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Bay Area Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 FEB. 29 MARCH 27, 2024
Hwy. 146 wrapping up
T Bone Tom’s owner Barry Terrell said GPS has redirected tra c away from his restaurant along Hwy. 146’s frontage road since the Texas Department of Transportation began widening the highway in 2019.
RACHEL LELAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Widening project creates hope for community o cials, while business owners re ect on issues
taken a toll on all three of his businesses along Hwy. 146. It’s similar for Seabrook’s Habanero’s Taco Co., said Maria Denis, daughter of the business’s owner. “We’ve noticed that the construction and the tra c does cut o most people coming here,” Denis said.
However, the project has not been without its chal- lenges and headaches, as several business owners have seen downturns in their sales and pro ts, which have resulted from less tra c coming to the area due to construction. Entrepreneur Barry Terrell said the project, carried out by the Texas Department of Transportation, has
BY RACHEL LELAND
The frontage road along Hwy. 146 in Kemah has long been prime real estate for business as the route acts as an economic artery that pumps tourists to the nearby Kemah Boardwalk—and with the widening of the highway nearing completion after four years of work, o cials have big plans for the area’s future.
CONTINUED ON 16
Also in this issue
Impacts: Chicken N Pickle opens in Webster (Page 6)
Government: NASA launches HERA Campaign (Page 10)
Transportation: Work begins along Walker Street (Page 12)
Camp guide: Check out summer camps in the Bay Area (Page 19)
ACCESS Instant
$20K Up to in builder incentives*
Purchase a move-in ready home in Lago Mar between NOW and March 31 and get access to all the fun we have to offer before you close on your new home!* Enjoy Amenities NOW Move in later! • Dive into Texas’ Largest Crystal Clear Lagoon • Relax on White Sand Beaches with Cabanas • Indulge at on-site Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill • Experience Fun Watersports (Paddleboards & Kayaks) • Enjoy our Splash Pad, Playground & Clubhouse
New Homes High $200s-$500s LagoMar in TexasCity.com
The Lago Mar Crystal Lagoon operating schedule and availability is subject to change without notice. The “Access Now” pass is only available on homes that a buyer has signed a new home purchase agreement with a home builder in Lago Mar between now and 3/31/24. Limit one “Access Now” pass per new home purchase agreement. Buyers must agree to and sign the rules and regulations for the Lago Mar Beach Club before access will be granted. The “Access Now” pass is void if new home purchase agreement is cancelled for any reason. The “Access Now” pass can be terminated at any time by the Crystal Clear Lagoon Operator for not meeting Lago Mar Beach Club rules and regulations. Additional restrictions may apply. Please visit Lago Mar clubhouse center for full details. Restrictions apply. See your new home sales consultant for further details on how to qualify for both of these offers. This offer ends 3/31/24. Up to $20K in builder incentives varies for each builder and is subject to change without notice. See builder representative for more details on incentives currently being offered and how to qualify for them. Offers subject to change without notice. 1.24 *
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At Kelsey-Seybold, our OB/GYNs, pediatricians, and after-hours nurses are not only connected to you – they’re connected to each other. It’s a collaborative approach that helps ensure you and your baby get world-class care. And, as every new parent quickly discovers, it’s good to have connections. Connected to you from pregnancy to pediatrics.
Bay Area Campus 1010 S. Ponds Dr. Webster, TX 77598
Pasadena Clinic 5001 E. Sam Houston Pkwy. S. Pasadena, TX 77505
South Shore Harbour Clinic 3625 E League City Pkwy. League City, TX 77573
24/7 Appointment Scheduling: 713-442-0000
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BAY AREA EDITION
You are at the heart of
Whatever your heart requires, we’ll help keep it beating strong. We personalize treatment plans that utilize cutting-edge techniques, like a heart arrhythmia treatment that minimizes the risk of heart failure and stroke without the need for blood thinners. This is innovative heart care designed around you. memorialhermann.org/heart our advanced cardiac care.
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
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BAY AREA EDITION
Impacts
4 Durb’s Restaurant The American-style restaurant offers a smash burger, chicken and sausage gumbo, as well as desserts. Desserts include a loaded cake waffle or pistachio cake. • Opened Jan. 13 • 109 Meadow Parkway, League City • Facebook: Durb’s Restaurant 5 Eat Thai The restaurant serves dishes such as curry, stir-fries, salads and desserts. • Opened Dec. 5 • 565 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster • www.eatthaibayarea.com 6 Gracie Barra The Brazilian jiujitsu academy offers martial arts and self defense classes. It’s the business’s first location to open 7 The Junkyard Pearl The store sells resort wear, swimwear, apparel, vintage decor, antique nautical finds and gifts. • Opened Nov. 15 • 1001 Aspen Road, Clear Lake Shores • www.thejunkyardpearl.com 8 MyCHN Pasadena pharmacy Officials hope the pharmacy will help provide a one-stop shop for those seeking medical care. • Opened Jan. 25 • 6243 Fairmont Parkway, Ste. 204, Pasadena • www.mychn.org 9 Total Body Niche The spa offers waxing for face and body, massages, facials, and body treatments. • Opened Dec. 1 • 100 Perkins Ave., Ste. B1, League City • www.totalbodyniche.com in the Bay Area. • Opened Jan. 1 • 1020 W. NASA Parkway, Ste. 150, Webster • www.graciebarratx.com
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SPACE CENTER BLVD.
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MAP NOT TO SCALE TM; © 2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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other services. • Grand opening held Jan. 14
Now open
• 144 El Dorado Blvd., Ste. 230, Webster • www.baycolonynailspawebster.com
1 Mango The Spanish fashion retailer sells clothing for women, men and children, and home goods. • Opened in October • 500 Baybrook Mall, Friendswood • www.shop.mango.com 2 Bay Colony Nail Spa The new location is the business’s third. The salon offers pedicures, manicures and various types of nails, among
3 League City Public Art Gallery The gallery is in collaboration with the University of Houston Clear Lake and features artwork from
professors and students. • Exhibit opened Jan. 22 • 400 W. Walker St., League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov
YOUR KITCHEN SOLUTION. Transforming Kitchens & Bathrooms for over 10 years.
1500 Marina Bay Dr Bld 113 suite D Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565 MidtownCabinetry.com • 281-947-2120
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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
16 Westland Ranch Amenity Center The new center, titled The Hayloft, will have a playground and an event lawn, among other things. • Opening fall 2024 • 3108 Magnolia Pass Lane, League City • www.westlandranchcommunity.com 17 Popstroke The facility offers a “technologically advanced golf environment.” It will also offer food and beverages.
10 The Spot at Hobby Airport The restaurant will serve several American dishes, as well as breakfast items. • Opened Feb. 6 • 7800 Airport Blvd., Houston • www.islandfamous.com 11 BoomerJacks Grill & Bar The sports bar offers multiple items, including nachos, wings, tenders and a drinks menu. • Opened Feb. 19 • 20951 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.boomerjacks.com 12 Black Rock Coffee Bar The business is known for its crafted caffeinated drinks, including Irish coffee and the caramel blondie. • Opened Feb. 2 • 2494 Gulf S. Freeway, League City • www.br.coffee 13 sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt The company allows customers to customize their frozen yogurt order, and offers a toppings bar. • Opened Feb. 2 • 1940 W. League City Parkway, Ste. 241, League City • www.sweetfrog.com
Now open
• Opening by the end of 2024 • 110 Blue Heron Drive, Webster • www.popstroke.com
Relocations
22 Chicken N Pickle The restaurant has an indoor and outdoor entertainment space, and has food, a bar and different games, such as shuffleboard, pickleball, corn hole and ping-pong. • Opened Feb. 20 • 210 Blue Heron Drive, Webster • www.chickennpickle.com
18 Alert Tech SMT The company makes electronics for aerospace, cybersecurity and medical devices, among other things. • 12602 Hwy. 3, Bldg. B, Webster • www.alerttechsmt.com
Expansions
19 Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Building B The new building will offer primary and specialty care services. • Opened Jan. 8 • 18833 Eastfield Drive, Webster • www.kelsey-seybold.com
agencies and private companies, as well as its philanthropy in the community. • 13100 Space Center Blvd., Ste. 650, Houston • www.barrios.com Smalls Sliders The cheeseburger slider restaurant is looking at five possible locations, including some in the Bay Area. • First restaurant coming in 2024 • www.smallssliders.com Margaritaville Resort The 300,000-square-foot resort will break ground in the summer. Amenities include a lazy river. • Opening TBD • Eastern Galveston (exact location not available) • www.margaritavilleresorts.com
Coming soon
14 Slate Table + Bar The fusion restaurant will serve Italian dishes “with a contemporary flair,” and offer a list of wines. • Opening March 29 • 1120 Grand Oak Blvd., Ste. 200, League City • www.slatetableandbar.com 15 Tim Hortons The Canadian-based coffee chain also serves a variety of breakfast items. • Opening by the end of 2024 • 1607 League City Parkway, League City • www.timhortons.com
In the news
20 Athena’s Corner The Greek-American restaurant was named Seabrook’s 2023 business of the year. • 2900 E. Nasa Parkway, Ste. 310, Seabrook • www.athenascornertx.com 21 Barrios Technology The company won the Space Center Rotary Club’s Business Award for its work with both government
Announcing our newest location at Pineloch and Hwy 3 in Webster! Make plans now to enroll your Pre-K - 8th grade student. Use the QR code to learn more about Odyssey Academy and to reserve your spot today! NEW LOCATION OPENING FALL 2024!
14650 OLD Galveston Rd Webster, TX 77598
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BAY AREA EDITION
512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu highschool.utexas.edu
CLEAR CREEK FEDERAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECT
Join the Harris County Flood Control District for a virtual community engagement meeting to discuss the Clear Creek Federal Flood Risk Management Project, a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project’s Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA)* will be available for review during a 30-day public comment period from March 27 – April 26, 2024.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enroll anytime in UT’s online high school courses to catch up or get ahead. Full-time diploma program and single courses available including Honors and Advanced Placement® subjects available Enroll in courses now! Scan the QR code
Join online at: PublicInput.com/C03 Or by phone: 855-925-2801 with Meeting Code: 6958
*Note: A printed copy of the SEA will be available in English and Spanish at the Harris County Flood Control District’s office, located at 9900 Northwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77092, during the 30-day public comment period. A digital copy and a comment form will also be available at hcfcd.org/C03.
For more information about the project or the public meeting, visit hcfcd.org/C03.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY HALEY VELASCO
Clear Creek ISD board approves two projects tied to 2023 bond Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees at its Jan. 15 meeting approved two construction projects related to the 2023 bond, with one being $4.89 million and the other being $4.97 million. The gist Both bond projects, expected to be completed by Aug. 1, will apply to central plant replacements— which produce heating and cooling—at multiple schools, according to district documents. The $4.97 million project will apply to repairs at Falcon Pass, Goforth and Robinson Elementary schools, while the $4.89 million project will apply to repairs at Bauerschlag, Gilmore and Weber Elemen- tary schools, according to district documents. These are some of the rst construction projects
Clear Creek ISD passes new 2024 25 calendar Clear Creek ISD students will start school on Aug. 14 for the 2024-25 school year after the district’s board of trustees approved the new academic calendar at its Jan. 22 meeting. The gist While the majority of CCISD students will start Aug. 14, pre-K, kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade students will start Aug. 13, according to district agenda documents. The last day of school for students is May 22. CCISD’s board considered three possible calendar options, with district sta and the community recommending the third option through a survey released in late 2023. The board approved the calendar unani- mously at its Jan. 15 meeting.
Central plant funding
Central plant replacement $ 9.86M
$302M total bond
Rest of the bond $292.14M
Each of these elementary school campus will see more projects down the road. Below are the total amounts of bond money allocated for each of these schools in CCISD’s 2023 bond.
Bauerschlag - $6.7M Goforth - $6.36M Falcon Pass - $6M
Weber - $5.75M Robinson - $5.4M Gilmore - $5.2M
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
to be approved that are related to the district’s $302 million bond, which received voter approval Nov. 7. The bond aims at upgrading infrastructure and maintenance within the school district.
Lee College in Baytown awarded $750,000 to support incarcerated students Lee College received a $750,000 grant from the Greater Texas Foundation and Trellis Foundation to launch a project to help incarcerated students complete their college degrees once they are released from prison. The gist receive stackable, transferable credits, according to a Jan. 25 news release from the college. The project also provides services for incarcer- ated program participants, such as housing and transportation, according to the release. By the numbers “We know access to higher education degrees and certi cations disrupts the cycle of
generational poverty for many of our students.” SELAH TACCONI, EXECUTIVE
The project, called the Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education, expands access for students at Plane State Jail in Liberty County to
More than 40% of former inmates return to prison within their rst year, according to the National Institute of Justice.
DIRECTOR OF THE LEE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
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BAY AREA EDITION
Government
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
NASA begins simulated Mars mission
Diving in deeper
In addition to studying the e ects the mission could have on the astronauts, those chosen will also be completing various tasks throughout the mission, Whiting said. Those activities represent both the various tasks astronauts would be doing in a real mission, or nding solutions to problems NASA o cials expect to encounter.
on a compressed timeline. For the test, astronauts will live in the
To prepare for possible future trips to Mars, NASA and other space agencies are working out di erent logistical challenges and hurdles. As part of that e ort, NASA launched its newest Human Exploration Research Analog, or HERA, mission on Jan. 26, said Sara Whiting, deputy element scientist for space ight analogs at NASA. The mission will last for 45 days and see four astronauts go into a habitat at the Johnson Space Center and simulate a mission. The mission is the rst of four in HERA’s seventh campaign that will take place throughout 2024, Whiting said. It will simulate going to Mars—a trip that could take several months—but will be HERA Campaign 7 habitat First oor 1 Airlock The entry separating two areas of di erent pressures 2 Core Contains stations critical to mission tasks • 2A Medical science station • 2B Flight deck • 2C General maintenance workstation • 2D Robotic on-board trainer 3 Hygiene Module Contains bathroom, shower and sink 4 Second Floor Contains personal area for astronauts
650-square-foot habitat, where they will work through challenges and complete various tasks that go along with such a trip, Whiting said. They will “return” to earth, or leave the habitat, on March 11. Overall, the mission will include 18 separate studies, according to a January news release from NASA, some of which are in partnership with other space agencies. “Ground analogs like HERA allow us to test things that we can’t simulate in real operations,” Whiting said.
Experiencing Mars in VR
Conducting ship repairs
Team dynamics
Communications delay
SOURCE: NASA COMMUNITY IMPACT
2A
2B
1
2
3
2C
2D
What else?
4A
4B
With this mission going on, as well as another one at NASA that is a year long and simulates what a base on Mars might look like, it’s “anybody’s guess” when humankind could take steps toward getting to Mars, Whiting said. The Artemis program, which saw delays announced earlier this year, could be a pathway toward traveling to Mars, but nothing is concrete yet. “NASA has a vision for it,” Whiting said. “But the agency ... is trying to answer those questions.”
4
4C
4D
• 4A Wardroom table • 4B Galley or kitchen • 4C Communication station • 4D Aerobic exercise device
Astronauts will be in the habitat for 45 days.
COURTESY NASA
NOTE: THE THIRD FLOOR, WHICH IS WHERE THE CREW QUARTERS ARE LOCATED, IS NOT SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAM. SOURCE: NASA COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Government
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
Galveston County looks at leasing vehicles Galveston County commissioners heard a presentation on leasing vehicles rather than purchasing them, which county officials said could save more than $10 million over five years. The gist Due to recent increasing costs for vehicles, county
League City book board approves rules League City’s new book review commit- tee adopted new guidelines for its review process at its Jan. 31 meeting. What you need to know In one of its first meetings ever, the Community Standards Review Committee, or CSRC, which was created last year to review books flagged by community members as potentially inappropriate, voted for new guidelines to help cement its role going forward. The committee will focus on books in Helen Hall Library’s ages 0-11 section. They will have the ability to review books from that section and choose if they should be moved to a different one in the library, officials said at the meeting.
officials are looking for ways to replace fleet vehicles without further driving up budget expenses. Currently, the county is falling behind in keep- ing up with those purchases, prompting officials to look for new ways to obtain those vehicles, Galves- ton County Road Administrator Lee Crowder said at the Jan. 22 Commissioners Court meeting. Diving in deeper To keep up with replacing its fleet, the county needs to replace about 70 vehicles each year, Crowder said. However, that number currently is closer to 40.
Purchasing vs. leasing vehicles Galveston County over five years could save north of $10 million if it leased its nearly 400-vehicle fleet, rather than purchased it. Departments that use vehicles include the sheriff’s office, parks, and facilities and maintenance.
Purchasing Leasing
$0 $2M $4M $6M $8M $10M $12M
10.32M
5.1M
3.69M 5.26M
4.66M
2.63M
2.37M
1.95M
2.66M
1.24M
FY23-24 FY24-25 FY25-26 FY26-27 FY27-28
SOURCE: GALVESTON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Pediatric Care you can trust
Peace of mind and hope. That’s what Jessica and Milton Lewis found for their son, Olin, at UTMB Health.
Facing a rare, currently incurable, chronic kidney disorder, Olin requires numerous appointments and medications to live a normal, healthy life. And thanks to his UTMB Health pediatric nephrology care team, the five-year-old flag football player is able to do just that. Whether you’re looking for a general pediatrician or a specialist, you can turn to UTMB Health for pediatric care you can trust.
Scan the QR code to read Olin’s story. Call (800) 917-8906 or visit our website at utmbhealth.com/pediatrics to find a doctor and schedule your next appointment today.
knows Pediatrics
The University of Texas Medical Branch is in-network for most major insurance plans.
11
BAY AREA EDITION
Transportation
Events
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
BY ASIA ARMOUR
Work begins along section of Walker Street in League City
made using locally sourced ingredients, and a network for small farmers, businesses and entrepreneurs. • Every Sunday year-round, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • 500 Baybrook Mall Drive, Friendswood • www.bayareafarmersmarketgroup.com Women’s Day at Sylvan Beach Pavilion This religious event hosted by Houston International Christian Church is centered on the theme of “Brand New,” and aims to o er an uplifting, inspirational and transformative experience to its attendees. • March 10, 10 a.m.-noon • Tickets cost $15 (visitors), $20 (church members) • 1 Sylvan Beach Drive, La Porte • www.eventbrite.com Saturday Jazz Nights Listen to live jazz from iconic Houston artist Kyle Turner under the historic oak trees at League Park after experiencing an interactive lecture from Todd Parker, host of “Analog Jazz” on KTSU-FM 90.9, at the park’s indoor lecture room. • March 23, 6-7 p.m. (lecture), 7:30-9 p.m. (concert) • $12 (lecture), free (concert) • 144 Park Ave., Ste. 400, League City (lecture); 512 Second St., League City (concert) • www.leaguecity.com/jazz
March
Seabrook Lucky Trails 2024 Those interested can register to participate in a number of di erent races scheduled to happen over the course of a weekend in March. Races include a 1K for children, a 5K, marathons, challenge races and relay races, among others. • March 15-17 • $20-$220 (depending on race and date registered) • Rex Meador Park, 2100 Meyer Road, Seabrook • www.seabrookmarathon.org Walk for Wellness The event is a series of walking and running events, including a 1K, and 5K walk and run. The goal is to increase awareness for seniors’ needs to develop healthy lifestyles. • March 23, begins at 7:30 a.m. • $30 (registration fee), $35 (on race day) • Walter Hall Park, 807 State Hwy. 3 N., League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov Baybrook Farmers Market The farmers market’s mission is to support local vendors and the community’s healthy lifestyle choices. To do this, they provide agricultural foods and products locally
Work on a portion of Walker Street in League City began in late January, and o cials expect it to take about nine months to complete. What you need to know The project is the third phase of the Walker Street improvements project, and will focus on the area stretching from Kessler’s Crossing at the UTMB Health facility’s entrance to FM 646, according to city documents. The cost of the project, which will total $3.5 million, is mostly funded from the tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, established along Walker Street, project manager Anthony Talluto said in an email. The details The work for Phase 3 will include signalizing several intersections, Talluto said in the email, including the northern Kessler’s Crossing intersec- tion, Victory Lakes Drive and Town Center Drive.
Work on turn lanes will also be included, Talluto said. Those include the left turn to enter the UTMB driveway and the left-turn lane to turn onto Kessler’s Crossing. The right- and left-turn lanes onto Victory Lakes Drive will also see work. O cials will adjust signals at the FM 646 inter- section from two mounted signals in the median to four new signals on the corners. The intersection’s new layout will also include two dedicated left and through lanes, as well as a dedicated right-turn lane, Talluto said. One of the left-turn lanes will extend all the way through the Town Center Drive intersection too, Talluto said. What else? While most of the work shouldn’t impact motorists much, work at FM 646 could create tra c issues, Talluto said. Vehicles coming out of the town center or going through FM 646 could experience congestion.
KELLERS CROSSING
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VICTORY LAKES DR.
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TOWN CENTER DR.
Moon 2 Mars Festival at Space Center Houston
N
The Space Center in Houston is bringing back its annual Moon 2 Mars festival. This four-day, space-theme event takes place during many scheduled Spring Breaks in Houston, and invites people to participate in live music, food and family-friendly activities. • March 13-16 • $29.95-$39.95 • 1601 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • www.spacecenter.org
“There will be so much work happening that there will be an impact [to tra c].”
ANTHONY TALLUTO, PROJECT MANAGER FOR LEAGUE CITY
BAY AREA 1033 Bay Area Blvd (281) 486-9558 LEAGUE CITY
KEMAH 243 FM 2094 (281) 538-9095 SEABROOK 3126 Nasa Pkwy (281) 326-5127
196 Gulf Fwy S (281) 316-2140
WESTWOOD
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A Peaceful Community in League City
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Prices and availability subject to change without notice. You are hereby advised against making any decisions based solely upon this informa- tion without first verifying it with the controlling authority. CoventryHomes.com
SALESSUPPORT@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Emergencies happen. We’re right here when they do. A health emergency is something most of us would rather prevent than plan for. But when you need medical care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. As your community partner, St. Luke’s Health is your direct path from feeling scared or uncomfortable to feeling better. Get to know more about our ERs before an emergency strikes. Find your nearest location at StLukesHealth.org/Emergency .
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Real estate
In the Bay Area, more homes were sold in January 2024 compared to last year, while ZIP codes saw variation in the median number of days homes were on the market. Residential market data
Number of homes sold
January 2023
January 2024
+100%
-25%
+111.11%
-12.5%
+19.3%
77058
77059
77062
77565
77573
225
77059
146
Median home sales price
77062
77058
January
2023
2024
GALVESTON BAY
$310,500 $495,500 $290,800 $417,250 $368,000
$325,500 $465,750 $328,000 $356,260 $365,750
77565
45
77058
518
77059
77573
77062
77565
Bay Area
77573
January
2023
2024
188 251
New listings
Average days on market +16.7%
84 105
Closed sales
-4.08%
+172.41%
-79.69%
+68.97%
Homes under contract
0 153
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 WWW.SPARROW-REALTY.COM
77058
77059
77062
77565
77573
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BAY AREA EDITION
From the cover
Hwy. 146 wrapping up
The full story
With the four-year Hwy. 146 project set to be completed in the coming months, TxDOT o cials said they hope the project will reduce tra c congestion along the busy corridor and provide a better hurricane evacuation route. Both Seabrook and Kemah also have a laundry list of new plans and developments for the area following the highway’s completion, with eyes set on how it could open the area up even further. Several developments could see progress in 2024, such as The Edge at Seabrook Town Centre, a multipurpose project with retail and living space located o Hwy. 146. However, local business owners in Kemah and Seabrook said they believe they’ve borne the brunt of the project’s economic impact. Terrell estimates business was down by 50% across his three restaurants throughout construction, all of which sit near Hwy. 146’s frontage road. “GPS won’t tell you to go this way,” Terrell said, referring to tra c congestion and road closures caused by the project, which in turn a ected his business’ foot tra c. Meanwhile, on Denis’ end, Habanero’s Taco Co. is now the lone occupied business in a strip mall along Hwy. 146. Isaac Saldaña, a Kemah City Council member and Community Development Corporation president, said he felt the compound pressures of COVID-19 and Hurricane Nicholas in 2021 had made a “signi cant” impact on the local business community. “Some of the smaller businesses have su ered,” Saldaña said. “We have lost some really good ones. … People just get the mentality that you’re not going to ght tra c and come down here.”
Sales tax revenue in Seabrook and Kemah
Despite losing businesses in the area to make room for the project, both Seabrook and Kemah have maintained a relatively stable sales tax base throughout construction of Hwy. 146.
Seabrook
Kemah
Sales tax increase from 2015-16 to 2022-23
+15.93% +11.64%
$4M
$3M
$2M
$1M
$0
2018-19
2015-16
2016-17
2019-20
2020-21
2017-18
2021-22
2022-23
SOURCES: CITIES OF KEMAH AND SEABROOK COMMUNITY IMPACT
Seabrook set aside $800,000 to help o set the economic impact of the project but will not end up using it because sales tax revenue stayed fairly at, City Manager Gayle Cook said. “It ended up being stable,” she said. “With time we actually saw increased sales tax revenue.” Despite the challenges, with the project nearly behind the communities, o cials are hopeful that tra c numbers will rebound soon, and out-of- town visitors will begin coming again. Kemah o cials are also working on plans to help incentivize economic growth in the area. “We just want people to start coming back this way,” Saldaña said.
Two diners enjoy dinner at T Bone Tom’s during rush hour tra c.
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The speci cs
Going forward
Project: Widened Hwy. 146 from 6 to 12 lanes Timeline: 2019-2024
RED BLUFF RD.
In February 2019, TxDOT began widening Hwy. 146 from Red Bluff Road in Seabrook to where it meets Hwy. 96, just south of Kemah. The $214 million project sought to widen the highway from six to 12 lanes and add an express- way bridge. The remaining portion of the project, which includes building frontage roads, sidewalks and tra c signals, won’t be fully completed until spring, TxDOT Public Information O cer Bambi Hall said. The project was originally slated for completion before December, but was stalled by weather delays and material constraints. A further delay was announce on Feb. 21. In 2023, TxDOT started widening another 5.5-mile section of Hwy. 146 south of Seabrook and Kemah that runs between FM 518 and Dickinson Bayou.
While the widening has been tough on businesses in the area, o cials think the project could help with future plans. City documents from Seabrook show plans to develop along the newly updated corridor—something 86% of respondents in a 2022 survey said they wanted to see more of. The Edge, for example, will add more than 300 living units, and 19,000 square feet of mixed-use space, according to city documents. “We’re going into a new era for Seabrook, and we’re looking forward to developing the corridor in ways we couldn’t before the expansion,” Cook said. Meanwhile, the Kemah Community Development Corporation is working on a Rediscover Kemah campaign to help act as an economic stimulus using local events, Saldaña said. “Despite all the issues we’re having, Kemah’s coming back,” Saldaña said.
Seabrook
GALVESTON BAY
A R I N A B A Y D R .
Project: Widening Hwy. 146 from 4 to 6 lanes
Kemah
96
Timeline: 2023-TBD
146
DICKINSON BAY
517
N
DICKINSON BAYOU
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
A closer look
Hwy. 146 tra c volume
Tra c congestion and keeping Hwy. 146 as an e ective hurricane evacuation route were reasons for the project, according to a 2018 study by the Houston-Galveston Area Council. A 2005 TxDOT tra c count showed the annual average daily tra c on Hwy. 146 in the project’s vicinity could increase by 56% from 2005 to 2035— from 40,900 vehicles per day to 63,700. While tra c is expected to rebound in the coming years, the project itself has spurred a downtick in tra c of about 20% for both Kemah and Seabrook along the highway’s frontage roads, according to TxDOT data from 2018 and 2022.
Seabrook
Kemah
20K 30K 40K 50K
41,926
30,227
40,231
29,105
Construction begins
10K 0
The Edge at Seabrook Town Centre is expected to break ground in 2024.
COURTESY HS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
NOTE: TXDOT DATA FOR 2023 IS NOT AVAILABLE. SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Community
BY RACHEL LELAND
Garmon Ashby, music director at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, holds one of the organ’s many pipes.
N
18300 Upper Bay Rd., Houston www.sttaec.org
JohnPaul Chauvin, an organ performance student at University of Houston, sits at the pipe organ console.
PHOTOS BY RACHEL LELAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Nassau Bay church looks to restore 90-year-old historic pipe organ From the hands of a U.S. senator to an Episcopal church in Nassau Bay, a 90-year-old pipe organ still has generations of hymnals ahead of it, and church leaders have a plan to help it play on. To do this, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church is looking to raise $250,000 to both restore and install the historic pipe organ.
1933 to be installed in his Denver mansion. Follow- ing Phipps’s death, the organ passed through many owners before St. Thomas acquired it. Giving back JohnPaul Chauvin, a University of Houston freshman organ performance student, regularly plays traditional music on the church’s digital organ, but looks forward to playing on the Opus 7133. “Whenever we have real pipes in the organ, we can have real wind owing through them, and it gives a natural sound, and so it better emulates the human voice,” Chauvin said. “It makes everything more meshed together, and it helps us worship God more ... genuinely.”
The full story In 2016, St. Thomas was gifted the Kimball Opus 7133 from a private collector, St. Thomas Music Director Garmon Ashby said. The Opus 7133 is of considerable size, and has three manuals and pedals, with 41 stops, 52 ranks and a total of 3,556 individual pipes, according to the church’s website. Put in perspective The Opus 7133 has a storied past and has changed many hands, Ashby said. As a gift to his wife, former Colorado U.S. Sen. Lawrence Phipps commissioned the Opus 7133 in
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Community Camp Guide
BY HALEY VELASCO
2024
Parents looking for camps for their children have a number of options to choose from in the Bay Area. This list is not comprehensive.
Webster
Clear Lake
Explorer Camps Type: academics / day Ages: 4-11 Dates: February-April Cost: $74.95 daily/ $299.95 weekly • 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston • www.spacecenter.org
Kids U and Hawk STEAM Academy Summer Camps
Type: academics / day Ages: grades pre-K-12 Dates: June-July Cost: $160-$180 daily • 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston • www.uhcl.edu
Kids Scuba Camp Type: day / sports Ages: 10-17
• www.sportdivers.com/courses/scuba-camp
Dates: June-August Cost: $695 weekly • 20814 Gulf Freeway, Ste. 60, Webster
Galveston
Pyramid Kids Camps Type: academics / day Ages: grades K-8 Dates: June-August Cost: $250-$275 weekly • 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston • www.moodygardens.com
Code Ninjas Summer Camps Type: academics / day Ages: 5-14 Dates: June-August Cost: $199-$249 weekly • 3725 E. League City Parkway, Ste. 140, League City • www.codeninjas.com/tx-league-city/camps
Nassau Bay
Music Camp 2024 Type: arts / day Ages: grades 1-8 Dates: July 8-12 Cost: $375 daily/ $740 weekly • 18220 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay • www.bayareayouthsingers.org/music-camp
Texas A&M Sea Camp Type: academics / night Ages: 10-18 Dates: June-August Cost: $970-$2,900 weekly • 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston • www.tamug.edu/seacamp
Spring Break Camp Type: day Ages: 6-12 Dates: March 11-15 Cost: $132.50 weekly • 400 S. Kansas Ave., League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov/3807/camps
Webster
Ninja Camps: Spring Break Camp 2024 Type: day / sports Ages: 6-12
Sea Campus Kids Type: academics / day Ages: 6-11 Dates: June-August Cost: $175-$200 daily • 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston • www.tamug.edu/seacamp/Sea-Campus-Kids
Skateboard Camp Type: day / sports Ages: 6-15
Dates: March 11-15 Cost: $250 weekly • 309 Ibis St., Webster • www.ninjawebster.com/camps
Dates: March 11-15 Cost: $50 weekly • 1150 Big League Dreams Parkway, League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov/3807/camps
School of Rock Clear Lake Camps Type: arts / day Ages: 4-17 Dates: June-August Cost: $199-$449 weekly • 1020 W. NASA Parkway, Ste. 146, Webster • www.schoolofrock.com/locations/clearlake/ music-camps
League City
Bushi Ban Type: arts / day / sports Ages: 5-12
Bay Area Arts Conservatory Summer Workshops and Dance Camps Type: arts / day Ages: 3-18 Dates: June-August Cost: $699 biweekly • 400 Hobbs Road, Ste. 202, League City • www.baactx.com/summer-program
Dates: June-August Cost: $209 weekly • 103 Davis Road, Ste. V, League City • www.bushiban.com
19
BAY AREA EDITION
Peripheral Neuropathy Breakthrough!
“My feet feel like they’re on fire.” “Each step feels like I’m walking through wet paint.” “I live in constant fear that I’ll fall.” “I can’t sleep, my hands and feet tingle all night.” What do all of these people have in common? They suffer from peripheral neuropathy. It’s estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately this figure may be significantly higher as the disease is often misdiagnosed because of its wide array of symptoms. Dr. Deb Bilak of Return To Wellness Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine In Clear Lake shares this belief. “I’ve been treating neuropathy, in all its various forms, for over a decade and so often my patients come to me because of the symptoms, not because of a diagnosis. They heard from a previous patient or read a testimonial from another patient and say to themselves ‘hey, I feel the same thing.’” Julie M. of League City testified to this. “I remember my husband driving me to my consultation and I saw a woman running just outside our neighborhood. I was so envious - I just kept thinking ‘I would give anything just to walk again.’ My primary care doctor told me my troubles with pain and balance were just symptoms of old age and gave me a prescription. I was so depressed.” Fortunately Julie would eventually see Dr. Deb online talking about for similar symptoms and she offers a real solution at Return To Wellness. “I just knew I had to see her. She was my last hope.” “Almost all of our patients come to us with a story similar to Julie’s. They’ve been everywhere else. They’ve been told there’s no hope. They’ve been told ‘it’s just part of getting older’.” shares Vanessa, a Patient Care Technician at Return To Wellness. It just breaks my heart but I know how much we can help people like Julie so I’m always so happy when they walk through our door.
Those diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy often face a very grim
By seamlessly blending the ancient science of acupuncture with modern medical solutions Dr. Deb has achieved a 90% success rate in reversing the effects of neuropathy. She starts each patient with an initial consultation during which a sensory exam is performed. “This not only aids in making a proper diagnosis but it helps to define just how much nerve damage has occurred tells the doctor. “This is important because if a patient has suffered more than 95% damage, there is little that I can do to help them. I’m familiar with the medical miracle but I know my limits as a practitioner and the limits of my medicine.” When it comes to treating peripheral neuropathy, regardless of its origin, early detection greatly improves your chances of a full recovery. If you or someone you love are suffering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling or ‘pins and needles or you’ve recently been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, it’s important to know that there are options. There is hope. Call (713) 725-7858 to schedule an initial consultation or visit www.ReturnToWellnessTX.com.
reality; Western medicine declares that there is no solution while most alternative therapies carry large price tags and offer little to no resolve. Which is why Dr. Deb and the staff at Return To Wellness pride themselves on being ‘the last resort with the best results.’ Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves and this damage is commonly caused by lack of blood flow in the hands and feet. A lack of blood flow results in a lack of nutrients; the nerves then begin to degenerate and die which causes pain ranging from discomfort to debilitating. Because neuropathy is a degenerative condition, once those nerves begin to deteriorate they will continue to do so until they are completely expired, leaving those suffering with crippling balance issues. “In this case, the absence of pain is not necessarily a good thing,” shares Dr. Deb“This usually indicates that your nerves are hanging on by a fragile thread.” So how exactly is Dr. Deb able to reverse the effects of this degenerative disease? “Acupuncture has been used to increase blood flow for thousands of years which helps to get the necessary nutrients to the affected nerves. But the real magic happens when I integrate ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. This is tech that was originally developed by NASA to expedite recovering and healing. “I just can’t say enough about Return To Wellness,” Julie shared through tears of joy. “My husband and I moved here 3 years ago and he’s gone to the Boardwalk almost everyday. I always stayed home because of the pain and discomfort.Yesterday I walked on the boardwalk with him! And next week we’re starting two stepping dance lessons. I am truly living life these days.” According to Julie’s test results, she has seen a 74% improvement in pain and functionality, which is on par with a majority of our patients.” shares Vanessa. “But more important than those test results is the joy she’s expressed being here and hearing
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