The Tiki Man, as so many folks know him, is a Bolivar icon. Everyone traveling down the peninsula has seen his Tiki carvings on the side of the road. His real name is Kevin Kavanagh, and he began showing his artwork shortly after Hurricane Rita, working on the side of the road in Crystal Beach. And no, he didn’t name himself, “The Tiki Man”, it just evolved and
March, 2012
Kevin the TIKI MAN
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Amy’s Boutique and Gifts Ribbon Cutting, Mar 31
Amy’s Boutique and Gifts Grand Opening is Saturday, March 31st from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Ribbon cutting will be at 1:30. Everyone is welcome.
Amy’s is located in the Crystal Beach Plaza at 2275 Hwy 87 in Crystal Beach. CLICK HERE for flyer.
Maryanne Rogers running for County Commissioner
Maryanne Rogers is running for County Commissioner, Precinct 1, which includes Bolivar Peninsula. In the office above Pat’s Tires, with the cool breeze blowing in off the Gulf, we had the opportunity to sit down with Maryanne and talk about the upcoming campaign.
You are a long time resident of Bolivar?
I am a long time resident, 34 years, 28 years
Ghost Shrimp
Have you ever been fishing at the beach and you run out of bait? You wish you had live shrimp? Well, do as Jamie Greer does and capture Ghost Shrimp, using a special sand pump, called a “slurp gun”.
Look for the small burrow holes near the water’s edge…you’ve seen them before. Place the slurp gun over the burrow hole and pull the handle. The sand is sucked up
Juvenile Tarpon Information Requested
In accordance with the Southeastern Wildlife Conservation Group’s (SWCG-www.swcgroup.org) efforts in supporting the research & conservation efforts of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT-www.tarbone.org) on Tarpon and the fishery they support, we are requesting reports of juvenile tarpon populations from all States. These reports will be noted and used in habitat analysis and research that can
Funding from the Beach Sticker program
This information is brought to you by PENDECO (Peninsula Development Coalition)
Funding from the Sticker program is again being used to make improvements in beach services on the Bolivar Peninsula. For Fiscal Year 2011-2012, these are the proposed additional services from sticker fund:
2012 Gold Ribbon to Bolivar Schools
The Galveston County Health District’s annual presentation of “Gold Ribbon” awards to excellent food service operators in Galveston County will take place during a ceremony April 4th at 6:30 p.m. in the Wayne Johnson Community Center in La Marque.
Among the 2012 Gold Ribbon recipients are
Man Run Over By Upset Driver On Crystal Beach …yelled at another man for speeding on the beach.
High Island accepting applications for football coach with experience coaching at the six-man level.
Ferry gets stuck on mud flat for about 10 minutes before the captain was able to free the vessel
Jones leaves post as football coach at High Island “a good opportunity for High Island to get a coach that has six-man experience”
“Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Mitigation & Response” The SSPEED Center will be holding a major conference at Rice University.
Trash burn leads to arrest…trash fire in the 900 block of Moms Road in Crystal Beach
ATVs not allowed on state beaches…state law appears to ban their use on state beaches.
County redistricting effort no laughing matter…the feds felt like it diluted minority voting
Spring breakers stay close to home Crystal Beach businesses say they’re filling up faster than ever before.
Piles of dredging material found along beach…apparently coming from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway.
USACE removes debris from Rollover Pass to Galveston Causeway The corps is working to remove this debris, which includes siding, metal, rope and other items.
DOJ tosses county’s redistricting maps “The justice department said the county’s move to include the Bolivar Peninsula within Precinct 3 would decrease the minority vote as population returned to the Hurricane Ike-devastated peninsula.”
Advocates worry seismic blasts will harm endangered turtles…could drive turtles away before they reach beaches to nest.
High Island pond provides filling station for the birds Houston Audubon is buying water to fill pond
Ferry, seafood and mincemeats…car ferries operated by the Texas Department of Transportation
Rollover Pass advocates battling channel’s closure to the end “We’re going to use everything in our power to keep it open…”
Rollover pass might be history in 30 days all good things must come to an end
Deputies unable to learn how log reached dune the heavy piece of driftwood reached the sand dune
The Primary Election date is in “limbo” …litigation related to redistricting
The pride of High Island: Discovering the lost Sea View Hotel
Did driftwood log arrive on dune by tide? …by Mother Nature or by other means
Forgotten wells reappear after Ike sweeps away sand, old capped wellheads were sticking up on the beach near High Island
Rolling log kills boy on Crystal Beach when a driftwood log rolled down from a sand dune and struck him
New Report Looks toward Upper Texas Gulf Coast to Attract Visitors, Boost Business, and Create Jobs for Texas
Research facility to host turtle tour facility raises captive sea turtles for fisheries research
Mardi Gras parades: Not just for Galveston anymore Oldest celebration off Galveston Island belongs to Lighthouse Krewe
Corps of Engineers awards contract to dredge Intracoastal Waterway from Rollover Pass to Galveston Causeway
Free Galveston ferry delights Texas travelers…may be the best tourist bargain in the Lone Star State.
Students propose designs for levee…that would span from Freeport to High Island.
Texas’ Version of the Staten Island Ferry…the free ferry service between Port Bolivar and Galveston.
Eroding the dream: Hailed by fishermen, the Rollover Fish Pass is a nightmare for homeowners
Study finds Gulf Coast storm buffer would create jobs…triple tourism and quadruple its economic impact.
Legends of the Gulf Coast opens Jan. 27…see pirates as well as ghosts in historic downtown Galveston.
To collect debt, FEMA takes part of Ike victim’s Social Security…”I had no idea they could do that, just haul off and do it…”
On Texas coast, there’s a place and tax dollars worth saving
Pat’s Tires on the rebound…destroyed by Hurricane Ike, but owners Maryanne and Pat Rogers rebuilt the company.
EDITORIAL: Keep Bolivar ferry free
101 Things to Love about Galveston County…#61. The historic lighthouse on Bolivar Peninsula.
Legal challenge planned to keep Rollover Pass…“We’ll file a lawsuit,” Ted Vega, president of GCA, said.
State announces plans for Rollover Pass
Wrongful death suit filed over PA fireman’s fall from beach house balcony…(local business named in lawsuit)
Bill Graber, Bolivar Peninsula bird count every year for the past 50 years
“Hurricane Ike: Images from the Debris Field”…(a portfolio of Richard Allen Ashmore’s photos)
Stingaree to mark 25 years with ’80s prices
Top TWIA officials leave with tens of thousands in severance pay…one driving away with a 2010 Ford pickup truck.
Purple Martins
(Mar-27-2012) My Mother’s Day present from 2010 has lived in the living room for 2 years. It finally made it’s way out to the yard where the Purple Martins can find it easily and take up residence. Unfortunately, the sparrows found it first and have nested in the bottom two apartments. I posted this dilemma on the Bolivar blog, and have been assured the Purple Martins will indeed take over and
God bless Texas with His own hand
(Mar-27-2012) Can’t imagine living where I am not happy, and although I know a lot of people are forced to live somewhere other than their own choice, I am grateful to God every day of my life for letting me call Texas home. That’s a big mouthful considering I was born and reared in Georgia and never thought I’d love any other state the way I do “the Peach State.” Moving here some dozen years ago,
Now Where Did I Put That!
(Mar-27-2012) 
If your beach house is like most, you never have enough storage. Here are some “found” spaces that can really help with those problems but also will add to the overall architectural look of your home. The area between your interior walls is approximatley 4 inches. This space can be used in a number of ways one being extra storage in the bath. In the first picture this area was built out a little and lined with wood. By making use of the 16” two by fours
Public Meeting to discuss Seismic Project, Mar 28
Samson Energy Company, LLC will offer an informational session to present and discuss its 3D Seismic Survey being conducted in the area. The meeting will be held at Stingaree Restaurant on March 28, 2012 at 6:30. Residents are invited to join Samson Energy Company representatives for Complimentary Drinks and Appetizers from 6pm-8pm.
Click for PRESS RELEASE
Rollover Pass Fishing Pictures Week Ending March 24, 2012
Rollover Pass Fishing Pictures Week Ending March 24, 2012
Fishing and Tide Report Mar-26-2012
By Ed Snyder/Outdoors
Summary: The Black Drum run is in full swing now with anglers catching lots of keeper-eater drum to 27inches- March rains caused heavy brackish tides this last week but bay waters salting back up to normal salinity levels for improved fishing tides.
Michael and Brittany wed at beach ceremony
You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Saturday, Michael (from LaPorte) and Brittany (from Lucerne Valley, CA) tied the knot. This wonderful event was attended by 50+ friends and family. The wedding was held at A Sea Glass Estate, formerly known as Casa Blanca Bed & Breakfast. Pictured is the Groom escorting his Mother, Christy Newman (L) and the Mother of the Bride, Susan Speer. Also pictured,
Alligator Scare
We are in the process of building a beach house in Crystal Beach. On our way back home to Oklahoma City, we were driving on HIghway 124, towards Winnie, when traffic came to a stop. Then we realized there was an “alligator” in the middle of the highway. We had to take a picture, cause we didn’t think any one would believe us. I didn’t realize Texas had alligators. When my husband rolled down the window to take the picture, he said the alligator was agressive and darted towards our tire. I guess he really wanted to cross the highway, and we were in his way:) This was definitely exciting and made for interesting conversation for our drive home. (Monica Woods)
Blast your bait to where the big fish are
by Georgia Osten
We spent many days on the beach watching our friend Hugh fishing for bull reds. He would kayak out several hundred yards, drop his bait, then kayak back in, never taking his eyes off his rod planted in the sand at the water’s edge. Well, Hugh, the latest in “getting your bait out there” has surfaced. Meet Donald Currier, the “bait shooting cowboy”.
From Liz Sanders
There once was a walker named G.O.
From her house she will walk a stones throw
To find treasured sharks teeth
She just scoops sand beneath
And looks for a shiny black glow.
$5300 and Counting!
Wow Bolivar, You really know how to show support! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Kailey and Mckail have raised with your help $5300 so far. Their goal is $9000 by June 1st. Do you think they might make it? Let’s keep them going, keep them in our prayers Bolivar! These girls are an excellent example of the promising youth and our country’s future! They will proudly represent Texas as
My Take on “The Big Year”
by Jim Stevenson
Many people have asked me about this movie and Liz and I finally sat down and watched it Monday night. So, here are my thoughts, for what they’re worth…
First, it is an entertaining movie with big-name actors, good, clean humor and a relatively decent plot. For those reasons alone, I would recommend it for
Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Cub Scouts
An Easter Egg Hunt will be EASTER DAY @ Noon 4/8/2012, hosted by Cub Scout Troup 102. The Cub Scouts will be helping the easter bunny hide eggs. At the event, the Cub Scouts will be helping the younger kids (under 4 yrs) find their easter eggs. There will be two age groups trying to find eggs. The little kids 4 and under will hunt in one area and the older kids ages 5 and up will hunt
Fantasea BBQ re-open date, April 20
Fantasea BBQ & Grill will reopen Friday, April 20th. Hours will be Thursday 11-6 pm, Friday 11-8 pm, Saturday 11-10 pm (Karaoke 6-10 pm), and Sunday 11-4 pm.
Tropical Accents Celebrating Earth Day, April 21
Hosting Creative Denim Drive
There are lots of ways to help save the planet, but Tropical Accents has certainly come up with one of the most fun and creative ways to do this! On April 21, this store specializing in unique gifts for every occasion, will sponsor a denim drive that is sure to have people of all ages “taking their pants off for the planet.” Simply bring in a pair of jeans and you will receive…
Samson Energy brings Jane Long Memorial closer to reality
Thanks to a generous donation by Samson Energy, the long awaited and much anticipated Jane Long Memorial is closer to reality. The memorial will be part of the Bolivar Gateway Project to be located at the entrance to Fort Travis Seashore Park, just off Hwy 87 near Port Bolivar, approximately one mile from
Listening with the heart
(Mar-20-2012) As a writer for many years, I have tried to learn to listen with my heart when people speak. What I mean by that statement is I want to hear more than just the words people are saying to me. One can learn a lot by facial expressions, sound of the tone chosen, and points of emphasis. The same exact words can seem so different in print or when spoken verbally and clearly in love, in hate, or somewhere in between. Often, when the same thoughts are put into print, they can seem cold, harsh, or critical, when perhaps, the intent was not meant to be
Ah Texas
(Mar-20-2012) What a difference from last year, with the drought and lack of wildflowers. This year, they’re popping up in all the familiar places. Bluebonnets, Evening Primroses, Indian Paintbrush, Mexican Hat, Blue Eyed Grass, what a plethora of delightful sights. I’m curious to know what the yellow flowers are called. They’re so prominent here on the peninsula, somewhat like a morning glory. It seems they can grow without any moisture whatsoever. Enjoy the flowers and try not to destroy, they only last a month or so. I suppose this means Spring is finally here at last!
