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.

• "Creatures & Critters!" Art Show Thursdays-Saturdays Feb. 6-22 @Art League of Baytown 110 W. Texas Ave.

• Coffee with a Cop - Fri. Feb. 7th, at 11 AM @ Heart and Whisk Bakery
  4618 N Main, Baytown

• West Chambers Deaf Social – Feb. 8th @ 11 am. @
  The Toasted Yolk in Mt. Belvieu 13001 I-10 East

• Baytown Trade Days Sat. Feb. 8th 10am- 4pm Baytown Community Center 2407 Market St.

• Custom Sneakers Class Feb. 15th 9am-4pm @ And Sew It Began -
  Retreat & Quilt Shop 211 S 1st St, La Porte

  40th Annual Awards Gala - MB Area Chamber of Commerce 
  Feb. 20th @ 6 pm Tickets & Info

• Mont Belvieu Market at the Park, Sat. March 1st.- 8am - Noon

• Deaf Social Where Bakery - Mar. 1st - 11 am @ 
  Heart & Whisk Bakery 4618 N. Main St., Baytown

• Spring Market @ Town Square - Mar.15th -10:00am-2:00pm - 213 W Texas Ave

• Baytown's 2025 Run for Your Wildlife 1k/5k - March 22nd. 3:30pm - ??

• Ultimate Food Truck Cookoff - Sat. March 22nd - 9am-11 pm
  Lomax Rodeo Arena, 1508 Lomax School Rd.

• Baytown Trash Bash Sat. March 29th 8am-12noon @ Baytown Nature Center

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GCCISD Rezoning Update for 2025-2026

The Board of Trustees has officially approved Rezoning Map B for the 2025-2026 school year! This decision was made with careful consideration of community feedback and the district’s long-term needs.
We are also pleased to announce a .
for the following students, allowing them to remain at their current campus if they choose:
✔️ Current 4th graders ✔️ Current 6th & 7th graders ✔️ Current 9th, 10th & 11th graders.
Students who are eligible to receive the grandfather clause will be contacted in the coming weeks. A huge thank you to the GC2035 Committee, District Rezoning Task Force, our community, and the Board of Trustees for their dedication and input throughout this process. Your voices helped shape this plan for the future of our schools!
 📍 For more details and to view the approved rezoning map, visit https://www.gccisd.net/page/Rezone2025.Overview

Baytown Residents Win Lawsuit,
But Struggles Continue

After 15 years of legal battles, Baytown residents won a major lawsuit against ExxonMobil for air pollution violations. A federal appeals court ruled in December 2024 that ExxonMobil committed over 16,000 violations of the Clean Air Act at its Baytown refinery between 2005 and 2013. The company was ordered to pay a $14.25 million fine. While this decision is a victory for environmental groups and local residents, many still worry that air pollution remains a problem.

The Case Against ExxonMobil

The lawsuit was filed by Environment Texas and the Sierra Club on behalf of Baytown residents, using a law that allows citizens to take action when regulators fail to enforce environmental rules. According to court documents, ExxonMobil released nearly 10 million pounds of unauthorized pollutants into the air over eight years, including cancer-causing chemicals like benzene.

ExxonMobil, which made $33.7 billion in 2024, has the option to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court by mid-March. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) previously fined the company $1.3 million for air violations, but environmental groups argued that was not enough.

Pollution’s Impact on Residents

Sharon Sprayberry, 75, was one of the residents involved in the lawsuit. She has suffered from asthma since childhood and believes the refinery’s pollution has worsened her health. She moved away from Baytown for years and found her symptoms improved, but when she returned in 2004, her breathing problems came back.

Other residents, like Theresa Blackwood, also experience the effects of pollution. Living less than a mile from the refinery, she keeps a log of foul odors, vibrations, and loud noises. "Your eyes will burn. Your throat can burn," she said.

Has ExxonMobil Improved?

ExxonMobil has invested over $6 billion in pollution controls and maintenance at the Baytown complex. The company says emissions have decreased significantly since 2013, but environmental groups argue that some pollutants, including benzene, have increased in recent years.

Despite the lawsuit’s outcome, many Baytown residents remain concerned about their air quality. Groups like Air Alliance Houston believe ExxonMobil still has work to do in reducing pollution. Meanwhile, residents like Blackwood hope the legal battle sends a message: “Exxon knows that the public is watching. They need to be more transparent.”

BPD Hiring Certified Patrol Officers
Click to Apply

It's time for TRASH BASH - the largest single day waterway cleanup in Texas! Join us at the
on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 8 AM - 12 PM for a coastal cleanup.

Last year, volunteers gathered 1,760 lbs of litter that would've ended up in our waterways.

Free admission to the park, door prizes, educational activities, free lunch, and more! Register ahead of time to reserve your spot at
https://www.h-gac.com/events/trash-bash?site=3

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Thursday’s Quiz - What unusual defense mechanism does the horned lizard use to escape predators?
Answer: A) It squirts blood from its eyes.

The Texas horned lizard has a shocking defense mechanism—when threatened, it can shoot streams of blood from its eyes! This not only startles predators but also contains a chemical that repels canines like coyotes. This bizarre yet effective survival tactic helps keep them safe in the wild.