Gold Sponsors

René Galvan was appointed the new CEO and president of the Houston Association of Realtors in February, as previously reported. Galvan succeeded Bob Hale, who retired Jan. 31. In an interview with Community Impact, Galvan discussed his background, what HAR does and the real estate market in the Greater Houston area. 

More details: Some of the questions asked by Community Impact include: 

• Broadly speaking, what does the Houston Association of Realtors do, and how do Realtors and buyers interact with HAR?
• When it comes to the housing market in the Greater Houston area, what trends are you seeing?
• What factors, economic or otherwise, do you see affecting the Houston housing market?

Body Fit Training, or BFT, is now offering its science-backed programming and training to the West University area. 

What we know: The brand was founded in Melbourne, Australia, by Cameron Falloon, a fitness trainer who previously worked with the Australian Football League. With more than 300 gyms across the globe, the brand is expanding its footprint in Houston, adding to the location already established in River Oaks.  

Read all about it: Co-owner Tom Waguespack said the gym stands out in several different ways:

• Coaching: Classes are led by certified trainers who work with members on form and technique

• Programming: Science-backed programming is designed to progress members along their journey in 10-week blocks

• Technology: Heart rate technology focuses on what the heart rate should be according to the current workout 

Waguespack, who owns the gym along with Angelica Ortiz, said BFT is for all strength and health levels.

• 2720 Bissonnet St., Houston

West University Place will conduct a citywide pedestrian safety study to review potential traffic calming measures.

What this means: On May 11, Megan Siercks, a traffic engineer with BGE who led the original study, recommended that they review pedestrian and vehicle traffic in five new locations:

• The intersection of Mercer Street and University Boulevard, and on College Street
• Around parks, schools, churches and the civic center
• 4100-4200 blocks of Bissonnet Street
• Weslayan Street to Bissonnet Street
• Buffalo Speedway to Bissonnet Street and Buffalo Speedway to West Holcombe Boulevard

Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones will host 12 free hurricane and disaster workshops to educate residents as hurricane season nears.

What’s happening: Precinct 4 officials will offer eight disaster workshops allowing residents to learn about natural and other disasters that affect the Greater Houston area, Precinct 4 officials announced in a May 13 news release.

The workshop will also offer information on emergency kits and how to navigate public and private preparedness resources.

Meanwhile, Precinct 4 officials will host four hurricane preparedness workshops offering information on emergency resources and how to navigate disaster coverage, per the release.

Attendees will also be given waterproof document bags and be instructed on how to make their own emergency kit.

Stay tuned: The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

After dozens of Texas primary races ended without a clear winner in March, candidates for those seats will face off in an overtime round, known as a runoff election, this month. Texans can vote early in the runoff election from May 18-22, with election day May 26.

How it works: State law requires that primary candidates receive more than 50% of the votes cast to advance to a general election.

In the May 26 runoff election, Republican and Democratic voters will choose who they want to represent them in statewide offices, legislative and Congressional seats, the State Board of Education and county-level positions. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the ballot in November.

On the ballot: The statewide Republican runoff races include:

• U.S. Senate: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton
• Texas attorney general: Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy
• Texas railroad commissioner: Jim Wright and Bo French

• Texas attorney general: Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski
• Texas lieutenant governor: Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Vélez