🛣️ Why can't Siri say Bosque?

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that feels like returning your cart to the corral at H-E-B even though nobody's watching.

In today's Sunday Sip:
🛣️ Why Can't Siri Say Bosque?
🏡 Home of the Week: 6710 Fish Pond Road
🎃 Fall in a Cup: Common Grounds' Pumpkin Chai Latte
📅 Henry Cho, IRONMAN, and a Packed Oct. 3
🏐 Waco Gem: Volley for Molly

See you out there!

- Sam Harper

🔧 The best time to get your car checked is before it starts making the noise.

Most of us wait for the check engine light. Chevy of West's certified service team handles the stuff that's easy to put off, from oil changes and tires to brakes, batteries, and fluids, plus a multi-point inspection that catches small problems before they turn into a shoulder-of-I-35 situation.

One recent customer brought in a 2025 Blazer for an oil change and tire rotation and said the service department "had me out within an hour."

The team led by owner Leo Pacheco and General Sales Manager Mark Varia is at 225 T M West Pkwy in West. Kolache run optional, but encouraged.

👉 Schedule service at chevyofwest.com*

🤝 They're also hiring. Chevy of West is growing its sales team. If you're the friend everyone calls before buying a car, you like helping people find the right fit, and you have at least a year of sales experience, this could be your next move. See the Automotive Sales opening*

Two friends of mine are developing land right now, and part of the job is naming the new roads. That sent me down a rabbit trail: who named ours? And why does Siri still mangle Bosque Boulevard?

Bosque. The word is Spanish for "woods," and early Spanish explorers gave the name to the tree-lined river west of town. Around here, it's "BOSS-kee." Siri is still working on how to say it. Bonus: Bosque Boulevard used to angle onto what's now Fish Pond Road, where this week's Home of the Week sits.

Valley Mills Drive is named for where it went. It was the road out to Valley Mills, a town named for a flour mill built on the Bosque River in 1867.

New Road is exactly what it sounds like. A 1955 map labeled part of it 41st Street. But Waco's original grid is tilted 45 degrees to follow the Brazos, and where it meets the county's grid, the numbers stop lining up. By 1960, the city just called the whole stretch New Road.

That same tilt is why driving "north" on 25th Street actually points you northwest.

Every street name is a tiny map of how Waco grew. Some of them just need a better pronunciation guide.

Welcome to Home of the Week. 6710 Fish Pond Road sits on nearly an acre beneath towering oaks and dates back to 1973. We'll give you a few clues. You guess the price.

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

Want to see it 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.

What it is: The Pumpkin Chai Latte at Common Grounds.

The verdict: In a sea of fall drinks, this one took me straight back to fall in Illinois and southeast Michigan, which is glorious this time of year. I ordered it hot, because it's fall, and fall means hot drinks. I sweated through the whole thing and enjoyed every sip anyway. The pumpkin and chai are balanced just right, and the extra cinnamon on top was the hit.

What to order: Pumpkin Patch, hot, extra cinnamon

Where: Common Grounds, 1123 S 8th St

Cost: $5

Six-word review: Cold front this week. Get this.

Fri, Oct. 2 & Sat, Oct. 3 | 8 PM (doors 7) | Waco Hippodrome, 724 Austin Ave
I saw Henry Cho at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville last fall and laughed the whole time. His comedy is clean, so bring your parents or your teenager. He's the first comedian invited to join the Opry since 1973, and he added a second Waco show due to demand. Grab tickets here.

Sat, Oct. 3 | 8:30 AM-5 PM | Camp Fimfo Waco, 1000 Chickadee Lane
Recreational and competitive brackets, with cash prizes in the competitive division. Players also get access to Camp Fimfo's pool, water playground and mini golf. The kickoff party is Friday from 5:30-7:30 PM. Registration starts at $12.51. Sign up here.

Sat, Oct. 3 | Waco Convention Center
A fundraiser for Family Abuse Center featuring Wacoans from across the community, including Police Chief Sheryl Victorian and Oli Pettigrew. This year's theme is the Best of Sitcoms, and every ticket dollar counts as a vote for your favorite star. Tickets and votes here.

IRONKIDS: Sat, Oct. 3 | IRONMAN 70.3 Waco: Sun, Oct. 4 | Indian Spring Park
IRONMAN weekend is almost here, bringing thousands of athletes from around the world to Waco for a huge weekend of swimming, biking and running. It's one of those events that's worth getting out and being a part of, whether you're racing or cheering from the sidelines. If you'd rather be in the middle of it, they're still looking for volunteers. Sign up to volunteer here. Race info here.

Meliorism (MEE-lee-uh-riz-um): the belief that the world can get better, and that people can help make it better. I picked it up Thursday at Social Studies, where 60 of you packed Pignetti's to hear Baylor's Dr. Andy Hogue on how to stay a hopeful citizen in an "Era of Seductive Despair."
TLDR: Find somewhere to volunteer. Put your phone down. Stop scrolling social media. Look for ways to actually engage with your neighbors.

The goal of The Waco Buzz is to help you get local again: know your neighbors, meet new people, and make this big small town feel even smaller.

📅 See what's happening this week →
🤝 25 ways to make Waco better this week →
🍝 Where to meet people in Waco →

🎙️ One question: If we started a Waco Buzz podcast, who would you want to hear from, and what would you ask them? Hit reply. I read every one.

Molly Martinsen loved volleyball and played with a fierce competitive streak. She died of brain cancer in 2012 at age 11, and her family has kept her love of the game alive ever since through the Molly Martinsen Foundation. Volley for Molly is the foundation's only fundraiser, and everything it raises is given away each year.

The 2026 tournament is Saturday, Oct. 24, with divisions for 3rd through 8th graders at three Waco-area locations. No club team or experience is required. Parents can coach, and there are prizes for best team spirit, so costumes are encouraged. Registration is $250 per team and includes T-shirts for up to 8 players, with scholarships available. Register by Oct. 12.

👉 Get the team registration form here. Questions? Call or text Jen Martinsen (Molly's mom) at 254-717-2997.

✈️ Paper Airplanes at McLane Stadium: On Sunday, Oct. 18 from 4-6 PM, we're taking over McLane Stadium for the first Waco Buzz Paper Airplane Championship, presented by L3Harris. Fold a plane, aim for the end zone target, and the closest throw wins 52 weeks of Joyride Candy. Dinner from The Baylor Club is included. Early bird tickets are $12 →

💧 A Better Way to Beat September Colds: I-Vit's Immune Boost IV supports immune function, hydration, and overall wellness, right on time for the season everyone starts trading the same cough back and forth. 20% off for the month.*

🚗 Silverado Selldown: Chevy of West is putting serious numbers on 2026 Silverado 1500s right now, 0% APR for 5 years for well-qualified buyers, or $6,000 cash allowance plus another $2,000 bonus cash on select models.*

✨ For a Skin Refresh: Skin & Body Refinery offers HydraFacials combining deep cleansing, gentle extraction, and hydration.*

💪 Move Better, Recover Faster: Waco Body Mend is a space designed for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best.*

🍽️ Making new friends as an adult is hard: That's why we started Dinner Club. More than 750 seats have been filled since we started last year, and we're doing it again Thursday, Oct. 15. Come by yourself or bring a friend. Take the short quiz, Get matched. Enjoy dinner. Save your seat →

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with the friend who is most excited for the cold front coming to Waco this week.

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