I hope you are all staying cool and enjoying the summer here in the Heights. Looking back at June, it was wonderful to see everyone who came out for "Pride Bingo" at the Fire Station. It is always a pleasure to share a laugh, play a few rounds, and connect with fellow residents during these summer neighborhood gatherings.
One of the things so many of us love about the Heights is that it is such a dog-loving community—it often feels like everyone here has a four-legged family
member walking the sidewalks or lounging on a front porch. That deep connection we share with our pets makes it all the more meaningful to be surrounded by such a compassionate neighborhood. On a personal note, that bingo evening became a bitter one for me when I was called away from the event to say an unexpected goodbye to our beloved dachshund, Tanner. While it was a heartbreaking night for my family, it is a comfort to live in a community that understands just how much our dogs mean to us.
As we move into July, our thoughts naturally turn to the nation’s birthday, and this year is a historic milestone. This Fourth of July, America celebrates its 250th anniversary! Marking a quarter-millennium as a nation is an incredible moment for reflection on our history, our shared values, and the strong local communities—like ours—that form the backbone of the country.
To keep the celebration and community spirit rolling, we are focusing our energy on one of my absolute favorite neighborhood traditions. Dust off your rolling pins, fire up your ovens, and get ready—the annual HHA Great American Pie Contest is officially here!
Not a Baker? We need enthusiastic taste-testers and cheerleaders, too! Come on out, grab a slice, and mingle with your neighbors.
While sweet traditions like the pie contest bring us together, maintaining the neighborhood we love requires year-round dedication and financial support. Donovan Park and Marmion Park provide safe, vibrant spaces for families and neighbors. Simultaneously, the Heights Constable Patrol Program gives all of us invaluable peace of mind, ensuring dedicated security and swift response times right here on our streets. These essentials can’t operate without the direct generosity of our members. Every dollar stays right here to protect and preserve our neighborhood. If you're a HHA Member, thank you for your continued support, your dedication to our community, and, most importantly, for being such wonderful neighbors. If you haven't joined yet, I encourage you to do so.
I look forward to seeing a fantastic crowd—and sampling some incredible pie—very soon!
Happy Summer,
Katye
Get ready for the annual Great American Pie Contest at the HHA's July General Meeting on Monday, July 13 at 6:30pm at the historic Houston Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th Street. Neighbors can enter two pies into one of four categories—Sweet, Savory, Junior Baker, or Presentation—for a chance to win top honors from our panel of judges or secure the People’s Choice award for best presentation. Whether you want to put your baking skills to the test or simply show up to cheer on your neighbors and enjoy some delicious slices, bring your appetite and community spirit to this festive neighborhood tradition.
🎭 HHA Night at the Theatre: August General Meeting
Join your neighbors for a special evening as the HHA presents "HHA Night at the Theatre" for the August General Meeting on Tuesday, August 11 at 7:30pm. Gather with the community to enjoy a wonderful night celebrating local arts and catching up on neighborhood updates. Be sure to mark your calendar for an entertaining night out in the Heights!
It's Time to Consider Opening Your Home for the 2026 Holiday Home Tour!
It may be scorching outside, but we are already dreaming of twinkling lights and holiday cheer! Planning is officially underway for this year’s Holiday Home Tour, and our wonderful Co-Chairs, Ryanne Ur and Eric Martinez, are looking for beautiful neighborhood homes to feature.
If you love decorating for the season and want to share your home's unique charm with neighbors, we would love to have you join this year's lineup!
Mark Your Calendars for the Tour Dates:
Friday, December 4: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, December 5: 3:00pm – 9:00pm
Ready to share your holiday spirit? Click the button below to send an email directly to info@houstonheights.org, get more details, or nominate a neighbor's stunning home!
Big transformations are happening around the neighborhood to improve safety and smooth out your daily commute! Thanks to direct feedback from residents, vital traffic safety upgrades are now live, including new stop signs at 12th Street and Prince/Nashua, alongside a tapered lane and a new right-turn-only lane on N. Durham at 11th Street to smooth out travel patterns. Looking long-term, the community-driven Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan is now complete and ready for review, serving as a roadmap to secure future grants and prioritize transportation projects across the area. Finally, Phase 2 of the Shepherd-Durham Reconstruction Project is hitting a major milestone—crews have wrapped up extensive underground utility work between the MKT Trail and 11th Street and are officially transitioning above ground to begin paving new roadways and pedestrian sidewalks. Please use extra caution while driving through active construction zones.
Want to play an active role in keeping our community connected and informed? The HHA is looking for neighborhood volunteers to join our Block Captain program! As a Block Captain, you’ll help distribute the information and occasional neighborhood updates directly to your local block. It’s a wonderful, simple way to meet your immediate neighbors, enjoy a stroll down your street, and give back to the community we all love.
The Heights Neighborhood Library invites the whole family to participate in the Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program! Students from Kindergarten to 12th grade can earn prizes—including registration, halfway, and completion rewards like books, Legos, and bicycles—just by reading 20 minutes a day for 30 days. Adults can join the fun too by reading 30 minutes a day for 30 days to enter raffles for a Kindle Scribe or Kindle Fire. Families can also track early literacy goals year-round using the app for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Sign up online through Beanstack today to start tracking and earning rewards all summer long!
Houston is one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and METRO is making sure you can get to every game and event without the stress of parking! Beginning June 7 through July 11, METRO will run extra service with more frequent routes connecting you directly to the Fan Fest and Houston Stadium (NRG). METRORail's Red Line links key destinations throughout the tournament, and residents are encouraged to take advantage of Park & Ride locations — park outside the loop and ride the system in to avoid heavier traffic. Houston will host seven FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches — don't miss a moment! For route maps, schedules, and everything you need to plan your ride, visit RideMETRO.org/FWC26.
Preservation Houston is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Good Brick Awards to honor the outstanding people and preservation projects safeguarding the historic character of Houston and Harris County. Since 1979, these awards have celebrated exceptional historic restorations, adaptive reuse projects, community advocates, and skilled design professionals who keep our local heritage alive. If you know of a project completed between 2022 and 2026—or a dedicated community leader deserving of recognition—nominations are open to anyone (including self-nominations) until 3:00pm on Monday, September 14. An independent jury will select the honorees, who will be celebrated at the annual Cornerstone Dinner on March 4, 2027. Need help getting started? Check out the online video workshop for helpful tips,
Join us on Tuesday, July 14, at the historic Houston Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th Street, for our next community blood drive. Help take the heat off the summer blood supply, and as a special thank you for making a lifesaving difference, all donors who give blood between July 1 and July 31 will receive a promotional $25 eGift Card to spend at popular retailers. Slots fill up quickly during this critical season, so please take a moment to visit www.giveblood.org and secure your appointment time today!
Take a walk down the 900 block of Heights Boulevard to experience "BLOOM," a compelling public sculpture by renowned artist and former Texas State University professor Roger Colombik. Influenced by his lifelong work exploring public space and communities undergoing societal transitions, Colombik designed this piece as a profound visual dialogue on resilience. The concept emerged in the aftermath of a devastating 2022 ice storm in the Texas Hill Country, transforming a fractured forest landscape into a beautiful reminder that grace and renewal can blossom in the wake of adversity. To hear the story behind the piece in the artist's own words, simply scan the QR code at the installation site or download the Otocast app for an interactive audio statement.
Congratulations to Zandra and Larry, our July Yard of the Month winners! Drawn to their home for its large, graceful side yard, they have cultivated a traditional garden haven featuring lush green lawns, rounded brick walkways, neat hedges, and beautiful sculptures. Shaded by mature Oak trees and clusters of Crape Myrtles, the landscape thrives with ferns, fire spikes, caladiums, and over 100 bromeliads. Right now, the star of the show is the gorgeous pink blooms of their Queen Lily ginger, which have been loving the recent summer rains. A special thank you to Joshua’s Native Plants & Garden Antiques for gifting this month's winners a well-deserved gift card!
Jacqueline Evans Bonnie Tibbs Martinez Jason Tolliver Peri Alkas Dianna Cervantes Duncan Gambrill Carmen Bogle Rebekah Baker Karen Easley C. Michel Feray Sophie McGreal
John Chapman Teva Kaplan Shawn Tittle William Whitfield Linda Van Vooren Vicente Santa Cruz Brian Hardin Demitri Benson Ghislaine Deschanel Jamie Castagno
Business Members
Brent Janss CPA PLLC Cooking Girl Colburn's Pest Control Service Inc. The Houston Plumbing Company Houston School Options Nourish & Flourish Jamestown Estate Homes Domain Heights
Jacqueline Evans - HHA General Donation Ana Jaramillo - HHA General Donation Christopher Frantz - HHA General Donation Rachael Cahan - HHA General Donation Andrea Lugo - HHA General Donation Sarah Abare - HHA General Donation Madeleine Haynes - HHA General Donation Samantha Rachlin - HHA General Donation Anna Phuong Macnguyen - Reimagine Donovan Park Jennifer Schmitt - Reimagine Donovan Park Leslie Kuhn - Reimagine Donovan Park Matthew Thomas - Reimagine Donovan Park Carmen Rando Bejar - Reimagine Donovan Park
Stay proactive about neighborhood safety by joining the 2026 Heights Constable Patrol Program, with subscriptions now prorated at $306. Your support directly funds dedicated security patrols and rapid response times that keep our community secure. Secure your subscription today and help maintain a safe environment for all our neighbors—click below to sign up!
Register for the 2026 Heights Constable Patrol Program
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