HTX-SKL: Impact 10/20/2025

Several veteran-owned businesses are serving the Spring-Klein area, offering services from essential services, such as roofing, to leisure services such as beauty and bar services.

Vanity Salon Hair & Beauty Salon
Owned by Amber Wagner, an Army veteran, Vanity Salon Hair & Beauty Salon offers an array of hair services for both men and women, including cuts, color, styling and hair extensions.

• 25901 I‑45, Ste. C, Spring

Veteran- and woman-owned business Patriot Paws Mobile Imaging is now serving Montgomery County and parts of Harris County, officials said.

Meet the owners: Owned by Porter residents Katie and Jason Blanco, who are members of the VFW and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, the business opened in May and launched as a mobile business to local veterinarians in August.

Quote of note: “We started Patriot Paws Mobile Imaging after seeing how challenging it can be for hospitals to get timely ultrasounds scheduled, sometimes waiting weeks, which can delay treatment and add unnecessary stress for both doctors and clients and their pets,” Katie Blanco said.

The details: The locally owned business offers services to the following areas:

• Cleveland
• Conroe
• Cypress
• Humble
• Magnolia
• New Caney
• Splendora
• Porter
• Spring
• Tomball
• The Woodlands

Early voting in the Nov. 4 election begins Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. During early voting, registered voters can cast ballots at any polling place within their county of residence, according to the secretary of state’s office.

What to bring: Voters must bring one of seven forms of identification to the polls:

• A Texas driver license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
• A Texas personal ID card (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas handgun license (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas election ID certificate (issued by the DPS)
• A U.S. military ID card with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. citizenship certificate with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. passport

Houston renters saw more listings in September while lease prices remained steady compared to this time last year, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ September 2025 Rental Market Update released Oct. 15.

Two-minute impact: There was a 5.3% increase in the number of single-family homes leased this September compared to the same time last year, according to the report. Surpassing last month’s record, 11,255 single-family homes were available for rent in September. 

The average lease price was $2,341 per month, which is statistically unchanged from September 2024, per the report. This marks the third month in a row where the average listing price remained flat, indicating a plateau in prices.

Quote of note: “We continue to see steady demand for single-family rentals as many people find homeownership challenging right now due to affordability issues—not just in Houston, but nationwide,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said via the report. “With so many properties on the market, renters have more choices than ever, and that’s helping them find places that fit their needs and budget."

As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, is relaunching as the InCIder this month.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

The InCIder program currently gives donors access to a special Saturday email edition across each metro: Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Memberships are currently $10 per month or $110 annually. A membership will include the previously mentioned perks, as well as:

• Quarterly discounts at local businesses 
• Invites to in-person events
• Optional naming and “thank you” in our newspaper
• Community Impact swag
• InCIder anniversary gift