Bay City Magazine

MAGAZINE Bay City

July/August 2023

THE DREAM TEAM

Local sisters planning company

THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MURALS

Meet Zeniab Ghais

GET TO KNOW OFFICER HLAVINKA

Find out what food he was tricked into eating

Editor's Note

Our founding fathers held these truths close to their chest when establishing the United States of America — that all men are created equal, with unalienable rights and among those rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Maybe at the time those words were more relevant and aimed towards freeing the 13 colonies from oppression of British rule, but I feel those sentiments are more relevant than ever in our time. Let’s remember and reflect on these words as we celebrate America’s 247th birthday.

Life: the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change preceding death

Liberty: the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior or political views

Happiness: the state of being happy, feeling or showing pleasure or contentment

These words make up the very meaning of being an American. The fourth of July is a day we enjoy with our family and friends and celebrate with our trusty barbecue pit and grand fireworks, as John Adams himself would approve of. In a letter to his wife, Abigail, he wrote, “I am apt to believe that it will be a day celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival – it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”

And so, it is. Let’s celebrate this fourth of July with pride in our country for the obstacles overcome and still to come. Let’s remember the price paid for our freedom from those who protect us, and never forget the rights granted to us by being Americans.

Ashley Brooking Managing Editor, Bay City Tribune

Bay City

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Editorial

Ashley Brooking

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Local sisters become planning partners

Two sisters native to Bay City are quickly becoming one of the most talked about duos in town for their taste in décor and planning. Madison Mcdonald Nies and Bryanna McDonald Ramirez launched company Dream Team Events & Planning in 2022 and aim to provide stress free event planning for brides, moms to be and everything in between.

Nies said she discovered her passion for event planning by accident while planning her wedding and helping friends with their bridal and baby showers. “I come from a family of five girls total and starting in 2018 the first of us got engaged and married,” Nies said. “From then there’s been so many bridal and baby showers and I would naturally take charge in coordinating and hosting. Not only did I love it, but I was getting so many compliments — it just felt natural to continue doing it and start a brand.”

Nies graduated from Bay City High School in 2013 and left for college to Harden Simmons University in Abilene on an academic scholarship. After graduating in 2016 with a bachelor’s in business administration in

accounting she came home to Bay City to work at South Texas Project. While there she met her husband Rob, and they wed in 2019. Together they share son Ren, 3, and daughter Vivian, 2.

“I’m so excited to be alongside my sister Maddie on this venture of party planning and decorating,” Ramirez said. “Maddie has always had an eye for design whether that be in fashion or decorating parties or homes. She’s really impressed me since starting this business a year ago in how well she’s planned and executed each event. The opportunity to work with her sort of fell into my lap. She needed help, and I’m the kind of person who can’t say no. Once I started helping, it became fun for me to help each client realize their vision. I’m always doing research on how to better improve our skills and business.”

Ramirez graduated from Bay City High School in 2011 and left for college to UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry to become a dental hygienist. She married husband Antonio in 2018 and together they share sons Beckett, 3, and Rhett, 8 months.

The pair are scheduled to coordinate several weddings and children’s birthday parties later this year with a variety of events under their belt already including Van Vleck Superintendent John O’Brien’s retirement party, graduation parties, and several birthday parties for adults and children alike.

For more information on the company and sisters, visit their webpage dreamteamplanning.com or Facebook Dream Team Events & Planning, LLC.

Meet the local artist behind many of the murals and paintings around town

Zeinab Ghais

A self-professed “Jill of all trades” Ghais dabbles in artwork, home renovations, historical preservation and teaching. Her most recent commissioned mural on Bay City’s downtown square features the 2018 Guinness World Record winner for the longest horns, longhorn Sato. Sato resides in Bay City with owners Scott and Pam Evans, who have been raising longhorn for the last 28 years. Her works of Sato and recent mural tribute to the Luther Hotel in Palacios honor the rich history of Matagorda County.

Ghais graduated from the Savannah College of Art and

Design in Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in furniture design with a minor in art history and returned to Bay City to work on her craft and passion for art.

She’s currently working on spreading wings across Matagorda County, quite literally. So far, she’s painted a pair of golden angel wings, rainbow wings, Buzz Lightyear wings and lace wings in Bay City.

“I’d really like to get commissioned to paint wings in all cities and territories in the county,” Ghais said. “Matagorda is well known for its birding and what better way to represent the county than with wings?”

You can find her teaching art classes at the Sanford Community Center or City by the Sea Museum in Palacios, working on spreading wing paintings across the county, renovating home interiors or working with the Community Actors of South Texas (C.A.S.T).

The artist also has a passion for commemorating other painters work and will participate in the celebration of Matagorda County artist Gene Geeslin’s work at an after-hours artist reception at Fat Grass Restaurant and Bar on June 28 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Geeslin passed away in 2008 and had his first exhibit posthumously this year at the City by the Sea Museum from February to March.

For more information on Ghais, her work and upcoming projects check out her website at studio-zg.com or Facebook Studio ZG.

Meet Bay City Police Department Officer Hlavinka

What is your title? Officer

How long have you been an officer? 3 years

What made you sign up to be an officer? Brotherhood in the workplace

Are you the first officer in your family? Yes

What is/was your proudest moment? The birth of my son

What’s your favorite thing about your career? Everything is different.

What did you want to be when you were little? A Marine

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Go camping

What’s the best advice you could give to someone? Don't be afraid to cut people out of your life if they keep you from being the best "you".

What's the last book you read? Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

What’s your favorite movie? Why? Gladiator, it's a perfect movie.

What’s your favorite sport? Baseball

What’s most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten? Dog, it was in India and a street vendor tricked me into eating it. What song best sums you up? Country Boy by Arron Lewis

On a scale of 1-10 how funny would you say you are? 8

What says fourth of July more than hotdogs, watermelon and bomb pops? In this edition’s recipe corner, you’re going to find these American staples with a twist. We’ve got bomb pop cocktails, hot dogs with crispy fried onions on top and watermelon jazzed up with tajin and lime juice just in time for National Watermelon Month. Check these recipes out and report back to us on your faves.

Red, white and blue, have we got a treat for you. Looking for a refreshing, festive cocktail for the fourth of July? We’ve got you covered. With just a few ingredients you’ll be reliving your childhood popsicle dreams in no time, minus the stained shirt and tongue.

Red, White and Blue Cocktail

Here’s what you’ll need:

12 ounces Mike’s Hard Lemonade

2 ounces Blue Raspberry Vodka

2 ounces Grenadine

Ice

Optional: Mini Bomb Pop popsicles

Pour one ounce of grenadine into a tall glass. Try to pour the grenadine into the center of the glass so it doesn’t get on the side of the glass. We’re laying the cocktail to have distinct borders of red, white and blue.

Carefully fill the glass with ice and then pour in half a bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. There should be about one inch left at the top of the glass. The grenadine should stay at the

bottom of the glass since it’s heavier and thicker than the hard lemonade.

Again, very carefully layer the blue raspberry vodka on top of the Mike’s Hard Lemonade layer. To do this, you can use a pour spout if you’ve got one on hand or flip a spoon over and slowly pour the vodka over the rounded portion of the spoon.

Optional: Garnish with a mini Bomb Pop popsicle (Good luck finding them, it’s always a mad hunt for them this time of year)

There you have it, a grown-up Bomb Pop with an actual treat inside the glass. To make this version alcohol free, swap the hard lemonade for regular lemonade and use blue raspberry Kool-Aid instead of the blue raspberry vodka.

I must confess, I got this recipe idea from a local food truck. You may have heard of them, they’re kind of a big deal, Real Deal Grill that is. During a recent trip to market days around the square I tried a beast of a dog called “Son of a Piggenstein.” It’s a hotdog topped with crispy fried onions and barbeque pulled pork. I haven’t stopped salivating over it, and it’s been a few weeks….

Here’s me attempting to recreate the dish at home and hoping you’ll like it as much as I do.

Pulled Pork Hotdogs

Here’s what you’ll need:

Fully Cooked Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce

Original Crispy Fried Onions

1 pack Hotdogs

Hotdog buns

*Optional: Mustard

Grill your dogs on the pit for a nice char. If you have a pulled pork recipe, bust it out and take the time to make it. Me personally? I’m going to follow the directions on the reheatable fully cooked pulled pork with bbq Sauce. Once the hotdogs are done cooking, top them with the pulled pork, and fried onions. I prefer my dogs with mustard, but to each their own. Use the condiments of your choice.

Sweet and Spicy Watermelon

In honor of National Watermelon Month in July, what better way to celebrate than with — you guessed it — freshly cut watermelon. It’s the fruit of summer that will keep you hydrated and full. Packed with water, fiber and antioxidants it’s also the fruit that won’t hurt your waistline.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Ripe Watermelon

Sharp butcher knife

Cutting board

Tajin Seasoning

2 limes

*Optional: Chamoy

Cut up the watermelon into cubes and toss in a large bowl. Into the bowl, squeeze two limes and toss. Sprinkle a healthy shake of Tajin seasoning over the top. Wait five minutes, and dig in. For an optional tang, add in a drizzle of Chamoy. It’s a condiment made of dried chilies, lime juice, and mango, it adds a little sweet and sour zing to any fruit.

Fiction: This Time Tomorrow

by Emma Straub

On the eve of her fortieth birthday, Alice’s life isn’t terrible. She likes her job, even if it isn’t exactly the one she expected. She’s happy with her apartment, her romantic status, and her independence, and she adores her lifelong best friend. But her father is ailing, and it feels to her as if something is missing. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds herself back in 1996, reliving her sixteenth birthday. But it isn’t just her adolescent body that shocks her, or seeing her high school crush—it’s her dad, the vital, charming, forty-something version of her father with whom she is reunited. Now armed with a new perspective on her own life and his, some past events take on new meaning. Is there anything that she would change if she could?

Youth: An American Story by Kwame

Alexander

From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people's struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament to the resilience of the African American community, this book honors what has been and envisions what is to be.

With stunning mixed-media illustrations by newcomer Dare Coulter, this is a potent book for those who want to speak the truth. Perfect for family sharing, the classroom, and homeschooling.

"Check out" these books suggested by the Bay City Public Library

Nonfiction: Code Name Blue Wren

by Jim Popkin

Just days after the 9-11 attacks, a senior Pentagon analyst eased her red Toyota Echo into traffic and headed to work. She never saw the undercover cars tracking her every turn. As she settled into her cubicle on the 6th floor of the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, FBI Agents and twitchy DIA officers were hiding in nearby offices. For this was the day that Ana Montes--the US Intelligence Community superstar who had just won a prestigious fellowship at the CIA--was to be arrested and publicly exposed as a secret agent for Cuba.

Like spies Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen before her, Ana Montes blindsided her colleagues with brazen acts of treason. For nearly 17 years, Montes succeeded in two high-stress jobs. By day, she was one of the government’s top Cuba experts, a buttoneddown GS-14 with shockingly easy access to classified documents. By night, she was on the clock for Fidel Castro, listening to coded messages over shortwave radio, passing US secrets to handlers in local restaurants, and slipping into Havana wearing a wig. Montes didn’t just deceive her country. Her betrayal was intensely personal. Her mercurial father was a former US Army Colonel. Her brother and sister-in-law were FBI Special Agents. And her only sister, Lucy, also worked her entire career for the Bureau. The highlight of her distinguished 31 years as a Miami-based language specialist: Helping the FBI flush Cuban spies out of the United States. Little did Lucy or her family know that the greatest Cuban spy of all was sitting right next to them at Thanksgivings, baptisms, and weddings.

In Code Name Blue Wren, investigative journalist Jim Popkin weaves the tale of two sisters who chose two very different paths, plus the unsung heroes who had to fight to bring Ana to justice. With exclusive access to a “Secret” CIA behavioral profile of Ana, family memoirs, and Ana’s incriminating letters from prison, Popkin reveals the making of a traitor—a woman labelled “one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history” by America’s top counter-intelligence official.

Teen: The Love Match

By Ella Cerón

Lola Espinoza is cursed in love. Well, maybe not actually cursed — magic isn't real, is it? When Lola goes to spend the summer with her grandmother in Mexico City and meets handsome, flirtatious Rio, she discovers the unbelievable truth: Magic is very real, and what she'd always written off as bad luck is actually, truly . . . a curse. If Lola ever wants to fall in love without suffering the consequences, she'll have to break the curse. She finds an unlikely curse-breaking companion in Javi, a seemingly stoic boy she meets while working in her cousin's restaurant. Javi is willing to help Lola look into this family curse of hers, and Lola needs all the help she can get. Over the course of one summer — filled with food, family, and two very different boys — Lola explores Mexico City while learning about herself, her heritage, and the magic around us all.

4 strategies to enrich your child’s vocabulary

Does your child tend to use the same language repeatedly in their homework and writing assignments? Do they typically employ commonplace words like “be” and “do” rather than looking for more precise, evocative words? Here are four tactics you can use to help your child build a rich vocabulary.

1. ASK QUESTIONS THAT PROMOTE DISCUSSION

Open-ended questions enable your child to learn and incorporate more words into their vocabulary. For example, try repla-

cing “Did you have a nice day?” with “What did you do during recess today?”

2. ENCOURAGE ALL TYPES OF READING

Reading daily, whether it’s magazines, comic books, novels or newspaper articles, can help your child integrate new words into their vocabulary. Encourage them to look up definitions when they encounter new words.

3. USE PICTURES TO REINFORCE NEW WORDS

Sometimes a definition isn’t enough to enable your child to fully incorporate a word’s meaning into their understanding and ability to use it. If your child encounters a word that causes them to struggle, help them create images to make the word more memorable.

4. FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH RESOURCES

Give your child an extra boost by teaching them to use dictionaries and thesauruses to familiarize them with synonyms and homonyms. Teach them to explore semantics to help them make deeper connections between words.

There are so many entertaining ways to help your child diversify their vocabulary. Explore games, movies and documentaries, and try researching and writing about subjects your child is excited about. Keep their interest piqued and keep it fun!

Physical activity and learning: a winning combination

Did you know that healthy lifestyle habits have a positive impact on children’s academic success? Staying active is one of them.

The brain benefits from physical exercise in several ways. Activity optimizes brain oxygenation, which helps maintain proper function. Additionally, it delivers a steady supply of glucose to the brain, which is essential to concentration. Physical activity also stimulates areas of the brain linked to memory and learning, making it absorb new concepts more efficiently. In short, it ensures the brain is fully prepared to learn.

Playing sports also has a positive effect on physical fitness, like increased strength and improved motor skills and coordination. Playing sports can also increase feelings of well-being and improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. Additionally, staying active helps your child develop a sense of belonging in school activities.

4 tips to help your child memorize concepts by heart

In school, your child will have to memorize a variety of concepts by heart, including multiplication tables, historical dates and vocabulary lists. Here are four tips to help your child make easy work of memorization.

1. CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT’S CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING

Eliminate distractions and avoid temptation by turning off noisy devices and tidying up your child’s study space. This will help optimize their concentration so they can achieve good results.

2. START WITH COMPREHENSION

Understanding the underlying ideas is critical for memorization in school and at home. When it comes time to memorize a concept — in science, for example — first ask your child to explain what they understand in their own words. If they don’t seem to understand the basics, encourage them to ask their teacher or a classmate for help.

3. USE MULTIPLE LEARNING METHODS

Every child has a learning style. Therefore, combining several methods is the best way to ensure effective memorization. For example, you could start with an oral approach, then shift to writing and follow up with another visual medium like an online game or building blocks.

4. PACE OUT THE LEARNING

Memorization occurs when the learner uses repetition rather than trying to remember the full concept all at once. Taking breaks is also an essential part of the memorization process, so allow time for physical activity and sufficient sleep.

Studies show that regular exercise has a positive impact on school performance. Consider registering your child in an activity of their choice to increase their motivation.

Clever idea: make an at-home papery

Did you know you can get great deals on school supplies during the back-to-school season? If you have room in your budget when you stock up for your child, consider setting up an at-home papery.

BENEFITS

Purchasing large quantities of school supplies at this time of

year gives you the opportunity to stock up on backup quantities of the most-used items. This strategy is great for heavyuse consumables and tools that wear out quickly. In addition to saving money, you also avoid repeated trips to the store throughout the year.

MATERIALS

The supplies you need depend on your child’s grade level. In most cases, the items you’re most likely to need close at hand include:

• Liquid glue or glue sticks

• Notebooks

• Ring binders

• Pencils

• Loose leaf paper — ruled, grid and plain

• Erasers

• Correction tape or fluid

• Pens with neutral inks like blue and black

• Highlighters

• Paper clips

You can use your papery to determine what items were used most often during the previous school year for future back-to-school purchases. Happy savings!

Does your child have learning difficulties? Consider meeting with a resource teacher to discuss possible supports and resources.

Have an upcoming event? Make sure it gets included in The Buzz! Send the event information over to us by emailing the who, what, when & where to: ashley.brooking@baycitytribune.com

July 1

The Matagorda Historical Society is hosting their first annual fundraiser Christmas in July, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 1 at Matagorda Heritage Park. For more information contact Dawn Gerstenberger at 936-537-3024 or email dawn.gerstenberger@gmail.com. The event will be rain or shine and all proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization in their efforts to preserve the township’s history.

July 4

Parks and Recreation will host Freedom Fireworks on Tuesday, July 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Le Tulle Park, located at 1135 S Highway 35, Bay City. There is no charge for the event. There will be music, inflatables, a rock wall, games and a grand fireworks display starting at 9:30 p.m.

July 8

The Palacios Chamber of Commerce will host their annual fundraiser, Poker in Palacios, on Saturday, July 8 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Palacios Recreation Center, located at 2401 Perryman Drive, Palacios. There will be a Texas Hold’em Series, gun raffles, silent and live auctions, a seafood dinner and prizes. For more information contact the Chamber office at 361-972-2615.

July 15

The Bay City Chamber of Commerce will host the Chamber Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 15 at 8 a.m. at the Rio Colorado Golf Course located at 7320 FM 2668, Bay City. For more information contact the Chamber office at 979-245-8333.

July 22

The Artisan & Crafter Market will host Market Day on the Matagorda County Courthouse square located at 1700 Seventh Street, Bay City on Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come check out some amazing vendors and get yourself a new addition to your home. For more information call 361-314-2226 or email admin@acmtexas.com.

July 30

Community Actors of South Texas (CAST) will hold open auditions for their production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, directed by Kevin Knox on Sunday, July 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. and on Monday, July 31 from 6:30 to 8

p.m. The cast will consist of three women and five men. The production is a classic murder mystery filled with a diverse cast of characters to bring you intrigue, suspense and quite a few laughs. For more information contact CAST at baycitycast1999@gmail.com.

August 4-6 and 10-12

Community Actors of South Texas (CAST) presents… You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown directed by Darve and Gena Lea Smith on based on the Comic Strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz on August 4 though 6 and 10 through 12 starting at 7:30 p.m. The musical is guaranteed to please all ages. For more information visit the CAST website at baycitycast.com or email baycitycast1999@gmail.com.

August 10

The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office will host a Food Handler’s Class on Thursday, August 10 from 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m., located at 3501 Avenue F, Bay City. For more information or to sign up for the class, contact Dianne Gertson at dlgerston@ag.tamu.edu or call 979-245-4100.

August 11

The Palacios Chamber of Commerce will host Fish Fest Family Fishing Tournament on Friday, August 11 through Saturday, August 12 at East Bay Park, located at 300 E Bay Blvd, Palacios. For more information contact the Chamber office at 361-972-2615.

August 19

Heroes on the Water Matagorda Chapter will host a kayak fishing event in Matagorda on Saturday, August 19 from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the East Matagorda Bay Paddlesports Park. The non-profit organization provides no cost therapeutic kayak fishing experiences to veterans, first responders, active military members and their families. For more information email Matagorda.tx@heroesonthewater. org or call 832-520-1885.

August 26

The Artisan & Crafter Market will host Market Day on the Matagorda County Courthouse square located at 1700 Seventh Street, Bay City on Saturday, August 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come check out some amazing vendors and get yourself a new addition to your home. For more information call 361-314-2226 or email admin@acmtexas.com.