Business is good in Texas

Recession? What recession? Apparently not in Texas. At the Port Arthur Small Business Summit, one presenter said "money is falling out of the sky." He was referring to the hundreds of millions of dollars in stimulus money projects such as weatherization that is being distributed or will be distributed via state agencies to local organizations. That means lots of potential work for small business owners. The summit which was held at the Bob Bowers Civic Center Wednesday was designed to show entrepreneurs where the money is and how to get it. Representatives from the Governor's officer and local employers shared tips on economic development opportunities and resources that are available. It was presented by the Golden Triangle Empowerment Center. Those attending or presenting included Pat Avery, Jim Rich, Melvin White, Robert Melvin, John Carrens, Rep. Joe Deshotel, Mayor Deloris Prince, Judge Ron Walker, Rev. Randy Vaughn, and David Moore. KBMT Channel 12 Anchors Jackie Simien and Kevin Steele emceed the event. For more information, go to www.portarthursbs.com

"Noble Things" features Local Country Stars

You're invited to the red carpet premiere of the movie, "Noble Things" on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at Hollywood Theaters in Beaumont. The movie features performances by Tracy Byrd, Mark Chesnutt and Zona Jones. Jody Nolan is also involved in the production. Here's a description of the plot:

Can you right the wrongs of the past?

Noble Things is a story of love, of loyalty, and of what happens when painful secrets become too heavy to bear.

Jimmy Wayne Collins (BRETT MOSES) is well on his way to becoming the next big country music star out of Blackwater, Texas. He and his older brother Kyle (RYAN HURST), a rebel, are reared under the watchful eyes of local Sheriff, Pete Collins (MICHAEL PARKS) and his loyal Chief Deputy, Claire Wades (LEE ANN WOMACK).

Jimmy, Kyle and their gang of loyal friends “The Boys,” constantly push the envelope in search of high-risk thrills. However, one fate-filled night, the brothers push too far. The bonds of family and friendships will be tested and the consequences will haunt the promising star.

Four years later, with only the distant memories of stardom, Jimmy returns home to face his terminally ill father, an imprisoned brother, his ex-girlfriend (DOMINIQUE SWAIN) and the life he left behind.

Wounds will be healed. A secret will be revealed. A choice will be made.

Michael Parks / Ryan Hurst / Lee Ann Womack / Dominique Swain / Ron Canada / Wes Brown / Jody Nolan and Introducing Brett Moses......

Beaumont City Council's New Diggs

The Beaumont City Council officially moved into its new chambers Tuesday after a brief ribbon cutting ceremony and reception. A standing room only crowd attended. The new diggs received an $800,000 makeover including new wireless hookups, a state-of-the-art video system, remote control blinds, and new stadium seating chairs. The chamber is accentuated by beautiful dark wood. It's really nice!

Bob Love shares Heartache, Triumphs

Former Chicago Bulls All Star Bob Love gave a touching speech Monday night at Lamar University. I attended the event along with other members of the Southern University Alumni to show our support. Love graduated from Southern in 1965. Bob's story is quite amazing in that he's had to overcome a huge hurdle to do what he's doing. For those of you who are not familiar with his story, Love had a severe stuttering problem that prohibited him from speaking. He was laughed at in school and ridiculed. During his NBA career, he was ignored in the locker room (even though he was the highest scorer) by the media because he couldn't do interviews. He says the problem even caused him his marriage. After his career-ending injury, he worked for minimum wage as a busboy because nobody would hire him due to his lack of verbal skills. Finally, at the age of 48 he received help from a speech therapist. Now as the Bull's Community Relations Director, he travels around the country speaking to young people. He credits prayer for his success. He says he prayed every night asking God to 'just let me speak." Now his story is headed to the big screen. A movie is being made about his life. Talk about overcoming obstacles. What an inspiration! We are so proud of him!

Yolove Book Club

Member of the Yolove Book Club strike a pose after our meeting on Friday. We met at Johnny Carinos restaurant to discuss the book "Deliver me from my Enemies" by Sharon Oliver. We had an interesting discussion and Wanda Carr brought some great party favors--really cute trick or treat bags filled with sweets. It's a great group of ladies. I'm glad that I'm a part of the crew! The ladies include Patsy Holland, Tanya Montgomery, Sherri Hardin, Veronica Matthews, Tia Talbert, Cheryl Lynn, Yolanda Bessard, LaTonya Turner, Latonia Jones, and LeSonya Jenkins.

Southern Graduate to Speak at lamar

I always give props to my fellow Southernites. As you may know, I'm a graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge. I'm a very proud Jaguar! I was reminded today that Former NBA All Star Bob Love is a Southern Alum. We are proud to welcome him to Beaumont tomorrow. He will speak Monday Oct. 26 at Lamar University as part of its
Academic Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m at the University Theatre. (See posting on Sunday, Oct. 18).

Changes at Suga's Restaurant

I went to Suga's Deep South Cuisine and Jazz Bar for lunch Friday and was quite surprised to find out that the restaurant is no longer open for lunch. I really enjoyed having lunch there. The new fall hours are dinner hours only, starting at 4 p.m. I wonder what's going on there. I haven't talked to anybody at the restaurant to find out, but I hope that Southeast Texans will support this establishment so that it can be around for a long time to come. Suga's is a really classy place. It is a great addition to downtown Beaumont.

Mt. Zion's Celebration

Mount Zion Baptist Church in Orange recently celebrated its 138th anniversary at a banquet Thursday at Ware's Plaza. The church is one of the oldest in the Golden Triangle. It is pastored by Rev. C.W. Crawford. Wayne Sparrow, a pioneering journalist in SETX and owner of Sparrow Funeral Home, served as the guest speaker. He was introduced by his son, Justin. The food was great! Kudos to Ms. Rosa Wilson and her committee for a job well done.

Behind the Scenes at the Texans

I attended the "Business of Sports" seminar at Reliant Stadium Saturday. The seminar was sponsored by the Houston Texans to showcase the business side of team sports and opportunities within the company. It was very interesting. The Texans run a first-class facility with first rate people. I was impressed. As part of the seminar, we also received a ticket to Sunday's game against the 49ers so it was a lot of fun! The Texans won the game. Go Texans!

Walston Running for Judge

Attorney W. Kent Walston announced today that he is running for Jefferson County Criminal District Court Judge. The announcement was made at the courthouse. The seat is being vacated by Judge John Stevens who has been nominated for U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
Walston tells FRONT ROW that he's excited. "I have the unique experience of being a police officer, a prosecutor, and a defense lawyer. I’ve covered all the bases of law enforcement."
Here's his press release.

BEAUMONT) - W. Kent Walston has announced his candidacy for Criminal District Court Judge.

Walston, a life long resident of Jefferson County, served his country in the United States Navy before becoming a Port Arthur Police officer where he received several letters of commendation and served as a field training officer. After eight years as a police officer, Walston attended Lamar University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He then worked for the City of Nederland as the Assistant City Manager for five years, where he was in charge of an $11 million budget. Walston then attended Baylor University School of Law where he graduated with a Doctor’s Degree in Jurisprudence. As a lawyer, Walston served for 2 years as an Assistant District Attorney with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted a variety of crimes. Afterwards, he began a private practice in the areas of family and criminal defense law. Two years ago, Walston was appointed as a master to preside over mental health hearings in Jefferson County.

“I have worked my way through the criminal justice system from beginning to end,” said Walston. “I have the life experiences that cannot be taught in law school or experienced by working only as an attorney.”

In addition to his professional experience, Walston has also served in numerous leadership positions with civic organizations and a variety of public service opportunities. He is currently the Vice President of the Hughen Center for Disabled Children and the President of the Bob Hope Charter School. He is an active member of the Jefferson County Bar Association where he is on the Board of Directors for the Bar and Chairman of the Law Practice Assistance Committee. He also participates in the Pro Bono program to assist those who do not have the financial resources to hire an attorney. In August 2009, Walston was one of twenty lawyers throughout Texas to be selected by the State Bar of Texas to attend LeadershipSBOT 2010, a program which recognizes attorneys for their leadership abilities. He is also on the Lamar University advisory council for para-legal studies and is a frequent lecturer for the Bar Association.

Walston has the proven Experience, Leadership, and Integrity and is uniquely qualified for the position of Criminal District Court Judge of Jefferson County.

My Formative Roots

I was visiting my hometown of Baton Rouge recently and for some reason I felt compelled to take a picture of my elementary school or what was my elementary school. Wyandotte Elementary is located right across the street from my childhood home so it truly was a neighborhood school. The school was shut down years ago, but the building is still being used. I have fond memories of attending the school because that's where I met my all-time favorite teacher in the world, Ms. Barineaux. She used to take me and a small group of her favorite students on special field trips like to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I think about her sometimes and wonder whatever happened to her. What is she doing now? I would love to see her again and thank her for her kindness and love.

Charity Turns Pink

On Tuesday, October 20 the Julie Rogers Gift of Life kicks off its Breast Cancer Initiative at the Beaumont Civic Center at 5:30 p.m. for a dinner buffet and then at 7:30 p.m. at the Julie Rogers Theatre with guest Debbie Reynolds. Tickets are $50 and $35. On Wednesday, October 21, Julie Rogers will host its annual Survivors' Dinner at the Holiday Inn on Walden Road at 6:30 p.m. And then on Thursday, October 22 Pink Shopping Card shopping days begin. More than 600 local businesses are offering 20% discount on purchases made by those with Pink Shopping Cards. Cards are $50 and available by calling 409-861-5959 or 409-833-3663.

Former NBA-All Star Bob Love will speak at Lamar

(Beaumont, Texas) Oct. 15, 2009 – As part of Lamar University’s Academic Lecture Series, Bob Love, former Chicago Bulls three-time NBA All-Star, will present a lecture on his motivational life story at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in the University Theatre.
Love will also meet with Lamar students from 3 to 4 p.m. Oct. 26 in the University Theatre.
“The Academic Lecture Series, sponsored by the students of Lamar, gives the opportunity to bring people of national stature and particular academic interest to the campus to bring knowledge and insight to our community,” said Russ Schultz, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “Mr. Love’s talk will present his experiences to overcome the challenge of stuttering to become a national spokesperson. This is an area of particular interest to the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, which is part of our college, because they study this challenge in both children and adults. Mr. Love brings us a success story that very well may help others.”
Bob Love grew up in near poverty, with 13 brothers and sisters in a small Louisiana town. He dreamed of being a professional basketball player and practiced with a coat hanger hoop nailed to the side of his grandmother’s door.
Love played for the Chicago Bulls and led the team in scoring from 1969 to 1976. He ranks third in Bulls history in points scored, behind Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He was a three-time NBA All-Star, scoring 12,623 points during his career.
Despite his great success as an athlete, Love never had an endorsement deal. He was unable to speak because of a stuttering problem that had affected him since childhood. A career-ending injury left him earning minimum wage washing dishes until a speech therapist helped him learn to speak without stuttering.
In 1992, the Chicago Bulls hired Love as director of community relations. He speaks to groups on behalf of the Bulls and shares his life story. On Jan. 14, 1994, the Bulls retired his jersey.
“This is really quite a remarkable achievement and why we in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences are so excited to see Mr. Love come to campus,” said Alana Mantie-Kozlowski, assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences. “People who stutter often have had so many negative interactions across their lifetime that any kind of public speaking can be paralyzing. We see a lot of patients with fluency disorders in the clinic, and, hopefully, Mr. Love can serve as a possibility of a role model for them.”
The fall Academic Lecture is hosted by the College of Fine Arts and Communication and is paid for by student service fees. There is no admission fee for the lecture and the public is invited to attend.
For more information, contact the Lamar University College of Fine Arts and Communication at (409) 880-8137.

Southern University Homecoming

I recently went home to Baton Rouge to attend homecoming at my alma mater, Southern University. It was a great time. I visited the mass communications department and met with alumni, students, and faculty. I ran into a lot of friends and former classmates who I had not seen in awhile. I tailgated and enjoyed some great food. Kudos to the Agriculture Center folks for the best jambalaya and ribs! I visited the new Fieldhouse which features a great weight room and spacious suites. It was a beautiful day on a beautiful campus with beautiful people. Some of the highlights of the game included: a man proposed to his girlfriend by holding a sign saying "Will you Marry Me?" on the track(she said yes) and the Army Parachute team members made a grand entrance on the field, but one of them missed and landed on the other side of the jumbotron! I guess it was a little too windy! By the way, we won the game. Go Jaguars!

More pictures from SU's Homecoming

Community Fall Harvest

Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church presents a Community Fall Harvest on Saturday, Oct. 31 from ll to 2. There will be food, games for the kids and door prizes. Come out and fellowship. The event is sponsored by the Committee to Elect Anne Bradley.

Port Arthur Small Business Summit

Port Arthur Small Business Summit 2009
Wednesday October 28th, 2009
7:30am – 4:00pm
Robert A. "Bob" Bowers Civic Center
3401 Cultural Center Dr.
Port Arthur, TX 77642-5710

Register for Free at http://www.portarthursbs.com/ or call 1-877-769-2013

Hosted by:
Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism
Texas Workforce Commission
City of Port Arthur
University of Houston Small Business Development Center Network
Golden Triangle Empowerment Center
Digital Workforce Academy, Inc.


Come find out why
"Texas Wide Open for Business"
is a great motto in Texas at
the Port Arthur Small Business Summit 2009.


Agenda
The agenda includes presentations from key state agencies and corporations that have a presence in the local market as they discuss contract opportunities for small businesses, financial assistance programs for small businesses, stimulus funding allocations, export and import opportunities, small business growth and development, business certification, and workforce development training.

Confirmed Speakers

Keynote Speaker
Commissioner Andres Alcantar - Texas Workforce Commission

Masters of Ceremonies
Jackie Simien and Kevin Steele, KBMT ABC 12 News, 6pm and 10pm Anchors

Presenting Speakers
Hon. Deloris “Bobby” Prince, Mayor of Port Arthur

Hon. Ron Walker, Jefferson County Judge

Hon. Joe Deshotel, State Representative

Robert Melvin, Director, Small Business Development, Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism

Gene Binder, Stimulus Manager, Stimulus Response Office, Austin Community College,

Pedro Garza, Regional Director, Southwest Region, Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce

Amir Mirabi, Director, International Business Development, Office of the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism

Pat Avery, HR and Communications Manager of Total Port Arthur Refinery and John Carrens, Deep Conversion Project Package 3, Project Manager of Total Port Arthur Refinery

Melvin White, CEO, Digital Workforce Academy, Inc.

Register at http://www.portarthursbs.com/ or RSVP by calling 1-877-769-2013
* Limited seating available on a first come basis.

PO Box 354, Port Arthur, TX 77641 | ph 1-877-769-2013 | www.portarthursbs.com

Houston Mayor Bill White's Fundraiser

From Christina Delgadillo
Please join us as we honor

Houston Mayor
BILL WHITE
Candidate for US Senate

Thursday October 29
5-7 pm
The Beaumont Club

$100 per person
$250 = 3 tickets, reserved seating and recognition on Sponsor Board
$500 = 6 tickets, reserved seating and recognition on Sponsor Board


Steering Committee:
Dinah & David Bernsen, Andy Chica, Christina Delgadillo,
Tracie and James Payne, Regina Rogers, Shelia & Walter Umphrey
Hosts:
Gilbert Adams III, Cade Bernsen, Bob Black,
Cindy & Michael Lindsay,Lori & Craig Mixson, Beverly & Carl Parker, Jill & Kevin Roy
Friends:
Kate & Rod Carroll, Sandra Clark, Stephanie & Bernie Daleo, Dan Ducote Jr.
Lauren & Mark Faggard, JoAnn Foster, Kathleen Hawkins, Lynda Kay & James Makin

www.billwhitefortexas.com

call 409-749-4665 for information
rsvp by emailing cmdelgadillo@msn.com

Free Flu Shots for Vets, Sat. Oct. 17

My name is Belinda Richard and I work at the Veteran's Service Office in Port Arthur. The Vet's clinic in Beaumont is offering free flu shot to vets who are registered or receiving care at the Veteran's Clinic in Beaumont. Here is the info:

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Time: 8:00- Noon
Where: Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic
3420 Veterans Circle
Beaumont, TX 77707
(409) 981-8550

Who: Veterans who should seriously consider vaccination are:
-Over 65 years of age (anyone registered will be seen)
-Residents of long term facilities
-Veterans wilth long term health problems of the heart,
lungs, asthma, kidneys, or diabetes and other metabolic
diseases.
-Veterans with muscle or nerve disorders involving swallowing or
breathing.
-Veterans with weakened immune systems
-Women veterans who may be pregnant during flu season.

Georgine Guillory's Campaign Kickoff Party

Thurs. Oct. 15 at Sugas 5:30-7pm
Meet and Greet campaign kickoff for Georgine Guillory who is running for Jefferson County Treasurer. The event will feature singer Taylor Cormier.

Suga's has designed a special drink, the "Georgini-tini", a martini with or without alcohol. Georgine says "Don't be tardy for the party!"

Commissioner Georgine Guillory
Secretary/Treasurer
Port of Beaumont
3690 South 11th Street
Beaumont, Texas 77705
Phone 409-8421577
Fax 409-8409143

Mt. Zion's Celebrates 138th Year

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church hosts its 138th Annual Anniversary Banquet, Thursday, October 22 at Ware's Plaza, 319 Park St. in Orange. The banquet starts at 6:30 p.m. Wayne Sparrow, owner of Sparrow Funeral Home, will be the guest speaker.
Donation: Adults - $20.00 & Children - $10.00
Contact: Atty. Marcia Delarue (882-4400)
or Mrs. Evelyna Rhodes (883-2488)

LU Women's Empowerment Conference

Preparing young ladies for the future. That was the theme of Lamar University's Women's Empowerment Conference Saturday at the Student Setzer Center. A diverse group of speakers, myself included, shared their thoughts on careers, achieving balance in life, pampering yourself, breaking stereotypes, and getting fiscally fit. Some of the presenters included Pat Avery, Gwen Ambres, and Cheryl Black Fitzpatrick. Congrats to Antoinette Mays, Vernice Monroe and the rest of the crew for a great conference!