Welcome to this week’s edition of Curranomics® from the Crystal Beach Investor Center. With me being busy preparing for Christmas this past weekend, today’s report is going to be slightly shorter than usual. TL/DR (Too Long/Didn’t Read) Summary: Main news was the much previously discussed Federal Reserve rate cut, which, as expected, was announced on…

Everyone who drives a car has seen this warning on the back of emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks: Keep Back 500 Feet. That doesn’t mean you have to stay back 500 feet all the time- just when the vehicle is responding to an emergency. Ships and boats don’t display such signs, but there are valid…

Surface water temperature is 57 degrees. The water clarity is still good for the majority of East Galveston Bay. The trout bite has remained steady, catching good numbers and some oversize fish as well on our artificial only trips. The ticket has been bouncing tails right on the bottom (very slowly) over deeper shell with…

I hope you’ve all been Nice and Not Naughty. Rumor has it that the Jolly Ol’ Elf Himself will be gracing our little community this next week. He’s scheduled to be arriving in high fashion all around town. The Eagles, The Big Store, What to my wondering eyes should appear Santa & one of his…

This week in history is a dramatic intersection of foundational American moments, pivotal military conflicts, and leaps in human innovation. The week begins with colonial and massive strides in mobility and space. Significant U.S. constitutional history was also made, while the nation saw its first state secession. December 16 December 17 December 18 December 19…

Maintaining a 20+ acre public park is a monumental task, requiring dedication, specialized equipment, and countless hours of labor. This year-round obligation involves everything from weekly summertime mowing—a necessity in the lush Texas climate—to constant trimming and the meticulous upkeep of all machinery. But Swedes Park, a community green space, is managed not by a…

The calendar may have changed weeks ago, but Crystal Beach is wearing its true winter coat. On a cold, breezy morning—the kind that tugs at your collar—the change from the heat-soaked days of summer is starkly evident in the desolate landscape. On the sandy shore, the silence is profound. Looking south toward Galveston and north…

Welcome to this week’s edition of Curranomics® from the Crystal Beach Investor Center. TL/DR (Too Long/Didn’t Read) Summary: Fairly uneventful week in the end. Most assets are basically where they were seven days ago, except US bond yields, which are up. Stocks/Equities: All indices slightly up. Gold/Silver: Gold basically level, silver up slightly. Cryptocurrency: A…

The Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest-running community science bird survey in the world, administered by the National Audubon Society.The primary purpose is to collect data on the population, status, and distribution of birds in the Western Hemisphere during the early winter. The CBC is held annually from December 14 to January 5,…

Every state has one — that catchy, sometimes confusing nickname that shows up on license plates, souvenirs, and state fair banners. From “The Lone Star State” to “The Nutmeg State,” these nicknames capture everything from geography and history to pure local pride. But not all of them make sense… and some are just plain weird.…

It is not enough to just own a boat; you must have your papers with you.  It’s no different from driving a car. You have to have your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance to drive a car. Let’s look at the papers you are required to have when operating a boat. Boat Registration…

A Strange, Slightly Hilarious Moment in Modern ArtJust when you think you’ve seen everything in the world of high-end art, South Florida delivers something so bizarre, so wonderfully unhinged, that it forces you to stop, blink twice, and ask, “Is that… Jeff Bezos’ face on a robot dog?” Yes. Yes, it is. At this year’s…

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry signed an order that terminates the burn ban issued by the County on October 21, 2025. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) average for Galveston County was 395 on December 2nd, 2025. The KBDI scale ranges from 0 to 800, with 800 representing extremely dry conditions. Additional rainfall is expected this…

I’ve always said, “I love the cold weather!” I guess that was before my body changed it’s internal temperature. Does a body do stuff like that? I keep the heater in my office on all the time! I never put my winter clothes away; I may wear a sweatshirt to work even in August. I’ve…

The week of December 9th through the 15th is significant in American history, bookended by colonial milestones and culminating in the ratification of the nation’s foundational rights. This period highlights moments of political firsts, critical war decisions, and major constitutional developments, including the establishment of the Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court’s role in…

From Houston High-Rise to Coastal Heart When Shauna Williams first stepped onto Bolivar Peninsula as a permanent resident, she did not arrive with a grand blueprint or perfectly polished business plan. She arrived with grit, instinct, and a deep love for retail. What has unfolded since then is a story that feels perfectly at home…

The annual Bolivar Christmas Market at Swedes Park was a huge success this past Saturday, officially kicking off the holiday season on the peninsula! Despite the cool and breezy day, the atmosphere was warm, joyful, and filled with festive spirit. Shoppers started arriving promptly at 10:00 am, eager to browse the offerings from nearly two…

By Linda ElissaldeLamar University was born as South Park Junior College in 1923 with 125 students. In 1932 it became Lamar Junior College to honor “Father of Texas Education” Mirabeau B. Lamar. Lamar State College of Technology, the first junior college in Texas to become a state supported four-year institution, occurred in 1951. Gilbert Rhodes…

Let’s talk about the polar vortex in simple terms. It sounds like a superhero name, but it’s really just a big, fast-moving circle of air that spins around the North Pole high up in the sky. When this circle of wind is strong and healthy, it acts like a fence, keeping all the super-cold Arctic…

I hope all my American recipients had an enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving this week. The US financial markets were closed all day Thursday and half a day on Friday. We’ve since erected our Christmas Tree (all three feet of it) and started watching the classic British sitcom hour long Christmas specials. I love December. TL/DR…