Here’s what’s up in SETX,
Beaumont just locked in nearly $2 million in federal money to put solar-powered flashing signs in every school zone in the city — zero cost to the local tax base. A 15-year-old Beaumont gymnast named Sophie Gravel is competing at USA Gymnastics Nationals in Oklahoma right now as you read this. Orangefield ISD voters passed a $12.9 million athletic bond with almost 70% of the vote. And a Washington DC-based café chain just filed permits to open on Phelan — because even the outside world is paying attention to SETX these days.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
Beaumont Locks In $2M for Smarter School Zones — Solar Signs Are Coming 🚸
The Beaumont City Council voted to approve a nearly $2 million agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to overhaul school zone safety across the entire city. Solar-powered flashing school zone signs will go up at locations throughout Beaumont, backed by a cloud-based monitoring system that catches outages before they become problems. TxDOT handles construction. The city takes over maintenance once the work is done.
Here's the number that matters most: the project is federally funded. Not a dollar comes out of the city's general fund. That's a meaningful distinction — Beaumont gets a visible, modern upgrade to every school zone and the local budget doesn't feel a thing.
💡 The bottom line: Every parent dropping off a kid and every driver passing through a school zone in Beaumont is about to get a safer, smarter experience — and somebody else is picking up the tab.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🏟️ Orangefield ISD's $12.9M Bond Passes with a Clear Mandate — Orange County voters approved the Orangefield ISD athletic facilities bond 68.91% to 31.09% on May 2. That margin isn't a close call — it's a community putting its name behind its schools. The $12.9M will go toward upgraded athletic facilities and parking districtwide. For a smaller rural district, this is the kind of investment that changes what coaches can offer and what recruits see when they visit.
🤸 Beaumont Gymnast Sophie Gravel Is at Nationals Right Now — Sophie Gravel, 15, trains at Golden Triangle Premier Gymnastics in Beaumont. She qualified for the USA Gymnastics National Championships in Oklahoma after finishing 7th all-around at regionals and winning the balance beam with a 9.80 score. Only the top seven gymnasts from each region in the country advance to nationals — and she's one of them. The championships run May 6–10. She's competing as you read this. Go root for her.
📚 BISD Is Honoring the People Helping Kids Read — Beaumont ISD is formally recognizing its ROAR (Reach Out And Read) volunteers — the firefighters, parents, business leaders, and community members who spend 30 minutes a week sitting with 2nd graders building reading skills and confidence. The program's goal is concrete: every BISD second grader reading at or above grade level by year's end. If you have time and want to make a difference you can actually see, bmtisd.com/volunteers is where to start.
⚾ Lamar Baseball Gets the Facility It Deserved — Lamar University unveiled a new 8,500 sq ft facility at Vincent-Beck Stadium, funded by a gift from donors Teri and Glen Morgan. The Morgan Building brings a new locker room, coaches' offices, training room, film room, lounge, equipment room, and a hall of fame celebrating Lamar baseball history right there at the entrance. It's the kind of upgrade that changes recruiting conversations and signals that Lamar is serious about competing in the Southland Conference — and it came from the community, not a line item.
🎺 Champagne, Motown, and a Mission Worth Celebrating — Gift of Life's 18th Annual Champagne & Ribs packed the Beaumont Civic Center on April 28 with a Motown Revival theme, live music from Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band, and a room full of people who showed up for a real reason: the funds raised go directly to free prostate cancer screenings, physician consultations, and follow-up care for local men who need it. Five community leaders were honored. The event sold. The mission mattered.
🗳️ Port Arthur City Council Races Head to Runoff — After the May 2 election, Cal Jones won District 2 outright — but Districts 1, 3, and 4 are all headed back to the ballot. Runoff dates are TBD. If you live in one of those districts, this isn't settled yet — watch the City of Port Arthur for scheduling announcements.
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Register your kid for Beaumont Summer Camp — The City of Beaumont Parks & Rec has spots open for ages 5–12 at the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center. Sessions are $150/child. Sign up before they fill at beaumonttexas.gov.
✅ Cheer on Sophie Gravel at Nationals — Beaumont's 15-year-old gymnast is competing at USA Gymnastics Nationals in Oklahoma through May 10. Follow along and show some SETX love on social.
✅ Volunteer for BISD ROAR — Thirty minutes a week with a 2nd grader learning to read. Background check required. Sign up at bmtisd.com/volunteers.
✅ Plan for SE Texas FanFest, May 15–17 — Comics, pop culture, local vendors at Central Mall Port Arthur. Mark the calendar. More info at visitportarthurtx.com.
✅ Running a small business or thinking about starting one? — Tailored Financial Solutions offers bookkeeping, CFO-level guidance, and financial clarity for local entrepreneurs. tailoredfinsolutions.com 💰
📅 COMMUNITY EVENTS
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
THIS WEEK
May 1–7: Shop Local Week | Orange. The Orange Chamber is rallying residents to discover new local favorites and support small businesses all week — with prizes for participants.
May 6: Texas Farm Bureau Ribbon Cutting | Beaumont. Celebrate the grand opening of their new Beaumont location. Details at bmtcoc.org.
May 7: Cajun & Creole Acoustic Jam | American Legion Hall, 922 Nederland Ave, Nederland. 6:30–8:30 PM. Free. Bring your instrument or just pull up a chair — players circle up every 1st and 3rd Thursday.
May 8: Cajun Classic Golf Tournament | Beaumont. Annual charity golf fundraiser benefiting Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Foundation programs. Contact BHSET Foundation for details.
May 7: McFaddin-Ward House Museum Lecture — "Preserving the Past, Cultivating the Future: The Antique Rose Emporium Journey" | 6:30 PM at the Visitor Center Lecture Hall, Beaumont. Free public lecture by Jim Keeter Jr.
May 7: American Heroes Bourbon & BBQ Gala | Robert "Bob" Bowers Civic Center, Port Arthur. Charity fundraiser for OATH, Inc. honoring veterans and first responders.
May 8: AMSET Opening Reception — Bill Pangburn & Julius Stockfleth | 6:30–8 PM at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. Free and open to all.
May 8: Riceland Psychiatry Clinic Ribbon Cutting | Beaumont. The newest Riceland Health facility opens its doors — expanding mental health access in SETX. Details at bmtcoc.org.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
May 8 - Night at the Museum @ 7 pm
May 15 - Dreamgirls @ 7 pm
May 22 - Pirates of the Caribbean @ 7 pm
THIS WEEKEND
May 8 - 10: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical | Port Arthur Little Theatre, 4701 Jimmy Johnson Blvd, Port Arthur. Percy Jackson comes to life on stage.
May 9: Beaumont Farmers Market | Athletic Complex, 6525 College St, Beaumont. 8–11 AM. Fresh produce, local vendors, and a good Saturday morning habit.
May 9: Ali Siddiq (Stand-Up Comedy) | Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St, Beaumont. 7 PM. Houston storytelling legend, guaranteed sold-out energy. Tickets at axs.com.
May 9: Beaumont Renegades vs. Washington Wolfpack | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Local pro football — come out and support your home team.
May 10: Mother's Day 💐 — Take your mom somewhere special in SETX this weekend.
COMING UP
May 11: K-POP Warriors | Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. Doors 5 PM, show 6 PM. Family-friendly.
May 11: Clue – The Musical | 6 PM at Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange.
May 14: Dungeons & Dragons at the Library | 4–6:30 PM at Orange Public Library, Orange. Free.
May 15: Classic Movie Night – Dreamgirls | Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. Doors 6 PM, film 7 PM.
May 15–17: Southeast Texas FanFest | Central Mall, 3401 Cultural Center Dr, Port Arthur. Fan convention — comics, pop culture, local vendors. Presented by The Cosmic Outpost.
May 16: 5th Annual COPA Gulf Coast Soccer Tournament | 5601 Twin City Hwy, Port Arthur. Starts 8 AM.
May 16–17: Perfect Game Baseball – Battle for the Belts | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont.
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 27: Youth Summer Sports Camp | 9 AM–1 PM at 1405 W Orange Ave, Orange.
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
🥩 Saltgrass Steak House — Beaumont
Courtesy of SaltGrass Steak House Google Business Profile
Some places earn their reputation the old-fashioned way — by consistently delivering. Saltgrass on I-10 has been the answer to "where should we go tonight?" for SETX families and business dinners alike for years. Hand-cut steaks, Gulf Coast-inspired sides, and a room that makes you feel like you're somewhere Texas actually meant to build. Whether you're celebrating a kid's milestone or just want a proper meal this week, this one doesn't disappoint.
📍 325 IH 10 N, Beaumont
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Toastique — Coming to Beaumont
A Washington DC-based café concept that's been winning over health-conscious crowds since 2018 is headed to Beaumont. Toastique just filed permits for a location in the Colonnade shopping center at 6755 Phelan Blvd — their menu is built around gourmet toasts, cold-pressed juices, açaí and smoothie bowls, and a full espresso program. Build-out starts in late June and is expected to wrap by August 2026. It's not open yet — but it's the kind of opening worth knowing about before the line forms. Keep an eye on that Colonnade corner.
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This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Pool Season Is Open — And Summer Is Coming in Hot 🌊
Magnolia Park
NOAA isn't being subtle about it: this summer will be hotter than average across Texas, with the worst stretches expected in early June, mid-July, and late August. Above-normal rainfall is also in the forecast for the Gulf Coast — which is good news for drought relief, less good news for humidity. The Golden Triangle answer to both? Get in the water early and often.
Beaumont's two public pools — Magnolia Park (2390 Gulf St) and Alice Keith Park (4050 Reed St) — are free all summer long, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. But if you want to kick it off right, the city is throwing a real party: Meet Me at the Pool on May 19 is the official summer kickoff at both locations. Free admission, all ages, and the clearest sign yet that SETX is done with spring.
If you want to make a day trip of it, Epic Waters in Grand Prairie just landed on USA Today's list of the top indoor waterparks in the country — three years running. Schlitterbahn in Galveston and New Braunfels is always worth the drive. But for a free afternoon that feels like summer at its best, start right here at home.
🏕️ 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
It's a quieter week on the industrial hiring front — SETX refineries are past their spring turnaround cycles. That said, healthcare hiring at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas and Baptist Hospitals remains active heading into summer, and both are worth checking directly if you're in the medical field.
🏥 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
☕ Toastique is coming to Phelan: Excited about the new café opening, or is there a different type of restaurant you'd rather see fill that space? Tell us what Beaumont still needs.
See you next week neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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