There’s something special about the way we do things down here on the coast—when we celebrate, we do it like family. The Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce hit a huge milestone, marking 50 years of looking out for our local shops, neighbors, and friends. We all gathered over at Camp Margaritaville for an evening that…

By Linda ElissaldeBolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation (BPCF) presented their annual wine tasting event on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Diana, David and Coco Ezzell hosted a sparkling party. Marsha Fredenburg and Elinor Tinsley were co-captains. Tom Harrison and Dennis Rollfing directed drivers to safe parking spots. Pat Tinsley greeted attendees with a choice of Prosecco or…

Bay Vue Methodist Church Annual Bake Sale!Get those sweet teeth ready, Bolivar! This Saturday, March 7, the wonderful ladies of Bay Vue Methodist Church are hosting their highly anticipated Annual Bake Sale, and you won’t want to miss out on these homemade treasures. Starting at 10:00 AM, the tables will be overflowing with a delicious…

Hold onto your coffee mugs, Bolivar—it’s that time of year again. This weekend, specifically at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 8, 2026, we are collectively “springing forward” and losing an hour of sleep. Technically, it’s called Daylight Saving Time (no “s” on the end, though your dad will still call it “Savings” until the end…

It’s time to rev up your motors and polish those chrome rims for one of the most exciting and unique events on the Bolivar Peninsula: the Annual Golf Cart Poker Run. Scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2026, this popular tradition invites you to a day of sun, salt air, and friendly competition. Whether you’re a…

For Texans, the word Alamo isn’t just a name; it’s a shorthand for defiance, sacrifice, and the birth of an identity. While the battle took place hundreds of miles inland from our Bolivar shores in San Antonio, its impact is the reason we call ourselves Texans today. Between February 23 and March 6, 1836, a…

Brace yourselves—nature’s tiniest divas are on their way. Yes, hummingbirds, the sugar-fueled aerial acrobats of the bird world, are migrating north again. After wintering in sunny Central America (where they no doubt sipped nectar out of coconuts and flexed their wings on the beach), these feathered dynamos are flapping their way back to our neck…

We have all seen pieces of plastic and other garbage floating in the water near our boats or washed up on our beaches. There are many regulations that apply to dumping of garbage, sewage, and oil waste. This column addresses a few of those and discusses the Coast Guard’s participation in pollution prevention. The same…

While the rest of the world relies on fiber optics and satellite links, the police in the coastal state of Odisha, India, still look to the skies for a more ancient form of “wireless” communication. Known as the Odisha Police Pigeon Service, it is believed to be the only functioning carrier pigeon corps left in…

As I told you, last Tuesday, as you were reading Crystal Beach Local News, we were on our way to Tishomingo, Oklahoma, to pick up our little Merry Girl. We had reservations at a quaint little boutique hotel in Tishomingo, a little three-room place on Main Street! As we arrived and parked out front, we…

Check out the upcoming events on Bolivar Peninsula—there’s always something going on! From community gatherings and outdoor adventures, the calendar is packed with fun for everyone. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, don’t miss out. Upcoming Events See Full Bio

This week in American history saw the official adoption of its National Anthem and the first sessions of the U.S. Congress, alongside the somber events of the Civil Rights Movement, such as the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma. These seven days reflect a country constantly defining its identity through law, protest, and artistic expression. March…

For many, the end of the road on the Bolivar Peninsula isn’t just a geographical point; it is a destination. At the heart of that destination sits Stingaree Restaurant and Marina, a staple of Southeast Texas hospitality approaching its 40th anniversary. We sat down with owner Brad Vratis to discuss the transition from corporate shoes…

Filmmakers Tim and Russell Laman have captured the hidden world of our most common neighborhood visitors in their new video series, “Backyard Birds Revealed.” This 5-part series, produced in collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, uses cutting-edge technology to transform a split-second visit to a bird feeder into a cinematic event. While the Laman…

If you think the most impressive thing a horse can do is jump a fence or pull a carriage, you haven’t visited the windswept shores of Oostduinkerke, Belgium. Here, a group of rugged fishermen and their massive, four-legged companions are keeping a 500-year-old tradition alive: shrimping on horseback. It is exactly as majestic—and slightly absurd—as…

America is a country defined by movement. Since the invention of the automobile, the road trip has become a central part of the national identity. From historic trade routes to neon-lit boulevards, certain stretches of asphalt have transcended their utility to become cultural icons. However, the modern journey is about more than just the destination.…

“TheFog” is a 1980 American supernatural horror film directed by John Carpenter. It tells the story of a strange, glowing fog that sweeps over a small coastal town in Northern California, bringing with it the vengeful ghosts of leprous mariners who were killed in a shipwreck there a century before. This isn’t the only movie with a heavy fog as the main…

Surface water temperature, 69 degrees. The water clarity was extremely good this past week for East Galveston Bay. The trout bite has been good for us this past week, throwing Salt & Pepper /chartreuse paddle tails on 1/8 oz jig heads. With higher tides than in previous weeks, we have been able to fish some…

The grocery store. A weekly ritual, a hunt for sustenance, and an inadvertent test of memory, willpower, and aisle-skipping strategy. You go in with your list, your mental map, and a steely resolve to be efficient. You power through dairy, conquer produce, and confidently bypass the snack aisle (mostly). You’re almost done, the cart is…

As you’re reading Local News, we’ll be headed to Tishomingo to pick up Merry, what in the world are we getting ourselves into? Two mid-70-year-olds raising, yet again, another puppy. She’ll be 8 weeks old when we get her. Robin, the breeder, took all eleven of them to the vet for their first checkup, all…