Spring Spinnings 2023 - Volume 87 Issue 4

SPINNINGS

+ JLB HONORS MOTHERS DAY BRING On the spring

MURAL FEST WRAP UP

I t ' s n e v e r t o o e a r l y t o l e a r n h o w t o s w i m , u n t i l i t ' s t o o l a t e .

A s h u m a n s , w e ' r e n o t b o r n w i t h t h e a b i l i t y t o s w i m . W e m u s t b e t a u g h t .

T h i s S u m m e r , w e h i g h l y e n c o u r a g e y o u t o n o t o n l y b e s a f e a r o u n d w a t e r , b u t t o b e p r e p a r e d t o t r e a d w a t e r a n d h e l p o t h e r s i n n e e d i f t h e s i t u a t i o n a r i s e s . A t C H R I S T U S H W C w e o f f e r y e a r - r o u n d s w i m l e s s o n s f o r c h i l d r e n A N D a d u l t s N o w i s t h e t i m e t o l e a r n t o s w i m o r b r u sh u p o n s t r o k e s .

B E P R E P A R E D .

SUMMER SWIM LESSONS

& POOL PARTIES & CAMP!

- José Hernandez Gift of Life Prostate Cancer Client

Beaumont native Katie Baker is the 2022-2023 President of the Junior League of Beaumont and has been a JLB member since 2012. A Registered Dietitian with clinical and school food service experience, Katie earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas and her Master of Science degree from Lamar University. Katie and her husband Clarke have one daughter, Mary Grace (5), and one son, Jeb (2).

2022-2023

board of directors

the President

upcoming placements and courageously lean into all the growth opportunities that await them next year.

This quote has really resonated personally with me lately, and I think it is very representative of our JLB members as well. You cannot remain comfortable and expect to grow. Time and time again I have been amazed by the determination, creativity, and sheer willpower of our league members. As our annual May Dinner approaches, now is the time to celebrate all we have accomplished the league year - the growth, the successes (and failures), the members who have courageously stepped up to lead, the members who have stepped out of their comfort zones, the legacy we have continued to build.

As with nature blossoming all around us, springtime presents many concrete growth opportunities for our members. At our March General Meeting, our Provisional and Active members learned which committees they will be a part of for the 2023-2024 league year. Placing our members is like completing a very complicated, humongous jigsaw puzzle, and our Nominating and Placement Committee really knocked it out of the park! I hope our members embrace their

In April, our members attended Mini Meetings in lieu of a general meeting in which we all come together. These smaller meetings are always a favorite as members are given the opportunity to choose a topic that piques their interest while connecting with others on a more intimate level. Mini Meetings activities this year included flower arranging, yoga, pilates, and wine tasting, to name a few. These meetings also give members a chance to step outside of their comfort zones and try something new.

I would not be who I am today if it were not for the growth opportunities the Junior League of Beaumont has given me. Final thoughts on growth: if you are facing a decision in your life and there is uncertainty on the other side – do the thing that stretches you. The easy thing and the right thing are rarely the same.

With much appreciation,

Katie O’Neill Baker

Junior League of Beaumont President, 2022-2023

President ...........................................................

President-Elect

Treasurer ..........................................................

Treasurer-Elect

Communications Council Director ..............

Community Council Director

Membership Council Director

Planning Council Director .............................

Corresponding Secretary

Recording Secretary ........................................

Past President

Sustaining Advisor

Katie Baker

Sara Norman

Rebecca Tatum

Kate Eckhart

Sarah Wells

Ashley Willis

Ashlee Garrett

Kate Thorne

Amanda Yarbrough

Lindsay Brake

Brenna Rodriguez

Kara Hawthorn

You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both.

- Brene Brown

Katie O’Neill Baker

That’s a Wrap on Mural Fest

JLB Members Mallory Cross and Christina Lokey help spearhead the 2nd annual Mural Festival in Beaumont

A Family Legacy

In honor of Mother’s Day, JLB celebrates the mother-daughter pairs within the League

Day in the Life of Nurses

Meet four JLB members who do great things in the community through the medical field

Member Spotlight

Get to know JLB Members Carrie Zihlman, Kristen Davidson, & Hillary Lampson

Shanning

Pack It

Project

The Provisional Class develop a new project to help students at Vincent Middle School have access to personal hygiene items

Ongoing Legacy of Building a Better

Beaumont

The City of Beaumont recognizes the League extraordinary accomplishments in strengthening female leaders

Content Creators

Meet two JLB members who find success with new media

SPINNINGS

In Recognition of Beaumont’s Historical Spindletop Oil Field.

An internal publication of the Junior League of Beaumont, Inc.

Distributed Fall, MSM Special Issue, Winter, DWTS Special Issue, Spring, and Summer

EDITOR

Kellsey Fairchild

CO-EDITOR

Margaret Victores

STAFF WRITERS

Lauren Reicis

Kaylee Allen

Sonni Shell

Karley Zummo

Laura Victores Wyman

SUSTAINING ADVISOR Dr. Marleen Swerdlow

AD SALES

Laura Victores Wyman

DESIGN/LAYOUT

Lori Bane

Journeys to Motherhood

JLB members share their experiences of fertility and the process of becoming mothers

Spring Cleaning

Lauren Reicis shares ways in which you can refresh and recharge your home while spring cleaning

Spring Showers & May Flowers

Check out these local boutiques for your spring must have items

Provisional Elected President

JLB Provisional Tiffany Shelton was elected President of the Beaumont Community Partnership for Children

Beaumont Farmers Market

Help support your local farms and businesses by shopping at the Beaumont Farmers Market

April Mini Meetings

Check out the photos from this years mini meetings and thank you to all of the sponsors and hosts

on the cover

The Junior League of Beaumont contiues to make unparralel connections, helps women become better leaders, and provides valuable services to the Beaumont community. Why not spring into JLB?

SUBMISSIONS

Do you have an idea for a story? Would you like to be a featured or guest writer? Send ideas or articles for consideration to the 2022-2023 SPINNINGS Editor, Kellsey Fairchild, at spinnings@juniorleaguebeaumont.org. We welcome your input!

TO SUBSCRIBE

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving a hard copy of our publication, please email the 2022-2023 SPINNINGS Editor, Kellsey Fairchild, at spinnings@juniorleaguebeaumont.org to be added to the mailing list.

You will also see SPINNINGS all over town. Feel free to pick one up at your favorite boutique, hair salon, or Headquarters!

MISSION STATEMENT

The Junior League of Beaumont is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

The second-annual Beaumont Mural Festival wrapped up in early March, but the impressive artwork can be enjoyed for years to come. A four-day, live art extravaganza, the festival featured muralists from across the United States and the world. Artists painted scenes throughout downtown Beaumont to beautify the city and to expand the Beaumont art scene.

Junior League members Mallory Cross and Christina Lokey, both with the Beaumont Convention, were two of the women spearheading this event and the driving force behind its success. While many people worked tirelessly to make Mural Fest happen, we want to highlight our two Junior League members for their contributions in making the event such a success.

Lokey, Min Dai, and J Muzacz are the three founders of Mural Fest. The inaugural festival took place in 2022, but Mural Fest was back bigger and better for 2023. “This year we worked with the City of Beaumont and blocked off Pearl Street near the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and the Jefferson Theatre,” Lokey said. “At this location, visitors could see the works of a 4-story mural being painted, 10 installation cubes (8ft x 8ft), 2 trailers, a car, and a tri-wood canvas.” But that’s not all: “across Beaumont, 16 murals were also being painted, including the

3-story mural at Beaumont Housing Authority, and a record-breaking 10,000 sq-ft mural at 1600 Cedar Street that will be measured as one of the top 3 largest murals in the state of Texas,” Lokey said.

Planning for Mural Fest 2024 starts right now! Around Beaumont, business owners are showing interest and asking for their building to be a canvas for next year’s artists.

“There are a lot of behind-the-scenes logistics,” Lokey explained–from determining whether the wall space is sufficient and whether the material is easy to paint on, whether it will need to be primed, what equipment is needed, agreeing on and approving mural designs, planning the amount of paint and other supplies needed, and budgeting costs.

It takes a lot of community buy-in for an event like this to succeed as it has.

“The Beaumont Independent School District allowed seven of the artists to go into seven different schools for

happen, Wooden Pallets made and installed all of the cubes for free, [and] Del Papa and Giglio Distributing and many other sponsors helped financially,” Lokey notes. Min Dai, CEO of Obana Restaurant Group, “has put up financial backing, staff, and so much more every year in hopes of leaving his own mark on Beaumont. He owns Pour09, Ko Korean Grill, Suite C, and Tokyo. He sacrifices a lot to make the Beaumont Mural Festival a reality, so I hope the community returns the support,” says Lokey.

If you missed out this year, mark your calendar for the first weekend of March 2024. Lokey offered Spinnings readers teasers for next year: “Bigger, better, and record-breaking, for sure…. Who knows, maybe we can host the DWTS after-party at Mural Festival Downtown next year?”

For updates about Beaumont Mural Fest follow the Beaumont CVB

@VisitBeaumontTX

“Artists painted scenes throughout downtown Beaumont to beautify

A FAMILY Legacy

Inhonor of Mother’s Day, we celebrate the many mother-daughter pairs within the League, past and present. Thank you for your decades of leadership and service and your family’s legacy of volunteering!

We talked with Johnnie Broussard and daughter

Kate Thorne, Mindy Victores and daughters

Laura Victores Wyman and Nina Victores, and Paula Atkins and daughter Allie Kelley to learn more.

What led you to join the Junior League of Beaumont and what is your favorite memory of your time in the League?

Paula: I was nominated and said yes because I enjoyed volunteering in our community. It was fun to be with other ladies and enjoy camaraderie and give back to the city and community doing service that made a difference in many different areas.

Johnnie: I joined the JLB because I wanted to make our community a better place. The Junior League of Beaumont has always done a lot of good for our community, and I wanted to be a part of that. Also, a lot of my friends were members, which made it fun. While I absolutely loved being League President and working with so many amazing women, some of my favorite memories are from serving the community and serving on committees. I loved participating in Imagination Station. When we built Imagination Station, it pulled together so many different people in the community all working together to accomplish a common goal. There was also another project where the Junior League sponsored children’s activities down at Riverfront Park during the Neches River Festival week. Nancy

McGrade and I chaired the committee, which created free games and activities for the children with a pirate theme. The children had so much fun and so did all League members who volunteered.

Mindy: Unknown to anyone in my family until this very moment is the fact that as a youth, I was a Volunteerism Junkie!! By the age of seventeen I had participated in, or originated, usually in leadership roles, approximately forty different volunteer organizations. I was the only high school student in the United States to be invited to attend, as a participant, the First National Congress on Volunteerism and Citizenship held in Washington, D.C. My interest in volunteerism extended through college, where as a Georgetown University School of Foreign Service student studying in Costa Rica, I created my own independent study three credit course entitled “Volunteerism in Costa Rica.” This resulted in a survey and publication with the same name.

So, how does this lead to my interest in the Junior League? As a high school student interested in everything “Volunteer,” I had read about the impressive history and good works

of the Junior League. I then wrote a letter to the Junior League with a desire to participate in it. I was told that I was too young and needed references. Disappointed at that time, but continuing to have the Junior League on my radar, I was thrilled to learn that Beaumont had a chapter of this wonderful organization! I leapt at the opportunity to join it! When my daughters returned to Beaumont after pursuing their education elsewhere, the first organization that I recommended they join was the Junior League! I have since sponsored both of my daughters and my daughter-in-law for membership in this organization. One of my most memorable Junior League experiences, believe it or not, was working as a food preparer and server for the May meetings at the Beaumont Country Club! The gatherings were so elegant and special. The group had one goal: to make this event the most fabulous and soughtafter event of the year. Everyone worked extremely hard. The job was very physically demanding, and it took me a couple of weeks afterward to recover! But it was immensely worth it for the camaraderie and excellent results!

Johnnie Broussard & daughter Kate Thorne

A bonus memory from Kate: At May Dinner my provisional year, my mother was receiving the Sustainer of the Year award and I had helped coordinate photos for the video that would be played. In the weeks leading up to and the night of the event I was coordinating with my dad and my husband to be there to surprise her after the announcement was made. Unbeknownst to me, I was receiving the Provisional of the Year award, and my mother was coordinating with my dad and my husband as well to ensure that they were there for me! They were getting double texts with play-by-plays for where we were on the agenda and when they would be needed. I am still so impressed that my mother and I both managed to keep a secret from each other and that my dad and my husband managed to keep the secret from both of us! It also made receiving an award that night so much sweeter that we were able to share it with each other.

How has your mother influenced you, within a JLB setting or otherwise?

Allie: My mom has been involved in numerous volunteer positions over the years. I always admired my mother for showing up and giving back. I saw the importance of sharing your time and service.

Nina: My mom is the rock of our family. She is the person we all call when we need help or just someone to talk to. She has done a lot for me and for my siblings. I don’t know where I would be without my mom!

Laura: My mother is the kindest, most supportive person in my life. She is hardworking, tough when needed,

and so encouraging. She raised our family with her great sense of right and wrong as well as her ability to find the funny, even when going through the challenges of school, career, and life. I remember Mom being busy with work and different volunteer activities throughout my childhood, and I believe that her actions firmly established for us the importance of diligence and service to the community. I always knew with great conviction that I could accomplish difficult things because my mother had done it, and she told me that I could too! I owe any success that I have as a student, career-person, or mother directly to my upbringing and the example that I had in my own mother. She encouraged us in all things, guiding and supporting us in the paths that we have accomplished. I ask my mother for advice all the time and value her opinion when making big decisions.

Kate: I grew up watching my mother participate in the Junior League. When she held office hours at League Headquarters as Treasurer or President, we all went along and read and played while she worked. My siblings and I would help put together packets of papers before meetings and would crawl under towers of stacked chairs like they were our forts. When I moved back to Beaumont, it was all of those fun memories and of course her example that really pushed me to join, to be a part of something bigger than myself, and to help our community just like my mother.

What are some of your favorite mother/daughter activities or traditions?

Kate: Our family always served the community as a family. When Johnnie helped with the Junior League or church or Neches River Festival, it was and still is a family affair. Any organization that one of us is involved in has our full family participation!

Mindy: The answer to what do we like to do together is EVERYTHING! And I literally do mean everything!! We see or speak to each other daily. We consult each other on major and minor life decisions. We take trips together. We share home cooked meals, handbags, jewelry and cosmetics! My son is a member of this club as well! We do not discriminate based on sex or lineage. My daughter-in-law, sonin-law, husband, and grandchildren are honorary members and have standing invitations to all events and discussions!

Laura: Growing up, Mom made sure to have as many sit-down family dinners for us as possible despite our busy and divergent schedules. She is an excellent cook and still brings us all together on Friday nights. She also read books to us every night when we were children and gave us the gift of loving to read. It is something that we all still share.

Allie: My mom and I love to bake Italian cookies during the holidays and make suga (Italian sauce for pasta) to share with the family. We like to do a lot together. From shopping and antiquing, cooking and baking, catching up on the latest episode of a fun reality series and of course, chatting over coffee about life’s ups and downs.

Mindy Victores & daughters Laura Victores Wyman & Nina Victores

Paula Atkins & daughter Allie Kelley

day in the life of...

Brieann Edwards

Title: Nurse (RN) Lead for CHRISTUS Outpatient Surgery

Years of experience: 14

Heather Wise

Title: Critical Care Nurse & Palliative Care Nurse

Years of experience: 7

Lynde Hatcher

Title: RN, BSN, CEN

Years of experience: 4

Kennetha Alvarez

Title: Advance Practice Nurse Practitioner

Years of experience: 14

What made you choose this career?

• As long as I can remember, I’ve always found joy in helping others. From being the first born, now a mother myself, my desire to care for people has always been a part of who I am.

- Brieann

• I am a third generation nurse. I saw my mom’s dedication and sacrifice–it always felt like she was serving a higher purpose. - Heather

• I always knew I wanted to do something in healthcare. home been help nursing.

This career chose me. As a child, I always wanted to be a psychiatrist and to help others. As an NP, I help people holistically–mind, body, and soul. - Kennetha

How do you start and end your day at work?

• I make a lap around the department to identify where there are needs, whether with patients, physicians or nurses. -

Brieann

• In Palliative Care, I start by reviewing my consult list for the day and looking up their charts. I’ll end the day making phone calls to family members of patients. While in ICU, every day is unpredictable from start to finish.

- Heather

• I come in to get reports and start working either on completed doctors’ orders or doing assessments on my patients to see if there is any change in their condition. I end my work day by giving reports and catching up on charting. - Lynde

• My work day starts off by reviewing my clients’ information, which includes diagnosis, labs, medications, and treatment plan. Then I round on my patients and treat them throughout the day.

- Kennetha

What time do you eat lunch ?

• Anytime between 11am-2pm. It changes depending on the surgery schedule or various tasks to be completed on any given day. - Brieann

• In Palliative Care I actually eat on time! In the ICU, it’s not a thing. - Heather

• I rarely get to eat lunch. I work in the ER and we’re typically busy all day. If I do get to stop and eat, it’s always something that I can grab and go. - Lynde

• My lunch varies. I like to go before 1 pm on most days.

- Kennetha

What do you wish others knew about this profession ?

• The amount of compassion nurses possess. Nurses add a critical element of trust to healthcare because of the compassion they bring to their work every day. Without the impeccable ability to anticipate the needs of others, nursing would not be the incredible profession it is.

- Brieann

• It is a very rewarding profession that typically goes unnoticed until you are in an emergency/crisis. - Lynde

• The time and dedication we put in during work hours and after. This is a profession that keeps on giving, but I would not imagine myself doing anything else. -

Kennetha

What is the most memorable thing you’ve learned from this profession?

• How important it is to practice empathy and gain perspective for every individual’s circumstance or story.

- Brieann

• Love thy neighbor. I have had the humbling experience of caring for people from every walk of life. From chained prisoners, end-stage AIDS patients, centenarian Memaws, and just about every race or religion you can imagine. You never know what someone is going through: pain, hunger, abuse, or isolation. The brave face may be your neighbor. Our life’s legacy is written in the hearts of the people we interact with, not the commas in our bank account. That’s what matters in the end.

- Heather

• Cherish every moment you have because you really never know when it could be your last. I see patients from all different walks of life and work some of them on the worst days of their life. Try to be kind to everyone because you never know what they have gone through or what they are going through. - Lynde

• The most memorable thing is that most times, it’s the little things that people need. For instance, someone who actively listens to their needs and concerns. To meet those needs to the best of our ability. It builds a great therapeutic relationship between provided and patient. - Kennetha

Would you choose this career path again?

• Honestly, there are many days I would respond “no” to this question, but when I stop and take the time to reflect on it, becoming a nurse has been one of my life’s best decisions. Overall, serving others from the position of a nurse is where I love to be. I love patient care, my co-workers who have become family, and making a difference for anyone and everyone I can. I even love the chaos that always encompasses healthcare. Every day brings a new challenge to overcome, but the reward makes it all worth it. Knowing my “yes” can have a positive impact on someone’s life by simply caring for them is powerful and priceless. - Brieann

• Some days I love my job, some days I really question myself. We see more sadness than happiness most days, especially in the ER. A lot of times we stabilize our patients and then they leave to a different unit so we rarely know the outcome of the patient. But the good days make it worth it and knowing that you made an impact on someone or their family keeps me going. Yes, I would choose this career again. - Lynde

What industry changes have you experienced, good and bad?

• My favorite industry change for the good has been EPIC (electronic health record). Healthcare has come a long way since the days of pen and paper, saving us lots of time and headaches. A bad experience (though this isn’t a change) is insurance companies. Health is often, if not all the time, at the mercy of insurance companies who don’t have physical contact with the patients during any part of their healthcare journey. - Brieann

• Covid has completely changed the care of nursing. I never thought that I would have worked during a pandemic and especially not being on the front lines. There is a huge staffing shortage in nursing for multiple reasons related to the pandemic that are still felt today. We need more nurses! Many have been burnt out and don’t want to stay in nursing, while others now recognize their value and have found employment elsewhere for higher pay. The field has become significantly more profitable and nurses in some areas are valued more because at the end of the day it is not an easy job. There are multiple days where we don’t get to sit down, eat and hold our bladders because something critical has just happened. - Lynde

• I’ve observed the profession change in regards to technology. This change is helping us to chart more proficiently and not spend so much time on documentation. The profession is continuously evolving for the betterment of our patient population. - Kennetha

We offer a place of rest and support for families of hospitalized patients. We know it’s difficult to travel back and forth to the hospital, so we are here to ease that burden.

The Reaud Guest House is a nonprofit organization that provides comfortable, low cost accommodations for family members of hospitalized patients and patients receiving outpatient treatments

Hometown

Grew up most of my life in Hamshire, TX

SPOTLIGHT

Education Texas A&M University for my undergrad and graduate degree.. class of 2011!

What are you hoping to get out of your League experience this year?

I’m hoping to be more active in our community, and to help make it a better Beaumont!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.

How do you like to relax after a long day?

With a glass of wine or a good margarita and reality TV !

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?

The Christmas markets in Germany –so magical!!

Family Wife and mama to 3 girls (ages 8, 6, and 2)

Pets No pets..my kids keep me plenty busy

What are some of your favorite restaurants in town?

Tia’s, J. Wilson’s patio, and Carmela’s

Occupation

High school social studies teacher

Hobbies Volunteering, reading miniature schnauzer

What is your favorite holiday, and how do you celebrate it?

Ohhh, Christmas hands down. We celebrate it with Christmas Eve mass followed by a family gathering. Christmas morning, Santa comes and my husband and I get to watch magic fill my children.

What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve done in your life?

Moved to Missouri.. then promptly moved back to Texas .

Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Emma Watson

Carrie Zihlman

JLB MEMBER

German Christmas Market

Kristen Davidson

Hometown

Beaumont, TX

Education

B.B.A. in Management from Lamar University, Beaumont TX

Family

Drew Davidson, husband, and Roman Davidson, my joyful 3-year-old toddler. My parents, Maridale & Randy Still, live locally in Beaumont and help with watching my 3 year old during the week. I have 2 siblings, a brother, Brandan, and sister, Kimberly, that live nearby in Texas.

Pets

A cat, Dexter

Occupation

Inside Sales Manager at BeAed of Beaumont, LLC, a printing company

Hobbies

Ballet, enjoying curated dining experiences, hiking in nature, golfing with my husband and son, spending time in my garden, weekend napping, cooking for my family, and I love a great spa

What is your current placement this year?

Dancing with the Stars Committee.

What is your favorite thing about living in SETX?

My immediate family and in-laws are nearby. Also, I love how Beaumont is quickly growing and expanding.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

Enjoying time with my family in the garden/backyard, going golfing together, or a nice neighborhood walk on a sunny day.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?

Trip to Washington D.C., and Virginia. We stayed at The Inn at Little Washington, with an excellent dining experience by Michelin Star Chef Patrick O’Connell. We also explored different hiking trails at Shenandoah National Park.

What is a unique fun fact about you that some may not know?

I backpacked for 10 days in Canada, Mt. Robson, Banff, and Zion National Park, Utah.

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better? A smile, giggle, or thank-you from my son, Roman.

What would be the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?

I’d be very surprised because I have never personally bought a lottery ticket. .

What would you tell someone who is interested in joining the league?

It’s a wonderful way to get introduced to amazing women and to get involved in many aspects of serving the SETX community.

The Inn at Little Washington

Hillary Lampson Shanning

Hometown Beaumont, TX

Education

St. Anne Catholic School, Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School, Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Texas A&M University

Family

I have been married to my husband Mark for 25 years in May. I have 4 children: Nicholas, 23, a graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown; Joseph, 21, a senior at Stephen F. Austin University; Olivia, 18, graduating from Kelly and will be a freshman at Baylor University in the fall; and Jack, who is 12 and in the 6th grade at St. Anne. My parents, in-laws, sister, and many cousins all live in Beaumont also. My whole family has been involved with the Junior League in some way.

Pets

We have 2 dogs, Cocoa a mixed breed and Roxy an Australian Shepherd and 2 cats, Thunder, an old black cat and Luna, a beautiful but feisty Calico.

Occupation

I am the executive Director of the Jefferson County Medical Society here in Beaumont. Before I started working with JCMS, I was mostly a mom and volunteer in our community. I also enjoy being a substitute teacher.

Hobbies

I love to read and listen to audio books, I like to cook and usually I am volunteering somewhere at church, school, for the Symphony League, Junior League or wherever anyone asks for help.

What was your favorite placement while serving in the JLB?

I think my most favorite placement was helping at AMSET Art Days many many years ago. I always enjoy working with kids and I really liked seeing how creative they were with the projects at the art museum. I also loved working at the summer camp at Spindletop - I learned so much and so did the kids. Finally, I’ll never ever forget the year I was the co-chair of Main Street Market with Stephanie Vanskike. My sister Stephanie was the Entertainment chair, and she had my niece at the beginning of Main Street Market. It was a wild weekend!! We always laugh and love to reminisce about that year.

What has been the best vacation you took and why?

For years I asked my husband to go on a big road trip with my kids to the Grand Canyon. Finally, one summer, we loaded up the minivan with 4 children and drove from Beaumont to Carlsbad Caverns to see the bats. From there we stopped in Palo Duro Canyon to watch the play Texas and we met one of Quanah Parker’s relatives. We made our way through Roswell, New Mexico to see where the aliens were then drove to the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, and the Petrified Forest. Along the way we watched someone try to eat the huge steak at The Big Texas and took pictures at Cadillac Ranch. We had a squirrel steal snacks from our bag at the Canyon and we had a beautiful hike in the rain. We made beautiful memories and laughed all the way there and back!

What is one fashion trend that you wish would come back in style?

Gosh I am not sure about a fashion trend I really liked. I think maybe I would like to see people dress nicely again. I like to get dressed up and I am not really a leggings kind of a girl.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

I spend my free time with my kids and my sister. I am usually making pasta for our Sunday family dinners or listening to books on tape while I do laundry. I love to have “couch time” and drink wine and watch a good Netflix show.

What would be the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?

The first thing I would do if I won the lottery would be to pay off my house and cars and give money to my kids’ schools and to the church. Then I would buy new furniture for my whole house.

What is your favorite thing about living in SETX?

There is so much to do in our area that you do not ever have to be bored. We have so many museums to visit, so much art, so many great things to do. I love going to the Jefferson Theater and to the Symphony concerts. I love to go wander around the Botanical gardens at Tyrrell Park and walk through nature at Cattail march. My family and I enjoy Shangri-La for the Scarecrow Festival and the Christmas lights.

What is your favorite family tradition?

We have so many family traditions. I think my favorite might be when we get together to make Italian sausage before Christmas. We love that we share our holidays - Thanksgiving is at the Lampson house, Christmas Eve dinner is at the Shanning House, and Easter dinner is at Stephanie Gertz’s house. We love to decorate and make wonderful meals to share with our family.

What would you tell someone who is interested in joining the League?

My sister and I say on a regular basis that we think the Junior League is the best thing for any woman to be involved in. In almost any organization I work with or volunteer with you can tell if a fellow volunteer has been a part of the Junior League. Junior League women know how to run a meeting and how to work together with all types of people. They are kind and hard workers. I continue to encourage people to be a part of the Junior League. Most of my friends today and most of my fondest memories are from my years in the Junior League.

What is your favorite memory from your time in the League?

Everyone that knows me knows the answer to this question! Being the FIRST EVER MIRROR BALL CHAMPION OF DANCING WITH THE STARS!!!!

I have to admit that I also had the best time mixing pounds and pounds of royal icing for the Gingerbread House decorating we used to have at Main Street Market. I bought a grout drill bit and burned up a drill trying to mix up huge batches of icing. I have the best memories of decorating and planning our meetings with Scarlett Snider, our favorite was May Dinner at the Beaumont Club. We used china and flowers and made the prettiest little decorations, then we stayed late and laughed and talked with so many friends into the night.

I also love that Stephanie Vanskike, Stephanie Gertz, and I are still asked to come and help the first night at Main Street Market to work the door while the meeting is happening and everyone is learning the new slate. Too many memories–apparently I don’t have just one, because I absolutely love hosting the neighborhood meetings. I love to see all the girls and remember what it was like being a young league member. I love listening to all the projects and hearing all the new ideas. Keep asking me to do things so I can keep having so many wonderful memories.

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ack it Project P

On March 21, the JLB Provisional Class presented their Pack It Project to the students of Vincent Middle School. This year’s provisional project involved helping students have access to personal hygiene products by collecting items and packing 400 individual bags to be distributed to students and to stock a hygiene closet for the school counselor so that she could hand out extras as needed throughout the year. Products included body wipes, hand sanitizer, pads, lotion, and mouthwash. The provisionals were able to secure donations for the hygiene products as well as for additional uniform polo shirts to assist students in need. Additionally, the provisionals purchased a picnic table which was painted with encouraging words and graphics for the students to use on their playground. The school hosted a large assembly for JLB members to distribute the bags and speak positivity and uplifting words to the students.

A special thank you to Katie Baker, LaSan Gilder, and Aryel Collins for speaking at the assembly and the project’s leadership team of Chante Tebo and Brandi Verdine for all of their hard work. There were so many ladies who stepped up, blessed us with their skills, and showed us Why We JLB! Congratulations 2022-2023 Provisional Class on a job well done!

The Ongoing Legacy of Building a Better Beaumont

In recognition of 77 years of service to the community, the City of Beaumont on March 14, 2023 thanked and honored the Junior League of Beaumont. Biguita Hernandez-Smith, Amanda Yarbrough, Cheri Dickerson, and Brenna Rodriguez accepted the proclamation on behalf of the League.

This acknowledgement was in recognition of Women’s History Month and for the League’s extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to the City of Beaumont, in particular by helping to shape and strengthen female leaders and future leaders within the community. The proclamation celebrated the League’s community impacts, specifically mentioning the the following projects: The Beaumont Children’s Museum, Buckner Children & Family Services, Southeast Texas Family Resource Center, Women’s and Children’s Shelter, Young Audiences, Inc., Southeast Texas Community Health Clinic, Creative Play Park, and Mickey Mehaffy Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc.

“This acknowledgment was in recognition of HistoryWomen’sMonth ...in particular by helping to shape and strengthen female leaders and future leaders within the community.“

CONTENTCREATORS

JUNIOR LEAGUE MEMBERS FIND SUCCESS WITH NEW MEDIA!

You’ve heard the terms “like” and “follow” and you may subscribe to a favorite YouTube channel or podcast. Junior League of Beaumont members Allie Kelley and Krystal Sanchez are finding success putting this new media to use, using their digital voices to inspire and educate. Kelley invites you to follow along as she documents her DIY projects and rebels against boring home design, while Sanchez’s humorous podcast tackles relevant topics while pulling no punches about being a mom and raising kids. Spoiler alert: her husband sometimes makes a guest appearance on the Podcast! We spoke with the content creators to find out where they draw their inspiration and how you can follow along.

KRYSTALLIFE

“I have been wanting to do a Podcast for at least 4 years,” Sanchez explained, of her new podcast KrystalLife. “I even bought the equipment in 2019 to help motivate me to do it! However, I was in a different spot in my life and full of self-doubt. I didn’t feel like I had anything interesting to say or that anyone would even listen to it.” Sanchez gained the courage to start her podcast after appearing as a guest on someone else’s. “I had such a great time,” Sanchez recalled. “I didn’t know what I would talk about past my first episode, but this summer I just opened Garage Band, plugged in my USB microphone into my computer and just started talking about issues my friends were dealing with at work and answering them,” Sanchez explained.

Creating a podcast isn’t for the meek–it’s a labor of love. A 20-minute episode takes about an hour to record, after which the raw audio must be edited before being uploaded. “Statistics are that 95% of podcasts don’t make it past 5 episodes, which sounds unbelievable until it’s you creating the content.

I get it. It’s hard,” Sanchez said. “I am proud that I was consistent for 12 weeks. I really just got up and did this without thinking too much about a plan, which was on purpose because that’s what held me back for four years–I didn’t have every detail nailed down so I told myself I wasn’t ready. Finally I just did it and went along the ride, Sanchez said. Sanchez’s podcast is relatable, discussing topics such as uncomfortable coworkers, sinus cavities, and Bojack Horseman.

Krystal is taking a break from podcasting at the moment, but her success with the podcast has motivated her to pursue other passion projects as well. She’s carried the momentum to other channels that allow her to express her creativity. “I’m having so much fun being back in shows at Beaumont Community Players, making silly Tik Tok videos, and I’m playing around with starting a YouTube channel with a mixture of singing videos, reviews, and momlife,” Sanchez said.

Instagram: @krystalliife Tiktok: at @sippinkrystal

Website: www.pinchmeimhome.com

Pinterest: @pinchmeimhome

Instagram: @pinchmeimhome

TikTok: @pinchmeimhome

Facebook Page: Pinch Me, I’m Home

YouTube Channel: Pinch Me, I’m Home

PINCH ME, I’M HOME

“Prior to creating ‘Pinch Me, I’m Home,’ I’d been home for three years from the teaching world and still couldn’t shake this feeling that I was missing some type of creative outlet for myself,” Kelley said. Kelley was selected to perform in Junior League’s 2022 Dancing With the Stars competition, which she credits with igniting a fire in her to take a chance. “After DWTS certain things didn’t seem as scary anymore. So I thought, ‘why not give it a go?’”

DIY has always been an interest of Kelley’s–she remembers helping her grandmother with sewing and picking up home repair tips from her father, who was always building things during Kelley’s childhood. In February 2021, the same week that her youngest son

freeze, the Kelley family made a big move into a beautiful farmhouse built in the 1950s. “I’ve always been fond of older homes. They have a special little charm about them,” Kelley gushed. Putting her skills to use, Kelley said that she hopes to transform their farmhouse into “a Grandmillennial home with a hint of glam!” The Grandmillennial aesthetic, she explains, “blends the old with the new. A few common things you’ll spot in this style are monogrammed linens, chinoiserie vases, colorful fabrics and patterns, materials like cane and wicker, and of course some gorgeous antiques.”

Room-by-room, you can follow along as Kelley brings her vision to life. “My most recent project has been

Journeys to MOTHERHOOD

Tell us about your fertility journey.

My sister had previously been a surrogate for a family, and it had gone extremely well for her. She had already carried two of her own children, but I wasn’t ready to carry a child for someone else as my first pregnancy experience, so I chose to donate my eggs in 2019. It was extremely rigorous but rewarding. I remember my sister telling me about the wonderful family she carried a baby for, so I felt like I was something similar for another family, even if I’d never meet them. The families that received my eggs chose me out of many people after reading my profile and seeing photos of me, so I felt honored. I chose to do it again in 2020 and I’m so glad I took the opportunity to do it. There is risk with this process, and since I didn’t have any children of my own (I still don’t), many people didn’t agree with my choice, but I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to carry a child, so I figured, why not give someone else the opportunity?

What has this experience most taught you?

I had no idea what women went through when they chose IVF. I knew it was hard, but after injecting myself with the same hormones and being on the same rigorous schedule and health routine to donate, I now understand how exhausting it must be to go through so much effort and oftentimes not see results quickly. Something else I’ve learned through that experience is that it’s such a taboo topic. I’m very open about my donations and I can tell it makes people uncomfortable sometimes. It’s interesting that people can talk about actively trying for a baby and support others who are trying, but the conversation doesn’t quite go the same way when you tell people that you’re personally involved in helping a couple have a baby. I consider surrogacy and egg donation to be high up there with families who choose to adopt. It takes commitment and a deep understanding of the risks and complications, and those who still choose to do these things despite the obstacles they could face clearly value children, even if they’ve chosen not to or are unable to carry a child of their own.

How do you think this experience has changed you and/or your perspectives?

I was already passionate about women’s reproductive health and rights, but experiencing this helped me understand it on a deeper level. I’ve been married before and became a stepmother to a seven-year-old boy at 21, then I donated my eggs at the age of 22 and again at 23. So, although I don’t have the experience of carrying a child of my own, I do

understand the value that children truly bring to our society, and how rewarding and meaningful parenthood can be. I hope to share that experience with a partner one day, but if I choose not to, I can rest easily knowing that I used my body for the benefit of another child to be brought into the world either way, in addition to bringing joy into a family who otherwise may not have been able to experience the gift of parenthood.

Why are you sharing your story?

I believe it’s important for people to understand that there are so many facets to fertility, and just because it looks different or doesn’t align with your understanding of women’s reproductive journeys, doesn’t mean that it’s wrong or weird. Questions should be asked, and conversations should be had. That’s the only way to encourage others to see the value that women and children bring to the table, which hopefully, in turn, will help us enact change in the workplace regarding childcare and maternity/paternity leave, among many other social issues that we face today.

What would you tell someone embarking on your same path?

It can be extremely emotional knowing that there is probably a little one (or several) with half your genes running around, likely in the same state as you. It made some of my family members uncomfortable with the fact that I was “handing over my DNA for someone else to raise as their own,” but that’s not how I looked at it. Your view on your experience and your connection with your body and what you’re comfortable with is all that matters. It’s not right for everyone, and that’s okay. I just knew it felt right for me. The first time was a little scary, especially giving myself shots, going to appointments three days a week, and being put to sleep for the procedure. With that being said, I felt blessed that I was healthy enough to freely give something that not many people can. A lot of genetic and psychological testing is done beforehand, so when I passed everything, I felt like it was the least I could do for a family.

What does motherhood mean to you?

I failed to mention previously that I think a lot of my motivation for donating my eggs and contributing to a family in that sense is probably because I’m adopted. I feel like motherhood is not exclusive to carrying a child, or even raising a biological child. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve encountered so many women in my life who I lovingly call “mom” (although my adoptive mom is still my favorite). I have so many nieces and nephews and friends’ children who I have a hand in helping with, in very personal ways at times. I think it truly does take a village, and I believe if we value children, even if we don’t have our own, we will at some point in our lives experience a facet of parenthood, however unconventional it may be.

JLB Members Kaylee Allen and Lauren Graham share their differing experiences of fertility and the help that science can offer to those wishing to become mothers.

Lauren Graham

Tell us about your fertility journey.

My journey truly started when I was 16—I went to my o/b because I had not had a cycle since I was 13, so I asked if it was something that I should have been concerned about and was told no. I was put on birth control and that was that. Fast forward to 27: I had just married the love of my life and I had been on some type of birth control since I was 16 years old. I had tried it all from pills to implants. I had been diagnosed with PCOS and hypothyroidism, both of which I was told would make it difficult to get pregnant. After 6 months of trying, I went to my gynecologist and asked if she could complete some testing. I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Skorupski with Aspire Fertility Institute and then I was sent into the shock of my life: 12 vials of blood, genetic testing, and a hysteroscopy later, my husband and I found out I lack the hormone that allows my body to ovulate. The next conversation was about what options would work for me. Dr. Skorupski recommended either Clomid or IVF. He told us our chances with Clomid were 4-6% and IVF was 40-60%. We are huge numbers people and thought our odds were better with IVF. I began my testing and getting ready for my cycle in October but didn’t take my first injection of STIMS (medication to stimulate your follicles) until December 31, 2021. After 13 days of injections, I was ready for my egg retrieval. I am a very lucky candidate due to the fact Dr. Clapp was able to retrieve 18 mature follicles. After 24 hours, I received a call that 13 of my follicles had been fertilized. On day 5, I had 8 that had survived and made it to a blastocyst. This was so exciting! We then sent the embryos to be genetically tested. This took about a week to get the results back. In the end, I was left with 4 embryos that were classified as “normal,” 2 boys and 2 girls. Brock and I were over the moon. Four little chances for a family! On February 21, 2022, at 7:16am, we transferred our sweet little boy. We waited two days to see if there were any predictions of him implanting. I was given the best news that my levels were rising, and we were headed in the right direction. At 5w6d, I heard the most beautiful sound. My son had a heartbeat! It was amazing and such a sign of relief. I am so blessed to say, we were able to graduate from the fertility clinic and move to being a “regular” pregnant patient on April 12, 2022. 134 injections, 3 procedures, endless number of prayers led to my handsome Roper Michael being born on October 25, 2022 at 10:40PM. I am so beyond thankful for science and faith for helping me start my little family!

What has this experience most taught you?

This experience taught me how strong I am. I used to flat-out faint at the sign of needles and I went through a total of 162 by the end of my pregnancy. That is a ton in just 10 months. I was also tested in so many ways mentally,

physically, and emotionally. It also taught me so much patience and flexibility. I am a huge control freak and when it’s your body that has to grow these follicles to the right size in the right time (I’m talking down to the literal minute) and you have no control over your own body’s ability to do that it is super humbling.

How do you think this experience has changed you and/or your perspectives?

It has definitely changed my outlook and perspective on the little things. I am a person that gets anxious about the future and not knowing what comes with it. I still get this way from time to time but I am so blessed to have Roper and to be able to watch him grow up right in front of me. I really try to soak in every second that I can with him and to make all the memories that I can. I know that this could have easily not been my reality and it is something that I will cherish forever.

Why are you sharing your story?

Infertility is slowly coming to the forefront of conversations since women’s health is a huge topic in the news, but I believe it is not where it should be. When I was going through my IVF journey, I was so thankful to have two friends that have used the same fertility clinic and doctor that I did so I was able to bounce ideas and issues off of them but I know that not all women have that. I want to be able to share my story with whoever needs it because infertility is not a bad word. Infertility is a burden that needs to be taken with a village. If I can be that village for someone else, then it would be completely worth it in sharing my story.

What would you tell someone embarking on your same path?

Take it all in. The highs and the lows make the journey. Gather your support system because you are going to need it. Depending on your treatment plan, it can be along road. Months and sometimes even years. You are going to need someone to lean on to help get you through it.

What does motherhood mean to you?

To me, motherhood means a fresh start. You are allowed to do whatever you want when raising your child. If you want to change how you were raised, go for it! If you want to be the crunchy, silky, or Type A mom, go for it. I am able to do whatever I want when raising my child and I think that makes it so much fun. Motherhood to me means I get to make my son’s childhood memorable for both him and me.

Kaylee Allen

CLEANING Spring

Spring cleaning can be timeconsuming, it can be tedious, and it can be a burden, but now that winter has thawed, it’s a necessary evil in order to start out the new season on the right foot.

It doesn’t have to be all about scrubbing–below, Spinnings writer Lauren Reicis shares options and ideas that will help refresh and recharge your home.

First, make a list. Look around your home and identify your toppriority chores and figure out which ones can wait. For my household, a scrub down of the fridge goes right to the top of the list!

Break tasks down into short, productive chunks of time. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a marathon! Using the list you just made, assign yourself two or three 10-minute tasks a day. I like to perform these during the week while my son is still asleep. You can also consider doing one 30-minute task a day.

Next, declutter. A de-organized home can add to your stress level. Labels, bins, and boxes are some of my favorite organization tools. If you have a lot of items in good shape that you want to get rid of, see our suggestions towards the end. The most important piece of advice I have after you declutter is that when you find a ‘home’ for an item, train yourself to always put it back in its spot. This will help keep your home tidy all-year round. As they say, “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

Always work from top to bottom. If the ceilings and ceiling fans are on your list, start there! Starting at the top ensures you aren’t doing double the work. Dust and debris will naturally fall all while you are working, so if you start from the top, it ensures you don’t have to reclean that space.

Don’t forget the walls and windows! Sure, we all know the kitchen floor must be scrubbed but oftentimes the walls, windows, and blinds miss out on the cleaning action.

If you start to feel overwhelmed, simple fixes can make your home feel refreshed. Light a candle, rearrange some furniture, or swap out some table décor. These small changes can breathe new life into your home.

Lastly, remember to not get carried away. Marie Kondo, the queen of tidying up, recently admitted that after the birth of her third child her home is “messy” and she’s at peace with it–if she can prioritize family life over cleaning, anyone can.

Decluttering is done, now what?

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. If decluttering is part of your spring-cleaning routine, there are plenty of organizations and even apps that will gladly take what you don’t need. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites:

Donate:

Catch My Thrift, run by Harvest House

2406 Calder Ave, Beaumont

Wednesday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Items accepted: Home decor items, furniture, accessories, and more.

Habitat ReStore

610 Trinity St, Beaumont

Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Items accepted: Furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliance

Goodwill

4715 Calder Ave, Beaumont

Monday–Saturday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.;

Sunday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Items accepted: Clothing, home furnishing, books toys, furniture and more

Restored:

run by Dream Center of Southeast Texas Items must be dropped off at Dream Center’s main location at 3890 FM 3514, Beaumont

Email to arrange: info@dreamcentersetx.org

Items accepted: Clothing, home decor, electronics and more

Earn:

Plato’s Closet

4420 Dowlen Rd, Beaumont

Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Sunday 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m

Items accepted: Gently used clothing for children, teen and twenty-something boys and girl

Once Upon A Child

4340 Dowlen Rd, Beaumont

Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Sunday 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m

Items accepted: Gently used kids’ clothes, shoes, toys, and baby gear

Apps such as Poshmark, ThredUp, The RealReal, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, Vestiaire Collective, Vinted, Kidizen can be great platforms for selling any unwanted items, from clothing and household items to whatever you find in your junk drawer

Spring Showers May Flowers

Looking for the perfect dress or must-have item? From baby and bridal showers to Derby and spring parties, satisfy all your gifting and entertaining needs at our fabulous, local boutiques and shops!

Looking for something different? L’malam features authentic Moroccan rugs, textiles, and décor, and other one-of-a-kind items.

Zandy’s Zoos

Pick out the perfect gift for an arriving bundle of joy and get the kids springready while you’re at it with personalized Jon Jons, bubbles, bibs, and more!

L’malam

Gaudie & Co

Give the bride an extra twinkle with a Just Married sweater from Queen of Sparkles, draw all eyes at the Derby watching party, or look fabulously floral at the season’s fêtes.

For Heaven’s Sake

Your one-stop shop—pick something from the new couple’s registry, a new outfit, a newborn’s first keepsake, or the perfect party pairings.

JLB Provisional Tiffany Shelton Elected President of Beaumont Community Partnership for Children

in crisis. Shelton notes that there are more opportunities to help, for those interested: “Junior Leaguers could also support us by making donations, hosting a donation drive, or a baby shower. Please reach out to me if you want to help,” she said.

Tiffany Shelton is no stranger to service. Shelton has been an integral part in leading the charge to give back to Southeast Texas Children in a big way. Shelton was recently elected as President of the Beaumont Community Partnership for Children. “I was honored to be asked by our nominating committee to run for president. I am passionate about this nonprofit, and I’m humbled to have this role,” Shelton said.

If you aren’t familiar with the name Beaumont Community Partnership for Children (BCPC), you may be familiar instead with the Beaumont Rainbow Room. BBCPC is the nonprofit responsible for the Rainbow Room, an all-volunteer, in-house emergency supply center located inside the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Office. “The primary mission of the Rainbow Room is to provide these donated supplies for children that have been abused and neglected,” Shelton explained, adding, “When a child is removed from their home because of abuse or neglect, their case worker comes to the Rainbow Room to get clothes and hygiene items for them.” In 2021, the Rainbow Room helped more than 450 children. As of September 2022, it had already helped more than 301. “We have everything a baby needs, from car seats and pack-and-plays to diapers and wipes. We supply clothes until around age 12. Teens are given a gift card so they can pick out what they want with their case worker. These items come from our wonderful donors,” Shelton said.

Shelton said her parents have served as her inspiration to give back in a big way: “My parents have modeled servant leadership for me my whole life, so serving has always been an important part of who I am. I believe children in domestic crises are worthy of my time, and worthy of the service.”

The Junior League has been a major supporter of Rainbow Room, awarding CAF grants that have assisted in furthering the mission of helping kids

To get involved, email the Rainbow Room at beaumontrainbowroom@ gmail.com and stay updated with news and events at the nonprofit's website beaumontrainbowroom.org.

Tiffany Shelton

“The primary mission of the Rainbow Room is to provide these donated supplies for children that have been abused and neglected,”

THE BEAUMONT FARMERS MARKET

Did you know that Texas has one of the longest growing seasons in the United States? That means we have access to a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables all year long!

Eating seasonally also helps to reduce your carbon footprint, since food that is grown locally doesn’t have to be shipped long distances. Plus, supporting local farmers is always a good idea! Buying seasonal produce helps keep small farms in business, which is good for both the economy and the environment.

After a cold start, the Beaumont Farmers Market is open and the spring produce has arrived. Open from 8-11 am every Saturday, mid-January through mid-December, the market

offers seasonal produce and local favorites. The BFM will spring forth this month with lots of leafy greens, beets, carrots, potatoes, squash, carrots, cabbage, onions, flowers, leeks, fennel and more. Tomatoes will be arriving soon. Our advice: buy what you will use and no more. But the market is so much more than produce. Come check out our jelly and salsa vendors or load up protein such as chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and shrimp. Pair it off with Pop Pop’s BBQ Sauce and Signature Blend Seasoning, great for your barbecues and crawfish boils.

New this season: Yoga every first Saturday, Story Time with the Beaumont Public Library at 10:00 every second Saturday, and Jason Knox providing

ambiance on the guitar while you browse. Also new are three bread vendors, including Guatemalan breads from Super Antojo.

Most vendors will take credit cards, cash apps, and of course cash. Bring your own bag and get to know the vendors while you shop–they love to visit, plus they can tell you how their food was grown and raised.

Support the seasons, support your local economy, support the environment, and support your local farmer!

Less pain. Less scarring. Faster recovery.

At the CHRISTUS Robotics Surgery Center of Excellence, we’ve performed more than 4,000 state-of-the-art robotic surgeries. Thanks to these advanced tools, our surgeons can maneuver with a range of motion and visibility never before available in surgery.

Our surgeons get greater accuracy and control. And our patients get better outcomes.

Learn more about robotic-assisted surgery options at CHRISTUS.

CHRISTUSHealth.org

Our robotic-assisted surgery can help you get well

April mini Meetings

Spring’s mini meetings allow our members to meet in smaller, more intimate groups. These hands-on activities are great opportunities to try something new and create deeper connections with one another.

This year, members enjoyed themselves at several delightful options! Thank you to all of our wonderful hosts and to our Education & Training In-League Committee!

• Love Yoga at the League house

• Botox and filler party at Elite Wellness

• Wine and cheese at sustainer Christina Crawford’s home

• Flower arranging with Valentino’s Floral

• Bunco with Brenna at sustainer Johnnie Broussard’s home

• Penché Pilates session

• Ultimate girls’ night at 5 Under Golf Center

• Beer and wine tasting at Buckstin Brewing

• Boutique Pop Up from Embellish Collective and permanent jewelry from Mended Tx at sustainer Beth Rogers’s home

sympathies TO

Dr. Maegan Collins on successfully defending her dissertation study and earning her Doctorate in Education.

Lauren Reicis and the team at 12NewsNow for winning two Texas Association of Broadcasters news awards.

Kate Broussard Thorne for being selected to the Super Lawyers® 2023 Texas Rising Stars List.

Tiffany Shelton on becoming President of the Beaumont Community Partnerships for Children.

Megan Mistric and Lindsey Reed Sorrell on their induction as alumni members of Omicron Delta at Lamar University.

Grace Cordts on the loss of her husband

Jennifer Carona Phelan welcomed Fletcher McDade

Spring Giving to Market of Hope by the Healthy Behaviors committee

THE ONE

We are thrilled to announce that our The O.N.E. partner for the upcoming year will be Make Ends Meet of Southeast Texas, a non-profit organization that seeks to support single parents and their children. Their goal is to provide networking opportunities for parents and activities for children to learn, grow, and have fun. All are welcome to their events, but they focus on providing programming, activities, and networking for parents, guardians, and caretakers that have found themselves taking on parenthood by without additional support from a significant other or partner.