Health + Wellness

Hip Flexor Tightness in Cyclists

Hip Flexor Tightness in Cyclists: Why It’s More Serious Than You Think — and What to Do About ItIf you’ve been cycling for any length of time, you’ve probably felt it — that pulling, aching tightness in the front of your hip. Maybe it shows up after a long ride. Maybe you feel it when you stand up from your bike and your hips won’t quite straighten out. Maybe it’s graduated into something more: low back pain that won’t resolve, a nagging hip ache that follows you off the bike, or knee pain that...

Wellness

The Sound of Hope

All Ears! Center offers affordable, life-changing care for families of children with hearing loss  Article by Kaylee Dusang When a child is born deaf or hard of hearing, finding the right resources to support their growth and development is often an overwhelming and challenging journey for parents.  According to the World Health Organization, 95.1 million children between the ages of five and nine years old live with hearing loss worldwide. A local non-profit organization, All Ears! Center...

Life + Culture

K-9s of Courage

Meet the five K-9s who protect and serve our schools Article by Laura SanchezQuan | Photography by Daniel Arizpe | Apollo Productions & Sunny Rajabi | Sunburst Photography Since 2018, the Cy-Fair ISD Police Department's K-9 Unit has played an important role in keeping campuses safe. The team consists of five exceptional K-9 officers and their handlers—four trained in narcotics detection and one specializing in explosives detection. Whether conducting campus searches, assisting patrol officers...

Education

Making Waves

A trailblazing athlete, dedicated volunteer and aspiring teacher inspires others to dream bigger Article by Tyler Jarvis | Photography by Daniel Arizpe, Thomas Coffman “I want people to focus on what I can do. Not what they think I can’t,” says Seana Burris, a recent high school graduate from Cypress Ranch High School. Throughout Burris’s life, having Down syndrome has impacted how others perceive her ability to accomplish things compared to her peers. “I know what I’m capable of. I believe I...

Education

Where Learning Takes Root

Locally owned Lightbridge Academy is changing what child care looks like in Cypress, one family at a time Article by Stephanie Parnell | Photography by Sunny Rajabi | Sunburst Photography When Arturo Neto and his family moved to Cypress, he encountered the same challenge facing so many parents in this fast-growing pocket of northwest Houston: finding child care that felt like genuine partnership rather than just a place to drop off your kids. After years of watching what was available in...

Life + Culture

A Life in Focus

Jill Garrett captures the heart, humor and soul of the animals we love most Article by Laura SanchezQuan | Photography by Jill Garrett For Jill Garrett, pet photography has never been about teaching animals to pose. It's about allowing them to be exactly who they are. Based in nearby Brenham, Garrett has spent more than three decades studying animal behavior, a passion that has shaped both her life and her work behind the camera. Her ability to understand animals on their terms allows her to...

Fitness

Back in the Race

Local Triathlete Maria Pinder’s Comeback Starts at Home Article by Megan Ewing When Maria Pinder crossed the finish line at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, she should have felt nothing but triumph. Instead, she could barely walk. The Cypress triathlete had spent years working toward the most prestigious race in endurance sports, earning her spot among the world’s top amateur athletes after qualifying at IRONMAN Arizona in 2024. But behind the excitement of competing in Kona...

Food + Beverage

A Seat at Mel’s Table

Chef Mel brings intention, creativity, and connection to every plate Article by Laura SanchezQuan After a shift in her 9–5 career, Melissa Helton was prompted to reevaluate what she wanted her life to look like. Cooking had always been a significant part of her life, with both her grandmother and her father shaping her love for food. “Cooking has always been a huge part of my story,” she says. Their influence ultimately led her to fully pursue the culinary world and turn that passion into a...

Education

The Modern Guide to Personal Safety

Confidence, awareness, and protection: the self-defense skills everyone should know in every stage of life Article by Laura SanchezQuan We sat down with local personal safety expert Robert Webre, owner of Silverback Self Defense. Read on as he tackles common misconceptions, reveals crucial skills, and details the common mistakes to avoid when it comes to self-defense and personal safety. What are the most important self-defense principles every person should know? Awareness is the...

Shopping

Beauty In The Grain

Phoenix Woodworks owner Shawn Jackson turns a passion for craftsmanship into one-of-a-kind creations Article by Stephanie Parnell  | Photography by Sunny Rajabi Some businesses are born from opportunity. Others are born from necessity, and are then shaped into something far greater than their origins. For Shawn Jackson, founder of Phoenix Woodworks, woodworking wasn't a career he planned. It was a lifeline that became a legacy. After years working as a commercial driver, Jackson suffered a...