Interfaith of The Woodlands announced the individuals and organizations that will be named 2026 Hometown Heroes, an award established by the nonprofit in 1999.

According to a news release from Interfaith, the designation celebrates those who exemplify "leadership, compassion and a commitment to making The Woodlands a better place."

What you need to know: The 2026 Hometown Heroes are:

• Jim Carman
• Laran Cone
• Elvira Graham and Lonny Soza
• Michelle Little
• John Powers
• In the Pink of Health
• Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

According to a Nov. 5 press release, the team behind The Refuge Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar has opened Haven Event Venue. The venue offers full service catering from The Refuge and customizable packages.

The details: Per the release, Haven Event Venue hosts private events and is open for bookings ahead of the holiday season. Owned by Autumn Sipes and Mark Zientek and designed in partnership with The Woodlands Style House, Haven was created to meet the growing demand for an upscale event space.

Quote of note: “Haven was created for the moments people never forget,” Zientek said. “It’s about bringing people together in an environment that’s both elevated and authentic.”

• Opened Oct. 22
• 8510 Creekside Forest Drive, Ste. E-100, The Woodlands

Montgomery County Commissioners Court is set to meet Nov. 18 to discuss the county’s mental health treatment facility, a historical courthouse master plan and the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.

What you need to know: The court will consider approving $117,500 for Precinct 1 for the expansion of the Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment Facility.

The facility, which broke ground Aug. 18, is aimed at increasing care access for justice-involved individuals experiencing mental health crises. With the expansion, the facility’s capacity will double, Community Impact previously reported.

Also on the agenda: Commissioners are also slated to consider and approve an access authorization agreement between the county and Mustang Express Pipeline.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration on Nov. 17 lifted a flight reduction emergency order for 40 airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.

What's happening: The FAA safety team indicated a steady decline in staff-trigger events in air traffic control facilities, such as delays and cancellations, and recommended that normal operations resume across the national airspace system, according to a Nov. 17 news release from the administration. 

According to previous Community Impact reporting, "high impact airports" such as IAH and HOU were ordered early November to cut flights by 10% in response to air traffic controller shortages due to the federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12. Federal employees, including air traffic controllers and some pilots, were not paid during this time.

One more detail: The FAA reported eight staffing triggers—an alert of insufficient staffing at an air control facility—Nov. 15 and only one on Nov. 16 compared to a record-high of 81 on Nov. 8, according to the release. 

Junior high and high school students in Tomball ISD will have the option to take new classes in the 2026-27 school year, including Mariachi I and II, Scientific Research and Design, and Musical Theater, after trustees approved changes to the district’s course catalog during their Nov. 11 meeting.

The gist: Chief Academic Officer Michael Webb presented the changes to the school board during the Nov. 10 workshop meeting, which includes 17 new courses and three course removals.

Also of note: In response to a question from board Secretary John McStravick, Webb said the district does not have grants in place to help students pay for any course fees but that TISD would work to make sure any student could still take a course.

Stay tuned: The new courses will be added to the junior high and high school course catalogs for the 2026-27 school year.

• Nov. 25, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Free
• Lindale Church, 503 Reid St., Houston

• Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Free
• Salem Community Center, 22601 Lutheran Church Road, Tomball

• Nov. 27, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 12100 Champion Forest Drive, Houston