In a Jan. 12 meeting, the Jersey Village City Council authorized city staff to move forward with design, bidding and construction management services for improvement projects at several wastewater lift stations.

What you need to know: Council unanimously approved contracts for the projects, which are expected to cost approximately $7.72 million, with third-party contractor IDS Engineering Group, according to agenda documents.

Lift stations are a part of the sewer system that move wastewater from lower to higher points so it can reach the treatment plant. The scope of work includes infrastructure improvements at the Castlebridge Wastewater Treatment Plant and six different lift stations. 

Looking forward: City Manager Austin Bleess said Jan. 12 that the projects will likely extend into 2028 but should be completed before 2029.

One more thing: Council also called an election for May 2, which will include races for Positions 1, 4 and 5 on the Jersey Village dais, currently held by council members Drew Wasson, Connie Rossi and Jennifer McCrea, respectively. Prospective City Council candidates must file by Feb. 13. 

Asian Style Boutique and Bridal officials confirmed the boutique opened on Jan. 2 in Jersey Village.

What they offer: According to the website, Asian Style Boutique and Bridal offers Asian fashion and accessories including qipao, kimonos and ao dai as well as ready made and customer ordered outfits for brides, grooms and wedding parties with sizes ranging from petite to plus sizes

Harris County Emergency Service District 11 announced two additional 24-hour stations are now serving the Spring area in a Jan. 13 news release.

The details: As previously reported by Community Impact, HCESD 11 is a governing entity responsible for providing emergency health care to residents within the district. District first responders serve over 700,000 residents within 177 square miles of Northern Harris County. With the two new stations opening in Spring in January, HCESD 11 now has 15 stations serving the community. 

The new stations are located at:

• Station 602: 2900 Cypresswood Drive, Spring
• Station 603: 22310 Springwoods Village Parkway, Spring

From volunteer events to parades, there are several events to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Greater Houston area. 

MLK Lonestar
The Lone Star Community Center is holding an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

• Jan. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Free
• Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery

• Jan. 18, 4 p.m.
• Free
• 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands

• Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Free
• Hope Farms, 10401 Scott St., Houston

Texas health officials are proposing sweeping new regulations on the state’s hemp industry, including raising the fees required to sell and manufacture consumable hemp products by roughly 10,000%.

The overview: In late December, the Texas Department of State Health Services published a slate of proposed rules regulating consumable hemp products. The proposals include:

• A prohibition on sales to customers under 21 years old
• Stricter testing and labeling requirements
• Guidelines for product recalls
• Tens of thousands of dollars in annual fees