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.

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

• +Family Wellness Festival [Goose Creek CISD] Jan. 31st from 9am-12pm
  @ Ross S. Sterling High School

• Deaf Social Where Bakery - Feb. 7th - 11 am @ Heart & Whisk Bakery 4618 N. Main St., Baytown

  For a complete events calendar click here

Major Energy Deal
Leaves Cedar Bayou Plant
in Baytown With Seller

Vistra Corp. and Quantum Capital Group announced a major energy deal worth about $4.7 billion in cash. Quantum will sell roughly 90 percent of the Cogentrix Energy natural gas power plant portfolio to Vistra. The sale includes plants and related assets in several U.S. electricity markets.

Quantum said it will keep its ownership stake in the Cedar Bayou natural gas plant in Baytown, Texas. That Baytown facility is not part of the sale and will remain under current ownership.

Vistra leaders said buying the Cogentrix portfolio will expand the company’s power generation footprint and support reliable electric service for customers.

The transaction still requires regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions. Both companies expect the deal to close in mid-to-late 2026, as long as regulators sign off.

Baytown Citizen Police Academy
Registration Now Open

Registration for this year’s Citizen Police Academy (CPA) is officially open. This 10-week course is a great way to start the new year and learn more about how your police department operates.

Registration link

City of Baytown Announces Selected Architect for the Events Center

The City of Baytown issued a Project Update for the ExxonMobil Baytown Events Center. The City has selected Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture (BRS) as its architect for the ExxonMobil Baytown Events Center (EMBEC), and the agreement will go before the city council for consideration at its January 8 meeting. After an open nationwide search, BRS was selected to design the facility, together with the Sterling Municipal Library, at the intersection of Market Street, Texas Avenue, and Decker Drive. The contract price is set at $5,352,805, and the expense will be deducted from the ExxonMobil contribution for the project.

The EMBEC facility will host a wide variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, cheerleading, wrestling, dance, gymnastics, and more, positioning this facility as a premier destination for youth and adult tournaments. Beyond sporting events, this multiple-purpose venue will be able to accommodate concerts, family shows, meetings, exhibitions, consumer expos, and community events, offering a versatile space for a wide range of indoor activities.

The proposed interior and exterior renovation of the Sterling Municipal Library envisions a state-of-the-art library, integrated with the EMBEC facility to form a cohesive campus destination.

The preliminary schedule for the design portion of the project is set at 36 months, and includes community and stakeholder engagement, design development and drafting of construction documents, permitting, and construction bidding and administration.

Run For Your Wildlife
at the Baytown Nature Center

Dress up like your favorite wildlife. Hit the trails. Choose a timed 1K or 5K surrounded by marsh, water, and trees. When the run ends, the fun keeps going, live animals from the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center and light refreshments waiting at the finish.

 📅 Saturday, February 28th
🗺️ Baytown Nature Center - 6213 Bayway Dr., Baytown
💵 Early Bird Pricing (through Feb. 2):
1K – $5 | 5K – $10

After Feb. 2:
1K – $10 | 5K – $15

Registration closes Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 8 AM. To sign up, visit Baytown.org/events

🛍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!

Friendly Note: Garage and Estate sales are as unpredictable as the Texas weather—sometimes they pop up, sometimes they blow away! 🌦️ Hosts may change times, addresses, or even cancel altogether. We just share the info; the rest is part of the treasure-hunting adventure. 🛍️

📌 Check back on Thur. Jan. 8th!

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

Last Quiz: Which everyday household item was originally invented to help sailors keep time accurately at sea?
Answer: B. Hourglass
Hourglasses were widely used aboard ships because they worked reliably despite motion and humidity, helping sailors track watch shifts and navigation timing long before accurate marine clocks existed.