Port ArthurGreater
Thursday, August 1st, 2024 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center 3401 Cultural Center Dr. , Port Arthur, TX Registration Required
VOLUME 3, 2024
ELOY VEGA
Fire chief follows passion for deep water diving with school for instruction.................4
LANDLORD’S DAIQUIRI DEN
Daiquiri startup showcases growth potential for Port Arthur small business...................10
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS
Inspire involvement in making communities cleaner, greener and more sustainable.......16
BUZZ ABOUT BEES
Port Arthur man wants more children to learn about importance of bees.................20
REMARKABLE
Bees are remarkable in small packages......26
“SHOCK” FOSTER
WBC title holder hosts a Community Run with The Champ in Orange.......................28
BIRD BINGO
Port Arthur’s always birdy. Spring and fall migration are showstoppers.......................32
ON THE COVER — Clockwise from top: Warren “Billy” Kelley in his bee gear; Peri Malott gets instruction from Eloy Vega; Brian Guidry, James Reed and Lance White during Environmental Champions; and a Painted Bunting in Port Arthur. 4 10 16 32 28 26 20
Publisher: STEPHEN HEMELT
Editor: STEPHEN HEMELT
Contributors:
SIERRA KONDOS
NIKITA HARRIS
DOROTHY TERRY
DARRAGH CASTILLO
Advertising: CANDACE HEMELT
NATALIE PICAZO
Designer: STEPHEN HEMELT
Photography:
MARY MEAUX
SIERRA KONDOS
NIKITA HARRIS
CANDACE HEMELT
HILTON KELLEY
RANDY STRONG
Contact Information: PORT ARTHUR NEWSMEDIA, LLC PO BOX 789 PORT ARTHUR, TX 77641
Advertising Inquiries: 409-721-2400
Subscriptions: 409-721-2400
www.panews.com
MISSION STATEMENT
Our driving mission is to present a positive image of the most interesting and intriguing aspects of the characters, locations and quirks in the Greater Port Arthur area that make our community so remarkable.
Our success will be measured through the number of coffee tables on which this magazine proudly lives and the number of conversations its pages spark. Copyright 2024 by Port Arthur
UNDERWATER HOME
Area fire chief Eloy Vega follows passion for deep water diving through long-running instruction and education outreach
Port Neches Fire Chief Eloy Vega explores his passion for controlling fires on land as a firefighter and off land as a diving and aquatics instructor in Southeast Texas.
Vega breathed life into his underwater business, Trident Divers and Aquatics, to help bring awareness and education of the dangers of adventuring into the aquatic world without proper training. He teaches amateur divers to think and act clearly to survive in a hostile environment
“The actual dive school was opened in 2011 in Laredo, Texas,” Vega said. “I’ve been diving since the late 1980s and became an instructor of scuba diving in
2007. After a few years of teaching independently, my family and I decided to open a diving school to share the safety aspect of being in and around the water.”
Three years ago, Vega accepted the position to become the Port Neches Fire Chief and moved his family and their business to Southeast Texas.
“During the interview process, one of the things that struck me is that there’s so much water around here and so much proximity to really cool diving places,” he said. “But you know, one of the things that surprised me when I arrived was there weren’t that many dive shops, or many opportunities for learning how to scuba dive.”
Eloy Vega teaches Peri Malott, Port Arthur YMCA swim instructor, how to conduct basic underwater skills like removing the breathing regulator underwater and clearing a partially flooded mask.
Sierra Kondos/ Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
Eloy Vega teaches Peri Malott, Port Arthur YMCA swim instructor, basic scuba skills like breathing underwater with a scuba unit that consists of an air tank, breathing regulator and boundary control device.
Sierra Kondos/ Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
Mary Meaux/ Greater Port Arthur The Magazine Port Neches Fire Chief Eloy Vega takes a phone call in his office.
Vega said Southeast Texans has access to many aquatic environments to explore.
Divers can explore lakes and rivers along with super easy access to beautiful reefs on the Gulf Coast.
“If you travel about two hours to Freeport, there is a dive boat that takes folks to the Texas Flower Gardens, a reef a few miles offshore,” Vega said. “And it’s the only reef in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a very beautiful home to a diverse aquatic environment and aquatic life. And again, a lot of folks don’t know that it exists. They get to explore what many people would have to travel to other countries to explore.”
Vega’s office houses a diving pool and education room at his
home residence in Port Arthur.
“We have a shop in the backyard dedicated for repairing equipment, storing the equipment and cleaning and maintaining the pool inside,” Vega said. “We also partner with the YMCA in Port Arthur for use of their pool. In addition, we partner with a dive shop out of Lake Jackson.”
There are three parts to the certification process to become a licensed diver.
Vega uses Professional Association of Diamond Structures, PADI, and Scuba Diving International to certify divers.
The first part is knowledge development, which is a series of lectures. The second is confined water dives, and the third is open water dives.
Water and fire are mutually destructive. However, Vega says divers
can train for preparation and control the water to their advantage while respecting it and knowing it can turn on you at any minute.
“Having control helps me become centered,” he said.
“It helps me become focused, and it helps me, as a professional, do the job that I do. Teaching control to divers gives them the power to choose fight or flight, instead of panicking. Control helps us become disciplined, centered and helps us stay safe and alive. At the same time, there is the allure of exploring the underwater world, being able to do that right and helping others do the same.”
For more information call 956-726-4474.
— Written by Sierra Kondos
Sierra Kondos/Greater Port Arthur The Magazine Eloy Vega says you can travel to Freeport for a dive boat that takes folks to the Texas Flower Gardens, a reef a few miles offshore.
The Trident Divers and Aquatics pool and office is located at 7620 Barry
in
Knoll
Port Arthur. Sierra Kondos/ Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
Nikita Harris/Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
Landlord’s Daiquiri Den is located at 1645 Jefferson Drive, Unit 180 A Port Arthur.
BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
Daiquiri
Landlord’s Daiquiri Den is driving business back to the heart of Port Arthur, all the while offering food, entertainment and a fun place for the Golden Triangle.
Owned by Jermire Roberts and co-owned by Damion Henson, Calvia Roberts, and Elandon Roberts, Landlord’s Daiquiri Den is a full-fledged entertainment hub offering food, TV and music.
The menu has a wide array of drink combinations to choose from and wings. There is also a pizza station available in the establishment.
The TVs in Landlord’s play sports games and series entertainment, but patrons can watch whatever they like on the available screens while they dine or lounge. The location hosts live music, food trucks and social nightlife events.
The weekends are some of the liveliest times for Landlord’s, as the food trucks are present outside and the location is open on Saturday from noon to 1 A.M. and on Sundays from noon to 8 P.M.
Landlord’s Daiquiri Den seeks to contribute to the growth of Port Arthur by being a positive
beacon of light for other business owners and investors to see the potential business climate.
“We want to help the citizens of Port Arthur by giving them a business within the inner part of the city,” Roberts said.
Landlord’s has been in business for three years and has seen its location in 1645 Jefferson Drive Plaza grow with the addition of Flow Dominicano Barbershop, Smoker’s Land and Humidor Cigar Lounge as its neighbors. The plaza is a great spot for residents to gather and support local businesses.
The owners of Landlord’s are locals to the community who grew up in its neighborhoods, attended the local schools and have families based here. The establishments seek to give back to the community by helping in any way it can.
“We care and we are a face you can see here daily,” Roberts said.
Thanks to loyal support of locals, the establishment has enjoyed growth and success. The owners hope their success inspires other business investors to establish more local shops within the city.
In partnership with the Port Arthur Police Department, the business managed to make the location a safe haven for its patrons. The establishment offers a fun place to unwind, dine and watch a good game. Landlord’s is also a family friendly establishment and offers
drive-thru services.
Landlord’s started off local but seeks to expand throughout the Golden Triangle and into the area of Houston. The establishment’s doors are open to everyone, including adults, children and families.
Landlord’s has sought to help in Port Arthur’s business expansion by driving business to an area that has growth potential beyond the usual high commercial areas along Highway 365.
The location of Landlord’s offers convenience for residents living within the area. Its easy accessibility allows residents to walk or ride their bikes to the location and save on gas.
“We wanted to establish a place where customers wouldn’t have to walk or drive too far to the location,” Roberts said.
Landlord’s Daiquiri Den Drive Thru & Lounge is located at 1645 Jefferson Drive, Unit 180 A, Port Arthur and is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 2 to 10 p.m., on Fridays from noon to midnight, Saturdays from noon to 1 a.m. and on Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
For local events hosted at the location check their Facebook page. To place orders or for more information, call 409-999-6004.
— Written by Nikita Harris
Nikita Harris/Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
The owners of Landlord’s are locals to the community who grew up in its neighborhoods and attended the local schools.
EnvironmEntal Champions Greater THE SCENE Port Arthur
The third annual Environmental Champions Grant Initiative powered by Port Arthur LNG and in partnership with The Port Arthur News held a reception honoring the organizations that were awarded the grants at the Museum of the Gulf Coast.
Bechtel Corporation also contributed to the 2024 effort to energize more than a dozen local groups with $50,000-plus in grants for community-based nonprofits and schools.
The idea behind Environmental Champions is to inspire innovation and involvement in making local communities cleaner, greener and a more sustainable place to work and live.
“We’re thrilled to be able to distribute grants that are going to fund projects, ranging from community cleanups and beautification to garden projects and hydroponic systems, to hands on environmental experiences,” said Kelly Prasser, director of external affairs for Sempra Infrastructure.
1. Michael Conner and Vilma Conner
2. Helene Blair, Tammy Kotzur and Dawanna Jones — Photos by Candace Hemelt
1. Shane Jennings and Graylin Gan
2. Dania Sanchez and Diane Thompson
3. Ed Kestler and Mark Freeman
4. Lorena Sanchez and Brandon Kiser
5. Brian Guidry, James Reed and Lance White
BUZZ ABOUT BEES
Port Arthur man wants more children to learn about importance of bees
Hilton Kelley/Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
Billy Kelley is the founder of Billy Bees in Port Arthur. He was introduced to bees by Dr. Thomas E. Rinderer, an expert in honeybee biology.
Warren “Billy” Kelley did not have “bee specialist” anywhere on his list of careers growing up, especially after a childhood incident in his native Port Arthur, where he was stung by a swarm of yellow jackets when he rolled downhill into an infested log.
Since that experience, Kelley – like most people – tended to give bees a wide berth.
But fate would bring him back to the bees. Kelley, who worked construction and taught martial arts on the side in Baton Rouge, La., was approached by a karate student’s father, who asked Kelley if he’d be interested in working with bees.
Recalling that very painful childhood incident, Kelley’s very short answer was an emphatic, “No!”
But the father was persistent, ensuring
Kelley if he could get over his childhood fear, he would actually like working with bees. The father – Dr. Thomas E. Rinderer, an internationally recognized expert in honeybee biology – was right.
Rinderer invited Kelly to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Honeybee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Laboratory in Baton Rouge, where Rinderer served as research lead from 1977, until he retired in 2016.
Kelley recalled seeing dozens of bee colonies – and only one black person, himself.
“I was the only black guy there,” he recalled, jokingly thinking, “that’s because no black people would do this crazy job!”
Despite his apprehension about being around bees and his “only” status, Kelley suited up in bee gear “and I fell in love with it.”
Kelley was hired full time as an insect
production worker.
As for his fears?
“I got stung a few times,” said Kelley, “but I never thought about quitting.”
Kelley eventually left the bees behind, moving back to Port Arthur to spend more time with his adult children and grandchildren.
But word got out about his bee expertise and the calls started coming in from people who wanted to hire Kelley to remove hives and nests from their properties.
For a fee and a request to keep the
combs, honey and bees he removed to nurture the colonies back to good health, Kelley was back in the bee business.
But the “only black guy” part of his old USDA job still stuck with him.
Kelley was concerned about seeing hardly any people who looked like him in the profession.
So, when his brother, Hilton Kelley, asked him to share his knowledge of bees as an environmental component of Hilton’s nonprofit organization, Community In Power and Development Association, Kelley jumped at
Scott Bauer/USDA AgResearch Magazine file photo
USDA Agricultural Research Service geneticist Tom Rinderer, right, and beekeeping cooperator Steve Bernard, along with ARS associates Tony Stelzer and Warren “Billy” Kelley (background, L-R) of the Baton Rouge, La., laboratory, inspect colonies of Russian and other honeybees.
the chance.
CIDA works to empower residents in low-income communities.
From that beginning, Kelley has branched out and formed his own nonprofit, Billy Bees, with the mission to raise awareness among middle school students about the science of bees in the hopes they will consider apiology (the scientific study of bees) as a profession.
Although he only has two sets of bee gear at the moment (and he’s researching funds to purchase more), Kelley is forging ahead, already attracting several students and approaching school districts to formalize the program to bring in more.
Ideally, he would like at least two students from each of Jefferson County middle school. Why middle school students?
Kelley feels elementary school students are too young and most high school students may already have their career goals in mind.
“This is a unique educational experience, especially for students in our community,” said Kelley.
“I want them to, like me, get over their fears and learn how important bees are to the environment and to our very survival.”
According to government data, U.S. honeybees pollinate $15 billion in agricultural products each year, including more than 130 types of fruit, nuts and vegetables.
California, Texas and Florida are home to 55 percent of the nation's honeybee colonies.
The U.S. bee population has been declining for several decades due to several factors, including pesticides, parasites and habitat loss.
— Written by Dorothy Terry, a journalist who chronicles
environmental issues
SERVICE & EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST
Neches Management Services provides waste management solutions for all clients, large and small, whether they need a single roll-off or have multi-site/-facility waste management needs. And we do it all, from pick-up to disposal.
Hilton Kelley/Greater Port Arthur The Magazine
Billy Kelley is seen suited in full bee gear as he tends to bees on a property in Port Arthur.
Bees are remarkable creatures in small packages
Warm weather and extra hours of sunlight spark flowering trees and plants to bloom anew. This is the time of year when the air is sweet with the aroma of blossoms and the familiar hum of insects can be heard all around.
Not all “bugs” are the same this time of year. While you probably won’t want ants invading your backyard grill fest, the presence of bees nearby can be a good thing — even if those curious yellow-and-black critters get a little close for comfort from time to time. That’s because almost 90 percent of wild plants and 75 percent of the leading global crops depend on animal pollination, indicates the World Wildlife Federation.
Bees are remarkable creatures in small packages. The following are some bee facts to buzz about, courtesy of the WWF, Save the Bees™, NASA, and the Texas A&M University Honey Bee Information Site.
• There are roughly 20,000 species of bees around the world. Most of them are solitary bees.
• Bees have five eyes. Two of the eyes are large compound eyes with hexagonal facets. The other three are small, simple eyes.
• Honeybees have a move called the “waggle dance.” It is a clever way of communicating to tell them where to go to find the best sources of food.
• Bees can carry up to 122 times their body weight in pollen and nectar.
• Bumblebees leave footprint scents behind. They are able to distinguish between their own scents, the scent of a relative and the scent of a stranger as they look for food. They also can avoid flowers already visited.
• Should a queen bee perish, the hive workers will select a new young larva and feed it a
special food called “royal jelly.” The larva will develop into a fertile queen.
• Bees flap their wings 190 to 200 times per second. They can fly up to 15 miles per hour.
• Female bees can sting; males do not. Losing the singer will cause the bee to die. The honeybee only can sting once because its stinger is barbed. Bumblebees and hornets can sting multiple times because they have smooth stingers.
• It can require nectar from two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
• Many bees are not aggressive. Simply moving away from them can prevent a person from being stung. Generally, bumblebees and honey bees will only sting by accident or if a nest is being disrupted.
• Wasps are different from bees in that they are mostly known to be predators. They eat other insects and often food that people eat, which is why wasps are more likely to be found around your cookout. Bees tend to be covered in hair, while wasps (which include yellow jackets) are smooth.
Bees are remarkable creatures and should be celebrated as the weather warms up.
run with thE Champ - “shoCk” Greater THE SCENE Port Arthur
World boxing champ O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster came back to Southeast Texas in a healthy way.
The WBC title holder hosted a Community Run with The Champ May 11 in Orange.
Foster last boxed Feb. 16, defeating Abraham Nova at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The victory improved Foster’s mark to 22-2, with 12 KOs.
“They had billboards by Times Square,” he said. “It was amazing. New York showed me crazy love. It was great to put the Orange, Texas, name out there.”
In May, ESPN announced Foster would defend his WBC junior lightweight title vs. Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao July 6 in Newark, New Jersey.
The 130-pound title fight would serve as chief support to the Shakur Stevenson-Artem Harutyunyan lightweight title bout on ESPN, the network reported.
1. O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster, takes some time with 6-year-old Kimora Jackson.
2. Hykiem Taylor and Tyreke Brown at the fun run.
— Photos by Randy Strong
BOB BOWERS
CIVIC CENTER
DIAMOND EVENT CENTER
POMPEIIAN VILLA
MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST
ROSE HILL
DEPARTMENT CLUB
THE POMPANO
VENUE AT BELLE OAKES
HOLIDAY HOMES
TEXAS ARTISTS MUSEUM
Cajun Capital of Texas!
With more than 20,000 square feet of divisible space and over 1,200 square feet of smaller meeting rooms, the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center brings it all together for you. Our centrally located facility o ers quality service, free parking and a professional sta to help make your event a success – all this in a clean and bright atmosphere at a ordable rates.
If you’re looking for a smaller venue, the Museum of the Gulf Coast, Pompeiian Villa or a newly refreshed, upscale restaurant like The Pompano are great options for an intimate group to enjoy fellowship, food and live music.
Port Arthur continues to bring business to SETX. Whether your event is related to sports, social, the military, family or class reunions, religious, corporate or associations, our o ce can help you strategically plan and promote your event in order to increase success and attendance. Our free personalized servicing plan is sure to add a little lagniappe to any event!
1. O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster autographs a speed bag for Hector Barrera III.
2. Kezavien Roberts at the fun run.
3. O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster poses for a photo with participants in the Orange fun run.
4. Tyrone Wilson Jr. and Tyrone Wilson Sr. have fun with their friend, Leo.
5. O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster, center, leads a fun run in Orange.
G r o w Y o u r B u s i n e s s
W i t h T h e S B D C
ADVISING SESSIONS AVAILABLE IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL. PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ADVISORS
SCAN THE QR CODE TO REQUEST ADVISING.
A Willet Away from BINGO?
Port Arthur’s always birdy. Spring and fall migration are showstoppers. Sabine Woods, Sea Rim State Park and Pleasure Island are hotspots in Port Arthur, the Cajun Capital of Texas.
That’s why we couldn’t wait to be part of Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Texas Bird Bingo.
HOW TO PLAY Easy. Get out there and start looking for our beautiful birds. Bring family, bring friends, bring BINOCULARS!
You can play by region, or play all of Texas through Nov. 30, 2024.
Participants who complete a Bird Bingo will be entered to win:
• A birding excursion with a Texas Audubon master birder (30 winners)
Dania Sanchez/ Courtesy of Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
A Yellow Billed Cuckoo is seen at Sabine Woods.
• One grand prize winner wins a tour of a bird sanctuary island off the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Read the rules and download a card at visitportarthurtx.com
Sea Rim State Park and the visitors bureau, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, also have cards.
START AT SABINE WOODS
Sabine Woods is the first land birds see as they fly in for spring migration.
The oak mott is internationally famous for attracting thousands of “first landing” migrants each year.
Warblers, Viereos, Grosbeaks, Flycatchers, Thrushes, Tanagers and Orioles visit March through May.
Painted Bunting and Scarlet Tanager are among the showiest of visitors.
Sabine Woods features paths under a canopy of trees, a pond, drips and a mulberry patch that Cedar Waxwings love.
SEA RIM STATE PARK & GULF COAST FAVES
Our upper Texas Gulf Coast invites shore birds who love to fish the coast.
American Avocet, Ruddy Turnstone, White Ibis and Brown Pelican are among beach favorites Sea Rim State Park’s foamy Gulf of Mexico shoreline.
Paul Greeg/ Courtesy of Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
A Painted Bunting is pictured.
Catch Heron while secluded at Pleasure Island’s new bird blind or look for Pelicans along the jetties of Sabine Lake.
Showy pink Roseate Spoonbills are a local favorite, adding color to the marshland. The sound of Laughing Gulls just make your picnic better.
Nearby hotspots include:
• Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge, full of trees for an easy “quick look” for Orchard Orioles and wrens.
• McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge offers a driving trail with fishing piers and observation platforms.
• Clam Lake, at the McFaddin refuge, draws waterfowl in winter. Kingbirds, Orchard Orioles and Crested Caracara are some regulars.
BIRD PORT ARTHUR
Port Arthur is in the Central and Mississippi Flyway, so the abundance is a natural.
There’s coast, forest and marshland keeping local residents and visiting birds chirping.
The spring migration peak is April 19 through
early May, and the fall migration peak is Sept. 5-Oct. 29. #birdportarthur and have some fun in the Cajun Capital of Texas. Museum of the Gulf Coast tells the story from nature and maritime history to music and sports.
MORE HOTSPOTS
Back to this new bird blind on Pleasure Island. That’s heron territory. Pier fishing, a round of disc golf and watching the ships come in to the Port are also good pastimes.
As you head to Sabine Woods, visit Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge for those colorful warblers and McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge for water birds.
The “Visit Port Arthur, Texas” birding hotspot book could help you BINGO!
Darragh Castillo is experience manager for the Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau. Texas Bird Bingo is a Texas Parks and Wildlife Program. Visit Port Arthur is a sponsor. Learn more at visitportarthurtx.com.
Callie Summerlin/Courtesy of Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
A ribbon cutting was held in Spring 2023 to celebrate a new bird blind on Pleasure Island in Port Arthur.
