The Local March/April 2016

MARCH/APRIL 2016

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theLOCAL

March/April 2016

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theCONTENTS THE LOCAL MAGAZINE

March/April 2016 Beach Vibes 17 SPRING STAPLES Check out what's hot at the beach this season

In the Community 28 REAL WORKS OF ART Get to know 8 area artists and their works of art celebrating the Bolivar Peninsula

Local Business 34 A SHORE VENTURE Learn how one couple is working to bring artists and visitors together, plus offer new experiences on Bolivar Peninsula

Explore 36 11,000 FEET AT SEA LEVEL Skydiving with an ocean view

IN EVERY ISSUE editor's note 7

36

by the sea 8 local events 20 sea & be seen 42

12

LUXURY PROPERTY FEATURE Tour this island-inspired extraordinary escape in Rancho Carribe, page 12

March/April 2016

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theLOCAL Bolivar Peninsula’s Magazine EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR DESIGNER Destiny Martin

FREE DELIVERY AND SET UP

CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Melanie Wallace Cody Martin PHOTOGRAPHY & ART CONTRIBUTORS Chris Estetter Cody Bess Photography Crystal Beach Local News Lance LaRue FOR ADVERTISING INFO 650 Media Group, LLC P.O. Box 1747 Crystal Beach, TX 77650 817.505.8208 info@thebolivarlocal.com The LOCAL, Bolivar Peninsula’s Magazine is produced by 650 Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. The LOCAL is not responsible for facts represented by authors or advertisers. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without written consent of the editor.

4002 Broadway Galveston, TX 77550 409.621.9540 baysidechicgalveston.com

ABOUT THE COVER Graphic designer and copywriter Lance LaRue of Beaumont includes Bolivar in his Vintage City Poster Series, a retro-themed collection illustrating forgotten towns and cities across Texas.

LaRue describes the tongue-in-cheek tourism ad for Port Bolivar as an “affectionate satirical poster with doses of history, humor and nostalgia.” For more information about Lance or his series, visit www.larueartandcopy.com

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March/April 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE

SINCE STARTING The Local magazine, I have been blessed to meet dozens of

unique individuals who are passionate about Bolivar Peninsula. Most of my encounters are with business owners in pursuit of another successful season, but lately I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know a few locals with an abundant amount of creative talent, hoping too, that their voice is heard.

With a formal education in Fine Arts, and now an owner of a small business, I can fully respect both perspectives. As I reflect on our issue for March/April, I recognize that the difference between the Homegrown Entrepreneur and the Local Artist really isn’t all that different. Both individuals need consumer support to flourish, and both enrich our community, ultimately making Bolivar Peninsula a one-of-a-kind place to be.

In this issue, we’ll share with you a select group of artists whose works of art celebrate the dynamic beauty and culture of our beloved peninsula (p. 28). Then, take an exclusive tour inside the home of local silkscreen artist Patricia Hagstrom on page 23.

And finally, meet owners Debbie and Kurt Ploeger of A Shore Venture in our Local Business feature (p. 34) to learn how they are collaborating with local artisans to bring unique experiences to visitors of our esteemed community.

Feeling adventurous? See the Bolivar Peninsula on a whole new level in our EXPLORE feature on page 36.

Until next time, keep it local.

March/April 2016

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BY THE SEA

Inch by Inch. Row by Row.

BY MELANIE WALLACE, ED.D.

T

his is the time of year when thoughts turn to gardening. I love watching as the home and garden stores start to display the bounty of the earth; first come the pansies – their little faces velvety and turned to the sun. The smell of earth and fertilizer offer a promise of something wonderful to come.

I always think of my grandmother when the pansies first appear. She had a raised bed of them in her garden every early spring of my childhood. I well remember the ice covering their little blossoms in the winter, thawing

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March/April 2016

in the spring sunshine. She and I both particularly loved the purple ones.

Then, of course, there are the vegetable plants. Talk about a miracle!

From those tiny seeds come the luscious, delicious, nutritious gifts from the earth. How does He do that?

My mom and dad always had a vegetable garden. I am firmly convinced that Mack proposed to me only to ensure an endless supply of my mother’s fresh wilted lettuce and hot bacon salad. When she knew he was coming over to “court,” she would go out into the garden and pick a handful of lettuce, fry up the bacon,

and have the salad ready when he got to our house.

Of course, I never appreciated the garden or the hard work that went into cultivating it. In fact, as a kid, I was always just a little embarrassed about it. We were the only people in our upscale suburban neighborhood to have a backyard full of vegetables…the neighbors all had swimming pools or tennis courts where our cucumbers and eggplant took root. That was well before the green revolution, when it became cool to grow one’s own. My parents spent every Good Friday planting the

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© Photos by Eva

© David Harris Photography

© David Harris Photography

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BY THE SEA garden. That was their tradition, and it seemed to work. Their plants were always bountiful as well as beautiful.

This is also the time of year when our pals, Doug and Marcel plant their pampered and petted tomato plants – reared with the love and care usually reserved for one’s child. These two masters of the garden universe keep us supplied with the candy-sweet treats throughout the early summer.

Since knowing them and cultivating their friendships, I have assembled an entire notebook of tomato-based recipes, Bubba Gump-style: tomato pie, tomato bisque, tomato sauce, tomato jam, baked tomatoes, fried green tomatoes, fried green tomatoes with shrimp…

From that first bag-full of tasty treasures that magically appears on our doorstep in early summer until the sad announcement that “this is the last batch,” our summer days are filled with the deliciousness of tomatoes.

Proving that, even more important than having one’s own garden…is having a friend with a garden.

It’s a good thing that I am pretty good at cultivating the friendships of gardeners…because, I am not good at cultivating a garden of my own. Mack claims that the plants in the nursery begin to quiver and quake when I walk in. “Killer,” they whisper to one another. “The ultimate brown thumb,” they gossip in their neat little rows.

And, they are right. I don’t know why, but I simply can’t grow stuff.

Years ago, when our boys were just babies, we moved into an old house in a tiny North Texas town.

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I immediately fell in love with the old, character-filled house, but even more than the house, I fell in love with the romance of the life that I would create there for my children. We would raise chickens, I would grow a garden, we would pump water from the earth using the squeaky windmill near the big red barn. I would probably grow 6 or 8 inches, to fulfill my dream of being tall, thin and blonde. And, of course, I would always wear a floppy white hat, a flowing gauzy dress and Birkenstocks.

We owned four acres – a virtual spread for city dwellers like Mack and me. He would head off to work in the city each morning, and I would continue the task of turning our circa-1906 farmhouse into a home.

I spent hours during that first winter, drawing out my plans for the vegetable garden. I researched the most effective placement for my plants – deciding that I would not use pesticides or artificial anything.

I was well ahead of my time in the organic food movement. I got Mack to take my hand-designed plan to work for a drafter to do a professional CADD design. It was beautiful! I color-coded the layout, and I was just about ready.

Since Mack told me from the beginning that this was really not his thing (full disclosure!), I knew that I would have to find someone else to help me prepare my garden. First, I talked the high-dollar Master plumbers

from Mack’s office into coming out to run an irrigation pipe from the house to the back of the four acres, where the garden would be located. They dug a 6-foot deep trench from the house all the way to the back of the property, installing a state-of-the-art irrigation system that rivals what I’ve seen on commercial farms. Then, the man that I hired from town—the one with the tractor­—came and dug up the area that I had staked out for my garden. I hauled in fertilizer (all natural of course), soil, compost, you name it. It was looking promising.

The most fun, of course, was the purchasing: seeds, plants, tools, well…and gardening outfits. Martha Stewart could have held a photo shoot on that half acre plot!

My garden design was extravagant.

I had raised areas for the cantaloupe and watermelon, lattice for the climbing beans; my tomato plants would be surrounded with marigolds to dissuade the bugs. It was bound to be a success!

I had all of the knowledge of gardening that you could get from a book.

Good Friday came and we planted the garden. It was glorious. Rich soil, sun peeking out from the clouds, happy kids running through the garden rows.

I was not yet tall, thin and blonde, but I did have my garden!

Things did not go so well after that.

We had big storms, there were weeds!

I found a snake beneath the cucumber plants. It was not nearly as much fun as I had anticipated.

Long story short, that summer I harvested one cantaloupe and enough tomatoes to make six pints of salsa.

The cantaloupe was sweet and juicy, certainly the most delicious I’ve ever tasted. The salsa was fabulous, too.

But, by the time I bought all of the canning stuff – the big pot, the Ball jars, the tongs for removing the cans, and so forth, then added in the cost of the 6-foot deep trench, the tractor guy, dirt, fertilizer, seeds and tools, we figured that I had paid $326.37 per pint of salsa. I could have traveled to New York City for their infamous Pace Picante for a lot less money.

That was my last garden. I still have dreams, though. Every time I walk through the garden department of Walmart or Home Depot in early spring, I get a little twinge. Mack says that it’s only the karma of the dead plants from my past. tL

Come Join Me Living the Dream in Crystal Beach LUZ LUZ GRAY GRAY 409-457-6280 409-457-6280 As seen On HGTV Beach Front Bargain Hunt Beach Homes for all Budgets Land for Sale Rental Properties for Sale Free Sunsets March/April 2016

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LUXURY PROPERTY FEATURE

EXTRAORDINARY

escape

680 VILLA DRIVE • CRYSTAL BEACH, TEXAS

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March/April 2016

T

his 4,200+ square foot Tommy Bahama inspired, four bedroom, four-and-ahalf bath residence occupies over one acre of beach front property in the prestigious golf course community of Rancho Carribe in Crystal Beach.

Soaring 24’ ceilings throughout the living and dining areas set the tone for this exquisite home, providing gorgeous unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Enjoy sunrises from the expansive 3,000 square foot ocean-front deck while the waves wash ashore. From the back porch, take in the memorable sunsets of the Bolivar Peninsula along with the ambient surroundings of the beautiful golf course.

The premiere property at 680 Villa Drive is situated at one of the most secluded and widest parts of the peninsula’s accreting 27-mile stretch of coastline. Enjoy walks on the expansive sandy beaches as you explore its endless treasures along the shoreline.

Opposite: Abundant lighting and seating make the ocean front deck an inviting place to enjoy time spent at the beach. Quality brands of exterior furniture include Brown & Jordan, teak, and Breezesta.

March/April 2016

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RAISING THE ORDINARY...

The east and west wings of the home each feature private master retreats with luxurious bathrooms, as well as an additional bedroom and bathroom.

Careful attention to detail and thoughtful designer features like Therapeutic pebble flooring, Feng Shui Jacuzzi tubs, and sweeping ocean views make all four bedrooms with en-suite baths ideal for relaxing and entertaining in style.

An enormous chef’s kitchen is perfect for entertaining.

The 12-foot island features 2½” bull nose granite and a 5-burner downdraft cook top in the center. Kitchen comes equipped with a copper sink, 36” stainless refrigerator, built-in convection oven and microwave, and two televisions so you never miss your sports or movies. State-of-the-art subzero wine cooler/refrigerator combo chills 86 bottles of your favorite wine and champagne to the perfect temperature. The beautiful custom solid Knotty Alder stained wood cabinets, doors, and molding make this home its own island oasis and the perfect setting for family and friends.

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...TO extraordinary.

Additional special amenities of the property include: • State-of-the-art automated control panel

accessible by mobile phone, iPad, and PC.

Controls all televisions and surround sound

throughout the home, lighting, air conditioning, and security system, even while you’re away.

• Media/theater room features 120” screen, multi-level reclined seating, and buffet.

• Game room comes equipped with wetbar and accomodates shuffleboard and pool table.

• Hurricane windows and electric storm shutters.

• 1400 watt stadium lights illuminate property’s dunes, ocean and beyond.

For more information about this home, contact

Libby Mitchell, Regency Real Estate Professionals,

at libbymitchellrealtor@gmail.com or 409.718.1933.

Scan this code with your smart device for the virtual tour and more details.

T H R E E

D E C A D E S

O F

INNOVATION & SUPERIOR SERVICE

COBB real estate A Family-Owned and Operated Company Since 1986 REAL ESTATE SALES • VACATION RENTALS • HOME BUILDER

Thank you for choosing Cobb to be your trusted source for real estate and vacation rentals on Bolivar Peninsula. Call us today at 409.684.3790 and ask about our anniversary specials.

Photo: Lady angler with a limit of2016 flat fish caught on Berkley Gulp!® 18 | theLOCAL January/February

CobbRealEstate.com

springtime

STAPLES

Gear up for spring at the beach with these must-have items

LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRTS Lightweight long sleeve T-shirts offer protection from the sun and are a casual way to stay warm in the evenings when temps cool down at the beach. CRYSTAL BEACH HOODIE, $17, LATITUDE 29.9 SURF SHOP

OVERSIZED TOTES If you're making a trip to the beach, even for the day, carry-alls are a necessity. Popular this season are colorful bags constructed of durable fabrics and fibers. BILLABONG LARGE WOVEN BEACH TOTE, $44, LATITUDE 29.2 SURF SHOP

SLIP-ON STYLE Enjoy the ease and comfort of simple slip-on sandals. Available in graphic prints with textured rubber soles for durable wear.

O'NEILL ARIELLE SANDAL, $44, LATITUDE 29.2 SURF SHOP

March/April 2016

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o t n i ing

r REFRESHMENT p S Margaritas and Daiquiris also available to go (

made from 100% fruit puree.

-

RITAS & CREAM soft serve ice cream shakes floats malts Hawaiian Shaved Ice sno cones (spiked or traditional) flavored Margaritas & daiquiris beer wine wings $2 shots! jello shots!

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“TASTY TREATS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!”

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LOCAL EVENTS

MARCH 5

Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department Oyster Supper Port Bolivar VFD will be holding its 46th annual Oyster Supper from noon to 8 pm. All you can eat oysters (fried only) served with french fries and coleslaw. Come and show your support with a $25 donation. 1806 Loop 108, Port Bolivar.

Mother’s Day Weekend!

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Ocean Discovery Day Staff of the NOAA Fisheries Service and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary would like to invite the residents and visitors of Bolivar Peninsula to their annual Open House.

Meet researchers at the NOAA facilities and learn about their projects, as well as participate in hands-on activities. It is the only day sea turtles can be viewed aside from a scheduled tour! Join us from 9 am to 3 pm at 4700 Avenue U in Galveston.

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Mark Chesnutt

WAYNE TOUPS | MARK CHESNUTT | JERRY DIAZ & HANNA’S REEF

Music! Fun! Art! Contests! Crabs! www.texascrabfestival.org LAGUNA

Easter Bunny Appearance The Easter Bunny will be visiting the Big Store from 2-4 pm. Fun for all the kids, everyone welcome. Prizes will be given away.

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Easter Sunrise Service The Ministerial Alliance annual Easter "Son Rise" Service at 7 am. West Lane at the beach. Bring a chair; golf carts are welcome.

APRIL 29-30

Fourth Annual Pearl Beach BBQ Cookoff The Pearl Beach annual charity cookoff will be held at Gregory Park, 2292 Hwy 87. Friday night live entertainment from 3-Way Switch from 7-10 pm.

Free admission. Saturday, come watch the cooking competition, sample some BBQ and take a chance on all the raffle items. Judging of the ribs will be at 1:30 pm, with brisket judging at 3:30 pm.

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Stingaree Saltwater Slam Stingaree Saltwater Slam 2016 will be on Saturday, April 30, 6 am to 3 pm.

Kids Hardhead Haul-In for children 12 & under (must be accompanied by an adult). Stingaree Restaurant & Marina.

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MAY 6 - 8, 2016

Wayne Toups

theLOCAL

March/April 2016

HARBOR

The port you’ll call home!

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Texas frog fesT Benefiting the Lone Survivor Foundation

2016 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES NOW AVAILABLE TEXAS FROG FEST is an annual music festival with the sole

purpose of funding the Lone Survivor Foundation Retreat Center in Crystal Beach. This facility, built by our community, depends on the continued support of our community through events like Texas Frog Fest.

The weekend-long entertainment showcases local and national music artists, meet and greet opportunities with celebrities and advocates of the Lone Survivor Foundation, and regional media coverage.

What is the LSF? The Lone Survivor Foundation restores, empowers, and renews hope for our wounded service members and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support. Deployment overseas and combat action can take a serious toll on everyone involved­, from the men and women on the front lines to the friends and families who wait for their loved ones to return home. The transition to post-military life, whether wounded in combat or simply adjusting to the civilian sector, will often cause difficulty for the service member and his or her family. The unfortunate reality for many service members and their families is that life changes after returning home and the effects of their experiences begin to manifest in negative ways. In short, the normalcy of life prior to their service may have been lost forever. Therefore, the Lone Survivor Foundation is here to help America's wounded service members and their families adjust to the effects of their experiences and help them transition into what may be looked at as their 'new normal' – providing an understanding and acceptance of who they are as a person, a family, and a community. To learn more, visit lonesurvivorfoundation.com.

Lone Survivor Foundation's Retreat Facility, Crystal Beach

2016 sponsorship opportunities now available PACKAGES AVAILABLE FROM $500 TO $25K SILENT AUCTION ITEMS • CUSTOM SPONORSHIPS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT BRIAN BYROM BRIAN.BYROM@GMAIL.COM OR

409-767-4464 March/April 2016

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CONSTRUCTION LOANS • LOT LOANS • MORTGAGES

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Please contact Randy Slater to learn more about what Texas First Bank can offer you today!

2385 Highway 87 • Crystal Beach • (409) 370-9453 22 |

theLOCAL

March/April 2016

it's a colorful life

Inside the home of local silkscreen artist Patricia Hagstrom words + photos by DESTINY MARTIN

March/April 2016

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S

tanding at the handcrafted full-light double doors, I carefully examined the intricate details of bubbly glass, waiting for my tour to begin. A vibrant Patty Hagstrom, 77, held her hand on the doorknob, building my anticipation for what I was about to behold. Proudly she asked, “Are you ready?”

Six months earlier I had met Patty, a renowned silkscreen artist and resident of Bolivar Peninsula, at the grand opening of Gallery By The Gulf in Crystal Beach. As a graphic designer, I immediately related to her collection of prints inspired by sea life. The vivid colors, the crisp lines, the subject matter, it all spoke to me. We chatted about her process, among other things, until finally she nudged me and said, “Ya know, you should see my house.”

Are you kidding? An invitation to share her story and lifetime of work exclusively with our readers? Yes, please!

Now, back to the tour.

Mrs. Hagstrom’s custom beach front home was built in 2010 by another local 24 |

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artisan well respected in his trade, Mike Comeaux. Patty had been displaced for two years after Hurricane Ike, but like many others, she was determined to return home to Bolivar Peninsula. Then living in League City, she began working daily on plans for her new house, creating “cartoons� of stained glass, hand-painting tiles, molding ceramic figurines, and making more silkscreens. When Ike made landfall in September 2008, Patty was attending a show in New York. Sadly, her inventory of more than 25 unique pieces of art succumbed to the storm. The only survivors of her collection were the prints she had brought with her to the show and personal art journals.

Once we entered the home, Patty first introduced me to a mixed media painting hanging in the foyer, her ode to Ike. Collaged remnants of what remained of Patty’s original homestead swirled around the canvas among natural fibers and sand, evoking in me a reverie of what once was. Her delicate fingers nostalgically pointed to each recovered vestige: shards of familial dishes, scrap pieces of art, tools of her trade, and an old photograph of March/April 2016

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her and her beloved “Gerr.” As we gazed at their picture affixed on the painting, seemingly frozen in time, she shared with me the source of her inspiration...

Gerry was a Jazz musician and scuba diving enthusiast who introduced Patty to recreational diving in the 80s.

Shortly after they married, Patty earned her professional diving certification. It was evident by the way she spoke of him that they shared a colorful life, rich with romantic experiences exploring the wonder of the ocean together.

Thus, her body of work was born. She began “graphically translating aquatic environments into a rich blend of paper and paint,” vowing to only paint and draw what she personally saw and felt in the deep sea.

At age 40, Patty resigned from her teaching career and chose to dedicate herself wholly to creating art. Though she is formally educated and well versed in a multitude of mediums, Patty concentrates mostly on silk screening because it demands discipline. “I’m a control freak,” she says irreverently.

The silkscreen process is essentially a refined stencil technique whereby intricate designs are hand cut from a transparent film. Stencils for each individual color are adhered, one at a time, to a large frame stretched with poly-silk fabric. Paint is then pulled over the film with a squeegee, or rubber blade, allowing the color to pass through the cutout areas onto the paper. This intensive process is repeated for every color, building the layers of the final image.

The remainder of my visit was spent touring Mrs. Hagstrom’s home which as I meandered from room to room revealed itself to be an evolving work of art all its own. There’s not a surface in her 2,800 square foot house that isn’t graced by Patty’s creative genius, including the 20foot ceiling in the living room that boasts a custom backlit medallion, which “illuminates the space at night like a cathedral window.” Among the 40 silkscreen prints hanging in her home co-exist murals, pen and ink illustrations, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media paintings, collages,

faux finishes and wood work, ceramics, and stained glass, all expertly crafted by one of the most dedicated fine artists I’ve ever met. And it didn’t stop there. Patty’s “canvas” extends beyond the interior walls of her home too, with orchestrated murals of mermaids and sea creatures playfully adorning sun soaked turquoise walls outside. I was and still am in awe of her enormous talent.

The volume of work Patty has recreated over the past six years is remarkable. She is a multifaceted character with an infectious zeal for life. Even more telling than her body of work though was the pleasure of her company and just getting to know her colorful personality. As we looked out at the ocean from her studio window, she left me with this: Never look back. Always look ahead. tL For more information about Patricia Hagstrom or to purchase an original work of art, visit her website at www.hagstromcollection.com March/April 2016

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bill tompkins mexican ladies or closeup crawfish

KEVIN KAVANAUGH

BILL TOMPKINS

MELINDA MCWHITE

LANCE LARUE ELLEN SIMON

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IN THE COMMUNITY

CAT HOLTZCLAW

MARGARET LINDOW

Bolivar Peninsula is home to a rich variety of local artists, with many more from surrounding areas, inspired by the culture and natural beauty of our coastal region. Get to know these eight artists and their works of art that celebrate our unique community. words by DESTINY MARTIN

LUKE MAULDIN

March/April 2016

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bill tompkins

kevin kavanaugh

Occupation: Painter Currently Based: Crystal Beach, Texas Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Studio: Fine Art Paintings, 1830 Hwy 87 Suite D Style: Figurative

Occupation: Owner of Tiki Loco Currently Based: Crystal Beach, Texas Medium: Woodcarving Studio/Exhibits: Hwy 87 at Crystal Beach Road, Crystal Beach

Bill Tompkins is a Canadian-born painter who has resided in Texas for nearly forty years. Bill worked in construction for many years, but during that time, he never put down the paintbrush, or the canvas. His large-format paintings are hand crafted from start to finish; Bill personally builds every canvas he uses. His works are primarily inspired by figurative (or recognizable) subject matter, and are energetically infused by his riveting color palette and painterly style. Bill currently manages Fine Art Paintings studio in Crystal Beach and is also co-owner of a canvas shop in Magnolia, Texas. Commissioned paintings are available upon request.

Known to most as “Tiki Man,” Kevin is reconized for his island-inspired woodcarvings. It’s hard to go anywhere on Bolivar Peninsula without spotting one his works of art. He states that he’s “always had a love for tools,” and eventually became proficient at using them while practicing woodcarving as a method of rest and relaxation. Over time, his hobby grew into a business. Kevin now carves daily and is an advocate for the local arts scene, promoting other area artists alongside him. Visit Tiki Loco Carvings at the corner of Highway 87 and Crystal Beach Road to learn more and check out his pièce de résistance, a 14-foot siren sculpted from one of the tallest oak trees once rooted in High Island.

tompkinsb0429@gmail.com

Facebook: Tiki Loco Carvings

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melinda mcwhite

lance larue

Occupation: Painter Currently Based: Beaumont, Texas Medium: Oil on canvas Studio/Exhibits: Beaumont and Galveston Art Leagues, The Art Studio, Beaumont and Brooks Shivers Dining Hall, Lamar University Style: Abstact/Figurative

Occupation: Marketing and Visual Designer Currently Based: Beaumont, Texas Medium: Graphic Design Available At: Etsy.com Style: Collage/Pop Art

After many years practicing law, Melinda earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Lamar University in 2015. Originally, she painted abstracts of natural forms such as shells, lichen, sticks and leaves. The degree of abstraction increased over time as Melinda allowed the organic nature of her mediums to inspire her, but more recently, her paintings have been concentrated on figurative subject matter inspired by scenes from coastal environments and her travels. She seeks not to replicate the world around her, but to convey something of the character of a person, animal or atmosphere. Melinda has a second home on Bolivar Peninsula and is currently accepting commissions for portraits, landscapes, and cityscapes.

Lance LaRue is an award-winning graphic designer and copywriter from Beaumont, Texas who grew up visiting the Bolivar Peninsula. His Vintage City Poster Series is a personal project showcasing a collection of over 100 forgotten cities and towns across Texas. Lance’s witty combination of words and imagery are relatable, affable, and are sure to bring a smile to your face. Most recently, Lance completed a poster representative of Port Bolivar, which graces the cover of our current issue. For more information about LaRue Art + Copy, or to purchase an original work of art from his Vintage Texas Poster Series, visit www.etsy.com/shop/LaRueArtandCopy.

melindamcwhite@outlook.com

www.larueartandcopy.com

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margaret lindow

luke mauldin

Occupation: Rentals, Re/Max on the Water Currently Based: Crystal Beach, Texas Medium: Mixed Media Studio/Exhibits: Gallery By The Gulf, Crystal Beach and Hardheads Ice House, Crystal Beach Style: Collage/Found Objects

Occupation: Photographer Currently Based: Beaumont, Texas Medium: Canon Camera, Photoshop and Lightroom Studio: On location Style: Portrait/Landscape

Margaret is a beachcombing enthusiast who enjoys exploring shorelines around the world in pursuit of shells, pebbles, bottle caps, lighters, sea glass, driftwood, sea beans of every species, and mermaids’ purses (or skate egg cases) to add to her evergrowing collection. Inspired by her travels and beach finds, Margaret then creates mixed media works of art that are truly one-of-a-kind in an effort to educate the viewer about various sediments from the ocean and raise awareness about pollution.

Margaret is also a featured artist at A Shore Venture, a local business providing unique experiences to visitors of Bolivar Peninsula. For more info or to book a guided beachcombing excursion with Margaret, visit www.ashoreventure.com.

Luke Mauldin is a resident of Beaumont, Texas and is a fulltime professional photographer specializing in portraiture.

Originally from northeast Texas, Luke is a second-generation photographer trained by his father David, and has been working professionally for over 18 years. He takes any chance he can to be outside and loves photographing sunrise and sunset landscapes as more of a hobby and his own “therapy.”

One client says, “Luke is an expert at capturing light. His approach to his medium and a unique appreciation of the environments around him turn even the simplest settings into captivating works of art.” For more information, contact Luke at mauldinphotography@yahoo.com.

Facebook: Bolivar Beachcombers

Instagram: @mauldinphoto

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ellen simon

cat holtzclaw

Occupation: Artist Currently Based: Crystal Beach, Texas Mediums: Acrylic, pastels, watercolor, pen and ink Exhibits: Permanent Showing at Steve’s Landing, Crystal Beach and Mini Gallery at Tiki Loco, Crystal Beach Style: Realism

Occupation: Jewelry Designer and Mosaic Artist Currently Based: Crystal Beach, Texas Mediums: Heirloom jewelry, sea glass, pottery shards, and objects found on the beach Studio: Home

Ellen always had a knack for art and design, but her early career in advertising temporarily sidetracked her from pursuing her life-long dream of becoming a fine artist. Thirty-five years later, she has reinvigorated her passion for painting and drawing and is now marketing her works locally at Crystal Beach. Ellen aims to bring a fine art touch to everything she does and is skillfully gifted at realism. Her most recent projects include painting on wood pallets, pen and ink drawings, signage, and jewelry design.

She is a full-time artist with a “much beloved art supplies job at Steve’s Landing” and is currently accepting commissioned assignments. To see more of Ellen’s work, visit Tiki Loco or Steve’s Landing Restaurant in Crystal Beach.

Cat enjoys a challenge, like working a puzzle until all the pieces fit. Cat and her husband Tommy collect sea glass, sharks teeth, and pottery shards, among many other things that can be found on the beach, and work together to create cherished pieces of art for their home and garden, as well as for their family and friends. The couples’ shared projects include mosaic planters and stepping stones, wine bottle trees, sculptures, and a trio of metal palm trees that Tommy welded from exhaust pipes. Cat finds her inspiration all around her; she once counted the bars on a Jeep grill for a pair of earrings! She is actively working on a contemporary jewelry line inspired by heirloom pieces and sea glass, and also accepts commissioned projects.

Text: 409.659.8511

hcrystalbeach@aol.com

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LOCAL BUSINESS EXPLORE

It's a shore thing.

Q & A with Local Business Owners Debbie and Kurt Ploeger

A SHORE VENTURE 1333 Hwy 87 Crystal Beach, TX www.ashoreventure.com • 409.926.2914

What is A Shore Venture?

Initially, I envisioned an event planning/destination management company concept providing a onestop shop for unique, private group experiences on the peninsula with a focus on art workshops for women.

As things progressed, my husband Kurt and I saw an opportunity to expand to families, small corporate groups, church groups, etc. as well as add a rental component, offering beach toys for rent like kayaks, surfboards, bicycles, tables and chairs, and more.

Tell us more about your "Artist Workshops."

Bolivar Peninsula is flooded (no pun intended) with creative talent. A Shore Venture provides artists an outlet to share those talents in a private group setting. When we have a request from a client to create a unique experience for their family, company, church, etc., one option is to arrange a “hunt” on the beach for treasure that can be incorporated into art. The “hunt” is followed by a workshop led by one of our artists. Each event is customized with the client in mind. We have artists that work with shells, sea glass, drift wood, trash from the beach (literally), sea beans, and more. We also work with musicians and makeup artist.

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What other unique and customizable experiences does A Shore Venture offer?

We like to create experiences a visitor to the peninsula might not have experienced before. Things like bonfires and S’mores on the beach, crabbing with a string, arranging private dinners with a personal chef, hayrides, and more.

Really, whatever the imagination and budget can accommodate!

A Shore Venture offers beach rentals, too. How does one go about making a reservation?

We are starting with an inventory that includes surfboards, paddle boards, kayaks, bicycles, and more. Delivery is available at an additional charge for full-day rentals within a certain geographic area on Bolivar Peninsula.

Reservations can be made by calling (409) 926-2914.

WHAT CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING...

“I knew I was in for a treat, but I really had no idea how much of a treat! Our sea glass hunt was very relaxing and all of us gals were able to find many treasures. My necklace creation started out as questionable, but our artist teacher and my friends helped me get the hang of it. A one-of-a-kind pendant that will hold special memories.”

– Janice Wenatchee, WA

About Debbie and Kurt...

Debbie has always been drawn to the beauty and allure of the Gulf Coast. When she moved to Texas from Louisiana in the early 80s, she visited the peninsula a handful of times when fortunate enough to be invited by friends. Kurt, by contrast, grew up with Bolivar salt water running through his veins. His mother was a school teacher in Beaumont so the first day of summer break they headed for the beach. When not working, he was surfing, fishing or hunting. His most memorable job, was renting surfboards on the beach in the summer of 1970. He is looking forward to semi-retirement from the construction industry and recreating his early years by managing A Shore Venture's rental component while Debbie brings to the table 25+ years of corporate event planning experience.

CHARLES MICHAEL CUSTOM HOMES 2950 Highway 87 Crystal Beach, TX 77650

409-684-1001

Full Service Home Builder Your Lot or Ours Financing Options Available Custom Home Design Top Quality Construction Features to Fit Your Budget Over 40 Years Experience

Contact Us Today About Your New Home

BUILDING FOR GENERATIONS

www.CharlesMichaelHome.com March/April 2016

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EXPLORE Solo skydivers Robert Rocke and Jeff Patricio (foreground) make a safe landing at Blue Skies Skydiving Center in Crystal Beach

11,000' AT skydiving with

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SEA LEVEL an ocean view words by CODY MARTIN photos courtesy of CHRIS ESTETTER and BLUE SKIES SYDIVING

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T

here are two things of which I’m certain. First, I’ve never had a burning desire to jump out of a “perfectly good airplane” and second, visitors and residents of Bolivar Peninsula have never had a chance to jump out of said airplane. Until now.

Recently while driving down Highway 87, a sign I hadn’t noticed before caught my attention. It read, “Skydive Here!” Initially I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but it piqued my interest enough to stop and learn more. As I approached the building at the end of a dusty airstrip behind Pat’s Tires, I was greeted by an ever-smiling Omar Bardales, owner and operator of Blue Skies Skydiving Center. Bardales and his team of certified tandem instructors offer thrill-seekers the ultimate skydiving experience, complete with an ocean view.

Maybe it was the sheer convenience or the prospect of trying something new, but I decided to put my knees in the wind and booked my first jump for the following weekend.

Jump Day: Step to the Edge Somehow I was able to convince my wife that this was a good idea and although slightly apprehensive, she agreed to tag along. Upon our arrival at Blue Skies Skydiving Center, we were introduced to Phil Myers, my tandem instructor for the day.

As a certified instructor with nearly 7,000 jumps, Phil immediately sensed my wife’s hesitation and began to quell her fears of my certain demise. “Our greatest priority is safety,” he said, showing us the state-of-the-art equipment. “At the end of the day, we all want to go home to our families.” Now a bit relieved, we began the training. Since this was my first jump and the United States Parachuting Association requires tandem jumps for beginners, training was a breeze. After a quick twenty min38 |

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Check out my personal video at https://youtu.be/Vx8PC7Qk8Yo

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Skydiving : 101 Altimeter

An instrument worn on the wrist to measure your altitude above a fixed level (in this case, the ground).

Canopy

The preferred term for “parachute” among skydivers.

DZ/Drop Zone

The area targeted for landing.

Certified Skydiving Instructor Someone who has held a USPA jumpmaster rating for at least one year and passed an Instructor Certification Course.

Jump Run

The flight path taken by the jump plane to put the skydivers in proper positioning over the drop zone.

Skygod

Although on the surface this term refers to a superior skydiver, in drop zone use, skygod is a derogatory term for a skydiver whose ego and maneuvers have grown faster than his or her skydiving ability. Don’t be a skygod.

Speaking Omar

You can’t learn it in school.

WUFFO

Derogatory term for a non-jumper. Generally someone who says, “Why would you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?”

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utes of instruction and demonstration, we were ready to harness up and board the plane.

At this point, I’m not sure whether I was terrified, excited, hesitant or anxious. Perhaps it was a combination of all of the above. Regardless of what I was feeling internally, my physical reality was that we were airborne and making our ascent to 11,000 feet. An added benefit to skydiving with Blue Skies is the expansive views of Bolivar Peninsula. On a clear day it’s easy to pick out nearby landmarks such as the Port Bolivar Lighthouse or gaze off in the distance and count the tankers lined up offshore. Near or far, the sights are amazing and it is a truly unique way to experience the beauty of the coast.

Veteran skydivers Robert Rocke, or “Rocke” of Houston, and Chris Wade of Beaumont, Texas hitched a ride on the plane to make a “fun-jump” at a gutsy 6,500 feet. When asked what keeps them coming back, they replied they “never want that terrifying feeling to go away.” Watching them exit the plane simultaneously was beyond impressive.

No hesitation, just professional execution. In an instant they were out of sight, freefalling to 3,000 feet where they deployed their canopies and landed safely back at the airstrip.

After witnessing their exit, the “gravity” of my situation set in and I did not say much during the remaining 4,000’ ascent. At 11,000 feet, Phil reviewed the training one last time as we made our way to the exit door of the plane. No turning back now. We targeted the drop zone and took the leap.

It’s hard to put into words the rush of the free fall.

Comparable to the drop of a roller coaster? No. 120 mph on a boat? Maybe, but I’ve never gone that fast on the water. Perhaps the reason why the sensation is so difficult to explain is because there’s literally NOTHING like it! It’s something you absolutely have to experience for yourself! The pure adrenaline rush of the free fall lasted between 30 to 45 seconds before Phil deployed the canopy, which thankfully opened with no problem.

Intensity to serenity best describes the transition from free fall to under canopy. The remainder of the descent was spent peacefully taking in the view (and catching my breath!), combined with a little showmanship of Phil’s parachuting skills. As we closed in on the airstrip we had departed from nearly thirty minutes earlier, we yelled out a victory cry to a few onlookers watching nearby from their porch and landed safely, standing up. I was back at sea level.

About Blue Skies Skydiving Omar and the crew at Blue Skies Skydiving Center are topnotch.

Cumulatively between the group, they have over 20,000 solo jumps, 15,000 tandem jumps and 50 years of jumping experience.

Blue Skies fosters a personal yet professional, safe yet exciting culture which fits in nicely on the peninsula. The plane utilized at Blue Skies is a Cessna 206 that can carry four solo jumpers or two tandem groups each run. Blue Skies is capable of turning four tandem groups per hour, so long waits should not be an issue.

They use state-of-the-art equipment maintained by professionals on a regular basis. The entire experience from the paperwork to landing can be done in a little over an hour, although, we found ourselves wanting to hang around a little longer.

To learn more about Blue Skies Skydiving Center, pricing and requirements, visit their website at blueskiesskydivingcenter.com or call 713-344-8820 to book your jump. tL March/April 2016

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sea

be seen

Evening Wake by Chris Larrabee

Cloud by Debra Deckard

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Untitled by Debra Deckard

Share your #LOCAL scene.

Send us photos of your favorite places, people

and past times on the peninsula and your image could be featured in an upcoming issue of our

magazine. Submit high resolution (300 dpi) images to info@thebolivarlocal.com. Please include your name, contact info and the title of the image.

Winter Gulls by Mary Tinsley

Island Wings by Chris Larrabee

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE. Over forty years of building exceptional homes on Bolivar Peninsula.

NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODELING • PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTACT TYLER COCO AT 409.651.6004 2290 HIGHWAY 87 | CRYSTAL BEACH, TEXAS 77650

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Mary Ellen Smith is a Broker Associate for Cobb Real Estate specializing in Buyer Representation. Mary Ellen focuses on every aspect of her clients’ needs, from initial property search to closing, and with more than 35 years of business experience on the peninsula, she’s sure to help you find the home of your dreams.

MARY ELLEN SMITH

ePRO®, GRI, SFR®, SRES®

REPRESENTING BUYER’S INTERESTS

p. (409) 457-1070 • e. CrystalBeachBroker@att.net www.CrystalBeachResortProperties.com

A Family Owned and Operated Company Since 1986 2290 Hwy 87 • Crystal Beach, TX 77650 409.684.3790

CobbRealEstate.com

Redefining

BEACHFRONT LIVING on the Texas coast Discover the affordable luxury of Bolivar Peninsula’s exclusive new development

SEAGRASS BEACH.COM