Spring - Klein Edition | August 2025

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Spring Klein Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 5 AUG. 16SEPT. 16, 2025

2025 Education Edition

Careers in the making Growing Klein ISD career, technical education programs to receive funding help from state

BY EMILY LINCKE

As the popularity of career and technical education courses at Klein ISD schools continues to grow, bills passed in June are expected to remove nancial barriers for the programs, district leaders say. KISD’s Director of CTE Programs Deborah Bronner-Westerduin said in a July 24 email that she estimates the district has seen a 65% increase in CTE course enrollment over the last decade. “This dramatic growth reects a deliberate eort to align CTE oerings with both student interests and workforce demands for high- skill, high-wage and in-demand careers,” Bronner-Westerduin said. During Texas’ 89th legislative session, mul- tiple bills were approved that will update the framework of CTE programs at public school districts statewide and also provide additional funding. House Bill 2 alone is expected to bring $153 million to CTE programs in Texas schools, according to education advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas.

CONTINUED ON 14

Also in this issue

Impacts: See what Gee’s Mini Pancakes is oering in the Spring area (Page 6)

Cadet Capt. Jasmine Woodley (left) and Cadet Pfc. Gabriel Ramirez are part of Klein ISD’s Junior ROTC program. Texas JROTC programs can now receive state career and technical education funding after House Bill 120 passed in June. (Courtesy Klein ISD)

Education: Learn how many Klein-area students are moving to private, charter schools (Page 11)

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Impacts

3 Hair Galleria The super center sells 100% human hair wigs, extensions and coloring, per the store’s social media. This is the second location in Houston, with the first store located at 8616 Cullen Blvd. in south Houston. • Opened Aug. 1 • 2215 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston • Instagram: @hairgalleria_houston 4 Madras Curry House Madras Curry House opened June 27 in Spring, the owners said. The eatery offers a variety of southern Indian cuisine such as curries and biryanis, which are

KUYKENDAHL RD.

NORTHCREST DR.

PRAIRIE ST.

SPRING CYPRESS RD.

2920

99 TOLL

2920

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rice-based dishes. • Opened June 27

• 3730 FM 2920, Ste. A101, Spring • www.madrascurryhousetx.com

5 Jeremiah’s Italian Ice The dessert shop sells dozens of flavors of Italian ice, soft-serve ice cream and a combination of the two, a signature item called the Jelati. Customers can also purchase to-go ice cream cakes and cookie sandwiches.

WINDSOR POINTE DR.

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• Opened in mid-June • 4561 FM 1960, Spring • www.jeremiahsice.com

6 Tri-State Bagel TX Tri-State Bagel TX owner Joe Macri said the bagel shop is now serving freshly baked bagels made daily. Tri- State Bagel TX also serves pizza and other baked goods and recently launched pick up, delivery and catering

1960

MAP NOT TO SCALE

services, Macri said. • Opened in late May • 708 Spring Cypress Road, Spring • Facebook: Tri-State Bagel TX

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2 Gee’s Mini Pancakes Gee’s Mini Pancakes officials said they are now serving pancakes and desserts in Spring. Owned by Joseph Solis, Gee’s Mini Pancakes serves desserts including mini pancakes, milkshakes, crepes and dubai chocolate. The eatery originally operated as a food truck before opening a brick and mortar location. • Opened June 28 SP E AR S R D. RIDGE HOLLOW DR.

Now open

7 La Casa del Abuelo Owner Jay Henriquez said he opened his own restaurant along with his nephews in April. Menu items include carne asada, pollo con tajadas and pupusas. The eatery also offers handcrafted aguas frescas, including horchata, jamaica and piña made from scratch. • Opened April 18 • 5200 FM 2920, Spring • www.lacasadelabuelocl.com

1 Granny G’s Wine Company Granny G’s Wine Co. will celebrate its grand opening in Old Town Spring with an assortment of hand-bottled wines and raffle prizes. Owner Gail Camp said she intends on selling wine at markets and wholesale retailers. WILLOWBROOK MALL

• 4751 Louetta Road, Spring • www.geesminipancakes.com

• Grand opening Aug. 30 • 318 Noble St., Spring • www.grannygswineco.com

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8 Elevate BioWellness The new studio specializes in a variety of wellness therapy services such as infrared and red light therapy; exercising with oxygen therapy; and pulsed electromagnetic therapy. Elevate BioWellness also offers esthetician services such as facials, chemical peels and waxing for customers. • Opened June 2 • 25115 Gosling Road, Ste. 102, Spring • www.elevatewellness.com 9 Below Deck Dive Bar Below Deck Dive Bar is now serving cocktails, beer, wine and bar food in Tomball, according to a business Facebook post. The bar offers wings, mozzarella sticks, fries, burgers and chicken tenders. The bar also serves a variety of cocktails and seltzers. • Opened June 28 • 24026 Kuykendahl Road, Tomball • Instagram: BelowDeckBar_TX 10 Cheaters Creamery The ice cream shop produces homemade ice cream with unique flavors such as ube, Biscoff cookie butter, fudge brownie butter and more. Along with the ice cream, the creamery offers milkshakes and cake sundaes. On weekends, the creamery serves DoughBoys, doughnut ice cream sandwiches. • Opened July 15 • 19003 Windsor Pointe Drive, Tomball • www.cheaterscreamery.com 11 The Dental Studio Patients can access full dental services including cleanings, root canals, orthodontics and periodontics, according to the office’s website. The new location offers soundproof treatment rooms and 3D intra-oral scanning technology. • Opened in June • 2911 Gosling Road, Spring • https://thedsimplantcenter.com 12 Koto Sushi & Ramen Restaurant officials with Koto Sushi & Ramen announced on social media their July grand opening. Guests can choose from sushi rolls and sashimi entrees as well as hibachi items including salmon, chicken and shrimp.

• Opened July 6 • 5231 FM 2920, Ste. 240, Spring • https://kotosushi.kwickmenu.com

In the news

Swan’s a Swimmin’ Mobile Veterinary Services Swan’s a Swimmin’ Mobile Veterinary Services opened its services to the Spring community in May, owner Marissa Swan confirmed. The mobile business provides house calls for vaccines, lab work, minor injuries and illnesses as well as in-home euthanasia for dogs and cats. • Opened May 5 • www.swanvetservices.com

Coming soon

13 AR Entertainment AR Entertainment, an indoor family friendly

16 The Dug Ou t New owner Jon Grant said since taking over The Dug Out in April, the business has been settling into the store as well as remodeling the space. The Dug Out sells sports cards, memorabilia and trading cards. The shop also hosts weekend events including arts and crafts for kids, Pokemon card trade nights, and swap meets, according to its Facebook page.

entertainment venue, is coming to Spring this fall. The 40,000-square-foot indoor venue will offer roller skating, laser tag, glow-in-the-dark mini golf and arcade games, according to a news release. • Opening early fall • 19746 I-45, Spring • www.arsentertainmenthub-spring.com 14 Amped Fitness Amped Fitness officials said the gym franchise is opening a new location in Spring this summer. According to the website, Amped Fitness has over 30 locations and offers memberships. • Opening this summer • 18541 Kuykendahl Road, Spring • www.ampedfitness.com 15 Mi Rancho Mexican Grill and Bar Operated by the Lozano family, including Juan Lozano’s twin sons Juan and Tony, the new location will be located in a 7,500-square-foot building with seating for up to 250 guests, officials said. With plans to serve Tex-Mex cuisine and offer a fully stocked bar, guests can enjoy dine-in services, an enclosed patio, catering and large party hosting. • Opening in September • 24527 Gosling Road, Ste. 101, Spring • www.miranchogrill.com

• 211 Midway St., Spring • www.the-dug-out.com

Closings

17 Elder Son Brewing Co. Local micro-brewery Elder Son Brewing Co. permanently closed its North Houston location in Spring, according to the company’s social media. Located off FM 1960, the brewery had been open since June 2024. The company also closed its original location July 5 in the Heights, which opened in 2021. • Closed June 27 • 930 FM 1960, Ste. G, Houston

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Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE, RACHEL LELAND & JESSICA SHORTEN

County officials urge disaster preparedness amid FEMA concerns

Diving in deeper

FEMA funding also provides individual assistance directly to residents affected by local disasters. Individual assistance can vary from lump sum payments to hotel accommodations for families affected by a disaster. Following the derecho event and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, the Houston region received two presidential disaster declarations. According to funding allocation reports from FEMA, 739,519 applications for individual assistance for home- owners were approved from the two events, totaling nearly $1.2 billion in assistance passed on to residents in 2024 alone. Individual assistance requests from Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda, Hurricane Beryl, the Houston derecho and the other 2024 storms totaled $2.9 billion, according to FEMA. FEMA individual assistance funding for Houston region Housing assistance funding Other assistance funding Hurricane Harvey $1.2B $413M Tropical Storm Imelda $57M $11M 2024 derecho/tornado/severe storm $143M $164M Hurricane Beryl $191M $724M

Abbott was appointed to the special review council in May alongside Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Abbott said the state has historically led disaster response. The biggest concern voiced by local agencies is natural disasters typically cause several million in debris removal and hazard mitigation costs typically reimbursed by FEMA. “The county relies heavily on FEMA funding, especially for large-scale projects like debris removal. Without that support, the financial burden could hinder our ability to respond to and recover from a disaster,” said Brooke Boyett, Harris County’s administration communications director.

Following the announcement of a new committee May 20 aimed at addressing the reliability and existence of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Houston- area agencies remain uncertain on how the federal FEMA Review Council will affect disaster response in the region. In a July 14 press conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said the main goal of the committee is to streamline processes to provide faster emergency response. “The monetary resources that we are receiving now, they’re much needed for things like … debris removal or search and rescue operations,” Abbott said. “Those will still be funded, but we will have the ability to do it a whole lot faster.”

Immediately following a disaster, local counties seek FEMA funding for public assistance and debris removal. Regional major storm debris removal costs

Galveston County Harris County Montgomery County

Hurricane Harvey

April/May 2024 severe storms

Hurricane Beryl

$40M

$30M

$20M

$10M

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, GALVESTON COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Final takeaways

The federal review council has met twice in 2025 to discuss how FEMA currently operates, and there is no deadline on when the final report will be issued. “Without knowing how things will be resolved on the federal level, we remain focused on the current reality,” said Brian Murray, deputy coordinator over Harris County’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management office.

Montgomery County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The possibility of FEMA being dissolved still looms over other community leaders who share concerns over the funding provided to local agencies following a natural disaster. “Eliminating FEMA is reckless and will have devastating and deadly consequences,” Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “States already manage disaster response, and rely on FEMA’s partnership, funding and expertise after major disasters.”

With the 2025 hurricane season underway, many agencies are focused on maintaining preparedness for storms and see the potential for streamlining FEMA processes. “Montgomery County agrees that there could be many improvements to the processes and procedures by which FEMA operates, [such as] streamlining expense control and response/ resiliency capabilities, but we trust the president’s committee to review these issues and make appropriate recommendations,” said Jason Millsaps, executive director of

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Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE

$22M in funding approved for Cypress Creek erosion project

A part of a Cypress Creek watershed ood project in northwest Harris County is receiving a boost in state funding. What happened The $22 million eort to improve the Kickerillo- Mischer Preserve was secured by state Rep. Sam Harless, RSpring, during the 89th legislative session earlier this year. “This is the park and lake most of us see while driving along Cypresswood [Drive] and the Tomball Parkway that has a dam that holds back a substantial amount of water,” Harless said in a May news release. “These funds will be used to repair a number of erosion-damaged sites along a 5,700- foot section of the dam.” Funding the project Harless also said the funding will be used to install technology to safeguard parts of the dam from future erosion over the next year.

Cypress Creek erosion project scope

P K

MARSHALL LAKE

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CYPRESS CREEK

State funding will go toward projects along Cypress Creek at the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve.

MELISSA ENAJECOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

risks across the Cypress Creek watershed include channel improvements on tributaries and right-of-way property acquisition for ood plain preservation.

The funding comes from the Texas Water Development Board in collaboration with the Harris County Flood Control District. According to the HCFCD, ongoing eorts to reduce ood

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Education

BY SARAH BRAGER & EMILY LINCKE

Education Edition

2025

Welcome to Community Impact ’s 2025 Education Edition! After a productive legislative session, school districts across the state are looking at how new funding allotments to programs and parents will aect enrollment. In Klein ISD, district ocials are looking to expand career and technical education programs as enrollment rose 12.8% despite districtwide enrollment actually falling. Klein ISD’s slight enrollment decline could also be further exacerbated by Senate Bill 2, which provides additional funding for parents to enroll their children at private, charter and even online schools. While Klein ISD still saw a 26.2% increase in transfers into the district, the net transfer data shows transfers out of the district are now outpacing student growth. In this edition, we also look at how new cellphone banning policies are being implemented statewide along with new rules which provide teachers greater authority in placing students on in-school suspension for “repetitive disruptive behavior.”

What's inside

See how teachers are gaining more disciplinary authority in schools (Page 13)

Jessica Shorten Editor jshorten@ communityimpact.com

Cellphones banned in all K12 schools under new law (Page 13)

Klein ISD boosting enrollment in career and technical education programs (Page 14)

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Charter, virtual schools see climbing enrollment in Klein ISD

Students are increasingly transferring out of Klein ISD overall—and public schools across the region—to pursue other education options, accord- ing to Texas Education Agency data. A closer look KISD has seen about a 28% increase in the net number of students leaving the district—students transferring out subtracted from students transfer- ring in—to enroll in charter schools, virtual schools or other districts since fall 2020, according to TEA data. In the last 10 school years, KISD has seen a 122% increase in net transfers out. Many factors go into district enrollment changes, said Stacey Tepera, president of Population and Survey Analysts, which conducts demographic studies for KISD and school districts across Texas. She said one trend has been consistent statewide and nationally—parents are taking advantage of the rising options for their child’s education.

1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000

Klein ISD student transfers

-2,231

Transfers out Transfers in Net transfers

-2,016

-1,431

-1,004

0 500

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Even though KISD has seen a net loss in students, more students are transferring in from other districts—a 26.2% increase from 2020-25. “Our deep commitment to the success of every student combined with our longstanding tradition of excellence in academics, the arts and athletics is the reason so many parents are choosing KISD for their children,” Superintendent Jenny McGown said via an Aug. 6 email statement.

What else? Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 into law in May, allowing eligible families to access public dollars for private school tuition. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, families can receive about $10,000 per child to enroll in private schools. Par- ents who homeschool their children can receive up to $2,000 each year. It’s unclear as of press time exactly how SB 2 will impact enrollment in KISD.

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Education

BY HANNAH NORTON

Teachers now have more disciplinary authority House Bill 6 gives public school teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others. The change comes after nearly half of Texas public school teachers cited disci- pline issues as a top workplace challenge in 2022, according to the Texas Education Agency. What you need to know The law, which took eect immediately when Gov. Greg Abbott signed it June 20, allows schools to suspend students of any age who engage in “repeated or signicant” disruptions, reversing a 2017 state law that generally prohibited schools from suspending students in pre-K through second grade. If students in kindergarten through third grade are sent home for behavioral issues,

Districts to level-set high school GPAs Texas school districts will soon be required to use a standard system to calculate high school students’ grade point averages. At a glance Senate Bill 1191, which became law June 20, directs the Texas Education Agency to create a new GPA standard “as soon as practicable.” The system must give equal weight to advanced placement, international baccalaureate and dual enrollment courses. “It most likely won’t impact kids that are currently enrolled in high school, … because it’s going to take a while to make sure every- one is on the same page,” said Bob Popinski, who leads the policy team for public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas.

“A lot of the problems we see with our kids in high school is because they did not have consequences, none whatsoever, when they were younger.” REP. JEFF LEACH, RPLANO, BILL AUTHOR

schools must provide documentation explaining their decision. HB 6 gives schools the option to place students in an in-school suspension for as long as they see t. State law previously mandated that students could not be suspended for more than three school days, whether they were inside a school building or at home. The three-day time limit on out-of- school suspensions remains unchanged.

New law bans cellphone usage in all K12 schools When Texas public school students return to campus this fall, they will be prohibited from using cellphones, smartwatches and other personal communication devices throughout the

School districts could:

the cellphone ban. “We want our kids to focus on academics, such as math, science and reading, and the reality is, these phones are a distraction. ... Schools cite growing incidents of cyberbullying due to these phones,” bill author Rep. Caroline Fairly, RAmarillo, said in March. HB 1481 includes exceptions for students with medical needs or special education accommoda- tions, and does not apply to devices supplied by school districts for academic purposes.

• Purchase pouches to store devices during the school day • Ask students to keep devices in their lockers or backpacks

school day. The details

Texas’ 2026-27 budget includes $20M in grants to help districts implement the law.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481 into law June 20, giving school districts 90 days to adopt new electronic device policies, including disciplinary measures for students who violate

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Careers in the making From the cover

The full story

Career and Technical Education program enrollment

State CTE bills passed in 2025

Increases funding through various College, Career and Military Readiness avenues House Bill 2

Over the last five school years, enrollment in KISD CTE programs rose 12.8% even as overall student enrollment fell 1%, district and Texas Education Agency data show. As CTE program enrollment has grown, so have opportunities, Bronner-Westerduin said. Students can earn practical experience, college credits and professional certifications. “Today’s students have access to a wider range of opportunities. … The curriculum has evolved to incorporate innovative content and emerging technologies that mirror real-world industry practices,” Bronner-Westerduin said. Texas lawmakers invested in CTE programs with bills such as HB 2, which will bring $153 million in CTE funding to Texas schools. House Bill 20 creates an applied sciences program where students can earn a high school diploma and higher education certificates simultaneously, according to Texas Legislature Online. House Bill 120 updates funding avenues for CTE programs and provides CTE facility funding to schools. The bill also allows Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs to receive CTE funds and triples per-student funding for Pathways in Technology Early College High School programs to $150 per student, according to a June data sheet from nonprofit education analytics firm Commit Partnership.

KISD students taking CTE courses

20K

+12.8%

15K

Expands opportunities for students to earn higher education certificates while working toward a high school diploma HB 20

10K

2021-22 2022-23

2020-21

2024-25 2023-24

Updates CTE accountability systems and expands financial access for programs HB 120

School year

Region 4 students taking CTE courses Texas students taking CTE courses

Creates a week in mid-October where higher education institutions will waive undergraduate application fees SB 2231 Calls for a standard GPA calculation method that considers districts’ various higher education credits and programs that are often part of CTE learning Senate Bill 1191

+14.9% +11.3%

1.5M

500K

2020-21

2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

School year

NOTE: STATE AND REGION 4 DATA NOT AVAILABLE FOR 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR

SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, KLEIN ISD, TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS, COMMIT PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT

A closer look

The impact

Celeste Vultaggio, a senior at Klein Oak High School taking architecture courses under the district’s CTE program, said she believes her CTE education will be vital to setting her up for success in her career. The program has allowed her to gain practical experience, develop a portfolio and earn professional certifications. “For a lot of technical colleges, you have to have a portfolio just [to] be admitted,” Vult- aggio said. “So it helps build that portfolio, so that … you could be more competitive.” KISD leaders don’t have specific plans yet for the CTE funding from the recent bills, but renovating facilities is an option, KISD’s Executive Director of Communications Justin Elbert said in a July 24 email. “KISD continues to explore expansion opportunities to meet growing student demand and regional workforce needs,” Bronner-Westerduin said.

According to KISD’s website, the district offers 54 CTE programs, covering industries such as computer science, engineering, animal science, animation, culinary arts, welding, medical science and law enforcement. “CTE participation strengthens college appli- cations by demonstrating academic rigor, career focus and leadership through co-curricular involvement,” Bronner-Westerduin said. As CTE has become more popular, attitudes about the programs have shifted, said Donald Kamentz, CEO of nonprofit education consulting firm Contigo Ed. Kamentz said he’s seen an emphasis on using labor market data. “It’s really an intentionality of looking at: What is the labor market saying?” he said. “You might feel like—especially a city like Houston—it’s maybe natural to [send students into] the medical profession or tech profession or … oil and gas, but there may be aspects of those that are not as high demand.”

KISD offers over 250 Career and Technical Education courses across 54 programs. The district’s most popular program categories are:

Business, Marketing & Finance Includes marketing/sales and accounting programs Health Science Includes pharmacy, nursing and EMT programs

Agriscience Includes animal science/veterinary studies, plant and flora sciences programs

4,000 CTE certifications were awarded by KISD for the 2023-24 school year. 3,900 students are expected to enroll in these programs for the 2025-26 school year.

SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, KLEIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY EMILY LINCKE CONTRIBUTIONS BY HANNAH NORTON, TOMER RONEN & AUBREY VOGEL

Quotes of note

Going forward

Career growth

2022 job numbers 2032 job numbers

A 2023 report from the Texas Workforce Commission predicts 762,000 jobs will open by 2030 that both exceed the statewide annual median pay of $43,463. This includes 215 high-wage occupations within 13 different industries including construction, manufacturing and health care. Texas is expected to add 2.3 million new jobs by 2030, with only 39.3% expected to require some form of postsecondary education or training, the data shows. A significant portion of these jobs are expected to be in the professional, scientific and technical services industries, followed by health care and construction. Additionally, the 2024 Report on Texas Growth Occupation from the TWC shows Texas is expected to have one of the fastest- growing labor forces in the nation at 14.7% by 2032, exceeded only by Utah.

“There’s been a movement to kind of elevate and … equalize career pathways just as much as college pathways.” DONALD KAMENTZ, CEO OF NONPROFIT, CONTIGO ED

2023 annual median salary

Pharmacy Technician

Truck driver

Chef

Welder

Carpenter

30K

20K

“If I wanted to, straight after my senior year, I could go into a trade. I could make money, make a living ... straight after high school.”

10K

CELESTE VULTAGGIO, KLEIN OAK HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

$48,111 $47,240 $47,964 $58,442 $47,743

Changing t

SOURCES: 2024 REPORT ON TEXAS GROWTH OCCUPATION FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Changing the future

SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

Events

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

Dinner & Dance Fundraiser The St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church is holding a fundraiser featuring Filipino cuisine, music and drinks. • Aug. 30, 6:30-10 p.m. • $50 (admission) • 7810 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.silcc.org

Bluebonnet Square Dance Club Sample the fun of square dance with the Bluebonnet Squares. • Sept. 8 and 15, 6:20-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • Klein United Methodist, 5920 FM 2920 Spring • www.sites.google.com/view/ bluebonnetsquareshouston Art Beat Enjoy a classical concert featuring various combinations of violin, guitar and voice. • Sept. 9, 2 p.m. • $18 (adult), $15 (senior), $12 (child/student), $12 (groups of 6 or more) • The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.cypresscreekface.org Parenting Classes with Stella Learn about parenting in classes with counselor and psychotherapist Stella Velásquez during a three week session held on Tuesday evenings. • Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, 6-7:30 p.m. • Free

August

You Look Like Roast Battle Enjoy a comedy show hosted by Jesse Peyton in which comedians roast each other. • Aug. 22, 6 p.m. • $28.78-$255 (admission) • 19940 Kuykendahl Road, Spring • www.suiteseatstx.com Fiancée Bridal Boutique bridal show Fiancée Bridal Boutique is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a bridal show featuring local vendors, light bites and beverages as well as exclusive offers and giveaways. • Aug. 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free • 200 Main St., Spring • www.fianceebridalboutique.com Introduction to Quilting Series Learn to quilt during a hands-on four-class series. Attendees will be guided through fabric selections, tools and techniques. • Aug. 28, 1 p.m., 5 p.m. • $119 (admission) • 21120 Spring Towne Drive, Spring • www.cupcakequilts.com

September

Live music at BFE Rock Club Enjoy a live music show featuring musicians Watch Tower, Dyer Infernum, Torrid Complex, Memory and Etsai. • Sept. 6, 7 p.m. • $31.60 (admission) • 11528 Jones Road, Houston • www.bferockclub.com The Spicolis Join Mo’s Irish Pub at Vintage Park for a live music event featuring The Spicolis, an ‘80s party band. • Sept. 6, 8:30 p.m. • Free (admission), $10 (reserved seating) • Mo’s Irish Pub, 19932 Chasewood Park Dr, Houston • www.mosirishpub.com

Family Day: End of Summer Celebration Join The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts during its family day celebration featuring art activities, balloon animals and a performance by Mad About Hoops.

• Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free (admission) • 6815 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.pearlmfa.org

• 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.hcpl.bibliocommons.com

SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239

NORTH LOUETTA 1614 Louetta (281) 350-1198 KUYKENDAHL 13313 Kuykendahl (281) 873-5220

LOUETTA 7314 Louetta (281) 370-1986

WILLOWBROOK 6927 FM 1960 W (281) 580-1734

Transportation

BY MELISSA ENAJE

CITY PLACE

Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey issued an open call request in July for stakeholders interested in developing new sidewalks to enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity. The request includes collaboration opportunities with municipal utility districts, public utility districts, water districts and cities as well as school districts in Precinct 3. “Through these partnerships, Commissioner Ramsey hopes to accelerate improvements, increase community engagement, and ensure sidewalks meet the needs of users,” Communications Manager Jeannie Peng said in an email. Precinct 3 requests sidewalk input

Proposed sidewalks The Precinct 3 Parks and Recreation Master Plan proposed four Cypress-area sidewalk projects.

KUYKENDAHL RD.

HUFSMITH KUYKENDAHL RD.

WILLOW PATH

249

JOANLEIGH DR.

SHADOW VALLEY DR.

1960

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3 COMMISSIONER’S OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT

BAMMEL NORTH HOUSTON RD.

SP E AR S R D.

The impact

“This will provide our engineers with known high-pedestrian locations to evaluate and ensure sidewalks lead to safe roadway intersection crossings.” RIDGE HOLLOW DR.

WILLOWBROOK MALL

Applications are due Sept. 5, and approved sidewalk projects will be funded by the county and participating partners, ocials said. The goal is to complete construction of all awarded projects by the fourth quarter of 2026. More information about the application process can be given by the Precinct 3 trac team at Pct3EngTrac@pct3.hctx.net

A scoring rubric framework will be used to rank approved projects based on weighted criteria including high-pedestrian factors, safety concerns, enhancements, feasibility and partnerships. An average of 13% of students either walk or bike to school in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TOM RAMSEY, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3 COMMISSIONER

83% of Texans take action after reading Community Impact—and 76% say our ads help them discover new products and services. Contact us! ads@communityimpact.com Want results like that for your business? 18

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

The studio is in its 32nd season of oering a variety of dance styles in class.

Young dancers ages 5 and up performed a showcase for their parents on July 26 at the dance studio.

PHOTOS BY JOVANNA AGUILARCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Vicki Michelle Dance Studio celebrates 31 years What began as a young girl’s love for dance and self-expression has blossomed into a decades-long legacy at Vicki Michelle Dance Studio.

From left: Morgan Lunsford, Vicki Michelle Kottwitz and Kayli Webber operate Vicki Michelle Dance Studio.

beings. We hear music, and already your foot is tapping,” Kottwitz said. “There’s just something about the way that God uniquely made us that gives us a desire for music.” How it’s going Today, more than 31 years later, Kottwitz con- tinues to share her passion for dance alongside her daughters, Morgan Lunsford and Kayli Webber, with classes for students as young as 2 years old. Through dance, Vicki Michelle Dance Studio promotes community engagement through collabo- rations with local dance studios. The studio’s next collaboration includes the performance of “The Nutcracker” with Magnify Dance, taking place Nov. 21-22.

Founded in 1994 when Vicki Michelle Kottwitz was in her early 20s, the studio was built from the ground up with the help of her family and a vision rooted in creativity, discipline and by her mother’s gentle encouragement. “I grew up dancing and twirling, and I think that every child can be a dancer,” Kottwitz said. How it started At 23, Kottwitz started her own dance studio to teach others a life skill that promotes physical movement and condence. “I just think [dance] is in our nature as human

NAREMORE DR.

17315 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring www.vickimichelle.net

There’s something special that happens when girls unlock their full potential and build lasting friendships along the way. Their sense of adventure soars, friendships bloom, and confidence takes hold. From nature hikes to discovering new skills, every experience is a chance to grow.

Start your journey here. www.gssjc.org/join Text “info” to 866-814-1912 Scan QR Code

Girl Scouts Where Confidence Grows

SPRING KLEIN EDITION

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 11:00 AM to 1:30PM N X NW ECONOMIC OUTLOOK George H. W. Bush Community Center

Experience sessions with industry experts. SPEAKERS EXHIBIT Showcase your business.

ECONOMIC FORECAST Manager, Economic Research Greater Houston Partnership Colin Baker

Secure your sponsorship, exhibit booth or seat by contacting Sandy Barton at sandyb@houstonnwchamber.org or 281-440-4160

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Nonpro t

BY SARAH BRAGER

Every weekday, Paula Stoebner, a volunteer at Northwest Assistance Ministries, helps distribute food to dozens of people in her community. Stoeb- ner, who has been volunteering at NAM for over 20 years, said she serves about 60 to 80 families per day at the drive-thru food pantry. Stoebner is one of thousands of volunteers each year who assist with NAM operations. Senior Services Director Kristi Slawinski, who runs the Meals on Wheels program, said their services not only meet basic needs, but support socialization and engagement as well. “Our faces might be the only ones that they see, so that’s something that’s really valuable to the community,” Slawinski said. About the organization Headquartered in Spring, NAM provided services to 117,032 residents in scal year 2023-24 and received help from over 3,000 volunteers, according to its annual report. The faith-based organization oers services including Meals on Wheels deliv- eries, food pantry, behavioral health services and vocational training. President and CEO Nadine Scamp started in April and said NAM’s primary focus is promoting dignity and autonomy for clients. “We really want everyone in our community to have the opportunity to nd their hope, purpose, wellness, stability and reach their full potential in life,” Scamp said. The need According to last year’s report, 88% of NAM recipients were below the poverty level. Scamp said everyone comes through NAM’s doors with a unique story and set of circumstances, but the organization always sees a higher demand for support during the summer months when living expenses increase. According to a study by the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, 63% of respondents in the Greater Houston area cut back on essential spend- ing, such as groceries and health care, to aord their energy bills. These sacrices are exacerbated in the summer as energy costs climb. Low-income families are also more likely to need assistance when kids are out of school, Scamp said. “Many times [children] may have been receiving free meals during the lunch hour at school, and they don’t have that same access all the time during Northwest Assistance Ministries expands food pantry, veteran services

The faith-based organization provided services to 117,032 residents in scal year 202324.

COURTESY NORTHWEST ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES

the summer months, so food costs have gone up,” she said. What’s new? NAM launched several new programs in July to meet higher demand and diversify its services, Scamp said. Veterans, as well as their dependents and spouses, can now receive support through the organization’s veteran services program including: • Rent and mortgage assistance • Utility assistance • Transportation assistance • Food pantry access • Access to walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and other assistive devices NAM is also oering Saturday hours at the food pantry once a month, after previously being open only Monday through Friday. Looking ahead NAM will host a public event at its facility— located at 15555 Kuykendahl Road—on Sept. 6 where community members can share feedback about the organization’s strategic planning process. “Anyone that has an interest in determining NAM’s future is able to come and share their voice,” Scamp said. “We want to take all the dierent perspectives and use that as we move forward.”

NAM serves thousands of Northwest Houston residents with food, housing support and health care services.

SARAH BRAGERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

1960

15555 Kuykendahl Road, Houston www.namonline.org

SPRING KLEIN EDITION

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