This article was originally published in The Leader’s sister paper, the Fort Bend Star.
The Houston region’s economy will continue to fare well as national fears of a recession recede and the rate of inflation continues to lower to an expected 2 percent of GDP, the target set by the Federal Reserve, by the end of 2025, the Greater Houston Partnership’s chief economist told a
group of business and government leaders last week. Patrick Jankowski was the featured speaker at the partnership’s annual “Houston Region Economic Outlook” event, held December 12 in a filled-to-capacity ballroom at the Royal Sonesta hotel in the Uptown area. The partnership serves as the region’s main chamber of commerce. In his trademark folksy style, peppered with “dad joke” humor, Jankowski painted a largely upbeat if not necessarily rosy picture of the area’s economic prospects in 2025. It
was a somewhat bittersweet affair for Jankowski, who is retiring soon after 41 years with the partnership. Jankowski told the audience of business and governmental leaders he expects the Houston region to add 71,200 jobs in 2025, finishing the year with 3.5 million payroll jobs, a record for the region. Almost all sectors of the economy will add jobs, he said, with the strongest sectors being health care, construction, professional and technical services, government, and restaurants and bars. Information services, which includes
By MATEO AGUIRRE Guest Contributor
Editor’s
Note: Heights High School
Senior Mateo Aguirre wrote this editorial piece in honor of popular algebra teacher and counselor Hossain Mazharian, who recently retired after more than 40 years of serving the students at Heights High School.
After an extraordinary 43 years of dedication, Hossain Mazharian is bidding farewell to Heights High School.
Whether it was in the math classroom demystifying the meaning of a coefficient or in his office lending a compassionate ear, Mr. Mazharian, affectionately known as “Mr. Maz,” has left an indelible mark on the hearts of more than 25,000 students. His presence at Heights High wasn’t just impactful; it was foundational. To students, faculty, and staff alike, he wasn’t just an educator or a counselor—he was an integral part of the community. His influence transcended the academic realm because of one
simple but profound reason: he cared deeply.
After 17 years of teaching mathematics, Mr. Mazharian transitioned to counseling, a decision driven by his desire to connect with students on a more personal level. “I realized I didn’t have enough time to listen to the students,” he once explained. It
By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
In a groundbreaking collaboration, NASA has partnered with Scouting America’s Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC), which also serves the Greater Heights/Garden Oaks/Oak Forest areas, to launch a first-of-its-kind STEM initiative. This partnership aims to equip high school students with critical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills
through immersive, hands-on experiences and leadership training. This historic agreement, formalized through a Space Act Agreement, marks the first collaboration between NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (NASA OSTEM) and Scouting America. It offers Scouts exclusive access to premier STEM programs while aligning with NASA’s mission to inspire and prepare the next generation of space explorers and innovators.
was this commitment to understanding and supporting students beyond the classroom that set him apart. Whether they were struggling with complex equations or life’s uncertainties, Mr. Mazharian approached every challenge with unwavering patience,
Empowering the Next Generation
Marvin Smith, Scout Executive/ CEO of SHAC, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership:
“We are honored to establish this opportunity with NASA which will provide out-of-this-world experiences for our Scouts and volunteers to access preeminent STEM programs,” he said.
“This agreement will inspire young minds through hands-on activities and captivating simulations that bring the
print and broadcast media, will continue to be on shaky ground in 2025, largely due to technological changes. Jankowski noted that in the just-over four decades that he has served with the GHP, the Houston region’s economy has undergone a many changes, beginning with the oil bust of the early 1980s that contributed to a banking crisis, to one that is much more diversified and driven less by the oil-and-gas sector. During that time, he said, the
By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
This holiday season, The Heritage Society invites Houstonians to step back in time and experience the rich history of Freedom’s Eve with a special edition of their renowned “From Plantation to Emancipation” tour. This unique 90-minute experience, led by a re-enactor, offers a compelling journey through the stories of African Americans from enslavement to liberation.
The special Watch Night tour, also known as Freedom’s Eve Tour, will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 10 a.m. at Sam Houston Park, 1100 Bagby Street.
Celebrating Freedom’s Eve
The tour commemorates the historic night of Dec. 31, 1862, when enslaved African Americans gathered in anticipation of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on Jan. 1, 1863. This moment, known as Freedom’s Eve, marked a turning point in history and a time of jubilation and relief as freedom was declared.
“Watch Night services continue today, with churches in Houston and across the United States opening their doors on December 31 for reflection, renewal, and communal prayer as the New Year approaches,” explained Alison Bell, executive director of The Heritage Society.
A Living History
The tour takes visitors through three houses on the grounds of Sam Houston Park, each with a unique connection to the African American experience and
universe to life. As we relaunch and rebrand under a new name, it is the perfect time to establish this partnership with NASA.”
The collaboration focuses on shared goals, including:
• Promoting the value of STEM to educational and public audiences.
• Increasing student and educator participation in STEM fields.
• Preparing tomorrow’s workforce
Hossain
The Health Museum
The Health Museum, an interactive health science museum located in the Houston Museum District, has recently acquired, and installed “The Reading Brain” as part of the organization’s Healing Arts Initiative to demonstrate the intersections of art and science.
The installation was created by Sarah Sudhoff, a CubanAmerican artist and advocate based in Houston whose work has been exhibited locally and nationally in museums, galleries, and arts centers, and developed in collaboration with Dr. Guinevere Eden, Director of the Center for the Study of Learning at Georgetown University.
"The Reading Brain” displays a vibrantly colored, playful organic brain-like structure, which generates a real-time, changing visualization of brain activity produced by dyslexic children reading.
Sudhoff created “The Reading Brain” through a residency with the DoSeum in San Antonio as a response to Beautiful Minds: Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage Exhibit, allowing families to
be immersed in the inner workings of the reading brain through a multi-sensory, data driven installation. She collaborated with doctors to collect data and make the final piece research based. As a mother with a son who is dyslexic, likes sculptures and the color red, she took these personal likings into the final design.
“Even though your brain works differently, it still lights up and is beautiful to watch, a wonderful machine you have. It just means you have to navigate and pivot a little differently,” Sudhoff said.
The new exhibit bridges the gap between scientific understanding and artistic expression, offering visitors an immersive experience to understand the human experience, highlighting the intersection of art, science, and education. The installation has become a permanent feature of the museum during MindWorks, which brings mental processes like decision-making, memory, and emotions to life through colorful, playful and fun hands-on exhibits. MindWorks will close at The Health Museum on January 5, 2025.
for careers in STEM.
• Expanding access to STEM opportunities for underrepresented and underserved students.
Bridging the Gap
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8.8% growth in STEM jobs by 2028, outpacing non-STEM fields. This partnership aims to address that demand by providing Scouts with realworld learning opportunities designed to enhance critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Through its outreach, NASA OSTEM will deliver unique programs that give Scouts an in-depth understanding of the aerospace industry, while engaging them in NASA’s broader mission and vision. From interactive simulations to hands-on activities, the initiative will bring STEM education to life for Scouts at SHAC’s premier facility, Camp Strake, and beyond.
A Shared Commitment
This collaboration comes at a pivotal moment as the Boy Scouts of America prepares to rebrand as Scouting America on February 8, 2025.
The name change reflects the organization’s dedication to inclusivity and its mission to welcome all youth and families into the Scouting experience.
This agreement reportedly aligns with NASA’s strategic objectives of attracting and
national and regional economy has seen four recessions, and the Houston region has been affected by 16 major weather-related events.
“I’m blessed that I’ve had a career working in a market that has grown considerably,” he said. In 1981, Houston was home to 14 Fortune 500 companies. While the majority of those companies are either nonexistent or no longer on the list, today the region is home to more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies.
“Companies may come and go, but we have grown significantly over that time,” Jankowski said.
Jankowski went on to outline many of those changes over the decades, showing how the area’s population has become much more diverse, which he said contributes greatly to the its’s economic success.
One of the main changes the region has seen is the diminishment of the “upstream” side of the oil-andgas sector as a driver of the economy, and of jobs, while the “downstream” side involving the manufacture of products derived from those commodities had grown considerably, he said. While the sector still provides “a very solid base” for the regional economy, he said, it is not as fundamental to the economy as it was in the 1980s and into the 1990s.
developing a talented and diverse workforce while building the next generation of explorers.
As this partnership takes
flight, it promises to inspire young minds, foster a love of STEM, and shape the future of exploration—one Scout at a time.
a recession, Houston at some point will follow.” But Jankowski said he doesn’t expect the U.S. economy to see a recession in 2025 or for several more years, based on its current strength.
But Jankowski, emphasizing that he was speaking as an economist, said that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump has proposed some changes that could significantly alter the outlook.
ly would not result in a huge surge of drilling activity in the United States, he said.
Jankowski also discussed Trump’s stated plan of imposing widespread tariffs, including on some of the country’s most important trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, as well as on China, seen as America’s greatest economic competitor.
As the national and regional economies have become more integrated into global trade, Jankowski said, the more the Houston region’s economy has been tied to how well trade is going. Even so, he said, the Houston area has generally outpaced the national average and many of its metropolitan peers outside of specific events like the “fracking bust” between 2015-2017.
In 2025, the Houston area’s prospects will largely follow that of the national economy, Jankowski said. “If the U.S. economy grows, Houston will grow,” he said. “If the national economy slips into
Trump’s announced plans to open up domestic production of oil and gas will depend on many market forces, primarily the price per barrel of petroleum, a global commodity. The “break-even” price for a barrel of oil, is now somewhere in the mid60s of U.S. dollars. But lately, the price has been slipping somewhat, he said.
Another factor is that in recent years, the OPEC cartel led by Saudi Arabia has kept a lot of capacity off the market, raising concerns that there soon could be a glut of oil as OPEC attempts to regain market share that would drive down prices even more, Jankowski said. So even if the Trump administration goes forward with its “drill, baby, drill” agenda, that like-
He said Trump is using tariffs as a “big stick” in the form of limiting access by those countries and others to the lucrative U.S. market if they don’t agree to do things in line with Trump’s policy goals like reducing illegal immigration to the U.S. Jankowski noted that excluding China, the other economies of the world added together do not equal the size of the American economy.
“One of my concerns is that if we start imposing tariffs, other countries will do the same,” he said, referencing the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930, a piece of tariff legislation which was meant to protect U.S. industry during the onset of the Great Depression but had the overall effect of damping U.S. exports and prolonging that devastating economic crisis.
This is particularly concerning for the Houston area since a great many jobs in the region are tied to exports, Jankowski said. Likewise, he said, attempts by the Trump administration to significantly curtail immigration, including legal immigration, could negatively impact the Houston regional economy, especially since a great large proportion of the population and workforce are foreign-born.
Pausing a moment to emphasize that he was speaking on behalf of himself and not the GHP, Jankowksi said that Americans have a right to expect that the country’s borders are secure. “But we also need to recognize that immigrants do play a role in the economy,” he said. Jankowski said that on balance, he expects that the country will be “better off” economically in 2025, in part due to a “surge in business confidence” since Trump’s election in November and the expectation that his policies will be more business-friendly than those of the outgoing Biden Administration. Find the partnership’s full 2025 Houston Region Economic Outlook at houston.org.
Photo by Ken Fountain
Patrick Jankowski, chief economist for the Greater Houston Partnership, told attendees of an economic outlook event last week that the region will add 71,200 jobs in 2025.
Submitted photo
Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America and NASA recently signed a Space Act Agreement to form collaborative STEM programs for Scouts.
LEADING CANCER CARE
At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, our dedicated oncologists are working to stop cancer using the latest innovations in research, treatments and technology. From genetic screenings and clinical trials to advanced imaging and robotic surgery, our cutting-edge cancer care is available at eight locations across Greater Houston. Houston Methodist Hospital is ranked #1 in patient care in Texas by U.S.
& World Report. That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.
The year 2024 was a leap year, giving us an extra day so we could sleep in on Feb. 29 and throw in the Olympics, too. Last week we looked at 2024, and found it wanting. Still, we had some good times. We saw a presidential election and there was no storming of the Capitol, and those who did storm will soon be pardoned to re-join their Klansmen. I wouldn’t mind those knuckledraggers except they wear brass knuckles. We have al ready discussed our hurricane and derecho, so let’s move on.
Lynn Ashby Columnist
THE TOPICS.
In astute business news, billionaire Tilman Fertitta bought a nearly 14-acre development between Uptown and River Oaks reportedly for $450 million. The seller bought the center for $550 million in 2016. You want fries with that? Fertitta’s Mastro’s Steakhouse is offering a nearly four-pound A5 Japanese wagyu long bone-in ribeye for $1,000.
Your tax dollars at work: It cost $100,000 to install medians on Houston Avenue in December a year ago. After assuming office in January, Mayor John Whitmire ordered the street returned to its previous condition. More than two weeks following the start of work, officials put the cost of reconstruction: around
Mayor Whitmire tweeted: “Wonderful. Sure looks like a nerd”. The post was later deleted.
Elsewhere in Texas, Kyle Field at Texas A&M was packed with 107,019 screaming fans. No, it wasn’t for an Aggie football game (they didn’t make the playoffs –again). It was George Strait, who set a new U.S. attendance record for a ticketed concert when he had 110,905 people. Porn star and presidential friend Stormy Daniels said she applied to both LSU and Texas A&M University and received a full scholarship to Aggieland. She would have studied veterinary medicine and wanted to be a veterinarian. An advisory council meet-
ing by Zoom of parents and Fort Worth ISD board members to recommend a sex education curriculum was interrupted by the Zoom showing porn. A new flood strategy, ordered by legislation after Hurricane Harvey, dealt with flood zones caused by climate change. The first draft of the plan from the Texas Water Development Board, a 267page report that drew on input from 15 volunteer-led regional groups, did not use the phrase “climate change.” Texas teachers outspend their counterparts from all 50 states, spending on average $1,396 per year on school supplies for their classrooms compared to the nationwide average of $915.
The New York Times: “Everything is bigger in Texas, so the saying goes. It’s no wonder then that the toast that bears the state’s name has an outsize following across the United States. It’s one of many Lone Star State foods, like chicken fried steak, queso and chili, that have become American staples.” The Kau Ba restaurant in Houston received the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award. Unfortunately, the restaurant had been closed for weeks. Michelin Guide no longer lists it. Marty Yates, a calf roper
from Stephenville was stuck in traffic with his wife on the South Loop while pulling his horse trailer, on his way to the semi-finals at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. So Yates got on his horse and rode to the rodeo. He won $3,000.
In recent years – 2021 to 2023 – more immigrants have come in than ever before in our nation’s history: about 2.1 million a year. About 60 percent are here illegally. Why should you care? Because Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border barriers and troops have cost Texas taxpayers $11 billion so far. But incoming President Donald Trump says the feds may start paying for the operations. I guess that promised check from Mexico bounced.
The U.S. House was to vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for failing to seal our southern border. The vote would be 215 to 214 to impeach him. Suddenly entered Houston’s own Rep. Al Green, 76, in hospital scrubs and in a wheelchair. Green had been in the emergency room that day for an abdominal surgery, and Republicans believed he wouldn’t make the vote. Green voted against
the impeachment, making the tally 215 to 215. No impeachment. A week later the GOPers got the needed vote, but it was a dramatic scene anyway. Houston U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Republican, allegedly spent $74,000 in campaign funds at the Post Oak Hotel and its spiffy Oak Room between April 2022 and January 2024. Hunt said it was his campaign headquarters. An investigation is underway. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio cozied up to his colleagues with this observation: “It’s my absolute honor to be in Congress, but I serve with some real scumbags.”
This brings us to Sen. Ted Cruz He proposed a bill amendment that would allow members of Congress, federal judges and Cabinet members to receive a security escort and private screenings at airports. Some family members and staffers would also be eligible. Hmm. Now why would he want to do that? Maybe because Cruz was famously photographed leaving Houston for Cancún during the 2021 winter storm. His proposal failed. Sen. Cruz discovered who to blame for the slaying of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The alleged shooter, an Ivy League grad, “sub-
scribed to anti-capitalist and climate-change causes, according to law enforcement.” But Cruz is an Ivy Leagueeducated elite himself, holding degrees from both Princeton and Harvard. He also tweeted a shot at California state Sen. Scott Wiener, accusing the Democrat of being “thrown out of Congress for sending naked pictures of himself.” Except there’s a problem: Cruz apparently confused his target with former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who left Congress after reportedly sending obscene pics to women on social media. And finally, Cruz tweeted a graphic with kittens that said, “Please vote for Trump so Haitian immigrants don’t eat us.” There are two immigrants I’d like to deport: Elon Musk and Ted Cruz. Ashby likes 2025 at ashby2@ comcast.net Editor’s note: This
and its
Harris County Public Health releases substance use report
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The report analyzes trends in substanceinvolved outcomes in Harris County Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has released a new report highlighting a significant increase in substance-involved deaths and healthcare visits between 2018 and 2022. During this period, substance-related deaths rose by 74.9%, from 673 deaths in 2018 to 1,177 in 2022, with
Harris County reporting consistently higher rates than the Texas average. The report identifies fentanyl, followed by cocaine and methamphetamine, as the most frequently involved substances in these cases. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing public health action to address substance use in the community.
Key Findings:
• Youth Impact: White, non-Hispanic youth experienced the highest rates of
substance-involved healthcare visits.
• Significant Increase in Black Youth Visits: Black, non-Hispanic youth saw a 217.9% increase in substanceinvolved healthcare visits.
• Adult Trends: Healthcare visits rose by 375% for Black, non-Hispanic adults and 342.7% for White, non-Hispanic adults.
With these trends in mind, HCPH has launched several initiatives aimed at addressing substance use and overdose prevention, including:
• Naloxone Training and Distribution: Expanding access to naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses.
• Substance Use Education Campaigns: Increasing community awareness and reducing stigma surrounding substance use disorders.
• Peer Recovery Support: Deploying peer recovery specialists to provide communitybased support for individuals in recovery.
HCPH’s report highlights
the disproportionate impact of substance use on vulnerable populations, including Black, non-Hispanic community members, persons experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals. Addressing these disparities is a priority for achieving equitable health outcomes.
With funding from the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant, HCPH continues to expand prevention strategies and enhance programming through its Substance Use Prevention
Program, launched in 2020. These efforts aim to improve access to care and reduce barriers for at-risk populations. Additionally, HCPH will be holding a free webinar, open to the public, in March 2025 to share the findings from the report. Sign up at bit.ly/ HCPHWebinars.
HCPH encourages collaboration among community members, healthcare providers, and policymakers to address substance use. To read the full report, visit https:// bit.ly/HCPHSU2024.
January Rose Society meeting: Sustainable Plant Bed Installation
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Using Organic and EcoFriendly Practices
January is the perfect month to build new rose beds, as well as, maintain and refresh existing beds to be ready in the Spring. We are fortunate to have Laura Neff with The Rice Organization share her knowledge of installing sustainable plant beds that promote ecological health with organic fertilizers that are safe for all plants and pollinators.
The Rice Organization is a full-service landscape company designing, installing, and maintaining beautiful residential gardens in Houston for the last 33 years. They offer a complete line of landscape, design/build, and maintenance services which include installation, hardscapes, irrigation, drainage, seasonal color, and tree care.
Laura’s presentation will cover soil selection and preparation; edging options for beds;
empathy, and a genuine interest in helping each student succeed.
His office was a testament to the countless lives he touched.
The walls, almost bursting with graduation photos, handwritten thank-you notes, and invitations, told stories of his enduring relationships with students past and present. It wasn’t just a workspace—it was a living scrapbook of the joy, triumphs, and milestones he had shared with Heights students.
For me personally, Mr. Mazharian represents a bridge between generations. While I didn’t have a lot of time with him as my counselor, my mother vividly remembers him as her freshman math teacher
FREEDOM’S EVE, from P. 1
construction of raised beds with their edging options; and eco-friendly installation practices. Laura started the business after college initially as a mobile unit hauling a tiny trailer behind her Toyota 4-Runner.
As the business grew, she was able to hire more people along with a “real” trailer and truck!
Consulting Rosarians who attend this meeting will receive one hour of continuing education credit. CRs will be required to sign a registration form at the meeting or email president@houstonrose. org prior to the meeting with their name, email address, and name of your rose society if outside HRS in order to receive credit.
This is one program that you will not want to miss. Please join us in person Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church located at 1819 Heights Blvd., Houston TX 77008; or from the comfort of your home via Zoom: Meeting ID: 824 9332 8655
Passcode: 454570
during her time at Heights, then known as Reagan High School. My mother later became senior class president, along with her classmates they invited Mr. Maz to their first class reunion because of the deep connection he always had to all students. Now, she has had the privilege to do extremely important work with him helping graduating seniors with scholarships, specifically the Reagan Golf Tournament scholarships. As Class of 2025 Historian, Mr. Maz is truly the embodiment of being a Heights Bulldog for 43 years.. Friends and classmates often share glowing stories of his kindness, humor, and wisdom. These anecdotes paint a picture of a man who didn’t just go to work each day but truly lived his passion for guiding others. If you want
the powerful stories of enslavement and eventual freedom, culminating with the liberation celebrated after Juneteenth.
“Our Black History Tours are special because they were created by our board member Martha WhitingGoddard, the great-granddaughter of Reverend Jack Yates, who was responsible for moving the house to Sam Houston Park,” Bell shared. Adding a dramatic flair to
to share your favorite story of Mr. Maz or want to wish him the best, we would love to hear from you.
Mr. Mazharian’s departure marks the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by the entire Heights High community. His legacy, however, will continue to inspire all who had the fortune to know him.
To Mr. Mazharian, thank you for your dedication, your wisdom, and your kindness. As you step into this new chapter of life, know that your Heights family will always hold you close in their hearts. We hope the feeling is mutual. Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.
From all of us: Thank you, Mr. Maz, for everything.
Mateo Aguirre
Class of 2025 Heights High School
the tour are performances by professional actress and singer Kijana Wiseman and orator Dr. Don Williams, who will bring the events of Freedom’s Eve to life for attendees.
Honoring the Past
The Heritage Society’s Watch Night tour provides a
rare opportunity to reflect on this transformative period in American history while celebrating the enduring spirit of freedom.
For ticket and tour information, visit The Heritage Society’s website at www.heritagesociety.org/elevated-tourexperience-black-history.
Screen grab from submitted video
The walls in Mr. Mazharian’s office at Heights High School were
recognitions, thank-you notes
Photo courtesy of The Heritage Society
The Heritage Society invites Houstonians to step back in time and experience the rich history of Freedom’s
renowned “From Plantation to Emancipation” tour on Dec. 31.
Kazoo
Texas vehicle inspection changes coming soon
as these cannot be recycled.
Your locations: • Memorial Park Sports Complex (parking lot), Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007; open daily, 9 a.m.6 p.m. • T.C. Jester Park, 4200 W T C Jester Blvd Houston, TX 77018; open
METRO announces New Year’s holiday schedule
REPORTS
COMMUNITY
In observance of the New Year’s holidays, METRO will operate on the following schedule: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Local bus, METRORail, METRORapid and curb2curb will operate on regular schedules. Park & Ride routes will operate on regular schedules.
METRO-operated HOV Lanes will be open.
METRO Customer Service Call Center, RideStores and Lost & Found will be open.
Wednesday, Jan. 1
Local bus, METRORail, METRORapid and curb2curb will operate on Sunday schedules. Park & Ride routes will not operate.
METRO-operated HOV Lanes will be closed.
METRO Customer Service Call Center, RideStores and Lost & Found will be closed.
METROLift
METROLift
To schedule trips for Jan. 1 - Jan. 2, you can:
• Book multi-day trips using the online trip planner(Open external link) (customer ID and password required) at https://macsweb.ridemetro.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_ source=govdelivery#/auth/signinregister • Call the automated reservation line, which
COMMUNITY REPORTS
As part of its 2025 winter storm readiness efforts, CenterPoint Energy shared the completion of key actions to prepare for the coming winter season and mitigate potential impacts of extreme cold weather events. The prewinter storm readiness actions CenterPoint is taking include: (1) inspecting and testing coldweather critical equipment; (2) submitting a formal declaration of winter preparedness to regulatory oversight agencies; and (3) coordinating emergency plans with utility partners and grid operators, including a joint training exercise with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
“Our CenterPoint Texas team is focused on working closely with our emergency partners and preparing the grid for the impact of potential winter storms and extreme cold. As part of this effort, we are taking actions that will be vital if, or when, a winter storm impacts the energy system. Our goal is to be ready
to respond to any emergency, even as we build the most resilient and reliable coastal grid in the country that can withstand extreme weather at any time of the year,” said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint Energy's Electric Business.
Critical Winter Readiness Action:
Annual Declaration of Winter Readiness
CenterPoint submitted its annual declarations of winter readiness to both ERCOT and the Railroad Commission of Texas. These declarations demonstrate that CenterPoint has completed the regulatory requirements that were adopted in 2021 to prepare electric and natural gas infrastructure for winter storms and extreme cold weather and aims to provide customers with more reliable service.
The pre-winter safety and readiness actions taken by CenterPoint include:
• Inspecting and testing critical equipment, including all 270 substations, to prepare for high demand and cold temperatures;
• Hardening electric and natural gas infrastructure across the Greater Houston area, including by installing heaters and devices to prevent ice damage or buildup;
• Maintaining freeze protection equipment and enclosures for cold-weather critical components;
• Repairing damaged or degraded thermal insulation and water-proofing materials; and
• Conducting emergency training for hundreds of operational personnel and contractors to prepare for, mitigate and respond to the impacts of severe winter weather.
Critical Winter Readiness Action:
Joint ERCOT Training Exercises
Last week, CenterPoint participated in a joint tabletop exercise with ERCOT and industry partners to prepare for potential winter weather events that cause high energy demand and create a strain on the electric grid. This exercise included a tabletop review of different scenarios and exams for participants to foster col-
laboration and coordination around winter preparedness.
The ERCOT-hosted training was one of several exercises and trainings that CenterPoint teams participate in throughout the year. These exercises help CenterPoint and other utilities across Texas to be more closely aligned and prepared to partner in response to
weather events that increase demand and strain the grid.
In the coming weeks, the company will proactively share vital safety information with customers and local partners about how they can plan ahead to prepare for extreme winter weather, including important safety tips, programs and resources that will help the Greater Houston community prepare for the risk of extreme cold weather events. For more winter preparedness information, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ ReadyForWinter.
Houston’s premiere bridal show returns for 41st biannual Bridal Extravaganza Show
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The Bridal Extravaganza Show, the largest bridal planning showcase in the U.S., will return to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston with the latest fashion, cakes, gowns, and local vendors on Saturday-Sunday, January 1112, 2025, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m.5 p.m. on Sunday. If you are going to the chapel or you’re going to get married, the Extravaganza is for you! Future brides, bridesmaids, mothers-of-the-bride, grooms, family, and wedding planners will have their pick of over 225 vendors that cater exclusively to the wedding industry. The family-friendly, funfilled show will help you and your squad get ready for your big day with cake samples, décor, flowers, multiple fashion shows, fun Instagram walls for selfies, prizes, speaker presentations on the latest bridal fashion and trends, and entertainment from Houston’s top wedding professionals.
New vendors at the show include:
• The Painted Bridal Bouquet will have their artist on hand to demonstrate how they create beautiful artwork of a bride’s bouquet as a oneof-a-kind keepsake.
• Unlikely Designs is a Houston-based bridal gown designer Watina Lee and will
launch the "The Affirmation Collection" at the show.
• Removery Tattoo Removal
• The Spirited Soiree, a mobile bartending service
• Galveston Airbrush creates custom apparel through airbrushing techniques.
• Hotel Monteleone is a four-star luxury New Orleans hotel in the French Quarter, with meeting space near Bourbon Street & the New Orleans Convention Center.
• LinenLace rents bridal fashion for the entire bridal
party, offering a sustainable alternative.
This year, there will be an added focus on destination weddings with more than ten vendors that specialize in both destination weddings and honeymoon arrangements. In addition, Bridal Party Gifts will premiere the new two-sided suede “Bride to Be” glitter sash, and LWx Custom Hats will showcase their traveling hat bar, where guests can create custom hats for all their wedding events and the hat-
TxDOT: Keep holiday parties festive, always find a sober ride
COMMUNITY REPORTS Drunk Driving Crashes Peak During the Holiday Season Thousands of Texas families are devastated by drunk driving crashes every year, and the problem gets worse during the holidays. In fact, one in four traffic deaths across the state are caused by drunk drivers, and that ratio increases to 28% during the holiday period.
When asked in a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) survey, the majority of participants who admitted to driving after drinking said they’ve most often done so after being at a friend’s house.
That’s why over the next few weeks, TxDOT is reaching people as they’re buying beverages for holiday gettogethers. TxDOT will bring its mobile interactive exhibit to Walmart stores to engage and remind shoppers about the deadly dangers of drinking and driving.
“It’s not okay to drink and drive,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “It’s not okay for a friend or family member to go through
the death of a loved one at the hands of people who are drinking and driving. It’s always possible to find a safe and sober ride home, so make it a priority any time you drink.”
Just ask the friends and family of the 126 people killed and 272 people seriously injured by drunk drivers during Thanksgiving and the holiday season last year. What’s meant to be a joyous time will never be the same for them.
Yolanda Carson of Mansfield, Texas, knows that pain all too well. She lost her 23-year-old daughter, Jade Jiles, in a 2013 drunk drivingrelated crash. Jade was rescuing a friend’s blind dog who’d run into the street when an impaired driver struck and killed them both.
“Our family continues to be devastated by Jade’s passing. She had such a bright future ahead of her. She was working two jobs to pay for college, with plans of becoming a teacher. She also had a six-month-old son named Jacob,” said Yolanda. “She’ll never get a chance to step into the classroom or watch her son grow up. All because someone made the choice of
getting behind the wheel after drinking.”
Drunk driving crashes are preventable 100% of the time. If you drink any amount of alcohol, do not get behind the wheel. Designate a sober driver, use a rideshare service or taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transit. You can also just stay where you are until you’re sober.
The “Drive Sober. No Regrets” campaign also includes PSAs on TV, radio, billboards, online and at bars, restaurants and convenience stores statewide. The campaign supports a heightened law enforcement period from Dec. 13 through Jan. 1, when more officers will be on the alert looking for drunk drivers on Texas roadways.
“Drive Sober. No Regrets” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-ofmouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.
ter will be on hand to demonstrate.
The first 100 VIP Brides also receive signature swag bags with complimentary gifts from sponsors and vendors. VIP tickets offer attendees early entry, special prizes, a $200 gift credit to SymbolizeIt photo website, the latest issue of Texas Weddings Magazine, and many additional secret surprises.
The Bridal Extravaganza Show will bring the excitement of New York City’s cho-
reographed fashion shows to Houston with fashion shows presented by Something Blue Bridal Boutique, Happily Ever After Bridal Salon, and HQT Bridal Tailoring on the runway stage. Brides will discover what they need leading up to their big day – from the garter to the getaway car to the honeymoon and everything in between for the entire wedding party.
Attendees will leave the event with a digital list of all of their favorite vendors with the
BrideScan app, which allows engaged couples to connect with wedding professionals via a QR code.
The biannual event draws marriage-bound couples from all over Texas and beyond to find invaluable resources and to register to win extraordinary prizes, such as a one-night stay in a romantic, private, Jacuzzi Suite Cabin with breakfast at 7F Lodge & Events; a weekend getaway by the Bay that includes dinner for two and a two-night stay at Houston Yacht Club; a Hydrafacial Diamond Package from Synergy Med Spa; rental of Pearl the Vintage Trailer Bar and Service for two custom cocktails for up to 75 people; a complete rental package including jacket, pant, vest, shirt, pre-tied tie, belt or suspenders plus jewelry and a pair of shoes from Generation Tux; gown cleaning and preservation from HQT Bridal Tailoring LLC; champagne flutes and a bottle of champagne from Creating Magic Vacations; Rehearsal Dinner from Majestic Oaks; and much more. Tickets are available online at https://bridalextravaganza. com/tickets/ . General admission tickets are $15 online and $25 at the door for adults, children aged 5-12 are $5, and VIP single admission is
