Good morning, Justin!

Only in Texas can we go from sweater weather to shorts season in the same week!
With temps bouncing between 41 and 82, we’re calling it “choose your own adventure” weather — and Justin’s got plenty to keep you busy no matter what outfit you end up in. Grab your coffee (or iced tea) and let’s see what’s happening around town this week!

This Veterans Day, local businesses and national favorites are showing their gratitude to those who have served. Here are some of the ways veterans and active-duty military can enjoy a well-deserved thank-you meal or treat around Justin and nearby towns.

Justin Coffee (Justin, TX) – Free drip coffee (any size) for veterans & military, 6AM–4PM.
Outlaw Burger & BBQ (Justin, TX) – Veterans eat free, 11AM–8PM. Includes entrée, side & drink.
Smashville Burgers (Justin, TX)- Veterans and active members eat free Monday Nov. 10 and Tuesday, Nov. 11
3Wide Brewing~ Stop by to receive your entry to their veteran happy hour celebartion Nov. 15
Buffalo Wild Wings – 10 FREE Boneless Wings + Fries for veterans & active duty (dine-in/walk-in).
Chili’s – Free meal from select menu for veterans & active duty (in-restaurant only).
Cracker Barrel – Free Sunrise Pancake Breakfast for veterans & active duty.
IHOP – Free Red, White & Blueberry Pancake Combo, 7AM–7PM (dine-in only).
In-N-Out Burger – Free meal (burger, fries & drink) + special Veterans Day decal.
Olive Garden – Free entrée from special menu + soup/salad & breadsticks.
Starbucks – Free tall brewed coffee (hot or iced) for veterans, service members & spouses.
Texas Roadhouse – Free meal vouchers, 11AM–2PM (redeemable through May 2026).
Great Clips – Free haircut for veterans & active duty, or a free haircut card to gift.
Target – 10% discount for military & families (Oct. 27–Nov. 11 via Target Circle).

💡 Bring proof of service (military ID, VA card, or discharge papers). Some offers vary by location—call ahead to confirm!

There’s been a lot of discussion about autism lately, but many still don’t truly understand what autism is — especially profound autism. While it’s a wide spectrum, families like ours who experience severe autism face many of the same daily challenges and needs.

First and foremost, our children elope — meaning they have no sense of danger and love to run away. They’re often drawn to things like vibrations or water, so we must constantly keep watch and act quickly if they get away. They may not respond when called, and safety is always a concern.

Nonverbal doesn’t mean silent. Many people make loud vocalizations, and when interrupted, it can cause a total loss of regulation — a meltdown. These sounds are part of stimming, or repetitive, self-soothing actions that help regulate the nervous system. My nonverbal son stims by hand flapping (his “happy flappies”), jumping, running, or climbing.
We all stim in small ways — clicking a pen, tapping a foot, chewing our cheek, or rocking back and forth.

Autism changes entire lives. Caregiving is relentless — it never stops, yet often leaves you isolated. Going out can feel like a burden or too physically demanding. Navigating waivers, social security, and medical care feels like entering a foreign world alone. It’s hard to understand unless you live it.

Families like ours deeply appreciate any accommodation, help, or kindness from the community! Parks with fences, sensory-friendly business hours, calming rooms, and special needs discounts make us feel seen. We’d love to see more inclusive playgrounds, fewer ponds, restaurants with play areas — and a little more grace.

Please remember — we are tired. Many of us stay up for days at a time, on alert 24/7. We’re chasing, lifting, and caring for children nearly our size while juggling therapists, doctors, insurance reps, and case managers. Hospitals often feel like a second home.
Despite it all, we’re here — doing our best to live beyond autism. What helps most is understanding, support, and kindness. Thank you for listening, accommodating, and caring — it truly makes a difference.

To learn more about autism and our journey, follow me on Facebook @Lolo Rene, where I share the ups, downs, and everything in between.

— Lauren Jackson

The Academy at Justin Town Square recently celebrated the ribbon cutting for its third location, proudly calling Justin home for the second time! The event was attended by representatives from the City of Justin, who helped welcome the new campus with open arms.

The Academy continues to shine in early childhood education, offering the Frog Street Curriculum at all of its locations. Frog Street is a comprehensive, research-based program designed to nurture children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development from infancy through pre-kindergarten.

Through a balance of intentional teaching and play-based learning, Frog Street encourages creativity, problem-solving, and social skills in a safe, engaging environment. The curriculum emphasizes language development, early literacy, math readiness, and social-emotional growth, giving children a strong start toward lifelong learning.

Educators benefit from detailed lesson plans, assessment tools, and family engagement resources — ensuring a well-rounded approach that supports every child’s growth.

Ribbon Cutting Celebration:
See more photos from the ceremony on our Facebook page!

This week’s Hometown Happenings are a bit on the light side as we find ourselves in that sweet spot between fall fun and holiday hustle. It’s the perfect chance to catch your breath — or get a head start on planning those festive decorations and events that make Justin shine all season long.

Monday~ Nov 10

Tuesday~ Nov 11

Wednesday~ Nov 12

Thursday~ Nov 13

Friday~ Nov 14

Saturday~ Nov 15

Sunday~ Nov. 16

See our online calendar for farmers markets

_{Upcoming:
11/29~ Small Business Saturday shop gifts from your hometown}

Last time, we talked about the moment Justin officially became an incorporated city on November 7, 1946. But what happened next? Once the county recorded the vote, the newly recognized City of Justin was ready to choose its very first leaders.

County Judge Gerald Stockard certified the incorporation results and set things in motion for the next big step — electing a Mayor, City Marshal, and five aldermen.

The Justin Community Chamber of Commerce organized the details and decided the election would be write-in only for all seven positions. The community wasted no time nominating familiar local faces for the job.

The Election – December 14, 1946
Residents gathered at Charlie Sims’ garage, which doubled as the local polling place, to cast their votes for Justin’s first city government.

Mayor

City Marshal

Aldermen (Top 5 Elected out of 15 nominees)

Others receiving votes included Oakley Pierce, B.C. Kelly, D. Womack, W.S. Powers, C.P. Owens, Mont Barnard, Mrs. E.C. Tally, J.O. Parr, A.R. Ferrell, and Melvin Leverett.

And with that, Justin’s first city council was born.
Leading the way was Mayor William I. Bishop, a local cotton gin operator, and City Marshal C.P. Owens, who also served as the town’s waterworks operator.

It was a humble but historic start — a handful of neighbors, a garage polling place, and a vision for a growing little town that had just put itself officially on the map.

Today, Justin’s elections look a little different — held in public buildings with electronic ballots and hundreds of voters instead of a few dozen gathered in a garage. But the spirit is much the same. Every vote still helps shape the town’s direction, just like it did that December day in 1946 when Justin took its first official steps as a city.