The year starts off with opportunities for ice skating at The Woodlands Town Center as well as a model train exhibit on display at The Woodlands Children's Museum. This list is not comprehensive, and events are subject to change.

Model train exhibit and Storybook Theatre: The Woodlands Children's Museum presents a miniature model train display from the All Points North Model Railroad Association, culminating with a Storybook Theatre on Jan. 9 featuring the book "Circus Train" by Jennifer Cole Hudd. 

• Jan. 9, 11 a.m.
• $9 (museum admission)
• The Woodlands Children's Museum, 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, Ste. 280, The Woodlands

• Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• $5 (cash entry)
• The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands

The new Woodlands Sky Zone facility will open this spring, according to the Sky Zone media team. The entertainment facility offers attractions featuring trampolines, slides and various course challenges, according to its website.

The background: As previously reported by Community Impact, Sky Zone, the indoor trampoline park, planned to build a 37,666-square-foot entertainment park in The Woodlands area.

What's next: Community Impact reached out to Sky Zone for further information regarding the facility's new opening date, and the business said the new date of completion for the facility is estimated to be in the spring.

• Opening this spring
• 425 Sawdust Road, Spring

Six major roadway projects are being planned, are underway or will kick off soon across the Greater Houston area.

Upcoming projects
1. Mykawa Road widening
Project: Construction on Mykawa Road will consist of roughly 3 miles of a four-lane divided boulevard with storm drainage, signals, lighting, landscaping and a 10-foot shared-use path, among other features.
Update: 90% of design submittals have been received and are being reviewed by Pearland city staff and the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT is bidding, constructing and managing the project.

• Timeline: construction slated to start in 2028 with a completion in 2030
• Cost: $21.4 million

• Timeline: Construction will begin in early 2026.
• Cost: $40,000 (design)

Fast-casual eatery Jason's Deli is celebrating its 50th anniversary by honoring the fresh food, people and communities that have defined the restaurant, officials announced in a Dec. 30 news release.

The background: The deli was founded in 1976 by Joe Tortorice Jr. in Beaumont and has since branched out to 114 Texas locations and 235 delis nationwide in 27 states, per the release.

What's new: According to the release, the eatery is celebrating its anniversary by spotlighting new soups during the National Soup Month of January, while also rolling out new items, including the Deli-Bration Cookie—a sugar cookie topped with sprinkles—and returning others.

In their own words: “Our 50th anniversary is about staying true to what’s made Jason’s Deli special since day one—thoughtfully prepared dishes, diverse selections and genuine care for the people we serve,” Clare Wilson, vice president of culinary and R&D at Jason’s Deli, said in the release. 

Texas charter system Harmony Public Schools launched a new virtual learning platform on Jan. 5 that allows students across the state to take high school courses online.

The overview: The Harmony Online Learning program includes dozens of courses aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, all of which are self-paced, according to a news release.

More details: Students can choose from dozens of courses in core subjects, electives, Advanced Placement and Career and Technical Education, according to the program’s website. The offerings aim to help students complete credit recovery, get ahead with their requirements and access courses not available at their home campus. Credit earned through Harmony may be applied toward high school graduation requirements depending on local district policies, per the release.

One more thing: Interested families can enroll online, and spring courses begin Jan. 12, per the release. The cost of tuition per course is $325, a spokesperson from Harmony Public Schools told Community Impact.