Hey Tyler!

Hope your week's been a good one. The weather looks a little iffy over the next few days, but the calendar is wide open with stuff worth getting out of the house for.

A couple of moments worth a hometown high-five this week: a Tyler Legacy alum just got his name called in the NFL Draft, and a brand-new family play space opened its doors on the south side. We've also got a big Saturday ahead — voting day for Tyler’s next mayor, the TJC bond, and other local positions. Plus a stacked lineup of live music and other events.

Let's get into it.

🗳️ TJC's $167M bond hits the ballot this Saturday
This is the big one for Saturday's election: Tyler Junior College is asking voters to approve a $167.3 million bond that would fund a new workforce and academic building, a centralized student success center, and a combined safety and IT facility. Supporters say the upgrades are overdue — TJC's main workforce building dates to 1966, and campus police currently operate out of two converted houses. Critics point to the long-term cost: about $320 million over 30 years with interest, and an estimated $7/month tax bump for the average $252K home. Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Read more

🏈 Tyler Legacy alum drafted by the New England Patriots
Tyler's Jamarion "Jam" Miller was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, going No. 245 overall. The former Alabama running back — and Tyler Legacy Red Raider before that — celebrated with friends and family at the Majesty Event Center on Saturday. Miller led the Crimson Tide in rushing his senior year and finished his college career with 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns. Read more

🦆 New indoor play space for kids opens in South Tyler
Toddler parents, take note: The Duckling Village officially opened in Tyler this week, offering a safe indoor play space for little ones (and a chance for grown-ups to actually drink their coffee while it's still hot). Founders Fallon Lloyd and her husband — parents to three toddlers with a fourth on the way — built the space around the gap they kept running into themselves. The village also hosts local vendors like White Rose Bakery, with parenting classes and family nights in the works. Read more

🎓 First Future Leaders of Tyler class graduates
Tyler ISD just wrapped up the inaugural year of its Future Leaders of Tyler program — a yearlong leadership cohort that brings together juniors and seniors from Tyler High, Tyler Legacy, and Early College High School for monthly sessions on careers, networking, and community. The first class graduated April 11, and applications are now open for the next cohort. Read more

💛 East Texas Giving Day brought 330+ nonprofits together
This week's East Texas Giving Day — the 18-hour online fundraiser hosted by East Texas Communities Foundation — wrapped up Tuesday night, with more than 330 East Texas nonprofits in the mix. The 2025 edition pulled in over $3.5 million across the region, and matching funds again topped half a million. If you missed it, mark your calendar for next April — it's one of the easiest ways to put real dollars behind the local groups doing the work here. Read more

👶 CHRISTUS Mother Frances unveils East Texas's third Safe Haven Baby Box
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital dedicated a new Safe Haven Baby Box on Saturday, with Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Bryan Hughes attending the ceremony. The temperature-controlled, monitored unit lets parents in crisis legally and anonymously surrender newborns less than 60 days old, with the child picked up within minutes. It's the third such installation in East Texas and the result of a six-year push that started with a CHRISTUS operating room nurse, Amber Jaynes, reaching out to her state senator. Read more

📚 Boulter Middle School moves to longer year, longer days
Tyler ISD announced that Boulter Middle School will start its 2026-27 school year on July 27 — about two weeks before the rest of the district — and run extended school days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The change is part of the district's Accelerated Campus Excellence (ACE) model, designed to accelerate learning at campuses with lower TEA accountability ratings (Boulter pulled a D for 2024-25, up from an F the year before). Some Boulter parents have raised concerns about communication and summer logistics. The district says a parent informational meeting is planned for May after STAAR testing wraps. Read more

If you opened your property tax appraisal this year and thought, “There’s no way my house is worth that,” you’re not alone. And more importantly… you’re not stuck with it.

You have the right to protest your property taxes with the Smith County Appraisal District, and if there’s ever a year to pay attention, it’s this one.

Here’s the part most people miss: the appraisal district is estimating your home’s value based on broad data. They’re not walking through your house. They’re not accounting for the outdated kitchen, the aging roof, or the fact that the house down the street had a full remodel before it sold. They’re working off a model. Your job is to bring reality back into the conversation.

Start by looking at your notice and asking one simple question: Would my home actually sell for this price today?

If the answer is no, you’ve got a case worth making.

The process itself is more straightforward than people think. You file a protest, gather your evidence, and present your case. That evidence can include comparable sales, photos of your home’s condition, repair estimates, or anything that supports a lower value. You’re essentially telling the story of your home in a way the data alone can’t.

Deadlines matter here. Miss the window, and you’re locked in for the year. Hit it, and you at least give yourself a shot to reduce your tax burden.

And here’s the bigger picture: protesting isn’t about “winning” against the system. It’s about making sure you’re being taxed on a value that actually reflects your property, not a best-case scenario version of it.

If you want help pulling comps or building a clean, data-backed argument, that’s where I come in. This is the same data I use to price homes every day, and it translates directly into a strong protest.

👉 Start with your home’s real-world value: https://homeseasttexas.com/home-valuation/

Because what your home is worth on paper shouldn’t cost you more than what it’s worth in reality.

Darrin Morris Live
The Grove, Tyler | Thu, Apr 30 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Live Jazz Night
Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Thu, Apr 30 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Trivia Night with Dr. Factenstein
True Vine Brewing Co., Tyler | Thu, Apr 30 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Branding Hearts Rodeo
Cross Brand Cowboy Church, Tyler | Fri, May 1 | 9:30 AM | Learn more

Patrick James Live
The Grove, Tyler | Fri, May 1 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Coldfire Live
Fresh by Brookshire's, Tyler | Fri, May 1 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

Kate Watson with EZ Band
Stanley's Famous Pit Barbeque, Tyler | Fri, May 1 | 8:00 PM | Learn more

TJC Football Spring Game
Pat Hartley Field, Tyler | Fri, May 1 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

Tyler Olympians FC Taco Night Fundraiser
11982 Scott Valley Ln, Tyler | Fri, May 1 | 5:00 PM | Learn more

Mike Ryan Live
Blackhawk Creek Grill & Venue, Whitehouse | Fri, May 1 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

We are living in volatile times. While you cannot control the state of international affairs, you can position your portfolio accordingly.

Liquid is one of the fastest growing trading platforms, allowing users to trade stocks, commodities, FX, and more 24/7/365 from their phone and computer.

Trade 24/7 on Liquid

🗳️ TJC Bond Election — Polls Open
Multiple Smith County polling locations | Sat, May 2 | 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Learn more

Free Comic Book Day
Ground Zero Comics, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 10:00 AM | Learn more

Remembrance Run
The Children's Park, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 8:00 AM | Learn more

The Next Loop Endurance Series
Tyler State Park, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | Morning start | Learn more

Obstacle Challenge
Cross Brand Cowboy Church, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 9:00 AM | Learn more

Spring Fest
Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Whitehouse | Sat, May 2 | 9:30 AM | Learn more

Paint a Keepsake for Mom
McCoy's Building Supply, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 10:00 AM | Learn more

Circle M Crawfish Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show
Circle M Crawfish, Big Sandy | Sat, May 2 | 10:00 AM | Learn more

Little Brushes Family Day — Floral Feline
Pinot's Palette, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 12:00 PM | Learn more

A Night at the Museum
Goodman-LeGrand Museum, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

Frio River Band
Fresh by Brookshire's, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

The Boyz Live
Catch Me If You Can, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

Heath Walker & The Stray Bullets Live
Manny's Tex-Mex Cafe, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Emily Glover Live
True Vine Brewing Company, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Strange Magic: ELO Tribute
Serenade Range, Whitehouse | Sat, May 2 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Josh Ward Live
Blackhawk Creek Grill & Venue, Whitehouse | Sat, May 2 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Mike Goodwin at Rose City Comedy
Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Sat, May 2 | 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM | Learn more

Little Brushes Family Day — Paul the Narwhal
Pinot's Palette, Tyler | Sun, May 3 | 2:00 PM | Learn more

May the Answers Be With You Trivia
ETX Brewing Co., Tyler | Sun, May 3 | 3:00 PM | Learn more

Zumba
Glass Recreation Center, Tyler | Mon, May 4 | 9:00 AM | Learn more

Manny's Tex-Mex Annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration
Manny's Tex-Mex, Tyler | Tue, May 5 | 5:30 AM | Learn more

Blue Zones Ignite Tyler Community Keynote Event
Tyler Rose Garden Center, Tyler | Tue, May 5 | 4:30 PM | Learn more

Adult Miracle League Game
Faulkner Park, Tyler | Tue, May 5 | 6:00 PM | Learn more

Dr. Factenstein's Trivia Night
Parry's Pizza, Tyler | Tue, May 5 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Dehart Vet Services' Low-Cost Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic
Broadway Square Mall, Tyler | Wed, May 6 | 10:00 AM | Learn more

Dr. Factenstein's Trivia Night
ETX Brewing Co., Tyler | Wed, May 6 | 7:00 PM | Learn more

Music in May — Blue Mudbone
Downtown Mineola | Thu, 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

Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival 2026
The Park of East Texas, Tyler | Fri–Sat, May 8–9 | 5:00 PM start | Learn more
Tyler's signature springtime BBQ-and-music festival — sells out every year.

Spring Piney Woods Wine Festival
Picker's Pavilion at Blackberry Square, Lindale | Fri–Sat, May 8–9 | Learn more
20+ regional wineries plus live music and artisan vendors.

Clue — Live on Stage
UT Tyler Cowan Center, Tyler | Wed, May 13 | 7:30 PM | Learn more

Lindale Championship Rodeo (39th Annual)
Cross Brand Cowboy Church Arena, Lindale | Thu–Sat, May 14–16 | Evening shows | Free admission | Learn more

Sara Evans Live
Blackhawk Creek Grill & Venue, Whitehouse | Sat, May 16 | 7:00 PM (doors 6:00 PM) | Learn more

That's the rundown for this week, Tyler.

Whether your Saturday's set aside for the polls, the farmers market, or pulling up a chair for the spring game — hope you find your spot. As always, if you've got a tip, an event, 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