Owned by Jared and Christi O'Farrell, J&CO Vintage Market is a marketplace dedicated to preserving history one piece at a time while keeping antiques out of landfills.

Bringing together seven local women-owned antique vendors in a small Porter storefront, J&CO Vintage Market was founded in February 2023, offering curated finds while creating space for local entrepreneurs.

Quote of note: “So many of our unique things are old things, and that's the other piece that I'm really passionate about, is to keep things out of the landfill,” Christi O'Farrell said. “Especially memorable things, like parts of our history, decor-wise, that are often overlooked.”

What's special about it? Specializing in unique home decor pieces, J&CO Vintage Market offers something for everyone, Christi O'Farrell said. Keeping in mind that not all customers have experience in antiques and home decor, Christi O'Farrell said at her market, she attempts to maintain a well-organized environment to help guide customers into items that fit their style.

On Dec. 9, the Chipotle location in Valley Ranch Town Center marked five years since opening its doors in New Caney.

Read all about it: Chipotle has locations across the U.S. and in Canada and the U.K. The restaurant serves build-your-own Mexican-inspired cuisine, such as bowls, burritos and quesadillas.

• 21360 Hwy. 59, Ste. 100, New Caney

The final steel beam has been put into place on a $470 million expansion project at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, according to a Dec. 12 news release from the Houston Airport System.

What's happening?: As previously reported by Community Impact, the expansion is set to bring seven new gates to the airport, more than doubling the number of existing gates. Other improvements include:

• An updated baggage claim system
• Additional baggage claim carousels
• Expanded dining and retail options
• Weather-protected canopies at departures

In 2025, Community Impact readers followed a mix of county decisions—from the fiscal year budget and public safety changes to debates over county facilities, road funding and new regulations. 

The details: Read on for a roundup of major Montgomery County stories from the year.

County adopts FY 2025-26 budget, sets $0.3770 tax rate
Commissioners Court approved a $508.1 million balanced budget and set the county property tax rate at $0.3770 per $100 valuation. The plan included items such as law enforcement pay parity, added staffing, IT and cybersecurity funding, and jail-related costs.

Jail overcrowding prompts officials to weigh costly long-term fixes
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office leaders told commissioners the jail was operating at 97.9% capacity—housing 1,289 inmates—and outlined options ranging from a new jail facility to acquiring an existing facility. A consultant study was expected to review costs, location and projected needs. 
 

Approximately three dozen new Texas laws are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, impacting how artificial intelligence is used in state government, when local officials can raise taxes after natural disasters and how much of businesses' inventory is taxed.

The background: The changes come after Texas’s biennial legislative session ended in early June. Gov. Greg Abbott signed over 1,100 laws passed by state lawmakers, many of which took effect in June or September.

The details: Some of the bills becoming law in the new year are:

• House Bill 9, which will expand a tax exemption for business owners
• House Bill 30, which will tighten regulations on counties' and cities' abilities to raise tax rates after natural disasters
• House Bill 149, which will regulate the fast-growing AI industry
• House Bill 247, which will exempt certain border security infrastructure from property tax increases
• House Bill 1399, which will create a property tax exemption for stores selling animal feed
• House Bill 2508, which will establish a property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of certain military members