Bay Area Edition | October 2023

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Bay Area Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3 OCT. 31NOV. 28, 2023

Clear Creek plan aims to bolster waterway

The Clear Creek Master Plan outlines several goals to increase access to and preservation of Clear Creek. The plan includes parks, trails, boardwalks and boat launches to attract more users, such as kayakers who paddle and sh on the creek.

INSIDE

COURTESY CITY OF LEAGUE CITY

Also in this issue

Impacts: Museum authenticates historic lectern (Page 6)

Education: CCISDbegins new grading system (Page 9)

Government: Bill to make coastal insurance aordable (Page 15)

Business: Intuitive Machines prepares for lunar launch (Page 18)

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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

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Shaheryar Khan Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Dave Manning James T. Norman Jessica Shorten Lizzy Spangler Graphic Designers Jatziri Garcia Chad Inmon Ellen Jackson Martha Risinger La’Toya Smith Jesus Verastegui Taylor White

Papar Faircloth General Manager

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Jason Culpepper Publisher

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BAY AREA EDITION

Impacts

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COLUMBIA SHUTTLE ST.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER

DIANA LN.

Seabrook

EL CAMINO REAL

2351

CLEAR LAKE

146

GALVESTON BAY

BAYBROOK MALL DR.

Nassau Bay

closure in August to renovate several amenities, said Cameron Parker, League City parks operations manager. Updates include new LED lights, new toilets, repainted facilities, restriped basketball and pickleball courts, additional tables and bleacher-style seating. • Reopened Sept. 1 Fahrenheit for up to three minutes, to promote healing, boost energy and improve sleep. Business owner Brittney Richard has been a cardiology nurse practitioner in Houston for 16 years. • Opened in September • 1720 FM 646, Ste. B, League City • www.restore.com 4 Restore Hyper Wellness In addition to saunas and various therapies, the business offers cold therapy, which immerses people in temperatures as low as minus 165 degrees

518

528

SOUTH SHORE BLVD.

Webster

2ND ST.

WALKER ST.

League City

517

ALDERWOOD ST.

646

517

2 Exploration Green The former golf course turned community space offers accessible trails, native vegetation and various amenities within a system of detention ponds designed to manage stormwater, according to the Clear Lake City Water Authority. • Opened Sept. 30

Now open

• 100 Alderwood St., League City • www.leaguecitynature.com/parks

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Coming soon

5 Soulfreak Café The coffee shop will open in the historic Burd House at League Park. The business previously operated in Clear Lake Shores. The coffee shop serves coffee from Pearland Coffee Roasters. • Opening Oct. 26, after press time

• 16205 Diana Lane, Houston • www.explorationgreen.org

3 Lynn Gripon Park at Countryside The park is welcoming guests again after the park’s

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In the news

Now open

6 Space Center Houston In September, officials confirmed the authenticity of the lectern used by President John F. Kennedy to deliver his famous moon speech at Rice University in 1962. The lectern is now back on display at the museum. On April 17, museum officials sent the lectern to Steve Pine, furniture conservation expert from Pine Art Conservation,

9 Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines officials hosted the grand opening of the company’s Lunar Production and Operations Center at the Houston Spaceport. The center will allow the Clear Lake-based aerospace company to package and ship its Nova-C lunar

lander, which will fly to the moon to conduct science experiments. • Opened Sept. 29 • 13467 Columbia Shuttle St., Houston • www.intuitivemachines.com

who confirmed its authenticity. • 1601 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • www.spacecenter.org

• 510 Second St., League City • www.soulfreak.com

leader in space exploration, will include scientists and other personnel who will support mission training, aeronautics research, advanced robotics, and work on moon and Mars exploration. • Opening TBD • Next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center at 2101 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • https://space.tamu.edu 10 One Medical The primary care business continues to expand its presence across the Houston metro with plans to open a new clinic. • Opening TBD • 144 El Dorado Blvd., Webster • www.onemedical.com

In the news

11 Texas Huddle Grille & Sports Bar As of Aug. 12, the restaurant is back to serving burgers, pizza and other food after closing in early June due to experiencing air conditioning system issues. • 803 E. NASA Parkway, Ste. 100, Webster • www.texashuddle.com 12 First impressions League City’s latest art exhibit opened and features art by members of the League City Patrons of Parks and Art Foundation, a nonprofit that supports public art. The exhibit runs until Nov. 26. • 400 W. Walker St., League City • www.lcparksandarts.com

7 La India Bonita Officials with the Mexican eatery said they still plan to return to League City after closing for more than a year after a vehicle struck the restaurant’s old building at 213 E. Main St., League City. Originally, city officials projected a 2022 opening. • Opening this winter • 401 E. Main St., League City • www.facebook.com/laindiabonitalc 8 Texas A&M Space Institute On Aug. 13, the Texas A&M board of regents approved creating the facility, a $200 million development. The facility, which is being built to ensure Texas remains a

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Education

CCISD audit shows less revenue per student Clear Creek ISD spends less per student than peer districts and the state average but grades slightly better in performance, according to an efficiency audit presented to the board of trustees Sept. 25. Two-minute impact The audit, conducted by Houston-based accounting firm Weaver, was carried out as part of the requirements for the district holding a voter-ap- proval tax rate election in November. The audit’s results are based on the district’s data from fiscal year 2021-22 and compared the district to a number of similar-sized districts. CCISD receives less money per student based on demographic differences and local revenue, among other factors. The results showed CCISD in many ways has different student demographics than peer districts but still grades out slightly better in its accountabil- ity ratings from the state.

CCISD to consider exception to HB 3

Differences in revenue Clear Creek ISD spends less per student and receives less revenue per student compared to its peer districts and the state average, according to CCISD and its peer districts’ financial data. Clear Creek ISD Peer district average State average

Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees could consider a good cause exception to a new state law that is designed to improve safety. The gist At an Oct. 9 board workshop meeting, CCISD trustees discussed the idea of a good cause exception to House Bill 3 during the closed session portion of its meeting. HB 3 was approved in the latest state legislative session earlier in the year and, among other things, requires armed security officers to be present at all campuses during school hours, according to the bill. School districts in Texas are allowed to pass other similar plans or claim a good cause exception to the bill if they can demonstrate they do not have the funds or personnel to fulfill the requirements.

$12K $15K Total revenue per student

$0 $3K $6K $9K

$12K $15K Total expenses per student

$0 $3K $6K $9K

SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY JAMES T. NORMAN

This year’s Clear Creek ISD freshman class and classes to come are in for a change in how their high school careers are graded as the district is implementing a new grade ranking system. The new grade ranking system, which will affect the class of 2027 and those that follow it, will put less emphasis on electives and, as a result, weigh core classes more heavily on students’ individual grade point averages, or GPA. The goal is to allow students to pursue interests and passions in their extracurricular activities they might otherwise forgo due to worries on how they will affect their GPA and class ranking, said Dava West, director of counseling and student services. “We are always looking to do what’s in the best interest of our students,” West said. Elizabeth Blome, a parent who has a sophomore and freshman in the district, said her oldest has to consider what taking an elective will do to their class ranking, while her youngest won’t need to. On that note, she is “always” encouraging her students to take electives that interest them. Changing how grades stack up is a growing trend in education that many districts are considering across the state and country, West said. There’s also not much concern on how it will affect the way colleges look at CCISD students since colleges have their own systems anyway. “Colleges review thousands of applications and have to find some way to equalize that,” West said. “They have some sort of system of comparing apples to apples.” CCISD begins new grading system

What they're saying

Grading out Incoming and future freshmen students will now have their cumulative GPA be based around core classes, such as language, math, science and nonelective social studies courses. Below are example report cards comparing what a student’s GPA might look like before and after the new system. Report card example is based on GPA of students taking Level 2 courses, or general education courses.

“We want our students to follow their passion and interest without limitation. [This new system] opened up those options.” DAVA WEST, CCISD’S DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES

Before

Class

Grade

GPA

“I’m hopeful that the new ranking system will allow my youngest [student] to explore different electives without worrying about the class ranking impact.” ELIZABETH BLOME, CCISD PARENT

Geometry English II Chemistry

95 91 90 95 89 79 85 89

4.5 4.2 4.0 4.5 3.9 3.0 3.0 3.9

World History

Spanish II Fine Arts II Athletics II

Average

The takeaway

After

Class

Grade

GPA

More elective options open up in sophomore and junior year, West said. Whether the new system results in higher attendance for certain electives won’t be seen until this year’s freshmen reach those grades. Meanwhile, there isn’t any concern of any drawback from the new system, West said. A failing grade will still mean no credit but no longer result in a student falling out of the top percentage of their class, which can mean guaranteed admission to many state schools.

Geometry English II Chemistry

95 91 90 95 89 79 85 92

4.5 4.2 4.0 4.5 3.9 3.0 3.0 4.2

World History

Spanish II Fine Arts II Athletics II

Average

SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY JAKE MAGEE

Egret Bay Boulevard lane closures due to water line project

Lanes of FM 270, or Egret Bay Boulevard, in League City closed beginning Sept. 8 due to a water line installation project. The closures are expected to last until early November. What’s happening? The closures, which were set to begin two weeks prior on Aug. 28, are due to crews installing a new water line across the road and Clear Creek. Workers are installing 17,730 linear feet of a 36-inch water line to provide an alternative connection from the Hwy. 3 Booster Pump Station to the South Shore Harbor Water Storage and Booster Pump Station. This line will improve water supply to the city’s east side by providing a third crossing of Clear Creek, city ocials said. Some context Two northbound lanes are closed from just south of the Clear Creek Nature Center to

CLEAR CREEK

HENDERSON AVE.

518

270

MAIN ST.

Henderson Avenue, just north of the bridge. Trac has been recongured to two northbound lanes, two southbound lanes and a shared turn lane. Sidewalks and crosswalks along a portion of Davis Road have been recongured to guide pedestrians away from the construction. The bottom line The work and lane closures are expected to wrap up around the rst week of November.

Lanes of FM 270, or Egret Bay Boulevard, in League City closed beginning Sept. 8.

COURTESY CITY OF LEAGUE CITY

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BAY AREA EDITION

Government

BY RACHEL LELAND

Vehicle inspection to no longer be required in Texas by 2025 the program requirement in 1976. According to the professionals

League City roadway to be named after Black Civil War veteran League City will have a roadway named after Alexander Winfield, a Civil War veteran and one of the first African Americans to settle in League City. Two-minute impact On Sept. 25, League City council members met with Winfield’s descendants before voting unani- mously to name the roadway Winfield Parkway. While it’s not built yet, Winfield Parkway will eventually connect Landing Boulevard and Maple Leaf Drive, or McFarland Road. The backstory Winfield served in the Civil War as part of the Ohio Color Troops before he moved his family to Texas and eventually League City. In 1902, Winfield purchased 40 acres of land in

League City halts recycling due to fire The Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Environmental Services at 9172 Ley Road, Houston, which processes League City’s recycling, had a fire Sept. 29, resulting in a temporary shutdown. What happened According to the city of Houston’s website, the fire was caused by a heat source being too close to combustible material. Damages are estimated to be $25,000. What else? Residents can place recyclables out on the curb for regular pickup, but those items will be trashed. Officials told residents they could hold onto recyclables for now or drop them off at the Stella Roberts Recycling Center in Pearland.

Site of future Winfield Road

Incoming roads

LANDING BLVD.

MAPLE LEAF DR.

Beginning in 2025, Texas drivers will no longer need to get their vehicles inspected. The framework On Aug. 5, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3297 into law, which eliminates mandatory vehicle safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles. Drivers must still pay the annual inspection fee of $7.50 but will no longer need to take their vehicle in for inspection prior to registering it. If a vehicle was not previously registered, drivers will pay $16.75 instead and won’t be required to pay the $7.50 fee for the next registration year for the same vehicle. The 17 Texas counties that require annual emissions tests—including Dallas, Harris and Travis counties, along with several counties around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston—will continue to do so. Only 13 other states have mandatory vehicle inspections since the federal government ended

INCOMING GRAND PARKWAY

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Inspection program replacement fee The $7.50 fee supports the following funds:

While proponents—such as state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, who filed the bill—have argued mandatory vehicle inspections are unnec- essary, one vehicle inspector said he worries doing away with the requirement could put drivers’ safety at risk and threaten the survival of his business. “I just think it defies logic,” said Larry Harris, owner of Larry’s Auto Inspection in Houston. “If nobody is making sure the vehicles are safe, there’s going to be some unsafe vehicles on the street.” Larry Harris said he was particularly concerned about people being able to drive without their steering wheel, brakes or tires up to standard. Community Impact reached out to several state representatives from its coverage areas, but they declined to comment.

Texas mobility fund ($3.50) : Finances the construction, reconstruction, acquisition and expansion of state highways

517

NOTE: ALL ALIGNMENTS ARE DRAFTS AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

League City, near where Hobbs Road is currently located, which is named after Winfield’s son-in- law, Obie Hobbs, officials said. Winfield died in 1915, but many of his descen- dants still live in cities throughout the Bay Area. Quote of note “It is so appreciated, and it feels good to be seen, and it feels good to be acknowledged,” said Deborah Conrad, a descendant of Winfield. “We appreciate it so much for correcting something that went as an oversight for over 100 years.”

General revenue fund ($2) : Serves as Texas’ primary operating fund

Clean air account ($2) : Safeguards Texas’ air resources, recovers the costs of permitting new or modified emission sources and recovers the costs of permit reviews and renewals

SOURCES: TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TXDOT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY JAKE MAGEE

Bill aims to make insurance affordable for coastal residents

The takeaway

Paul said he worked to pass HB 998 on behalf of residents who can’t acquire affordable windstorm and property insurance. Originally, Doss and her neighbors wanted to expand the boundaries of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to make Natchez Landing eligible for the government-subsidized insurance. Its boundaries encompass the entirety of several counties along the Gulf Coast but, in Harris County, only the area east of Hwy. 146. However, Paul instead opted to push for changing the rules for the Texas Fair Plan Association—which also exists to provide more affordable insurance—to include condo associations within a few miles of the coast. This way, residents have more affordable insurance overall, not just for windstorms, Paul said. House Bill 998: • Was signed into law effective Sept. 1 but will not take effect until Sept. 1, 2024, to allow changes to be phased in • Makes condo associations eligible for insurance from the Texas Fair Plan Association, which exists to provide insurance to property owners who are denied coverage from at least two private insurance companies • Applies to condo associations within 10 miles of the boundaries of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. TWIA boundaries include the entirety of several Gulf Coast counties but only properties east of Hwy. 146 in Harris County

insurance are divided up among each unit in the form of monthly dues, she said. On top of the price increase, Natchez Landing was denied by over 30 insurers before association officials found an insurer, she said. Now, due to House Bill 998, beginning Sept. 1, 2024, residents at Natchez Landing and other condo and townhome associations will likely see large savings, said Doss and state Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston, who authored the bill.

Just over a year after Clear Lake residents voiced concerns about skyrocketing windstorm insurance costs, legislators passed a new law that will make such costs more affordable for certain people living along the coast. In 2022, Debra Doss of Natchez Landing, a 108-unit condominium complex along Clear Lake in Seabrook, said the condo association’s windstorm insurance about doubled from the previous year. The costs for windstorm

Natchez Landing insurance cost

Rising cost Due to inflation and the risk associated with insuring coastal properties, Natchez Landing’s windstorm and property insurance is expected to increase 25% in December.

$312.6K*

$0 $100K $200K $300K $400K

$99K

*PROJECTED

SOURCES: NATCHEZ LANDING, DEBRA DOSS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

2020-21

2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

Year

What they're saying

“I wanted to help these people because they’re struggling. They want to be insured.” DENNIS PAUL, R-HOUSTON, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 129

“If it wasn’t for [Paul], we would still be working to try to figure something out.” DEBRA DOSS, NATCHEZ LANDING RESIDENT

SOURCES: STATE REP. DENNIS PAUL, TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BAY AREA EDITION

Clear Creek plan aims to bolster waterway From the cover

The overview

CLEAR CREEK

Proposed kayak launches

Proposed boardwalks

Proposed trails

League City ocials now have a document to guide the development and enhancement of Clear Creek and surrounding areas. On Sept. 11, League City City Council approved the Clear Creek Master Plan, which includes millions of dollars worth of possible improvements to 9 miles of the creek, including: • 3 parks on public land

528

CLEAR CREEK

KANSAS AVE.

LEAGUE ST.

WESLY ST.

• 8 kayak launches • 17 miles of trails • 2 miles of boardwalks

PALOMINO LN.

518

A G U E C I T Y P K W Y .

LANDING BLVD.

The plan, which ocials began working on early this year, was born from residents’ desire to become more connected to natural space, Assistant City Manager Rick Davis said. The plan is an integration of the city’s Parks, Trails and Open Spaces Master Plan, which includes ideas to create more recreation along the creek, said Chien Wei, director of parks and cultural services. Consulting rm Hal and city ocials held public meetings over the spring and summer to gather input from residents, Hal Planning Team Leader Louis Cutaia Jr. said.

Proposed parks

CLEAR CREEK

KILGORE DAVIS TRACT PARK

MYRTLE PARK

HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL PARK

518

WILLIAMSPORT ST.

518

CLEAR CREEK

SOURCES: CITY OF LEAGUE CITY, HALFFCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Those opposed

“That’s why it’s such a shock we’re consid- ering to develop this at all,” Clear Creek Village resident Rusty Tidwell said during the meeting. Developing and providing access to Myrtle Park will require future council approval, Wei said.

an undeveloped patch of green space just north of the neighborhood. Residents cited drivers speeding through the neighborhood, a lack of sidewalks and the park’s flooding issues as reasons the park could be dangerous for visitors.

During City Council’s Sept. 11 meeting, several residents from the Clear Creek Village neighborhood spoke out against the plan. The neighborhood is just northwest of the I-45 and Main Street intersection. The plan includes creating access to Myrtle Park,

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BY JAKE MAGEE

The breakdown

What they’re saying

What's next

The Clear Creek Master Plan splits projects over short-, medium- and long-term time frames. While some can be done in the next few years, others are earmarked for more than a decade from now, according to the plan. Davis said the ball is in city staff’s court to decide which projects to pitch to City Council, which ultimately makes the decision on which projects get approved and when. City officials will brainstorm with City Manager John Baumgartner and council members during their annual retreat in March as they begin considering the fiscal year 2024-25 budget, Davis said. Wei said there are some projects officials are already considering first, such as developing the Kilgore Davis Tract Park located off North Kansas Avenue with a boardwalk.

The projects in the plan don’t come cheap. If the city were to implement all the major projects today, they would total nearly $40 million, according to the plan. Inflation means costs will increase as time goes on, Cutaia said. Part of the plan helps city officials identify what types of grant opportunities exist for the projects, Wei said. For the three proposed parks, officials could use the city’s park dedication funds to help reduce the cost. Officials behind new develop- ments in the city are required to pay toward the park dedication fund, which city officials pull from when doing park projects, Wei said. For the trails, city officials could use 4B Industrial Development Corp. funds, which come from sales tax revenue and are dedi- cated to amateur sports developments.

“I’m excited … we have something in hand that we can work from. It’s a recreation opportunity that we haven’t really fully taken advantage of.” CHIEN WEI, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND CULTURAL SERVICES, ON THE PLAN’S CREATION “League City has an abundance of natural space, beautiful waterways and scenery, and my impression … is that citizens just want to better utilize that space.” RICK DAVIS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ON THE PLAN'S ORIGIN

“Clear Creek does have a lot of constraints with it. It takes a lot of effort.” LOUIS CUTAIA JR., HALFF PLANNING TEAM LEADER, ON IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN’S PROPOSED PROJECTS

Planning it out

Clear Creek Master Plan cost breakdown Total: $39.63M $13.56M Trails

THE FOLLOWING TABLE IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.

Short term (next 1-5 years)

6 trails 2 kayak launches

$8.17M Kilgore Davis Tract Park $7.17M Myrtle Park $5.87M Boardwalks

6 trails 2 boardwalks 5 kayak launches 6 trails 3 boardwalks 1 kayak launch

Medium term (next 5-10 years)

“There’s nothing to develop back there. It stays underwater most of the time.” RUSTY TIDWELL, CLEAR CREEK VILLAGE RESIDENT, ON DEVELOPING MYRTLE PARK

$4.86M Harris County Flood Control Park

Long term (next 10-15 years)

NOTE: THE ABOVE CHART DOESN'T INCLUDE COSTS FOR SMALLER ITEMS, SUCH AS SIGNS AND KAYAK LAUNCHES.

SOURCES: CITY OF LEAGUE CITY, HALFF/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BAY AREA EDITION

Business

BY JAKE MAGEE

Intuitive Machines prepares for lunar lander launch

After years of work, ocials at a Clear Lake-based aerospace company are on the cusp of sending a commercial lunar lander to the moon. The plan is for a SpaceX rocket to launch Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, assembled at the Houston Spaceport, from Florida as early as Nov. 15. One of the goals of those behind the lander is for Intuitive Machines to be the rst commercial company to put a lander on the moon. The lander is equipped with several NASA and commercial payloads, each of which will conduct various scientic experiments, Intuitive Machines Program Manager Trent Martin said. For instance, sportswear company Columbia, which sells jackets with thermal liners inspired by NASA space blankets, will have a payload that will include the same thermal liner technology as the jackets to measure its eectiveness against the moon’s cold and heat and potential for use in aerospace exploration. Other payloads will do other experiments, such as measuring and analyzing the plume of lunar dust kicked up by the landing. The mission will give NASA and commercial companies data and information about the moon before human crews return to the lunar surface.

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander could launch to the moon as early as Nov. 15.

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Nova-C will launch from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Minutes later, the lander will separate from the rocket and drift toward the moon. As the lander approaches the moon, ight controllers will correct its trajectory to enter the moon’s orbit and eventually land on the surface, six days after launch, according to a news release. As it lands, Nova-C will launch a camera from itself to take “seles” of its descent, which has never been done before, Martin said.

As early as next year, ocials at the company plan to launch IM-2 and IM-3, two other Nova-C missions to the moon. IM-2’s lander will include a drill to penetrate the lunar surface in search of ice, and IM-3’s lander will include four rovers, Intuitive Machines ocials said. Intuitive Machines ocials have plans for other Nova landers, including ones capable of carrying far heavier payloads to the moon than the Nova-C, Martin said. It’s possible Intuitive Machines’ lander technology could eventually be used to deliver food, fuel, communications systems and even habitats for the astronauts who will eventually reside on the moon, he said. “I want to set up, as a business, to have at least an annual cadence of missions to the moon,” CEO Stephen Altemus said.

“You walk around this company, and what you see is just elation in everybody. You see the smiles on their

face; you see how hard they’re working. Just the energy level of the employees, it’s palpable.” STEPHEN ALTEMUS, INTUITIVE MACHINES CEO

Nova-C’s journey

“To me, this is the culmination of everything I’ve done throughout my career ... [and] the reason

I got into this business in the rst place: Let’s go land on the moon.” TRENT MARTIN, INTUITIVE MACHINES PROGRAM MANAGER

1. Launch 2. Rocket separates from lander 3. Lander ies to the moon 4. Maneuver to enter moon’s orbit 5. Lander touches down on moon

SOURCE: INTUITIVE MACHINESCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Dining

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Lump Crab and Shrimp Tower is served in layers of avocado, mango, French cucumber, red onion and tomato.

COURTESY MARAIS

Marais Filet is a prime 8-ounce beef tenderloin that is coee-crusted and blackened.

COURTESY MARAIS

Marais welcomes all as it blends dierent cultures When walking into Marais in Dickinson, one may get the sense the restaurant is as high end as its ele- vation, which stands about 17 feet above the ground.

Everyone is served and treated “as if they were in a $1,000 suit,” Lilley said. Being located right o Dickinson Bayou, the name comes from the area of New Orleans called Le Marais, which means “the waterfront.” What’s on the menu Carrying over the traditions, the food borrows from the dierent cultures from New Orleans, Lilley said. French, Creole, African and others are baked into the cuisine. The goal is to be original, Lilley said. From combo dishes to Sunday brunch, Marais works within the culture it borrows from, Lilley. “The more you peel back the onion on ... New Orleans cooking, the more interesting it gets,” he said.

Marais owner Keith Lilley opened his restaurant in 2017.

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But owner Keith Lilley tells people not to be fooled. The restaurant is whatever its patrons make it to be. “Love all, serve all,” Lilley said, describing the restaurant’s motto. “We’re looking to appeal to everyone’s taste and everyone’s budget.” What’s special about it? Designed in the tradition of the French Quarter in New Orleans and built from scratch, Lilley said the restaurant was inspired by a setting where it’s com- mon to see people in shorts and ip-ops frequent places that have waiters in suits.

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