A coalition of 76 Montrose organizations and businesses through Friends of the Boulevard is calling on the city of Houston and the Montrose TIRZ board to make safety improvements part of the reconstruction plan for West Alabama Street.

The details: According to the coalition, nearly 500 crashes occurred on West Alabama Street between 2018 and 2024, and it believes the reconstruction should use proven street-design and traffic-safety measures to reduce the risk of future crashes.

“West Alabama is a civic spine for Montrose, connecting homes, businesses, schools, parks, libraries and cultural institutions,” said Alexander Spike, a spokesperson for the coalition. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a street that works safely for everyone. These recommendations are practical improvements that can make the project safer without sacrificing mobility.”

One more thing: The 76 signatories to the letter include three Super Neighborhoods representing more than 52,000 residents, nine civic associations, four faith organizations, six nonprofits, 52 local businesses and the Menil Collection.

John and Kristy Sexton have always had an entrepreneurial spirit.

Some background: Originally from Saline, Ohio, the couple moved to Houston in 1982 when John got an accounting job and Kristy got a job at an advertising agency.

“Within a month [of starting the job], she said, ‘I can do this on my own,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s do it,’” John said.

Now, the couple will celebrate 45 years of Adcetera, a full-service digital marketing agency, in 2027.
Over the years, the agency has worked with large companies including HP Technology and Chevron.

A family affair: Adcetera is an independently owned agency, which they prefer, John said. He noted that he discovered when agencies were acquired, it ruined the culture of the company.

“Within this industry there’s been a mass consolidation of independent agencies,” he said. “You have to fight to remain independent because big holding companies use that against you.”

• 3000 Louisiana St., Houston

As fall arrives in Houston, communities across the area are celebrating the season with pumpkin patches, fall festivals and Halloween events for all ages.

Check it out: From themed movie nights to trick-or-treating, here are eight ways to enjoy the fall season around Houston.

• The Houston Pumpkin Festival runs at Discovery Green from Sept. 20-Nov. 8, featuring more than 50 pumpkins and a massive corn pit.

• A free Halloween Party at Donovan Park on Oct. 31, hosted by the Houston Heights Association.

• Boo at the District on Oct. 24, offering a free kids' Halloween movie night under the stars.

• Family events at Westminster United Methodist Church on select October dates, including a festival and trunk-or-treat.

• ArBOOretum on Oct. 17, featuring a trick-or-treat nature trail and pumpkin decorating.

This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

The Harris County Commissioners Court is scheduled to discuss several key county issues, including flood recovery projects and Flock cameras.

In a nutshell: Marcus Stuckett, the Harris County Flood Control District executive director, will provide updates on Hurricane Harvey recovery and flood mitigation projects. This discussion follows a one-year extension announced by Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for qualifying projects that were at risk of missing a February 2027 deadline.

Also on the agenda: Commissioners will receive a report on the county's use of automated license plate readers, or ALPRs. The report will cover:

• The amount of money spent on ALPRs

• The number and location of the cameras

• A summary of the technology and its use

• Which agencies have access to the data

• How other jurisdictions safeguard ALPR data

The court will also discuss data center development and operations. Harris County has 55 operating, under-construction or planned data centers, which have raised resident concerns regarding utility use, noise and grid reliability.

Texans interested in casting their midterm election ballots before Election Day can do so from Oct. 19-30, the state's early voting period.

The overview: Registered voters can visit any polling place in their county during early voting. They will receive a ballot with federal, state and local races—from the U.S. Senate and Texas governor to city and school district officials.

Dates to know

• Oct. 19: Early in-person voting begins

• Oct. 23: Deadline to apply to vote by mail

• Oct. 30: Early in-person voting ends

• Nov. 3: Election Day

Something to note: Local election officials are also working through a backlog of voter registrations after the Texas Department of Public Safety failed to send some registration records to counties, according to previous reporting. Texans who registered before the Oct. 5 deadline but do not appear on the rolls can still cast a provisional ballot, per the secretary of state.

More details: To check out candidate Q&As and review all races on local ballots, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.