☕️ City Council has $37 million on the table

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like a freshly made bed after a long week.

In today's edition:
🛩️ Our paper airplane champ
🛒 Garden City Grocery is hiring
🏛️ City Council preview + election ballot guide
🕯️ Silobration starts Thursday
🎟️ Win a pair of Mt. Joy tickets

Let's get to it!
- Sam Harper

What would it look like to have a little more space, a little more quiet, and still be close enough to town for a quick H-E-B run?

That’s the idea behind Cedar Hollow, a new neighborhood Lindsay and Colton Nixon are building just across Lake Waco, near one of our favorite spots, Helberg Barbecue. They want to create a place where people can slow down, get to know their neighbors, and build the kind of community that brings generations together.

Cedar Hollow has 33 spacious lots ranging from 1 to 3 acres, just outside Waco city limits. That means no city property taxes. Look at you already saving money!

The neighborhood is taking shape now, with completion planned for January. The best way to understand what the Nixons are building is to see the property.

The first six preferred-pricing lots are already spoken for, leaving six of the original 12 still available. If you’ve been thinking about more room to spread out without moving too far from Waco, now’s a good time to take a look.

See the lots still available and call/text Colton at 254-230-6061 if you want to find out more.^*

🛩️ Jeff Langford Is Waco's Paper Airplane Champ
Jeff won Sunday's Paper Airplane Championship at McLane Stadium with a throw that flew more than 30 yards and landed within three feet of the trophy. His prize is a year's supply of Joyride Candy, a trophy taller than his son, and the title of Waco’s best paper airplane builder beating 120 other contestants.

Thank you to L3Harris, a global industry leader with local heart, for helping make the event happen. Thanks also to The Baylor Club for dinner, The Mayborn Museum for plane-building supplies, and Joyride Candy for the prize!

🧠 Social Studies: Why Your Brain Needs Sleep
When was the last time you got out on a weeknight, learned something fascinating, and met a few people you wouldn't have otherwise crossed paths with?

That's the idea behind Social Studies: curious people, interesting conversations, and a reason to put your phone down and get out into the world for a while.

Next month, Baylor sleep researcher Dr. Michael Scullin will explain how sleep affects memory, mood, and focus, which sleep myths hold up, and what you can do tonight to rest better. He directs Baylor’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory, so expect practical takeaways alongside fascinating science

📅 Thursday, Nov. 12 👉 Get your November Social Studies tickets

Round-trip flights from Waco to Bozeman, Montana is 35% cheaper than usual. It’s over Thanksgiving week, so it's either a plan or a very bold excuse. Ready to get out of cell range so you can stop getting all the political texts? Me too. Escape to Montana. 👉 Check flights on Google*
*^{_{Price is subject to change and may no longer be available at the time you check the link.}}

Small Town Startup reminder: every time you choose a local business, you're voting for the kind of town you want to live in.

🛒 Garden City Grocery Is Hiring
Downtown's first grocery store in about 70 years is hiring. Walk-in interviews are Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 AM to 2 PM at 1726 Austin Ave., and no appointment is needed.

They're hiring for every position: store manager, shift leads, crew members, butchers and meat cutters, café and fresh foods, bakery and prepared foods, and porters. Questions go to [email protected].

Quick Hits

☕ Scooter's Coffee has filed plans to move into the former bank building at Waco Dr and 17th.

🌮 Abuelita's Mexican Restaurant is closing in Waco and reopening in Meridian, so your usual order just became a road trip.

🧸 Action Jack's Toys left Richland Mall for its own spot at 1508 Speight Ave., Suite 140, in the old Baylor Flowers shop.

🛍️ TJ Maxx is officially open as of Sunday.

🏕️ Camp Fimfo is bringing live country to its Nov. 13 to 14 concert weekend. We’re giving one winner a free two-night cabin stay plus two more winners get VIP passes. 👉 Enter to win*

📚 Want to buy a Sylvan Learning Center for $0? That's the asking price on the listing, so read the fine print. 👉 See the listing

🏃 Woodway Family Field Day
Picture your family on a Saturday morning with a pie-eating contest, tug-of-war, sack races, and an egg toss. That's Woodway Family Field Day, back for its second year.

📅 Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 AM to noon at the Carleen Bright Arboretum and Woodway Family Center Fields. Start with the 5K or ½K Woodway Wobble, then play through crafts and all the classics. Every participant gets a T-shirt, two food truck tickets, and entry to every game.

Family Field Day is sponsored by Cromwell Commercial Group, Gregg Glime, KidStrong, Secret Chef, and Rock Ready. 👉 Get your tickets*

🏛️ City Council Preview
City Council meets today at the Bosque Theater, with a 3 PM work session and a 6 PM business session, and the public is welcome.

1. Taylor Street: Council will consider a $37 million mixed-use project on city-owned land with at least 150 homes, 20% of them priced at or below the area median income, backed by $5.6 million in tax increment funds.

2. Jackson Avenue: $900,000 would bring new sidewalks and lighting to Jackson Avenue from Third to Eighth Street downtown.

3. Cole Avenue: A $196,000 agreement with the Better Block Foundation would turn the city-owned lot at 2423 Cole Ave. into a gathering space for the 25th and 26th Street corridor.

Also on tap: possible updates to alcohol ordinances, three new hybrid buses for Waco Transit around $1M each, and a proclamation for Bird Kultgen Ford's 90th anniversary.
👉See Full Agenda

🗳️ Build Your Ballot Before You Vote
Early voting runs Oct. 19 to 30, Election Day is Nov. 3, and this week's hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. The Waco Bridge built a free tool that takes your address and shows every race you'll vote on, from the top of the ballot down to school board and propositions. This makes it a lot easier than Googling candidates in the parking lot.

👉 Build your ballot. 👉 Where and when to vote

🕯️ Silobration Starts Thursday
Waco, one of the biggest weekends of the fall starts Thursday. Silobration is taking over the Silos with 80+ makers, live music, Western Day, workshops, tours, great food, family activities, and concerts. Basically, if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, this is where the place to start.

One last thing: you can still save 20% on Silos concert tickets. If you’ve been thinking about going, now’s the time to make it happen.

👉 See the day-by-day schedule and event map*

🏀 Lunch With Baylor Coach Scott Drew
Tue, Oct. 27 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | The Baylor Club

KCBI's Business Connect Lunch brings Christian professionals and business owners together for a meal, meaningful conversation, and encouragement in their faith and work. This month's featured speaker is Baylor men's basketball coach Scott Drew, who led the Bears to the 2021 national championship. Cost is $20 and includes lunch.

👉 Reserve your seat →*

🏈 Football: This Saturday, Baylor heads to Kansas to take on the Jayhawks at 12 PM.

🏀 Basketball: Baylor men's basketball beat No. 1 Florida in an exhibition over the weekend, which doesn't count in the standings but has me dreaming about a national title run come March.

🏐 Volleyball: This Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 PM, No. 24 Baylor hosts No. 17 Kansas for a Gilmore Girls-themed Espresso and Aces match that turns the Ferrell Center into Stars Hollow, with $2 tickets for Waco Rush Pass holders and a Luke's Diner-inspired coffee mug for the first 250 students.

Tuesday, October 20:
Beer Garden Yoga @ Brotherwell Brewing, 7 PM
Smarty Pints Trivia @ Southern Roots Brewing Co., 7 PM
Lawrence Wright Discusses Redemption @ Fabled Bookshop & Cafe, 7 PM
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday @ Freight Bar, 7:30 PM
MCC Rock Bands Live @ MCC Visual and Performing Arts Center, 7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 21:
The Meetup (I’m speaking if you want to come!) @ Startup Waco, 9 AM
Garden City Grocery Hiring Event @ 1726 Austin Ave, 10 AM to 2 PM
Wild Wednesdays Group Hike @ Cameron Park Northern Gateway, 5:45 PM
Trivia Night @ Hemingway's Watering Hole, 6 PM
Social Studies: Heroes in Our Midst with Brad Livingstone @ Southern Roots, 6:15 PM
Music Bingo @ Brotherwell Brewing, 7 PM

Thursday, October 22:
Story Time @ Fabled Bookshop & Cafe, 10:30 AM
Silobration kickoff @ Magnolia Silos
Waco Backgammon Club @ Shorty's Pizza Shack, 5:30 PM
The Vibe: Mind Body Flow @ Element Hotel, 6 PM
Wait Until Dark (opening night) @ Waco Civic Theatre, 7 PM
Mt. Joy @ Foster Pavilion, 7:30 PM

🎟️ I'm giving away a pair of tickets to Thursday night's Mt. Joy show at Foster Pavilion, and entries close this afternoon at 3 PM. 👉 Enter on Instagram

Want your event featured? Reserve a spot here.

Take your best guess. Only locals will know the right answer.

✨ Need a skin refresh? Skin & Body Refinery offers HydraFacials with deep cleansing, gentle extraction, and hydration.*

💧 Feeling the seasonal sniffles already? I-Vit's Immune Boost IV is designed for hydration and immune support, with 20% off this month.*

💪 Want to move and recover better? Waco Body Mend is built for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best.*

🚗 Shopping for a Silverado? Chevy of West owner Leo Pacheco and General Sales Manager Mark Varia are offering 0% APR for 5 years for well-qualified buyers, or a $6,000 cash allowance plus another $2,000 bonus cash on select 2026 Silverado 1500s.*

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz. If you found something useful, share it with the friend who goes to bed at 8:30 PM and is proud of it.

Whenever you're ready, here are three ways to get more involved:

1. Get your Social Studies tickets: Dr. Michael Scullin on The Sleeping Brain, Thursday, Nov. 12 at The Baylor Club.

2.Send a tip — the best things we cover start as a reader email. Just reply to any edition.

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