Chamber Express - October 2021

OCTOBER 2021 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Bayou Fest ��1 Board of Directors nominees ��3 New members/renewals ��4 Business of the month ��5 WILA winners ��6 Leadership Mainland ��7 Ribbon cuttings ��8 Board of Directors ��11 The ofﬁcial publication of the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce Bayou Fest in La Marque — Oct. 16! F rom live music to children’s ac- tivities to ﬁreworks, Bayou Fest offers fun for people of all ages. And the best part is, admission and parking are free! Tell all of your coworkers, friends and family to meet up on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Highland Bayou Park (exit 10 off I-45 South) and get ready to enjoy these activities: BARBECUE COOK-OFF Compete with the Best of the Best as part of the Galveston County Triple Crown. On Oct. 15, the cook-off ramps up as teams compete for $10,000 in prize money. Rules and reservation forms are available from the chamber (call 409-935-1408). The Bayou Fest Cook-Off features 100 barbecue spots with easy access, stabilized ground, water and power hookups. ARTS AND CRAFTS Get a jump on your Christmas shop- ping at the Bayou Fest vendor fair. More than 20 craft vendors are expect- ed. Are you crafty yourself? There are still a couple vendor spaces open. Call the chamber to inquire right away. CHILDREN’S FISHING TOURNAMENT Bring your little one to enjoy ﬁshing with the Rusty Hook Fishing Club. To participate, children must be 12 or BAYOU FEST » PAGE 3 Johnathan Tyler and the Northern Lights will play Bayou Fest at 8:30 p.m. younger. The ﬁrst 200 children to reg- ister to ﬁsh will receive a free T-shirt and lunch. Participants must provide a rod and reel, but Boyd’s One Stop provides the bait. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Children can ﬁsh from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with parent or guardian supervision. For 10 categories of ﬁsh, children can win a new rod and reel, plus a new tackle box provided by the La Marque Lions Club. Alex’s A/C provides goody bags stuffed with items from chamber members. PUMPKIN PATCH & FAMILY FUN Pick a pumpkin for free, ﬁnd a spot under the pavilion and get creative. The La Marque Lions Club will present cash prizes for the ﬁrst, second and third favorite pumpkins. Age divisions are 5 and younger, 6-10 years, 11-14 years and 15-19 years. Parent must accompany children under 12. Plus, you can purchase a $5 wristband for children to enjoy bounce houses, a zip 2 | Chamber Express | October 2021 When you’re buying or selling real estate, whether it be residential or commercial, experience matters and you certainly want experienced professionals on your side when you head to the closing table. South Land Title Company has been serving Texas City-La Marque for over 25 years. We are here to assist lenders, realtors, builders, investors and residents with every type of Real Estate transaction. When you close on your next property, go with the experts at South Land Title Company. Protecting the property rights of Texas City-La Marque! Experience Matters! www.SouthLandTitle.net 409.986.5801 - 10806 32nd Ave N, Texas City, TX 77591 409-945-6920October 2021 | Chamber Express | 3 BAYOU FEST CONTINUED » PAGE 1 ELECT YOUR NEW CHAMBER BOARD T he Texas City-La Marque Chamber has been work- ing “stronger together” for more than 50 years. The chamber is directed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a range of industries, businesses from small to large, and geographical locations across the mainland area. Each year, a new slate of vol- unteer leaders is elected to help govern and direct the efforts of the chamber. They lead in the mission is to serve the membership and make a positive impact on the local economy. In accordance with the chamber by-laws, a nominating committee appointed by the Chairman of the Board met in September, and the list below are the candidates nominated to serve the chamber for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2022 and ending Dec. 31, 2024. All chamber members will receive a ballot via email and be asked to vote on the list of candidates. Com- pleted ballots must be returned to the chamber by Oct. 26. If you have not received a bal- lot or have any questions, contact Chamber President Page Michel at president@tclmchamber.com. Lori Chalmers Chick Fil-A Desoto Clark ROBCO Services Lavelle Edmondson Marathon Petroleum Alex Getty La Marque Economic Development Corporation George Hill Tolunay Wong Engineers Stacey Marlbrough AMOCO Federal Credit Union Mandie McMillan Crowder RE/MAX Coastal Frank Mistretta Houston Hurricane & Security Jason Pollard Grand Prize Barbeque Phil Roberts Roberts Johnson & Cain Brown Sugar will play Bayou Fest at 6:30 p.m. Mighty Orq will play Bayou Fest at 4:30 p.m. line, and other kid-friendly activities. MUTTON BUSTIN’ Dress up your little cowboys and cowgirls and meet up near the pavilion. Registration is at noon, and events start at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $20. There are two age categories: 2-5 years old and 6-7 years old. Belt buckles are award- ed for Grand Champion and Reserve Champion. Weight limit is 65lbs, and parents must sign a waiver at registration. Also, back by popular demand is Stick Horse Racing for children who don’t want to ride live ani- mals but still want to take part in the fun. FREE LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS Bring chairs and kick back or dance the night away. Get rockin’ with Mighty Orq at 4:30 p.m., Brown Sugar at 6:30 p.m., and Johnathan Tyler and the North- ern Lights at 8:30 p.m. Visit food trucks and craft vendors between shows. The La Marque Lions Club will sell beer on-site, so leave the ice chest at home. FIREWORKS SHOW Stay until 10 p.m. to watch the spectacular AMOCO Federal Credit Union Fireworks Show! Ride-share ser- vices are welcomed and en- couraged. Parking for the festival is in a grassy ﬁeld, rain or shine. All possible accommo- dations are made for handicapped parking, but space is limited. Bayou Fest is pre- sented by the City of La Marque and the Texas City-La Marque Chamber. For more information, follow Bayou Fest on Facebook or visit www. lamarquebayoufest.com.4 | Chamber Express | October 2021 WELCOME NEW MEMBERSMEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Aspen Dental 2020 Gulf Freeway Texas City, TX 77591 409-316-6018 Representative: Timna Martin www.aspendental.com timna.martin@aspendental.com Dentists/Dental Care Bag O’ Crab 3506 Palmer Hwy. Texas City, TX 77590 409-655-5502 Representative: Brandon Shepherd www.bagocrabusa.com bagocrab.texas@gmail.com Restaurants City Electric Supply 5301 Gulf Freeway La Marque, TX 77568 281-756-8033 Representative: Daren Thode www.cityelectricsupply.com daren.thode@cityelectricsupply.com Industrial Supply/Tools/ Instruments/Safety Experian 832-334-9453 Representative: Taylor Carstens www.experian.com taylor.carstens@experian.com Credit Unions Krewe Babalu of Galveston 6603 Ave. M Santa Fe, TX 77510 409-682-4191 Representative: Barbara Pitre www.krewebabalu.com bpitre6603@gmail.com Non Proﬁt Organization Pots & Pans Soul Food Lounge 5911 Willis Circle Texas City, TX 77591 281-804-9019 Representative: Sheldon Williams sheldonwilliams5300@gmail.com Restaurants Reality of Wrestling 10000 E.F. Lowry Expy. Texas City, TX 77591 832-570-4225 Representative: Sharmell Huﬀman www.realityofwrestling.com huﬀman.sharmell@gmail.com Sports Entertainment Ron Hoover RV & Marine 1903 Gulf Freeway La Marque, TX 77568 409-935-7101 Representative: Zach Hernandez www.ronhooverlamarque.com rweed@ronhoover.com Recreational Vehicle Sales & Service Joseph Hoover AIA & Associates ..........................................................................64 Mainland Tool & Supply, Inc...................................................................................41 Kelley’s Country Cookin’ ..........................................................................................34 Gus’ Restaurant, Inc. ..................................................................................................34 Hospice Care Team, Inc. ...........................................................................................33 Grand Prize Barbeque ..............................................................................................33 AltairStrickland ...........................................................................................................29 Luna’s #3 Mexican Restaurant ...............................................................................29 Edward Jones Investments - Callaway ...............................................................28 PSS Industrial Group/Industrial Air Tool ............................................................26 United Rentals ............................................................................................................24 Galveston County Small Business Development Center ............................22 Mainland Car Wash ...................................................................................................22 TNT Signs & Graphics ...............................................................................................17 Bayou Electrical Services ........................................................................................16 Mejia Industrial Supply Company .......................................................................16 The Post Newspaper .................................................................................................11 BrandSafway LLC .......................................................................................................11 Farmers Alloy Fabricating ..........................................................................................9 Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Houston .............................................................7 LifeStyle Financial Advisors, Inc. ..............................................................................6 Sparkling Clear Industries .........................................................................................4 Brask Inc, The Heat Exchanger People ..................................................................3 Mark 1 Plumbing ..........................................................................................................3 Joiner Architects, Inc. ..................................................................................................3 Spurgeon Insurance ....................................................................................................3 Bay Area Turning Point ...............................................................................................2 Gulf Coast Engineered Solutions, Inc. ...................................................................2 Tello Smiles .....................................................................................................................2 Air Liquide .......................................................................................................................1 Company Years A big THANK YOU to these businesses for their long-standing support of the chamber and this community. Renewals from Aug. 24 to Sept. 17. October 2021 | Chamber Express | 5 BUSINESS OF THE MONTH | DEL PAPA DISTRIBUTING F or more than 100 years, Del Papa Distributing has been helping the com- munities where they do business, and the compa- ny takes great pride in its traditional commitment to civic involvement. Del Papa Distributing Company was founded in 1910 in Galveston, Texas by Omero Del Papa, Sr. who emigrated to the island from Lucca, Italy. He later converted his retail grocery busi- ness into a wholesale business that ultimately became today’s Del Papa Distributing Company. Currently, the company has three distribution facilities in Texas City, Beaumont and Victoria and services the follow- ing 17 Texas counties: Brazoria, Calhoun, Cham- bers, DeWitt, Galveston, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liber- ty, Matagorda, Newton, Orange, Sabine, Victoria and Wharton. In 2010, in conjunction with its 100th anniver- sary celebration, the Del Papa family initiated a company-wide college scholarship endowment at all the community col- leges and four-year uni- versities in the communi- ties where the company conducts business. “Education is the foundation upon which our communities and business prosper and, as such, has always been valued by our company,” said Larry Del Papa, Del Papa Distributing Presi- dent. “These scholarships will help many deserving students who need some extra support to continue their education.” Larry Del Papa was born in Galveston on June 6, 1955 where he attended St. Patrick’s grade school, Lovenberg Junior High School and graduated from Ball High School in 1973. Larry then attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) and, in 1977, graduated from SMU with a bachelor’s degree in business administra- tion. Larry began his full-time career with the company as a third-gen- eration family member upon his graduation from SMU. Today, Larry serves as President, CEO and Chairman of Del Papa Distributing Com- pany. Larry has two children; a daughter, Caylin, who graduated from Vander- bilt University in 2014, and a son, “LJ”, who graduated from Baylor University in 2018. They are both involved in Del Papa Distributing Com- pany. The following 13 schools within the 17 counties have been chosen to receive the 100-year anniversary scholarship endowments: Alvin Community Col- lege; Brazosport College; College of the Mainland; Galveston College; Lamar Institute of Technology; Lamar State College – Orange; Lamar State Col- lege – Port Arthur; Lamar University; Texas A&M University at Galveston; University of Houston – Victoria; University of Texas Medical Branch; Victoria College; and Wharton County Junior College. Del Papa Distributing 1220 Gulf Fwy. Texas City, TX 77591 Representative: Peter Williamson www.delpapadistributing.com Del Papa Distributing is the chamber’s business of the month. Pictured are Company President Larry Del Papa and Vice President Peter Williamson (center) with Chamber Champ Nancy Rivera from Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Chamber Membership Director Jordan Kleinecke and Chamber President Page Michel. A historic photo of Larry Del Papa and Lawrence Del Papa.6 | Chamber Express | October 2021 Mainland 409-935-2496 Metro 281-337-5634 Island 409-765-5883 SERVICING YOU IS A PLEASURE 409-948-4589 My clients say I am their “Favorite Realtor”. Over forty-three (43) years servicing Galveston County Wanda Ables Realtor ® /Broker Associate wmables@aol.com 822 6th Street North Texas City, TX 77590 409-771-4775 Cell 409-948-4589 Direct 409-948-2321 Fax WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS EDUCATION: Debbie Fuller, Texas City ISD/Guajardo Elementary LARGE BUSINESS: Monica Eaton, Texas First Bank SMALL BUSINESS: Bonnie Baty, Karat Creations Jewelry WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS: Courtni Tello, D.D.S., Tello Smiles NONPROFIT/VOLUNTEER: Judy Garcia, CASA of Galveston County YOUNG PROFESSIONAL: Colleen Martin, EDC Chamber President and CEO Page Michel All 18 2021 W.I.L.A nominees 2021 W.I.L.A Committee October 2021 | Chamber Express | 7 LEADERSHIP MAINLAND The Leadership Class has enjoyed sessions this summer that explored social services, health care, education and more. In the Odyssey Academy library8 | Chamber Express | October 2021 RIBBON CUTTINGS Zel’s Massage & Fitness Zone Grand Opening and New Location Representative: Gerselda Bourgeois 2501 Palmer Hwy., Ste. 212 Texas City, TX 77590 409-789-7883 Bourgeois1706@sbcglobal.net www.zelswellness.com Health and Wellness Pots & Pans Soul Food Lounge New Member Representative: Sheldon Williams 5918 Willis Circle Texas City, TX 77590 281-804-9019 Sheldonwilliams5300@gmail.com Catering Girl’s Trip by Noel New Member Representative: Cheryl Noel Lewis 38 Prairie Oaks Dr. Santa Fe, TX 77510 409-739-0587 Girlstripbynoel@gmial.com www.GirlsTripByNoel.com TravelOctober 2021 | Chamber Express | 9 RIBBON CUTTINGS Simms Elementary School Grand Opening Representative: Dr. Melissa Duarte 529 N. Westward St. Texas City, TX 77591 409-908-5100 www.tcisd.org Education Hayley Elementary School Representative: Dr. Melissa Duarte 1431 Bayou Rd. La Marque, TX 77568 409-935-3020 www.tcisd.org EducationNext >