Good morning, Justin and neighbors!

A smile costs nothing, but it can change the whole feel of a day. And sometimes, the person who needs one most is the person who doesn't have one to give.

That feels like a pretty good way to start this week.

Around here, there’s always something happening — a new business opening its doors, a familiar face sharing an old Justin story, neighbors helping neighbors, and plenty of changes happening as our communities grow. It’s easy to get caught up in the busy stuff and forget the little things that make a place feel like home.

So this week, give someone a smile. Say hello to a neighbor. Thank someone who made your day a little easier. You never know what someone else might be carrying.

And while you're here, grab your coffee (or Diet Coke) and settle in. We've got plenty to catch you up on this week in Justin and around the North Texas Front Porch.

When Pepe was picked up as a stray on June 28, he was in poor condition and suffering from a severe flea infestation. It would have been easy to make assumptions about his family.

Instead, Apollo chose compassion.

When Pepe's owner came to retrieve him, they realized this was a family going through a difficult time—not a family that didn't care. Apollo decided to do something more than rescue the dog. They would help the family, too.

And then Justin's community stepped up.

Local businesses donated their time and services. Keith Walter with Marvelous Pest Control helped treat the flea infestation. New Edge Lawn & Garden brought equipment and manpower. Allen Bridges donated an entire week of work. Others paid for lawn care, made calls and kept asking what else was needed.

By July 3, Pepe was home. But the story didn't end there.

It's a story about compassion, second chances and what happens when a community chooses to help instead of judge.

Read Pepe's full story and meet the people who showed up for one of our own.

👉 READ THE FULL STORY

A historic farmhouse on FM 407, just east of the Wise/Denton County line, was sadly destroyed by fire this week. The home, which dated back to the 1800s, was just two months away from completing a remodel.

The family shared their gratitude for the many firefighters and first responders who came to help, including the Justin Fire Department and Chief Matt Mitchell, along with crews from Ponder, Krum, Roanoke, Flower Mound and other area departments.

For now, the owner says they don't need anything other than prayers. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they begin to move forward.

A major development is moving forward north and northwest of FM 407 and Treeline Parkway, and it could bring significant changes to the area.

The Crestview Development involves roughly 1,244 acres spanning portions of several historic surveys. The property has recently gone through a rezoning process, setting the stage for future development.

So, what exactly is planned for the property, where is it located, and what could it mean for the surrounding communities?

We dug through the development documents and details to break it all down—including the land involved and what we know so far.

👉 READ THE FULL STORY

Development plans can change as the project moves through the approval and planning process.

The city’s no-new-revenue tax rate is $0.641816 per $100 of property value, while the voter-approval rate is $0.658175. What do those numbers mean for Justin homeowners? For additional information and official updates, visit the City of Justin’s Finance page.

If it feels like there’s always something new going up around here, you’re not imagining it! From new restaurants to family-focused businesses, the communities around Justin are continuing to grow—and there are several new names to keep an eye on as we head into fall.

Mo' Bettahs is now open in Argyle!
The Hawaiian-inspired restaurant has officially opened at 1228 FM 407 W., Suite 130, bringing its plate lunches, teriyaki chicken, kalua pig and other favorites to the area.

The Hive is taking shape in Justin
Construction is underway at 1120 Timberbrook Parkway in Timberbrook Crossing. The childcare concept is expected to open in 2027, giving local families another option close to home.

Wingstop is getting close in Argyle
The new location at 1050 Market Way, Suite 140 is expected to open some time this month, so this is one to watch over the next few weeks.

Chuy's has an opening date!
The new Argyle location at 1061 Market Way in Harvest Town Center is scheduled to open August 24. If you've been waiting for those chips, salsa and creamy jalapeño dip, the wait is almost over!

AutoZone is coming to Argyle
Looking a little further ahead, a new AutoZone is planned near the southeast corner of FM 407 W. and Avalon Blvd. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in June 2027, with completion expected toward the end of the year.

From a new Hawaiian restaurant and more dining options to childcare and everyday services, there's a lot of movement across our corner of North Texas.

And you know us—we'll keep watching the construction sites, tracking the openings and sharing the latest business buzz as these projects become a little more real and a lot less coming soon.

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to make your child's health a priority. An annual wellness visit helps ensure your child is ready for a successful school year by reviewing growth, updating immunizations, checking vision and hearing, and addressing any health concerns.

Parents can also prepare children by establishing healthy sleep routines, encouraging balanced meals, promoting daily physical activity, and reinforcing good handwashing habits to help prevent illness.

If your child has asthma, allergies, diabetes, or another chronic condition, now is the time to update medications and provide the school with any necessary care plans.

Starting the school year healthy helps children stay focused, miss fewer days of school, and perform their best both academically and socially.

Schedule your child's wellness visit today and help them start the school year healthy, confident, and ready to learn.

Justin Primary & Pediatric Care
1110 Timberbrook Pkwy Suite 200
Justin TX 76247
940-946-1800 JustinPPC.com

This article is part of a paid partnership with Justin Primary & Pediatric Care. We appreciate the support of our local advertisers, whose sponsorships help make the Justin Journal possible while bringing helpful information to our community.

The calendar isn't exactly bursting at the seams this week—and that's okay. We've found a few things worth getting off the couch for, plus a couple of dates you might want to keep on your radar.

Tuesday~ August 18

Wednesday~ August 19

Thursday~ August 20

Friday~ August 21

Saturday~ August 22

Sunday~ August 23

James Sealy remembers a Justin that looked very different from the town we know today. When he talks about growing up here, one of his first memories is watching mules pull wagons down the street and wondering what it would be like to ride along.

Sealy graduated in 1946 with a class of just 13 students — “Lucky 13,” he jokes. During his school years, Justin was largely a farming community, and families generally bought what they needed from local businesses. There were several grocery stores, mechanics, cotton gins and small businesses serving the town.

He even got one of his first jobs as a young teenager helping J. Hilton rebuild a building in what is now Old Town. Sealy helped pour the concrete floor using an old “putt-putt” cement mixer, scooping in gravel, sand and cement before hauling the mixture by wheelbarrow. The wooden floor had rotted away, and the concrete floor they installed is still there today — in the building where Texas Patina is now located.

He remembers baseball and football games at a field in the southeast corner of the block where houses now stand. Justin played other communities, but keeping a football team going wasn't always easy. There weren't enough boys, uniforms were difficult to get and gasoline was rationed during the war years.

He remembers Adams Grocery, Saturday drawings for baskets of groceries, nickel Cokes at the service station and people stopping to visit while their cars were being worked on. He remembers watching a television through a store window because most people didn't own one yet.

And he remembers a community where neighbors helped each other when someone was sick, died or simply needed a little help.

Sealy has watched Justin change from gravel roads and mule-drawn wagons to the busy highways and growing neighborhoods we see today. But when he talks about the future, he still thinks about the middle of town.

He'd like to see Old Town filled in, businesses continue to come downtown and the center of Justin remain a place people want to gather.

There are plenty more stories in Sealy's memories — including cotton gins, old businesses, his family's home on First Street and the people who made up the Justin he knew growing up. Read the full story here.

(Another great interview brought to you by Lisa Cate)