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.

• Baytown VFW (Post 912) Fair - Sat., Dec. 14, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 8204 N. Main. Vendor booths, train rides, raffle and much more!

• Free Narcan Training: Learn to Save Lives - Sat. Dec. 14th 11 AM – 12:30 PM
  3120 N. Main St., Baytown - Questions? Call: 281-427-9511

• Deaf Social Where Bakery - Jan. 4th - 11 am @ 
  Heart & Whisk Bakery 4618 N. Main St., Baytown

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

• Baytown Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event- Sat., Jan. 11, from 9am to 2pm at 1200 Lee Drive 

• Mont Belvieu Market at the Park, Sat. Jan. 11th- 8am - Noon

• GCM FFA Buckle Bash Jan. 19th @ 9 am - Baytown Youth Fair & Livestock Assoc. - 7900 N. Main, Baytown Click for details

• Mont Belvieu Fish Fest 2025 - Jan. 25th - 8am - Noon Tickets

  
  
  

Spotlight on Don’s Designs: Wire-Sculptured Jewelry with Heart and Craftsmanship

For Don and Jo Ann McEwen, what began as a post-retirement hobby has blossomed into a flourishing artistic business: Don’s Designs of Wire Sculptured Jewelry. After retiring from a 32-year career as an elementary school principal, Don sought a creative outlet that combined his love of working with his hands and his passion for artistry. Now, with over 20 years of experience—one year proudly based in Baytown—Don and Jo Ann create exquisite, handcrafted jewelry that blends skill, precision, and timeless beauty.

Specializing in hand-sculptured pendants, rings, bracelets, and earrings, Don’s Designs uses rolled gold and sterling silver wire to form elegant, intricate pieces. Each design is enhanced with stunning cabochons and faceted stones, ensuring that every creation is a unique, wearable work of art. The meticulous attention to detail and high-quality materials result in jewelry that is both beautiful and durable.

While Don’s Designs operates as a home-based business, their artistry is best experienced up close. Don and Jo Ann showcase their pieces at craft shows, where visitors can see their craftsmanship firsthand and engage with the creative process. For those who prefer to shop from home, their designs are also available on their Amazon Handmade store, making it easy to find the perfect piece for any occasion.

Community involvement is central to Don and Jo Ann’s lives. As volunteers at the market in their retirement community, they help ensure that residents have access to essential items without having to leave their homes. This commitment to community and craft is a reflection of their warm, giving spirit.

Mark your calendars for their upcoming event: the Baytown VFW (Post 912) Fair, located at 8204 N. Main St., on Sat., Dec. 14th. from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This is a perfect opportunity to see their stunning wire-sculptured jewelry in person and perhaps find a special gift for that special person.

To explore their collection or connect with Don and Jo Ann, visit their Amazon Handmade shop or reach out via email at [email protected] or phone at (210) 240-5671. Each piece from Don’s Designs is more than just jewelry—it’s a story of craftsmanship, creativity, and community.

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Exclusive Furniture Opens Its
Largest Showroom in Baytown

Exclusive Furniture, a top 100 retailer, has officially opened its ninth and largest showroom in Baytown, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth. The 65,000-square-foot store, located at 5921 East Freeway, features a 54,000-square-foot main showroom and an 11,000-square-foot Rack 45 outlet offering high-quality furniture at discounted prices. This new location is not only the company’s largest but also its easternmost store, bringing its services closer to the growing communities on Houston’s eastern edge.

Enhancing Homes and Lives

President and CEO Sam Zavary emphasized that Exclusive Furniture is dedicated to more than just selling furniture. The goal is to help customers enhance their homes and lives with personalized service and high-quality products. The Baytown community, Zavary noted, is a perfect fit for this mission.

To better serve the area, the showroom offers:

• An extensive selection of furniture for every room.

• An in-store mattress showroom staffed by knowledgeable specialists to help customers find the perfect mattress.

• Complimentary in-home interior design consultations, where skilled designers visit customers’ homes to offer personalized advice at no extra cost.

Community-Focused Expansion

Zavary and his brother, Fawad Zavary, Vice President of Sales, recognize the importance of serving Houston’s eastern communities as the city continues to grow. They aim to provide a unique, customer-focused experience that stands apart from big-box retailers.

The Baytown location is part of the company’s aggressive expansion plan, with two additional stores planned for 2025—one in Tomball and another in southern Houston.

Grand Opening Festivities

The grand opening celebrations kicked off with a friends and family ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, Thursday, Dec. 12th. Festivities will continue throughout the weekend, featuring giveaways and special promotions. As part of the celebration, Exclusive Furniture will award a $2,000 community cash prize to a deserving small business in the Baytown area, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community support.

With its largest showroom yet, Exclusive Furniture continues to enhance homes, serve communities, and grow its presence across Houston.

Borusan Pipe Expands Operations with
New Lease in Baytown

Borusan Pipe, a global steel pipe manufacturer, has secured a 122,963-square-foot lease at the Portside Logistics Center in Baytown, Texas. The lease agreement was facilitated by CBRE’s Grant Hortenstine, SIOR, and Susan Haysom, CCIM, who represented the tenant. Stream Realty Partners’ Tyler Maner and Jeremy Lumbreras represented the landlord, a joint venture between Stream Realty Partners and Principal Asset Management SM.

This new distribution center at 4908 Borusan Road is an expansion of Borusan’s existing Texas headquarters, located across the street at 4949 Borusan Road. The facility will support the company’s growing production of tubular goods and steel pipes used in oil and natural gas exploration and pipelines.

Prime Location for Logistics

Portside Logistics Center – Building 2 is a 258,248-square-foot industrial facility offering convenient access to major transportation routes, including the Grand Parkway, Interstate 10, and Highway 225. The site also benefits from proximity to Houston’s two container terminals, enhancing distribution capabilities.

This expansion highlights Baytown’s strategic role in supporting industrial growth and logistics for the energy sector.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds
$14.25 Million Penalty Against ExxonMobil

In a narrow 9-8 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $14.25 million penalty against ExxonMobil for air pollution violations at its Baytown refinery. The penalty, originally imposed for pollution incidents between 2005 and 2013, marks the largest ever from a citizen-led lawsuit under the Clean Air Act.

The lawsuit, filed in 2010 by Environment Texas Citizen Lobby and the Sierra Club, led to an initial $19.95 million fine in 2017. After a reassessment, U.S. District Judge David Hittner revised the penalty to $14.25 million in 2021. ExxonMobil had sought to overturn this decision, arguing the plaintiffs lacked standing.

U.S. Circuit Judge James Ho cast the deciding vote, siding with the majority to follow Supreme Court precedent, despite expressing reservations. Luke Metzger of Environment Texas praised the ruling as an “important victory”, while ExxonMobil expressed disappointment and is considering its options.

Thursday’s Quiz - Which location holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States? The coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States was −80°F (−62°C) at Prospect Creek, Alaska, on January 23, 1971. This remote area, located north of Fairbanks, is known for its extreme Arctic climate.