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Lake Houston Humble Kingwood Edition VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 APRIL 30 MAY 29, 2025
Addressing student needs Humble ISD works to accommodate rising special education population
INSIDE
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A Humble ISD student participates in the district’s Integrated Athletics program, one of many initiatives tailored to HISD’s special education population, which has more than doubled in the last decade. (Courtesy Humble ISD)
Also in this issue
Take a sneak peek at one of the largest walk-in cigar humidors in the Lake Houston area Impacts: Page 7 Development: Page 13 Check out development plans for Humble’s newest neighborhood Harmony Cove
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1960
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact
Market leaders & metro team
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Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Product Manager Kaitlin Schmidt Quality Desk Editor Sierra Rozen
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Correction: Volume 9, Issue 11 On Page 9, the chart is mislabeled and should instead be titled “Crime incidents in Humble” with an overall change of -13.82%.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Impacts
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VALLEY RANCH PKWY.
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• Opened March 25 • 8306 FM 1960 Bypass Road W., Humble • www.dunkindonuts.com
LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK
FORDRD.
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GLADE VALLEY DR.
WOODLAND HILLS DR.
4 Bath & Body Works The new Deerbrook Marketplace location offers body mists, lotions and creams, as well as three-wick candles. • Opened March 28
NORTHPARK DR.
PLUM VALLEY DR.
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Kingwood
SORTERS MCCLELLAN RD.
• 20520 Hwy. 59, Ste. A, Humble • www.bathandbodyworks.com
ROYAL FOREST DR.
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5 Residences at Kingwood East Move-ins began in March at this multifamily housing development from High Street Residential, which comprises 109 rental townhomes and 72 apartments. • Opened in March
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TOWNSEN BLVD.
KINGS GLEN DR.
LAKE HOUSTON
UPPER LAKE DR.
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• 6518 Kings Glen Drive, Humble • www.residencesatkingwood.com
FM 1960 BYPASS RD.
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F I RSTST.
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W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
6 The Learning Experience Owned by Crystal Fairclough, the new preschool center offers child care and early childhood education services for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. • Opened March 10 • 7211 Hawksview St., Humble • www.thelearningexperience.com/ centers/lake-houston 7 Veneland The food trailer offers traditional Venezuelan cuisine, including arepas, tequenos, cachapas, empanadas and pepito mixto. • Opened Jan. 24
HUMBLE PLACE DR.
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Atascocita
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WILL CLAYTON PKWY.
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HAWKSVIEW ST.
Humble
GREENSRD.
MADERA RUN PKWY.
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MAP NOT TO SCALE
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• 3225 FM 1960 Road E., Humble • www.instagram.com/veneland.tx
2 Teriyaki Madness The fast-casual eatery offers teriyaki bowls alongside appetizers—including egg rolls and potstickers—and sides, such as stir-fried veggies and fried rice. • Opened Jan. 16 • 20045 Northpark Drive, Ste. 700, Kingwood • www.teriyakimadness.com 3 Dunkin’ The new Humble location offers Wi-Fi, features a drive- thru, and serves a variety of coffee and doughnuts.
Now open
Relocity This talent mobility company announced the launch of its concierge relocation services in Houston on March 13. The company matches employees with local experts for the duration of the relocation process.
1 Curry & Grill The restaurant serves Indian cuisine with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, desserts and a kids menu. A few menu items offered include butter chicken, chicken curry and chicken tikka masala. • Opened Feb. 13 • 8751 FM 1960 E., Humble • www.curryandgrill.us
• Launched in March • www.relocity.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
11 The Fenwick Fogelman Properties announced the purchase of the newly rebranded 258-unit apartment community formerly known as Advenir on March 26. The company plans to upgrade the interior units, amenity areas, clubhouse, dog park and landscaping. • 10373 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Humble • www.thefenwickhouston.com 12 Silver Spur Air, Heating & Plumbing Formerly Emergency AC & Plumbing, this business has rebranded and named Chris Alonso as the company’s new president, officials announced April 7. The company has also launched Keeping Kids Cool, a program dedicated to supporting families in need. • 1904 Humble Place Drive, Humble • https://silverspurhome.com 13 The Village Centers Founded in September 2000, the Kingwood nonprofit kicked off its 25th anniversary with a casino night celebration on April 26. The organization creates inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities. • 3819 Plum Valley Drive, Kingwood • www.thevillagecenters.org 14 Creativity Shell Founded in 2015, the nonprofit trade school kicked off its 10th anniversary celebration with a fashion show and gala on April 5. The nonprofit teaches children essential life and practical skills through creative trades. • 3939 Glade Valley Drive, Houston • www.creativityshell.org 15 Mathnasium The Humble South location of this global franchise celebrated its 10th anniversary March 21. Mathnasium offers personalized learning plans for students from pre-K through high school. • 9526 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Ste. 3114, Humble • www.mathnasium.com/math-centers/humblesouth 16 SANNA Baby and Child Owned by Sara Lucas, the boutique celebrated its five-year anniversary as a brick-and-mortar location in
What’s next
Now open
8 Behavioral Innovations Construction is expected to wrap up in September on a new location in Kingwood, per a Jan. 30 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The company offers social skills training and advanced applied behavior analysis therapy for children on the autism spectrum, as well as diagnostic evaluations. • 19701 Kingwood Drive, Ste. 8, Kingwood • www.behavioral-innovations.com
Expansions
9 Fire Craft BBQ Work is set to wrap up in late April on a project to expand the restaurant’s dining area. Additional upgrades include adding beer and wine to the menu, expanded catering capacity through a new 500-gallon rotisserie smoker, and expanded dine-in hours. • Expanding in late April • 2665 Royal Forest Drive, Ste. B10, Kingwood • www.firecraftbbq.com Brightspeed Work on a project to expand the company’s high-speed fiber internet service to 21,000 additional locations across the city of Humble is underway and expected to
17 Prestigio Cigar Lounge The locally-owned-and-operated business features a spacious luxury cigar smoking lounge and boasts one of the largest walk-in humidors in the area. The venue also features a BYOB bar, private lockers for members, Wi-Fi and televisions. • Opened March 19 • 18321 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Ste. 500, Atascocita • www.prestigiocigarlounge.com
wrap up by this summer. • Expanding this summer • www.brightspeed.com
February. The store specializes in apparel for children, men and women, as well as books and gifts.
• 1550 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood • www.sannababyandchild.com
In the news
Closings
10 Eagle Springs Elementary Humble ISD officials celebrated the opening of a new aviation-themed playground at the campus with a dedication ceremony April 17. The playground is designed for children ages 5-12 and is open to the public when school is not in session. • 12500 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.humbleisd.net/o/ese
18 Joann The crafts and fabric store will be shutting down all stores following a Feb. 23 announcement that the company was being sold due to its second bankruptcy filing in less than a year. A closing date for the Deerbrook Marketplace location has not yet been announced. • Closing date TBD • 20424 Hwy. 59, Humble • www.joann.com
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY HANNAH BROL & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Dam replacement study underway
Gov. Greg Abbott calls Nov. 4 special election for District 18 seat Gov. Greg Abbott announced April 7 that a special election will occur Nov. 4 to ll the empty 18th Congressional District seat vacated by former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. What we know Turner died in early March after serving as con- gressman for only four to ve months. He replaced the late Sheila Jackson Lee in a special election in November after she died from pancreatic cancer in mid-2024. Similar to last year’s timeline, Abbott waited a little over a month to call a special elec- tion for the vacant position in November. What’s next As of press time April 22, candidates that have led applications for the vacant position include
Congressional District 18
Humble
LAKE HOUSTON
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The Coastal Water Authority has part- nered with engineering rm Black & Veatch to conduct a Lake Houston Dam replace- ment study in 2025, Houston District E council member Fred Flickinger said in an April 2 newsletter. Replacing the dam, which was built in 1953, is a long-term project that will be needed to meet the needs of the Greater Houston area, according to the newsletter. Now 75 years old, the dam consists of a spillway structure with four small gates. In similar news As of the April 2 newsletter, Black & Veatch had completed 30% of the design plans for phase two of the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project, which will add 11 gates and increase capacity.
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Democratic candidates TJ Baker, Earnest Clayton, Ebony Rain Eatmon, Amanda Edwards, Peter Steven Filler, James Joseph, Isaiah Martin, Chris- tian D. Menefee, Kivan Polimis, Selena Samuel and Robert Slater; Republican candidates Allen D. Berry, Carmen Montiel and Cyrus Sajna; and Independent candidates Khristopher W. Beal and Derrell Sherrod Turner. Candidates have until Sept. 3 by 5 p.m. to le an application with the Secretary of State.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Education
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Humble ISD trustees reconsider proposed detention pond at Turner Stadium
Humble ISD trustees discussed revising plans for the Turner Stadium detention pond due to increased costs at the March 18 board meeting. The details Trustees originally approved the project in March 2022 at a cost of $3.9 million with the city of Humble contributing $100,000 and Harris County contributing $1 million. O cials had planned on building a detention pond that doubled as a community park on 35 acres of district-owned property at Will Clayton Parkway and Rustic Timbers Drive. However, due to projected price increases, o cials are reconsidering the scope of the project to include only the detention pond, said Jason Seybert, HISD associate superintendent of opera- tional support services.
A closer look Work was initially halted in February 2023 after the previous contractor found oil residue in the project site’s groundwater. While the water was approved to be drained in July 2023, Seybert said cost increases led to additional concerns. If the district were to move forward on the previously approved plan, Seybert said the price would jump from $3.9 million to $8.3 million. Under a new proposal, the district could spend $2.8 million on the detention pond, however, it would not include any trails or fountains. “The $3.9 million that was approved won’t get us to where we thought, ... so that’s why this has been rethought,” trustee Robert Scarfo said. Seybert said the city of Humble will no longer contribute $100,000 if the project solely consists
The previously planned detention pond would have doubled as a community park with trails and fountains.
Turner Stadium
Proposed detention pond
WILSON RD.
WILL CLAYTON PKWY.
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of a detention pond. Discussions with Harris County o cials to determine the fate of their $1 million contribution have not yet been held. Pending board action, o cials said the revised project could begin construction this fall and wrap up by summer 2026.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY HANNAH BROL
Preschool Guide
2025
Houston
Houston
Kingwood
Children’s Lighthouse of Lake Houston The family-owned-and-operated school offers infant, toddler and preschool curriculum based on character values, and science, technology, research, engineering, art and mathematics focused curriculum for school-age children. The school features real-time video monitoring, secure keypad entry and age-appropriate playgrounds. Before and after school programs are also available. Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: $180-$325 per week
• 14505 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Houston • www.childrenslighthouse.com/lakehouston
Primrose School at Lakeshore & Summerwood The private preschools provide programs for children from 6 weeks old through kindergarten, as well as after-school care for children up to age 12.
a mother’s day out program, preschool for children ages 3-5 and various extended care options. The school offers a Christian environment, which aids in social, academic and emotional development. Ages: 18 months-5 years Tuition: $265-$550 per month • 3803 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood • www.christ4u.net/kok-preschool Primrose School of Atascocita, Kingwood & Kingwood at Oakhurst The schools offers infant, toddler, preschool, pre-K and kindergarten programs as well as before-and-after- school programs and summer camp. The schools use the Balanced Learning curriculum, which offers a balance of child-initiated and teacher-guided developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: $110-$345 per week (Atascocita); call for pricing (Kingwood and Kingwood at Oakhurst) • Atascocita, 20027 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood; Kingwood, 2311 Green Oak Drive, Kingwood; Kingwood at Oakhurst, 19514 Northpark Drive, Kingwood • www.primroseschools.com/schools/atascocita; www.primroseschools.com/schools/kingwood; www.primroseschools.com/schools/ kingwood-at-oakhurst This list is not comprehensive. Kingwood Montessori School The school encourages self-directed learning, hands-on experiences, and collaborative exploration with classrooms designed to promote independence while allowing students to learn at their own pace. The school offers toddler, early childhood and elementary programs tailored to each developmental stage, and also offers a summer program and before-and-after-school care. Ages: 18 months-12 years Tuition: $786-$1,038 per month • 3933 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood • www.kingwoodmontessori.com
Humble
The Goddard School of Lake Houston The school offers private child care, preschool and kindergarten, as well as before-and-after-school programs and summer camp. The school pairs its proprietary curriculum, Wonder of Learning, with its Fun Learning Experience philosophy. Ages: 6 weeks-kindergarten (child care and preschool); kindergarten-fifth grade (summer camp and before- and-after-school care) Tuition: call for pricing • 17823 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Humble • www.goddardschool.com/schools/tx/humble/ lake-houston Kiddie Academy of Humble (coming soon) Set to open this summer or fall, this school will offer programs for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. The school will use the company’s proprietary Life Essentials curriculum, which is designed to focus on the six outcomes that prepare children for life.
Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: call for pricing
• Lakeshore, 16460 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Houston; Summerwood, 14002 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Houston • www.primroseschools.com/schools/lakeshore; www.primroseschools.com/schools/summerwood
The Learning Experience Lake Houston This preschool opened in March and offers early education and daycare for children using the Learning Experience Academic Program, or LEAP, curriculum. Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: $235-$320 per week • 7211 Hawksview St., Humble • www.thelearningexperience.com/centers/ lake-houston Primrose School at Balmoral & Fall Creek The schools offer infant, toddler, preschool, pre-K and kindergarten programs as well as before-and-after- school programs and summer camp. The schools use the Balanced Learning curriculum, which offers a balance of child-initiated and teacher-guided developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: $110-$345 per week (Balmoral); call for pricing (Fall Creek) • Balmoral, 11833 Thorncastle Drive, Humble; Fall Creek, 14950 Mesa Drive, Humble • www.primroseschools.com/schools/balmoral; www.primroseschools.com/schools/fall-creek
Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: call for pricing
• 9829 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Humble • www.kiddieacademy.com/academies/humble
Lamb of God Preschool Lamb of God Lutheran Church’s on-site preschool offers Christian-based curriculum paired with weekly chapel and designated times for music, physical education, art and the library.
Ages: 6 weeks-5 years Tuition: call for pricing
• 1400 FM 1960 E. Bypass, Humble • www.lambofgodpreschool.net
Little Academy of Humble The curriculum-based child care center is guided by Christian family values and the owner is onsite.
Kingwood
Ages: 6 weeks-12 years Tuition: call for pricing
Kids of the Kingdom Christ the King Lutheran Church’s onsite school offers
• 15015 Fall Creek Preserve Drive, Humble • www.facebook.com/fallcreekpreserve
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Development
BY HANNAH BROL
Construction to begin in May on Harmony Cove neighborhood in Humble
Some context
Construction on the community was initially expected to begin in late 2022, as previously reported by Community Impact . Rivas said construction on the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the regulatory environ- ment in Harris County.
Construction is set to begin in May on Harmony Cove Section 1, following Humble City Council’s unanimous approval of the nal plat for the single-family home community on March 27. Council members Andy Curry and Rick Swanson were absent from the meeting. According to the nal plat included in the March 27 agenda packet, Harmony Cove Section 1 will be built upon a 44.33-acre tract of land located southeast of the intersection of Will Clayton Parkway and Old Humble Road. The community is being developed by Saratoga Homes, which has developed several communities across the Greater Houston area including Townsen Landing, which is located southwest of the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Townsen Boulevard West in Humble. Rick Rivas, division president of Saratoga Homes in Houston, said Harmony Cove is expected to feature 400 single-family homes upon build-out, including 172 homes in the rst phase. The homes will range in size from 1,800-2,900 square feet and feature three to ve bedrooms each. Construction on the model and inventory homes will begin in May, and build-out of the rst phase is expected to take about two years, Rivas said. Future community amenities will include a dog park and ball elds. “We’re looking forward to seeing [Saratoga Homes] get started out there. There’s a lot of excitement around this development so we’re glad to see some homes going up shortly,” Mayor Norman Funderburk said during the March 27 meeting.
Harmony Cove
Detention basin
Green space
Residential
1 Phase 1
2 Phase 2
3 Phase 3
W I L L C L A Y T O N P K W Y .
The homes will range in size from 1,800 2,900 square feet and feature three to ve bedrooms each.
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RENDERING COURTESY SARATOGA HOMES
2
Related highlights
The council also approved a variance request for certain residential lots within Harmony Cove Section 1 during the March 27 meeting. However, City Manager Jason Stuebe said the agenda item was included to correct an error made in 2019. “The initial request was for a 5-yard setback between the lots. However, in the actual agenda caption and the action that was taken, ... we approved a 6-foot setback,” he said. “We’re going back and reapproving the variance.”
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SOURCE: SARATOGA HOMES COMMUNITY IMPACT
An Afternoon at Back Pew Brewing with various guest singers playing popular music for every generation.
Saturday, May 10 , 2025 | 2-6 pm Free Admission 26452 Sorters Road | Porter, Texas 77365
LHMAS Website
Lake Houston Musical Arts Society
LHMAS is a 501(c)(3) organization which supports the musical arts in the North Houston area
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Addressing student needs From the cover
Percentage of special education enrollment within total enrollment
The overview
Humble ISD
Texas
16.11%
20%
The number of students receiving special education services in Humble ISD has more than doubled over the past decade, following a larger trend seen at public school districts across the state. According to data released from the Texas Education Agency in March, HISD has seen its special education population rise from around 3,200 students in the 2015-16 school year to more than 7,800 students in the 2024-25 school year—a roughly 144% increase. TEA data shows the spike also increased the percentage of students receiving services. In the 2014-15 school year, the special education population represented roughly 7.8% of all HISD students. By the 2024-25 school year, the percentage of HISD students receiving special education services rose to around 16.1%. Statewide, the number of students receiving special education services has risen by approximately 85% over that same time frame. Jolene Sanders, advocacy director for nonprofit Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, said the sharp rise can be largely attributed to the removal of TEA restrictions that previously limited the percentage of students that school districts could designate to receive special education services at 8.5% of the district’s student population. Henry Phipps, HISD’s chief of educational support services, said he attributes the rise in HISD to several additional factors, including earlier screenings, greater public awareness of disabilities such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and state-mandated dyslexia screenings. Still, Phipps said he hopes the current legislative session will result in additional financial support to
15%
15.45%
8.74%
10%
5%
7.8%
0%
Special education enrollment by disability at Humble ISD
2019-20
2023-24
5,000
+50%
+165.1%
+53.5%
+113.9%
+23.5%
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
Autism Learning disability Speech impairment
Dyslexia
Other*
*OTHER DISABILITIES INCLUDE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, AMONG OTHER DISABILITIES. SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
help address the rising costs of providing special education services. In April, state senators approved Senate Bill 568,
which would restructure the distribution of special education funding and provide a one-time sum of $125 million that would be divided among districts to address staffing needs.
Humble ISD special education funding
Special education allotment Humble ISD total special education spending
A closer look
Students with disabilities who are part of general education classrooms are calculated in the average daily attendance allotment from the state, which has been $6,160 per student since 2019, according to TEA documents. The amount the state gives for special education students is weighted differently based on the accommodations the student receives. Districts are only required to spend 55% of their special education allotment; HISD officials said it’s historically spent 100% as expenditures typically exceed the allotment. According to a 2023 report from advocacy group Disability Rights Texas, districts funded about $6.3 billion in special edu- cation programs in the 2020-21 school year despite receiving about $4 billion for these from the state.
$100M
$86M
$79.4M
$71.1M
$80M
$66.2M
$59.3M**
$62.1M
$53.4M
$60M
$50.5M
$47.1M $48.1M
$47.2M*
$39.6M
$33.1M
$51.1M*
$40M
$26.1M
$27.5M
$22.3M
$19.9M $20.7M
$20M
$19.5M
0
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
*THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ALLOTMENT FOR THE 2023-14 AND 2024-25 SCHOOL YEARS HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED.**ACTUAL AMOUNT SPENT THROUGH APRIL 15, 2025 SOURCES: HUMBLE ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE A SEPARATE ALLOCATION FOR DYSLEXIA SERVICES, OF WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED TO SPEND 100%
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY WESLEY GARDNER CONTRIBUTIONS BY HANNAH BROL & HALEY VELASCO
Zooming out
Why it matters
Looking ahead
In the 2022-23 school year, the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly 7.5 million students in the United States received special education services, which equated to roughly 15% of all public school students.
Phipps said the district is hoping Texas lawmakers will allot more funding for special education services before the legislative session wraps up in June. On April 7, senators approved SB 568, which would create an eight-tier system basing special education funding on the level of services districts provide. The bill includes a one-time investment of $125 million to support teacher and staffing pipeline needs statewide. Phipps said he believes HISD will continue to expand its programing to accommodate growing student needs. “This includes increasing the number of specialized staff, enhancing intervention services and providing additional training to ensure that teachers and service providers are equipped to meet the diverse needs of students,” he said.
Since 2015, HISD’s special education workforce rose from about 745 employees to around 1,180 this year, district data shows. Despite receiving a $47.2 million special education allotment for the 2023-24 school year, HISD still spent roughly $83.3 million on special education payroll alone the same year, according to district data. Phipps said the increased workforce helps HISD run initiatives tailored to special needs students, including the Mosaic Program, which supports disabled students as they transition out of high school. Eva Aguirre—director of programs at The Village Centers, a local nonprofit that supports young adults with disabilities as they transi- tion out of high school—said the nonprofit has seen a similar rise in demand for services. “We’ve had many referrals here in the last few years from [HISD’s] Mosaic program,” Aguirre said.
Increase in special education students
+21%
Texas is the lone state to increase its special education enrollment by over 20% from 2017 to 2021.
+106,000 additional students
Texas made up more than half the national growth in special education students from 2017 to 2021.
The nation saw an average of 3% growth in special education students from 2017 to 2021.
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
EVERYONE DESERVES A HEALTHY LIFE.
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
Transportation
BY WESLEY GARDNER
United Airlines o cials held a groundbreaking ceremony March 25 for the airline’s upcoming $177 million, 140,000-square-foot Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The details According to a March 25 news release, the facility will support the airline’s eet of more than 1,800 ground service vehicles at IAH, which includes the vehicles and tools that are used to support airplanes when they’re on the ground. Additionally, o cials celebrated the opening of United Airlines’ $16 million, 91,000-square- foot Technical Operations Training Center on Work begins on United Airlines maintenance facility
March 25. The facility includes sheet metal and composite training shops, desktop simulators and scenario-based engine maintenance, and inspection training spaces. “With these new facilities ... we are enhancing our ability to maintain a world-class eet while empowering our employees with cutting-edge tools and training,” Phil Gri th, vice president of airport operations for United Airlines’s Houston hub, said in a statement. A closer look Paul Joklik, managing director of Ground Service Equipment and Facilities for United Airlines, said the maintenance facility will provide additional resources for crews to perform tasks, including charging batteries, fabricating metal, and monitoring electronic controls with improved infrastructure and modernized workspaces. United Airlines o cials said the new mainte- nance facility is expected to open in 2027. The facility is expected to create 4,000 construction jobs, per the release.
New United Airlines facilities at IAH
1 Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility
Technical Operations Training Center 2
WILL CLAYTON PKWY.
2
RENTAL CAR AVE.
1
JOHN F. KENNEDY BLVD.
N
“This investment re ects our long- term vision for Houston as a critical hub for United’s operations and our commitment to sustainability, e ciency and growth.” PHIL GRIFFITH, VICE PRESIDENT OF AIRPORT OPERATIONS, UNITED AIRLINES’S HOUSTON HUB
Events
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
• Kingwood Country Club, 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail, Kingwood • www.facebook.com/wcegala
May
‘Music Down In My Soul’ Ecumenical women’s choir Sola Gratia will perform a concert of songs with “American roots.” • May 3, 4 p.m. • Free (ages 12 and under), $10 (students) $20 (adults) • Kingwood Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood • www.solagratiamusic.org ‘Highwaymen’ Attend a tribute to the “Great American Outlaws,” celebrating some of the world’s most recognized classic country artists. • May 16, 7 p.m. • $40 • Charles Bender Performing Arts Center, 611 Higgins St., Humble • www.charlesbendertheater.com ‘80’s Prom Night Attend an ‘80s themed prom night featuring live entertainment and an auction. • May 17, 6-11 p.m. • $50 (staff), $75 (single ticket), $150 (couple), $750 (table of 10)
‘Aire Y Tierra Flamenco’ The student showcase by Ana María Barcelo will feature a show that expresses the feeling of a flamenco experience. • May 18, 6 p.m. • $25 • Charles Bender PAC, 611 Higgins St., Humble • www.charlesbendertheater.com Leadership Awards Luncheon The Leadership Awards Luncheon will honor professionals and Leadership Lake Houston alumni. • May 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • $30 (members), $45 (nonmembers) • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.lakehouston.org Memorial Day Hero Salute Hosted by Rad Racing Company, this event will include a half-marathon, a 5K, two hero races and a kid’s race. • May 26, 6:30-10:30 a.m. • $15-$55 • Town Center Park, 8 N. Main St., Kingwood • www.radracingcompany.com
Children’s Entrepreneur Market Join the Children’s Entrepreneur Market at Porky’s Backyard for a day filled with food trucks and shopping from young, local entrepreneurs. • May 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • Porky’s Backyard, 5131 Atascocita Road, Humble • www.childrensentrepreneurmarket.com
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JUST FORE! YOU
A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT APRIL 2025
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WEEKENDER: A Big Time in Big Spring CRITTER: Gray Fox MADE IN TEXAS: A Recipe for Stunning Ceramics OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas FEATURE PREVIEW: The Texas Monthly Profile of Scottie Scheffler
Above: Hotel Settles, in Big Spring.
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
CRITTER
Gray Fox
HOW CAN I IDENTIFY ONE? Look for a black stripe, typically run- ning down the length of the animal’s back. Gray foxes also have a “bright orange patch on the side of their face and neck,” says Amanda Veals Dutt, a postdoctoral scientist at Sul Ross State University. That distinguishes the species from the slightly larger, non-native red fox (which settlers near Waco introduced for hunting in the 1890s) and two smaller species: the swift fox, found in the Panhandle, and the kit fox, which roams West Texas. WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT IT? It can thrive in a range of habitats, in part because it’ll eat almost anything —mice, small birds, insects—and it seems to enjoy living close to humans. Attacks on us (or dogs or cats) are rare, but rabbits and guinea pigs might make a tasty snack. And if you keep chickens? “They’re basically ice-cream cones running around,” says John Tomeček, a carnivore ecologist at Texas A&M University. ANY URBAN FOX TALES? In October 2021, in front of at least one hundred onlookers at the San Antonio River Walk, firefighters rescued a baby gray fox stranded on a window ledge about 25 feet o¥ the ground. More re- cently, Bethany Snowden, a lieutenant with the city’s animal care services department, sent colleagues to scoop up a fox that had wandered into a court- house. “We enjoy saving urban wildlife,” she says, adding that both foxes were transferred to Wildlife Rescue and Re- habilitation, a local sanctuary. —Rose Cahalan
WEEKENDER
A “Big” Secret in West Texas With a grand hotel and a rich history that includes oil, rail, and Midnight Cowboy , this Permian Basin town holds some surprises. BY COURTNEY BOND
a diner-style room complete with red vinyl– topped chrome stools. At the south end of town, the four-hundred- acre Comanche Trail Park is home to Big Spring’s big spring. Well, what’s left of it. The railroad, the ranches, and all the other busi- nesses of civilization long ago drained the water table, but ocials utilize what they call artificial outflow, making for a nice waterfall that spills into a reservoir. Continue your educational journey during lunch at Local’s, a onetime school building down the street from the park. After lunch, fill up on the town’s more modern history at the Heritage Museum of Big Spring. For supper, pop in at J Jayz Bar and Grill (across from the Train Car) for colorful cock- tails and the kind of food—burgers, quesadillas —needed to soak them up. Or head back to home base and enjoy a whiskey sour and chicken-fried steak from Settles Grill. To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .
FRIDAY: If you did nothing else but spend a night at Hotel Settles, your visit would be worthwhile. A dust-colored brick building rising fifteen stories, its glowing red rooftop sign visible for miles, the crown jewel of Big Spring exemplifies the word “landmark.” Catty-corner to the hotel, across Runnels Street, is what appears to be downtown’s most popular restaurant, Devour. Inside a narrow space, patrons pair giant margaritas with hearty American fare that includes burgers, pork chops, and bacon-wrapped quail with green onions and hot honey. After dinner, make tracks two blocks north and one street over to the Train Car Cigar Bar. SATURDAY: The sign outside still says Dell’s Café, but this spare restaurant with the odd name of Neutral Ways serves fat egg-filled tacos and classic American breakfast plates in
The entrance to Comanche Trail Park.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
MADE IN TEXAS
From Wheel to Table Restaurants around the country are turning to this Dallas ceramist for artful dinnerware.
BY AMANDA ALBEE
OUT THERE
was born. He attended St. Mark’s School of Texas, where he fell in love with his ceramics classes. At Southern Methodist University, he fulfilled an elective requirement with a ce- ramics course, in which he learned how to use awood-firedkiln,adays-longprocessthatem- ploys ashes to create one-of-a-kind textures and colors. Ortega turned his hobby into a side business while working in the corporate world. In 2018, when he received an order for more than nine hundred pieces to stock Beverley’s Bistro & Bar, on Fitzhugh Avenue, Marcello Andres Ceramics became a full-time enterprise. Ortega opened his current location, which also serves as an event space, two years later. Ortegafulfillsordersforrestaurantsaround the state and beyond: Tatemó, an intimate Mexican tasting menu spot, in Houston; Texas- centric Isidore, in San Antonio’s new Pull- man Market; and Juniper, an Italian bistro in East Austin. Ortega sees his art as having “a conversation with clay.” Fortunately for us, there are lingering —and beautiful—questions to answer.
YOU WON’T FIND “Do Not Touch” signs in Marcello Andres Ortega’s studio and retail space, housed in a Quonset hut just south of downtown Dallas. The ceramics artist encour- ages visitors to the showroom to feel and hold his plates, bowls, and copitas—small cups used for drinking mezcal, sherry, and other spirits. Formed out of Texas clay and natural minerals and fused in fire in one of the workshop’s five kilns, the appeal of the dinnerware extends be- yond the tactile. The primary palette of creams, taupes, and dark grays invites you to appreciate whatsitsatopeachdish:forexample,anorderof avocado toast’s shock of green against the neu- tral canvas of a plate. “The food is the art,” says Ortega of the earth tones he prefers for dishes. Ortega traces his love of dinnerware to the nightly sit-down family meals of his childhood, a ritual important to his Chilean- born parents, who moved to Dallas before he
Meanwhile, In Texas At a feedlot in Carrizo Springs, a man witnessed a group of cattle pin a coyote against a fence before it es- caped unharmed. An American Airlines flight was evac- uated and delayed for nearly five hours at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after a passenger alerted cabin crew to a Wi-Fi hot spot titled “there is a bomb on the flight.” Upon discovering an unconventional hunting blind made from a portable toilet, Henderson County game wardens used a hidden camera to catch a man who was using it to hunt deer on private property without the owner’s consent. More than one hundred canisters of nitrous oxide were discovered in the car of a Houston dentist who had sped through town, ignored commands to pull over, led police on a brief chase, and, finally, stopped and allegedly ad- mitted to inhaling the laughing gas as he was driving. Port Arthur authorities announced that a man is under investigation for child endangerment after he posted a video on social media in which he used a baby dressed in winter clothing to wipe snow o his car’s windshield. A man in Travis County told police he “won’t press charges” and just wants his dog back after he was approached near his home by a man who shot him in the foot, grabbed his French bulldog, and fled in a car. —Meher Yeda
Marcello Andres Ortega throwing a sculpture in his studio on February 4, 2025.
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
Scottie Scheffler at Royal Oaks Country Club.
Palm Beach Gardens home, and ended his own life. As they learned of Murray’s death, some players spoke to reporters and others declined. Sixteen-year pro Peter Malnati wanted to talk. He also was not a big star, but he was aable, articulate, and thoughtful—and he happened to be the contestant who had played with Mur- ray the afternoon before. Malnati struggled to collect his thoughts on national television. The full weight and measure of the singular stresses of the game seemed to wobble him at a tender moment. “This is going to be really hard,” Malnati said, his voice shuddering. “We all want to beat each other.Andthensomethinglikethishappensand you realize that we’re all just humans.” There would be a service for Murray in early June, before the Memorial Tournament, at Muirfield Village Golf Club, near Columbus, Ohio. Brad Payne, who serves as a chaplain on the PGA Tour, helped organize it. He had coun- seled Murray through his personal struggles— anxiety, alcohol abuse—and had talked with him about the pervasive sense of loneliness and dread he just couldn’t seem to shake, even as he achieved remarkable success, rising into the top fiftyintheworldafterwinninginHawaiiatthe beginning of 2024. Before the service, Payne also counseled the players who were sched- uled to speak, a group that included Scottie Scheer,thenumberoneplayerintheworld. To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .
ON A FRIDAY afternoon last May, late in the second round of the PGA Tour stop in Fort Worth, Grayson Murray pocketed his ball and toldocialshefeltunwell.Hewithdrewfrom the competition, cleared out his locker, and aimed his courtesy vehicle toward the airport. Few spectators noticed. Murray was thirty years old and had won twice on the tour, which is two more times than most professional golfers ever win, but he was not the kind of incandescent star who drew massive galleries and heavy media attention. He had two holes left to play when he hit the last shot of his life. The next day, word filtered through the old, pecan-lined fairways of Colonial Country Club that Murray had flown to Florida, gone to his
FEATURE PREVIEW
Great Scottie! Shhhhhhh. Quiet Please. Scottie Scheffler, the world’s most dominant golfer, is approaching the toughest part of the course. BY KEVIN ROBBINS
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