HTX-LHK: Impact 10/30/2025

The Cove Event Venue officials said the wedding and event venue has plans to hold its grand opening on Nov. 2 from 2-5 p.m. The grand opening event will have a variety of vendors including bartenders, DJs, bands, caterers, videographers, photographers, florists, and hair and makeup artists.

What they offer: Per the website, The Cove Event venue offers a 2,295-square-foot space that accommodates a variety of event sizes and styles.

The venue also offers:

• Ample parking
• Customizable decor
• A variety of venue packages

• Opening Nov. 2
• 1210 Hamblen Road, Kingwood

After 27 years working a corporate job that no longer brought Todd Byers joy, the longtime Kingwood resident traded in his corporate career for a business that he said makes him smile every day. 

A family affair: Todd Byers, along with his wife, Christi Byers, and children Taylor Byers and JT Byers, opened Axe-Mania—an ax-throwing venue—in Kingwood in January. The entertainment center has a rustic flair with a bear as a mascot, and deer mounts and axes throughout that Todd Byers said were each handpicked with purpose.

How it works: Todd Byers said Axe-Mania offers something for everyone. At Axe-Mania, guests can throw axes using more than traditional targets. Using electronic auto registration targets with 18 games to select from, guests can throw axes while playing Tic-tac-toe, Connect Four, Candy Crush and more.

What else? In addition to its ax throwing services, the venue holds team building corporate events, birthday parties and other special occasions.

On Oct. 29, Houston City Council accepted about $1.7 million in state funding to eliminate and prevent youth and adult homelessness.

At a glance: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awarded the city $1.3 million to address homelessness and $405,000 specifically to combat youth homelessness. The funds are part of TDHCA’s fiscal year 2026 Texas Homeless Housing and Services Program and were approved under City Council’s consent agenda—which is made up of multiple items voted upon in one motion—during its regular Oct. 29 meeting.

The $1.3 million can be used for actions helping people experiencing homelessness, such as:

• Building or procuring housing
• Renovating homelessness service facilities
• Funding homelessness and case management services
• Funding emergency shelters

TDECU—Houston’s largest credit union—and Smart Financial Credit Union—one of the city’s oldest—announced plans to merge, according to an Oct. 22 news release, combining their legacies under a shared mission to strengthen communities and expand member opportunities.

Marking a milestone: Pending regulatory approval and a member vote by Smart Financial, the merger is expected to be finalized in early 2026. The combined credit union will hold nearly $6 billion in assets and serve more than 460,000 members across Texas through a network of 48 branches, per the release.

TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization, while Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski will serve as chief integration officer for one year to oversee the transition.

Also of note: TDECU’s ties with the University of Houston, Houston Texans and Buc-ee’s will join Smart Financial’s work with Smart Financial Centre and local charities through the Smart Financial Foundation.

Members of both institutions will see no immediate changes to accounts or services during the transition, according to the release.