Hey Tyler!

Hope your week has been great so far. Coming to you a little late today… but there’s plenty to catch up on this morning.

The weekend lineup is looking pretty good too. Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival is back at the Park of East Texas, the Tops in Texas Rodeo rides into Jacksonville, and Mother's Day brings about a dozen ways to spoil Mom around town.

Let's get into it.

🕺 East Texas students light up the dance floor at Special Needs Prom More than 600 students from over 30 East Texas schools gathered at Maude Cobb Convention Center in Longview last Friday for the East Texas Special Needs Prom — a glow-in-the-dark celebration designed to give kids with special needs the full prom experience, complete with a sensory room, photo ops, and a dance floor that didn't quit. As Tyler High teacher Suzanne Hudson put it, "Everyone is happy, so much dancing, nobody feels judged." Read more

🐾 Tyler Animal Services: free adoptions all May for box fan donations Here's a feel-good twofer: throughout May, Tyler Animal Services is waiving adoption fees for dogs and cats when you donate two new 20-inch box fans. The fans go to local nonprofit PATH (People Attempting to Help) so their clients can stay cool through the East Texas summer. Normally adoptions run $120 for dogs and $80 for cats — bring fans, take home a friend. Read more

💚 Health Foundation of East Texas teams up with Blue Zones The Health Foundation of East Texas has partnered with Blue Zones — the longevity-research group behind community wellness transformations across the country — to launch a Blue Zones Ignite assessment for Tyler and Smith County. The first phase is a readiness assessment wrapping up in July, with a potential four-to-five-year implementation phase to follow. The work focuses on the bigger picture of well-being beyond just diet and exercise: community connection, sense of purpose, and the everyday environment we live in. Read more

🗳️ Nix and Hene head to a June 13 runoff for Tyler mayor Saturday's four-way mayoral race didn't produce a winner, so Tyler voters will head back to the polls June 13. Former councilman John Nix led with 32% and current District 1 councilman Stuart Hene came in at 26%. Mayor Don Warren's third and final term wraps this year. Early voting runs June 1–9. Read more

📚 Voters reject TJC's $167.3 million bond proposal Smith County voters in TJC's taxing district turned down the college's $167.3 million bond, with about 55% (6,865 votes) opposed and 45% (5,665) in favor. The proposal would have funded a new workforce and academic building, a centralized student success center, and a combined safety and IT facility. Critics raised concerns about the timing and the long-term repayment cost (roughly $320 million over 30 years with interest). Supporters had pitched the upgrades as overdue investments. Read more

Homes With Pools - Just in Time for Summer 
There’s a reason homes with pools start getting more attention this time of year. East Texas heat has a way of making buyers suddenly realize that “maybe we should get a pool” was actually a pretty solid idea all along.

Right now is one of the best windows to shop for a home with a pool because inventory is still active, buyers have options, and you can actually enjoy the pool this summer instead of staring at it through a January cold front. National housing data also continues to show that homes with pools carry strong buyer appeal, especially in warmer markets like Texas. 

The biggest mistake buyers make? Waiting until peak summer when the really good pool homes already have people circling them like it’s the last float at Walmart before Memorial Day weekend.

If you’ve been thinking about making a move, this is the season to pay attention. Pool homes in East Texas range from neighborhood backyard setups to acreage properties built for entertaining, and the right one tends to move fast once temperatures climb.

For a complete list of East Texas homes with pools, follow this page and fill out your information: Homes with Pools in East Texas

Music in May- Blue Mudbone
Downtown Mineola | May 7  | 6:30 PM | Learn more

Star Wars Trivia Night
True Vine Brewing Co., Tyler | Thu, May 7 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Randy C. Moore Live
Texas Music City Grill, Tyler | Thu, May 7 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

2026 Tops in Texas PRCA Rodeo
Jacksonville Rodeo Arena | May 8 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Vintage & Company’s Mother’s Day Event
14023 State HWY 155 S, Tyler | May 8 | 10:00 AM | Learn more

Live & Local Music- McLeod Nine Trio
Fresh by Brookshire’s, Tyler | May 8 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

Paddle Around
Tyler State Park, Tyler | May 8 | 5:00 PM | Learn more

Ed Bassmaster
Rose City Comedy, Tyler | May 8 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Mini Meadow Box + Pipe Cleaner Animal Workshop
Flourish Nonprofits Tyler | May 8 | 6:30 PM | Learn more

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Noonday Finale Market
Noonday Famer’s Market, Noonday | May 9 | 10 AM | Learn more

2026 Tops in Texas PRCA Rodeo
Jacksonville Rodeo Arena  | May 9 |7:00 PM | Learn more

Vintage & Company’s Mother’s Day Event
14023 State HWY 155 S, Tyler | May 9 |10:00 AM | Learn more

Live & Local Music- McLeod Nine Trio
Fresh by Brookshire’s, Tyler | May 9 |6:00 PM | Learn more

Little Brushes- Mama Bear
Pinot’s Palette, Tyler | May 9 |9:00 AM | Learn more

Mother’s Day Hike
Tyler State Park, Tyler | May 9 |9:00 AM | Learn more

Mother’s Day Art
Tyler State Park, Tyler | May 9 |10:00 AM | Learn more

Mother’s Day Sale + Free Beer & Wine Event
Plants of Tyler, Tyler | May 9 |9:00 AM | Learn more

A Mother’s Day Garden Party
Pyron Gardens, Tyler | May 9 |10:00 AM | Learn more

Jimmy Buffet Tribute
Serenade Range, Whitehouse | May 9 |7:00 PM | Learn more

Mineola Farmers & Artisan Market
101 W Front Street, Mineola | May 9 |8:00 AM | Learn more

Bloom in Bergfeld
Bergfeld Park, Tyler | May 9 |10:00 AM | Learn more

Sip & Shop- Mimosa & Flower Bar
Little Buffalo Creek- Boy Boutique, Lindale | May 9 |10:00 AM | Learn more

Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival
The Park of East Texas, Tyler | May 9 |12:00 PM | Learn more

Sorell Farms Spring Festival
975 CR 2220, Mineola | May 9 |10:00 AM | Learn more

Ed Bassmaster
Rose City Comedy, Tyler | May 9 |7:00 PM | Learn more

Mother’s Day Brunch with Live Music by Tyler Dudley
Fresh by Brookshire’s, Tyler | May 10 |9:00 AM | Learn more

Little Brushes- Snuggles & Stripes
Pinot’s Palette, Tyler | May 10 |2:00 PM | Learn more

Mother’s Day Off Square Sundaze Vendor Market
Velvet: A Vintage Collection, Tyler | May 10 |12:00 PM | Learn more

Zumba
Glass Recreation Center, Tyler | May 11 |9:00 AM | Learn more

Pollard National Historic District Celebration
Pollard Park, Tyler | May 11 |5:30 PM | Learn more

Dr. Factenstein’s Karaoke 
ETX Brewing Co., Tyler, | May 12 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Try It Tuesday- Herb Gardening
Tyler Public Library, Tyler, | May 12 | 5:30 PM | Learn more

Dr. Factenstein’s Trivia Night 
ETX Brewing Co., Tyler, | May 13 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Hook & Needle Night
Flourish Nonprofits Tyler | May 13 |6:30 PM | Learn more

Music in May- Uptown Live
Downtown Mineola | May 14 |6:30 PM | Learn more

Dr. Factenstein’s Trivia Night
True Vine Brewing Co | April 14 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

BYOC + Trinket Trade Side Quest
Flourish Nonprofits Tyler | May 14|6:30 PM | Learn more

Wildflower Poetry Society
Tyler Public Library, Tyler, | May 14 | 2:00 PM | Learn more

That's the rundown for this week, Tyler. Plenty of ways to celebrate Mom, fill up on barbecue, and find a little live music in between.

Got an event, a tip, or a story we should be paying attention to? Just hit reply — we love hearing from you.

See you in your inbox next week.

Eric & April
From Tyler