follies’ Stageworks Theatre is presenting entertainment inspired by the late-19th-century Vaudeville and Follies shows to celebrate the holidays. • Dec. 7-9 and 14-16, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 9 and 16, 2 p.m.; Dec. 10 and 17, 3 p.m. • $37-$54

January

Run Houston at Sam Houston Race Park The Sam Houston Race Park is holding a 5K and 10K race. There will also be 1K kids races and virtual races available. Each race time varies and is available online. • Jan. 6, times vary • $24.99-$42.99 • 7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Gate 3, Houston • www.runsignup.com

• 10760 Grant Road, Houston • www.stageworkshouston.org

Storytime with Santa The Living Legacy Center is having story time with Santa. • Dec. 9, 9 a.m.-noon • Free (admission)

CYPRESS EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

Creekwood Grill 12710 Telge Road, Cypress www.creekwoodgrill.com • Dec. 15: Randy Hulsey and Chris Hughes, 6 p.m.

Live music

The Backyard Grill 9453 Jones Road, Houston www.thebackyardgrill.com

• Dec. 16: Kendale Walker, 6:30 p.m. • Dec. 22: Mark Childres, 6:30 p.m. • Dec. 29: Ava Bryant, 6:30 p.m. • Dec. 30: Brett Axelson, 6:30 p.m. Cypress Trail Hideout 25610 Hempstead Road, Cypress www.cypresstrailhideout.com • Dec. 8: Mr. Wonderful, 7 p.m. • Dec. 9: Bronco Junior, 7 p.m. • Dec. 15: Shotgun Road, 7 p.m. • Dec. 16: John Loring, 7 p.m. • Dec. 22: Jonathan Mitchell, 7 p.m. • Dec. 23: Chris Boise, 7 p.m. • Dec. 29: Josh Brown, 7 p.m. • Dec. 30: Bryan Shayne, 7 p.m. Lambeau’s Sports Bar & Grill 13131 Louetta Road, Cypress www.lambeaus.com • Dec. 12: James Roosa, 6:30 p.m. • Dec. 19: Mark Ward, 6:30 p.m. • Dec. 26: Leo Mendoza, 6:30 p.m.

• Dec. 8: Kendale Walker, 7-9 p.m. • Dec. 15: Drewbadour, 7-9 p.m. • Dec. 22: Matt Sebastian, 7-9 p.m.

Brew: 30 Taphouse 15914 Telge Road, Cypress www.brew30taphouse.com • Dec. 29: Matt Sebastian, 6:30-9 p.m. • Dec. 30: Streeter Brothers Music & Magic, 6:30-9:30 p.m. • Jan. 6: Marcus Breidenthal, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Crafthouse Grill 12910 Malcomson Road, Cypress www.crafthousegrill.com • Dec. 8: Austin Bradshaw, 8 p.m.

Kendale Walker is performing at The Backyard Grill on Dec. 8.

COURTESY KENDALE WALKER

Mac’s Sports Bar & Grill 12650 Telge Road, Cypress www.facebook.com/macs.sportsbar • Dec. 7: Leo Mendoza, 8 p.m. • Dec 14: James Roosa 8 p.m. • Dec 15: The Spicolis, 9 p.m. • Dec 21: Juba Normand, 8 p.m.

• Dec. 9: Mike Casey, 8 p.m. • Dec. 15: Mark Ward, 8 p.m. • Dec. 16: Dirks Michael, 8 p.m. • Dec. 22: Pete Scaidi, 8 p.m. • Dec. 23: JP Lee, 8 p.m. • Dec. 29: Pete Scaidi, 8 p.m.

Your Cypress Area Animal Eye Specialist

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Schedule your appointment today with Dr. Angela Griggs! 15820 Mueschke Rd, Bldg A • Cypress, TX. 77433 (281)407-2160 • info@envisioneyevet.com

CYPRESS EDITION

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