Is Waco a group project? 👀

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz. Happy International Chocolate Day to those who celebrate. 🍫

In today's Sunday Sip:
🪑 Is Waco a Group Project? Here's What You Said
📅 3 Events to Circle This Week
🏡 Home of the Week: 2014 W Elm Mott Dr
📝 Good Life in Waco: $16.50 an Hour to $110K
📚 Waco Gem: STARS Book Club

Let's get to it!

- Sam Harper

🚗 0% for 5 years on a new Silverado. Yes, really.

Fall means more driving: school drop-offs, tailgates, errands piling up in between. Right now, well-qualified buyers can get 0% APR for 5 years on a new 2026 Silverado 1500, or a $6,000 cash allowance plus another $2,000 bonus cash on select models.

Owner Leo Pacheco and Sales Manager Mark Varia have built the kind of dealership where someone actually picks up the phone when you call about a deal like this.

👉 View current Silverado inventory at chevyofwest.com or come by this week.*

Last Sunday I asked whether Waco feels like a group project you get to shape, or whether decisions get made without you.

116 of you weighed in, and 52% said "mostly." You get out what you put in, but it doesn't always feel like everyone starts from the same place.

One response in particular stuck with me:

Starting from zero forces you to go find your people. Growing up here can mean you never had to.

Another reader said getting out, meeting people and saying yes has created new opportunities for them.

That got me thinking about something bigger: Are we showing up for the city we're helping build?

Only 2.93% of registered Waco voters cast a ballot in this year's mayoral election.

I'm not saying everyone needs to start attending City Council meetings every other Tuesday. There are plenty of easier ways to get more invested in your city:

That's probably how a city starts to feel like yours. Not all at once, but one small "I'm in" at a time.

If you're looking for an easy way to meet more people around Waco, I put together this quick guide a few months ago. Worth a revisit: Where to Meet People in Waco.

When's the last time you actually heard the SpaceX rumble?

A Reddit thread making the rounds this weekend has Wacoans asking why SpaceX seems so much quieter lately.

Several commenters say they've noticed it, too, with some pointing to newer, quieter test stands at the McGregor facility. That's Reddit, so take the explanation with the appropriate grain of salt.

Still, I can't remember the last time I noticed it either, and I'm happy to say that's an improvement.

Saturday, Sept. 19 | Bridge Street Plaza (alongside the Farmers Market)
Waco's outdoor art market returns downtown, with geometric construction and easel art activities at 418 Elm Ave. FREE for the whole family.

Saturday | 3 PM | McLane Stadium
A first-ever meeting between the two programs, timed with Family Weekend across campus. Tickets from $17.

Friday | 7:30 PM
The 8-time ACM and 7-time CMA Group of the Year winners headline as part of Baylor's Family Weekend, with McCoy Moore opening. Tickets from $50.

🎤 Extra Because It's for a Good Cause: A bunch of Waco business and community leaders are taking on the karaoke stage at Rhythm & Brews, a United Way fundraiser kicking off its workplace campaign. Expect fun song choices. Support a good cause anyway.

Welcome to Home of the Week at 2014 W Elm Mott Dr. We'll give you a few clues, you guess the price.

This Texas farmhouse by Heritage Construction Group sits on nearly 5 acres, built in 2022, with a 3,600 sq ft workshop that could double as a barndominium.

👉 Take your best guess at the list price, then peek at the answer here.

Ready to explore this home in person? Connect with Lezlie Roark for your private tour.
Lezlie Roark is not the listing agent on this one, but represents HBL Realtors and can help if you're buying.

Good Life in Waco is our series on how real Wacoans build a life here: what you earn, how you're saving, what you've learned about money, health, and relationships in this city.

Age: "38"

Job: "I'm a project manager for a set of data centers."

Why Waco: "I was pulled here because we wanted to come to Texas (my parents were born in TX), and what better place to go than 'The Heart of Texas.'"

Income: He currently makes $110K, but started his career at $16.50/hr. Within three months, he moved into leadership and quickly climbed the corporate ladder. He credits staying focused and finding ways to improve business efficiency. He was eventually laid off during a cutback, but his previous leadership team vouched for him and helped him move into project management.

Housing: He owns a 3bd/2ba, 1,800 sq ft mobile home with a $1,160 monthly payment. He bought when interest rates were in the 3% range and bought down his rate. He purchased the home new, moved it onto a piece of land and worked it into a construction loan. His property value has increased quite a bit, even being a mobile.

Best Waco life hack: Hiking at Cameron Park. “My daughter had a field trip on day one of school and I went with her. I had no idea those trails existed! Want to get healthy quickly? Get on those trails.”

Investing: He automatically moves money into savings every payday, contributes a significant amount to his 401(k), and puts some into the S&P 500. His advice: “Treat an investment like a recurring bill and keep it that way. You won't miss it if it happens automatically, and it'll build over time.”

What freedom looks like: "It might sound silly, but if I can put my mortgage on auto-pay. It's a big goal of mine, and I'll be there soon with this most recent promotion."

What's wealthy in Waco: “I don't have a particular number in my head, but I'd say when you get to the point that a grocery shopping trip or filling up the gas tank doesn't cause anxiety.”

Best health decision: He lost almost 60 pounds in roughly six months by changing his diet and walking. “I went Keto and gluten free, and now, I control what I eat.”

Building a life in Waco: “I'm a single dad with no friends in Waco. I get out as much as I can, but I have found it extremely challenging meeting anyone that I've connected with that I can even text on a weekly basis.”

He says phones and COVID have made relationship-building harder, and fellowship has been his main outlet for meeting people. He also has a theory about the bigger problem:

“We have a loneliness epidemic on our hands, and I hope that someone, much smarter than I, can find the fix for it. Waco Buzz Dinner Club is a great start!”

Worth-the-money restaurant: "La Fiesta! I usually get the Puerto Vallarta, three different kinds of enchiladas. For $17.99, it's a ton of food."

What he knows now: "Invest, invest, invest. I wish I had invested much more early on."

👉 Got a Waco money story worth sharing? Share it anonymously.

What should you spend first in retirement? When should you take Social Security? What happens to your spouse if you die first?

Winnacle Wealth's Chad Castle and Jessica Burch have been walking Wacoans through those decisions at MCC since 2012. More than 950 people have taken the course, which covers the practical financial decisions that come with turning your savings into a retirement income plan.

📅 Sept. 14 & 21 | 6-8:30 PM | MCC | $29
👉 Reserve your spot*

Here's a way to spend 30 minutes of your lunch hour that could make a pretty big difference in a kid's life. STARS Book Clubs started in 2013 when longtime Waco ISD leader Stephanie Korteweg, recruited volunteers to read with elementary kids over lunch, one small group at a time, sorted by reading level. No curriculum or pressure, just an adult showing up every week to eat, talk, and read with the same kids.

Today, volunteers from across Waco, including people connected to 40 different churches, read with more than 1,100 kids across 13 elementary schools. The commitment is one lunch hour a week. You show up, eat lunch, and spend a little time reading with the same kids each week. It’s a simple way to get involved and make a difference in Waco. 👉 Interested in reading with STARS?

🧠 A Night for Curious People: Social Studies is back with Baylor Master Teacher Dr. Andy Hogue on September 24, tackling the “Era of Seductive Despair” speaking live from Pignetti’s.

🎨 Pottery Night: Pottery Night with The Waco Buzz is September 26 at Outpost Pottery. BYOB, make something, and hang out.

🧩 This Week's Puzzles: A new Chisholm Crossing and fresh Buzzle words are live now at games.thewacobuzz.com. Free, made entirely out of Waco.

✨ For a Skin Refresh: Skin & Body Refinery offers HydraFacials that combine deep cleansing, gentle extraction, hydration and LED light therapy.*

🔴 Try Waco's Full-Body Red Light Bed: Waco Bodymend has a TheraLight 360+ Bed designed to support muscle recovery, circulation, sleep, skin health and overall wellness.*

📻 Keep Local Radio on the Air: KWBU, Baylor's NPR station for Central Texas, is running its fall pledge drive this week and next. If you're a listener, this is the week to become a member.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with the family member who loves puzzles.