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Saturday, November 1, 2025 • Vol. 70 • No. 44
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GHP: Region more diverse, more educated, and aging at a slower pace than the nation overall STAFF REPORTS
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Editor’s note: In its “Economy at a Glance” report for October, the Greater Houston Partnership – the regional chamber of commerce – examines new American Community Survey (ACS) data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, which shows the Houston metropolitan region growing more diverse, more educated,
and aging at a slower pace than the nation overall. This article first appeared in The Leader’s sister paper, the Fort Bend Star. Each fall, the U.S. Census Bureau releases new American Community Survey (ACS) estimates, showing how the nation’s demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics have changed relative to the previous year. The 2024
data, released in September, includes estimates for Houston and other major metro areas. In this issue of Glance, the Partnership examines some of the ways the region has changed over the past decade. Subsequent editions of Glance will look at the same ACS data in greater detail, comparing Houston to its peer metropolitan areas.
Race and Ethnicity
The Houston region, already one of the nation’s most ethnically and racially diverse metros, has grown even more diverse over the past decade. Since 2014, the region’s Hispanic or Latino population has increased by nearly 700,000, while non-Hispanic Black and Asian populations have added over 200,000 resi-
BEAUTY MEETS ACCESSIBILITY
dents each. The non-Hispanic white population has declined slightly, though part of this change may be due to the growing number of residents who now identify with more than one race – a group that has nearly tripled during the same period. Hispanic or Latino residents make up the largest racial/ See GHP P. 2
Flying Saucer Pie Company asks Houston to help save 58-year tradition By BETSY DENSON The Leader News Contributor
Karbach Brewing Co. honors tradition with Día de los Muertos celebration
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Anniversary Bash: Heights resale store celebrates 3 years of giving back
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Sarah Crulcich at the Railroad Community Garden, the newest collaboration to complement trail landscaping.
Heights non-profit plants trees, launches community garden By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
Houston Food Bank steps up amid government shutdown, SNAP cancellation
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City kicks off 5th Annual Pumpkin Compost Drop-Off
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Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Residents who love walking, running, and riding along The Heights Hike and Bike Trail — also known as the MKT Trail, a nod to the former MissouriKansas-Texas rail line — received a gift recently: hundreds of young trees planted along the trail’s southern edge. Although grass was planted and maintained south of the trail, now much of this segment will boast beautiful and vibrant foliage, thanks to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, A Tale of Two Bridges (ATOTB). As might be apparent from the organization’s name, this beautification project is only a small part of their overall mission, which is to ‘promote economic empowerment and environmental conservation through the development of infrastructure that supports various active recreation and transportation modes, including walking, bicycling, inline skating, and wheelchair use’.
space along the bayou and creating pedestrian-friendly connectivity between Washington Avenue and The Heights,” said Nunez, who is an engineering professional by vocation, but transforming his community is both his avocation and passion. Nunez said he moved into the Heights along the trail in 2021 and knew this was the place to start. As an engineer, he has followed numerous urban transformation projects and added, “I’ve always found it really fascinating to be able to transform a space that has been there for so long Photo by Stephanie Shirley and often neglected or even forgotEngineer and Heights resident Emmanuel Nunez created ATOTB to help transform his ten.” It’s all about accessibility, beaucommunity. tification and connectivity, he added -- the ABC’s of his organization. Reimagining Connection, Two bridges have served as the One Bridge at a Time primary connectivity and accessibility ATOTB was founded by Heights focus for the nonprofit. There is a long resident Emmanuel Nunez. “When I was looking for places disconnected stretch along the White to live in Houston, what cemented Oak Bayou path and a tremendous the Heights for me was all the opSee GARDEN P. 2 portunity for reimagining the green
Flying Saucer Pie Company, a Houston institution where generations have camped out for holiday pies, is facing a crisis. For the first time in 58 years, the iconic shop says it might not have enough supplies to meet demand during the crucial Thanksgiving and Christmas season, and they’re asking the community for help. Every year, the historic bakery sells close to 20,000 pies in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. It takes nearly a month for them to prepare for it. But this year, according to a social media post, they didn’t make enough money to purchase the supplies needed for their holiday rush. “For generations, families have camped out for our pies - it’s more than dessert, it’s Houston history,” the shop said on Facebook. “But for the first time since 1967, we need your help to keep that tradition alive.” In 2014, The Leader profiled thenowner Bill Leeson, who founded the company with Earl Turner in 1967. Leeson and staff arrived at midnight and worked straight through morning to keep up with demand. The Thanksgiving rush was so consuming that the entire building would operate around the clock, with about 40 people working the night shift alone. The holiday season demand is a Houston spectacle, one that draws news See PIE P. 2
Flying Saucer Pie Co. Facebook photo
Safety is no trick: Keeping kids safe from Halloween’s real scares By JUHI VARMA The Leader News Contributor
Comings & Goings: Meet the new kids on the block
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Halloween is here and, with it, the kick-off to the holiday season! Costumes are ready, candy buckets are waiting, and children everywhere are counting down the days to trick-ortreating. But amid the excitement, parents and caregivers should take a moment to think about safety — not just from traffic or tainted candy, but from something far more serious. According to Kerry McCracken, Executive Director
Costumes should be comfortable and visible -- ideally without masks that block vision. “One of the tips that actually kind of surprised me is-- some recommend--don’t do costumes with masks, because it blocks the vision a little bit, and makes it a little bit harder for kids to watch where they’re going,” she said. Common-sense tips for a She also encouraged parents to safe night out plan their trick-or-treat routes in McCracken emphasized the advance, staying in familiar, wellbasics first: young children lit neighborhoods, and to check in should always be accompa- regularly with older children. According to Kerry McCracken, Executive Director of The Children’s nied by an adult, and older Assessment Center (CAC) in Houston, Halloween can be a time See HALLOWEEN P. 3 kids should stick to groups. when kids are more vulnerable. of The Children’s Assessment Center (CAC) in Houston, Halloween can be a time when kids are more vulnerable. “One thing we don’t want to do is take the fun out of Halloween,” McCracken said. “But we do want to make sure families stay alert and aware.”
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