Check out what's going on in the New Caney and Porter area this holiday season. 

Holiday Wrapping Station: Bring gifts to the R.B. Tullis Library’s holiday wrapping station. All supplies will be provided including wrapping paper, scissors, tape, ribbon and tags.

• Dec. 1, 15 and 22, noon-2 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 21569 Hwy. 59, New Caney

• Dec. 6, 5-9 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 21680 Market Place Drive, New Caney

• Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• R.B. Tullis Library, 21569 Hwy. 59 New Caney

A new waterside three-restaurant concept called “Yard 99” is currently being designed for Valley Ranch's Entertainment District, said Greg Wattson, senior vice president of commercial development for The Signorelli Co.

The overview: Yard 99 will feature restaurants with open outdoor spaces that spill out onto the waterfront, Wattson said. Design of the concept is almost finished, and Wattson said it will be located along the pond by Valley Ranch’s Cinemark movie theatre.

The next step in bringing the project to fruition will be selecting the restaurants to operate on the site, he said.

• Opening date TBD
• Intersection of Valley Ranch Parkway and Park Lake View Drive, New Caney (exact address TBD)

With Christmas quickly approaching, here are eight organizations hosting toy drives for children that anyone can participate in. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Pearland Neighborhood Center Toy Drive: The Pearland Neighborhood Center is partnering with the Pearland Police Department for a holiday toy drive. Local businesses can contact officer Ryden Cohen to sign up to host a donation box where residents can drop off new toys for families in need.  

• Donations needed by the week of Dec. 12
• 2335 N. Texas Ave., Pearland
• Suggested donations: new, unused and unwrapped toys

Holiday Toy Store: Ronald McDonald House is collecting toy donations for babies and teens. Gifts must be new, in original packaging and unwrapped, and will be delivered to residents’ doors on Christmas morning. 

• Donations needed by Dec. 5
• 1907 Holcombe Blvd., Houston
• Suggested donations: video game systems, video game controllers, headphones, jewelry, diaper bags, teething toys, play mats

Lone Star College System will offer a new bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with an expected launch date of fall 2026 after the help of a $200,000 grant from Houston Endowment, according to an Aug. 13 news release.

The gist: The four-year degree will end in a teacher certification in elementary education, said Rebecca Saiz, LSCS executive director for the educator preparation program.

How we got here: There has been a significant rise in the number of uncertified teachers in Texas for the past five years, according to the Texas Education Agency. Saiz said LCSC hopes to help tackle the rising numbers in uncertified teachers with the new bachelor’s program.

Looking forward: The initial cohort will launch with 150 teacher candidates, pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as well as the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, per the release.

• Severe storms, tornado cause damage across northern Harris County
• New Caney ISD high schools to add 15 minutes to each school day
• Major projects in Humble and Kingwood result in increased water rates
• Waymo to launch fully autonomous driving in Houston and Dallas in coming weeks
• NRG Energy to build 455-megawatt natural gas power plant in Houston