Pearland ISD's board of trustees is scheduled to review the district's financial accountability rating and hold a public hearing at its Oct. 13 meeting.

What you need to know: The district received an “A” rating for the 2025-26 rating year, which is based on data from the 2024-25 school year. The Texas Education Agency’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas evaluates school districts to ensure they maximize funding for instructional purposes.

Looking ahead: The board of trustees will meet at 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Virgil Gant Education Support Center, located at 1928 N. Main St., Pearland.

Refresqueria has opened its doors in Webster as of early October.

What they offer: The business offers dairy specialties, including frutti nieve, fresas con crema, sundaes, banana splits and a coconut sundae, among other items.

Other items include Chamoy specialties, snow cones, milkshakes, aguas frescas and paletas, along with snacks, including street nachos, elote and hot dogs, among other items.

📍2920 W. Bay Area Blvd., Ste. G, Webster

Woody's Hideaway is now open in Webster, according to the business's website.

What they offer: The game-centric bar offers professional-grade pool tables, golf simulators and darts, among other attractions.

On the menu: Dishes include spicy Philly spring rolls, Wagyu crunch wrap, chicken quesadillas and wings, among other foods. Cocktails include a watermelon fresca, iced mangonada, bourbon bliss double and ranch water, among others.

📍20801 Gulf Freeway, Webster

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen is celebrating 40 years in business across the Greater Houston area during the month of October, business officials confirmed.

The details: The first Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen opened its doors in 1986 on Westheimer Road in the Galleria area, per the restaurant website.

During the month of October, restaurant officials announced in a Sept. 29 news release that several new and returning menu items will be available for a limited time, including:

• Crispy Shrimp Spring Rolls: shrimp, ginger cilantro cream cheese and sweet & sour sauce

• Praline Cheesecake: creamy cheesecake layered with pecan praline crumble, topped with warm praline sauce

In their words: "For 40 years, Pappadeaux has been a place where families celebrate and friends gather to let the good times roll," Pappas Restaurants Chief Marketing Officer Christina Pappas said. "This anniversary is a celebration of our guests and the generations of team members who have made Pappadeaux the destination it is today.”

Mayday Fairs, a Porter-based nonprofit, launched in August to support local firefighters and their families who are experiencing life-altering hardship.

About the organization: Founded by Maxine Cruz and Heather Probst, the organization serves firefighters throughout Harris and Montgomery counties.

The event: The nonprofit will host its first fundraiser, the Mayday Book Fair, on Oct. 17 from 4-8 p.m. at J&Co Vintage Market in Porter. Admission is free, and the event will feature:

• Vendors, a book swap and a silent auction

• Books and book-related items for sale

• A raffle for a new Kindle

Proceeds from the silent auction and the Mayday Fair booth will directly benefit the family of local firefighter Jesse Castillo, who recently died from stage 4 lung cancer.

Ahead of Texas' 2027 legislative session, the state comptroller's office has asked lawmakers to double funding for its $1 billion education savings account program.

The overview: The program gives participating families taxpayer dollars for private education and homeschooling, and officials said at least $2 billion are needed to maintain current participation in the program.

Meanwhile, some Texas families are raising concerns about their local school districts losing money as students leave public schools to participate in the program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What they're saying: "149 students have accepted vouchers that were otherwise enrolled in Pflugerville ISD, [resulting in] an estimated loss of $1.2 million in attendance funding," said Stacy Harrell, a PfISD parent. "That lost funding will add to budget cuts that are already affecting Pflugerville ISD families. Four elementary schools [are closing], with the possibility of more."