Lake Houston - Humble - Kingwood Edition | May 2025

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Lake Houston Humble

Kingwood Edition VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1 MAY 30JUNE 27, 2025

Cleaning up Kingwood Grassroots organizations pitch in to help maintain, restore community BY HANNAH BROL & WESLEY GARDNER

INSIDE

Chris Arceneaux, a Trees for Kingwood board member, is one of several volunteers who tends the nonprot’s trees, which require a two-year watering schedule after planting. The nonprot is just one of several initiatives launched in recent years to help maintain and beautify Kingwood. (Jamaal Ellis/Community Impact)

Also in this issue

Impacts: Check out Deerbrook Mall’s upcoming entertainment venue (Page 7)

Education: See how boundaries are changing for some Humble ISD schools (Page 11)

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1960

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION

1485

1314

Impacts

99 TOLL

VALLEY RANCH PKWY.

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3 Veteran Brew Coffee Co. Located at Porky’s Backyard, the new coffee shop offers a menu of military-themed beverages ranging from the “Tactical Coldbrew” to the “Sailor’s Chai Latte.” According to the website, the business was founded by two veterans and a portion of every sale supports veteran-focused initiatives. • Opened April 24 4 Un Cafe con El Maestro Owned by nonprofit Ministerio de Honra Inc., the new coffee shop offers coffee and refreshments to-go, as well as a space for Christian gospel, Bible study, Christian counseling and meditation. The business also offers online podcasts and Bible study videos in Spanish. • Opened April 25 • 1701 Wilson Road, Ste. 100, Humble • www.uncafeconelmaestro.org • 5131 Atascocita Road, Humble • www.veteranbrewcoffee.com 5 Gameday Men’s Health The franchise offers services for testosterone health, vitamin injections and weight loss. • Opened Feb. 19 • 700 Rockmead Drive, Ste. 101, Kingwood • www.gamedaymenshealth.com 6 The Airway Dentists The third location of this dental practice offers Invisalign, sleep apnea treatment and comprehensive, holistic dental care for patients of all ages. • Opening May 20 • 16402 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Ste. 500, Houston • www.theairwaydentists.com GreenPal An app that connects homeowners with local, vetted lawn care professionals launched in Humble on April 14. According to co-founder Gene Caballero, the app allows homeowners to list their lawns with their preferred service date and lawn care needs. Lawn care professionals can then bid on the listing and users can select their vendor based on ratings, reviews and price. • Launched April 14 • www.yourgreenpal.com/tx/humble-lawn-care

LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK

FORDRD.

WOODLAND HILLS DR.

GARDEN LAKE DR.

N O R T H P A R

ROCKMEAD DR.

SORTERS MCCLELLAN RD.

11A

7 8

TREE LN.

TOWNSEN BLVD.

Kingwood

LAKE HOUSTON

UPPER LAKE DR.

1960

1960 BYPASS RD.

HOUSTON AVE.

F I RSTST.

1960

W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.

TIMBER FOREST DR.

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WILL CLAYTON PKWY.

Atascocita

E. N. BELT

GREENSRD.

MADERA RUN PKWY.

11C

11B

ALDINE BENDER RD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

WOODSON PARK DR.

2 Suya Outpost The restaurant offers a variety of Nigerian-inspired dishes, including customizable bowls, chicken and beef suya burritos, plantains, empanadas and jollof rice. • Opened April 18 • 9502 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Ste. 114, Humble • www.suyaoutpost.com

Now open

1 Totoro Mochi Donut With an original location in Friendswood, this bakery offers mochi doughnuts, Korean corn dogs and fruit teas, among other baked goods and beverages. • Opened April 15 • 9954 FM 1960 Bypass Road W., Humble • www.totoromochidonut.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Coming soon

In the news

Coming soon

7 Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming The pet store offers a variety of pet food brands, spa services and gourmet pet treats, including oven baked goods and seasonal treats. • Opening date TBD • 4521 Kingwood Drive, Ste. 120, Kingwood • www.woofgangbakery.com

11 Humble ISD District officials held a dedication ceremony May 5 for a new “America the Beautiful”-themed playground at Bear Branch Elementary, which is designed for children ages 5-12. A dedication ceremony was also held May 19 for a “Toy Town”-themed playground at the district’s Early Childhood Center, which is designed for children ages 2-5. Additionally, officials celebrated the opening of Woodcreek Middle School’s new outdoor obstacle course and fitness area inspired by “American Ninja Warrior” on May 15. • A Bear Branch Elementary, 3500 Garden Lake Drive, Kingwood; B HISD Early Childhood Center, 8105 E. N. Belt, Humble; C Woodcreek Middle School, 14600 Woodson Park Drive, Houston • www.humbleisd.net 12 Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken & Bases Burgers Now under new management, the Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken in Humble partnered with Bases Burgers in March and both menus are now being served under one roof. Bases Burgers, which celebrated its grand opening on March 31, offers a baseball-themed menu of burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs, as well as sides including fries and onion rings. • 19440 Hwy. 59, Humble • Facebook: Bases Burgers - Humble 13 Good Shepherd Episcopal School The school celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala on April 26. Proceeds from the gala will go toward several school projects including the addition of a preschool music garden, new books for the children’s library, a newly designed website and campus renovations. The school offers preschool for children ages 3-4, kindergarten, transitional kindergarten and early learning programs. • 2929 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood • www.goodshepherdschool.org 14 K&S Sportswear The full-service screen printing and embroidery company celebrated its 30th anniversary May 4. The business offers promotional items—ranging from shirts

What’s next

8 Wingstop A new location is coming soon to the Mainstreet at Kingwood shopping center, and construction is expected to begin on or after June 1 and wrap up by July 30, according to a May 1 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Wingstop offers bone-in and boneless wings with more than a dozen flavor options, as well as chicken sandwiches, crispy tenders and fries. • 4535 Kingwood Drive, Ste. 170, Kingwood • www.wingstop.com 9 Iza Robata Construction on this Japanese restaurant’s fifth location is expected to wrap up by the end of 2025, according to an April 15 TDLR filing. The restaurant serves ramen and poke bowls, as well as traditional Japanese sake, innovative cocktails and boba drinks. • 15936 Woodland Hills Drive, Ste. 600, Humble • www.izarobatatx.com

15 Score Entertainment Coming soon to Deerbrook Mall, the entertainment company offers a variety of activities, including laser tag, go karts, bowling, ax throwing, trampoline parks, mini golf, arcade games, sports simulators and virtual reality experiences. The venue will also feature a restaurant and two full- service bars with more than 15 beers on tap.

• Opening in November • 20131 Hwy. 59, Humble • www.scoreusa.com

and hats to koozies and tote bags—for organizations, nonprofits, businesses and individuals. • 20121 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Ste. 1400, Humble • www.ks-sportswear.com Kingwood Women’s Club In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the club hosted a community food drive May 3 to help restock food pantry shelves for local nonprofits ahead of the summer, which yielded 2.3 tons of donated food and $1,500 in grocery gift cards. The club was founded in 1985 with the goal of improving the Kingwood community through projects that target community involvement, cultural arts, social welfare and education. • www.kingwoodwomensclub.org

Relocations

10 Javaman Coffee After closing its former location—8071 FM 1960 Road E., Humble—on Feb. 23, the coffee shop reopened at its new location down the road on April 13. Owned by Mark Norelli, Javaman Coffee offers a menu of hot and iced coffee, espresso-based beverages and tea, as well as

beignets, sandwiches and crepes. • 7042 FM 1960 Road E., Humble • www.javamancoffee.net

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Government

BY EMILY LINCKE CONTRIBUTIONS BY JESSICA SHORTEN

Humble relaxes requirements for senior apartments

Humble invests $321K for manufacturing On April 22, Humble City Council approved a $321,000 economic investment incentive for a new 155,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. About the project Technofil USA—a metallic wire manufacturer—is expected to invest $22 million into constructing its two-build- ing facility, Stephanie Smith, Lake Houston Partnership’s chief economic development officer, said during the April 22 City Council Meeting. The manufacturing facility is expected to bring 160 new jobs, and the company has plans to commit to a 10-year lease of the property, she added. The investment is expected to bring the city an $11.5 million return on investment, Smith said.

Townsen Landing

Humble

1960

On April 10, Humble City Council updated ordi- nances to add an exception in multifamily housing density requirements for senior apartments. In a nutshell City Council unanimously voted to up the maximum number of apartment units for senior multifamily projects to 30 units per acre. The maximum density for multifamily projects has ranged from 10-20 units per acre over the last 15 years, City Manager Jason Stuebe said. The change was made to help Skymark Devel- opment Company Inc. with a 130-unit senior apartment project that has been planned for a 10-acre lot near Deerbrook Mall, Stuebe said. The project is part of Skymark’s larger mixed-use development—Townsen Landing—located near the

SOURCE: SKYMARK DEVELOPMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

intersection of Hwy. 59 and Townsen Boulevard. The specifics The April 10 ordinance changes require projects to include at least 80% of units for people ages 55 and older, Stuebe said. The regulations also prevent someone from converting a senior living property into another type of housing later. Stay tuned Leadership at Skymark said the new rules will let them start building the senior apartments this year, Mayor Norman Funderburk said.

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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION

Education

BY WESLEY GARDNER CONTRIBUTIONS BY EMILY LINCKE, JAKE NORMAN & HANNAH NORTON

Humble ISD received a “C” for the 2022-23 school year with 74 out of 100 possible points in the Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings system for school districts statewide. The ratings were released April 24 after a delay due to lawsuits, TEA officials said. The announcement follows an April 3 ruling by Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals, which overturned a lower court’s injunction that had blocked the 2023 ratings for over a year. In August 2023, over 100 school districts sued TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, arguing the agency’s revamped accountability system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts. According to the TEA, 9.5% of districts earned an “A” rating, while 42.4% earned a “B.” About 33% received a “C,” 13.7% earned a “D” and 1.2% earned an “F.” Humble ISD earns ‘C’ for 2022-23 school year Humble ISD accountability ratings Since the A-F system launched in 2017-18, HISD has only received three official ratings due to three years of State of Disaster declarations. 2017-18: Not rated due to Hurricane Harvey 2018-19: B (88) 2019-20: Not rated due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2020-21: Not rated due to the COVID-19 pandemic

What they’re saying

“The rating released is based on data from the 2022-2023 school year,” HISD Superintendent Roger Brown said in an April 24 emailed state- ment. “It does not reflect the effort and progress happening right now throughout the district.” Brown noted he believed the 2022-23 scores will ultimately help officials identify challenges the district has faced related to the ratings. “We understand that there were many com- plexities surrounding the 2023 accountability rating process, including: changes to scoring methodology; increased performance thresholds, and the use of new [State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness] assessments,” Brown said. He added the district is treating the ratings a challenge. “The rating is an opportunity for us to examine what’s working, what’s not, and how we can better serve our students,” he said.

The state’s A-F accountability system was designed to measure whether students are ready for the next grade level and how well each district prepares them for success after high school, Community Impact previously reported. “For far too long, families, educators and com- munities have been denied access to information about the performance of their schools, thanks to frivolous lawsuits paid for by tax dollars filed by those who disagreed with the statutory goal of raising career readiness expectations to help students,” Morath said in an April 24 news release. Morath further defended the ratings system in an April 22 press call. “This is a good thing,” Morath said. “We do this because it helps children.” TEA officials said the methods of calculating 2022-23 ratings were “updated to more accurately reflect performance.”

The breakdown

The district’s lowest-rated schools that received an “F” include Jack M. Fields Sr. Elementary and Oak Forest Elementary.

HISD’s top-rated schools that received an “A” include Creekwood Middle School, Guy M. Sconzo Early College High School, Riverwood Middle School and Willow Creek Elementary.

District snapshot, 2022-23

Humble ISD ratings by campus, 2022-23 A: 4 B: 10

45,525 students enrolled 48.5% economically

11.6% emergent bilingual 91.3% average attendance rate

C: 17 D: 13 F: 2

disadvantaged 11.8% special education

29.4% missed 10% or more of the school year

2021-22: B (82) 2022-23: C (74)

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next

publicly funded and having the public’s children in our schools. It’s up to us to operate with the highest degree of transparency to deliver the best outcomes that we can for our kids,” Morath said April 22.

on Aug. 15. “A-F ratings are very public, and so that is a leadership challenge that our leaders bear, but this is the cross that we bear for being

The TEA remains blocked from issuing ratings for the 2023-24 school year due to a separate lawsuit, which is pending in the state appeals court. Morath also said the TEA intends to release ratings for 2024-25 school year

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY WESLEY GARDNER

Zoning changes approved for Centennial, Summerwood elementary schools

W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.

Attendance zone changes

Centennial ES

LAKESIDE TERRACE DR.

Summerwood ES

Humble ISD trustees approved attendance zone changes for Summerwood and Centennial elemen- tary schools during the May 6 board meeting. Why now? The rezoning efforts are coming as the district completes an expansion project for Summerwood Elementary, included in HISD’s 2022 bond. HISD Deputy Superintendent Terry Perkins said because six new classrooms will be ready at Summerwood Elementary by the start of the 2025- 26 school year, the district is moving forward with the zoning changes a year earlier than originally planned for kindergarten students and students moving in from outside the district. “With another incoming group of kindergartners next year ... it would push core classes outside the main building of Centennial and into temporary

buildings,” Perkins said. What’s changing?

55B

DEUSSEN PKWY.

55F

All incoming kindergarten students and all new students who move into Sections 55B and 55F— which are located in the southeastern portion of the Summerwood neighborhood—will be rezoned from Centennial Elementary to Summerwood Elementary beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, the new attendance zones will be applied to remaining students in all grade levels at the campuses beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Officials noted students who are already attending Centennial Elementary this year can remain at the campus next year. However, rezoned students who would like to remain at Centennial Elementary beyond the 2025-26 school year will be required to go through the transfer process.

Elementary enrollment

2025 enrollment

*2031 enrollment (old boundaries)

*2031 enrollment (new boundaries)

Optimal campus capacity

*PROJECTED SOURCES: HUMBLE ISD, POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION

Cleaning up Kingwood From the cover

The framework

The catalyst

associations. The trails associations are also in charge of mowing and maintaining rights of way along major roadways near the trails. Price said the KSA—a nonprofit established in 1976—is responsible for maintaining the three major entrances to Kingwood and more than 350 acres of land spread across five parks in the area. “The KSA takes the lead in trying to coordinate things with the city [of Houston],” Price said. Price said the KSA is funded by dues paid by member organizations, noting the amount of money collected from each member varies depending on the number of housing and commercial units within that organization’s area.

Although the city of Houston annexed Kingwood in 1996, the maintenance of most of the public spaces in the area has been carried out by a com- bination of community associations, trails associ- ations and the Kingwood Service Association, KSA President Dee Price said. While the city of Houston is responsible for main- taining Dylan Duncan Skate Park and portions of the medians along four arterial roadways, Price said individual community associations are responsible for the maintenance of property within their village. Outside of villages, Price said five trails asso- ciations are responsible for maintaining portions of Kingwood’s roughly 75-mile greenbelt system that aren’t already maintained by community

When Jay Mincks moved to Kingwood in 1990, he said he was drawn to “the livable forest” that had been newly developed by Friendswood Development Company. “At the time, Friendswood was still deeply involved in the community,” Mincks said. “They had people on every one of the [homeowners associations] providing leadership because … they were trying to sell real estate, so that meant making sure everyone was doing what they were supposed to do.” Six years later, however, Kingwood was annexed by Houston and the developer was no longer involved with providing maintenance or oversight. Nearly three decades later, Mincks said he believes litter, broken curbs and downed trees now have a “broken pane effect” on the once pristine community. In hopes of addressing these issues, Mincks and a handful of other Kingwood residents held the first meeting of the Beautify Kingwood Task Force on April 10 with the goal of providing a voice for Kingwood and helping the community get back to its roots. “This is really an advocacy [group] for a community that we love,” Mincks said. “It’s just the observation that we’ve just kind of let things slip … and the feeling like there’s nobody really accountable.” The newly-formed organization is just one of several initiatives launched in recent years to help maintain and restore Kingwood.

Kingwood Service Association jurisdiction 1 North Park Recreation Area 2 Deer Ridge Park 3 River Grove Park 4 Creekwood Nature Area 5 East End Park 3 MAIN ENTRANCES (UNMAPPED) City of Houston jurisdiction 6 Dylan Duncan Skate Park A Northpark Drive B Kingwood Drive C Woodland Hills Drive D West Lake Houston Parkway

Kingwood villages*

FORD RD.

5 trails associations maintain portions of Kingwood's 75-mile greenbelt system

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LAKE HOUSTON

NOTE: THIS MAP MAY NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL KINGWOOD VILLAGES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAINTAINS PORTIONS OF THE MEDIANS OF THESE ROADWAYS SOURCES: KINGWOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATION, CITY OF HOUSTON, KINGWOOD.COM/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Dig deeper

Kingwood tree canopy

3,000 trees planted by TFK since 2022

Bloch said the nonprofit works with individual neighborhoods to identify areas where tree plantings should occur. Plantings are followed by a two-year watering schedule, which is carried out manually by volunteers, as the irrigation system in Kingwood’s medians do not meet Houston standards and are therefore unable to be used. Bloch said the nonprofit also helps pick up litter throughout Kingwood and works with CenterPoint Energy to identify trees that need to be removed to avoid power outages. Moving forward, Bloch said the organization

Also on a mission to restore Kingwood’s beauty, Trees for Kingwood launched in 2022 with a focus on the community’s tree canopy. The volunteer-run nonprofit partners with Trees for Houston and is funded through donations. “We saw [Kingwood] in its original beauty, and we’ve seen the damage that’s been done and we want to restore it,” said Joyce Chambers, a Trees for Kingwood board member. Board member Chris Bloch noted Kingwood has lost thousands of trees over the years due to drought, natural disasters and invasive species.

4 trees lost out of 200 planted by TFK in first year 300-350 trees lost throughout Kingwood during Hurricane Beryl

SOURCE: TREES FOR KINGWOOD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

is working on acquiring land for a tree farm, which would allow volunteers to transplant trees throughout Kingwood as they mature.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HANNAH BROL & WESLEY GARDNER

What’s being done

Next steps

Houston District E boundaries

In November, Houston District E council mem- ber Fred Flickinger—whose district covers King- wood and Clear Lake—launched Median Madness, a series of volunteer-led median clean-up efforts along major roadways in Kingwood, including West Lake Houston Parkway, Northpark Drive, Woodland Hills Drive and Kingwood Drive. A similar initiative was launched in Clear Lake. Flickinger added the medians in both commu- nities are larger than in other areas of Houston. “It’s [an issue] the other districts don’t have and don’t typically have to deal with,” he said. Flickinger noted the initiatives are being funded by council district service funds, which include $500,000 doled out annually to each district to pay for services that aren’t already provided by the city. “The city’s finances don’t leave us with a lot of extra money to provide additional services, so we’re trying to make the best of what we can with those funds,” Flickinger said.

Looking ahead, Mincks said the Beautify Kingwood Task Force is working on building a website and formalizing its core committee. The organization is also planning to host a meeting with officials from KSA and Kingwood’s HOAs to enlist support. “The resources are here; we just need to coordinate,” Mincks said. The task force also aims to advocate for Kingwood at Houston City Council meetings and recommend projects ahead of KSA’s next budget adoption in October, Mincks said. “One of the most positive things that we have going for us is that most Kingwoodians want to make it better,” Beautify Kingwood Task Force member Peter Mantell said. “There’s a certain love people have for this community that’s unique.”

Kingwood

LAKE HOUSTON

$500,000 is given to each of Houston’s 11 districts annually to spend on services not already provided.

330

610

Clear Lake

146

SOURCE: HOUSTON DISTRICT E/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION

N O R T H P A R

Events

Transportation

BY EMILY LINCKE

BY HANNAH BROL

SORTERS MCCLELLAN RD.

WOODLAND HILLS DR.

First Responders Appreciation Luncheon Partnership Lake Houston and Residences at Kingwood are hosting an appreciation luncheon. • June 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • $45 (non-members) • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.lakehouston.org Humble Bacon Festival Bacon lovers can celebrate their favorite meat at this event featuring a bacon eating contest. • June 21, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. • $10 (age 17 and older), free (age 16 and younger) • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.facebook.com/humblebaconfestival A New Look at the History of Bordersville Learn about Bordersville, a historic Black community located just outside of Humble. • June 27, 4:30-5:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • Atascocita Branch Library, 19520 Pinehurst Trail Drive, Humble • www.hcpl.net/locations/ata

June

Upcoming projects

TOWNSEN BLVD.

Kingwood

Summer Movie Night: ‘The Parent Trap’ The Lone Star College-Kingwood Student Nurse Association is hosting a summer movie night event. • June 3, 5-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • Student Conference Center, 20009 Kingwood Drive, Room 108-109, Kingwood • www.lonestar.edu/kingwood.htm Tina Turner Tribute Enjoy a music performance from Tina Turner tribute artist Cookie Watkins. • June 7, 7-9 p.m. • $40 • Charles Bender PAC, 611 Higgins St., Humble • www.charlesbendertheater.com A Red Taylor Swift Tribute Show A Taylor Swift tribute singer will be performing her show, “Red,” in honor of the musician’s fourth album. • June 14, 5:30-9 p.m. (show), 9-11 p.m. (DJ) • $45-$60 • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.humblecc.com

1 Woodland Hills Drive, Teakwood Spring Drive trac signal Project: A new trac signal will be installed at the intersection of Woodland Hills Drive and Teakwood Spring Drive to increase driver safety. Update: This project is in the design phase, according to a May 5 email from Jeannie Peng, communications manager for Harris County Precinct 3. • Timeline: Starting construction in 2027 • Cost: TBD • Funding source : Harris County Precinct 3 2 West Lake Houston Parkway Sidewalk, Phase 2 Project: Sidewalks will be constructed on both sides of West Lake Houston Parkway from Aerobic Avenue to FM 1960. Update: This project is in the design phase, Peng conrmed May 5. • Timeline: Starting construction in 2026 • Cost: TBD • Funding source: Harris County Precinct 3

W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.

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SPRING CREEK

1960

EASTEX FWY. RD.

LAKE HOUSTON

1960

Humble

AEROBIC AVE.

WILL CLAYTON PKWY.

TOWNSEN BLVD.

Atascocita

TEAKWOOD SPRING DR.

Movies Under the Moon: ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Watch Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” on the lawn at Kings Harbor Waterfront Village. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit on during the lm. • June 20, 8:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4501 Magnolia Cove Drive, Kingwood • https://kings-harbor.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

I-69 Historical Pedestrian Bridge Metro Park-and-Ride. Update: This project had been substantially completed, as of Peng’s May 5 email. • Timeline: March 2024-second quarter of 2025 • Cost: $1.5 million • Funding sources: Harris County Precinct 3, Texas Department of Transportation

Completed projects

3 Townsen Park-NRide Multimodal Connector

Project: An 8-foot-wide concrete hike-and-bike trail was constructed to connect the Townsen Park-and-Ride to the

PORTER 23611 Hwy 59 (281) 354-0733 HUMBLE 19322 US-59 (281) 540-7202

KINGWOOD 1420 Kingwood Dr (281) 359-7115 ATASCOCITA 7034 FM 1960 E (281) 812-3100

Our Fun is

just got more fun with the opening of The Arbor! Summer days can be spent poolside or at the splash pad. The playground and rec center are hubs for residents all year long. The event lawn is there for impromptu gatherings or planned activities hosted by our lifestyle director. Stop by for a look, and when you do, make sure to visit our 10 gorgeous model homes — including two new ones by Highland Homes and Shea Homes! Life in Evergreen

Now Open!

New Homes $ 300s- $ 800s

Models are not an indication of racial preference. Floor plans, maps and renderings are artist’s conception based on preliminary information, not to scale and subject to change. This is not an offer of real estate for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Pricing does not include options, elevation, or lot premiums, effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. All square footages and measurements are approximate and subject to change without notice. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. School enrollment and boundaries subject to change. Equal Housing Opportunity. 05/25 LHK

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MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION

DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

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MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION

Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

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Business

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

FINS Swim School CEO Liam Goudeket said swimming is a life skill that should be taught to children at a young age to avoid accidents. It’s also a skill that requires consistent practice to prevent regression. “Drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental death for children under 5, so we saw a need in the community and an opportunity as a busi- ness,” he said. Founded by his parents Bill and Kathy Goudeket in 2000, FINS Swim School has grown from a single location in Spring to seven locations across the north Houston area, including one in Humble. The inspiration Goudeket traces his passion for swimming back to his childhood, inspired by his father who was a former college swimmer. He, along with his sisters, joined in the family sport by forming a swim team of their own as children and following in their father’s footsteps. Goudeket further immersed himself in the sport in 1997 by giving swim lessons to neighborhood kids in the Tomball area where he grew up. FINS Swim School came about after Goude- ket’s parents purchased the former George Campbell’s Olympic Swimming Academy. They went on to rename the business with a concept focused on safety. After wearing several hats at his parents’ busi- ness and years of dedication, Goudeket took over as CEO of FINS Swim School in 2024. Diving in deeper FINS Swim School oers a guarantee that students will move up a level after ve lessons. Lessons range from $27-$38 each. Although Goudeket said the most eective age to learn to swim is from 18-24 months, swimming is a skill that can be taught at any age. “The most important thing is going to be water safety,” Goudeket said. “[Swimming] is a life skill, unlike any other activity that a child might learn.” FINS Swim School also oers a tness program for experienced swimmers over 18 years old. During the FINS Aqua Fitness Program, swim- mers can partake in a 45-minute low-impact workout held weekly for $40 a month. As part of his outreach initiative, Goudeket said he donates swimming packages to Humble ISD. FINS Swim School promotes water safety in north Houston

At FINS Swim School, students are guaranteed to move up a level after ve lessons.

Instructors are required to pass a background check and go through an extensive interview process.

Parents can watch their children during lessons.

1960

6900 FM 1960, Humble w w w.swimat ns.com/atascocita

Liam Goudeket took over as CEO in 2024.

LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION

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Atascocita 7031 FM 1960 East Humble, TX 77346

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Kingwood - Lake Houston Parkway 2595 W. Lake Houston Parkway Kingwood, TX 77339

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Call 713.589.3999 or scan the code to schedule an appointment today. VillageMedical.com

Three convenient locations to serve you:

Village Medical - Humble 18652 McKay Blvd. Humble, TX 77338 M - F: 8am - 5pm

Village Medical - Kingwood 1210 Kingwood Dr., Ste. A Kingwood, TX 77339 M - F: 7am - 5pm

Village Medical - Humble East 3707 Atascocita Rd. Humble, TX 77396 M - F: 7am - 5pm

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