HTX-LHK: Impact 10/20/2025

This year, Humble Area Assistance Ministries marked 35 years of serving those in need across Northeast Harris County and East Montgomery County, HAAM Volunteer Coordinator Taylor Guevara confirmed via email Oct. 14.

The framework: HAAM was originally founded in 1990 to address the needs expressed by local clergy representing 16 congregations to centralize community outreach efforts and avoid duplication of social services, Guevara said. Today, the nonprofit offers services within seven program areas, including:

• Basic needs
• Education
• Employment
• Senior services
• Family services
• Supportive services
• Disaster relief and recovery

Several businesses have recently opened or are coming soon in the Lake Houston area. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

The Frozen Panda Snowballs & Pops celebrated its grand opening in Humble. The business offers New Orleans-style snowballs available in more than 50 flavors as well as ice cream, Italian ice and milkshakes.

• Opened Aug. 23
• 7934 FM 1960 E., Humble

• 1271 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood

• Opened Sept. 15
• 4920 Atascocita Road, Ste. 800, Atascocita

Harris County commissioners implemented a burn ban beginning Oct. 16 for unincorporated Harris County due to what county officials are calling "ongoing dry weather and heightened fire danger."

Quote of note: "In these dry conditions, a small spark could cause a big problem for our community," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement.

The big picture: More than 150 counties across Texas are also under burn bans to reduce wildfire threats, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, including Montgomery, Fort Bend, Waller, Chambers and Liberty counties.

What you need to know: The ban will last for 90 days or until the Texas Forest Service determines drought conditions no longer exist in Harris County. The TFS measures drought conditions based on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index scale, which finds conditions between 600-800 with the potential to lead to intense, prolonged wildfires. County officials found Harris County averaging 671, according to a news release.

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

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