Bay Area Edition | June 2022

COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE, SIERRA ROZEN & DANIEL WEEKS

Dickey's Barbecue Pit COURTESY DICKEY'S BARBECUE PIT

Poke Chef COURTESY POKE CHEF

Axiom Space, which broke ground in May, is the Houston Spaceport’s newest tenant.

JAKE MAGEE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON On May 11, the Houston Spaceport reached a new milestone with the groundbreaking of the largest company so far to join the spaceport. Axiom Space broke ground on its new 400,000-square-foot headquarters on 22 acres at 13200 Space Center Blvd., Houston. At the facility, Axiom will manufacture the world’s rst commercial space station and train private astronauts. “This groundbreaking will pave the way to the world’s rst commercial space station,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Dan Seal, executive director of special initiatives for the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, said at a May 11 meeting that Axiom will build space station modules that will eventually latch onto the International Space Station. When the ISS is decommissioned around 2030, the Axiom modules will separate from the ISS and link up with each other to remain in orbit as a commercial space station, Seal said. In addition, Axiom made history with its own private astronauts in April. The rst all-private astronaut mission to the ISS launched April 8 and splashed down April 25.

Axiom President and CEO Michael Suredini said he moved to Houston 39 years ago to join NASA working in human spaceight, eventually becoming program manager of the ISS. During his time there, Suredini realized Houston has engineers who design spacecrafts, astronauts who go to space and mission planners who oversee operations but no manufacturing of space vehicles, he said. Surendini started Axiom Space in 2016 to ll that gap in Houston, he said. “We’re not really exploring anymore; we’re pioneering. That’s a huge, huge thing to go do,” Surendini said. The facility will bring hundreds of jobs to Clear Lake. The company employs 450 people, but that will increase to about 1,300 by next year. www.axiomspace.com

IN THE NEWS 13 Family members of J.C. League, the namesake for the city, gathered with city officials May 14 to celebrate the implementation of a bronze statue of the man and his beloved dog, Scout, in League Park , 512 2nd St., League City. Surviving family members of League at the event included his great-great-grand- daughter Nancy Dunn and great-great- grandson Waters Davis IV. League purchased the land to become League City more than 120 years ago. The event was part of League City celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. 281-554-1000. www.leaguecity.com 14 The Texas Commission on Environ- mental Quality recognized Exploration Green , 16205 Diana Lane, Houston, as a finalist for an environmental excellence award May 11. Exploration Green did not win the award, but received a certifi- cate “for taking care of Texas through outstanding efforts in environmental protection and pollution prevention,” the certificate states. The annual Gover- nor’s Texas Environmental Excellence Awards program has honored more than 250 environmental projects since 1993. www.explorationgreen.org HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake COURTESY HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE CLEAR LAKE

Little Woodrow's COURTESY SPACE COAST TEXAS

RENOVATIONS 10 Dam Fine Coffee and Fried Pies reopened their store on May 15 after they suffered a fire back in December. The cof- fee shop serves fresh coffee, and sweet and savory pies. They are located at 910 Hall Ave. in Seabrook. 832-205-6273. www.itsdamnfine.com ANNIVERSARIES 11 The Health Hut , 1701 S. Hwy. 3, League City, in May celebrated its one- year anniversary of its rebranding from Yoga Lola Studios. The business offers several services related to health and wellness, including yoga, medication, nutritional guidance, and personal and business coaching. The business also has an attached crystal store. 281-684-3168. www.thehealthut.com 12 HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake on May 13 celebrated 50 years of service. The 532-bed, full-service hospital at 500 Medical Center Blvd., Webster, has been in the Bay Area since 1972 and recently updated the exterior of its emergency department. 281-332-2511. www.hcahoustonhealthcare.com

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BAY AREA EDITION • JUNE 2022