On Saturday, all three of our local volunteer fire departments—Port Bolivar VFD, Crystal Beach VFD, and High Island VFD—came together at Swedes Park for a training session focused on dump tank operations. This hands-on exercise involved setting up a 3,000-gallon dump tank, a vital piece of equipment used during large fires in areas without nearby…

Crab lovers, mark your calendars! The Texas Crab Festival has just made a major announcement that will bring even more fun—and family time—to next year’s celebration. After carefully reviewing attendance trends, festival organizers have decided to adjust the schedule to better serve the community. Next year’s Texas Crab Festival will run from Thursday, May 7…

By J. Lee Austin, MD Nervous wild Bats of the world can rest a little easier now that the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osborne has taken his last ride on the Crazy Train. At 76, the Godfather of heavy metal music finally succumbed to the ravages of Parkinson’s and the tragicomic undulations and perturbations of…

In this article we look at the top 10 known primary contributing factors of recreational boating accidents from 2024, the last full year for which we have data, with 2023 thrown in for comparison. Here are the tables: #1: Operator Inattention Operator inattention is still at the top of the list of contributing factors of…

Surface water temperature 87 degrees in East Galveston Bay. Colors varied, depending upon water clarity and light conditions, with Glacier Freeze triggering the most bites for our anglers. Our clients are still finding good success using Fish Smack Popping corks with a 1-to-2-foot leader above a shrimp imitation lure, or Tails with a 1/8 oz…

Well Boys & Girls, before you know it, it’ll be time to go to bed early, get up early in the morning, eat a good breakfast and get ready to catch the ol’ school bus. I heard High Island begins August 5th and Galveston ISD begins August 11. League City & Friendswood schools begin August…

History isn’t just about dusty old textbooks—it’s packed with wild, game-changing moments that still affect us today. Each day carries echoes of the past—triumphs, tragedies, and turning points that define our collective story. These events remind us how a single day can alter the trajectory of science, politics, and society. Join us as we explore…

Beth Terminella, president of the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, sat down for a candid interview to reflect on her leadership, challenges facing the local business community, and her hopes for the future of the Chamber and the Peninsula at large. Her answers revealed a passionate leader guided by humility, optimism, and an appreciation for…

By Linda Elissalde There are movie cowboys, TV cowboys, singing cowboys and cartoon cowboys. Someday we might even view AI cowboys. However, REAL COWBOYS still exist. Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation (BPCF) was honored to present two real Coastal Cowboys for their July 16, 2025 meeting at Eagles 3719. Bob Kahla and Lloyd Maxwell shared fond…

By Elinor Tinsley Bay Vue Methodist Church began a Beach Ministry some years ago and it has morphed over the years into different things, depending on our different circumstances. We used to set up a tent on the beach and we would hand out cold water and Vacation Bible School (VBS) items for kids and…

This column addresses two categories of accident statistics from the 2024 Boating Accident Statistics, the latest statistics we have for a full year. Last week’s column, titled Please Be Seated, discussed the latest statistics also, and concentrated on improper boat loading. This week we will look at the top two primary incident types, both of…

Surface water temperature 86 degrees. We are locating more trout than reds, in the intracoastal relating to structure, as well as a few fish over shell on the South Shoreline on tails with 1/8 oz heads, with darker colors performing the best in the areas with stained water. We are once again burning a good…

With all this dry hot weather, I’m trying to keep up with watering my plants. In fact, my husband informed me Sunday morning half the garden out front was flooded, and the driveway may be growing. I had forgotten to turn the sprinkler off Saturday night! Boy, did those plants look happy! I went out…

While the Buck Moon has already risen and set over the Lone Star State, July still has a handful of impressive celestial shows left for skywatchers—especially those lucky enough to stargaze from wide-open Texas skies. Here’s what’s still in store for the rest of the month: Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower (Peaks July 28–30) One of…

A Tapestry of Triumphs, Tragedies, and Turning Points, this week in history has witnessed moments that changed the world in dramatic and unexpected ways, from humanity’s soaring achievements, like the safe return of Apollo 11 (1969) and the birth of the first “test-tube baby” (1978), to the somber shadow of World War I’s beginning (1914).…

The salt-kissed air of Crystal Beach carries dreams as vast as the Gulf. Texas’s nursing shortage beckons Bolivar Peninsula residents to step into healthcare through online education, blending coastal life with a transformative career. This article charts the path from sandy shores to patient care, detailing accelerated programs and their local impact. Discover how you…

For the Nagy family, their recent vacation to Crystal Beach was more than just a trip to the shore—it was a homecoming. Kris and Sarah Nagy, along with their 14-year-old triplets Jack, Mia, and Ella, and their two dogs, Daisy and Clover, revisited the beloved coastal spot for the first time since 2012. Back then,…

Twelve-year-old Dax Moad is no ordinary angler. A fishing enthusiast with the patience of a seasoned pro, he spent his family vacation in Crystal Beach, Texas, wading into the surf with one goal: to catch something *big*. Armed with a heavy-duty rod and reel, fresh squid bait, and determination, Dax waded out to chest-high water,…

We know many are searching for ways to help our neighbors in central Texas who have been impacted by the floods over Fourth of July weekend. Through July 31, Texas First Bank will be collecting donations to help them recover and rebuild. Texas First will match your donation dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000. Donations will go…

By Elinor Tinsley Come join us on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Eagles 3719, for the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation’s presentation of Coastal Cowboys. We have two of our famous or infamous Cowboys, Bob Kahla and Lloyd Maxwell, who will entertain us with tales, poems and anecdotes as they share some of the instrumental…