HTX-WDL: Impact 8/19/2025

There are several events going on in The Woodlands area through Sept. 22, including: 

White Linen Party
An event to benefit Children’s Books on Wheels will be held featuring a live band and auction items.

• Aug. 23, 7:30-11:30 p.m.
• $65 (ticket)
• Sleepy Hollow Multipurpose Building, 9847 Sleepy Hollow Road, Conroe

• Sept. 18-19, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 20, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 21, 2:30 p.m.
• $20-$30 (admission)
• Class Act Productions, 25275 Budde Road, Spring

Woodlands Family Institute has moved to a new location on Grogans Mill Road.

The details: Woodlands Family Institute provides counseling services for families, couples and individuals as well as addiction treatment, children’s therapy, anger management and more.

• Relocated in July
• 10200 Grogans Mill Road, Ste. 550, The Woodlands

The Woodlands Township board of directors held the first of several budget workshops Aug. 18, with additional meetings set to take place throughout the week. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20.

The details: Operating revenues for FY 2026 are projected to be approximately $175 million, an increase of $5.4 million from the previous year, Sharp said.
The largest increase in the budget comes from contracted law enforcement, Sharp said. Efforts to increase pay parity with the city of Houston contribute to a proposed increase of about $1.1 million, she said.

Other budget initiatives discussed at the meeting include about $400,000 for elevator replacements along the Woodlands Waterway and $233,750 for the Red, Hot & Blue Festival for Independence Day, most of which will go toward a drone show.

The San Jacinto River Authority board of directors on Aug. 15 announced it approved an agreement with the city of Conroe to end litigation over the SJRA Groundwater Reduction Plan initiated in 2016.

The background: The legal disputes began when Conroe in 2016 disputed increases in wholesale water rates related to the SJRA's 2019 Groundwater Reduction Plan, according to the release.

What it means: According to the SJRA news release, the settlement involves the city of Conroe paying the full amount that it was short in paying to SJRA since 2017, which has been held in escrow. Conroe also will begin paying the current rate for treated surface water from Lake Conroe as well as the groundwater pumpage fee going forward, according to the settlement.

The Michelin Guide Texas ceremony will take place Oct. 28 at the Houston Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, according to an Aug. 12 news release. Attendance is by invitation only.

What you need to know: Chefs will be invited to the ceremony to discover whether their restaurants have received a Michelin Star or another Michelin Guide distinction, according to the release.
To assess the quality of a restaurant, the inspectors apply five criteria defined by Michelin, including:

• Product quality
• Mastery of cooking techniques
• Harmony of flavors
• Personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine
• Consistency over time and across the entire menu