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Lake Houston Humble Kingwood Edition VOLUME 10, ISSUE 12 APRIL 29 MAY 27, 2026
Head above water Lake Houston-area businesses struggle to stay afloat amid rising costs
BY WESLEY GARDNER
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WOODLAND HILLS DR.
TIMBER FOREST DR.
Pop Drinks Atascocita co-owner Kathy Nuttall prepares a beverage at the soda shop, which opened in August 2024. Pop Drinks is among the Lake Houston-area businesses that have been combating rising costs due to in ation. (Wesley Gardner/Community Impact)
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK
Impacts
4 Einstein Bros. Bagels The eatery serves a variety of bagels with whipped cream cheese schmear as well as baked goods and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. • Opened March 23 • 9490 FM 1960 Bypass Road W., Ste. 900, Humble • www.einsteinbros.com 5 VCS’ DIY Shirts & More Owned by Misty Good, the craft supply store specializes in direct-to-lm transfers, ultraviolet direct-to-lm decals, sublimation transfers, heat-transfer vinyl, adhesive vinyl and blank apparel. The business has an original location in Porter and was previously known as Vinyl Creation Supply before rebranding in February. • Soft opened April 6; grand opening May 2 • 5340 FM 1960 E., Humble • www.diy-shirts.com 6 Acousha Coins Co-owned by siblings Drew, Casey and Morgan Haddozk, the coin collection shop oers coin collectibles, including dollars, dimes, Morgan silver dollars, cents, half dollars, nickels, gold, and silver peace dollars. The coin shop also has a YouTube channel with over 30,000 subscribers where readers can learn more about the value of coins oered at Acousha Coins. • Opened Jan. 19 • 24000 Hwy. 59, Kingwood • www.acoushacollectibles.com 7 Milan Luxury Nails & Spa The nail salon features 20 pedicure chairs, 14 manicure stations, and several kid-sized pedicure chairs. Additionally, the spa oers facials, waxing and
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Yummy Tummy Pastries, which has locations in Humble and New Caney. • Opened March 30 • 1007 First St. E., Humble • Facebook: The Taco Shop On First St 3 The Royal Duck Located in the Deerbrook Mall parking lot, this traveling pop-up bounce park features a series of large inatable castles where attendees can jump, bounce and play. Event ocials said the outdoor pop-up park is weather dependent. If an event date is canceled or postponed, ticket purchases can be redeemed at future dates
Now open
1 Saigon Cafe The Vietnamese restaurant oers banh mi, vermicelli, pho and rolls, as well as a variety of specialized beverages, including Vietnamese coee, milk tea, brown sugar boba and boba tea. • Opened March 9 • 15906 Woodland Hills Drive, Ste. 500, Humble • www.saigoncafehumble.com 2 The Taco Shop On First St. The eatery oers Mexican breakfast options, including breakfast tacos made with handmade tortillas. The business is owned by Letty Martinez, who also owns Letty’s Authentic Mexican Cocina in Humble and
eyelash extensions. • Opened March 27
• 7840 FM 1960 E., Ste. 406, Humble • www.milanluxurynailsandspa.com
8 Restore ABA & Speech Therapy Owned by Martins and Eno Acha, the faith-based pediatric therapy center provides individualized Applied Behavior Analysis and speech therapy services for children with autism and related developmental needs. With an original location in Cypress, in-home ABA services are also oered across the Greater Houston area, per the website.
through the tour period. • Open March 29-May 10 • 20131 Hwy. 59 N., Humble • www.royalduckusa.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
• Opened in March • 13803 Madera Run Parkway, Ste. 801, Humble • www.restoreaba.com 9 Chili’s Now open at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Terminal E, the eatery serves American and Tex-Mex fare, including fajitas, steaks, burgers, chicken, pasta,
span 3,000 square feet and feature a drive-thru ATM. Per the company’s website, PNC is investing nearly $1 billion to open more than 100 new branch locations and renovate more than 1,200 existing locations through 2028. Construction is expected to wrap up in
Now open
early October, per a Feb. 16 TDLR ling. • 15944 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble • www.pnc.com
seafood and more. • Opened March 18 • 2800 N. Terminal Road, Houston • www.chilis.com
In the news
13 Whispering Pines Elementary Humble ISD ocials celebrated the opening of a new “City of Elements”-themed playground at the campus on March 4. Designed for children ages 5-12, the playground features a 29-foot-tall “Tree of Life” rope climbing play tower, a nine-seat swing set, hangout hammocks and tactical play panels. The new playground is part of the district’s ongoing campus playground revitalization initiative, which was included in the $775 million bond package approved by voters in 2022. HISD playgrounds are open to the public when school is not in session. • Opened March 4 • 17321 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble • www.humbleisd.net/o/wpe 14 Insperity Headquartered in Kingwood, the human resources company is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Founded by CEO Paul Sarvadi on March 5, 1986, the company was previously known as Administa before rebranding as Insperity in 2011. Today, the company oers human resources expertise with advanced technology to thousands of worksite employees across the U.S. To celebrate the milestone, Insperity will be hosting a “40 Days of Service” event in April to promote volunteerism. Additionally, the company is hosting a “LinkedIn Live Series,” which features reside chats with Insperity leadership and employees reecting on
Coming soon
10 The Kebab Shop The eatery serves customizable Mediterranean bowls, wraps and plates. While the restaurant’s website does not include a projected opening date, an April 7 ling with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation indicates construction on the project is expected to begin in July and wrap up in December. • Opening date TBD • 4361 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood • www.thekebabshop.com
16 Iza Robata The restaurant serves Japanese cuisine including ramen and poke bowls, as well as traditional Japanese sake, innovative cocktails and boba drinks. Iza Robata has four additional locations, including two in Spring, one in College Station and one in Rosenberg. • Opened Jan. 16 • 15936 Woodland Hills Drive, Ste. 600, Humble • www.izarobatatx.com
Relocations
11 Burger Fresh Previously located at 12235 Will Clayton Parkway, Ste. 1, Humble, the eatery has reopened at a new location in Humble. Initially established in Conroe in 1997, the eatery oers a variety of dishes, including hamburgers, Philly cheesesteaks, sh baskets and chicken dishes. Additionally, the burger joint oers a variety of Blue Bell ice cream avors, sundaes and malts. • Opened April 9 • 1502 First St. E., Ste. G, Humble • www.myburgerfresh.com
Hall in New York in June. Kingwood Music School oers various music lessons, including voice, piano, drums, bass and violin. • 3427 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Humble • www.kingwoodmusicschool.com 17 Axe-Mania The family-friendly ax-throwing venue celebrated the business’ one-year anniversary in Kingwood on Jan. 13. Owned by Todd and Christi Byers, the venue is geared toward participants of all skill levels age 8 and older, and features nine state-of-the-art projected throwing lanes with interactive games. The space also features arcade games and a lounge area that serves soft drinks, beer and wine as well as a variety of snacks. • 23840 Hwy. 59 N., Kingwood • www.axe-mania.com
company history and the future of work. • 19001 Crescent Springs Drive, Kingwood • www.insperity.com
What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
15 Kingwood Music School Founded in 1986, the school hosted a celebration April 18 in honor of its 40th anniversary. Per school ocials, 48 students and sta will perform at Carnegie
12 PNC The new bank branch in The Market at The Groves will
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Government
BY HANNAH BROL
A nearly $30 million ood mitigation project in Kingwood is moving forward following actions taken by Harris County and city of Houston ocials. Harris County commissioners awarded a nearly $29.39 million project to Brice Construction & Design LLC during a business court meeting March 31. During an April 7 meeting, Houston City Council approved the transfer of a $10 million Texas Water Development Board grant that the city received for the same project to the Harris County Flood Control District via an interlocal agreement. The Taylor Gully Channel Conveyance Improvements and Woodridge Stormwater Detention Basin project aims to reduce the risk of ooding in Kingwood through a combination of channel conveyance improvements and a stormwater detention basin, per the HCFCD website. Kingwood-area flood project moves forward
About the project
Project site
Taylor Gully Channel Conveyance Improvements Woodridge Stormwater Detention Basin 1 Compartment 1 2 Compartment 2
A stormwater detention basin will be con- structed on a 267-acre site within the former Woodridge neighborhood development, which is located near Woodland Hills Drive and Northpark Drive in Montgomery County, per the HCFCD website. The land is jointly owned by the city of Houston and HCFCD. Upon completion, the two-compartment, wet-bottom detention basin will be able to provide a combined 1,127 acre-feet of stormwater storage. Channel conveyance improvements are also planned for Taylor Gully, which runs through the Elm Grove, Mills Branch, North Kingwood Forest and Woodstream Village subdivisions. Per the HCFCD website, the improvements will start upstream at the Montgomery-Harris county line and end downstream near Maple Bend Drive.
Montgomery County
Harris County
City of Houston owned
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MAPLE BEND DR.
TAYLOR GULLY
R K D
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next
Construction on Phase 1 is expected to begin soon, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said via Facebook on April 8. He added the county is also working on the design of the Kingwood Diversion channel, for which construction funds have already been secured. “I’m very proud to see this project moving into construction, and bringing critical ood improvements to Kingwood,” Ramsey said in an emailed statement to Community Impact . “Precinct 3 remains focused on reducing ood risk for the area and providing much-needed relief to its residents.”
Phase 1 includes the channel conveyance improvements and Compartment 1 of the stormwater detention basin; Phase 2 will include Compartment 2 and is dependent upon funding. Houston City Council member Fred Flickinger said the project site is located on land that was poised for development and cleared, but purchased by the county and city before construction began. “This is much needed ood mitigation in the Kingwood area,” Flickinger said during the April 7 meeting. “This is going to go a long way and actually improve the situation of those people.”
Construction funding
$12.64M: Community Development Block Grant- Mitigation funds $10M: Texas Water Development Board grant $6.75M: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant $29.39M: Total
NOTE: DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR PROJECT COSTS OUTSIDE OF CONSTRUCTION. SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY SARAH BRAGER, WESLEY GARDNER & ARIEL WORTHY
Humble City Council approves roughly $326K in purchases for police equipment, software
Humble updates workplace policies Humble City Council members approved updates to two policies regarding workplace relationships and nepotism during the council’s March 26 meeting. The details City Manager Jason Stuebe said an update to the city’s workplace relationship policy will prohibit employees who work in the same department from engaging in romantic relationships. Additionally, Stuebe said the update to the city’s nepotism policy will prohibit related employees from being promoted to positions in which one of the employees would serve in a supervisory capacity over the other employee. A closer look Stuebe noted the updates to both policies are intended to promote professionalism; maintain a respectful and productive work environment; and reduce the potential for conicts of interest, favoritism, harassment or the appearance of impropriety.
Humble City Council members approved roughly $326,000 in purchases from AXON Enterprise for various items for the city’s police department. The details City Manager Jason Stuebe briefed council members on the purchases during their April 9 meeting. Stuebe noted the supplies purchased for the police department had all been previously bud- geted for and will include tasers, body cameras, evidence storage units, live streaming services and My90 feedback platform. A closer look Stuebe said the purchases are coming as part of a ve-year agreement with AXON Enterprise to spread out the cost of equipment over ve years as opposed to purchasing it all at once. “We broke out the payments over the course of ve years, opting to lease items like the body cam- eras, considering their regular and routine turnover due to advancing technology,” Stuebe said. Stuebe said the city is currently in the third year
City of Humble crime stats
First quarter of 2025
First quarter of 2026
150
-36.9%
100
-4%
50
0
Violent crimes
Property crimes
SOURCE: CITY OF HUMBLECOMMUNITY IMPACT
of its agreement with AXON, noting additional purchases will be made in 2027 and 2028. Related highlights Also during the April 9 meeting, city ocials noted a drop in both property and violent crimes in the rst quarter of 2026 compared to the rst quarter of 2025. “I’m very proud of the work that’s been done by the department,” Mayor Norman Funderburk said. “We’re very pleased with the work the men and women are doing out there keeping our streets safe and keeping our residents safe.”
Houston launches budget survey for residents Houston ocials launched their annual survey, inviting residents to weigh in on what should be prioritized in the scal year 2026-27 budget.
New Harris County attorney appointed
Get involved Individual city departments will hold workshops at City Hall from May 12-19. Residents will be allowed to make public comments during all meetings. Alcorn and council member Mario Castillo will also host two budget town halls: • May 16, 10 a.m. at Fonde Community Center, 110 Sabine St., Houston • May 20, 6 p.m. (virtual town hall)
Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin will serve as Harris County attorney eective
At-large council member Sallie Alcorn’s oce launched the survey April 15 in partnership with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. What is it? The survey asks how satis ed residents are with certain topics, including health services, development and permitting, the library, parks and recreation, and public safety. It also asks if residents would like to see the city spend less, about the same or more on those subjects. It also lets participants rank which areas they would be okay with the city spending less funding on. “For the past six years, I’ve asked residents to share their priorities through a budget survey,” Alcorn said in an April 15 news release. “This year, with continued support from Rice University’s
June 15 after commis- sioners approved her appointment April 16. What happened Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and County Judge Lina Hidalgo voted against the decision, disagreeing with the move to appoint Kamin, who is the Democratic nomi- nee on the Nov. 3 ballot, ahead of results from the county attorney election in November. The court’s April 16 decision appoints Kamin to the position for the duration of County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne’s unexpired term, which runs through Dec. 31. Abbie Kamin
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Kinder Institute for Urban Research, the ‘Your Two Cents’ survey has been further re ned to better capture your input.” What’s next The city will also have budget workshops in May. Beginning May 6 at the Budget & Fiscal Aairs Committee meeting, there will be a ve-year forecast and overview. The council will vote on the budget June 3, with the scal year beginning July 1.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Humble ISD faces $13.5M cost to meet new seat belt mandate
Humble ISD trustees discussed the district’s plan to implement a new requirement for Texas school districts to use buses containing three-point seat belts during the April 14 board meeting. The details Jason Seybert, HISD associate superintendent of support services, said the mandate stems from Senate Bill 546, which requires all public school buses statewide to have three-point seat belts by September 2029. “Some of our buses have a two-point seat belt right now or no seat belt at all,” Seybert said. “However, [state ocials] know not everybody currently has the funding to put that into their buses or buy new buses that meet that
and 148 buses with no seat belts. “About 31% of our buses meet that standard for the three-point seat belt,” Seybert said. “The rest of our eet does not, and that’s primarily because of the age of [those buses].” The total cost to the district to become fully compliant with the bill would come out to roughly $13.5 million, he said. What’s next Trustees approved a resolution April 14 notify- ing the Texas Education Agency that the district’s budget does not currently allow for the immediate retrotting and replacement of buses required to become compliant. Seybert said he was hopeful the state would allocate additional funds to help districts meet the new requirements. “As we continue to buy buses, we’ll continue to make sure they meet the requirements set forth,” Seybert said. “Then, we’ll see what happens with the next legislative session to help us aord this.”
Humble ISD bus breakdown More than half of Humble ISD’s 321 buses
were purchased over a decade ago, and less than one-third of the district’s buses have three-point seat belts, district data shows. 2000-04 47
2015-19 64 2020-24 79 2025-26 12 2010-14 35 2005-09 84
requirement.” A closer look
Seybert said the district has 94 buses with three- point seat belts, 66 buses with two-point seat belts
SOURCE: HUMBLE ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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Transportation
BY HANNAH BROL
Check out 3 ongoing, upcoming Lake Houston-area projects
EAGLE CREEK DR.
Upcoming project
Upcoming project
Ongoing project
KINGS PKWY. KINGS RIVER DR.
DEER HOLLOW DR.
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KINGS LAKE ESTATES BLVD.
HIGHLAND LAURELS DR.
FIRESIGN DR.
CRYSTAL FALLS DR.
PINE CUP DR.
TIMBER FOREST DR.
UPPER LAKE DR.
1960
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
WOODLAND RIDGE DR.
LONESOME WOODS TRL.
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ASPEN MOUNTAIN TRL.
West Lake Houston Parkway trac lights Project: Tra c lights will be rebuilt at ve intersections along West Lake Houston Parkway. Update: The design phase has been completed for this project and construction is pending funding, Harris County Precinct 3 Communications Manager Jeannie Peng conrmed via email April 6.
Timber Forest Drive, Greens Road trac light
Sand Creek Village drainage Project: Drainage improvements are being made along several roadways in Sand Creek Village. Update: The project’s completion has been delayed by two weeks, per Houston City Council member Fred Flickinger’s April 7 newsletter. • Timeline: spring 2025-May 8 • Cost: $1.52 million • Funding source: city of Houston’s Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund
Project: A new tra c signal will be installed at the intersection of Timber Forest Drive and Greens Road. The project aims to increase driver safety. Update: This project is in the design phase, Peng said. • Timeline: September 2025 (design)-third quarter of 2026 (construction) • Cost: $610,000 • Funding source: Harris County Precinct 3
• Timeline: TBD • Cost: $2 million • Funding source: Harris County Precinct 3
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Head above water From the cover
A closer look
The overview
Brett Nuttall, who opened Pop Drinks Atascocita with his wife in 2024, said he’s had to reduce the size of their supply orders to reduce costs. “We just can’t keep dollars sitting on the shelves for undetermined periods of time,” Nuttall said. Nuttall said the strain caused by ination might lead to higher prices at his store. “It’s all we’ve got left to do,” Nuttall said. Landry said he is taking a dierent approach with his new business, noting he’s aiming to reduce the number of orders he places by buying more food with each order. “We’re buying in bulk less frequently, so we’re fully stocked at all times,” Landry said. From 2021 to 2025, the average rental rate for retail space in the Lake Houston area rose from around $18.25 per square foot to $25.10 per square foot, said Ashley Brown, Realtor with Red Door Realty & Associates and the Polompsky Team. “Even a 1,500-square-foot space can easily cost $4,000 or $5,000 a month once you factor in taxes, insurance and maintaining your business,” she said. Additionally, Brown said new businesses tend to sign shorter leases, leaving them open to quick rate hikes once their initial contract expires.
utilities and rent were all going up at the same time,” Landry said. Landry soft opened a new restaurant, Landry’s Creole and Cajun Seafood, in mid-April, but he noted he was required to alter his business plan moving forward to account for increased costs. While Ray Hernandez, president and CEO of Partnership Lake Houston, said the rising cost of rent and increased costs due to ination have caused some diculties for area businesses, he said business owners have access to several loans and counseling options aimed at easing their struggles.
Business and restaurant owners across the Lake Houston area have said they are struggling as operating costs increase due to rising ination and a more expensive rental market. While more than a dozen businesses in the area have closed dating back to 2024, others remain open but are struggling to make ends meet. Andrew Landry, who opened Juicy Heads and Spicy Tails in Humble in 2023, said he was forced to shut down his business in 2024 after freezing temperatures depleted the area’s supply of crawsh. “That was the primary reason that I sold the business, and then, obviously, the cost of food,
Lake Houston-area business closures since 2024
13
NORTHPARK DR.
7
494
SORTERS MCCLELLAN RD.
Kingwood
8
9
3B
1
59
2 3A
16
Lake Houston-area rental property prices Average price per square foot $30
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
15
17
5
LAKE HOUSTON
F I R S T S T
10A
1960
Humble
+37.53%
12
14
10B
6
W. MAIN ST.
$25
WILSON RD.
O N P K W Y .
W I L L
$20
Atascocita
11
S. HOUSTON AVE.
4
N
$15
Business
Dining
$0
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 As of the third quarter of each year
7 Optimum Store 4103 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood 8 Painted Tree Boutiques 1153 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood
1 Don’t Axe 1660 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood 2 Forever 21 20131 Hwy. 59, Humble 3 Francesca’s A 20131 Hwy. 59, Humble B 732 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood 4 Ingenious Brewing Co. 1986 S. Houston Ave., Humble 5 Joann Fabric and Crafts
11 Abbott’s Frozen Custard 17630 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Atascocita 12 Juicy Heads & Spicy Tails 1502 First St. E., Ste. G, Humble 13 Kingwood Craw sh Company 1965 Northpark Drive Kingwood 14 Korner Slice 5326 FM 1960 Road E., Humble 15 Outback Steakhouse 9753 FM 1960 Bypass, Humble 16 TGI Fridays 20430 Hwy. 59, Humble 17 96 Cafe 20026 Hwy. 59 N., Humble
Nationwide change in ination Consumer price index 350
9 Pet Supplies Plus 4520 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood
+29.9%
300
330.213
10 99 Cents Only Stores A 216 FM 1960, Humble B 7130 FM 1960, Humble
250
20424 Hwy. 59, Humble 6 King 99 Cent Store 25 W. Main St., Humble
254.202
SOURCE: RED DOOR REALTY & ASSOCIATES, U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMMUNITY IMPACT 0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 As of March 1 each year
This list is not comprehensive.
SOURCES: PARTNERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON, INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSESCOMMUNITY IMPACT
14
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Why it matters
What they’re saying
How to prepare
In addition to the SBA’s three business centers, Labbe said the organization oers several dierent types of loans to businesses to cover a variety of costs. Labbe said SBA loans range from small to large and can be used for most business purposes, including long-term xed assets and operational costs. However, he said some loan programs set restrictions on how funds can be used.
Brown noted members of her realty team strive to prepare potential business owners for the reality of opening their stores before they nalize their lease agreements. “You really want to strategize to make sure your operating costs and your projected revenue makes sense for that location,” Brown said. “If rent makes up more than 10% of your income, you’re going to end up really biting the margins there.” During a Feb. 17 presentation to Partner- ship Lake Houston, Winston Labbe, deputy district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, said the Houston area is home to three Small Business Development Centers, which provide free counseling and training to small business owners. “They help small businesses with whatever they need from A to Z—permitting, licensing, certication,” Labbe said. “They can help with that free of charge.”
“What’s happening globally, in our country, the state, and our region—all
those elements a ect the local folks walking in the door of a local business.” RAY HERNANDEZ, PARTNERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON PRESIDENT AND CEO
Types of business loans
7(a) loans: SBA’s primary program for providing long-term nancing for a variety of purposes. Loans can total as high as $5 million. 504 loans: A loan that can be used for a range of assets that promote business growth and job creation. Loans can total as high as $5.5 million. Microloans: Loans of $50,000 or less to help businesses and some nonprot child care centers. Microloans are provided by intermediary lenders.
“Small businesses can de nitely thrive in this area. The pathway for success ... is just making sure that they get themselves set up from the jump.”
ASHLEY BROWN, REALTOR, RED DOOR REALTY & ASSOCIATES AND THE POLOMPSKY TEAM
SOURCE: U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
HOUSTON’S HEALTHCARE SAFETY NET FOR 60 YEARS.
15
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Events
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
National Day of Prayer Humble Area Assistance Ministries invites community members to celebrate National Day of Prayer at the nonprot’s annual breakfast. • May 7, 8-9:30 a.m. • $35 (individual ticket) • The Clubs of Kingwood, 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail, Kingwood • www.haamministries.org/national-day-of-prayer Superintendents Fireside Chat Partnership Lake Houston will host this event featuring Roger Brown, Demetrius McCall and Matt Calvert, who serve as the superintendents of Humble, Sheldon and New Caney ISDs, respectively.
Music & Motors: Tailor Maide Attendees can join historic Downtown Humble for a Music & Motors night featuring classics, customs, trucks and local rides. This event also features live music, local vendors and a car meet. • May 8, 6 p.m. • Free (admission) • 308 Main St., Humble • Facebook: Music & Motors, Humble TX
Sip & Shop: Memorial Weekend The community is invited to sip and shop from local vendors in Downtown Humble.
• May 4, 7 a.m. (registration and breakfast), 9 a.m. (shotgun start) • $800 (registration) • The Clubs of Kingwood, 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail, Kingwood • www.invitedclubs.com
May
Fuzzy’s Taco Dash Taking place along the Kingwood Greenbelt trails, the Fuzzy’s Tacos Dash will feature a 5K, 10K, 10K relay and kids dash. Proceeds will benet Addi’s Faith Foundation. • May 2, 7:30 a.m. (pre-race warm-up), 7:45 a.m. (kids dash), 8 a.m. (5K and 10K) • $20-$50 (sign up) • Fuzzy’s Tacos and Margs, 4360 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood • www.radracingcompany.com Color Run Children ages 3-11 are invited to the Holy Comforter Lutheran Church & School to participate in this annual Color Run, followed by a light lunch and foam party.
• May 22, 5-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 308 E. Main St., Humble • Facebook: Sip & Shop: Humble TX
Cinco de Mayo Golf Tournament Hosted by The Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area, this golf tournament will benet local and international projects, including student scholarships and local charity grants. • May 5, 8 a.m. • $150 (individual golfer) • Tour 18 Golf Course, 3102 FM 1960 E., Humble • www.lharotary.com ‘Six: The Musical (Teen Edition)’ The Kingwood High School Theatre Department is presenting a special arrangement of this musical with Concord Theatricals. The production has a run time of 120 minutes.
Memorial Day Hero Salute The second annual event will honor those who gave it all for freedom with a half-marathon, 5K, 10K and a short kids race. • May 25, 6:05 a.m. (half-marathon start), 9-9:30 a.m. (event closes) • $15-$65 (admission) • Town Center Park, 8 N. Main St., Kingwood • www.radracingcompany.com Leadership Awards Luncheon Partnership Lake Houston will recognize young professionals and alumni from Leadership Lake Houston who have demonstrated leadership in community, business and excellence in career-life balance. • May 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • $40 (members), $50 (nonmembers) • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • https://lakehouston.org
Energy Education Foundation Golf Tournament
This annual golf tournament brings together industry professionals and benets energy education programs. • May 12, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. • $3,500-$7,500 (foursome) • Golf Club of Houston, 5860 Wilson Road, Humble • Facebook: Energy Education Foundation Tejano Queen Forever Attendees can enjoy a Selena tribute band featuring the greatest hits, iconic style and spirit that made her a legend. • May 16, 6 p.m. • $40 (general admission) • Charles Bender Performing Arts Center,
• May 7, 2-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • Judge Ted Poe Community Center, 17280 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Humble • https://lakehouston.org
‘Transformed! Songs for All Seasons’ Attendees can enjoy a concert beneting the Oaks of Righteousness, a transitional home for women coming out of incarceration. • May 2-3, 4:30 p.m. • $5 (students), $25 (adults), free (children 12 and younger) • Strawbridge United Methodist Church, 5629 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood (May 2); Atascocita Methodist Church, 19325 Pinehurst Trail, Humble (May 3) • www.solagratiamusic.org
• May 3, 12:15 p.m. • Free (admission) • 1901 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood • www.godeeperwithchrist.org
Spring Concert Series Dave & Becca return to the green at Kings Harbor for the last performance of this year’s Spring Concert Series.
• May 6-7 and 9, 7 p.m.; May 9-10, 2 p.m. • $30 (adults), $15 (students and teachers) • Kingwood High School, 2701 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood • www.kingwoodtheatre.com
Houston GMan Classic This golf tournament will feature beverages, snacks and lunch as well as a silent live auction beneting Texas Children’s Cancer Center and families of law enforcement in need.
• May 7, 6-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4501 Magnolia Cove Drive, Kingwood • www.kings-harbor.com
611 Higgins St., Humble • www.humblepac.com
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18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Community
BY HANNAH BROL
"Most people don’t have a clue about the power of moving water; I have a healthy respect for it." BOB REHAK, REDUCE FLOODING NOW
Pictured is the conuence of Spring Creek (left) and the West Fork of the San Jacinto River (right). Rehak said the color contrast between the two rivers is due to sand mining operations that are upstream the West Fork of the San Jacinto River.
PHOTOS COURTESY BOB REHAK
Get to know Kingwood’s ooding expert Bob Rehak
Areas of advocacy In addition to advocating for funding for the San Jacinto River Watershed, Rehak pushes for: • Upstream detention, dredging and higher outflow capacity on Lake Houston • Updating development regulations in neighboring counties • Requiring abandonment plans for sand mining operations • Prohibiting senior living facilities from being built in floodplains • Implementing flood warning systems
It’s been 3,165 days since Hurricane Harvey, and if there’s one person who won’t let Kingwood residents forget, it’s Bob Rehak. Since launching his website “Reduce Flooding - NOW!” nearly nine years ago, Rehak has become synonymous with ood mitigation eorts in Kingwood. Posting on his website nearly every day, Rehak said he has published the equivalent of more than 25 average-length novels. Community Impact sat down with Rehak to learn more about the writer behind the blog and the inspi- ration that fuels his passion for ood mitigation. The backstory A self-proclaimed “child of the wind,” Rehak said his father’s military career moved his family to places like Pennsylvania and Germany. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University, and later went into advertising working for major Chicago agencies before moving to Dallas with his wife in 1980. “I bought a beautiful house that was on Spring Creek and looked out over the Richardson golf course,” Rehak said. “And even though I was prom- ised that it was 2 feet above the 100-year oodplain, within two years it ooded.” Rehak said the Army Corps of Engineers resur- veyed the creek to nd out why the area was ooding in minor rainfall events and found the culprit to be upstream development. “Floodplains are dynamic, not static, and they’re
constantly changing,” Rehak said. “And in the case of the house I had in Dallas, in the span of three years ... it went from 2 feet above the 100-year oodplain to 10 feet below it.” The catalyst Rehak and his wife sold the Dallas house and relocated to Houston before settling in Kingwood. “I bought the [house] farthest from the river on the highest ground, [and] thank God I did, because during Harvey, ooding stopped at our driveway,” Rehak said. With Harvey serving as a kind of “wakeup call,” Rehak said he launched his blog in early 2018 to educate people about the causes of ooding and lobby for ood mitigation. “When the oodwater went down, I went out with my Nikon, and I photographed everything I could nd to create a record of what it was like because I knew people weren’t going to remember it forever,” Rehak said. The approach In the blog’s infancy, Rehak said he rented helicopters on a monthly basis to take inventory of the San Jacinto River Watershed. While he still takes the occasional helicopter tour today, much of his observation work can be done via drones. “This is my way of giving back to the community,” Rehak said. On the lobbying side, Rehak works with
www.reduceooding.com
government ocials to lobby for ood mitigation, serving as Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s representative on the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force. During a September town hall, Houston City Council member Fred Flickinger honored Rehak for his work in the Kingwood area with a proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire declaring Sept. 30, 2025 to be Bob Rehak Day in Houston. What’s next Currently, Rehak is working on a new “Lessons” section of his website that summarizes everything he’s learned since Harvey. He said the new section may inspire him to wrap up a book he’s been working on. With or without a book though, Rehak said he’ll continue writing. “Nothing has really changed in the watershed, and I’m not going to stop until it does,” Rehak said.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
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