It’s finally happening — the highly anticipated H-E-B grocery store in Manvel Town Center is now open! This is great news for Sierra Vista residents who are now just a hop, skip and a jump away from those fabulous tortillas!
If you are new to Texas, you might not understand why this is such a big deal. No worries. Here’s a primer on all the reasons Texans love H-E-B:
The Tortillas
You can’t talk about H-E-B without mentioning the house-made tortillas. All H-E-B stores feature tortillerias that churn out fresh flour and corn tortillas daily. You can buy them warm from the oven. Pick some up for Taco Tuesdays!
Great Customer Service
H-E-B is known for its excellent customer service. Shoppers often praise the friendly and helpful staff, who go out of their way to assist customers and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Support Local Businesses
H-E-B stocks a wide range of products from local Texas vendors. It’s a great place to find Texan-made goods and support local businesses.
Always Fresh
H-E-B prides itself on offering fresh produce, high-quality meats and a wide variety of groceries. The deli and bakery sections are known for their fresh and delicious offerings, from freshly baked bread to ready-to-eat meals, making it a convenient place for quick and tasty food options.
Always Affordable
H-E-B frequently runs promotions, sales and special offers, helping customers save money on their grocery bills. The store’s private label, H-E-B, offers an excellent balance of quality and affordability. Make sure to watch for their Combo Locos deals!
Commitment to Sustainability
H-E-B has taken steps to reduce its environmental footprint and promote sustainability. This resonates with customers who appreciate a company’s efforts to protect the environment.
Serving the Community
H-E-B is deeply committed to the communities it serves. The company is involved in numerous charitable initiatives and regularly supports local organizations and causes.
Another Reason to Move to Sierra Vista
The presence of an H-E-B is just one of many reasons to consider purchasing a new home in Sierra Vista. You’ll also have access to great amenities, great schools and friendly neighbors. Visit us today.
Keeping tabs on the progress of Manvel Town Center? We know we are. Sierra Vista is just a hop, skip and a jump away from what will be one of the largest open-air retail centers in the Houston area.
The 273-acre shopping center located on the west side of the SH 288 and SH 6 intersection in Manvel will feature more than 1 million square feet of retail, entertainment, hospitality, medical and office space.
It will be anchored by the city’s first H-E-B which is slated to open later this year. The new store will be more than 100,000 square feet and include a fuel station and car wash.
Additional confirmed tenants include Aki Steak & Sushi, Marble Slab Creamery, Prime Urgent Care, McDonald’s, Heartland Dental, and AT&T, while additional proposed tenants include Target, Lowes, Wells Fargo and Burlington Coat Factory.
Getting to Manvel Center will be a breeze due to the construction and planned expansion of the Brazoria County Expressway as well as improvements to both Kirby Drive and Highway 6.
Manvel Town Center is just one of the many reasons moving to Sierra Vista makes sense. You’ll get a beautiful home, fantastic amenities and friendships that last a lifetime.
One of the best things about moving to a new community like Sierra Vista is the opportunity for you and your family to make new friends. It can also be the hardest. How do you go about meeting and building a relationship with those living near you? We have some thoughts:
Knock on the Door
It’s a classic for a reason. Bring a small gift such as a plant or a plate of cookies. Introduce yourself. Be polite and open, expressing your excitement about living in the neighborhood. If knocking on the door seems a little too bold, approach them on the weekend when they are tending to their yard or playing outside with their kids.
Go High Tech
Check to see if your community has resident-only social media groups or an app dedicated to local news and events. Introduce yourself virtually. You can also use these platforms to ask questions, seek recommendations and start conversations with your neighbors.
Host a Welcome Party
Invite neighbors for a backyard barbecue, a potluck dinner or a simple afternoon tea. It’s a relaxed way to break the ice and allows your neighbors to mingle with one another as well.
Do What You Love
Common interests can jump start friendships. If your community has an amenity complex, you can take your kids to the pool, invite a neighbor to play pickleball or hang out at the dog park. If there are neighborhood clubs, join or start one of your own.
By participating in activities you enjoy, you’ll naturally form connections.
Be a Good Neighbor
A simple yet effective way to build connections with your neighbors is to be a good neighbor yourself. Keep your property well-maintained, follow local rules and regulations and be considerate.
Move to Sierra Vista
An easy way to make friends is to move to a great community like Sierra Vista. We’ve designed our neighborhoods and amenities to maximize your ability to make connections. Visit today.
August 9 won’t just be any ordinary first day of school for young residents of Sierra Vista — it will be the first day of a brand-new school now open in the community.
The Delbra Orum Nichols-Wilma Fountain Mock Elementary is expected to serve nearly 400 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in its first year. On an 18-acre site along Crystal View Drive, the 101,858-square-foot campus cost $28.59 million to build.
Leading Nichols-Mock Elementary is Principal Sandy Holdsclaw, a 23-year educator. She has worked 13 years in Alvin ISD and is an alumnus of Sul Ross State University and Lamar University. She and husband Casey have a daughter who is a 2023 graduate of Alvin High School.
Holdsclaw says that as she welcomes the Nichols-Mock Voyagers to their new school, she and her team will work hard to continue the legacy of the school’s namesakes, calling them “voyagers in education.”
Wilma Fountain Mock was the first black teacher in Alvin ISD. She was hired to coach gymnastics at Alvin Junior High in 1972. She then moved to Alvin High School where she taught PE and coached gymnastics, track and cross country. After four years, she began teaching at EC Mason Elementary School. She remained there for 14 years, winning the EC Mason’s Teacher of the Year award in 1992. She helped open Hood-Case Elementary in 1997 and was named Hood-Case Teacher of the Year. She took home the Alvin ISD District Teacher of the Year soon after. Mock retired in 2004 but continues to tutor elementary school students in the district.
Debra Nichols was a teacher in Alvin ISD from 1974 to 2009. Her first teaching position was at Longfellow Elementary where she also taught PE. In 1982, she began teaching ELA and social studies at EC Mason. She joined Mock in opening Hood-Case and was named Teacher of the Year there. She retired in 2009. Like Mock, she continues tutoring youth in the district.
Enjoy your new school, Voyagers! We can’t wait to see the great heights you’ll soar to!
Reading as they say, is fundamental. Studies show that children who read for pleasure do better in school, scoring higher on measures of comprehension, vocabulary and even math. Nurturing a love of reading is the greatest gift a parent can give a child. With the school bell about to ring for young Sierra Vista scholars, here are some tips for encouraging a life-long love for books:
Read Together
Parents often stop reading to their children once they start school. That’s a mistake. Reading together is an excellent way to bond and foster a love for storytelling no matter how old your child is. Choose books that match their interest and take turns reading. They will become confident in their reading skills, and everyone will have fun.
Keep Bookshelves Stocked
Surround your child with books. Every room should have at least one shelf featuring a wide variety of topics. You can even put books in a basket in the bathroom. Age-appropriate book series are a great way to keep them engaged and eager to read more.
Stop In at the Library
Make regular visits to the library. Most libraries offer a storytelling hour for young children and book clubs for older children and teens. Introduce them to the children’s book section and let them browse. Get to know your librarian. He or she can help your child select books that are age-appropriate and interest them.
Every Book Needs a Nook
Create a reading nook for your child. This could be the closet under the stairs, a window seat or just a corner of the game room. Make it inviting with soft cushions, good lighting and a shelf filled with books that cater to their interests. It won’t be long before you find them curled up with a good book.
There’s Always Something to Read
Reading isn’t just about books. Encourage your child to read in different situations. When cooking, let them read the recipes. When gardening, encourage them to read the seed packets. Younger children can be encouraged to point out and read signs. Praise them for doing a good job.
Set Reading Goals
Setting reading goals can be tricky. Many children see it as just doing school at home. Instead, celebrate when your child finishes a book by taking them to the store to purchase another. This works particularly well if your child has fallen in love with a book series.
Let Them Catch You
Let your kids catch you reading. Be sure to discuss the books, newspapers and magazines you ae reading at the dinner table and encourage them to do the same. Give your child a book you enjoyed as a child and tell them why you enjoyed it.
What If It’s Hard?
If your child is having difficulty reading, don’t be afraid to have them evaluated for dyslexia. Catching it quickly means you can intervene and teach your child coping strategies. Let your child know it’s okay to read at a slower pace. It doesn’t mean they are stupid; they simply have more opportunities to enjoy the story.
Be Supportive
Be patient, understanding and supportive throughout your child’s reading journey. Avoid putting pressure on them, as it may create a negative association with reading. Instead, offer encouragement, praise their efforts and celebrate every small reading achievement.
