Author: Rita Snow

October 1, 2026 in Neighborhood News

Good morning. It’s Friday, September 25, and Houston’s neighborhood parks are getting a $60 million lift. Don’t miss how Lawrence Park in the Heights will add a shaded, disability-inclusive playground and new trail connections as the city begins upgrades across 25 parks.

Today’s Highlight

CenterPoint Energy was selected for a $50 million U.S. Department of Energy award to install advanced substation technology intended to stabilize the Greater Houston grid and add capacity as demand climbs. The utility calls the work Project TALON, planned for its King Substation in northeastern Harris County and targeted for completion by late 2029. The award, part of the DOE’s SPARK program, remains subject to final negotiations. CenterPoint will fund the rest of the $176 million project and estimates any eventual customer rate impact at less than 50 cents a year.

Quick Hits

01	Garnet Coleman, the Houston Democrat who represented House District 147 for three decades, died of natural causes Wednesday at 65. He helped establish Texas Children’s Medicaid and CHIP and authored the Sandra Bland Act before retiring in 2022.
02	CenterPoint’s delivery charge rose to 6.41 cents per kilowatt-hour this month, a 28% jump from March that adds roughly $14 to an average bill. The increase hits even fixed-rate customers because those plans lock the supply price, not the utility’s separate delivery line item.
03	The Astros beat the Athletics 7-5 in West Sacramento to stay tied with Texas atop the AL West with three games left. Rookie Lucas Spence hit three home runs, and Houston holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, giving the club control of its postseason fate.
04	METRO’s Community Connector will begin charging $1.25 per ride Monday after operating free during its pilot phase. The on-demand shuttle serves five central Houston areas from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and the fare will include free transfers as the agency integrates the program into its wider transit system.
05	Lawrence Park in the Heights broke ground Thursday as the first of 25 neighborhood parks in Let’s Play Houston, a roughly $60 million public-private push led by Mayor John Whitmire’s office and the Houston Parks Board. The site at 725 Lawrence St. will get a shaded, disability-inclusive playground and trail connections, with work slated to finish in January 2027.

What’s Coming Up

	Trill Burgers opens its fourth Houston-area location today at 7616 Westheimer Road, west of the Galleria. The Bun B-cofounded chain’s first late-night spot runs 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with drive-thru service extending to 3 a.m. on weekends starting in October.
	The Mid-Autumn Festival falls today, and Houston bakeries are stocked with mooncakes in classic lotus and red bean alongside ube-mochi and savory Vietnamese varieties. Sellers include Kin Cafe, King Bakery and Memorial Bakery, where the rich, palm-sized pastries are meant to be shared.

Interesting…

Hotel Daphne became Houston’s only new 2026 MICHELIN Key recipient, joining four returning honorees. The 49-room Heights retreat, which opened last December, earned the distinction MICHELIN reserves for a very special stay, giving the neighborhood’s newest boutique stay a place on the global hotel guide.

September 25, 2026 in Neighborhood News

MAIL DELIVERY UPDATE

Yesterday, my mailbox was finally full of mail. I received 11 envelopes, most of which contained bills that should have been delivered weeks ago.

Thankfully, I had already taken care of those bills, so I did not have to worry about being charged late fees.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who followed through and filed an official complaint regarding our Park Place Post Office on Galveston Road. Your willingness to speak up and follow through is important, and I truly appreciate it.

However, I still have some serious questions.

Where was all of this mail being held, and why was it not delivered when it should have been? It is difficult to understand how mail that was weeks overdue suddenly appeared in our mailboxes.

I also want to know what steps the Post Office is taking to address the carriers who had residents’ mail in their possession but did not deliver it.

Residents should not have to wonder whether their mail will be delivered on time or whether important bills and other correspondence are sitting somewhere for weeks. We appreciate finally receiving our mail, but receiving it weeks late does not resolve the underlying problem.

We need to know what caused this situation and what is being done to prevent it from happening again.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to file complaints and bring attention to this issue. Our voices matter when we work together.

September 22, 2026 in Neighborhood News

Monday’s Highlights

🌞 GOOD MORNING, OAK MEADOWS!

Today is Monday, September 21, and there is a lot happening around Houston and Harris County. Here are some of the stories making news:

🏡 HARRIS COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES

Harris County Commissioners Court approved its FY2027 budget and related tax measures. The County’s official budget documents are available for residents to review.

🥊 HOUSTON’S JOSHUA VAN

Houston’s Joshua Van successfully defended his UFC flyweight championship against former champion Alexandre Pantoja. Van, who was born in Myanmar and moved to Houston at age 12, continues to make his hometown proud.

⚾ HOUSTON ASTROS

The Astros are entering the final stretch of the regular season with six games remaining. Their playoff position remains dependent on how they finish and on results elsewhere in the American League.

🏠 HOUSTON HOME REPAIR PROGRAM

Houston’s Home Repair Program has stopped accepting applications after available funding was exhausted. Additional federal funding is expected later in October.

🏈 HOUSTON TEXANS

The Texans are 0–2 following a 20–6 loss to Cincinnati. C.J. Stroud passed for 353 yards, but Houston was unable to score a touchdown.

⚖️ TEXAS PRIMARY ELECTIONS

A federal judge has temporarily paused a lawsuit involving Texas’ current primary-election system while the Legislature considers possible changes.

🤝 HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Commissioners Court has given initial approval for $3 million in local funding for programs addressing behavioral-health crisis response, gun-violence intervention and domestic-violence services.

🎭 WHAT’S COMING UP

Houston has plenty happening, including “Come From Away” at The Gordy, Hispanic Heritage Month and Fiestas Patrias celebrations, and many other community events.

Want to know more?
Visit the Oak Meadows Civic Club website for more local and Houston-area news and information.

👉 Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay involved in your community!

— Oak Meadows Civic Club

September 22, 2026 in Neighborhood News

Area News Updates

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, September 22.

State politics leads the day, but there’s a big local bet worth marking first: Eli Lilly broke ground on a $6.5 billion Houston campus in Generation Park that will manufacture its pill-form weight-loss drug and add more than 600 permanent jobs.

Today’s Highlight

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas to halt all new data-center permits, directing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue none until grid operator ERCOT finishes an audit of the projects’ effects on electricity and water. No state agency will advance related approvals until regulators gather the information they need. The move escalates a summer of pressure on an industry Abbott says must “pay their own way,” after ERCOT reported more than 474 gigawatts of interconnection requests, roughly 90% tied to data centers. TCEQ must report on compliance by October 19.

Quick Hits

01	Eli Lilly broke ground on a 236-acre, $6.5 billion manufacturing campus in northeast Houston’s Generation Park, where it will produce the active ingredient for its synthetic oral GLP-1 drug. The site is expected to add more than 600 permanent jobs and about 4,000 construction jobs, with a workforce-training tie to San Jacinto College.
02	Texas is the only state the CDC classifies as having “very high” COVID-19 community activity, based on wastewater surveillance as of September 16. Statewide infections are actually declining, though 38 monitoring sites still detect elevated virus levels after a summer driven by the SW.2 and XFG.1.1 strains.
03	A federal judge refused to block a land swap giving SpaceX more than 700 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, ruling opponents had not shown imminent harm. SpaceX would surrender 683 acres it owns for parcels nearer its launchpad, though environmental and tribal groups vowed to continue their lawsuit.
04	Catholic Charities broke ground on a Family Opportunity Center in Houston’s Eastex-Jensen neighborhood, a six-acre site anchored by a market-style food pantry. The center will consolidate rental assistance, job-search help, financial education and mental-health counseling so families no longer travel to multiple locations.
05	Houston Restaurant Weeks drew more diners in its 2026 run, which could push donations past the $1.65 million the campaign raised for the Houston Food Bank last year. The 38-day prix-fixe promotion has generated more than $23 million and 70 million meals since 2003.

What’s Coming Up

	The Houston Pumpkin Festival runs at Discovery Green through November 8, transforming Lindsey Waterside Landing with pumpkin displays, a new carousel and a Mary Poppins Experience. Admission is $18 on weekdays and $28 on weekends, with rides and boats included and children 3 and younger free.
	Southeast Texas stays hot and humid through midweek, with highs in the mid-90s and triple-digit heat indices before a weak front eases humidity Thursday. Forecasters also flagged today as an Ozone Action Day, so air quality may turn unhealthy for sensitive groups.

September 16, 2026 in Neighborhood News

NON Delivery of US MAIL

NOTICE TO AXILDA, LOPER & MAROBY RESIDENTS

I want to make everyone who lives on Axilda, Loper, and Maroby aware that this morning I filed my second official complaint regarding the continued non-delivery of mail service at the Park Place Post Office.

We are supposed to receive mail six days a week, yet that has not been happening consistently. Lately, many of us are receiving mail only two or three days a week.

Yesterday, for example, we had approximately an hour of rain showers, and my guess is that mail was not delivered because of the weather. However, this has become an ongoing issue, and weather cannot continue to be the explanation for inconsistent service.

Another problem is that when you try to contact the Park Place Post Office by telephone, no one answers. The phone simply rings and rings.

In the past, have also spoken with the manager, Ms. Buckley, about the problem. Unfortunately, even after discussing the issue, the service improves for only a short time before we are once again receiving mail only two or three days a week.

I will continue to document these problems and will continue making complaints through the proper postal authorities until we receive the level of service that our community is supposed to receive.

If you live on Axilda, Loper, or Maroby and are experiencing the same problem, I encourage you to document your missed delivery days and file your own complaint. The more residents who report the problem, the stronger our case will be that this is an ongoing service issue affecting our neighborhood.

I will keep everyone informed as I receive additional information.

If you want to complain:

How to Resolve Issues with USPS in Houston

Primary Contact: Call the main Houston Consumer Affairs number at 713-226-3442.

National Customer Care: Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) for general tracking, delivery service questions, or initial complaints.

File Online: Submit a service request or complaint electronically through the official USPS Help Page.

Mail Theft or Fraud: Report issues to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.

Our informed delivery sends us emails of what we should receive, yet no delivery ever happens.

REPORT REPORT REPORT

September 16, 2026 in Neighborhood News

Civic Club

Good Morning Oak Meadows Residents!

It’s that time of year again! We would like to remind everyone that it is time to renew your Oak Meadows Civic Club membership dues.

The annual membership fee is $25 per husband and wife. Your membership helps support the work of the Civic Club and gives us a stronger voice when we work with our City officials, schools, law enforcement, and other organizations on behalf of Oak Meadows.

At our August meeting, Port Houston was our featured guest. They provided residents with a booklet highlighting the results of our meetings and discussions earlier this year. The booklet included many of the ideas and concerns that Oak Meadows residents brought forward. It was a great reminder that when residents participate, their voices are heard.

Just look at Oak Meadows Park and the improvements that have been made throughout the years. The park has become a wonderful place for our families to gather and enjoy community events. Our Easter event earlier this year was a great example, with many families coming out to enjoy the park. Even Council Member Flickinger was impressed when he saw how great the park looked and how many families were enjoying the event.

These improvements and community activities do not happen by themselves. They are made possible through the involvement of our Civic Club officers, volunteers, residents, sponsors, and City partners.

However, we also need to hear from you.

Earlier this month, we posted a Nextdoor poll asking whether residents were interested in participating in National Night Out on October 6th. Unfortunately, the response was very small. We understand that everyone is busy, and we also realize that the types of activities residents want may change over time.

So, what would YOU like to see?

We would love to hear your suggestions for future events at Oak Meadows Park. Whether it’s a family activity, movie night, children’s event, community gathering, or something completely different, please let us know what interests you.

The Civic Club is here to serve the Oak Meadows community, but we need your participation and ideas to make that happen.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Oak Meadows Civic Club and help make our neighborhood a great place to live!

Oak Meadows Civic Club

September 14, 2026 in Neighborhood News

TPC FLARING

Posted On – 9/14/2026 2:59:00 PM – Update 2
This is TPC Group Houston Operations, located at 8600 Park Place Boulevard. Today is Monday, September 9/14 at approximately 2:51:48 PM. This is a courtesy message to notify our neighbors that there is unusual flaring and black smoke at the facility due to a power outage at the plant. We do not expect any impact to our employees, industrial or community neighbors, as we work to resolve the issue safely and quickly. We apologize for any inconvenience this incident may have caused. Should you have any concerns or questions, please contact Sara Cronin at 713.502.0656.

Posted On – 9/14/2026 2:58:00 PM – Initial Report
This is TPC Group Houston Operations, located at 8600 Park Place Boulevard. Today is Monday, September 9/14 at approximately 2:51:48 PM. This is a courtesy message to notify our neighbors that there is unusual flaring and black smoke at the facility due to a power outage at the plant. We do not expect any impact to our employees, industrial or community neighbors, as we work to resolve the issue safely and quickly. We apologize for any inconvenience this incident may have caused. Should you have any concerns or questions, please contact Sara Cronin at 713.502.0656.

Publicado el: 14/09/2026 a las 2:59:00 p. m. – Actualización 2

Les habla TPC Group Houston Operations, ubicado en 8600 Park Place Boulevard. Hoy es lunes, 14 de septiembre, y son aproximadamente las 2:51:48 p. m. Este es un mensaje de cortesía para informar a nuestros vecinos que se está produciendo una quema en antorcha inusual y emisión de humo negro en las instalaciones debido a un corte de energía en la planta. No prevemos ningún impacto para nuestros empleados ni para los vecinos industriales o de la comunidad, mientras trabajamos para resolver el problema de manera segura y rápida. Pedimos disculpas por cualquier inconveniente que este incidente haya podido causar. Si tiene alguna inquietud o pregunta, por favor comuníquese con Sara Cronin al 713.502.0656.

Publicado el: 14/09/2026 a las 2:58:00 p. m. – Informe inicial

September 11, 2026 in Neighborhood News

Upcoming Townhall Meeting with CM Fred Flickinger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 11, 2026

Contact: Dustin Hodges (832) 393-3008 districte@houstontx.gov

Council Member Fred Flickinger to Host Town Hall Meetings in September & October

HOUSTON – Council Member Fred Flickinger would like to make District E residents aware that we will be hosting three town hall meetings across District E. The doors will open at 5:00 p.m., with informational booths from various City departments available to answer your questions. The main program will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Town Hall Meetings:

Southeast

Tuesday, October 20

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

St. Augustine Catholic Church

5560 Laurel Creek Way

Houston, Texas 77017

Presentations will be presented by:

Houston Public Works
Houston Police Department
Houston Fire Department
Solid Waste Management Department
Houston Airport System
Department of Neighborhoods
TIRZ 10/Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (Kingwood)
Coastal Water Authority (Kingwood)

Residents will have the opportunity to submit questions, which will be read aloud during the Town Hall. Your feedback is a vital part of the discussion and plays a key role in shaping the future of our community. Council Member Flickinger encourages all residents to actively participate. Your questions, concerns, and ideas are invaluable in guiding the decisions that impact our neighborhoods and quality of life.

September 10, 2026 in Neighborhood News

Police Activity

HPD Proactive Services in Oak Meadows and Meadowcreek

I am proud to share with Oak Meadows residents a report regarding the proactive police services being provided by the Houston Police Department (HPD) in and around Oak Meadows and Meadowcreek.

HPD Activity — July 2026 through September 9, 2026

From July 2026 through September 9, 2026, the 40’s and 50’s Beats, including the areas in and around Oak Meadows, have reported:

800+ calls for service
80+ charges filed
20+ warrants filed
80+ arrests made

These numbers have not yet been officially vetted or certified by HPD’s Data Governance Division. However, they provide an indication of the continuous work being performed by the men and women assigned to the 40’s and 50’s Beats.

What Residents Can Expect

In the near future, residents should expect to see more HPD visibility and activity throughout our community.

This may include officers and specialized HPD teams operating in both marked police units and undercover vehicles, depending on the nature of the assignment.

We appreciate the continued efforts of the men and women of HPD who are working to help keep Oak Meadows and Meadowcreek safe.