The Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce awarded the Citizen and Volunteer of the Year awards to two Bryan-College Station residents for their dedicated service to the community during the Nov. 9 annual banquet.

At a glance: The yearly ceremony attracted over 600 people from businesses around the Bryan-College Station area. The event also attracted local politicians and Texas A&M University President Susan Ballabina, who was the keynote speaker.

BCS Chamber President Glen Brewer said he was proud of the twin cities' growing economy and the community’s volunteer efforts.

The specifics: Paige Naumann, the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award, said her involvement in more than 10 organizations and her local upbringing drive her to make the community a better place.

The recipient of the Citizen of the Year award, Brigadier General Joe Ramirez, thanked the community and his wife for the award and said he was grateful to serve the country and Bryan-College Station.

The takeaway: Brewer said the fine work and community efforts help the BCS Chamber continue to support businesses and grow.

Looking for events on Veterans Day? Check out this roundup of events happening Nov. 11.

City offices in Bryan and College Station will be closed Nov. 11 for the Veterans Day holiday.

Field of Valor: A patriotic display of over 1,000 American flags in honor of veterans, first responders and more, courtesy of the Bryan Rotary Field of Valor project.

• Nov. 11

• Free (admission)

• 3101 Harvey Road, College Station

Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board’s Veterans Day Ceremony: The yearly event will feature “Honor Wall Roll Call,” which is a reading of veterans' names recently added to the memorial’s Wall of Honor. Gregory W. Vogle, former director of the National Clandestine Service and Marine Corps veteran, will be the keynote speaker.

• Nov. 11, 5:30 p.m.

• Free (admission)

• American Pavilion, 3101 Harvey Road, College Station

Veterans Day Celebration: Featuring a lunch dedicated to all those who have served, the Central Park event will also include games and fellowship.

• Nov. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Free (admission)

• 1000 Krenek Tap Road, College Station

Real estate data for the Bryan-College Station area shows an increase in home sales and prices in September compared to the same month last year.

The highlights:

• Overall home sales increased by a count of nine, with four of the six ZIP codes seeing a rise in the number of homes sold.

• Median home prices increased in every ZIP code, with two ZIP codes experiencing an increase of 10% or more.

• The median number of days a home sat on the market increased across five ZIP codes compared to September 2025.

• The majority of homes sold in the area during September were priced between $200,000 and $399,999.

Texas A&M University Art Galleries will be renamed the Texas A&M University Art Museum, which brings the J. Wayne Stark Galleries and Forsyth Galleries under one identity.

How we got here: According to a news release, the name change reflects the department’s work in preserving and managing the university’s art collections, as well as its partnerships with faculty for research, education and programming.

The Stark and Forsyth galleries will retain their individual names and current locations in the Memorial Student Center on campus.

“This will allow us to celebrate local creativity alongside historical masterpieces, offering visitors a richer understanding of both our cultural heritage and our present-day artistic landscape,” said Elizabeth Appleby, assistant director of the Texas A&M University Art Museum and curator of the Forsyth Galleries.

Before you go: The museum will continue offering rotating exhibitions, educational programming and collaborations with university and community partners.

• Renaming announced Oct. 7

• Memorial Student Center, 275 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station