Here’s what’s up in SETX,
A $190 million deal just landed in Port Neches — and it has the Golden Triangle's industrial community paying attention. Meanwhile, a Marine veteran and local business owner is bringing a long-overdue voice to the BISD boardroom, Charlton-Pollard is on the verge of getting its first community garden, and 10 local students are being recognized for the kind of character that can't be taught in a classroom. Plus: powerboat racing on the Sabine River this weekend, a Turnpike Troubadours concert coming up, and a Gulf Coast seafood institution right off I-10 that deserves another look.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
Port Neches Chemical Plant Sold in $190M Deal — New Owner Takes Over by June 🏭
INEOS Enterprises has agreed to sell INEOS Calabrian — a sulphur dioxide and specialty chemicals operation with a manufacturing facility right here in Port Neches — to Ecovyst Inc. for $190 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June 2026. INEOS says Calabrian no longer fits its long-term portfolio strategy; Ecovyst describes it as a "strong, well-positioned" business and plans to absorb it into their catalyst and chemical services division.
For the Golden Triangle, this is an ownership change at an established industrial facility — not a shutdown, not a layoff announcement. Ecovyst is a growth-oriented company that sees synergies over the next three years, which is typically a sign of investment plans rather than a wind-down. Port Neches workers should expect transition communications from Ecovyst as the deal closes in the coming weeks.
💡 The bottom line: A $190M sale of a local chemical plant is always worth tracking — the new owner's next moves will tell us whether this is good news, neutral news, or something to watch more closely.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🎖️ Elias Ibarra Brings Hispanic Representation Back to BISD — Since the TEA's board takeover last month, one appointment has stood out: Elias Ibarra — a Central High honor grad, Marine Corps sergeant, father of three, and local business owner — is now the first Hispanic voice in BISD leadership since 2014. Hispanic students make up the district's second-largest demographic. For a lot of families, that seat at the table matters more than any policy announcement. Read more →
🌱 Charlton-Pollard Is About to Get Its First Community Garden — Beaumont City Council is weighing a five-year lease agreement to let the South End Charlton-Pollard Greater Historic Community Association convert city-owned lots along Irving Avenue into a community garden. The mission is simple: get fresh produce and health education into a neighborhood that has had too little of both. If approved, this becomes one of Beaumont's first publicly leased community gardens in a historically underserved area. Read more →
🎓 10 Local Students Win BBB Integrity Scholarships — $25,000 Total — The BBB Southeast Texas Education Foundation named 10 high school seniors as its 2026 Students of Integrity, awarding $2,500 each. Jefferson County earns three spots given its student population. The awards aren't handed off in a ceremony — Foundation board members show up personally at each school's senior night. It's a small gesture that hits different when you're 17 and someone believes in you enough to drive across the county. Read more →
⚖️ CASA Southeast Texas Gets $6,500 to Expand Early Intervention — The Texas Bar Foundation awarded CASA of Southeast Texas a $6,500 grant to expand early intervention services for children and families in the child welfare system. CASA volunteers are court-appointed advocates — trained community members who show up for kids in foster care who might otherwise navigate the system alone. More funding means more trained volunteers, which means more kids with someone in their corner. Read more →
🏠 Beaumont's Housing Market Is Cooling — and Buyers Are Starting to Win — Beaumont's average home value sits at $166,671, up just 1.4% over the past year — a sharp slowdown from the construction surge we covered in April. More sellers are listing, prices are being adjusted downward, and homes are sitting about 48 days before going pending. If you've been watching from the sidelines waiting for a softer market, it's here. Read more →
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Go watch powerboat racing on the Sabine River — for free — DSRA Boat Races return to the Riverside Pavilion in Orange on May 16–17. Free admission, food trucks, DJ music, and kids' activities. Gates open 11 AM Saturday, noon Sunday. Bring the family.
✅ Get Turnpike Troubadours tickets before they sell out — The Wild America Tour hits Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 23, with Avery Anna and Rattlesnake Milk opening. Check fordamphitheater.live for showtime and ticket links.
✅ Catch the Southeast Texas FanFest this weekend — Comics, cosplay, gaming, and pop culture at Central Mall Port Arthur, May 15–17. Free to explore — vendor tables, panels, and good energy for the whole family.
✅ Visit AMSET's new dual exhibitions before the month's out — Two new shows opened May 5 at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas in Beaumont: Julius Stockfleth: Dawn of a Century and Bill Pangburn: Printed Traces. Free admission, part of the museum's 75th anniversary.
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📅 COMMUNITY EVENTS
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
THIS WEEK
May 11: K-POP Warriors | Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St, Beaumont. Tonight at 6:00 PM — live K-pop performance at the historic Jefferson. Tickets from $35 at Ticketmaster or at the door.
May 13: Read to Me: Grownup Storytime | Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas Dr, Beaumont. 9:30–10:30 AM, free — storytime reimagined for adults.
May 15: Southeast Texas FanFest kicks off | Central Mall, FM 365, Port Arthur. Fri–Sun pop culture celebration for comics, gaming, and fandom, presented by The Cosmic Outpost. Free to explore.
May 15: SE Texas Stand Down — Free Veteran Services | Orange, TX. 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. Free resources and assistance for veterans, homeless veterans, and military families. Hosted by SETX Veterans 4 Veterans.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
May 15 - Dreamgirls @ 7 pm
May 22 - Pirates of the Caribbean @ 7 pm
THIS WEEKEND
May 16: Beaumont Farmers Market | 6525 College St (Beaumont Athletic Complex). Every Saturday 8:00–11:00 AM year-round. Local produce, vendors, and fresh goods.
May 16: Free Painting Class — Spring Florals | Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas Dr, Beaumont. 3:00–5:00 PM, completely free. Drop-in welcome.
May 16–17: DSRA Boat Races | Riverside Pavilion & City of Orange Boat Ramp, Sabine River, Orange. High-speed powerboat drag racing on the river. FREE admission. Sat: gates 11 AM, races 11 AM–5 PM. Sun: gates noon, races noon–5 PM. Food trucks and kids' activities both days.
May 16–17: Southeast Texas FanFest (continues) | Central Mall, FM 365, Port Arthur. 11:00 AM Sunday start. Cosplay welcome, pop culture vendors and panels all weekend.
May 16–17: 5th Annual COPA Gulf Coast Youth Soccer Tournament | Gulf Coast Soccer Complex, 5601 Twin City Hwy, Port Arthur. Starts 8:00 AM Saturday. Boys and girls competitive/recreational, ages U7–U19.
May 16–17: Perfect Game Baseball — Battle for the Belts | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Weekend youth baseball tournament on Ford Park's championship fields.
COMING UP
May 19: Meet Me at the Pool — Jump into Summer! | Magnolia Park & Alice Keith Park pools, Beaumont. The city's official summer pool season kickoff. Free. All ages.
May 19: Studio D Dance Company Recital — "Bloom" | Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. 6:00 PM — spring dance recital from one of SETX's youth dance companies. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
May 20: Music Bingo Night — Classic Rock Edition | Madison's on Dowlen, Beaumont. 7:00 PM — guess the song, bingo-style. Great for groups.
May 23: May Days Market | 525 S Archie St, Vidor. 10:00 AM. Outdoor market on Archie Street — local vendors, goods, community atmosphere.
May 23: Turnpike Troubadours with Avery Anna & Rattlesnake Milk | Ford Amphitheatre, Beaumont. Evening concert — check fordamphitheater.live for gates and showtime. Tickets at AXS and Songkick.
May 26–27: Youth Summer Sports Camp | 1405 W. Orange Ave, Orange. 9:00 AM–1:00 PM both days. City of Orange summer program for kids.
May 28: Ribbon Cutting — ShareCast Studios | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce event welcoming a new local podcast and video production studio.
May 31–Jun 1: Buu Mon Garden Festival | Buu Mon Buddhist Temple, 2701 Procter St, Port Arthur. FREE admission. One of Port Arthur's most beloved annual traditions — bamboo, lotus blossoms, koi ponds, vendors, and live music. Sat 8:30 AM–11 PM (music 5–11 PM) | Sun 8:30 AM–7 PM (music noon–5 PM).
Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉
🍽️ FOOD CORNER
🦞 Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen — Beaumont
Courtesy of Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
If you've been overlooking Pappadeaux because it feels too familiar, it's time for a revisit. Beaumont's location on I-10 has been doing Gulf Coast seafood the New Orleans way for years — shrimp, catfish, oysters, and full seafood platters coming out mesquite-grilled, charbroiled, or blackened, alongside bowls of gumbo and étouffée that hold up to anything you'd find closer to the Louisiana border. Hearty portions, a full bar, Happy Hour Monday through Friday, and a dining room that works just as well for a weeknight dinner as it does for a proper celebration.
📍 4040 I-10 S, Beaumont, TX 77705 | (409) 842-1339
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Paddle Village Creek Before Summer Shuts It Down - Village Creek State Park, Lumberton
Village Creek State Park - Courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Late May is the last good window before Southeast Texas heat turns a kayak trip from a good time into an endurance test. Village Creek State Park in Lumberton sits on over 1,000 acres of Big Thicket country — cypress-lined waterways, old-growth forest overhead, and the kind of quiet you can't find in the city. Bring your own kayak or call ahead about rentals, give yourself 2–3 hours on the lower creek stretches, and go early in the morning when the water is still and the egrets are out. Day passes are affordable, parking is easy, and the crowds stay light through May.
Check current conditions and access info at tpwd.texas.gov before you head out.
🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.
💼 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Calabrian facility in Port Neches is mid-transition — the $190M sale to Ecovyst is expected to close by end of June, so workers at that plant should watch for communications from the incoming ownership. Spring turnaround season has also kept contract crews active across Golden Triangle refineries, with some short-term positions still moving. If you're in the industrial trades, keep an eye on local staffing agencies for anything posted in the next 30–60 days as turnaround work wraps up.
🏥 Healthcare Careers — CHRISTUS Southeast Texas | Beaumont
CHRISTUS is actively recruiting clinical and support staff heading into summer — registered nurses, technicians, and patient care roles are in demand.
How to apply: Apply at christushealth.org/careers
💼 General SETX Openings
Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas posts current openings across industries — manufacturing, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
How to apply: Browse the full board at setworks.org or stop by a local office in Beaumont or Port Arthur.
🌿 Tailored Lawn Care
Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.
Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887
💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.
📣 Your Turn
Charlton-Pollard is about to get a community garden on city-owned land. Do you think Beaumont should be doing more of this in underserved neighborhoods — or is there something else the city should prioritize?
See you next week neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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