Several nonprofit and community organizations in Montgomery County and The Woodlands area recently announced updates and upcoming events:

• Inspiration Ranch held its fundraising Denim and Diamonds Gala on Sept. 19.
• The Walk: The Art of Giving 2026 raised $785,000 on Aug. 22 to support Interfaith of The Woodlands.
• The Woodlands U launched a seven-session presentation this fall to educate the public on the history and governance of The Woodlands.
• The Houston Area (North) Christian College Fair is scheduled for Oct. 14.
• Montgomery County Food Bank held a virtual food drive in September and plans its Flourish and Nourish Luncheon on Oct. 22.
• The Woodlands Car Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a community event on Nov. 14.
• Lone Star College Foundation will host its 33rd annual Golf Tournament on Nov. 16.
• Love Fosters Hope announced its 2027 Night of Hope Gala will take place on March 6.

Jovi Roasters Café opened in Spring on Aug. 3, according to owners John and Violet Irias.

The gist: Located at 602 Rayford Road, Ste. B, the café offers high-quality coffee and pastries, including:

• Chocolate cake

• Alfajores

• Flan

• A variety of cookies

The establishment's food menu also lists empanadas, burritos and bagels sourced from locally owned small businesses.

The Shenandoah City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 23 to postpone a decision on granting a permit for a dual-brand Staybridge Suites and Atwell Suites hotel at 9030 Tamina Road.

Diving in deeper: If approved, the proposed extended-stay hotel will span 75,000 square feet and feature 120 rooms. David Parker, representing the applicant, noted the pending closure of a local Days Inn by Wyndham shows there is room for a new hotel. "I don't think [the proposed hotel] will have a negative impact on the existing occupancy of the good hotels that you have, and there's plenty of displacement coming from The Woodlands and Spring," Parker said.

The other side: Former Shenandoah City Council Member Ted Fletcher, who owns the adjacent Sycamore Creek Ranch memory care facility, raised concerns during public comment. Fletcher noted that Tamina Road is only two lanes wide and expressed worry that traffic from the hotel and its construction could block ambulances from reaching his facility.

Greater Houston is hosting several events this October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These events, which are subject to change, include:

• Light it up Pink on Oct. 1 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Market Street in The Woodlands, featuring a photo opportunity, a pink tote bag and a light-up baton.

• Pour for Pink on Oct. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sonoma Wine & Cheese in Katy, featuring a wine and cheese tasting and a mini market.

• In the Pink of Health Luncheon on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott to raise money for cancer prevention, education and outreach.

• Annual Breast Cancer Walkathon on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at Elizabeth Kaiser Meyer Park in Spring.

The Texas Education Agency is asking state lawmakers to spend $97.3 billion on K-12 education initiatives and staffing in the next two years, up from about $91 billion in the current state budget.

The details: During a Sept. 29 hearing on the agency's legislative appropriations request, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath noted that the TEA is "largely a pass-through vehicle to fund schools around the state of Texas." This means that while funding would be allocated to the agency under Article III of the state budget, the majority of that money would be sent to school districts, outside of funds used to pay TEA staff and cover operations for associated entities, such as the State Board of Education.

The TEA is asking for about $49.6 billion for fiscal year 2027-28 and $47.7 billion for fiscal year 2028-29, totaling $97.3 billion for the 2028-29 biennium. Morath said those amounts would "preserve 100% of all funding for public schools" through the Foundation School Program, which is the state's main funding source for K-12 schools, and other initiatives.