Apricot Lane Boutique will open in Kingwood Town Center on Feb. 26, owner and operator Katie Woodard confirmed via email Jan. 5.

What they offer: The boutique will offer women's apparel, accessories and gifts, while boasting personalized service, Woodard said. 

Quote of note: "As a locally owned boutique, we are passionate about supporting our neighbors, giving back and creating a go-to destination for women of all ages to discover new styles, connect and feel truly seen and celebrated," Woodard said via email.

Check it out: A ribbon cutting will be held on March 13 at 11:30 a.m. followed by a grand opening weekend with food, drinks and giveaways March 13-15.

• Opening Feb. 26
• 6 N. Main St., Kingwood

Check out what's happening in the Lake Houston area this weekend, Jan. 9-11.

Median Madness: Join the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and representatives from District E for a community cleanup event in Kingwood. Volunteers will help remove trash and trim underbrush along Kingwood Drive near Kingwood High School. Volunteers are advised to bring water, gloves and closed-toe shoes. All ages are welcome, but attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m.-noon
• Free
• Kingwood Drive median across the street from Kingwood High School, 2701 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood

• Jan. 11, 3-5 p.m.
• $45-$50 (admission)
• 611 Higgins St., Humble

Lone Star College has named Rigoberto J. Rincones Gomez as the next vice chancellor of academic affairs, the college announced in a Jan. 6 news release.

The gist: Rincones will begin Feb. 9 to provide strategic leadership for all academic functions and ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility across the college system. The new vice chancellor joins Lone Star College System from New Mexico State University’s Doña Ana Community College, where he also served as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer, according to the release.

Notable quote: “Rincones is a seasoned academic leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing academic innovation, strengthening student learning and supporting institutional effectiveness across community colleges and universities nationwide,” Seelpa Keshvala, LSCS executive vice chancellor of academics, said. "We look forward to working with Dr. Rincones as we continue offering high-quality academic and workforce programs.”

Harris County commissioners will meet Jan. 8 with more than 300 agenda items spanning from county operations and security regarding the upcoming election cycle to possible postponements with the Ben Taub Hospital expansion in the Texas Medical Center.

What you need to know: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth has several items related to overseeing the upcoming March, May and November elections. One item by the county clerk includes establishing an interlocal agreement with the city of Houston Police Department as part of an Election Security Task Force. 

At the polls: Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey seeks a discussion on the county's compliance with Senate Bill 1933, which allows the secretary of state’s office to oversee Harris County elections if an election complaint is filed.

Growing challenges: One of Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis's agenda items calls for the postponement of the Harris Health community engagement report regarding the Ben Taub Hospital expansion, adding another delay with the Texas Medical Center project. Commissioners voted unanimously last October to postpone the Dec. 11 public hearing.

Texas charter system Harmony Public Schools launched a new virtual learning platform on Jan. 5 that allows students across the state to take high school courses online.

The overview: The Harmony Online Learning program includes dozens of courses aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, all of which are self-paced, according to a news release.

More details: Students can choose from dozens of courses in core subjects, electives, Advanced Placement and Career and Technical Education, according to the program’s website. The offerings aim to help students complete credit recovery, get ahead with their requirements and access courses not available at their home campus. Credit earned through Harmony may be applied toward high school graduation requirements depending on local district policies, per the release.

One more thing: Interested families can enroll online, and spring courses begin Jan. 12, per the release. The cost of tuition per course is $325, a spokesperson from Harmony Public Schools told Community Impact.