-
Albert Nolen
Diamond jubilee
A celebration of a 75-year history of the Junior League of Beaumont was recently held at the lovely Downtown Event Centre. The JLB, which is a member of the national Junior League organization, has had a very successful 75th year thanks to the guidance and vision of President Brenna Rodriguez, who chose the theme, “Grow Through What We Have Been Through,” and this group has done exactly that! They have expanded their community impact, brought more awareness to the JLB with an increased membership by more than 10%, engaged more sustainers, elevated their volunteer hours to 8,500, raised their fundraisers “Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas” and Main Street Market to new levels, as well as increased their Community Assistance Fund to donate $75,000 to local non-profits this year. During the celebratory dinner, the League honored numerous members including Courtney White with the “Active of the Year” award; Stephanie Vanskike with the “Sustainer of the Year” award; Marissa Baze and Kaylee Henry with the “Provisional of the Year.” Rodriguez thanked all the board members for all the projects and committees for an outstanding year. She then welcomed incoming President Katie Baker. Enjoying the celebration were Katherine Williams, Diana Miles, Amanda Yarborough, Anna Papa, Amy Jerry, Sarah Brown, Kate Thorne, Johnnie Broussard, Karley Zummo, Tea Do, Maite Broussard, Lauren Williams, Cheri Dickerson, Lauren Thieme, Amber Villarreal, Ashley Case, Christine Stetson, Emily Wilson, Allison Wright, Danielle Spencer, Ashley Bilot and so many more. Congrats to the 2021-22 extraordinary ladies of the Junior League of Beaumont!
Ever loyal… to the purple. Beaumont High School’s graduating Class of 1962 celebrated their 60th class reunion with a warm and friendly setting in the home of Joy and Will Crenshaw. Celia Crittenden, Kit Ohmstede and Julie Hise organized the fun-filled evening and truly had a wonderful turnout. Guests clinked their glasses and played conversation catch-up before being sitting down to a delicious dinner prepared by Bando’s Catering. Thrilled with seeing their lifelong pals were Bill Marlow, Sheri and Paul Horitz, Horace Bonner, John Allen, Barbara Young, Joyce Kattawar, Gene McFaddin, Vivian and Ray Wright, Jane Honovich, Marshall Watson Heller, Ann Wheat, Carol Ann and Bob Paddock, Betty Bando Beathard, Carol Beverly Thomas, Mary Jo Graham Holloway, Craig Fecel, Ed Childress, Bill Shepherd, Barbara and Mark Brookner, Ben Lea, Peggy Frazier Rogers, Linda Bullard, Judy Foreman Scardino, Tifton Simmons, Rosanne Witman Saltzman, Ellen and Will Ohmstede, Ben Koshkin, Jo Ann Fontenot King and too many more to mention. An enchanted evening had by all!
Over and out… Charles Duit hung up his chef’s coat with Lamar University recently, with a get together at Courville’s. Friends and family gathered to give their congrats and well wishes to the talented and newly retired chef. My guess is that he will be quite busy assisting his chef extraordinaire Debbie Bando Duit in the near future. In the mix were Marie Bando, Crystal and Logan King, Christina and Josh Lokey, Alicia and Charles Daleo, Lauren Bebeau, Marc McDonald, Paula O’Neal, Elaine and Don Shellenberger, Geneva Dixon-Peters, Brenda Nichols, Shawn Bruno and many more. Cheers to a happy retirement!
Singing sensation… Local Port Arthur vocalist DeAndre Nico will perform at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas in downtown Beaumont during their First Thursday event on Thursday, June 2. The finalist of “The Voice” will perform from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and tickets will be available at the door. Speaking of AMSET, their Café Arts Exhibition for local artists will explore memory through drawing with The Examiner’s own Kevin Clay with “Sleep Among the Trees” on display now through Aug. 14. AMSET will host an artist’s reception, which is free and open to the public, on Sunday, June 5, from 2-4 p.m. In this exhibition, Clay used charcoal to abstractly recreate Southeast Texas tree lines as he remembers them from different moments in his life. He wishes to create the interplay between remembered landscapes and remembered figures. The show will include portraits of people in his life as well as strangers. See you there!
News of I do’s… Anne Kathryn Trevino and Bobby DiTullio became engaged last weekend. Congrats to this precious couple and prepare the vats of veuve!
Happy anniversary… to Shan and Jacob Bundick (7 years), Debbe and Stephen “doc” Watson (22), Celia and Craig Messer (24), and Barbara and Jim Raymond (24), and Sherry and Tommy Goth (45). Felicitations!
Candles and cakes… belated best to Marvin Gordy and Olivia Cobb. B-day wishes to Harrison Hayes, Krista Parmer, John Swift, Jody Nolan, Martha Hicks and Dean Halbert.
Until the next RSVP!