Here’s what’s up in SETX,
School is three weeks out and Beaumont ISD just put a five-year turnaround plan on the table — new superintendent Sandi Massey wants two-thirds of third graders reading on grade level by 2031, up from about a quarter today.
Elsewhere: Nederland's supply bus is parked and waiting all week, Beaumont gave the owner of Jefferson House Apartments ten days to fix raw sewage and standing water, and Lumberton High is opening a working salon so students graduate with a cosmetology license in hand.
Plus: Port Arthur's recycling center finally has an opening date, Benny's puts brisket and boudin on a pizza, and the tax-free weekend is closer than you think.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
Beaumont ISD Draws Up a Five-Year Plan to Fix Its Numbers 📚
At the July 23 board meeting, Superintendent Sandi Massey laid out "Project Accelerate" — a five-year turnaround plan for Beaumont ISD — alongside preliminary state accountability data. Across the district's campuses that data shows 1 A (King Collegiate Academy), 4 C's, 4 D's and 13 F's on student achievement. Two things worth being precise about: these are campus-level achievement scores, not a rating of the district, and they are preliminary — the final TEA ratings don't land until August.
Massey didn't soften it. "This district has failed the city," she told the board. "It's failed our teachers, and it's most importantly failed our students." The plan sets hard targets for 2031: third graders reading on grade level from 27% to 65%, and third-grade math from 23% to 60%. Getting there runs through Pre-K–2 instruction, coaching for teachers, a voluntary summer bridge program, one standardized curriculum across every campus, and a pay framework tied to effectiveness. The board also signed off on governance "guardrails" to keep the plan on the rails through leadership changes. Separately, the Texas Education Agency has reassigned former BISD superintendent Dr. Shannon Allen.
💡 The bottom line: A third grader who can't read on grade level is a ninth grader fighting every subject at once & that's why this plan starts in Pre-K, and also why the next five years matter to every BISD family, whether or not the ratings ever make the news again.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🚌 Nederland's "Stuff the Bus" Starts Today — A school bus is parked at Central Middle School all week collecting supplies for Nederland ISD students, and it opens today from 1–3 PM (Tue 11 AM–1 PM, Wed 2–3:30 PM, Thu & Fri 10 AM–12 PM). Can't make those windows? The district administration building takes drop-offs 7:30 AM–3 PM all week. They're after new school supplies plus gently used Bulldog spirit shirts — so the kid who shows up without a backpack doesn't start the year behind on day one.
🏚️ Beaumont Gives Jefferson House 10 Days Before Condemnation — The city has given the owner of Jefferson House Apartments 10 days to correct conditions or face condemnation, after documenting raw sewage inside units, months of standing water, mold and mosquitoes. Council member Joey Hilliard has been vocal about it. Some residents have lived there 20 to 40-plus years. The city has pledged relocation assistance but the Housing Authority says its emergency capacity is limited, and that second half is the part neighbors need to hear.
💇 Lumberton High Is Opening a Working Salon This Fall — Lumberton ISD has converted four classrooms into a salon-style cosmetology lab, built with Lamar State College Orange. Students earn high school credit, college credit and a state cosmetology license — 25 in the first cohort, 50 at the second. Lumberton High principal Travis Edgerton has been driving it. That's a graduate who can walk into a chair and start earning without a semester of debt first.
♻️ Port Arthur's Recycling Center Opens Aug. 20 — With H-E-B Gift Cards — The first 50 people who bring cardboard get a $10 H-E-B gift card, so plan accordingly. The new center sits behind the Bob Bowers Civic Center, with a 10 AM ribbon-cutting, DJ Paul from 11 AM–1 PM, and live demonstrations. It's cardboard only to start, funded by a $250,000 H-E-B Community Recycling Grant through Keep Texas Beautiful. Port Arthur has gone without a convenient drop-off for a long time — this is a real place to take the boxes.
🏗️ Beaumont Starts Knocking on Doors Downtown — City Manager Chris Boone has made proactive building-code enforcement a downtown priority. Two pieces: a Vacant Building Registry for the Central Business District — which requires owners to keep at least 50% of habitable floor area occupied — and a Downtown Proactive Code Sweep, enforced under the citywide 2021 International Property Maintenance Code. Translation for downtown property owners: the city is no longer waiting on complaints. For everyone else, it's the difference between a block of boarded windows and a block worth walking.
🎪 West Orange Moves Holiday in the Park to October — Vendors, Mark Aug. 3 — The festival moves to Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 AM–4 PM, in the park beside West Orange City Hall, 2700 Western Ave. The date that actually matters right now is Aug. 3, when booth registration opens. If you make, bake or sell anything, that's your window.
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Enter our Texas Roadhouse giveaway - last day today, July 27 — we're giving 2 free appetizers each to 5 lucky subscribers. Forward this email to a friend and follow us on Instagram + Facebook to rack up entries. 🤠
✅ Drop school supplies at the Nederland bus this week — The bus is at Central Middle School today 1–3 PM, Tuesday 11 AM–1 PM, Wednesday 2–3:30 PM, and Thursday and Friday 10 AM–12 PM. The Nederland ISD administration building takes drop-offs 7:30 AM–3 PM all week. New supplies and gently used Bulldog spirit shirts. 🚌
✅ Sign the Sea Rim Striders waiver by Sunday — The free summer run/walk series meets Mondays 7–8 PM at Lamar State College Orange, and the online waiver has to be signed fresh each week by Sunday to run. The final week is Aug 3.
✅ Book an escape room in Orange — "Paradox of Time" runs at the Orange Public Library (220 5th St.) July 21–31 — free, air-conditioned, and family-friendly.
✅ Set a reminder for Aug. 3 if you're a vendor — Booth registration for West Orange's Holiday in the Park opens that day for the Oct. 24 festival at 2700 Western Ave. Spots at a one-day festival go fast.
✅ Circle Aug. 7–9 on the calendar — Texas's sales tax-free weekend runs Friday through midnight Sunday. Clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks under $100 are tax free, in stores and online, and you don't need an exemption certificate. 🎒
✅ Grab school supplies for Pack a Patrol Car — Thursday, July 30 at the Port Neches Police Department, 1201 Merriman St. Everything collected goes to PN-G ISD students.
✅ 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
Looking for even more things to do? Browse and submit community events at events.whatsupsetx.com — updated every week. 🎉
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
⏳ DEADLINE · MONDAY, JULY 27
Win free appetizers at Texas Roadhouse 🤠 — 2 free apps each for 5 lucky subscribers. Forward this to a friend and follow us on Instagram + Facebook for more entries. We'll draw winners after July 27.
THIS WEEK
Jul 27–31: Nederland ISD "Stuff the Bus" School Supply Drive | Central Middle School, Nederland. Bus open Mon 1–3 PM, Tue 11 AM–1 PM, Wed 2–3:30 PM, Thu & Fri 10 AM–12 PM; the district administration building takes drop-offs 7:30 AM–3 PM all week. New supplies and gently used Bulldog spirit shirts.
Jul 27–Aug 1: Shark Week | Beaumont Children's Museum, 701 Main St, Beaumont. 9 AM–4 PM daily. Shark-themed crafts and activities. $8/child, $6/adult.
Jul 27: Free Summer Run/Walk Series | Lamar State College Orange, 410 W. Front St, Orange. 7–8 PM. Untimed roughly-5K with the Sea Rim Striders, free and open to everyone — the online waiver must be signed each week by Sunday. Final week is Aug 3.
Jul 28: Thunder From Down Under — Most Wanted 2026 Tour | Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. 8 PM; 18+ only.
Jul 28: Tuesdays Rock! Family Movie Day | Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Ave, Port Arthur. 2–4 PM. Free.
Jul 29: Wild Wednesday — "Creative Connections" | Shangri La Botanical Gardens, 2111 W. Park Ave, Orange. 9:30–10:30 AM. Story time built around Scribble Stones plus hands-on nature and art activities for ages 2–8 with families. Free, registration required.
Jul 30: Ribbon Cutting — The Shaw Group | Greater Beaumont Chamber, Beaumont. Public chamber ribbon-cutting.
Jul 30: Art After 5 Lecture — "Glass as Studio Practice" (Alexander Rosenberg) | Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. After-hours art lecture in AMSET's Art After 5 series.
Jul 30: "Help Pack A Patrol Car" Back-to-School Supply Drive | Port Neches Police Department, 1201 Merriman St, Port Neches. All day. Drop off new supplies for PN-G ISD students.
Jul 30: Mayor's 365-Day Community Progress Meeting | Lamar State College Port Arthur, Health & Science Building, Port Arthur. Free public update from the mayor's office, 5:30–7:30 PM.
Jul 31: "Learning Through Play" exhibit reception | Chambers House Museum, 2240 Calder Ave, Beaumont. 10 AM–2 PM. Free public reception for the museum's new exhibition of educational toys from the Chambers family collection. No registration required.
Jul 31: End of Summer Reading Party | Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main St, Beaumont. 5–7 PM. Games, crafts and dancing. Free.
Jul 31: Classic Movie in the Park — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | Conn Park, 19075 I-10 Frontage Rd, Vidor. 8 PM. Part of the city's Summer in the Park series — bring lawn chairs and blankets, concessions for purchase. Free, weather permitting.
Jul 31: What's it Worth? Appraiser Panel | Heritage House of Orange County, Orange. 7 PM. Southeast Texas Arts Council panel on spotting valuable items and reading the current market. $5 admission, which also covers Saturday's appraisal event.
Jul 31: Designer Purse Bingo | Orange County Convention & Expo Center, 11475 FM 1442, Orange. Doors 5:30 PM, bingo 6:30 PM. Greater Orange Area Chamber fundraiser, ages 21+.
Jul 31–Aug 1: I AM KNOWN Teen Girl Conference | Strong Tower Ministries, 5100 25th St, Port Arthur. Fri 6–8 PM, Sat 10 AM–4 PM. Worship, workshops and mentorship for girls in grades 6–12. Ticketed via Eventbrite.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
July 31 - The Sandlot @ 7 PM
Aug 7 - The Parent Trap @ 7 PM
Aug 14 - Clueless @ 7 PM
Aug 21 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off @ 7 PM
Aug 28 - Cry-Baby — John Waters' 1950s Baltimore rock-'n'-roll musical.
THIS WEEKEND
Aug 1: Downtown Beaumont Junk Days | 280 Orange St, Downtown Beaumont. 7 AM–4 PM. Antiques, collectibles, architectural salvage, old doors and windows — first Saturday of the month, hosted by BAW Resale & Interiors and benefiting local charities. Free admission, free parking, rain or shine.
Aug 1: Beaumont Farmers Market | Beaumont Athletic Complex, 6525 College St, Beaumont. 8–11 AM. Producer-only market, everything sourced within 150 miles. Free, rain or shine.
Aug 1: Back to School Orange County | Lamar State College Orange, 410 W. Front St, Orange. 9 AM–12 PM. Roughly 800 backpacks of supplies plus vaccinations for students enrolled in an Orange County school. Free — pre-registration closed July 23.
Aug 1: What's it Worth? Appraisal Event | Heritage House of Orange County, Orange. 9 AM–5 PM. Expert appraisers evaluate heirlooms — dolls, jewelry, silver, fine art, antique furniture, comics. $5 admission plus $10 per item appraised.
Aug 1: Saturday Movie — Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (PG) | Marion & Ed Hughes Public Library, 2712 Nederland Ave, Nederland. 11 AM–12:45 PM. Free.
Aug 1: Summer Reading Program Party | Silsbee Public Library, 295 N. 4th St, Silsbee. All day. Free.
Aug 1: Peaches & Prosecco | 6165 Muela Creek Dr, Beaumont. 9–11 AM. Glute workout, a mimosa and a goodie bag. Ticketed via Eventbrite.
Aug 1: The Australian Bee Gees — "Feel the Fever Again" | Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St, Beaumont. Doors 7 PM, show 8 PM. Ticketed.
Aug 2: The Closet Social — Tiny Trendsetters | Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main St, Beaumont. 2–6 PM. Kids' resale market plus play areas. $15 adults / $7 kids.
COMING UP
Aug 3: Holiday in the Park booth registration opens | West Orange City Hall, 2700 Western Ave, West Orange. Vendor sign-ups open for the Oct. 24 festival.
Aug 3, 5 & 10: Let's Keep It Moving — Free Line Dancing | Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Ave, Port Arthur. 5:45–7:15 PM. Drop-in sessions covering new steps, swing-out and zydeco, open to men, women and young adults. Free.
Aug 6: First Thursdays on Calder Avenue | Bon Vivant, 2195 Calder Ave, Beaumont. 11 AM–7 PM. Free entry.
Aug 6: "The Buffalo Soldiers" — a presentation by Roscoe C. Compton | Tyrrell Historical Library, 695 Pearl St, Beaumont. 4:30–6:30 PM. Free.
Aug 6: 90's Craft Night ArtSocial | AMSET, 500 Main St, Beaumont. 5:30–7:30 PM. Four throwback craft stations, a 90s snack bar, and a look at AMSET in the 1990s. Supplies included, ages 18+. $5 members / $10 non-members.
Aug 6: Cajun & Creole Acoustic Jam | American Legion Hall, 922 Nederland Ave, Nederland. 6:30–8:30 PM. Bring an instrument, dance, or just listen — contact Jude Moreau, (409) 749-9291. Free.
Aug 7–9: Texas sales tax-free weekend | Statewide, in stores and online. Clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 sell tax free through midnight Sunday. No exemption certificate needed.
Aug 8: 2026 Southeast Texas Visionary Awards | Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St, Beaumont. Doors 4 PM, show 5 PM. $50 VIP / $30 preferred / $25 youth.
Aug 8: Community Harvest 2026 | Free State Cellars, 4702 Tejas Pkwy, Orange. 6:30–11 AM. Optional sunrise yoga, a free t-shirt at check-in while supplies last, muscadine grape harvest, then complimentary breakfast with a DJ and the annual grape stomp. Free, no registration — closed-toe shoes, no dogs. (409) 221-7232.
Aug 8: Worship in the Park | Conn Park, 19075 I-10 Frontage Rd, Vidor. 4–10 PM. The Summer in the Park finale — live worship from SETX churches all day, food vendors, family activities, and an evening screening of I Can Only Imagine 2. Bring lawn chairs. Free, weather permitting.
Aug 8: 6th Annual Back to School Blast | Groves Activity Building, 6150 39th St, Groves. 10 AM. City of Groves back-to-school event for local families. Free.
Aug 8: Harbor Foundation's 14th Annual Butterfly Release | 700 Crockett St, Beaumont. 11 AM–1 PM. Children's activities, community resource booths and a butterfly release honoring loved ones. Free. (409) 540-4043.
Ongoing: Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center | 2111 W. Park Ave., Orange. Tue–Sat, 9 AM–5 PM, free admission — 252 acres of cypress gardens and shady nature trails.
Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, submit it or browse the full calendar at events.whatsupsetx.com — updated every week. 🎉
🍽️ FOOD CORNER
🍕 Benny's Pizza — Beaumont
Pizza is the most borrowed food on earth, and Benny's borrowed it right back for Southeast Texas. The menu runs the expected pies and pastas, then turns local: brisket knots, a brisket-and-bacon pizza, boudin knots, and a Korean shrimp pizza that has no business working as well as it does. Somebody in that kitchen looked at a pizza crust and saw a barbecue plate.
It's a counter operation off Eastex Freeway, not a white-tablecloth night out which is exactly the point. Order the brisket knots for the table before you commit to anything else, and let somebody in your group be brave about the Korean shrimp.
📍 6155 Eastex Fwy, Beaumont, TX 77706 · (409) 223-1119 · bennyspizzabmt.com
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
🏦 Neches Federal Credit Union — Port Neches
Neches Federal Credit Union has just been named a Great Place to Work® for the fourth consecutive year an award decided almost entirely by what the staff themselves say about working there. For a credit union still headquartered on Magnolia Avenue in Port Neches, four years running is less a trophy than a habit.
Today it runs branches in 11 Southeast Texas cities — Beaumont and Port Arthur out to Vidor, Silsbee and Crystal Beach. President/CEO Jason Landry and Chief Strategy Officer Kristen Stewart both tied the recognition back to the same thing: you can't take care of members well if you aren't taking care of the people serving them.
This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
Tailored Financial Solutions
A Financial Team in Your Corner
Running a business means wearing a lot of hats, but your finances shouldn't have to be one of them.
At Tailored Financial Solutions (TFS), we provide the expertise of a full financial team without the cost of building one in-house. From accurate bookkeeping to strategic financial planning and tax guidance, we help business owners make informed decisions with confidence.
Our services are designed to support every stage of your business growth. Whether you're looking to organize your books, prepare for growth, or gain clearer financial insights, TFS delivers practical solutions tailored to your business. With corporate-level expertise and a personalized approach, we're here to help you build a stronger financial future.
Your business deserves more than accounting. It deserves a trusted financial partner.
📌 Learn more by visiting our website
🔗 Connect with us, access our social links, or book a consultation with Lance
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
🔭 Let a Big Thicket Ranger Show You the Sky
Big Thicket National Preserve runs ranger-led programs all year — sunset canoe trips, night hikes, guided nature walks — and every one of them is free. In a July like this one, the evening programs are the ones worth chasing. Reservations open two weeks ahead and they go: call 409-951-6700 or check the calendar at nps.gov/bith to see what's on.
The one to put in your phone right now is Summer Stargazing on Friday, Aug. 21, 7:30–10 PM at the Tyrrell Park Nature Center, 3930 Babe Zaharias Dr, Beaumont. Big Thicket rangers bring the telescopes, there are indoor space activities for the kids, and it's built for all ages and abilities. Free. Bring a flashlight — a red light if you have one, so nobody's night vision gets wrecked. It's weather-dependent, so check before you load the car.
If you need something sooner and cooler, the boardwalk at Cattail Marsh just up the road in Tyrrell Park is the reliable beat-the-heat move: go right after sunrise, bring water and bug spray, and be off the trail before midday.
🏕️ 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
Industry pulse: No refinery turnaround or hospital hiring signals surfaced this week — the SETX employment story right now is public-sector and school-district, and it's driven by the calendar. Two Mid-County districts and one city department are recruiting hard with the first day of class closing in.
👮 Police Officer / Lateral — Beaumont Police Department | Beaumont - Starting salary $76,656, with a $10,000 hiring bonus for a valid TCOLE certification and up to $4,000 a year for five years credited for prior experience. The lateral scale tops out at $97,848.
🎒 Teachers, Bus Drivers, Aides & Substitutes — Nederland ISD and Port Neches-Groves ISD | Mid-County - Both districts are filling classroom and support roles ahead of an Aug. 13 first day. Bus drivers and substitutes are the roles that stay open longest and train you on the job.
🔧 Hiring Event — Gulf Copper | Beaumont
Wednesday, July 29 at 510 Park St., Beaumont. Marine and industrial fabrication hiring.
💼 Tax Professional Lead — Tailored Financial Solutions | Remote
Detail-oriented tax pro needed for a growing local firm. Fully remote. Ideal for a CPA, enrolled agent, or experienced tax preparer looking for flexible work with real local roots.
How to apply: Apply: tailoredfinsolutions.com | [email protected]
👷 Blue-Collar Skilled Trades — Port Arthur / Sabine Pass
Patriot Security EOC is hiring 60+ positions across Port Arthur and Sabine Pass. Strong market region-wide for welders, operators, and industrial support roles. Ask about openings at your nearest WorkForce Solutions SETX location or check local job boards.
💼 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
🔜 Browse all local SETX job listings — coming soon. Want early access when our jobs board launches? Email [email protected] to get on the list.
📣 Your Turn
📰 What do you want more of in this newsletter? More food? More jobs? More events? More deep dives? Tell us and we'll deliver.
See you in a few days neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
🔗 Share the love — Forward this email to a neighbor or share this link
🤝 Want to advertise with us? Get in touch at [email protected]
🚀 Building a new business? Email us, we'd love to hear your story.
📱 Follow us on Instagram: @whatsup_SETX
🙋♂️ Hitting reply? We’re real people over here and we love to say hi!