At the Houston Police Department’s Westside Command station, the Explorers program for residents ages 14 through 21 is making an even stronger difference in the community, especially as some of its members move up to become police officers, members of the military or college students majoring in related studies. The program, which receives funding from [...]
The fast-growing Chow Down in Chinatown-Houston group on Facebook hosted an unofficial fund-raising event recently to keep doing what it’s been doing since it came to life during the COVID-19 pandemic: promote local Asian-owned restaurants. Volunteers gathered at the Shanghai restaurant, 9116 Bellaire Blvd. in Diho Square, to sell Chow Down in Chinatown-Houston T-shirts. Proceeds will go [...]
One of the two sophisticated early childhood centers that the Alief Independent School District opened for this school year includes an International Management District experience room. Reflecting the colorful ethnic diversity of the district and the Alief area, the space includes mural-like images of a Mexican market and a Mexican folkloric dancer; a Chinese dragon, [...]
If they have access to shows on Netflix, residents of Alief and anyone else with connections to the area will get a chance to see the neighborhood reflected in a huge — and sometimes comical — way starting Wednesday, Aug. 24. The date marks the video streaming debut of a sort-of biographical comedy series called [...]
Students starting the new school year will soon begin receiving grades on their various assignments. At the same time, parents and other community members are able to see if their local schools and campuses are making the grade in a fresh update to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rating system of all public school districts. [...]
In spring 2021, Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner promoted Commander Yasar Bashir to be one of his eight assistant chiefs. Bashir oversees patrol operations in southwest and northwest Houston, including the International District, and the department’s citywide mental health unit. He is the first Muslim to ascend to the rank of HPD assistant chief. We [...]
Plant It Forward Farms has long been known for selling weekly boxes of fresh and flavorful local produce farmed by refugees through its Farm Share program. Now you can add more color and sweet smells to your “farm share" in the form of bright and beautiful bouquets of flowers grown and picked at a local [...]
Alief playground and south facade The long-awaited Alief Neighborhood Center is nearing completion, as a team of design professionals, construction workers and City of Houston staff work to finalize the one-of-a-kind project at Alief Community Park. The new public facility at 11903 Bellaire Blvd. will include three soccer fields, tennis courts, football fields, [...]
Two hours before closing time, the pork and salted egg yolk sausages that Katy Truong and Steve Ong make on site were sold out for the day. Customer demand for the unusual product was validation that the young married couple’s ambitious business plan is working. Not yet 30 years old, they launched their Houston Sausage [...]
Thuy Nguyen behind shielded counter A steady stream of customers flowed through the Duc Huong storefront one recent day between lunch and dinner time, picking out traditional Vietnamese prepared meat products and other take-home delicacies made in-house. But compared to what happens in the two weeks before the Asian Lunar New Year, the [...]
