-
Albert Nolen
What a night for the Junior League of Beaumont as they hosted the sixth annual “Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas” fundraiser last Friday evening at the Civic Center. Kudos to JLB President Brenna Rodriguez along with chairs Carly Shelander and Emily Wilson and co-chair Allison Wright. Congratulations to the Mirror Ball Trophy winners Kelly Roebuck and Ethan Welch, who made all the hard work with choreographers Brixey Blankenship-Cozad and Summer Tanner pay off! Allie Kelley and Peter Hoang wowed the crowd and earned the Fan Favorite award. Emcee Shelly Vitanza kept the show flowing and judges, who were also past DWTS participants, Gigi Mazzola, Roy West and AJ Turner, also did a tremendous job. Other electrifying performers were Jessica Hill and John Nickum, Chelsea Brandimarte and Will Leonard, Ava Graves and Aaron Drawhorn, Tiffany Neale and Bryan Gaspard, Latesha Hunter and Marc McDonald, and Stephanie Vanskike and Nicholas Phillips. In the crowd were Jennifer and Shawn Sparrow, Annie Green, Jeff McManus, Maureen Croley, Brenda and Burnice Wilson, Colleen Phalen, Lisa Parigi, Vic Reyna, Ellen and Danny Phelan, Sarah and Mark Frasher, Nga Tea Do, Laurie Kent, Haylee Faggard, Madison Gober, Brock Wilson, Lauren Welch, Kelli and Qamar Arfeen, Jordan Gaspard, Hester Bell, Regina Rogers, Dianne Duperier, Nathan Brandimarte, Michelle Leonard, Erin Godina, Brenna Rodriguez, Sarah Wells, Lindsay Brake, Megan Mistric, Krystal Sanchez and too many more too mention. Guests left thoroughly entertained and wondering who will take home next year’s Mirror Ball trophy? Save the date for Friday, March 3, 2023. Congrats to the JLB on another fantastic job well done!
Singing in the seats… Guests who attended last Saturday’s Symphony of Southeast Texas concert at the Julie Rogers Theatre were in for a treat as Radiance, the Ladies of Motown, joined the symphony for a tribute to the sounds of Motown. Singing along were Gloria and Charlie Locke, Anna Mae Fertitta, Camille Mouton, Melanie Dishman, Judy Dishman, Marilyn and Ed Gripon, Martha Hanna, Vivian and Coffy Pieternelle, Paula O’Neill, Kathe and Jim Hendricks, Gina Winegar, Richard Carey, Mark Kubala, Kit Ohmstede, Jo Vance, Sandra Clark and so many others. Make plans for their next concert April 2. See you there!
Fiddle me this… Lutcher Theater hosted the Broadway classic “Fiddler on the Roof” last Sunday. Making the trek to Orange to see the wonderful performance were Emily Wheeler and her lovely Haddie, Martha Foxworth, Shari Marchand, Paige Windham and Jennifer Gordy, among others. Next up for the Lutcher is “An Officer and a Gentleman” on March 27. Get your tickets now!
Very distinguished… Lamar University recently announced the recipients of the of the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award. This year, four alumni including Orlando Alvarez, Myrna Dunnam, Frank Messina and Julie Wenah, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest award Lamar University bestows upon its graduates. There ceremony will be held Saturday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the University Event Center. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by calling (409) 880-8921. Congrats to the new honorees!
Let’s go… Reserve your tickets and tables today for the seventh annual Garth House Designer Purse Bingo on Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center in downtown Beaumont. Tickets are $65 and tables start at $500. Great event for a great cause. Call (409) 838-9084 for more information.
Here comes the Easter Bunny… Make plans to attend Beaumont Heritage Society’s fifth annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16, 2022, on grounds of the historic John Jay French Museum (3025 French Rd.) at 1 p.m. Hundreds of eggs per age group will be filled with treats, prize tickets and even a few special prize tickets. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at beaumontheritage.org or by calling (409) 898-0348. Proceeds will benefit the John Jay French Museum. Be there!
Candles and cakes… Belated best to Jeff Hayes, Shirley Donnelly and Lee Briggs. Bday wishes to Caroline Wied, Jessica Hallmark, Sarah Scott, Jonas Fertitta, Neil Potter, Melissa Maraist, Lindsey Ramey, Lynn Castle, Rebel Lewis Raley, Rusty Silcox, Greg Neece, Jill Schwertner, Deanna Adams, Hester Bell, Ben Broussard, Al Caldwell, Tyler Falgout, Colleen Hartel, Kerri Abshire, Nathan Erwin-Hall, Caroline Jones, Kory Woodside, Kim Torres, Ashley Bryan, Bonnie Tortorice, Myla Ramsey, Casey Oliver, Otto Fricke, Edward Persia, Jennifer Fisher, Jeff Kolar, Janyth Matkin, Kyle Dubose, Suzy Juncker and Paige Fertitta Meighen.
Until the next RSVP!