Clear Lake resident Russel Lavigne recalls seeing a sunken sailboat in a highly trafficked area of Clear Lake. All that remained visible of the boat was the mast towering above the water.

“On rainy days, on cloudy days, nighttime and foggy conditions, you could barely see it, and it was a highly trafficked area,” Lavigne said.

How we got here: Lavigne vented his frustrations on social media, where he learned that many others shared his concerns about abandoned boats, prompting him to call a public meeting.

“Lo and behold, 50 people showed up to the first meeting,” Lavigne said.

Eventually, that meeting transformed into an organization called Citizens Against Derelict Dumping, which later became Dead Boats Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 2024.

What's being done: Collectively, Dead Boats Society raised enough money to retrieve the sailboat for $5,000, which is half of what it normally costs, thanks to partnerships with local tow boat companies. It can cost as much as $20,000 to remove boats, depending on the type of boat, Lavigne said.

Bayou & Bay Massage relocated to Webster in mid-December, said owner Amanda Gerrish.

The clinic joined the League City Chamber of Commerce and will be hosting a ribbon cutting event on Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. at its new Webster location.

The details: In partnership with LoMonaco Wellness Group, the clinic provides physician-approved therapeutic care for acute and chronic soft tissue conditions, including neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, prenatal care and sports recovery, according to the company’s website.

• 17226 Mercury Drive, Ste. 300, Webster

The Houston Texans are setting up shop in Cypress. 

What we know: The NFL franchise is collaborating with Harris County Precincts 3 and 4 and Howard Hughes Holdings to invest $83 million into a new “Toro District” in Bridgeland, which will include new Texans headquarters and training facilities. Harris County commissioners approved the public-private partnership Feb. 12 following a closed-session meeting.

Spanning 83 acres, the mixed-use Toro District will create a destination hub of sports, entertainment, retail, dining, hotels and medical office space in Bridgeland Central, a rapidly growing 925 acres within the Cypress master-planned community.

Funding the project: Portions of the project will be funded through a newly created tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, which commissioners authorized during the Feb. 12 meeting. Harris County taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund construction of the Texans’ facilities, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. 

More details: The initiative will also allow Harris County to expand administrative services in the area, such as access to voter services, tax filing and vehicle registration, the commissioners said.   

Texans will see candidates for 18 statewide positions on the March primary ballot, including one state railroad commissioner, the state land commissioner and the state agriculture commissioner.

The overview: Despite its name, the Railroad Commission of Texas does not govern the state’s railroads. So what do railroad commissioners and the leaders of other Texas agencies do?

Community Impact compiled information about various state agencies to help inform Texans before they head to the polls for the March primary elections.

At the polls: Early voting runs from Feb. 17-27, and primary election day is March 3.