Note: Events with + in front indicates newly added event!

While we strive to ensure that all of our events are current and accurate, please always check to ensure that the event is still scheduled and that the information below is correct.

• Wild Wheels 2025 Family Bike Ride Sat., Aug. 23rd Check in @ 8:30 am Baytown Nature Center - Register 

• +Ride for Life Fundraiser for Pregnancy Resource Center East – Sat., Aug. 23

• +Grand Opening Open House for Pregnancy Resource Center East -
  Mon. Aug. 25th from 4-7pm -610 S. Main St. in Highlands

• Something Old Something New Vendor Market Aug. 30th 10 AM-2 PM 2122 N. Alexander Drive, Baytown

• First Fridays at Five Points- A Taste of Main Street Fri., Sept. 5th,
   6 PM-9 PM - Five Points Plaza, 100 S Broadway, Main Street La Porte

• +POOCH-A-PALOOZA! Sat., Sept. 6th - 9am-12pm @ Jenkins Park

• Anything But A Boat Race Sat. Sept. 6 @10am Mont Belvieu City Park, 10900 Eagle Dr. Click for details

• Deaf Social Where Bakery - Sept.. 6th - 11 am @
  Heart & Whisk Bakery 4618 N. Main St., Baytown

• West Chambers Deaf Social – Sept. 13th @ 11 am. @ The Toasted Yolk in Mt. Belvieu 13001 I-10 East

• +Fall Harvest Festival Sept. 14th -10am-4pm @ Crosby American Legion

• +Kids Fall Fair Sept. 14th - 10am-4pm @ Crosby American Legion

Goose Creek CISD Schools
Named One of America’s
Healthiest Schools 2025

National children’s health organization Alliance for a Healthier Generation today unveiled its 2025 list of America’s Healthiest Schools, celebrating 1,120 K–12 schools nationwide for their commitment to advancing whole child health, including schools from Goose Creek CISD.

Supported by Del Monte Foods, Kaiser Permanente, and Kohl’s Cares, Healthier Generation’s annual award program recognizes schools for implementing evidence-based policies and practices to support academic success and lifelong well-being. Schools are recognized in nine health-related topic areas.

The following Goose Creek CISD campuses were recognized for their commitment to health and wellness:

Alamo Elementary School - Ashbel Smith Elementary School - Dr. Antonio Banuelos Elementary School- Dr. Johnny T Clark Jr. Elementary School - George W Carver Elementary School - Harlem Elementary School (All-Star Awardee) - Highlands Elementary School - Impact Early College High School - Jessie Lee Pumphrey Elementary School - Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary School - Point Alternative Center - San Jacinto Elementary School - Stephen F. Austin Elementary School

Each of these campuses were awarded in one or more of the following topic areas: Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning, Cultivating Staff Well-Being, Increasing Family & Community Engagement, Improving Nutrition & Food Access, Implementing Local School Wellness Policy, Bolstering Physical Education & Activity, Enriching Health Education, Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools and Supporting School Health Services.

Join the La Porte Fire Department
as a Volunteer Firefighter

The La Porte Fire Department needs more volunteers.
Here's the story of one volunteer:

Sixteen years ago, Steve Regan’s life took an unexpected turn. A retired high school teacher of 40 years, Steve, had just weathered the destruction of Hurricane Ike in 2008 when a group of familiar faces showed up at his home, La Porte firefighters who were once his students.

“They came by to help clear the trees from my yard,” Steve recalls. “They encouraged me to join. I was retired, had some time, and it didn’t cost me anything to give back to the community. I talked it over with my wife and decided to do it.”

That decision would launch Steve into a new chapter of service, one that would challenge him physically, reward him emotionally, and allow him to be there for people on some of the hardest days of their lives.

“My favorite part is that when we show up, whoever we’re helping is probably having one of the worst days of their life,” Steve says. “We can make it a little better for them. That’s what keeps me going.”

Assistant Chief Justin Crow says the La Porte Fire Department is eager to welcome more people like Steve.

“We currently have 48 volunteers on our roster,” Crow explains. “We would love to see that number increase to between 75 and 85. We hold a class for the recruits once a year, starting at the end of January or the beginning of February. It spans about six months with training sessions on Tuesday nights and some Saturdays.”

Crow emphasizes that no prior firefighting skills are needed. “They’ll learn everything in recruit class,” he says. “From day one, recruits can come to fires and observe. That helps them decide if this is really for them before they spend months training.”

Once recruits finish training, they spend a year on probation before becoming full members, meaning it typically takes about 18 months from application to complete certification. Crow says the La Porte Volunteer Fire Department isn’t just about fighting fires; it’s about caring for the people who protect the community. Over the last two years, all personnel have undergone cancer screenings to detect risks early and take preventative measures. The department has also raised volunteer pensions to $200 a month for those who serve at least 15 years and retire at age 55, placing La Porte in the top five in the area for volunteer firefighter retirement benefits.

To encourage wellness, the department offers a quarterly fitness incentive that rewards firefighters who pass physical testing. Volunteers also work with state-of-the-art equipment on every call, ensuring they can respond effectively and safely. Most importantly, the department fosters a strong sense of family. “We’re a very family-oriented fire department,” Crow says. “We love to have gatherings throughout the year and make sure our firefighters’ families come first.”

To serve as a volunteer firefighter in La Porte, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, hold a valid Texas driver’s license with an acceptable driving record, live within La Porte city limits or areas under department protection, pass a physical and drug test, and have no substantial criminal record. If you’re interested in serving the La Porte community as a volunteer firefighter, apply online or in person at the Fire Administration Office. You can also download the application and email it to [email protected]. Full requirements and application details can be found here.

Steve knows the commitment is big, but so are the rewards. “It’s one of the most rewarding things you can do,” he says. “It’s a great way to give back.” And for those wondering if they’re ready to join the ranks, Steve says with a smile, “You’ll know the first time you step into the station. That’s how it was for me.”

This information was provided by the City of La Porte Fire Department

From Wags to Riches: Enter Your Pup
in Pooch-A-Palooza 🏆🐾

Get ready for a tail-wagging good time on Saturday, Sept. 6th from 9 AM–12 PM at Jenkins Park in Baytown!

Register by Aug. 29th to get a discount on entry fees for our Weenie Dog Races, Mutt Strut (Costume Contest), and Doggie Dash. 🐕 Whether your pup loves to race, strut their stuff, or just soak up attention, there’s something for every four-legged friend (and their humans)!

🐶 Event Highlights:
• Weenie Dog Races – hilarious dachshund-only sprints 🏁 
• Mutt Strut – costume contest with plenty of personality 🎭
• Doggie Dash – walk, jog, or run the Jenkins Park trails 🚶‍♂️
• Adorable adoptables from Baytown Animal Shelter 🐾 
• Free pup cups from Texas Feed Stop 🍦
• “Smooch Your Pooch” photo op 📸 
• Free face painter 🎨 & balloon artist 🎈
• Vendor shopping 🛍️ & food trucks 🍔

Don’t miss this paw-some morning of furry festivities! 🔗 Learn more & register

Don’t Miss the Last
Neighborhood Scavenger
Hunt of 2025 🏴‍☠️

Begin your Scavenger Hunt at McElroy Park! 🔍🌳✨

📍 Location: 4403 Craigmont Blvd, Baytown, TX 77521
🚨 HOW TO ENTER 🚨 
✨Step 1: Download the Agents of Discovery App!
✨Step 2: Once you have the app, go to the park (McElroy Park) and open the app! Open Missions, and start the Mission to begin the Scavenger Hunt!
✨Step 3: Grand Prize entry information will be found at the end of the Scavenger Hunt, along with a Neighborhood Park Sticker! 🎉

Wild Wheels 2025 Family Bike Ride

🚴‍♂️Get your bikes ready and helmets on for the 2025 Wild Wheels Family Bike Ride at the Baytown Nature Center!
Join us Sat., Aug. 23rd for a morning of family biking activities, giveaways, and more.
This event is free with paid admission to the Nature Center.
Secure your place now by registering at bit.ly/Wild-Wheels

🛍Local Garage, Yard & Estate Sales!🏷

Please help us spread the word: share this newsletter with your friends, neighbors, and anyone who loves a good deal. Encourage them to subscribe so they never miss a sale. And if you're planning a sale of your own, be sure to submit your info by Tuesday at 5 PM to be included in this week’s issue!

📌Check back on Thursday!

Job Listings Now on a Separate Page! 🎉

To make scrolling easier for everyone, we’ve moved job listings to a separate page! If you're job hunting, check it out—if not, enjoy a quicker read! 😊👀

Click job listings page

Tuesday’s Quiz: Which movie features the famous line: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat”?
Answer:  B) Jaws - The line was ad-libbed by actor Roy Scheider in the 1975 blockbuster “Jaws,” directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s now one of the most iconic movie quotes in history.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to everyone who played yesterday’s trivia! For the first time ever, we had a 100% correct score across the board. 🎉 Looks like the classic movie Jaws left quite an impression—everyone remembered it!