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BAY AREA EDITION
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 10 MAY 20 JUNE 23, 2022
ONLINE AT
A fresh start
MOVING TARGET
The expected completion date for widening Hwy. 146, which began in early 2019, has changed over time.
IMPACTS
6
Expected completion date
2021 second- deadliest year on state roads
As of February 2019
Early 2024
As of January 2021
May 2023
As of September 2021
Fall 2023
As of March 2022
Spring 2024
As of May 2022
TRANSPORTATION
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Late 2023
SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, LEAGUE CITY, SEABROOK, WEBBER COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
The Texas Department of Transportation is three years into the ve-year project to widen Hwy. 146 through Seabrook and Kemah.
NASA scientists open lunar soil
COURTESY THIRD COAST DRONE
Development taking o in Seabrook as Hwy. 146 widening nears completion
BY JAKE MAGEE
Upon completion in late 2023, the old Hwy. 146 bridge over Clear Creek will be widened from two to three lanes in both directions between Red Blu Road and Hwy. 96. Additionally, two express bridges will be constructed— one with two northbound lanes and the other with two southbound lanes—so
motorists can bypass Seabrook and Kemah, according to TxDOT. By that time, Seabrook will have seen progress on several projects city- wide, including the development of retail shops, restaurants, apartments, single-family homes, trails and hotels. CONTINUED ON 18
It is three years into the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation’s ve-year, $201 million project to widen Hwy. 146 from Seabrook to Kemah, and Seabrook City Manager Gayle Cook said the construc- tion, while frustrating, will be a fresh start for Seabrook.
SPACE
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Bay Area struggles with supply chain issues, employment gaps
DINING FEATURE
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BY MIKAH BOYD & SIERRA ROZEN
“NO ONE THOUGHT THE ECONOMY WOULD REBOUND AS STRONG AS IT HAS.” PATRICK JANKOWSKI,
It has been over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic started in the Houston area, and Bay Area business owners said they continue to feel the e ects on supply chains, in a- tion and labor shortages. April survey data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dal- las revealed 76% of Texas business owners said there has been an impediment to hiring people due to a lack of avail- able applicants. Scott Livingston, director of economic
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AT THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP
CONTINUED ON 20
PEOPLE
17
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM PAPAR: Since spring 2020, COVID-19 has a ected many aspects of our lives, and many of those e ects are still lingering. One that continually a ects the day-to-day lives of our local businesses and residents alike is supply chain issues. From restaurants to builders, we are all feeling the strain of more demand. Read our front-page story to learn more. Papar Faircloth, GENERAL MANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROM JAKE: With a massive transportation project in the middle of the city, Seabrook has undergone a lot of disruption over the past few years with more to come. However, there’s an end in sight, and Seabrook o cials are capitalizing on the widening of Hwy. 146 to promote development citywide. Check out our front-page story to see what the city is up to. Jake Magee, SENIOR EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
WHAT WE COVER
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MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Papar Faircloth SENIOR EDITOR Jake Magee REPORTER Sierra Rozen METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kristina Shackelford MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CORPORATE LEADERSHIP GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tess Coverman CONTACT US
BUSINESS & DINING Local business development news that a ects you
TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT Regular updates on area projects to keep you in the know
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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Diamonds Direct
SRT TOLL
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COURTESY THE PR BOUTIQUE
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paint and adds graphics to vehicles. Tint World has over 30 years of experience. 281-223-1267. www.tintworld.com EXPANSIONS 7 Harris County nonpro t Justice Forward on March 2 hosted an event to announce it has expanded its ser- vices to two Galveston County specialty courts: the HOPE Drug Court and the Felony Mental Health Court, both at the Galveston County Jury Assem- bly Room at 600 59th St., Galveston. Justice Forward funds housing, specialty counseling, transportation and tuition for incarcerated individuals. Since 2006, 70% of the nonpro t’s clients have not re-entered the criminal justice system. 713-899-9893. www.justiceforwardtx.org ANNIVERSARIES 8 NASA’s Johnson Space Center at 2101 E. NASA Parkway, Houston, is celebrating its 60th anniversary all this year. On Sept. 19, 1961, NASA announced the Manned Spacecraft Center would be built near Houston. Construction of the Mission Control Center began in late 1962, and the facility o cially opened its doors in September 1963. The center is responsible for astronaut training and communication with the International Space Station and missions to space, has a mock-up of the ISS, and more. The space center was renamed the Lyndon B. John- son Space Center in 1973. www.nasa.gov 9 World Famous Daiquiris & Margaritas To Go celebrated its one-year anniversary
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TM; © 2022 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MAP NOT TO SCALE N
NOW OPEN 1 Hometown Heroes Park , 1001 E. League City Parkway, League City, has some new amenities as of May 9. A new 5K loop trail encircles the existing park with an additional loop in an unde- veloped portion of the park to the east. The trail is 10 feet wide and made of de- composed granite bounded by two con- crete curbs to stabilize it. Additionally, the construction of the equipment for a tness and obstacle course in the park is complete. A dog park is under construc- tion and will be complete by June. 281-554-1000. www.leaguecity.gov 2 Diamonds Direct opened its second location in the Houston area in March. Located next to the Baybrook Mall at 18610 Gulf Freeway, Friendswood, Dia- monds Direct sells jewelry, such as rings
COMING SOON 5 A new Cava is expected to open sometime soon in Webster near the Baybrook Mall where Zoe’s Kitchen used to be. Cava o cials were not able to announce when the location will be opening as of press time. The Mediterra- nean casual restaurant will be located at 150 Bay Area Blvd., Ste. C, and will serve items such as customizable bowls, wraps pita bread, pita chips, hummus, desserts and specialty drinks. www.cava.com RELOCATIONS 6 Tint World in February relocated from 145 Magellan Circle, Webster, across I-45 to 1424 W. NASA Parkway, Webster. The business tints vehicle windows, styles automobiles, adds protective lm to
and necklaces. The business celebrated its new location at a grand opening event April 21. 281-612-3632. www.diamondsdirect.com 3 Bath & Body Works o cially opened April 29 in Webster. The stand-alone store is located at 1301 W. Bay Area Blvd. in Baybrook Square. The national chain sells products such as hand sanitizers, hand soap, candles, hand and body lotion, wall plug-ins, and decor to hold 4 Gen Korean BBQ House had its grand opening May 2. The new location is locat- ed at 18299 Egret Bay Blvd. in Webster; the restaurant also has locations in Hous- ton and Frisco. The Korean restaurant serves meat, seafood and vegetables as well as traditional Korean ban-chan. 346-512-2122. www.genkoreanbbq.com such products. 713-693-1400. www.bathandbodyworks.com
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE & SIERRA ROZEN
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Tint World
Johnson Space Center
COURTESY SPACE COAST TEXAS
COURTESY BILL STAFFORD, NASA
May 1 at 1010 NASA Parkway, Ste. A, Web- ster. It also has a location in Clear Lake, which opened three years ago. The bar serves margaritas and daiquiris in various avors, such as strawberry, pina colada, pineapple, kiwi and mango. 281-532-6457. www.goworldfamous.com 10 Lone Star Flight Museum , 11551 Aerospace Ave., Houston, on April 22 commemorated the 25th anniversary of its Texas Aviation Hall of Fame by inducting four new honorees. Among those honored were Bruce A. Bohannon, an Alvin native; astronaut Bernard A. Harris Jr., who lived in Clear Lake during his time with NASA; Marion P. Jayne; and retired General Mark A. Welsh III. The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, which rec- ognizes famous aviators who happen to be Texans along with famous Texans who happen to be aviators, began in 1997 with four inductees, one of whom was George H. W. Bush. 346-708-2517. www.lonestar ight.org 11 Skylab Fitness is celebrating its one-year anniversary at 218 S. Walnut St., Webster, in May. The business o ers high-intensity interval training classes, personal training and special sessions for those age 50 and older so customers can achieve tness goals, including building muscles or losing weight. 281-724-9447. www.skylab tness.com The city of League City hosted a celebra- tion May 14 to commemorate its 60th anniversary. The festivities included a competition modeled after the television show “The Amazing Race” called “The A-May-zing Adventure,” which allowed participants to solve clues and complete challenges, such as axe throwing, an
obstacle course, puzzles and trivia. The city also hosted a family festival at Big League Dreams, 1150 Big League Dreams Parkway, League City, that included live music, bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, an in atable obstacle course, face painting, cornhole and minigolf. League City was o cially incorporated and char- tered in May 1962. 281-554-1000. www.leaguecity.gov NEW OWNERSHIP 12 Gulf Coast Commercial Group in February purchased Baybrook Passage at 19425 Gulf Freeway, Webster, becoming the new owner of the 189,000-square- foot shopping center. Gulf Coast Com- mercial Group plans to upgrade the center with new paint and additional architecture to enhance and modernize the center’s aesthetics. The center is 80% occupied with tenants such as Best Buy, Staples, Mia’s Table, Torchy’s Tacos and others. 713-532-0977. www.gulfcoastcg.com IN THE NEWS 13 The Bay Area community is com- ing together to raise funds to rebuild Kelley’s , a restaurant destroyed by a re Feb. 14. Some proceeds from the annual Taste of the Bay event Oct. 6 will go toward Kelley’s restoration, as will some revenue generated by participating restaurants during a donation event Oct. 7-8. Located at 1502 W. Main St., League City, Kelley’s was famous for its country food and large portions. The restaurant has locations across the Greater Houston area, including in Pearland and Alvin. www.kelleysrestaurant.com
A NASA space shuttle simulator is now on display at Lone Star Flight Museum.
COURTESY LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM
FEATURED IMPACT IN THE NEWS As of April 12, a NASA space shuttle simulator has joined Lone Star Flight Museum ’s permanent collection at 11551 Aerospace Ave., Houston. Retired astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar, who also is an aerospace engineering professor at Texas A&M University and a member of the museum’s board, worked alongside volunteers to restore the simulator, which took about 5,000 hours of work. The simulator is a full-scale replica of the ight deck of a space shuttle orbiter. It features windowed display screens that provided simulated views during various phases of ight, and it has motion systems to realistically replicate a space shuttle’s movements. The simulator was built in 1976 to support approach and landing tests of Space Shuttle Enterprise. It was rst used Jan. 9, 1979, to support ight
crew training. The simulator was operated for decades at Johnson Space Center but was removed after the nal space shuttle mission in 2011 to make room for NASA’s new space ight training hardware. The Lone Star Flight Museum is a nonpro t museum featuring historic aircraft and achievements in Texas aviation. 346-708-2517. www.lonestar ight.org
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CLOSINGS 14 Polish restaurant Pierogi Queen will close May 20, after press time. The restaurant at 2047 W. Main St., Ste. A8, League City, serves European cuisine, such as pierogies, or Polish dumplings;
sausage sandwiches; and other simple Polish foods. Owner Eva Sek cited high food prices and a lack of reliable workers as the reason for closing. She said she has received an outpouring of community support since announcing the closure. 713-244-4644. www.pierogiqueentx.com
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES TxDOT declares 2021 second-deadliest year for Texas roadways; tra c deaths up 15% over 2020
COMPILED BY MIKAH BOYD & JAKE MAGEE
ONGOING PROJECTS
W. NASA RD.
BAY AREA BLVD.
ABIGAIL LN.
The Texas Department of Trans- portation sent out a news release in March detailing its ndings that are part of a larger issue nationwide: Roadways are becoming increasingly deadly. TxDOT reported there were more than 4,480 deaths on Texas roads in 2021, only a little behind 1981, the deadliest year to date with over 4,701 deaths. Roadway deaths are also on the rise nationwide. O cials reported an estimated 20,160 people died from vehicular crashes in the rst half of 2021, 18.4% higher than in 2020. Texas saw an increase of almost 15% from 2020-21. TxDOT elaborated on the shared responsibility among Texas drivers, roadway engineers and law enforce- ment to reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “Driver behavior is one of the causes but also one of the most important solutions,” Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan said in a news release. “This is not blame. These are facts. We all have a role. TxDOT can do more, and we accept that responsibility. The driving public can do more. For instance, in 2021, a total of 1,522 people were killed because of speed, and a total of 1,219 were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. These were decisions made by people that could have potentially saved 2,741 lives.” Art Markman, a psychology professor at The University of Texas, informed TxDOT leaders and trans- portation stakeholders at the annual
TRAFFIC TRAGEDIES While most tra c crashes did not result in injuries, thousands of Texans died
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Grissom Road widening Contractors have begun a project to widen Grissom Road in League City between Abigail Lane and West NASA Road from two to four lanes. The westbound lanes will be built rst, followed by the eastbound lanes. As part of the project, street drainage will be improved, and contractors will install a new 12-inch water line from the city’s north booster station to West NASA Road. Timeline: April 2022-April 2023 Cost: $8.53 million Funding source: city of League City
or faced serious injuries on the roads in 2021. Reported vehicle crashes in Texas in 2021
Noninjuries
1.07M
137.4K Possible injuries 100.4K Unknown injuries
“WE MUST DO BETTER FOR OURSELVES, OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR LARGER COMMUNITY OF TEXANS.” LAURA RYAN, TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER
82.5K Suspected minor injuries 19.4K Suspected serious injuries
UPCOMING PROJECTS
4.5K Fatalities
HOBBS RD.
SOURCE: TEXAS PEACE OFFICER’S CRASH REPORTS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Texas Transportation Forum in February about coronavirus-related pressures that have had a negative impact on Texas roadways. “We have to remind people that they are part of a community,” Markman said. “We have to start considering everyone as part of our community. If we don’t do that, there are going to be all sorts of negative consequences, and those are going to include negative consequences on the road.” The release provided information on initiatives TxDOT is researching and studying before implementing to aid in roadway safety. Some of the initiatives include tra c safety cam- paigns and law enforcement funding grants as well as proven life-saving
Over 20 years of Dedication. Integrity. Passion. Service. Consistency. Whether you are buying or selling, we look forward to assisting you with every step of the process. roadway designs. TxDOT is also reviewing crash data to identify areas where drivers are more likely to crash and will use its ndings to focus improvement initiatives on those areas and share the data with the driving population. O cials within the agency believe the implementation of the above ini- tiatives and focusing on engineering and enforcement will greatly reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “But make no mistake: This is an urgent call to action for all of us behind the wheel,” Ryan said. “We can do bet- ter. We should do better. We must do better—for ourselves, our loved ones and our larger community of Texans. Not a single death on our roadways is acceptable. Let’s end this streak.”
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF APRIL 25. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT BAYNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Hobbs Road extension to FM 517 Hobbs Road will be extended to the south to connect with FM 517. The new road will be about 1,880 feet long and four lanes wide, though League City will construct only the two south- bound lanes. Timeline: fall 2023-TBD Cost: $3.93 million Funding source: city of League City
Kimberly Harding, Broker/Owner 281-554-7653 Kimberly@KimberlyHarding.com
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
SPACE 50 years later, Johnson Space Center scientists open lunar soil sample
BY JAKE MAGEE
Scientists at the Johnson Space Cen- ter in late March opened a 50-year-old lunar soil sample they hope will teach them more about the moon and Earth ahead of NASA’s upcoming return to the moon. During the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, astronauts Eugene Cernan and Har- rison “Jack” Schmitt collected lunar soil from a landslide near the landing site of Apollo 17. The 70-centimeter canister had two halves: a sealed portion and an unsealed portion, Apollo Sample Curator Ryan Zeigler told Community Impact Newspaper . Scientists opened the unsealed half—sample 73002—in 2019, but they hope to learn a lot more with the recent opening the sealed half, sample 73001, Zeigler said. “This is a huge milestone for us and a milestone for the Apollo program as a whole,” Zeigler said. “It’s really about the earliest history of the solar system.” For one, the vacuum-sealed sample still contains gases collected on the moon. These gases, collected from a foot or more below the lunar surface, will tell scientists about the primordial history of the moon, he said. Because the moon is not very active—it has no atmosphere or weather—all geological evidence still exists, making the moon a “museum of planetary history,” Deputy Apollo Sample Curator Juliane Gross said. This is unlike Earth, which is active and recycles its geological evidence, she said. Because the moon is essentially frozen in time, it also acts as an archive for its own history and Earth’s, and
The Apollo 17 sample 73001 processing team stands in front of the newly opened sample at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The team includes (from left) Charis Krysher, Andrea Mosie, Juliane Gross and Ryan Zeigler.
Scientists extracted lunar soil sample 73001 the week of March 21.
PHOTOS COURTESY ROBERT MARKOWITZ, NASA
we want to go to the south pole,” Gross said. The sample is being opened now because technology has advanced enough to give scientists greater tools to understand the samples, Zeigler said. NASA scientists in the ’70s had the foresight to get vacuum-sealed samples and put them away for future scientists because they knew technol- ogy would evolve, Gross said. A lot of preparation went into opening the sealed sample because while Apollo-era scientists had the wisdom to collect sealed samples, they did not gure out a way to open the seals. It was up to today’s scientists to nd the best way to open the samples in a safe way without contaminating them, Zeigler said. Scientists spent a lot of time practicing and took extensive scans of the sample at The University of Texas using X-ray CT technology before opening it. “We had to be patient,” Zeigler said.
this recently opened sealed sample is part of that history, Gross said. “All we have to do is learn how to read this archive,” she said. Additionally, the sample will help scientists prepare for astronauts’ return to the moon during the Artemis missions. Astronauts will land at the moon’s south pole, which has some areas that have never been touched by the sun. Astronauts, therefore, may discover ice, and sample 73001 could help scientists understand what kind of ice may form on the south pole, Gross said. Understanding what is in potentially discovered ice will help scientists know if it would be safe to drink or even convert into rocket fuel, Zeigler said. NASA’s plan is have astronauts live in a space station orbiting the moon, traveling to and from the lunar surface, and rocket fuel astronauts could make would help achieve that goal. “That’s one of the exciting reasons
“IT’S REALLY ABOUT THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.” RYAN ZEIGLER, APOLLO SAMPLE CURATOR AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, ON WHAT SCIENTISTS HOPE TO LEARN IN A RECENTLY OPENED SAMPLE OF LUNAR SOIL
Scientists in the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at the Johnson Space Center have opened three samples since the Apollo Next Generation Sample Anal- ysis Program began in 2019. They still have three more samples to open but did not reveal a time frame for when those will open, only that it will be more than another three years before they are all open. “It won’t be another 50 years before we open another sample,” Zeigler said.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Clear Creek ISD
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS CLEAR CREEK ISD In the May 7 election, Jessica Cejka won the race for Clear Creek ISD trustee Position 1 by 41 votes, according to unofficial final election results from CCISD’s election website. As of May 8, all votes had been collected. Cejka received 1,260 votes, or 50.83% of the votes. Opponent Misty Dawson received 1,219 votes, or 49.17% of the votes. For the Clear Creek ISD at- large trustee Position B, incumbent Scott Bowen won the race, according to unofficial final election results from CCISD. Bowen received 4,477 votes, or 48.41% of the votes. Opponent Kyrsten Garcia received 3,357 votes, or 36.6% of the votes, and Carl Nunn received 1,339 votes, or 14.6% of the votes. Clear Creek ISD does not participate in runoff elections; instead, the candidate with the most votes wins. Results are unofficial until canvassed. Clear Creek ISD board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. May 23 for a regular meeting and at 4:30 p.m. June 13 for a board workshop at the Education Support Center, 2425 E. Main St., League City. Watch online at www.ccisd.net/boardmeeting. MEETINGS WE COVER
Clear Creek ISD approves 2 new contracts for bond projects CLEAR CREEK ISD Two over bud- get projects included in the district’s 2017 bond have been approved and awarded to a contractor. BY SIERRA ROZEN Construction begins Ross Elementary School and Whitcomb Elementary School are both a part of Clear Creek ISD’s 2017 bond. Ross Elementary School Whitcomb Elementary School
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Ross Elementary School, located at 2401 W. Main St. in League City, and Whitcomb Elementary School, located at 900 Reseda Drive in Houston, were the projects brought before the board of trustees at the April 26 meeting. Both projects are expected to be completed by August 2023, accord- ing to the district’s bond website, and are going through various additions and renovations. With the $487 million bond origi- nally being passed in 2017, inflation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruption, increased prices for goods and increasing labor costs have all affected the construc- tion costs on these projects, according to district officials. According to March data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index for tools,
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SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
hardware, outdoor equipment and supplies rose 11.2% from April 2021 to April 2022. The consumer price index is defined as the average change in prices that consumers pay for products. Almost $4 million was requested to be paid from the capital projects fund for Ross Elementary, and about $1 million was requested for the Whit- comb Elementary project. Whitcomb Elementary also had the added
funding need from a 2021 water main break that caused additional damage, according to agenda documents. Both project contracts were awarded to Spring-based construction company ICI Construction with construction starting immediately fol- lowing the meeting. Ross Elementary is set to cost a total of $21 million with the added funds, while Whitcomb Elementary will cost $25 million with the added funds.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
CITY & COUNTY
News from League City, Nassau Bay & Galveston County
COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE
League City City Council will meet at 6 p.m. May 24 and June 14 at League City Council Chambers, 200 W. Walker St., League City. Meetings are streamed at www.facebook.com/ leaguecitytexas. MEETINGS WE COVER area, according to a League City news release. Several leaders of Bay Area communities expressed their condolences and how Clark was a champion for the county. manager position was vacated after City Council on Nov. 22 authorized a mutually agreed-upon separation between the city and former City Manager Jason Reynolds due to “philosophical di erences,” according to a Nov. 23 statement from the city. Nassau Bay police Chief Tim Cromie has been acting as interim city manager in the meantime. GALVESTON COUNTY Ken Clark, Galveston County Precinct 4 commissioner, died May 8 after a stint in the hospital due to health issues. He was 58 years old. Clark had been Precinct 4’s commissioner since 1998. He had served as chair of the NUMBER TO KNOW new faces will join Nassau Bay City Council after the May 7 election. Council Member Phil Johnson will move from being a council member to mayor. 3 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS NASSAU BAY On April 11, Nassau Bay City Council hired Paul McLarty as city manager. His rst day will be June 1. McLarty worked for nearly 19 years for Clear Creek ISD and was most recently CCISD’s deputy superintendent of business and support services. McLarty was one of 36 applicants, and City Council selected him unanimously, according to the city. The Nassau Bay city Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council, which helps direct millions of dollars in grant funding to transportation projects across the Greater Houston
League City City Council postpones vote on pigs as pets LEAGUE CITY The debate about pigs as pets will go a little longer. On May 10, League City City Council voted to postpone a decision on whether to allow residents to keep pigs as pets. On April 26, City Council passed the rst reading of an ordinance update to allow residents to keep pigs as pets. It requires the approval of a second reading to go into e ect. Under the ordinance, pigs would have to be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and registered with the city. Additionally, there would be no size restrictions for the pigs, meaning residents could keep pigs that grow to hundreds of pounds in their homes. Pigs would also have to remain collared and stay indoors except for exercise or elimination of waste. Outdoor areas where pigs go would have to be cleaned daily, according to the ordinance. Several residents spoke in oppo- sition to allowing pigs as pets, citing concerns about pigs’ noise, size, aggression and other issues. One resi- dent May 10 expressed doubt the city would be able to enforce the ordinance to have residents register their pigs because so many cats and dogs are not registered with the city. Council Member Justin Hicks made the motion to postpone, noting he believes there needs to be more restrictions on pigs allowed as pets, particularly on their allowed size. Police Chief Gary Ratli sent council members a letter outlining concerns with the ordinance, Council Member
Local elections result in winners, runo NASSAU BAY Elections for various Nassau Bay government positions resulted in di erent outcomes. Phil Johnson has won his bid for Nassau Bay mayor in the May 7 election. Johnson, who serves as the Position 2 Nassau Bay City Council member, faced Mark Denman, who formerly served as Nassau Bay mayor. Johnson received 577 votes, or 56.5% of the total votes. Denman secured 444, or 43.5% of the total. Incumbent Bob Warters did not run. Three Nassau Bay City Council positions were up for election as well. For Position 2, Lucie Johannes Som- mer won with 506 votes, or 50.7% of the total votes. Bob Wilkinson got 368 votes, or 36.7%, and Michelle Micheli gathered 53 votes, or 12.5%. For Position 4, James Abbey and John P. Mahon will head to a runo . Abbey got 454 votes, or 45.6% of the total votes. Mahon got 414 votes, or 41.6% of the total. Charles Pulliam got 55 votes, or 11.5% of the total. For Position 6, Michelle Weller won with 518 votes, or 52.1% of the total votes, and incumbent Matt Prior got 477 votes, or 47.9%. All election results are uno cial until canvassed.
PIG RULES
While subject to change, the ordinance to allow pigs as pets would have the following rules in place.
Pigs must be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and registered with the city.
Pigs must be collared.
Residents can own a maximum of four pigs.
SOURCE: CITY OF LEAGUE CITY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Pigs must be kept indoors except for exercise or the elimination of waste.
Larry Millican said. His concerns were not discussed at the meet- ing, but Ratli did discover other cities that allow pigs as pets do have several restrictions in place, Mayor Pat Hallisey said. Council Member Nick Long said he is not opposed to size restric- tions on pigs. In addition, he said the ordinance should not require pigs to be registered with the city when residents do not need to register their guns. Council Member Hank Dugie said he agrees with removing the ordinance clearly state it does not trump homeowners association restrictions or deed restrictions that may prevent residents from keeping pigs as pets in certain neighborhoods. registration requirement. Long also requested the The vote to postpone the mat- ter passed 5-3. It will be brought before council after changes are made to the proposed ordinance.
Mayoral election results
Phil Johnson 56.5% 577 votes
Mark Denman 43.5% 444 votes
SOURCE: NASSAU BAY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2022
DINING FEATURE Merlion Thai Restaurant & Lounge Seabrook restaurant makes locals feel at home M erlion Thai, a Thai restau- rant with an American twist, dedicates itself to making Seabrook locals feel like they
BY CYNTHIA ZELAYA
bar and barn doors, each handle inscribed with room names or inside phrases. He also built a lot of the tables, proudly pointing to a pair that depicted a lion for himself and a mermaid for his wife. Merlion Thai, which serves Thai dishes with an American twist along with locally caught seafood, has been a staple of Seabrook for decades, and the Villanuevas do their best to make guests and employees alike feel at home. They put an emphasis on special occasions, treating guests to champagne, rose petals and bundt cakes on their birthdays. “Adulting is hard,” Brooke said. “You’re allowed to have your time out, to have a good time and enjoy yourself. That’s what’s important, especially after COVID.” When COVID-19 shut the world down, the sta at Merlion Thai was fearful for their jobs, Brooke said. But she assured them they would have steady work and income. Through hard work and rearrangements, Merlion thrived, growing from 22 employees to 40. Today, Brooke said she loves her employees, her business and the work she does. “Eighty percent of your life is work. And if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, why are you going to be miser- able for 80% of it?” she said. “I enjoy talking to people and doing things [at Merlion]. It lls my heart. That’s the important thing.”
Shrimp Pangang ($26) comes with avocados or bamboo shoots. THREE DISHES TO TRY 1
are in a home away from home. The restaurant operated long before the current owner, Brooke Vil- lanueva, came upon it. Originally Bay Thai in 1990, the eatery thrived under chef Gil Lobeck. His son, Andrew Lobeck, took over in 2005, reopening the restaurant at a di erent location. Although of Thai descent, Andrew renamed the restaurant after a Mer- lion, a mythical Singaporean beast, to impress a sweetheart from Singapore. Although the relationship did not last, the name stuck around. In 2008, Hurricane Ike destroyed Merlion. Brooke, looking to transition from a career in television, decided to take up the Merlion mantle. “I had a good friend that used to work for chef Andrew’s dad,” Brooke said. “I used to help her out on the weekends just for fun. After Ike, they lost everything, so my husband and I reopened the restaurant. It’s been in Seabrook for 32 years.” She rebuilt a couple doors from the old location, and Andrew followed her to the current address. Brooke said she and her husband, Ray Villanueva, poured their hearts and souls into the new building. Brooke decorated the rooms in cerulean, iron and white, matching the feel of Seabrook. Her husband built the light-up
PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA ZELAYA COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Seafood Gapro ($26) features sautéed onions and garlic in an oyster-based sauce.
Ahi Tuna Raad Prick ($40) comes covered in red curry sauce.
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Brooke Villanueva has owned Merlion Thai since 2008.
Merlion Thai has outdoor seating with a view of Galveston Bay.
Merlion Thai Restaurant & Lounge 1205 Main St., Seabrook 281-385-9975 www.merlionrestaurant.com Hours: Sun., Tue.-Thu. 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5-11 p.m.; closed Mon.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
PEOPLE
BY JAKE MAGEE
Phillips enjoys carving animals, such as this dog being hugged by a child.
Jimmy Phillips uses chainsaws at his Clear Lake home to carve wood and dead trees into works of art. This piece will become a stack of cat sh topped by a heron.
Phillips used a dead bush to create “Disorganized Thoughts.”
PHOTOS BY JAKE MAGEE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Jimmy Phillips Clear Lake wood sculptor A fter 30 years as a salesper- son, Clear Lake resident Jimmy Phillips began his art career around 2005 while chopping down a tree in his front yard.
One of Phillips’ recent carvings is displayed in front of Helen Hall Library.
THE CARVING PROCESS Clear Lake artist Jimmy Phillips takes days to weeks to carve a tree into a large sculpture.
allowing him by 2013 to quit his job to be a full-time artist. In his Clear Lake home, he creates smaller pieces, which are then sold or displayed in Galveston’s René Wiley Gallery. “You gotta have something to sell, and you don’t sell everything you make, obviously,” Philips said, ges- turing toward the dozens of carvings displayed in his home. One of Phillips’ most recent clients is League City. League Park was home to two diseased, century-old oak trees that were cut down in March. Phillips has since carved two chunks of the trees into a child reading with a dog, which is dis- played outside Helen Hall Library, and a re ghter, which is standing in Hometown Heroes Park. Phillips will carve a third piece that will also be displayed at the park. The public will decide what that
carving will be. A fourth carving of a train conductor will be displayed at League Park, Phillips said. Such large carvings allow Phillips to make a living o his art. “I’m just so fortunate,” he said. “The planet is awash with talented people, and it’s hard to make a living.” While some artists do not like the idea of spectators watching them work, Phillips said he thrives on it. He called the admiration of strangers his “mojo.” “It’s important that there are people who are out there that can a ord to buy things that have no use because that’s where all the beauty comes from in the world,” he said. “It’s where all the smiles come from.” When asked what his favorite
Phillips draws several ideas for the carving.
As he cut away the wood with his chainsaw, Phillips, who had always imagined himself as an artist since learning to draw from his mother, carved out a sculpture. From there, Phillips began making simple carvings that he displayed in a Galveston art gallery. Some of them even sold, he said. Hurricane Ike destroyed the gallery in 2008, but the storm brought a new opportunity: Commissioned by the city of Galveston, Phillips began carving art out of some of the trees that were knocked down in the hurricane, he said. Phillips’ art took o with opportu- nities to carve trees across the state,
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Phillips makes a small 3D model out of clay of what he wants the carving to be. Phillips spray paints ideas from his drawing and model onto the wood he will carve. Phillips uses chainsaws to carve away the wood until only his vision remains.
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Inshore Sculpture jdp@inshoresculpture.com www.inshoresculpture.com
carving is, Phillips smiled. “The next one,” he said.
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2022
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