This is a static archive of CrystalBeachLocalNews.com taken on October 30, 2024.
To get the most up-to-date news and information regarding Crystal Beach, visit CrystalBeach.com.

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KidFish Excitement

Young Anglers Make Waves at Stingaree Marina
The 2024 Hardhead Haul-In, part of the Saltwater Slam Fishing Tournament, brought together young anglers for a day of fun and friendly competition at Stingaree Marina. With beautiful sunny weather setting the stage, over 100 excited kids lined the dock, rods in hand, ready to make their catch. Participants fished from

A Flavor-Packed Day of Competition

The aroma of Cajun cooking filled the air as the 2024 edition of Brad & Big Rich’s Cajun Chef Cookoff took center stage. With a picture-perfect day setting the scene, six cook teams began firing up their pots and grills at 7:00 am, ready to showcase their culinary skills in three fierce categories: Bloody Mary, Seafood Gumbo, and Chef’s Choice. Teams competed for more than just trophies

2024 Saltwater Slam Fishing Tournament

Anglers Compete for Cash Prizes and Glory
The 2024 Saltwater Slam Fishing Tournament, presented by Jorgensen Marine, brought together anglers from across the region for a thrilling day on the water. With 25 teams competing for top honors, the event featured a total prize purse that awarded $2,000 to the first-place winners, as well as cash prizes for second and

How to Properly Display the Texas Flag

And Not Upset Your Texan Neighbors
The Texas flag is a symbol of pride, independence, and—let’s face it—Texas-sized attitude. But like all things Texan, there’s a right way to do it. So, if you’ve ever wondered whether you’re flying the Lone Star flag correctly, let’s clear up a few things (and avoid those disapproving looks from your neighbors).

BYC supports Lighthouse Foundation

Jim Denys, Commodore of the Bolivar Yacht Club, presenting a check to Amy Maxwell Chase, Executive Director of the Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation, from funds raised at the 2024 Hardheads Bolivar Rig Run.

The Anne Willis Fall Classic

Perfect Weather and Fun Competitions Highlight Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament
On Friday, the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament took place under perfect “Chamber of Commerce” weather, with sunny skies and a gentle breeze. A total of 38 golfers registered for the event, kicking off their day with complimentary breakfast tacos,

It’s Fall Y’all!

By Elinor Tinsley
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the day before Fall began, the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation and a host of others brought in Fall with a bang at their annual Fall Arts & Crafts Fair out at Swedes Pavilion. What a great time was had by all, with perfect weather, lots of vendor items to choose from, chili cheese dogs by

Coastal Texas Project (IKE Dike)

The Coastal Texas Project includes a combination of coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration projects that function as a system to reduce the risk of coastal storm surge damages to our coastal communities and vitally important industries, and to restore degraded coastal ecosystems. Focused on redundancy and robustness, the Coastal Texas Project provides increased resiliency

The Party Never Ends

By Linda Elissalde
Back in the early 2000s Lori and Doug Considine decided to host a little end of summer gathering for Crystal Canal neighbors. It turned out that Lori’s dad Dan Hafner happened to have a birthday in August. Why not combine the two events? That is just what they did. A group gathered to party at the same time; same place for

Bolivar the Ferry Dog

A Heartwarming Rescue Story
On a seemingly ordinary day on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, a heartwarming rescue unfolded that captured the hearts of many. A stray dog, later named Bolivar, was spotted swimming away from the ferry landing, a place he frequented but was not allowed to stay. The dog was one of many unfortunate animals abandoned on

Golf Cart Poker Run donates to Local Schools and Firefighters

The annual Golf Cart Poker Run is a beloved event in our community, known for bringing together locals and visitors alike for a day of fun, games, and giving back. This year was no exception, as the event raised over $44,000 to support our local schools and brave volunteer firefighters. On Friday night, event organizers proudly presented checks to representatives from

Italy’s Blue Crab Invasion

Blue crab invasion upends Italy’s culinary traditions and ecology.
Blue crabs crossed the Atlantic as stowaways in the ballast water on large ships, and with no natural predators they’re overtaking Italy’s marine ecosystem. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, female blue crabs produce up to 8 million eggs

Fantastic Journeys: Shorebirds

Shorebirds are the undisputed marathon champions among migratory birds. About 20 species of shorebirds have been recorded making nonstop flights longer than 5,000 kilometers, or 3,100 miles—about the distance from Boston to San Francisco. No other species of migratory bird has been recorded completing a nonstop flight longer than 4,000 km. The longest known

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Galveston County Emergency Services District #2 Purchases a New Fire Truck for Crystal Beach VFD
The residents of Crystal Beach can rest a little easier knowing that their local fire department has just received a major upgrade. Last week, the Galveston County Emergency Services District #2 (GCESD #2) proudly delivered a brand-new pumper tanker fire truck to the

COC meets with TxDOT, GLO, and County


Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting with officials from Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Texas General Land Office (GLO) and Galveston County on Monday to discuss various issues relating to highway projects and beach improvements on Bolivar. Highlights of the meeting include:

Chernobyl aftermath

By Elinor Tinsley
The Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation would like to thank all of you that were able to come out for Dr. Ron Chesser’s presentation, The Aftermath of the Chernobyl Explosion, last Wednesday, August 21,2024 at the Eagles. Attendance was good but probably a little less than it could have been due to the rescheduling from

Blue Skies and Colorful Sails

By Jim Denys
Commodore, Bolivar Yacht Club
The 2024 Hardheads Bolivar RIG RUN was huge success with 59 registered boats for the largest Beach Catamaran race on the Texas Gulf Coast. What makes this race so special is the Open Class Competition, meaning different size boats can compete using the

Sea Turtle Heroes

The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research recently held its “End of the Year Nesting Season” party. Sea Aggie Sea Turtle Patrollers enjoyed getting together at Galveston Island Brewing, which is a partner of the GCSTR. Honorees of the Sea Turtle Conservation Hero Awards included Crystal Beach residents Casey Reid, Karen and Ron Anderson, and Terry Trahan. These individuals made

TPWD Releases 1 Billionth Fish into Texas Waters

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Coastal Fisheries Division released the billionth hatchery-produced fingerling into Texas coastal waters. The fish was raised by TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Enhancement Program as part of a decades-long effort by the department to ensure coastal fisheries are sustainable and abundant for generations to come. Billie the Billionth, a name suggested

Sunshine and Excitement at the Annual Bolivar Peninsula Golf Cart Poker Run

Saturday brought sunshine and endless excitement as the Annual Bolivar Peninsula Golf Cart Poker Run kicked off its engines. Participants embarked on a beach parade of golf carts, creating a festive atmosphere that captivated everyone in attendance. The festivities commenced at Jose’s Cantina, where an enthusiastic gathering of over 500 poker players checked in and drew their initial

Something Wacky This Way Comes

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Otherwise Lovely Day at the Beach Gets Punctuated by Reckless Rollover
By J. Lee Austin, MD
It was a stereotypical, sweltering summer day on the Texas Redneck Riviera. High overhead were intermittent stratus clouds faking the brain into believing its exposed epidermis was not getting sunburned into that familiar vermillion shade of over-cooked tourist. Driving down

The Spirit of Jane Long

By Linda Elissalde
Bolivar Peninsula has withstood many attacks. Many of them come from really, really bad weather. One of those who became a symbol of the strength and resilience of our peninsula is Jane Long. Thanks to the Spirit of Jane Long Anne Willis and Margo Johnson many more folk know about her. A major part of Jane’s story

The Texas Navy: A Brief History

The Texas Navy played a crucial role in the fight for Texas independence from Mexico. It was formed in November 1835 by the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas, primarily to protect the coastline and disrupt Mexican supply lines. This decision came in response to increasing hostilities and the need for a naval force to support the Texan struggle for

BVM Beach Ministry

By Elinor Tinsley
On the 20th of July, a beautiful Bolivar Peninsula morning, three golf carts set out to spread the love of Jesus, one VBS bag at a time. Bay Vue Methodist Church has had no regular children since COVID, but that doesn’t stop the church and the Bay Vue Methodist Women from organizing something for the kids on our peninsula, whether

Firecracker Shootout Ignites Enthusiasm

Under the hot, sunny skies of Crystal Beach, eleven 2-man teams gathered for the Firecracker Shootout Golf Tournament at The Ranch. The new tournament format brought fresh excitement to the players as they teed off on Saturday morning. Playing a scramble for the first nine holes, the competition was tough, and each team’s strategy was tested against the course. After the initial

Crystal Beach Celebrates

The annual 4th of July parade at Crystal Beach once again dazzled attendees with its vibrant display of patriotism. Under sunny skies, a packed beach buzzed with excitement as golf carts, adorned in red, white, and blue, rolled down the sandy parade route. Stars and stripes were everywhere, with even Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam making appearances. Onlookers lined the beach, eagerly awaiting

Fireworks Light Up Bolivar on the 4th

Bolivar Peninsula transforms into a vibrant wonderland of light and sound on the 4th of July. Fireworks displays dazzle beachgoers up and down the coastline, continuing well into the wee hours of the night. Locals and visitors alike flock to the numerous fireworks stands scattered across the peninsula, stocking up on everything from firecrackers and rockets to roman candles and

In Memory of Rishi Moghe and Alex Torres

On Wednesday, 5 June, Black & Veatch professionals Rishi Moghe and Alex Torres were fatally injured near a project site in Bolivar, Texas. Both were based in BV’s office in Houston, Texas, where they were admired and respected by their fellow employee-owners.

Rishi Moghe worked for BV for more than

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