Planning for the 2026 WHCA Board /  by Michael Graves

The holiday period presents an opportunity to reflect upon personal goals. I’ve given up on the notion of “resolutions” but there’s usually a list of things I’d like to change, things I’d like to revisit and new things I’d like to undertake. I’d like to offer a suggestion; give some thought to how you engage with your neighbors, and the neighborhood at large.

The neighborhood is a busy place. There’s always things to do. WHCA is constantly in need of volunteers. There are tasks of all sorts, great and small, just waiting for someone who has the time and cares enough to want to help.

In May, there will be an election for several members of the WHCA board of Directors. The board is comprised of nine members, each of whom serve a two-year term. Thus every year about half of the board is elected.

This year the following positions will be up for consideration:

  • President

  • Director of Beautification

  • Director of Communications

  • Director of Security

At this point it’s not known if any of the current directors intend to return. That’s doesn’t really matter. The election itself is your opportunity to step-up and have a say in how the organization is run. There’s no more direct way to help guide the activities of the civic association in its mission to “bring about civic betterment and improvements” in the neighborhood.

If you have any interest in running for the board, or helping in some other manner, please contact Sara Smithey at secretary@woodland-heights.org

Holiday Pups This Month's Pet of the Month! /  by Estella Espinosa

This months pet of the month features some of the pets who took a seat in the Santa Chair that was on the Norhill Esplanade. 

Following LITH Simone setup the Santa throne at the Norhill Esplanade for neighbors to drop by and take photos of their pups or familythe weekend before Christmas. Many people took the opportunity to snap a photo or two with their favorite pup. 

Many thanks to Simone Adams and Cisco for sharing the beautiful display for pups and people to enjoy. 

2026 Starts With A Blowout! /  by Michael Graves

Early on January 1st Carl Sorenson (WHCA Co-Dir of Security) reported a ten-foot geyser of water on the east side of the Norhill esplanade. Apparently, overnight, some new year’s celebrants somehow toppled the protective housing for the backflow preventer that’s part of the irrigation system. Unfortunately, that protective wire cage was not secured. So, the passing miscreants accidentally snapped off the 1-inch PVC supply line to the irrigation system.

While these passersby may have been seeking a place to sit for spell, I’m willing to bet they were surprised! Also, they very likely got drenched.

In the morning, when the problem came to light, Norhill neighbors Tiffany Tyler and Charles Kuffner managed to find the shutoff for the city water and get it turned off. Many thanks to them for taking action to end the Bellagio-esque display. It was shut off by the time I passed by to take this picture of the damage.

As of this writing, another neighbor is venturing out to see about making a repair. It’s PVC so it may be quite simple, but supplies may be difficult to get on New Year’s Day.

WHCA aims to do these things cost effectively. If we can enact a DIY solution, that’s our preferred approach. However, as Harry Callahan once quipped, “…a man’s got to know his limitations.” While I have some skills with tools, I am no plumber.

In the time that it took me to write this, Jonathan Moore, husband of Julie Moore (WHCA Dir of Deed Restrictions,) managed to successfully make the repair.

WHCA is all about neighbors doing things!

Bright Future For Dinos! /  by Estella Espinosa

Save the Dinosaurs

Many thanks to all the neighbors who responded to the Save the Dinosaurs from Extinction Campaign! Total funds raised from the 2025 campaign were $3480. These funds covered the cost of installing, storing, and maintaining the dinosaur display for the 2025 LITH event. The cost to install, remove and store the dinos was just over $3000 this year, and thanks to your generous contributions we were able to cover the cost and have some funds remaining for maintenance! Your continued support will be needed to ensure the dinosaurs return to the esplanade in 2026.

And Speaking of Maintenance

A long term plan is in the works to keep the dinosaurs maintained and grow the number of volunteers who can help with the maintenance – while learning the art of dinosaur making! A win win for everyone! Not only do you get to learn how the display is made – you also get to meet neighbors who are interested in artwork as well! Some of this work is better attempted while the dinosaurs are still hanging. Other work may be best for next year just before the dinosaurs are brought out from storage to be installed again.

Additionally, we are starting a graphic library of all our dino designs. This will make it easier when a rebuild is needed so there’s good documentation on what colors go where, etc. If you or any member of your household has graphic talents, we would love to talk to you about helping with the design library.

And finally, we need for volunteers who are available and interested in either working on some maintenance or being part of a build workshop.

The maintenance for this year will happen over the first 2 weekends in January, but the build workshop could come any time. We would likely design something smallish to get folks used to the methods of the build.

If you would like more information on dino builds, how you can help or on volunteering email dino@woodland-heights.org.

January 13th - WHCA Members Meeting /  by Michael Graves

Did you know that the Woodland Heights neighborhood is one of the oldest and historic neighborhoods in the City? It was originally establish in 1907 by the William Wilson Realty Company in 1907. The homes were designed to be 'upscale, yet affordable for middle class families.' Homes in the neighborhood were built in the Queen Anne, Craftsman, and American Four Square designs. 

Keeping this history in mind and also as a precursor to the Woodland Heights Home Tour coming up later in the spring - we thought it only fitting to invite Preservation Houston to our member's meeting to learn more about our neighborhood and their organization. We hope you will all join us as we welcome Jim Parsons, the Programs and Communications Director for Preservation Houston. His talk will center around Preservation Houston and tin particular the historic nature of the Woodland Heights.It'll be a great way for long-time residents and new neighbors to learn more about our 'Hometown Near Downtown Since 1907.'  We hope you will join us!

DATE:
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 
TIME:
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
LOCATION:
Zion Lutheran Church
3606 Beauchamp St, 77009

President's Report December 2025 /  by Michael Graves

Lights in the Heights 2025 has wrapped! The past few weeks are literally a blur. There’s just so much that goes into planning and staging Lights in the Heights. It’s time to look back at the events and acknowledge the efforts of those passionate neighbors that made it all happen.

The Bash
Lights in the Heights starts with the Bash. While that’s some weeks in the past, it was nonetheless a critical first step in the process. The Bash committee was co-chaired by Lauren Snead and Danielle Garcia, with the assistance of; Nikki Hanley, Amanda Dinitiz, Ashley Allison, Jim Chambers, Christa White & Christina Thiele.

The process started back in January, when Lauren Snead, Bash co-chair, was still pregnant. We’d barely cleared away the mess from New Years when she was chasing me about confirming the Old Heights Fire Hall as the new venue for the event.

Lauren and the team went about securing food and drink sponsors, and dozens of donations for the silent auction. Then built a party around that core. An overview of the event was already published in the November newsletter, which can also be found on the web site.

The Bash was well received and very successful, raising over $15,000 towards other LITH events including Friday Night Lights and LITH. That’s about half the cost of the main Lights in the Heights event.

Sponsorships
Starting in September, Dallas Jagneaux-Boyle and I began chasing down a long list of companies to find sponsors for the event. We tweaked the sponsorship tiers to make them simpler, and set out to befriend businesses all around the area. This year was more challenging than last year, but in the end we managed to find enough sponsors to ensure that we’d be showing black ink in the final analysis.

We’re grateful to each and every one of our sponsors for their support. You should be, too! Please make them your first call whenever you need what they offer.

Judging

LITH Committee chair Ashley Allison thought it would be good to invite a larger group to judge the decorations this year. So we put out the word in a limited fashion. It would be easy to have vastly too many people, making the process impractical. We ended up with a group of 15. That’s the largest group of judges in memory.

The sheer number of judges presented a new challenge. How to proceed with the mechanics of the judging? Judges need to navigate the neighborhood as a group, with the opportunity to stop and examine the houses as desired. Ideally, some kind of open transport is required. A shuttle bus or stretch limo just isn’t appropriate.

Given the number of judges involved we settled upon a fleet of golf carts. There were three available from amongst the group of judges, and two more we rented. The judging went quite smoothly, taking about three hours on a cold evening. Several of the judges made a further path through the neighborhood to refine their notes, before passing them to the committee head.

One neighbor had written, imploring us to publish the results before the event, so they could know how to plan their evening. The results were tabulated and published to the web site on Saturday, with beginning of a photo gallery of the winning homes. That gallery was completed a couple days later.

Sara Smithey, Leah Patrick, Alyssa Holub, Kate Cartwright, Julie Moore, Michael Graves, Estella Espinosa, Kerry & Justin Blackmon, Andrew & Ashley Allison, Brian Edmondson, Connor Allison, Cash Laney, Norah Blackmon, and Keaton Bollmann.

Friday Nights Lights
Friday Night Lights is the smaller, family-focused LITH event for neighbors. Held on the Norhill Esplanade this year’s edition of FNL went very smoothly. FNL is organized by Beth Sorenson, with help from her husband Carl.
 
Attendees enjoyed music by the Cosmos Street Band, while making smores. Sponsor Eureka Heights Brewery provided hydration. Memorial Herman Greater Heights was there with a photo booth. Boy Scout Troop 30 from St Mark’s Church was selling wreaths and snacks, while the younger kids got to visit with Santa and Mrs Claus.

Alyssa Holub, WHCA manager of merchandise, was on site delivering orders of LITH & WHCA merchandise. The  2025 LITH  and generic WH holiday ornaments actually sold out! If you didn’t get yours, fear not! We are reordering both to make sure every order is fulfilled.

For me, the highlight of FNL was recognizing Ward and Susan Pennebaker for their many years designing and crafting the electric dinosaurs that ring the Norhill Esplanade. WHCA and CM Castillo had the city create an official proclamation, declaring Friday, December 13th as Pennebaker Day in Houston! The proclamation was presented with the help of Thomas Wheaton (CM Castillo’s staff) Tiffany Tyler and their son, Matt Pennebaker.

All of that was enough to make me work up an appetite. So, I was glad that Wokker was there to meet that need. Special thanks to WHCA board member Ryan Taylor for providing the flatbed trailer was used as a stage for the band.

Lights in the Heights 2025: The Main event
I think that everyone has their own, unique experience of Lights in the Heights. I’m happy enough to share ours, which was very positive this year. Stella and I walked the entire route in about 90 minutes. The weather was good. The crowds were moderate in size and well-behaved, as far as we could tell. There were quite a few young people out. Also, quite a number of dogs. At no point in our meander did we find ourselves in a “crush” of people, as occasionally happened in the past.

The houses and yards were bright and cheery. I especially like it when neighbors wrap the old oaks on the boulevards. While the single best wrapped tree was at 912 Woodland, the 900 block of Bayland impressed with many old oaks wrapped in white, and colored lights strung across the street. That takes considerable effort.

The performers seemed reasonably distributed across the route. Coordination of locations and performers was handled by former WHCA board member Stephanie Frey. It’s a daunting task, placing bands on porches. Trying to make space for a choir or bell chorus between the DJs and electric bands. It’s not easy. Especially when neighbors occasionally surprise us by hiring a band without letting us know.

The performers were a diverse lot; some very good, others at least interesting. I admit that I am of a certain age where loud is not the same as good. But if the players are good, I don’t mind it loud. As long as the PA equipment itself isn’t suffering. The Brazilian Blues Band at 504 Woodland was notably good, drawing a correspondingly large crowd.

I do enjoy the young musicians. I was especially impressed by the band from Bojangles Music School. On the porch at 925 Bayland, they were a group of young people with a lot of heart, playing classic rock songs from my era. And doing a decent job of it. They had amassed quite a group of appreciative onlookers when we passed by.

In a similar vein, I was interested to hear the band from the School of Rock who were the Norhill Esplanade. Alas, they were on a break as we passed by.

While at that eastern end of the route we chatted with the folks from Bike Houston, who reported over 100 bikes in their supervised lockup. Big thanks to Joy Roth and Bike Houston for their efforts.

At various points along the way I made a point of chatting up neighbors on porches without performers, to get their sense of the event. Everyone I talked to was enjoying the event. None reported any misbehavior. I also said hello to a number of the police officers working the event. One officer said she lived in the Woodlands, and this was her first time in Woodland Heights. From her perspective, everything was going very well.
 
Close
Countless neighbors have told us that Lights in the Heights is important to them. It’s part of what draws people to Woodland Heights. Such a long-running festival, run entirely by volunteers, is a sign of a strong and caring community. A hearty thank-you to our sponsors and everyone involved in planning and staging the events, also the many neighbors whose decorations literally light the way. 







2025 LITH Home Decorating Winners /  by Michael Graves

Thursday night a team of Lights in the Heights Judges (all volunteers) made their way through the neighborhood on a train of golf carts. They stopped here and there to figure out which homes were naughty or nice. The results are in! Everyone is nice, but some were nicer than others so here’s the list of 2025 LITH Home Decorating Winners.

  • Most Crafty – 405 Highland

  • Most Colorful - 809 Bayland

  • Most Creative – 205 Bayland

  • Most Wattage – 2905 Beauchamp

  • Most Traditional – 720 Bayland

  • Best Theme – 3511 Oak Ridge

  • Most Historical – 1116 E. 6 1/2

  • Pick of the Night – 1020 E. 7th

  • Ho! Ho! Ho! – 423 Bayland

  • Most Musical – 629 Woodland

  • Best Movie Theme – 1031 Bayland

  • Best Tree – 912 Woodland

  • Scary Christmas! – 308 Woodland

  • Most Yummy – 814 Woodland

  • Best Single Color – 508 Euclid

  • Best Block – 1000 Woodland

  • Best Team Theme - 413 and 423 Woodland

  • Best Demogorgon - 3218 Beauchamp

The Gallery

Friday Night Lights /  by Beth Sorensen

Kick off your Lights in the Heights weekend at Friday Night Lights on Friday, December 12 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm on the Norhill Esplanade. Join your neighbors around the campfire and toast marshmallows under the glow of the Jurassic Christmas displays.

Favorite beverages include ... adult brews courtesy Eureka Heights Brewery, a Lights in the Heights sponsor, and hot chocolate for all the kiddos. Music will be provided by The Cosmos Street Band. We’ll have a ‘rockin good time’ listening to the Cosmos cover Classic Rock and Blues hits.

Joe Reyes provides vocals, Big Mo Cavazos and Joe Amador add their voices as well as Bass and Guitar to the mix. Then Johnny Cavazos hits the Drums while Drew accompaniess them all on Keyboards! All combined The Cosmos will fill the esplanades with great sounds that might move you to sing along and take a turn to their tunes under the twinkling holiday lights.

You can pick up your LITH ornaments from the LITH booth - and add to your shopping bag with new purchase of more merch which will be on sale all night, so be sure to grab your private party signs and other keepsakes. Some of our generous sponsors will also be at the event to spread the holiday cheer.

And while you are enjoying all the fun, keep your eyes and ears tuned to hear the sound of sleigh bells which could only mean Santa and Mrs. Claus have arrived! Photos will take place at their booth. They’re expected to arrive at 5:30 pm.

- Beth Sorensen, Director of Security

THERE’S BEAUTIFUL WORK IN PROGRESS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD! /  by Estella Espinosa

WHCA Under the Taylor Street Bridge & Houston Avenue Esplanade

Saturday, October 15th, was a beautiful, busy day in Woodland Heights! If you were driving on White Oak Drive near the Taylor/Watson Avenue Bridge, you may have wondered what the heavy equipment was doing. Well, wonder no more: that was Ryan Taylor’s beautification team, Boy Scout Troop 30, and his Taylor ... crew were busy clearing debris. They hauled out some big piles of branches and rebarb to keep the area clean to avoid it becoming a hazardous area.

“This area becomes overgrown and filled with debris and cast-off items. We’re working to clear that up and prep the ground for planting,” said Ryan Taylor, WHCA Director of Beautification. “Boy Scout Troop 30 has helped clear and prep both Taylor Street and the Houston Avenue Esplanade for wildflower seed planting. We’re hoping for gentle winter rains and Spring blooms.“

FWP at Work at Woodland Park

On the same day, over at Woodland Park, neighbors and volunteers were taking part in a Friends of Woodland Park Cleanup. They had a great turnout and sent out the following shout-out to everyone who helped make their cleanup a success.

“Thank you to the over 125 volunteers who showed up today to clean Woodland Park and to help build and repair Trails! The perfect way to celebrate #TakeAHikeDay! Over 1500 pounds of trash were removed from the park and the bayou! We had over 50 Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and volunteers from all over the Houston area, including the Heights, the Woodlands, Katy, and Humble! Mother Nature thanks you all!”

Watson Street Esplanade - Thank you New Roots Landscaping!

The Watson Street Esplanade got some much-needed sprucing up thanks to New Roots Landscaping. The beautification team volunteers who maintain the esplanade send out a word of thanks to New Roots Landscaping Nursery & Antiques (5117 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009 ) for their help.

“The neighborhood volunteers who maintain the Watson esplanade wish to thank Jim Ruzicka, owner of New Roots Landscaping, and his crew for their recent work at the esplanade. They pulled those never-ending weeds from one end to the other, trimmed back the roses, and returned to spread mulch, all pro bono. With their help the esplanade was looking its amazing best in a few hours. Thank you, New Roots, for your help in keeping the entrance to our neighborhood inviting and welcoming.”

- Estella Espinosa, Director of Communications

CONSTABLE PATROL ADMIN UPDATE /  by Michael Graves

To everyone who subscribes to the WHCA Constable Patrol, thank you for your support. The program provides a pair of Precinct One constables who spend 80 hours/week on patrol in the neighborhood. This helps ensure that everyone who lives here has fast access to law enforcement when it’s needed.

Earlier this year, after much consideration, the board increased the subscription price to $420/year to address rising program costs. In point of fact, the price had not changed since 2019. Our understanding at the time was that neighbors who subscribed to the program would simply renew at the new rate. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case.

New subscriptions are being processed correctly at the new rate (yeah!) And given the attention the program has received at recent meetings, we’ve seen an uptick in new subscribers.

That said, existing subscriptions that auto-renew are being renewed at the old rate. This is both unexpected and entirely beyond our control. It’s an aspect of how our web host handles auto-renewing subscriptions. As a consequence, we have not yet realized the additional revenue necessary to fully fund the Constable Patrol Program.

We have crafted a plan to address this problem. After your Constable Patrol subscription auto-renews, you will receive a message from WHCA inviting you to cancel your subscription and sign up again at the new rate. When you do this, we will ensure that your renewal at the old rate is refunded. In this manner, over the course of a year, everyone will transition to the new rate.

As this process rolls along, Beth, Doug, and I will be available to answer questions and help people go through the transition. We know it’s an inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Thank you for your continued commitment to help keep Woodland Heights safe!

- Michael Graves, President
president@woodland-heights.org

NEW WHCA CONSTABLE PATROL DEPUTY /  by Beth Sorensen

Join us in extending a hearty welcome to our new WHCA Constable Patrol member - Deputy Ryan O’Shay. He recently joined the neighborhood patrol.

“I am looking forward to keeping the community safe and getting to know the residents of the neighborhood. I believe that a good relationship with residents leads to improved safety for the entire community.”

Deputy O’Shay brings a wealth of experience to our community, including a 15-year career in law enforcement. He was on the Joint Terrorism Task Force West (JTTF West), Intelligence Unit, Gang Interdiction, and Commercial Vehicle Interdiction. He also served as an Animal Cruelty Investigator with the Houston SPCA before joining the Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct One.

His tips for improving Neighborhood Safety include:

  • Report suspicious activity early—even small details can help deputies identify patterns.

  • Use official channels such as non-emergency lines and community apps to stay informed.

  • Get to know your neighborhood deputy when possible; familiarity helps both sides communicate more effectively.

When not at work you might find him playing the saxophone, guitar, or bass guitar.

- Beth Sorensen, Director of Security

WHCA HOME TOUR COMING SPRING 2026 /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

2026 Woodland Heights Home Tour debuts in March. As we wrap up 2025 with Lights in the Heights and festive holidays, the Woodland Heights home tour committee is well along in planning for the spring event. Six historic Woodland Heights homes and one “special feature” will welcome visitors the weekend of March 27-29, 2026.

“I love our neighborhood!” said Louise Moss, home tour committee co-chair. “As usual, we had an abundance of great homes to choose from, and the challenge was to select ones that showcase the diversity of Woodland Heights charm, mixing and matching size, style, décor and more.”

Homes range from a one-bedroom condo with loads of charm in the converted Woodland Heights Baptist Church to an original William Wilson home lovingly preserved and from a small Craftsman bungalow, thoughtfully expanded to an original home with lofty ceilings and a charming attic conversion, there should be something for everyone’s taste.

As a special bonus, neighbors can tour the old Masonic Lodge at 114 Byrne, now housing law offices that renovated with the goal of retaining much of the building’s history. This site will serve as the location for ticket pick-up.

“From neutral palettes with pop to pastels shades to more traditional colors, visitors will have a hard time choosing a favorite decor,” said Peggy Sparks, co-chair. “Thanks to our amazing neighbors who generously open their homes to visitors for this tour, the WHCA’s major fundraising event.”

Tickets will go on sale In January, $30 in advance, $35 weekend of, with the Friday night happy hour preview $50. Interested in sponsoring? Contact Stacie Cokinos at stacie@cokinosdesign.com. Want to volunteer? Reach out to Louise Moss at limoss@comcastnet.

- Meagan Mastal, Co-chair WHCA Home Tour

PET OF THE MONTH - HOWARD THE TORTOISE (NO HARE) /  by Brian Edmondson

Our Pet of the Month is a 25-year-old female Leopard Tortoise named Howard who has been part of the our family since our college days up in College Station.

Since those early days, she’s moved seven times and seems to enjoy moving about as she’s become a bit famous for one habit...

“... her escape attempts, her most notable getaway was in 2012 while we lived in Sunset Heights, when a former zookeeper found her outside a gate accidentally left open, and cared for her for a month.”

That’s actually how we found out that Howard was actually a girl – but by then – the name Howard was here to stay.

In 2022, a second Leopard Tortoise, Leo, needed a home. Howard approved, and since Leo’s arrival, she’s laid dozens of eggs. Together Howard and Leo have become proud parents to more than 30 baby tortoises who have successfully hatched and many have been adopted by various Woodland Heights neighbors.

Howard, loves her sunny front yard (a great nest area) and with her who can’t help but love face brings a warm and lively energy to the household. During the hot summer months, her favorite time of the year, she can be seen patrolling the driveway. At 55 pounds, she is full-grown and remains a beloved (and energetic) member of ourfamily.

If you meet Howard, be sure to watch your toes if you like red polish – apparently she has a particular fascination with redpainted toenails, even though she’s strictly a vegetarian.

- Brian Edmondson, Director of Infrastructure

SAVE THE DINOSAURS FROM EXTINCTION! /  by Estella Espinosa

Since 2008, the Norhill Esplanade has hosted an unlikely array of prehistoric creatures, glittering and shining along its perimeters, all ready to celebrate LITH. These creatures, Brontosaurus, winged Pterodactyls, and more, have become a cherished part of our community, bringing joy and wonder to the holiday season.

Now, some may say, these creatures are not necessarily creatures you’d expect to see taking to the skies with Rudolph. But here in the Woodland Heights, they do. Taking to the trees to spread their unique and whimsical version of Holiday magic to everyone’s delight.

These unlikely prehistoric Santa’s helpers are made possible by the creative talents of Ward and Susan Pennebaker, who have gifted the neighborhood and its youth with a priceless present celebrating the love of the artistic, creative, quirky, and whimsical to brighten the holiday season. And along the way, they have brightened their neighbors’ lives and inspired them to embrace the uniqueness of Woodland Heights, keeping it a ‘Big Little Community.’

Evolving With the Times

Neighborhood legend says that the first dinosaur, a giant Brotasaurus made on a chicken wire base, took its first steps onto the esplanade around 2008. It was a family project, concocted between Ward, his son Andrew (Drew), and his college roommate James. Little could they imagine at that time that this first giant reptile would leave such lasting giant footprints in the hearts of so many of their neighbors.

Since then, the dinosaurs have evolved. Shedding their chicken wire armature for more lightweight and durable skeletal structures and upgrading their incandescent lights to LEDs. But despite their upgrade efforts, the Norhill Esplanade Dinosaurs are once again facing a crisis.

The increasing costs of maintenance, storage, and repairs could trigger a mass extinction event for these beloved creatures. Their popularity has created a need for professional assistance with their upkeep and deployment. Up to now, Norhill neighbors have stepped up - quietly funding the effort to keep the Dinosaurs glowing every LITH.

Saving the Dinosaurs from Extinction

Now, the WHCA is joining the Norhill neighbors’ efforts, and we’re inviting you to join us as well by contributing to the ‘Save the Dinosaurs from Extinction’ fund. Your donation to this newly created fund can keep the dinosaurs walking among the Norhill trees every LITH. You can make your contribution to the effort at the WHCA store.

It’s a great way to say thank you for the delight these creatures have brought throughout the years. It’s also a great way to continue sparking the imagination and delight in a child’s eyes during the Holiday season.

Help Save The Dinosaurs!

There are various donation levels you can make to the fund for the care and feeding (tongue-in-cheek) of the dinosaurs. We hope you’ll take a moment to visit the WHCA store and make a contribution.. We hope you’ll take a moment to visit the WHCA store and make a contribution.

- Estella Espinosa, Director of Communications

WELCOME TO THE WORLD! /  by Beth Sorensen

Let’s all join in the celebration as we welcome the newest member of our WHCA family, Ms. Isibel Kate! She is the precious addition to the family of our Constable Patrol Deputy Lemmons and his wife.

Isibel was born on October 20th and was joyfully welcomed by her mom, dad, and older sister. The family is in good spirits and is taking some well-deserved time to help Ms. Isibel adjust to her new world.

Deputy Lemmons will return from paternity leave following the holidays. In the meantime, Precinct 1 is covering his shift to ensure our WHCA Constable Patrol is sustained.

Congratulations and best wishes to Deputy Lemmons and his family!

THE 2025 LIGHTS IN THE HEIGHTS BASH /  by Lauren Snead

The Lights in the Heights Fundraising Bash was a huge success and a ton of fun! We are thrilled to announce we raised around $11, 000 from that night alone. These funds, with additional business sponsorships, will fund our 2025 Lights in the Heights, including costs for security, street closures, port-a-potties, street cleaning, and more.

We had a great turnout! A huge thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and supported the event. We’re especially grateful to our sponsors. Without them, this night would not have been possible. Thank you to the Historic Heights Association for generously underwriting half the venue cost, to Gabby’s for donating amazing food, to Mutiny in the Heights, Eureka, and Christian’s Tailgate for providing drinks, and to Cooper’s Orthodontics for supplying our koozies.

Everyone enjoyed the photo booth, thanks to Mirror Mirror Magic Mirror! A heartfelt thank-you to the WHCA board for their support, their efforts, and their presence at the Bash. In particular, thank you the WHCA president, Michael Graves, for his constant support and willingness to help!

This incredible night happened because of our amazing volunteers! A huge thank you to Nikki Hanley and her event planning expertise! Thank you to Amanda Dinitiz, Ashley Allison, Jim Chambers, Christa White, and Christina Thiele. Our volunteers didn’t just get things done, they made the work genuinely fun and enjoyable. We are so grateful for each of you.

For us, the Bash marks the start of the holiday season. We hope you enjoy this time with friends, family, and neighbors. Have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you on the streets of Lights in the Heights!

- Lauren Snead & Danielle Garcia, LITH Bash Co-chairs

Wildflower Planting Sowing Seeds for Spring /  by Ryan Taylor

Last year, the WHCA adopted the Houston Avenue Esplanades near Main Street from the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. We had an idea, that instead of simply maintaining the esplanade by mowing it, which we're happy to say our new landscaping crew is doing a great job of that since this fall, back to our idea. We thought we'd plant the first esplanade in wildflowers so in the spring they would create a great entrance to our neighborhood.

We had a good show of blooms on that esplanade for a first years planting. However, we know it could be better and we're well aware that it takes a little while, good rain, and persistence to create a beautiful wildflower display and we're working on that. 

So to keep up with the persistence part (and hoping for rain this winter into spring) WHCA Beautification Director Ryan Taylor with the help of Boy Scout Troop 30 will be out seeding the esplanade with wildflowers on November 15th. Wildflowers like to be seeded in the fall for a spring bloom. 

If you see them on the esplanade, first slow down and keep them safe, and then honk your horn to say THANK YOU to everyone that's out planting seeds for the spring. 

If you want to know more about the wildflower planting and how you can support the effort and other beautification efforts across our neighborhood, email beautification@woodland-heights.org. Ryan would love to hear from you! 

If you want to learn more about planting wildflowers in your own yard here's a great article from .... for you from Texas A&M Agrilife Today 

An Update From Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority /  by Estella Espinosa

The Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan is in its second round of public engagement, and community input is needed to identify specific streets, trails, and intersections where improvements can make the most impact.

In Round 2, we’re asking residents to help pinpoint priority locations for mobility improvements.

From now until November 16, visit mhraconnects.com/map-my-needs to mark locations where you’d like to see changes that improve safety, connectivity, and access.

Community feedback is essential to creating a plan that reflects local needs. Please share this opportunity with your neighbors.

Presidents Report October 2025 /  by Michael Graves

Halloween is now upon us, marking the start of the holiday season. Tonight, we deal with the pressing matter of candy distribution to crowds of kiddos. It's one of our favorite things to do. It's lots of fun to see the kids and their parents in their costumes every year. It's also really nice to see the kids, all grown up with their own families, coming by. Last year, we had someone drive in from Spring to bring their little boy in to let him see the Halloween she grew up with. That was extra special!

Once they are dispatched, all thoughts turn to the Lights in the Heights Bash. Looking back, we’re not always very clear at describing the BASH. So, I shall try again.

The Lights in the Heights Bash is a classic fund-raising party. This year it’s to be held the evening of Thursday, November 13th at the Old Heights Fire Hall on 12th Street. The party will feature food from Gabby’s BBQ and drink from Eureka Heights and Mutiny in the Heights.

There will be both silent and live auctions, featuring numerous things of interest donated by neighbors and local businesses. Some items are small, while others more significant. Last year, I lucked out on a hefty gift card from Credence, Levi Goode’s new upscale eatery.

The largest item auctioned last year was a private hayride through the neighborhood, pulled by Ulf’s Andresen’s antique Porsche tractor. Which by the way is up for auction again this year - can't think of a better way for you and your family to view the neighborhood in lights as part of a new family tradition. Be sure to get your bid in early for this item!

This year, Stella and I are donating tickets to enjoy Le Chef Club at Culinary Institute Lenotre. CIL, just over yonder, is one of the finest Culinary Arts Schools in the country. Le Chef Club is their program of casual weekend classes. The lucky winners will spend a Saturday morning (you're choice) learning to cook some great cuisine (or pastries!) in a professional kitchen, then enjoy the fruits of their efforts for lunch. We’d done this a dozen times, and every time is great fun.

If you have something you’d like to donate, it’s not too late! Email bash@woodland-heights.org with your idea.

All proceeds from the Bash support the main event, which is the 38th Annual Lights in the Heights on Saturday December 13th. As was announced previously, the route will be Bayland and Woodland Streets. Our entertainment committee is amassing volunteer performers to be matched to porches /yards along the route. If you’d like to volunteer your yard or porch please reach out to Stephanie Frey at EntertainmentLITH@gmail.com.

An event of this size would be impossible without the generosity of many sponsors. We are very happy to announce that Memorial Hermann Greater Heights is returning as a Gold sponsor of the event.  We’re grateful for their support these many years. That said, we are most definitely still in need of sponsors! Details are available on our web site or contact me directly at president@woodland-heights.org.