Good morning, neighbors

Happy Sunday — and welcome to Memorial Day weekend. It's a long, easy few days: time to fire up the grill, but also to pause and remember the service members we've lost. We've got a full Sunday edition — drones are now dropping groceries into Cypress yards, Cy-Fair ISD is staring down a big budget gap, a homegrown nonprofit is opening doors for foster youth, scholarship season is in full swing, and there's a brand-new frozen custard stand to beat the heat. Plus a few meaningful ways to honor the fallen this weekend. Grab your coffee and let's dig in.

What's happening today and tomorrow

Sunday, May 24

Flags of Honor: 6th Annual Veterans Flag Planting — Houston National Cemetery, 8:30–11:30 a.m. Free; volunteers register. Help place a flag at every veteran's grave ahead of Memorial Day.

Cypress Farmers Market — 10519 Fry Rd., 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Fresh produce, meats, breads, and local crafts.

Monday, May 25 — Memorial Day

Memorial Day at Houston National Cemetery — Spend a quiet moment among the flag-lined rows honoring those who gave everything.

Harris County offices & libraries closed for the holiday.

Looking ahead

Live music returns to the Towne Lake Boardwalk — Fri., May 29 & Sat., May 30, 6:30–9:30 p.m.

CFISD last day of school — Thursday, May 28; graduations May 27–30 at the Berry Center.

Coming soon: Texas Roadhouse opens June 1 on West Road; Boardwalk Boat Show + Free Fishing Day across Texas on June 6.

Today's stories

Zipline drone delivery makes its first Houston-area flight in Cypress

The future arrived by air in Cypress this week. Zipline, the autonomous drone-delivery company, made its first Houston-area flight here on May 22, lowering groceries and takeout straight into local yards — and Cypress is the launch point before the service spreads to more Houston neighborhoods in the coming weeks.

Roughly 5,000 area residents have early access to start, with groceries, meals and retail items delivered with no service or delivery fees (and $10 off the first few orders). Zipline says health care delivery is next, including prescriptions through a partnership with Memorial Hermann.

Why it matters here: Cy-Fair gets to go first. If you spot something humming over the rooftops, it might just be dinner.

→ Read the full report at Community Impact

Cy-Fair ISD projects a $67.4M budget shortfall — and a tax vote may be coming

Cy-Fair ISD is facing a projected $67.4 million shortfall for the 2026-27 school year, the district's chief financial officer told trustees at a May 21 budget workshop. Leaders stress it's a revenue problem, not overspending — driven by declining enrollment (which means fewer state dollars), inflation, and unfunded state mandates.

To help close the gap, the superintendent is recommending a voter-approved tax rate election (VATRE) that could raise the maintenance-and-operations rate by up to 12 cents — about $126 more a year for a home valued at $350,000. Without new revenue, the district warns it may have to cut programs and staff, and could face roughly $80 million in cuts the following year if a VATRE doesn't pass.

Why it matters here: This is our schools and our property taxes — expect it to be the local conversation heading into the fall.

→ Read more at Community Impact

Petra Cares plans a new automotive training center in Cypress

A Cypress nonprofit doing quietly remarkable work is about to get a bigger home. Petra Cares — launched in 2021 by Petra Automotive Products — announced plans on May 21 for a new automotive training center to help young adults aging out of foster care build stable careers as auto technicians.

The track record tells the story: since its first class in June 2023, the program has trained 106 students with a 79% graduation rate and a 71% job-placement rate, providing tools, books, transportation and industry connections along the way.

Why it matters here: It's a homegrown answer to a real problem, turning a tough transition into a paycheck and a future.

→ Read more at Community Impact

Cy-Fair Educational Foundation to award nearly $1M in scholarships to 2026 grads

With caps and gowns just days away, the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation is sending the Class of 2026 off in style — awarding nearly $1 million in scholarships to graduating seniors across CFISD this month. Individual awards range from $1,000 to $32,000, with up to five students per high school selected based on academics, leadership and financial need.

The foundation is no newcomer to this: since 1970 it has handed out more than $13.4 million to over 2,500 Cy-Fair graduates.

Why it matters here: Real dollars for real kids, right down the street — a great reminder of what this community invests in its own.

→ Read more at My Neighborhood News

Andy's Frozen Custard opens on Barker Cypress

Just in time for the first 90-degree afternoons: Andy's Frozen Custard has opened its newest spot at 11450 Barker Cypress Rd. The fan-favorite chain — known for concretes, sundaes and jr. cups made fresh all day — quietly opened its doors May 4 and is scooping daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Never had Andy's? The move is a "Jackpot" concrete: vanilla custard layered with cake, hot fudge and butterscotch. You're welcome.

→ Read more at Community Impact

Thanks for reading

That's your Sunday roundup — wishing you a restful and meaningful Memorial Day weekend, neighbors. Spot something we should cover next week — a new business, a school event, a neighbor doing good work? Just reply and tell us.

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— Your Northwest Houston Neighbor team