Houston Avenue Parkette /  by Estella Espinosa

It has taken 18 months to be fixed, But finally, the entrance sign to our neighborhood on the corner of White Oak and Houston Avenue has been repaired!

If you recall, the sign was damaged back on August 10, 2024 following an accident that propelled a vehicle into half the sign. Since then we've been waiting and asking for updates as the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority TIRZ 5 worked through the paperwork to hire a contractor to make the repairs. Our last update from TIRZ5 stated they were in the process of finding a contractor we had not heard an update that one had been selected and approved.

Then a few weeks ago board member Julie Moore noticed work was going on to repair the sign. Over the weekend workers finished repairing the damage and replacing the tiles on the sign. Now after so long the construction is completed and the entrance sign is now standing.

The Tale of "Lake Travis" /  by Michael Graves

The evening of Saturday, March 7th it rained. In fact, it rained quite a lot overnight into Sunday morning. According to our weather station we received 3.5 inches. Looking out from our front porch that Sunday morning we were met by the triumphant return of Lake Travis.

The following week was HISD’s designated March Break. Thus a lake in the middle of the school yard was not that great an inconvenience. It was hoped that in a couple of days the water would drain away. And the school yard dry out.

But that never happened. A week after the rain, Lake Travis remained it all its glory. In fact, it inspired the return of the Lake Travis Amphibian Choir, which caused something of a stir in the evenings. This also tells us that, while there are drains in the school yard, they don’t work as might be hoped.

The end of March Break approaching meant that the school yard needed to be drained. Early in the following week the soccer team would have their first practices, their first actual game in the middle of the week.

Julie Moore, WHCA Director of Deed Restrictions, is one of the coaches of the soccer team at Travis. She asked her husband Jonathan to once again see that Lake Travis was drained and dry by practice time.

Since we live right across the road from Lake Travis, they asked if we’d help by monitoring their gear as they pumped the lake dry. The process was expected to take several hours.

Jonathan setup a pair of submersible pumps around 7pm Saturday evening. They pumped the water out to the street, where it flowed to a nearby storm drain. It was already getting dark as the process got started.

Happily, our Wi-Fi reaches across the street well into the school yard. This allowed me to place a small surveillance camera nearby. It let me monitor the situation without standing there continuously for several hours. It also let me collect these picture of the work as it progressed.

Over the course of the evening, Jonathan returned several times. As the water level went down he had to move the pumps to where the most water remained. It went slowly at first, but by about 11pm Lake Travis was gone.

The following Sunday was bright and warmer. The school yard continued to dry out. By Monday, it was back to usable.

Thanks to Julie and Jonathan Moore for taking this on. There are people like them across the neighborhood who do things, things that plainly need to be done, even without being asked. They’re good neighbors. This is part of our effort to shine a light on such efforts. If you know of someone you think should be highlighted, please let us know.

Spring Has Sprung On the Houston Ave Esplanade /  by Estella Espinosa

As you turn onto Houston Avenue from North Main Street, take a moment to notice the flowers blooming on the esplanade at the Woodland Heights entrance.

These wildflowers are part of a two-year process started by the Woodland Heights Civic Association, when we adopted two esplanades from Houston Parks and Recreation Department 2024.

We started by planning to plant wildflowers on the first esplanade. The goal was to cut down on mowing, make the neighborhood entrance more welcoming, and hopefully encourage drivers to slow down as they come in.

Following the adoption, WHCA Director of Beautification Ryan Taylor working with volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 30 (also known as 3TO), one of the oldest active troops in the Sam Houston Area Council,  prepared and planted the first round of wildflowers on the northernmost esplanade.

The wildflowers bloomed in the first year, but unfortunately, a contractor accidentally mowed them down. We addressed the miscommunication, but the first round was lost. Now, in the second year, the flowers have returned! They are looking great and we're looking forward to many more years of bluebonnets and wildflowers welcoming neighbors and guests to our neighborhood during the spring and summer. 

If you are interested in supporting the continuing beautification of our Woodland Heights Neighborhood by becoming a sponsor or volunteering to help beautify our adopted esplanades and greenspaces contact Ryan Taylor at beautification@woodland-heights.org.

President's Report: Member's Meeting March 17, 2026 /  by Michael Graves

March saw us hold another WHCA Members Meeting. This one was special in several ways. It was focused on changes in traffic through the neighborhood resulting from the I-10 expansion project and the recent repair of the Houston Avenue Bridge. CM Mario Castillo and his team worked with the support of Representative Christina Morales to get teams from TxDOT and HPD to answer questions from neighbors.

For the past year we would normally meet at Zion Lutheran Church on Beauchamp Street. However, Zion recently started some renovations. As a result, they could not offer space for the crowd we anticipated. Kelli Fereday at Friends of Woodland Park helped us to secure access to the Woodland Park Community Center for this gathering. It’s a good thing that we arranged a considerable space, since over 50 neighbors turned up to get answers to their questions!

In the week or two before the meeting, WHCA gathered a series of related questions from neighbors, forwarding these to TxDOT in advance. We also took a number of written questions from attendees, and also had some live Q&A.

The various questions ad corresponding answers will be detailed elsewhere. Here a couple of highlights of what we learned at the meeting.

Taylor Street Ramps To Reopen

Arun Kumar, TxDOT Project Manager for the White Oak Bayou Project, reported that progress on the Taylor Street ramps is going well. They expect these ramps to be opened in about eight weeks!

This is really good news. It will reduce the amount of traffic between Studewood and Watson on White Oak Drive and Usener.

All Those Heavy Trucks

The unusual surge in tractor trailer traffic through the neighborhood was the result of the work to repair the Houston Avenue bridge. That project involved the closure of I-10 eastbound from (at least) Shepherd to Taylor Street. For several days large trucks diverted off I-10 eastbound, wound their way along the feeder, turning north on either Studewood or Watson. They passed through the neighborhood, ignoring existing signage that plainly stated “No Thru Trucks.”

The closure of I-10 eastbound lasted just a few days. While the memory of the traffic lingers, we’ve not seen as many large truck transit the neighborhood since then.

Intersection at White Oak Drive & Studewood

Several neighbors pointed out a problem at the intersection of White Oak Drive & Studewood. Increased volume of traffic makes it difficult, even dangerous, for people to make a left turn from White Oak onto Studewood. It was felt that this intersection would benefit from dedicated left turn lights. This idea has been around for years, but largely ignored by the city. The fact that it came to light in a public meeting has revived the idea.

Since the meeting CM Castillo’s team has taken steps to arrange a site visit with staff from Houston Public Works. Hopefully, we’ll be able to impress upon them how this very busy intersection could be significantly improved without too much effort.

Summary

Over the course of the meeting almost every question that had been asked was addressed. Most questions were answered in a straightforward manner. Further, the gathering was conducted in a neighborly, even friendly manner. Pitchforks left at home.

I must once again express my thanks everyone who made this possible:

  • Representative Christina Morales, District 145 and her Chief of Staff Hector Beltran 

  • Council Member Mario Castillo and his Director of Constituent Services, Ty Kekoa and the entire District H team

  • Kris Hadley, Danny Perez and Arun Kumar from TxDOT

  • Officers Graham, Rivera and Rubio from HPD Central Division

Kelli Fereday, President Friends of Woodland Park and the entire FWP board and members for help securing the venue

WHCA March 2026 Members Meeting /  by Estella Espinosa

Join us for the WHCA Members Meeting held in partnership with the Friends of Woodland Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 6:15 pm at Woodland Parks Community Center  212 Parkview, 77009.

Topic - Cut-through Traffic

Between the ongoing I-10 White Oak Bayou Elevation Project and the frequent emergency closures for the Houston Avenue bridge, Woodland Heights is inevitably facing a massive surge in cut-through traffic. Our residential streets (and our overhanging oaks!) are also taking a direct hits from illegal 18-wheeler traffic.

We are working directly with TxDOT on a solution, and they are attending our next Civic Association meeting, March 17th as well as a HPD Representative. We thank Council Member Mario Castillo and his staff for assisting with this meeting.

Submit Your Questions - Before we meet, we need your help.
We are compiling a list of community questions and "hot spots" for TxDOT to address.

Please send your questions to infrastructure@woodland-heights.org.

We hope you'll join us

Final Round of Engagement: Greater Heights Strategic Connections /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The final round of community engagement for the Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan is officially underway and there are multiple ways to provide input! Stop by three different events during March or provide comments online through March 27. See more information below.

Purpose

The Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan is a community-focused effort led by the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority to improve how people move around Greater Heights. It identifies practical projects that make it safer and easier to walk, bike, take transit, and drive. During this final round of community engagement, we will share a list and description of the Recommended Projects throughout the Greater Heights neighborhoods. We want to hear whether these projects make day-to-day trips safer for you and your community.

 Opportunity 1: In-Person Events

Stop by these events throughout March to provide input in-person!

  • Sunday, March 8 (9-11am)
    Heights Farmer’s Market
    MKT Trail @ Heights Blvd.

  •  Thursday, March 19 (6:30pm)
    Super Neighborhood 22 Meeting
    1217 Morin Pl.

  •  Sunday, March 22 (11am-1pm)
    Soundscapes on the Trail
    701 Yale St.

Opportunity 2: Online Engagement

If you can’t attend one of the events, visit mhraconnects.com to give your input online! The online survey will remain open through March 27, so please share with neighbors, friends, and community groups.

Welcoming New Businesses Into The Neighborhood /  by Estella Espinosa

Our little slice of Houston doesn't really have a huge number of businesses that are actually within the Woodland Heights footprint. Our boundary lines are White Oak Bayou, Studemont/Studewood, 11th/Pecore Street (with some homes off of Keyes included), and I-45. So when new businesses move in it's nice to notice and let neighbors know who's moved in.

Cariño Coffee - 3024 Houston Avenue

There’s been a shortage of coffee in the Woodland Height following the closure of Uncle Beans on Houston Avenue and Bayland. But for all you caffeine deprived javaphiles … you can now get your caffine fill at Carinos Coffee. They've opened shop in the former Uncle Beans building (following a few updates).

This past week was a soft open time for them with hours running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday except Wednesday. This Mexican inspired specialty coffee shop offers a selection of brews for you to try from Americano to Mexican Mocha, Latte to Café Con Leche as well as non-coffee drinks including Chocolate Caliente, Horchata, and seasonal tea. And for all the morning dog walkers they are dog friendly and offer puppuccinos! 

If you're looking for something to eat with your favorite beverage they also offer pan dulce, a Sincronizada tortilla sandwich, and El Bolillo sandwiches. We've been told hours may extend next week so keep an eye out for updates and in the meantime stop by and welcome the new business to our community. You can find them on Instagram. 

Rumor Has It - 3020 Houston Avenue

Right next door to Cariño Coffee rumor has it that Woodland Heights has a Day Spa – and it’s called Rumor Has It Day Spa. And this newcomer stepped up almost immediately to become a community sponsor for last years Lights in the Heights. Many thanks for their support.

Rumour Has It Day Spa offers a full range of services including: body therapies, soothing massages, nail packages, lash extensions and weight loss treatments. They also offer in Office Manicures and in Office Massage Chair Events for businessHealth Fares, special celebrations, or Team building events. You can find more information about Rumor Has it Day Spa on their website at https://www.rhidayspa.com/.

Cool Dog - 1606 White Oak Drive

One other opening this past summer is Cool Dog located off of White Oak in what used to be King Biscuit (for all you old timers like me who remember King Biscuit). Following renovations, the building is now home to a new barber shop,  the sister shop of East End Barber. They offer a variety of services from haircuts to shaves. You can find out more about their services on their website https://www.whatacut.com/. 

The Houston 311 System /  by Michael Graves

The Houston 311 system is simply the best way to interact with city of Houston services. CM Castillo and his team have made this case repeatedly. City departments are required to answer for their 311 case load. City council uses these metrics to appraise how responsive each department is being to residents.

There are certainly times when the 311 system can be a source of frustration. For example, opening 311 tickets doesn't fundamentally change the underlying reality of the issue Houston Solid Waste has had with heavy trash collection. If the issue at hand is not something that can be addressed, such cases get closed, often without a clear explanation.

That said, the 311 system can work well when the matter at hand is readily addressable. Several of my own recent experiences provide nice examples.

You may recall some months ago when I reported a pothole on Houston Avenue. It was repaired in just one week.

More recently, on January 27th I filed a case reporting that the water fountain on the west side of Montie Beach Park was continuously flowing. A cold snap had damaged the internals, creating a little geyser of sorts.

This is clearly not a high priority issue, but something that should be addressed eventually. An update to the case revealed that the repair was completed on January 30th. That's just 3 days later!

The 311 system is imperfect. It can be frustrating. But there are times when it works. And we should recognize that, too.

Spring Festival Season in Houston /  by Estella Espinosa

Spring Festival Season and Spring Break are almost here in Houston. If you’re looking for fun things to do, here’s a quick guide to some local events.

MARCH 2 – 22 – Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been a city tradition. The world’s largest rodeo features professional competitions, nightly concerts, a large barbecue cookoff, and a midway. For more information, visit https://www.rodeohouston.com/.

MARCH 6 - 11 – 2026 World Baseball Classic
Daikin Park will host the World Baseball Classic for the first time during its sixth installment. For details, visit https://www.visithoustontexas.com/blog/post/daikin-park-will-host-world-baseball-classic-2026/.

MARCH 8 - 10 – Azalea Trail
The 88th annual Azalea Trail, hosted by The River Oaks Garden Club, features tours of seven gardens, including four private home gardens. Proceeds support local beautification, horticulture awareness, conservation, and related education projects. For details and tickets, visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/azaleatrail/1856514.

MARCH 9 – 13 – HISD Spring Break
For students in HISD schools, Spring Break is scheduled for March 9 to 13. More information is available at https://www.houstonisd.org/our-district/district-calendar?cal_date=2026-03-01.

MARCH 9 – 22 – Moon 2 Mars Festival
Space Center Houston’s Moon 2 Mars Festival, presented by Wellby Financial, offers opportunities to explore advanced space technology, visit NASA Johnson Space Center, and enjoy food and entertainment. All ages are welcome. For more information, including concert details, visit https://spacecenter.org/moon2marsfestival/.

MARCH 21 - 54th Annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta
Since 1972, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta has welcomed hundreds of participants to the city’s largest canoe and kayak race. The 15-mile paddle down Buffalo Bayou supports the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. For more information, visit https://www.paddlesignup.com/Race/TX/Houston/BuffaloBayouPartnershipRegatta.

MARCH 26 - HOUSTON ASTROS OPENING DAY
The Houston Astros open the 2026 MLB regular season at home against the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park. The four-game opening series runs from March 26–29. Hunter Brown has been named the Astros' Opening Day starter https://www.mlb.com/news/hunter-brown-astros-opening-day-starter-2026. 

MARCH 26 – 28 - NCAA March Madness South Regional
In 2026, the South Regional semifinals (Sweet 16) and finals (Elite Eight) will take place at Rice University's Toyota Center in Houston. For more information, visit https://www.toyotacenter.com/events/detail/ncaa-march-madness.

MARCH 27 - 29 - WHCA 2026 HOME TOUR "CROSSING THE THRESHOLD"
Six beautiful homes in historic Woodland Hieghts will be open to the public during the WHCA 2026 Home Tour! You can join us for the Sneak Peek Preview Home Tour Happy Hour on Friday, March 27, then continue the excitement all weekend, March 28–29. For more information and to buy your tickets visit https://www.woodland-heights.org/home-tour-2026

MARCH 28 - Annual Art Bike Parade and Festival
The Houston Parks Board, Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, and Houston Independent School District present this annual celebration of arts and culture, featuring community members and youth programs from across the city. The event encourages creativity, health, and wellness. For more information, visit https://www.artbikehouston.com/.

MARCH 28 – 29 - The Bayou City Art Festival
The Bayou City Art Festival Spring Edition will take place in Downtown Houston, showcasing the work of 250 artists across 19 categories. Attendees can enjoy live music, food, and entertainment while browsing and purchasing art. For more information, visit https://www.bayoucityartfestival.com/.

APRIL 11 – The Houston Art Car Parade
39 years old and going strong! The Houston Art Car Parade features 250+ vehicles from 23 states, plus Canada and Mexico with a live audience of over 300,000 spectators lining the street. This event is really a four-day citywide celebration of creativity called Houston Art Car Parade Weekend. For more information on all the festivities visit https://www.thehoustonartcarparade.com/history-of-the-houston-art-car-para

President's Report: Someone Should Do Something About The Trucks /  by Michael Graves

Last week saw a marked increase in the number of large trucks and tractor trailers going through the neighborhood. One neighbor called me directly. Another reached out via email. There was an outcry (or two) via NextDoor. Many people weighed in.

The overwhelming sentiment seems to be, "Someone should do something!" But who? And what exactly? Posting to social media is often just yelling into the void. There had to be something productive that could be done. Something that I could do.

So, I sent a note to CM Castillo's office. They advised me to file a 311 request asking for "No Thru Trucks" signage along the route the big trucks were following. The biggest problem seemed to be trucks going north on Studewood before turning east onto Bayland.

Only a couple of days later I received call from a city staffer who was on-site investigating. He reported that there already is such signage at Studewood and Bayland. That being the case, he would ask HPD to monitor the location for the next week or two.
 
At the start of the I-10 project we saw significant heavy truck traffic cutting through the neighborhood. Brian Edmondson, WHCA Director of Infrastructure, met with TXDOT's PR team. They toured the neighborhood looking for ways to improve signage, keeping the traffic on larger streets. As a result, the problem largely subsided.
 
Last week was a special case. The existing situation was compounded by the fact that I-10 eastbound was closed to allow repair of the Houston Avenue bridge. For a couple of days all traffic was diverted off I-10 at Shepherd, then ran along the feeder, finding its way towards I-45. Some turned north on Studewood. Others not until Watson. Thankfully, that closure was short-lived. By Sunday I-10 eastbound was back to normal.
 
Ideally, large trucks trying to get to I-45 should follow Studewood north to Pecore before making their eastward turn. That has them effectively skirt the perimeter of the neighborhood. Of course, people always follow signs, right?

CM Castillo's office has since followed up, arranging for a representative from TXDOT to address a future WHCA Member's Meeting.
 
Enough about what's been keeping me busy distracted. What have you been up to? In fact, I have some suggestions I'd like you to consider.

In May we'll hold another round of WHCA board elections. Several positions are available. If you think that "someone should do something"...why not you?

City seeking public comment on plan to add speed bumps along White Oak Drive /  by Michael Graves

Woodland Heights residents have started to receive a public notice about a plan to add some new speed bumps along White Oak Drive near Stude Park. The plan proposes to add a total of six (6) new traffic cushions along White Oak between Studewood and Taylor. Also, one new traffic cushion on Usener between White Oak and Taylor.

The project has been in the works for a long time. It’s the result of neighbors pressing for improvements along a known dangerous stretch of road. It’s being funded by Council District H.

City of Houston Public Works is obligated to seek public comment on the plan. They are specifically required to seek comments from neighbors who live within 0.5 miles from the project location. Neighbors within that radius will receive a mailing with a comment form.

The WHCA board urges everyone within the survey area to file a comment in support of the project. Public comments will be accepted until February 25, 2026.

Neighbors within the survey area can opt to file a comment online. To file a comment online:

  1. Visit: http://popms.houstontx.gov/ntmp/rptFeedback_Pub

  2. Select the project name, which is 7440-25 Woodland Heights C.

  3. Enter your street address

If your street address is within the survey area you will be shown a listing for your home, with a Select link to access the online feedback form (as pictured above.)

If your street address is not within the survey area, you cannot file a comment.

Board Elections - Nominations /  by Estella Espinosa

What does the WHCA do?

The Woodland Heights Civic Association (WHCA) works to improve and preserve the historic Houston neighborhood by serving as a voice for residents, addressing safety, beautification, and quality-of-life issues, and celebrating the area's unique heritage.

When was the WHCA founded?

In 1986, a group of neighbors filed incorporation papers with the State of Texas to create the WHCA. The organization was created to work for the ‘civic betterment and social improvements in the Heights area of Houston, Texas.’

Since then, the WHCA, through it’s elected board of volunteer directors, have worked to support the neighborhood with programs like the WHCA Constable Patrol in partnership with Harris County Precinct 1, organizing major volunteer driven events like "Lights in the Heights," the bi-annual Woodland Heights Home Tour, managing neighborhood deed restrictions, advocating with city government for infrastructure improvements that benefit the Woodland Heights neighborhood, and fostering a neighborhood community through newsletters and social activities.

WHCA Board Composition

The WHCA Board is composed of 9 volunteer board members elected by WHCA members. The Board members are elected to 2-year terms, with staggered election terms. This means every year, an election is held for half of the board.
This year’s elections will be held during the May WHCA member's meeting Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The following positions are up for election:

  • President – Coordinates and presides over General and Board Meetings; acts as a liaison with the neighborhood and other civic associations; acts as a government liaison to maintain contact with city and state officials.

  • Director of Beautification – Oversees the maintenance of the green spaces overseen by the WHCA, including the Norhill Esplanade, Ley Plaza Pollinator Garden, the Watson Street Esplanade, and the Houston Avenue Esplanade.

  • Director of Communications – Oversees the WHCA website, monthly newsletters, and additional WHCA publications, graphic needs, and literature.

  • Director of Security - liaisons with Precinct 1 on the WHCA Constable Patrol, coordinates the 4th of July neighborhood kids parade, and arranges the National Night Out events.

All nominations for board positions must be received by Monday, May 4, 2026. To submit a nomination for a board position for yourself or someone else, use the nomination form to add yourself to the mix. Nominations should be submitted to Sara Smithey at secretary@woodland-heights.org.

WHCA Board Nomination Form

Paws Up Times 2 /  by Guest User

Submitted Arta Salehi written by JJ

Hi Woodland Heights! My name is JJ, and I’m a one-and-a-half-year-old Mini Schnauzer-Frenchie mix with a very important job: making sure my parents are never too far away from me. In my professional opinion, we should all be together at all times. Separate rooms? Suspicious. Leaving the house without me? Unacceptable. But I forgive them eventually.

You’ve probably seen me around the neighborhood. I take four walks a day (yes, four – my parents love me very much) so I like to think of myself as a full-time Woodland Heights resident and part-time celebrity. A lot of you already know me, and if your dog barked at me at first, don’t worry that’s normal. I win dogs over every time. Give it a week or two and suddenly we’re best friends.

When I’m not walking the neighborhood, I’m usually sleeping on my back like a human, head on a pillow, paws in the air. It’s my signature move. Beauty rest is important when you’re this cute. People tell my parents all the time that I look like a movie puppy. I don’t know what that means exactly, but I assume it involves snacks and attention. I might need a little training first – I’m very much my own person with lots of sass.

Humans seem to love me. So much, in fact, that people will literally pull over their cars just to ask what breed I am. (Again: Mini Schnauzer-Frenchie mix. You’re welcome.) I take this fame very seriously and try to represent Woodland Heights well.

I have a few hobbies too. I love chasing squirrels – though I’ve never caught one – and honestly, I’m not sure what I’d do if I did. Cats, however, are terrifying. I try to act brave, but if one looks at me the wrong way, I’m out of there.

Mostly, I just love my people, my walks, my naps, and my neighborhood. Thanks for saying hi, thanks for loving me, and thanks for making Woodland Heights such a great place for a pup like me.

Love,

  JJ 🐾

Submitted by Kate Cartwright

Meet Haley, a 7-year-old Australian Shepherd who is 50 pounds of pure fluff, spunk, and personality. As a new resident of Woodland Heights, she’s quickly learning the ropes and making friends everywhere she goes.

Haley’s favorite pastime is a long walk to any coffee shop willing to hand out a pup cup, and she loved her first holiday season filled with night walks to admire the neighborhood Christmas lights.

She’s a champion neighbor-greeter, an enthusiastic chicken spectator, and a proud front-porch guardian. If you hear her big bark, don’t be alarmed, Haley takes her job very seriously and just likes to make sure everyone knows she’s on duty. She adores kids and will happily help distract a crying baby…especially if it increases her chances of earning an extra walk.

February is National Spay & Neuter Awareness Month /  by Michael Graves

Spay & Neuter Awareness Month is a nationwide initiative aimed at educating the public and pet owners about the benefits spaying and neutering provide to pets and people alike. A key part of responsible pet ownership, the procedure not only provides health and behavioral benefits to your furry friend - it also help control pet over population and reduces shelter strain.

The ??? owes it's creation to Doris Day, a top box-office star the '50s and 60s known for romantic comedies and musicals and  Aalife-long animal lover and advocate . In 1978 following her acting career she founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation. In 1995 to help combat pet overpopulation, her organization created World Spay Day, to promote spaying and neutering of pets to reduce euthanasia in shelters. Today, the month of February continues her original legacy with the same goal to riase awareness about the millions of unwanted pets and to encourage responsible pet ownership through sterilization.  

WHCA Venerable Home Designation /  by Guest User

Since 2020, WHCA has been offering historic designation yard signs for homes that are at least 100 years old. Currently, we have installed 142 signs all over the Woodland Heights.

In order to participate, the homeowner must be a current member of the WHCA and have a home that qualifies by being 100 + years old. This year we can approve signs for homes that were built in 1926 or before that date. We have many homes that qualify but have not contacted us about getting a sign. We would love to put a sign in your yard.

One of our objectives is to recognize and celebrate our older homes that are original to the neighborhood. If you are interested in getting a sign, please contact Debbie Hall by email (debhall945@gmail.com) or cell (713-927-7407).

2026 Home Tour: "Crossing the Threshold" /  by Louise Moss

The 2026 Woodland Heights Home Tour “Crossing the Threshold” is scheduled for March 27-29. You can buy your tickets today from the Woodland Heights Store for both the Home Tour itself or get an early look by buying Preview Happy Hour Tickets!

This year, six historic homes, along with a special feature local landmark, will be open to tour-goers. The ever-popular “preview happy hour” scheduled for Friday, March 27, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., will feature self-guided sneak peeks at the homes. This happy-hour preview offers no waiting lines and wine and cheese at each stop.

Preview Home Tour Happy Hour $50 online
or at 114 Byrne ticket booth, Friday night

 Home Tour tickets $30 online in advance
or $35 during tour weekend online or
at the ticket booths located at 114 Byrne and
at the Norhill Esplanade (corners of Norhill and Bayland)

We're excited to welcome you! Advance ticket holders MUST pick-up their tickets tour weekend from one of the two ticket booths. See the website or your receipt for specifics and ticket booth hours.

For faster entry, please bring your receipt, even though we'll have a list of purchaser names. Babies and toddlers carried by their parents join for free, but please note: no strollers are allowed in homes.

Every ticket supports Woodland Heights! All Home Tour proceeds go to the Woodland Heights Civic Association, helping preserve and beautify our vibrant community.

The tour is made possible by hundreds of volunteers, both committee chairs who spend months planning, and the many "weekend warriors" who make the tour possible as docents at the individual homes or cashiers working the ticket booths. Please consider volunteering to help. A three-hour shift earns you a free home tour ticket! You can choose where and when to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C49A9A823A5FA7-61657407-2026#.

Check out the Woodland Heights websiteor via www.whcahometour.org for more details.

President's Report: January 2026 /  by Michael Graves

Here we are at the end of January already. Lights in the Heights is now well behind us. Immediately following our neighborhood event, the holiday season hit like an avalanche. There was barely time to recuperate before the first WHCA board meeting of the year.

The board met on Tuesday, January 6th. On this occasion, we invited the various committees involved in Lights in the Heights to participate in an after-action-analysis of the event. There was much discussion of the various aspects of the event. Who did what? What were the processes? What were the problems? Where are the opportunities for improvement?

On the whole, the collected parties felt the event ran well this past year. It was an incremental improvement over last year in some ways. We also jotted down some ideas for ways to evolve both the event and the organization, to make things easier, and potentially more remunerative, in the future.

I’d like to personally thank everyone who participated, from start to finish. Lights in the Heights is a huge event, involving dozens of volunteers. In the end, most of the work falls to a handful of extremely dedicated neighbors, who invest a huge amount of the time and energy.

January also finds WHCA holding the first Member’s meeting of the year. That gather was Tuesday, January 13th at Zion Lutheran Church. While we did go through some of the normal business of the civic association, the major draw was a presentation by Jim Parsons, Director of Special Projects at Preservation Houston. 

Jim’s talk, “Time & Place: Unlocking the History of Your Home or Building” was both enlightening and entertaining. He described the various available resources and paths of investigation that could reveal the history of older homes. His slides were tweaked to show historic maps of Woodland Heights, so many in attendance could see references to their own homes!

The presentation drew a crowd of about 40, which is well above average for a Member’s Meeting. After the formal presentation there was about 15 minutes of Q&A from a very engaged audience.

We had an inkling this would be broadly of interest to the neighborhood, so we recorded Jim’s part of the presentation. If we can get a copy of his slides, we’ll try to make this part of the meeting available via the WHCA web site.

That said, if you have any interest in this subject, and missed our January meeting (tsk!) you can sign-up for their next formal presentation, which is Tuesday, February 10, at PH Studio in the Preservation Houston office, 3907 Main Street. Registration is $10 for Preservation Houston members and $15 for non-members.

Jim was referred to us by Debbie Hall, a former WHCA board member, who oversees the Venerable Home Project. That project sets out to recognized homes in the neighborhood that have been verified as 100 years old.