Hello, Beaumont
This city never runs out of good news. Every single week there's more of it than fits in one issue, which might be my favorite problem to have.
This week: a superintendent who rode the bus, $500 up for grabs for Lamar students with a business idea, and a full calendar of things worth getting out for.
This Week Around Town
Superintendent Rides the Bus on Day One
Sandi Massey didn't watch the first day of school from her office. She climbed on a bus and rode along with students across the district, the same route they take every morning. It's the kind of thing that tells you more about a superintendent than any press release could. Read more →
Lamar's Venture Center Is Giving Away $500 to Local Student Entrepreneurs
Got a business idea sitting in a notebook somewhere? Lamar University's Venture Center is giving five undergraduate students $500 each to start or grow one. Winners get paired with a mentor for the semester, with three in-person check-ins to keep the momentum going. Applications close Friday, October 2 at 5 PM, winners announced October 12. Learn more →
Things To Do
Here's what's worth getting out for this week, Beaumont.
Tuesday, Aug 18
Punch Needle Embroidery Craft and Share · 10-11:30 AM · McFaddin-Ward House Museum · adults 21+
Book Club at AMSET Cafe · 5:30 PM · AMSET Cafe · free
The Tasting for Some Other Place · 5-7 PM · Beaumont Civic Center · $15, kids 6 and under free
Wednesday, Aug 19
Networking Before 9 · 7:30-9 AM · Silsbee Pines Theater, Silsbee · coffee first, business cards second
Thursday, Aug 20
Press Club August Meeting · 11:30 AM · Bruno's Italian Kitchen · TxDOT gives a construction update
Forge What's Next · 6-8 PM · The Forge, 268 Pearl St · come with an idea, leave with a connection
Texas Hold 'Em Tournament · 7 PM · Soggy Bottom Saloon · $25 buy-in
Music Bingo Night · 7 PM · Rikenjaks, Lumberton · free to play
Friday, Aug 21
Movie Night: Ferris Bueller's Day Off · doors 6 / film 7 · Jefferson Theatre · $6
White Linen Night · 6-9 PM · Downtown, SETX Studio area
Stargazing Party · evening · Tyrrell Park
Saturday, Aug 22
Art in Motion: Guided Mural Walking Tour · 8:30 AM · meets at AMSET · free
Mid-County Farmers & Crafters Market · 11 AM-4 PM · Central Mall, Port Arthur
Sunday, Aug 23
Barefoot Yoga by the Lake · 9:45 AM-2:45 PM · Beaumont Event Centre · free
Mah Jongg at Brentwood · 1-3 PM · Brentwood Country Club · $30-45
Later this month
Bilingual Spanish Story Time · Aug 26, 10 AM · Main Downtown Library
5 Under's Fall League kicks off Aug 25 · Tuesday nights all season
Movie Night: Cry-Baby · Aug 28, doors 6 / show 7 · Jefferson Theatre
Spindletop Rollergirls vs. Conroe Cutthroats · Aug 29, doors 5 / game 6 · Beaumont Civic Center
SWF: Side Effects · Aug 29, 6 PM · Doggett Ford Park
Boomtown
West End Quiet Zone, Construction Complete
All the work is done. The city has submitted it to the Federal Railroad Administration for approval. No date yet for when it takes effect, so we hold that line rather than promise one. Read more →
Community
Community Exposed. Tell somebody about this one.
Walk to End Alzheimer's Kicks Off This Thursday
The Walk to End Alzheimer's returns to Beaumont on Saturday, October 3, and this Thursday marks the official kickoff. It's when organizers build momentum, form teams, and spread the word before the big day. If you've got someone in mind you'd walk for, this is the week to jump in. Learn more →
On the Market
Byte by Byte
Small things that save you time.
Part 3 of 6.
This week: Make it ask you the questions
Most of us ask a question, take whatever comes back, and decide that's what AI does. But the answer can only be as good as what it knows about your situation, and it doesn't know much. It's guessing.
So make it stop guessing. Add one line to the end of anything you ask it: ask me questions before you answer. It'll come back with three or four questions instead of an answer. You answer them the way you'd answer a friend. Then what comes back is built on your details, not a stranger's.
That's the whole trick. You're not handing anything over. You're just giving it enough to be useful, and it saves you the twenty minutes of fixing a generic answer.
Try it: whatever you were going to ask it today, add this to the end. "Ask me questions before you answer, so you have what you need.
Small thing, big week. If you try it, tell me how it went.
You Decide
We read every word you send.
Tap your pick below. And if you've got two seconds, hit reply and tell me one thing you'd like to see in here that we're not doing yet. I read every one, and it shapes what shows up next week.
The first week of school is upon us. What's the hardest part?
Before You Go
The good stuff is out there; it's just scattered across a dozen places nobody has time to check. Gathering it up is the whole job.
Pick one thing in here and go do it. Then tell somebody about it.
See you around town.
Jenny Lee · Locally written. Community trusted.