A locally owned restaurant and bar named Hunter Road Country Club is opening this summer in New Braunfels.

What you need to know: The restaurant and bar is owned by brothers Seth and Chase Katz along with Benjie Ackerman. Chase Katz told Community Impact that the club will not require a membership. Hunter Road Country Club will have pool tables, a patio with an outdoor bar, a juke box and darts. Chase Katz also said kids will be welcome at the establishment until 7 p.m.

Quote of note: Chase Katz said they are calling it a country club, but "it ain't no country club."

“We’re a space for the community," he said. "We’re a space for the tourists and locals alike.”

• 1176 FM 306, New Braunfels

Beyond Faith Homecare has relocated in New Braunfels.

What you need to know: The business relocated from 19A Gruene Park Drive, Ste. 108, to 1067 FM 306, Ste. 308, on March 31. Beyond Faith Homecare has locations in San Antonio, Houston and West Texas.

Beyond Faith Homecare offers medication management services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and more.

• 1067 FM 306, Ste. 308, New Braunfels

The San Marcos CISD board of trustees approved a new compensation plan for the 2026-27 school year. The plan will provide a 2% increase to staff salaries while reducing the district’s monthly health insurance contribution.

What happened: At a May 18 board meeting, SMCISD staff presented the board of trustees with four options for the 2026-27 compensation plan. Each option included a different percentage raise to staff pay.

The board approved option 4, granting staff a 2% raise. The compensation plan will contribute approximately $2.07 million towards the shortfall, according to agenda documents.

Diving deeper: As a result of rising premium costs, all of the proposed plans featured a reduction in the district’s contribution to its health insurance, provided through TRS-Active Care, according to agenda documents.

The total monthly cost for the district’s employee-only primary insurance is $521. The district had an insurance contribution cap of $484 per month during the 2025-26 school year. Under the new plan, the cap will be reduced to $350 per month.

Peter Sandford, owner of Smarter Homes, brings decades of experience in Austin to the home technology industry. The West Lake Hills business was established in 2006, offering expertise on home automation systems to locals. 

In a nutshell: Sandford specializes in designing systems for lighting, motorized shades, security and more, with a focus on reliability, longevity and easy-usage, he said.

Zooming in: One of his areas of interest is smart irrigation systems, which use connected controllers, sensors and live data to automate watering schedules. The system takes into account environmental factors, including weather, soil moisture and temperature to adjust watering needs. 

“When integrated into a smart home, irrigation becomes dynamic, improving efficiency and reducing water waste,” Sandford said.

Sandford connected with Community Impact to talk about the home automation process and further details for implementing smart irrigation systems. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.