• Fresh seafood restaurants with live music for casual waterfront dining
bpcoc@discoverbolivar.com
• Charming boutiques, lively festivals, and plenty of family-friendly events
• Wide selection of beach rental homes offering easy access to both beach and bay
• Complimentary ferry ride from Galveston and just a short drive away
Waves
, TX 77552 P: 409-789-1160 www.wavesgalveston.com
Publisher
Mike Burke mburke@wavesgalveston.com 409-789-1160
Director Of Operations
Tiffany Bergeron tbergeron@wavesgalveston.com
Executive Creative Director
Christopher Bergeron cbergeron@wavesgalveston.com
Contributors
Richard Henderson, D.V.M.
J.A. Bunny
Jan & Dean
Chris Gonzales
Paul Hager
Bob Rohan
Mike Burke|Publisher
BURKE’S BRIEFS
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Wavers!
This Holiday Season marks the 8th year that we at Waves are able to share our Christmas and New Year’s with you, our devoted readers and advertisers. I, along with our terrific staff and contributors, want to thank you all for a wonderful 8 years. We promise to keep it coming!
As we celebrate this season of joy, reflection, and togetherness, we’re reminded that our community is the heartbeat of Waves. Your support, stories, and laughter are what make this publication a gathering place for neighbors, friends, and families.
It’s very important during this holiday shopping season that we all remember to BUY LOCAL! Every purchase made at a local shop, every meal enjoyed at an island restaurant, and every service booked with a local provider helps strengthen the fabric of our community.
Please support our LOCAL businesses, uplift our neighbors, and spread cheer right here at home. Together, we make Galveston shine brighter every year.
Beginning in February, Waves Magazine is taking to the air! We are so excited to announce the launch of the weekly Waves Podcast. We will be featuring Galveston business owners, restaurants, good places to eat, hidden gems, musicians, live music venues, theatre, local attractions, outdoor activities, and much more! You will be able to tune in and “meet” our local celebrities and business owners. We can’t wait to get started!
From all of us at Waves, may your holidays be filled with peace, joy, and plenty of local love. See you around the island...
Mike Burke | Publisher
PET Corner
Pet Care Advice From Richard D. Henderson, DVM
Reindeer: Nature’s Winter Legends
Every December, the world turns its attention to Santa’s famous team: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and the brightest-nosed reindeer of them all, Rudolph. While Santa’s Uber team gets most of the spotlight, the real animals behind the legend are just as extraordinary — even without a sleigh or a glowing red nose.
A Species Built for Winter Travel
Reindeer — known as “caribou” in North America — are masterworks of Arctic engineering. Their thick coats, made of hollow, air-filled hairs, trap warmth and help them float while swimming across icy rivers. This natural insulation plays the same role Rudolph’s glowing nose does in the stories: it keeps the team going through long, frigid nights.
Even more impressive, reindeer noses warm incoming air before it reaches the lungs. And while no reindeer in the wild sports a nose as bright as Rudolph’s, the dense network of blood vessels in their snouts can give them a rosy glow — a trait that may have been the inspiration for Rudolph’s famous feature.
by Christmastime, many adult males have already shed their antlers for the season… which suggests Santa’s entire team — Rudolph included — may be female. Suddenly, their ability to multitask, navigate weather, and stay on schedule makes even more sense. Just like Mom on Christmas Day.
Antlers for All — With a Holiday Twist
Both male and female reindeer grow antlers, making them unique among deer. This little-known fact adds a fun layer to holiday lore:
Hooves that Adapt to the Seasons
A reindeer’s hooves act like nature’s winter snow tires. In the summer, pads are soft, helping them grip soggy tundra, melting snow, and marshland. In the winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing sharp, outside edges of the hooves ideal for cutting into ice and snow. This adaptive design helps them outrun predators and travel long distances — and if one were to land quietly on your frozen roof, it wouldn’t put a dent in Santa’s delivery route.
Wild vs. Legendary Reindeer
Wild reindeer earn awards for survival, endurance, and sheer adaptability. They migrate farther than almost any other land mammal, sometimes covering over a thousand miles in a year. They survive the long winters on a Spartan diet of frozen mosses. Their ability to thrive through the harshest
winters makes the idea of pulling a sleigh through arctic darkness feel surprisingly plausible with just a little imagination.
Still, no matter how impressive their real-world abilities are, the Christmas versions will always hold a special charm from childhood to adulthood. Between Rudolph’s guiding nose, Dancer’s elegance, and Donner’s booming name, Santa’s team blends animal science with holiday storytelling.
The image of Santa’s reindeer team pulling the sleigh full of Christmas gifts through a snowstorm is an iconic image that, even as adults, makes us want to believe—just like the magic in The Polar Express.
Continue building your tomorrow!
At Galveston College Continuing Education, our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality, and careerfocused programs that serve the needs of our students and the broader community. Whether you’re preparing for a new job, building new skills, or learning something just for fun, we’re here to support your journey every step of the way.
• Allied Health: Earn certifications for high-demand health care fields such as Phlebotomy, CNA, CCMA, Massage Therapy, EKG and EMT Technology.
• Craft Trades: Develop the skills and training to work in high-demand fields like Shipfitting, Pipefitting, CDL Truck Driver and more.
• Technology: Dive into AI for content creation and innovation, or get certified in computer networking.
TOMORROW Your BUILD
• Leisure: Enrich your life with sailing, painting, ceramics, chorale, and cooking classes; get fit with a gym membership or yoga ; learn computer basics, or hone your skills in digital photography and editing.
• Customized Training: We offer customized training solutions for businesses and organizations of all sizes.
Re l ati o nshipAd v ic e with Jan & Dean
Hi Jan & Dean - I sure enjoy your column each month. I respect your advice and that is why I am writing to you. My problem is with my husband, Thomas. He is boring me to tears! I am 31 years old and I feel like I should be enjoying my life to the utmost. I am also six months pregnant. Once upon a time, Thomas was one of the most fun and adventurous people I have ever known. He was always surprising me with a trip to somewhere new. Sometimes, he would lead me to our car with no advance notice and whisk me away for a wonderful, exotic weekend. It was amazing!
Well, those days are long gone. Thomas has discovered video games and now that consumes his life and all of his time. He comes home from work, changes into some raggedy clothes, and immediately buries himself into his video games. He doesn’t even come up for air. This goes on non-stop 24/7.
We used to enjoy our patio and cooking out in the evenings. Now we never do that. In fact, there are lots of times he doesn’t even stop gaming to eat. Our romantic life has come to a complete end. We never leave the house anymore, let alone go away for a weekend together. We no longer even have a simple night out for a nice dinner. I miss what we used to call our “date nights”. It’s not about money either. We are both fortunate to have high-paying jobs and can afford to do anything we would like to do.
I have had it Jan & Dean. I am bored to death and upset to the point that I no longer want to share a child with this man. I feel stuck in a situation that I can’t do anything about. Please help!
Beverly- Beverly - Beverly - Well, you are rather in a tricky position here but not yet in a place to be claiming “Game Over” so soon. You are carrying his baby and you cannot “unring” that bell, so you are going to have to get that ding-a-ling’s attention one way or the other. You can try the sweet and gentle way which no doubt you have tried with no success. I would venture to say it’s time to set some boundaries and firmly lay down some rules regarding his gaming habits vs. family time. Let him know exactly what designated periods are acceptable for him to play his video games and that you expect him to abide by that timing for the sake of your growing family. Then, when it is “husband time” or “daddy time”, you expect his full, undivided, loving participation. You
might even remind him of your vows and your decision to marry in the first place. You married him for the man he is and the potential leader of the family that he would someday become - you did not think you were going into your future with a manchild with a bad case of arrested development who is addicted to a screen and make-believe characters. There is a baby on the way and a wife who needs and loves him and wants to share an exciting future with him. It is time for Thomas to man up!
Hi Beverly - Your situation is a real mess. It’s an actual fact that boredom with the spouse is one of the main causes of affairs and divorce in a marriage. I am hopeful you won’t do either one of those things. Have you had a sit-down conversation with your husband about how you are feeling about his lack of attention towards you? It’s impossible for me to know what is going on inside your husband’s head. I am wondering what made him change from a fun and exciting person to a couch potato gamer. It’s easy to answer a question like this with a reply to seek professional counseling. In this case, I do think that might be necessary. Something has changed within your husband and maybe he doesn’t even know what it is. You mentioned you both have high-paying jobs. That would provide you both with the opportunity to seek top-quality counseling. It does indeed help in matters like this.
A marriage is something that should be cherished and not taken lightly. There will always be bumps in the road. With a child on the way, I urge you both to seek the help I think you both need. Get your marriage back on track and raise a happy and healthy child together. I wish the best for you.
Have a question for Jan & Dean? Go to www.wavesgalveston.com & ask away. You just might have your question answered next month.
Beverly Is Bored
C hallenge T rivia
Are You Smarter
Can You Pass This Multiple Grade Test?
What is the fastest bird on foot?
A. Ostrich
B. Sparrow
C. Eagle
D. Woodpecker
What are complimentary angles?
A. Angles that measures add up to 90 degrees
B. Angles that have no relation
In the senate each state_____ gets votes.
5
2
1
In which country is the city Buenos Aires?
A. Canada
B. Mexico
C. Argentina
D. Spain
‘Carefully’ is an example of what type of word?
A. Noun
B. Adverb C. Pronoun
Wind, water and biomass are what types of energy sources?
A. Carbon
B. Alternative
C. Gasoline
Does the Constitution require states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own?
A. Yes
B. No
Which of these words is spelled correctly?
A. Disappearance
B. Correctely
C. Consistancy
D. Definitally
An imperative sentence is the only kind of sentence without a ___.
A. Subject
B. Verb
C. Predicate
What was the name of the Greek goddess of reason?
A. Artemis
B. Athena
C. Aphrodite
Which of these are NOT parts of the circulatory system?
A. Heart
B. Arteries
C. Lungs
This President died in 1945 leading to Harry S. Truman’s Presidency?
A. Franklin D. Roosevelt
B. Jimmy Carter
C. George Washington
What religion was Anne Frank, who wrote “The Diary of a Young Girl”?
A. Hindu
B. Jewish
C. Catholic
Which literary term means a story illustrating a moral lesson?
A. An Anecdote
B. An Alliteration
C. A Parable
During what war did the United States try to stay neutral?
A. Revolutionary War
B. Vietnam War
C. World War I
What is the reciprocal of 3/4? A. 4/3
B. 3/4
C. 1/4
True or False: Mozart was deaf.
A. True
B. False
FOCUS
ON FITNESS
Shaye Henderson, BSN, M.Ed., M.S., Instructor at Bent On Healthy Living Wellness Center, 2910 53rd Street, Galveston
Healthy to a Tea
Five years ago this month, I received the first of eight chemotherapy infusions to battle breast cancer. There were days during that year when I didn’t know how I could take one more step—but I did. For the most part, that difficult chapter is now in my rearview mirror. I still read, research, and search for ways to live my healthiest life going forward, and one area I’ve come to appreciate deeply is the remarkable health benefits of tea. I’m not alone. This 5,000-yearold plant-based infusion is the most consumed beverage on the planet after water.
According to Chinese legend, the history of tea began in 2737 B.C., when Emperor Shen Nong, a skilled ruler and scientist, accidentally discovered it. As he boiled water in his garden, a leaf from a wild tea tree drifted into his pot. The Emperor enjoyed the infused water so much that he began studying the plant further. Legend has it he discovered tea’s medicinal effects during this research.
While the legend is whimsical, modern research also recognizes tea’s beneficial properties. When you steep tea, you extract potent nutrients that act like a protective blanket for your body’s cells—nourishing them and helping to neutralize agents linked to disease. Studies suggest that certain teas may help with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; encourage weight loss; lower cholesterol; and improve mental alertness. Tea also appears to have antimicrobial properties.
The Five “True” Teas
Though many beverages are labeled “tea,” purists recognize only five teas as the real thing: green, black, white, oolong, and pu-erh. All come from the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub native to China and India, and all contain antioxidants called flavonoids. The most potent of these—EGCG—helps neutralize free radicals that contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries. All traditional teas also contain caffeine and theanine, compounds that affect the brain and promote mental alertness.
HEALTH & FITNESS
with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent artery clogging; burn fat; counteract oxidative damage in the brain; and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. It may also improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of stroke. Matcha, a powdered form of green tea, takes things further. Because you consume the whole leaf, matcha delivers several times the antioxidants found in a cup of steeped green tea. If the grassy flavor isn’t your favorite, try blending a teaspoon into a smoothie.
Black Tea
Made from fully fermented tea leaves, black tea has the highest caffeine content. It forms the base of many flavored teas, including chai. Black tea is known to reduce fatigue, stimulate mental alertness, and boost energy. It may reduce stress hormones, relieve headaches, and support overall health by providing vitamins and antioxidants that help protect against aging and environmental damage. Some studies also link black tea to reduced stroke risk.
White Tea
Below is a look at what research suggests about the benefits of each tea:
Green Tea
Green tea has one of the highest concentrations of EGCG and is the most studied of all teas. Its antioxidants may interfere
White tea is uncured and unfermented. Some research suggests it may have the most potent anticancer properties among processed teas. Its high levels of L-theanine can promote a calm but alert mental state. Buddhist monks traditionally drank white tea to help them stay focused during meditation.
Oolong Tea
Oolong is a semi-oxidized tea that lies between green and black teas, combining many of the benefits of both. It contains the full range of polyphenol antioxidants—catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins. In traditional Chinese medicine, oolong is used to support kidney and spleen health.
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh is both fermented and oxidized, resulting in a very dark, rich tea with unique chemical properties. Traditionally
used in China to aid digestion and detoxify the body, pu-erh remains a staple in many wellness practices.
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are made from herbs, fruits, seeds, or roots steeped in hot water. They generally contain lower levels of antioxidants than true teas. Popular varieties include ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, hibiscus, jasmine, rosehip, mint, rooibos, chamomile, and echinacea. While many people drink herbal teas for weight loss, cold prevention, or better sleep, current research provides limited support for these claims.
Can Tea Be Harmful?
Most teas are safe, but the FDA has issued warnings about so-called “dieter’s teas” containing senna, aloe, buckthorn, and other plant-derived laxatives. These products lack scientific support and have been linked to bowel problems, liver and kidney damage, and even death.
Nutritionists generally agree that brewed tea is healthier than bottled tea because it avoids added sugars and calories.
Finding
the
Tea That Works for You
The healthiest tea is the tea you enjoy enough to drink regularly. You won’t benefit from green tea if you dislike it and never drink it. Explore flavors, experiment
with varieties, and try to limit sweeteners, which can turn a healthy beverage into a high-calorie dessert.
For maximum health benefits, choose loose-leaf teas when possible. Loose-leaf teas contain whole leaves with higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants. Tea bags often contain broken leaves or dust, which carry fewer beneficial compounds.
Drinking tea daily can positively influence your overall health. Most studies suggest that 2–3 cups per day offer measurable health benefits without excessive caffeine. Since staying hydrated is essential, why not hydrate with something that also gives you a boost of polyphenols? My favorite morning tea is Lemon Drop Mate with a teaspoon of Sencha from The Spice and Tea store here in Galveston. Mix it up, try new types, and join the 5,000-year-old tradition of finding health through tea leaves!
Tablecloth Linens
Need freshly pressed linens for your
Let us handle the
Call us today!
just
and
Shaye Henderson, BSN, M.Ed., M.S., Instructor at Bent On Healthy Living Wellness Center, 2910 53rd Street, Galveston
TUE, DEC 9 | 7 PM
Join Garrison Keillor, Heather Masse, Maria Jette, the Radio Acting Company, Fred Newman, Richard Dworsky and the Guy’s Shoe Band for the Adventures of Guy Noir, Duane & His Mom, the News from Lake Wobegon, A Christmas Carolette, and the audience singing of five beloved carols. DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL FRI, DEC 5 | 8 PM & SAT, DEC 6 | 3 PM
A powerful story of redemption, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has enchanted audiences all over the world with its traditional message of holiday joy! Enjoy traditional Christmas carols in this classic production of a beloved holiday story.
FOSTER
FOSTER
Fostering Saves Lives. For a weekend or until adoption, give a shelter animal time out of a cage in a home. You could be instrumental in finding that animals new home. From old dogs to bottle baby kittens our foster program is vital to our success.
Fostering Saves Lives. For a weekend or until adoption, give a shelter animal time out of a cage in a home. You could be instrumental in finding that animals new home. From old dogs to bottle baby kittens our foster program is vital to our success.
VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER
Volunteers are the backbone of GIHS. Assisting with many tasks at the shelter and off-site events! Sign up today to help advocate for adoptable animals, take a dog for a walk, socialize kittens, or one of any other volunteer tasks that make our mission possible.
DONATE
Volunteers are the backbone of GIHS. Assisting with many tasks at the shelter and at off-site events! Sign up today to help advocate for adoptable animals, take a dog for a walk, socialize kittens or one of the many other volunteer tasks that make our mission possible.
DONATE
Whether in support of one of our designated programs or as a general contribution every dollar supports our mission and it is tax-deductible. We do have an Amazon wish list as well, you can literally give a dog a bone.
Whether in support of one of our designated programs or as a general contribution every dollar supports our mission and it is tax deductible. We do have an Amazon wish list as well, you can literally give a dog a bone.
SHELTER SERVICES:
S a f e h o u s i n g a n d c a r e f o r r e s i d e n t p e t s i n c l u d i n g a n i m a l h e a l t h a n d b e h a v i o r a s s e s s m e n t s R o u t i n e h e a l t h c a r e i n c l u d i n g i m m u n i z a t i o n s , w o r m i n g , a n d t r e a t m e n t f o r m i n o r i n j u r i e s R a b i e s o b s e r v a t i o n s f o r b i t e c a s e s
P a r t n e r i n g w i t h o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o t a k e i n a n i m a l s a s n e e d e d
Safe housing and care for resident pets including animal health and behavior assessments. Routine health care including immunizations, worming, and treatment for minor injuries. Rabies observations for bite cases. Partnering with other organizations to take in animals as needed. Coordinating transport for out-of-state placements.
C o o r d i n a t i n g t r a n s p o r t f o r o u t o f s t a t e
p l a c e m e n t s
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS:
-Spay/neuter assistance
-Lost pet assistance and recovery
-Humane education for all ages
OUR MISSION
Dedicated to promoting animal welfare and the protection and prevention of unwanted or homeless animals of Galveston Island.
ADOPT FOSTER SPONSOR VOLUNTEER
EDUCATE DONATE
CONNECT WITH US
The “Big Fix”
GIHS is dedicated to ensuring ALL pets are spayed or neutered to decrease the number of homeless and unwanted pets as well as the number of pets entering the shelter. Through generous grant funding, we offer spay/neuter assistance programs at low to no cost for those in need. Contact the shelter for information about the “Big Fix!”
T h e G a l v e s t o n I s l a n d H u m a n e S o c i e t y I N C , f o r m e d i n 1 9 8 1 a s a 5 0 1 C 3 , n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n . O r i g i n a l l y c r e a t e d b y c o n c e r n e d c i t i z e n s t o r e s c u e a n i m a l s f r o m “ t h e p o u n d ” a n d m u c h h a s c h a n g e d o v e r t h e l a s t f e w d e c a d e s T o d a y w e h a v e a h u m a n e s h e l t e r w i t h a n o - k i l l l i v e r e l e a s e
MEET GIHS
The Galveston Island Humane Society, Inc., formed in 1981, is a 501c3, non-profit organization. Originally created by concerned citizens to rescue animals from “the pound,” much has changed. Today we have a humane shelter, providing care for lost or homeless pets, reuniting pets with families, and promoting the adoptions of pets needing homes.
r a t e . D a i l y w e p r o v i d e c a r e f o r l o s t o r h o m e l e s s p e t s , r e u n i t i n g p e t s w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d p r o m o t i n g t h e a d o p t i o n o f p e t s n e e d i n g h o m e s A s a n “ o p e n a d m i s s i o n ” s h e l t e r f o r G a l v e s t o n I s l a n d w e a c c e p t a l l h o m e l e s s p e t s e v e n w h e n t h e s h e l t e r i s f u l l I n a c i t y w i t h a h i g h n u m b e r o f h o m e l e s s p e t s , t h i s c o u l d e a s i l y l e a d t o n e e d l e s s e u t h a n a s i a
GALVESTON ISLAND COMMUNITY CATS
E m e r g e n c y M e d i c a l A s s i s t a n c e
-Pet food pantry for individuals in need
-Emergency Medical Assistance
WHAT DO ADOPTIONS INCLUDE AT GIHS?
A l l a d o p t e d p e t s a r e s p a y e d / n e u t e r e d a s r e q u i r e d b y T e x a s l a w .
-All adopted pets are spayed/neutered as required by Texas law.
V a c c i n a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g r a b i e s , a s w e l l a s
F l e a a n d H e a r t w o r m p r e v e n t i o n a r e a l l
c u r r e n t w h e n p e t i s a d o p t e d
M i c
-Vaccinations including rabies, as well as Flea and - Heartworm prevention, are all current when the pet is adopted.
-Microchip.
GICC was established in 2015 and is a progressive Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) program to fix, vaccinate and release feral cats on the island. To date, we have altered over 4000 felines with this program. The success of this program has reduced yearly intake at GIHS and has improved our live release rate in cats from 52% in 2014 to 94% in 2024.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
-Microchip your pets.
-Spay or neuter your pets.
O u r p r o g r a m s w o r k d i l i g e n t l y t o r e d u c e t h e n u m b e r o f p e t s i n o u r c o m m u n i t y . W e a r e c o m m i t t e d t o a s s u r i n g t h a t a d o p t a b l e p e t s a r e k e p t a v a i l a b l e u n t i l t h e y a r e p l a c e d i n a f a m i l y o r t r a n s f e r r e d t o a p a r t n e r o r g a n i z a t i o n .
O u r s h e l t e r i s m a n a g e d b y a b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s c a r i n g s t a f f a n d a c t i v e v o l u n t e e r s w h o w o r k t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e
As an “open admission” shelter for Galveston Island, we accept all homeless pets, even when the shelter is full. In a city with a high number of homeless pets, which could lead to needless euthanasia, our programs work diligently to reduce the number of pets in our community.
-Like and share from our social networks.
-Become a member of GIHS.
-ADOPT your next best friend.
0 1 4 t o 9 4 % i n 2 0 2 4
-VOLUNTEER at the shelter.
-FOSTER if you cannot adopt.
-DONATE to support our mission.
M i c r o c h i p y o u r p e t s S p a y o r n e u t e r y o u r p e t s a n d e n c o u r a g e o t h e r s t o d o t h e s a m e
L i k e a n d s h a r e f r o m o u r s o c i a l B e c o m e a m e m b e r o f G I H S A D O P T y o u r n e x t b e s t f r i e n d V O L U N T E E R a t t h e s h e l t e r F O S T E R i f y o u c a n n o t a d o p t
We are committed to assuring that adoptable pets are kept available until they are placed in a family or transferred to a partner organization. Our shelter is managed by a board of directors, caring staff, and active volunteers who work to provide for the pets in our care along with creating and managing community programs that will positively impact our shelter. We hope you will join us in our mission to make sure that every pet on Galveston Island can live out his or her life in a loving home.
D O N A T E t o s u p p o r t o u r m i s s i o n
CATS,CATS, CATS!
GIHS is overflowing with kittens and cats of every age, size, color, and personality. Come meet them and discover your future best friend! Gandolf, Elora, Socks, and Willow are already plotting to steal your heart. Fostering is also a wonderful—and much needed—option right now. Whether you’re ready to adopt or open your home temporarily, these whiskered wonders can’t wait to meet you. See you soon at GIHS!
The Galveston Island Humane Society is always in need of volunteers, fosters, and adopters. By spending time with the shelter animals, you can help them socialize and also promote their adoption. Becoming a foster parent or adopting can give them the mental and emotional break they need from shelter life. If you’re interested in fostering, please visit: www.galvestonhumane.org/foster
If you’re interested in adopting the kitties, please apply at www.galvestonhumane.org/adopt
Bob Rohan, or as he is known in Texas “Bad Bob”, has been playing the fiddle and singing in various groups for over 30 years in Texas, and has opened for Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Carlene Carter and John Conley to name a few. Bob has played in bands that have backed up country legends like Hank Thompson, Ray Price, Jack Greene, Pam Tillis, and Dale Watson.
Along with songwriting, Bob is also a talented cartoonist and has a self syndicated comic strip titled “Buffalo Gals”. The comic feature is about two cowgirls “Bess Winchester” and “Connie Cheyenne”. The comic strip was inspired after playing with “The Hays County Gals and Pals” a cowgirl western group that toured through Texas, Oklahoma and as far west as Elko, Nevada. Bob has won The Wisconsin State Fiddle Championship and has been nominated several times from The Academy of Western Artists for Best Cowboy Cartoonist.
www.badbobrohan.com
Hello Wavers. I thought it might be fun to see what zodiac sign Galveston‘s historical events occurred under. Many people explore astrological signs for insight. Others just read their Zodiac columns in their favorite media for fun.
As always, let’s start with a little history.
History
The Zodiac is a collection of twelve constellations within an imaginary band that follows the path of the sun, moon, and planets. One of the earliest possible depictions, a bull with star-like marks in a French cave from seventeen thousand years ago, may represent Taurus. The system has roots in ancient Mesopotamia, with records from four to five thousand years ago, and was later refined by the Greeks and Romans.
Astrology is the practice of using these signs to create horoscopes, interpreting celestial movements as influences on human destiny.
Fun Fact: In 2011, many astrologers added Ophiuchus as the thirteenth sign and reconfigured the astrological calendar.
Aquarius- Galveston Army Air Field
According to astrologers, Aquarius is an air sign, fixed in nature and ruled by both Saturn and Uranus. Its sign is that of the Water Bearer representing Ganymede, the cupbearer of the gods. Aquarians are groundbreakers; they introduce and champion new ideas. Could this explain the groundbreaking installation of the Galveston Army Air Field?
It was a World War II military installation on Galveston Island that was officially activated in January 1943. It originated when the federal government made plans to expand the Galveston municipal airport to accommodate Army aircraft. In 1942, the United States Army Corps of Engineers constructed three 6,000-foot-long, hard-surface runways at the airport. By March 1943, it was under the command of Maj. Henry C. Coles.
Fun Fact: The installation cost $7 million and at its peak had some 2,500 personnel.
Early in its history, the airfield was used as headquarters
for planes flying antisubmarine patrols. Aircrew training was also conducted there. As the war continued, the base gained importance, and several heavy bombardment units and fighter planes were stationed there. During 1944, the field was used as an instructors’ indoctrination center. In February of that year, more than 2,000 troops were stationed at the base. In 1945, the airfield served as headquarters for a fighter-gunnery base. Aircrew training continued there until the end of the war. By October 1945, most of the aircraft had been transferred to other stations, and the deactivation of military activities at the airfield had begun. Galveston Army Airfield was officially deactivated on November 15, 1945. The city of Galveston, which had retained ownership of the property, secured landing rights there, and the Galveston municipal airport has operated at the site since the military base closed.
Pisces - Screwmen’s Benevolent Association
Pisces represents the goddess Aphrodite. Pisces is a Water sign. They are very friendly and selfless; they are always willing to help others, without hoping to get anything back.
Their ruling planet is Neptune, so Pisces are more intuitive than others and have an artistic talent. They are generous, compassionate, and extremely faithful and caring. Perhaps Pisces guided the development of a new working agreement?
In March 1883, a new Black screwmen’s association, the Screwmen’s Benevolent Association No. 2, was established.
Fun Fact: “Screwing cotton” was a term for the specialized labor of compressing cotton bales into ships’ cargo holds.
This manual compression was essential to pack enough cotton into the limited space of wooden sailing vessels to make long transatlantic voyages. The first job resulted in a strike by the white association. It called for the immediate withdrawal of all white workers from the ship. In September, a close vote within the association brought the men back to work; however, it was not an overwhelming victory for the blacks. In the late 1880s, the hiring of black screwmen was still very low compared to the hiring of white workers.
The association introduced an apprenticeship system in 1885 that resulted in an increased white labor force, thereby gaining a virtual monopoly on the work at the port of Galveston. By 1891, its evolution from a benevolent society to a union was complete. The introduction in Galveston of the high-density cotton compress in 1910 ended the need for screwmen. The screwmen were no longer a part of the necessary workforce. By 1924, all semblance of its identity was gone.
Aries - The Deep Water Jubilee
Aries is a constellation that the Greeks saw as a ram’s head. Aries are said to be courageous, determined, confident, and enthusiastic, but also can be impatient, short-tempered, and impulsive. Did this temperament guide President Harrison when visiting Galveston?
The Galveston Army Air Field
The Screwmen’s Benevolent Association No. 2
by thomas waggoner
President and First Lady Harrison - In April 1891, President Benjamin Harrison, who signed the Rivers and Harbors Act, set out on a railway tour across the United States. For the final celebration of the Deep Water Jubilee, Galveston invited President Harrison to visit the city on his tour. He accepted, sending Galveston into a flurry of preparation.
Immediately after arriving in Galveston, the group boarded the steamer Lampasas with over one hundred guests so that Harrison could inspect the jetty works. Among the passengers was the first African American Collector of Customs, Norris Wright Cuney, whom Harrison appointed in 1889.
Upon returning to the docks, the group piled into carriages for a parade to the Beach Hotel, where the President was staying. The crowd packed the sidewalks, balconies, and second-floor windows along the route. School kids lined the street armed with flowers.
Fun Fact: The enthusiastic children rained flowers down on President Harrison, hitting him in the face and blanketing him with roses until he was forced with a smile to protect himself with his hat.
A religious man, President Harrison requested a light schedule for Sunday to attend church services and rest. Harrison visited the First Presbyterian Church, where Mendelsohn’s choir performed the Jubilation Amen. He and his wife took an afternoon walk around Galveston, admiring the homes and gardens along 23rd Street before attending evening services at Trinity Episcopal Church. That night on his way to the train depot, the presidential party stopped at the home of George and Magnolia Sealy for a short visit and a glass of wine.
Fun Fact: Their house, called Open Gates, is still located at 25th and Broadway and was the only private residence that the President visited in Texas.
Taurus - Capital of Texas
Taurus the Bull is associated with the god Zeus, who disguised himself as a bull to carry away a young woman he wished to marry. Taureans are considered to be the anchor of the zodiac. They love stability and find comfort in consistency. Anything or anyone that endangers that or their sense of security could find themselves facing a very angry force!
People born under the Taurus sign also value honesty above all else, so don’t try to pull a fast one on them—they’ll never forgive you if they find out you’ve deceived them.
Galveston, the temporary Capital - Fun Fact: In 1836, Galveston, under the sign of Taurus, became the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas.
President David G. Burnet moved his government to Galveston before the Battle of San Jacinto. A historical marker details this era, noting the island served as the capital of the Republic of Texas during the war for independence and later as its naval base. It also describes the controversial history of the Texas Navy, which was nearly sold by President Sam Houston, an order met with fierce local opposition in Galveston.
Gemini - Emancipation Proclamation
Gemini, the Caring Twins, are said to mend differences and are ready to give their life for a friend. Was this the trait that guided the reading of General Order No. 3 at Ashton Villa?
The order declared, “The people of Texas are informed that… all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights… between former masters and slaves.”
Built in 1859 by James M. Brown, Ashton Villa was the first mansion on Broadway and a pioneering brick residence.
Fun Fact: Ashton Villa withstood the devastation of the Galveston hurricane of 1900, but its basement was filled with sand and silt from the Gulf, and the surrounding grounds were topped with two feet of soil as part of the island’s grade-raising efforts.
FUN FACTS
Constructed by enslaved individuals, this three-story Victorian villa features 13-inch thick walls. The reading of General Order No.3 here, which enacted the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, occurred more than two years after President Lincoln signed it.
Fun Fact: Other Gemini events include the “Pageant of Pulchritude” beauty contest, which began in the summer of 1920 and became a precursor to Miss Universe.
Cancer —Jean Lafitte
The giant crab, known in the zodiac as Cancer, is believed to represent both strength and sensitivity. Ruled by the emotional Moon, Cancers wear their hearts on their sleeves. They possess a deep well of intuition, allowing them to understand others’ feelings and their own. Like the crab’s hard shell, Cancers project a protective exterior, but within lies a nurturing and caring soul.
Crabs and Galveston go hand in hand with the pirate Jean Lafitte.
Jean Lafitte - History tells us the months of June and July record many of Lafitte’s adventures. Perhaps Lafitte was influenced by the zodiac sign of Cancer while leaving his mark on Galveston.
He was a French pirate and privateer who came to Galveston in the early 19th century. From 1817 to 1820, Lafitte headquartered his smuggling business on Galveston Island, which was then part of Spanish Texas. He and his brother, Pierre, patrolled the Gulf of Mexico as agents of New World governments that had revolted against Spain.
Fun Fact: Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche.
Galveston Island’s natural harbor was ideal for Lafitte’s operations, allowing his ships to easily access the Gulf of Mexico. At its height, the colonists and privateers earned millions of dollars annually from the slave trade and stolen or smuggled coins and goods.
Lafitte had built his grand home, Maison Rouge, on the Island. But it wasn’t just a house. It was part of his fortress, with cannons peeking out from the upper floor and rooms filled with lavish treasures taken from captured ships. For a few wild years, Lafitte ruled Galveston like a pirate king.
Today, a historical marker on the island commemorates
President Benjamin Harrison & First Lady Caroline Harrison Ashton Villa
Jean Lafitte
FUN FACTS
his life, noting he settled here in 1817, built his fortified home Maison Rouge, and upon leaving in 1821, burned his settlement before a new structure was built over the old foundations in 1870.
Fun Fact: Some researchers believe Lafitte faked his death to escape his past and lived under the alias Lorenzo Ferrer in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
Leo - The Seawall
Symbolized by the lion, the king of the jungle, Leos are said to be natural leaders. Their fierce independence mirrors the lion’s powerful presence. Leos are likely to express themselves in dramatic, creative, and assertive ways. They are also likely to enjoy the warmth of the physical Sun. Perhaps this explains the bold move to build a concrete wall to protect our island home.
The Seawall - The initial segment of the Seawall was completed on July 29, 1904. This portion, made of concrete, was 3.3 miles long, 16 feet at its base, 5 feet wide on top, and 17 feet high. The outer face of the Seawall was curved to carry waves upwards. Riprap, the layer of large, loose stones used to protect soil from erosion, was placed along the base facing the Gulf of Mexico to break up wave action. The initial segment was completed at a cost of almost $1.6 million. The seawall dramatically lowered the loss of life and destruction.
Three engineers, Brigadier General Henry Martyn Robert, Alfred Noble, and H. C. Ripley, drafted the plans for the construction of the seawall and the raising of the city’s elevation.
left thousands more damaged. The city’s property losses were estimated at $28-30 million. Although the storm struck Galveston with 120-mph sustained winds, most of the deaths were caused by saltwater drowning, as a 16-foot storm surge washed over the city. Galveston responded to make itself one of the world’s most resilient cities.
Fun Fact: Within the first few weeks following the storm, telegraph and water services were restored; new telephone lines were being laid; and the saloons, trolleys, and harbor freight services began running.
Included in the Virgo timeline are other storms that impacted our Island:
September 11, 1961, Hurricane Carla struck, generating an F4 tornado that killed eight and injured 200. Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island in the early morning of September 13, 2008, as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 miles per hour.
Libra - The Port of Galveston
This zodiac sign is said to be able to look clearly at both sides of any given situation. The Libra symbol, the scales, represents the ability to weigh information and look carefully at all options. Did Libra oversee the historical birth and growth of our Island’s ports?
The Port of Galveston - Established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, the Port of Galveston became the oldest port in the Gulf of Mexico west of New Orleans. At the time, the land known as Texas still belonged to Mexico.
The port played a vital commercial and military role in the Texas Republic’s battle for independence from Mexico. Its harbor was home to the Texas Navy, a squadron of four sailing vessels.
Fun Fact: This Navy squadron helped Sam Houston gain success over General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836.
This zodiac is believed to represent Persephone, the daughter of the harvest goddess, Demeter. According to legend, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, the god of the underworld, and tricked into remaining with him for six months of the year. Some might say this treatment by Hades explains why Galveston experienced the great storm of 1900.
The hurricane that destroyed Galveston on September 8, 1900, is the nation’s deadliest natural disaster. Although its death toll will never be known precisely, the 1900 Storm claimed upwards of 8,000 lives on Galveston Island and several thousand more on the mainland. In Galveston, it destroyed 2,636 houses and
As the natural harbor grew in prominence, the city of Galveston, founded in 1839, grew around the port. In the 1850s, the port of Galveston exported goods valued almost 20 times what was imported.
Fun Fact: The main export was cotton.
The Galveston Wharf Company took control of the port in 1869 and built a grain elevator in 1875, leading Galveston to become a major grain exporter. By the 1870s, the Port of Galveston was a major U.S. commercial center with far-reaching maritime and rail connections. By 1878, the port of Galveston was the nation’s 3rd largest cotton exporter and won $6.2 million in federal funding in 1890 to become a deepwater port. In 1900, Galveston was ranked the fifth most important port in the country. Exports totaled more than 85 million dollars.
Scorpio- Galveston Orphans Home
Scorpios are believed to be passionate and assertive people with determination and focus. They will turn to in-depth research to reach the truth behind anything they find important. Great leaders and guides, Scorpios are said to be resourceful, dedicated, and fearless when there is a challenge to overcome. These were the traits needed to create our Island home for orphaned children. Dedicated in November of 1895, was Scorpio the guide that helped the Galveston Orphans’ Home provide care for the Island’s orphaned children?
George Dealey - George Dealey arrived in Galveston with his wife, Mary Ann Nellins, and their nine children in 1870. Soon, he met a widow, Mrs. E. M. Arnold, and shared with her his vision of creating a city orphanage. At the time, St. Mary’s church was the only institution that accepted orphaned children.
Fun Fact: Henry Martyn Robert was also the author of Robert’s Rules of Order. A guide still used in business meetings today.
Virgo - The 1900 Storm
The Seawall
Robert’s Rules Of Order
1900 Storm Aftermath
The Port of Galveston
George Dealey
She agreed to manage the orphanage as its directress. Appointing himself secretary-treasurer, Dealey used his own money to rent a house on Broadway and 8th Street, where Mrs. Arnold set up housekeeping with an orphan whose family had died at sea and had one child of her own. The landlord learned that the property was to be used as an orphanage and refused to rent it to them the second month. Dealey rented a second home owned by Mrs. John Hibbert on Market and 11th Street, naming it the “Island City Orphans Home.”
Fun Fact: The new landlady, upon learning who was to be housed on the property, immediately offered to lower the rent.
Within a year, twenty boys and girls occupied the home.
Henry Rosenberg - While his philanthropy was recognized during his lifetime, Henry Rosenberg, one of the Island’s richest men, his generosity would benefit the homeless children even after his death.
Rosenberg died childless and left his vast fortune to various charitable and religious organizations in Galveston. It was not until after he died in 1893 that citizens fully realized his civic contributions. Rosenberg left $30,000 in his will to be used to build a new home for the orphans.
The Galveston Orphan Home - The Galveston Orphans’ Home was dedicated on November 15, 1895. The Gothic Revival design featured a grand staircase that measured twenty feet wide, separate dormitories for boys and girls, and an impressive Rosenberg Memorial Hall meeting room with 26-foot ceilings. The basement had separate play areas for boys and girls, and even a shallow swimming pool.
Fun Fact: The cornerstone was laid in 1894, containing a time capsule that included information about Rosenberg.
Sagittarius -St. Mary Cathedral Basilica
Sagittariuses are the travelers of the zodiac. They are said to be curious and energetic. Their open mind and philosophical view motivate them to wander around the world in search of the meaning of life. St. Mary’s Galveston was consecrated on November 26, 1848. Did Sagittarius, with its search for the meaning of life, influence the profound difference the cathedral has made on the Island?
St. Mary’s Cathedral - One of the things that St. Mary’s Cathedral is known for is its design. It was largely inspired by King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England. It is in the traditional form of a Latin cross, with the entrance situated to the west and the sanctuary to the east. The structure is 130 feet long and 75 feet wide, with transepts 100 feet wide by 60 feet high.
Nicholas J Clayton - In true Sagittarius form, Nicholas J Clayton was an extrovert. Always optimistic, full of enthusiasm, and ready for changes. He was a famous architect credited with the changes to St. Mary’s Cathedral. He had traveled to Houston from Cincinnati in October 1871. In 1872, he moved to Galveston to take a position as a supervising architect. He remained and began his practice of architecture on the Island.
His first known independent work was St. Mary’s Church in Austin (1873–84). He designed many parish churches and other institutional buildings in the Catholic diocese of Galveston.
Fun Fact: In 1886, Clayton heightened the twin spires at the front of the St.
Capricorn - Central High School
Pragmatic, ambitious, and disciplined, Capricorns can accomplish any goal they set. This drive was clear in January 1905, when a collaboration opened the Colored Branch of the library at Central High School.
Fun Fact: It was the first African American public library in the state.
This branch gave African Americans their first library access, with all costs covered by the Rosenberg Library Association. The first principal, Champion J. Waring, guided 125 students with a curriculum based on the three R’s: reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Fun Fact: An alderman and later Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Curtis, is credited with coining the term in the early 1800s. Some accounts suggest he used the “’riting” spelling to highlight his own illiteracy.
This foundation allowed students to tackle complex subjects, and by the 1940s, the curriculum expanded to include arts, literature, and athletics. The school moved to a massive new building in 1954, complete with a gymnasium, pool, and laboratories, putting it on par with white schools.
Fun Fact: In 1968, the school was consolidated with Ball High School, previously the school for white students.
The building then became Central Middle School, an integrated facility.
Wavers, I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey. I don’t know if the stars guided our Island’s path, but Galveston’s pride and strength are undeniable in the resilience of its people.
See you next month,
Mary’s Cathedral to eighty feet and topped them with crosses.
Pope John Paul II made the cathedral a minor basilica, an honor bestowed on selected churches because of their antiquity or historical importance.
Henry Rosenberg
The Galveston Orphan Home
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Nicholas J Clayton
Central High School
Champion J. Waring
Pennie’s Take Out Menu
Smoked Brisket
Quality brisket covered with our original rub, slow smoked and ready to be sliced when you order.
Pork Ribs
Pork ribs cooked with our original rub till almost done then basted with our honey sweetened sauce.
Grilled Chicken
Chicken spiced with our rub cooked over wood. Unlike any chicken you have ever eaten.
Link Sausage
Pork and Beef link sausage smoked over oak ready and waiting for you to order.
Sandwiches
Chopped Beef | Sliced Beef | Sausage | Comes with a complimentary 4 oz side
Stuffed Baked Potato
Huge baked potato filled with butter, cheese, sour cream, chives and best of all chopped brisket!
Savour
Barbacoa (Sat. and Sun. Only)
Pennie Ochoa’s delicious recipe. Tender, moist shredded beef is the result.
Sides and Dessert
All sides are made fresh at Pennie’s
Potato Salad
Dill based cool refreshing chopped potatoes mixed with dressings.
Pinto Beans
My own recipe made fresh daily. Lots of love goes into the beans.
It was in May of the year 2020 when I first met and interviewed Frank and Teffeny Caruso for an article and review for the July 2020 edition of Waves Magazine. They had recently purchased the struggling Hubcap Grill hamburger restaurant from franchise owner and Galveston native Ricky Craig. Hugely popular in the Houston marketplace, the franchise struggled to gain a foothold in Galveston for a variety of reasons.
Frank and Teffeny set out to change that, and Teffeny quickly unleashed her creative talents upon the kitchen while Frank eagerly put his energy into assembling perhaps the most extensive collection of whiskey and tequila on the island, with more than 70 of the former and 30 varieties of tequila. Not to be outdone, Teffeny has tasted and selected more than 25 wines - another outstanding collection for an upscale hamburger restaurant - but more on that later.
I next encountered the Carusos in September 2023 when my publisher suggested I interview Teffeny for an article regarding her cookbook collaboration with Ms. Elaine Acker. Working with several prominent local restaurants and chefs, Ms. Acker’s book “Savor the
Big BITES
Flavor of Galveston” has been published and is available on Amazon and in several shops in Galveston.
That September interview resulted in a “Spotlight” article on Teffeny in the October 2023 edition of Waves Magazine. Incidentally, both my original review in July 2020 and the “Spotlight” article of October 2023 are archived and available on the Waves Magazine website. www.wavesgalveston.com
During my time spent with Frank and Teffeny, I began to gain an appreciation for the creativity, energy, and passion this couple possesses, not only for food and beverages but also for the entire Galveston community, including their restoration of a historic East End home.
It was obvious to me as Teffeny explained her homemade sauces and condiments, her specialty cakes, and additions and embellishments of menu items, that rigid adherence to a strict franchise menu was not going to contain her creativity for long.
Even as an observer, I could feel tension developing with their franchise arrangement as they continued to add and change items to better appeal to the Galveston marketplace. Teffeny’s interest in craft beers and upscale cuisine seemed a poor fit for a franchise built around hamburgers. It appears I may have been a bit prophetic, as their split from the franchise and emergence as an independent entity seems now to be complete.
The transition from Hubcap Grill to Coastal Star Brewing Company is now a reality, and their course has been set. A full transition from their former identity as a purveyor of casual handheld foods to a full-service restaurant with an expanded offering of fresh seafood and specialty dishes is underway. A new interim menu is in place and shows this transition. Thankfully, their handmade fries and dedication to the freshest and finest burgers and hot dogs remain for my “burger and a beer” lunch desires. However, I can now look forward to a less casual and more upscale dinner experience as they move forward.
What about their new name? It reflects their continued interest in establishing their image as a purveyor of fine spirits. We mentioned
earlier their extensive whiskey, tequila, and wine collection, but not their interest and history of craft beer brewing.
Teffeny has always had a keen interest in craft brewing. Almost from the beginning, she was experimenting with her beer and ale recipes. Partnering with Strong Arm Brew Works of Dickinson, she started developing and launching a series of crafted beers under the Coastal Star trade name. When COVID put a pause on that business, she used the time to further hone her recipes and gain hands-on experience while she and Frank developed the business plans to eventually brew their beer in-house.
Well, that time has come. With the name change, they are also remodeling the building and kitchen areas to accommodate a complete in-house brewing capability. The equipment has been ordered, and the process is fully underway. Teffeny’s collection of artisan beers will continue uninterrupted with their contracted brewery as they transition to full independence. Her past beers have included a highly rated lavender beer and a potent IPA that hovered around 8 percent ABV. Look for expanded offerings, including nitroinfused beers and ales. Throughout their transition, they will continue to offer tasting flights for their beers and also selected craft beers from other artisan breweries.
When I met with Frank at the restaurant for this article, the changes were obvious, the energy levels high, and you could sense the excitement in the air. They are hiring, training, and transitioning their entire staff as they move forward, and the enthusiasm of their employees is apparent.
This has been a long journey for Frank and Teffeny. It has been difficult. From the start, the headwinds have been furious: first COVID, which devastated the industry; then ongoing franchise struggles; daily battles with an old, cranky building and outdated HVAC; managing contracted brewing and baking facilities; and staffing and location challenges—all while maintaining a 100+ year-old Victorian home. Remarkably, they are still smiling and as enthusiastic as ever.
Lesser people may have given up, but it is not in their DNA. I sincerely hope you visit Coastal Star as they transition to their new operation, so you can experience the changes first-hand. I hope you share my excitement as they develop another fine venue for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, and keep our Strand area vibrant and welcoming.
Please drop by, meet the new staff, and relax while you enjoy a flight of select spirits or craft beers and their new appetizers and entrees.
Look for expanded live music and entertainment.
Handicapped accessibility is poor. High curbs, street parking, and stairs pose a challenge. Arrangements can be made for access through the adjacent lobby. Please call the restaurant.
Hours of Operation:
Open daily at 11:00 AM. Closing hours vary Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday & Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Coastal Star Brewing Company 2021 Strand #3 Galveston, Texas 77550 (409) 539-5128 www.coastalstarbrewingcompany.com
Pennie’s Pork Ribs
Savour our mouth-watering pork ribs, smoked to perfection using our own original rub and finished with our sweet, sticky glaze made with honey and other secret ingredients.
Pennie’s Tex-Mex 1713 37th Street ( 409)-765-5719
Huevos Rancheros
2 Eggs, a side of refried beans, fried corn tortillas with cheese all topped with fresh salsa and avocado. Served with warm corn tortillas.
ShyKatz 1528 Avenue L (409) 770-0500
December Featured Dishes
Fish
and Chips
Crispy beer-battered Alaskan Pollock served with seasoned fries, house-made tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge. A classic seaside favorite with a Galveston twist— flaky, golden, and hard to share.
Huli Huli Hut 504 25th Street (409)-443-5525
Elevate your Wednesdays at Saltwater Grill
Join us every Wednesday and indulge in our succulent, hand-cut prime ribserved with house au jus, your choice of mashed potatoes or baked potato, and buttered broccoli. Pair your meal with our 1/2 price select bottles of wine - only on Wednesdays!
Saltwater Grill - 2017 Postoffice Street (409) 762-3474
Jumbo Fried Gulf Shrimp Special
10 Golden-fried Gulf shrimp over a bed of fries served with colelsaw at The Gumbo Diner. Only $14.99!
The Gumbo Diner 3602 Seawall Blvd. (409) 762-3232
Coconut Crusted Red Snapper
Coconut crusted red snapper topped with mango pico de gallo, one jumbo scallop and one jumbo shrimp, accompanied with char-grilled broccolini and herb roasted potatoes
Cooper’s Landing 11150 Termini-San Luis Pass (409) 539-5534
Crabs Claws
Crab Claws are back for a limited time at Mario’s Seawall. Enjoy this crowd favorite in a Spicy Marinara or White Wine sauce. The perfect way to start your meal at Mario’s!
Marios Seawall Italian and Pizzeria 628 Seawall Blvd (409) 763-1693
Jumbo
Fried Gulf Shrimp Special
10 Golden-fried Gulf shrimp over a bed of fries served with colelsaw at The Gumbo Diner. Only $14.99!
Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar 2107 Postoffice Street (409) 744-8626
December Featured Dishes
Churro Bites
New! Golden, crispy, and dusted with just the right amount of cinnamon-sugar, our Churro Bites are bite-sized delights that pack big flavor. Each piece is perfectly fried for a light crunch on the outside and a soft, doughy center. Served warm with Salted Caramel drizzle.
Papa’s Pizza 4400 Seawall Blvd (409) 766-7272
Puffy Taco Tuesdays
Every Tuesday for just $9.99, enjoy two ground beef puffy tacos. Available for dine-in only. Add a $5 happy hour marg to complete your meal!
A Galveston classic: crispy fried fish, shrimp, or oysters tucked into a warm, fresh-baked baguette, dressed with tangy Cajun remoulade. Served with fries and slaw — no shortcuts, just coastal comfort.
Katie’s Seafood 2000 Wharf Rd (409) 765-5688
Sky Bar $5 Martini Thursdays
Good times and great rolls are waiting for you on Thursdays at Sky Bar. Enjoy our $5 Award-Winning happy hour Martinis and sushi by the piece every Thursday from 5-10 PM.
SkyBar 2105 Postoffice (409) 621-4759
CURTAIN GOING UP
By: Paul Hager
HOLIDAY EVENTS TO UNWRAP CHRISTMAS IN GALVESTON
Once again, it’s that most wonderful time of the year on the island when sugar plum fairies dance with nutcrackers. The Strand is transported back in time to the Victorian era, Ebenezer Scrooge learns the meaning of the holiday, and true believers can board The Polar Express for a personal visit with Santa Claus at the North Pole.
Many of these events and venues have become annual holiday traditions for families living on the island or journeying from surrounding areas. Check them out, and perhaps this year, create a yearly memory of your own! See LISTINGS for full dates and times.
EBENEZER SCROOGE’S BIG GALVESTON CHRISTMAS SHOW and A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION CHRISTMAS - Take your seats at Island ETC Theatre and The Grand for a holiday-themed play.
EBENEZER SCROOGE’S BIG GALVESTON CHRISTMAS SHOW - This fast, funny, and highly theatrical reimagining of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol has only five actors: Ebenezer Scrooge (Whitney Williams) and all the others! Actor One (Mario Sweeney), Actor Two (Rachel Jensen), Actor Three (Stephanie Welder), and Actor Four (Johnny De La Cerda). This frenzied pace encourages audience members to watch these character changes. And believe it or not, they play all the people in the original.
As the title indicates, the play is set in Galveston and will also include local people, places, and things. These mentions will change during the run of the show. It is more than possible that you will become a part of this play! But you must come to find out.
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION CHRISTMAS - Some people believe the Creator of the Universe sent His Son to Earth in the form of an infant born to a virgin woman and her faithful husband, Joseph. Other people don’t believe this but enjoy being with those who do — and enjoy a party (parties being more fun if there’s a reason, and what better than a birth?). Join GK, Heather Masse, Maria Jette, the Radio Acting Company, Fred Newman, Richard Dworsky, and the Guy’s Shoe Band for the Adventures of Guy Noir, Duane & His Mom, the News from Lake Wobegon, A Christmas Carolette, and the audience singing of five beloved carols.
HOLIDAY IN THE GARDENS
The countdown to the season has begun as preparation for the largest holiday celebration on the Gulf Coast is underway. Moody Gardens, one of the largest tourist venues in Texas, will transform into a festive wonderland featuring 40 days of holiday activities for visitors to enjoy on Galveston Island, including Ice Sculptures, Festival of Lights, Ice Skating, Dinner Shows, Breakfast With Santa, and more! There are far too many events, activities, experiences, and attractions for us to list here, so be sure and visit their website at https://www. moodygardens.com/holiday-season for detailed descriptions.
DICKENS ON THE STRAND
Brush off your bowlers and prepare your petticoats as the Galveston Historical Foundation presents the 52nd annual Dickens on The Strand. The annual festival is a holiday tradition with great family programming, live entertainment, special events, and more. Based on 19th-century Victorian London, it features parades, non-stop entertainment on four stages, new additions like Tiny Tim’s Play Land, Shopkeeper Skills Village, and roaming characters throughout the festival. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations, and gift items.
GALVESTON CHRISTMAS PARADE
Everyone loves a parade, and the annual Galveston Christmas Parade, to be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 6:30 PM and sponsored by the Galveston Municipal Police Association, is a real crowd pleaser featuring floats from the community for family fun! This free evening event begins at 25th and Postoffice, making two loops before ending around 8 PM.
THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE EXPERIENCE
The adventure comes to life when the train departs for a round-trip journey to the North Pole led by a cast of talented actors. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away for a one-hour trip to meet Santa. To get the full experience, they recommend allowing 2 hours for the entire event. You’ll want to be at the Galveston Railroad Museum Train Depot 30 minutes before actual departure time to enjoy beverages and light meals, write letters to Santa, and attend the special performances that occur in the train depot before the train STEAMS into the station! Final boarding is 10 minutes before departure. Upon debarkation, guests are encouraged to visit with Santa and his helpers, stop by the museum store and food court, explore photo opportunities and enjoy additional entertainment. [Shameless Self Promotion - if you want to see yours truly portraying Santa, get tickets in Car 1 or Car 2 for any departure]
PAUL HAGER
PAUL HAGER
Finally, Even More Shameless Self-Promotion I was a bit flabbergasted and quite honored to learn that I have been nominated in the Best Actor category for the Galveston.com 2025 Best of the Island Awards - “the Oscars of the Gulf Coast,” according to the Houston Chronicle. As those red-carpet award-ceremony walkers always say, “It’s a great honor just to be nominated.” And far be it from me to solicit votes through this publication, but if you want to pass a glance, here’s where you can do it: https://www.galveston.com/ bestofgalveston/
ON THE BOARDS [Currently playing]
ISLAND ETC [East-End Theatre Company]
EBENEZER SCROOGE’S BIG GALVESTON CHRISTMAS SHOW
By Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen
November 14 -December 6, 2025
Sunday matinee November 24, 2025 No performance Thanksgiving https://www.islandetc.org/
THE GRAND 1894 OPERA HOUSE
DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
December 5 - 6, 2025 - 8:00 PM and 3:00 PM
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION CHRISTMAS
By Garrison Keillor
December 9, 2025 - 7:00 PM
THE NUTCRACKER
presented by City Ballet of Houston
December 13 - 14, 2025 - 2:00 and 6:30 PM http://www.thegrand.com/
CLEAR CREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE
A CHRISTMAS STORY
By Philip Grecian
December 19 – 21, 2025 - 2:00 and 7:30 PM https://clearcreekcommunitytheatre.com/
PURPLE BOX THEATRE
THE MOST WONDERFUL SHOW OF THE YEAR CABARET
December 5 - 7, 2025 - Times TBA http://www.thepurpleboxtheater.com/
BAYTOWN LITTLE THEATRE [BLT]
A SEUSSIFIED CHRISTMAS CAROL
By: Peter Bloedel
December 5 - 14, 2025 - 2:30 and 8:00 pm
https://baytownlittletheater.org/
HOLIDAY IN THE GARDENS
November 22, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Moody Gardens -1 Hope Blvd
GALVESTON CHRISTMAS PARADE
December 13, 2025 - 6:30 pm
25th Street and Post Office https://www.galvestontx.gov/1022/Christmas-Parade
Galveston Railroad Museum - 2602 Santa Fe Place https://galvestonrrmuseum.org/the-polar-express/
IN THE WINGS [Opening Soon]
ISLAND ETC [East-End Theatre Company]
THE NEW FURST HOTEL
By Joanne Lopez Rock and Joyce Lopez Mink
January 23 - January 31, 2026 - 8:00 PM
(Sunday matinee January 25, 2026 - 2:30 PM https://www.islandetc.org/
COM THEATRE [College of the Mainland Theatre]
LEADER OF THE PACK
Music and Lyrics by Ellie Greenwich and friends Book by Anne Beatts January 29 – February 15, 2026 - 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM https://www.com.edu/community-theatre/
THE GRAND 1894 OPERA HOUSE
CIRQUE KALABANTÉ
By Yamoussa Bangoura, inspired by daily life in Guinea January 16, 2026 - 8:00 PM
GALVESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - POPS II: DANZAS Y SONIDOS January 18, 2026 - 4:00 PM
THE CHOIR OF MAN
Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay January 24 -25, 2026 - 8:00 PM and 4:00 PM
NEIL BERG’S 50 YEARS OF ROCK AND ROLL V January 31, 2026 - 8:00 PM http://www.thegrand.com/
BAYTOWN LITTLE THEATRE [BLT]
THE SHADOW BOX
By: Michael Cristofer
January 30 - February 8, 2026 - 8:00 PM and 2:30 PM https://baytownlittletheater.org/
STANDING OVATION THEATRE
THE ODD COUPLE
By Neil Simon
January 16 - 25, 2026 - 7:30 and 2:30 PM https://standingovationtheatre.org/home-page
PAUL HAGER
PAUL HAGER
Music Profile
Texas Austin Gaston
Singer-songwriter Austin Gaston appears to have found his musical home in Galveston. Many of his friends and peers think so, too. A popular favorite at many of Galveston’s live music venues like Hotel Lucine and Old Galveston Club, and a recent winner of Cole Johnstone’s Battle Of The Jams local songwriting contest held at 1877 On The Strand, with appearances on Culture Clash Magazine’s “In The Kitchen” and Mid The Pines Productions “In The Books” sessions, Gaston, is deeply entrenched in the music scene in Galveston.
“I believe that Austin is one of our shining stars in Galveston right now,” said Nellie Cornett, local musician, visual artist, and Executive Director of the burgeoning, grass-roots Galveston Music Collective. “If he’s successful, that helps everyone else be successful,” Cornett said.
Cornett’s optimism is reflective of a growing enthusiasm among Galveston’s music community. Event planners, festival organizers, producers, writers, and performers like Cornett and Gaston are pushing for more active participation from Galveston’s local government to develop programs and provide funding to help build a more formal and supportive music infrastructure that will essentially help musicians do what they do, full-time.
Gaston participates in many local events that are helping grow Galveston’s reputation as a music city on par with Austin or Nashville. Events like La Izquierda Surf and Music Festival, Ghost Coast Festival, Sandcastle Festival, “Save The Locals” Concerts, and Lone Star Biker Rally are just a few events Gaston performed at in 2025.
“I believe that the Galveston scene definitely deserves highlighting because of the plethora of bands and artists that float around. Working alongside local songsters like Benji Ramsell, Tyson Webb, The Mighty Orq, Robert Kuhn, and Cole Johnstone has been an honor,” Gaston said.
Born in Port Arthur, TX, in 1994 and raised around the College Station area, about 100 miles north of Houston, Gaston has been a resident of Galveston since 2021. In and out of garage bands since middle school, Gaston’s last band before moving to Galveston, “Carnage Guisada”, was a punk band.
“Punk rock is mastering chaos. You want to perform for people and show them you can have a great time, and they can too. My songs as a punk rocker may not be Carnegie Hall or Grand Ole Opry, but to some kids in a dive bar seeing someone flailing his body around, committing to his art - that’s his Carnegie Hall, that’s his connection to something he or she can only dream of,” Gaston said.
These days, while performing solo or with his bandmates, Kai Derrick (Guitar/Bass), Scotty Bean (Guitar), Daniel Grey (Drums), and Billy Sanders (Percussion), Gaston’s songs are less about reckless abandon and more about lyrical exploration of ideas. Whether punk, rock, or folk, Gaston exudes authenticity and a heartfelt enthusiasm for what he’s doing.
“I’m not trying to appeal to the masses, I’m trying to make sense of what’s in my own head first. Every song is individual and has its own personality. All songs are journeys. I don’t linger on one, it’s about making room for the next one,” Gaston said.
Q&A with Austin Gaston
Zach Tate: How do you describe yourself as a musician?
Austin Gaston: I describe myself as a singer-songwriter mostly because I write in the matter of mixed genres. Where I don’t necessarily have a particular style to be associated with, it’s more of a natural element that I like to stay true to.
ZT: Why do you play/write/perform music?
AG : Music itself was always the ultimate universal communication to me. A natural curiosity that led me to parts of myself that I would never be able to just express feelings simply. It became an outlet where I can make people feel what I would like them to feel and to perhaps be able to finally see and understand me.
ZT: Do you have any formal music training?
AG : My only formal lessons growing up were very basic and brief. Mostly through the Baptist church outside of Madisonville, TX, where my family
Story and Photos by Zach Tate. Additional Photos courtesy Sarah Saenz.
Nellie Cornett and Austin Gaston
Good music, in my opinion, is something that feels like it’s coming from a sense of one’s own honesty. Something pure that makes me know who you are and what you want to show us.
frequented. I was about 7, alongside my cousins, who all taught me how to sing and hold notes for our chosen hymns. Guitar wouldn’t come till later, I was 12 at this time, learning lead lessons at “The Guitar Studio” in Bryan, TX. I went to 5 consecutive practices - after that, I’m self-taught.
ZT: What is your earliest memory of being inspired by music?
AG : I always had a profound connection to music, I guess through my dad and mom. My dad always told me which bands or artists were on the radio, what song it was, what year it came out, what it was about, and showed me just how deep one could feel with just a tune. They both showed me how this art form had this beautiful, lasting longevity of memories of days long past. That no matter what, everything lives forever in song.
ZT: What artists did you love growing up and why?
AG : I could name a lot of artists, but that would take forever. A few would be like those of Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Gary Stewart, Ray Charles, Goo Goo Dolls, and White Stripes. I love these particular artists for the way their sound would resonate with me throughout my life. Their lyrics and compositions have had a lingering effect that I thank my lucky stars for having been able to experience, and have helped my understanding of what I want to do with my own sound.
ZT: Where was the first place you ever performed in front of people?
AG : I sang for my coach’s wife in elementary school. She was a teacher, and he had me perform for her in front of her class. He said if I did that, I wouldn’t have P.E. class for a week, so I sang her “She Will Be Loved”, by Maroon 5, and they liked it.
ZT: Who influences you these days and why?
AG : Artists that influence me today would honestly be the original music from my own friends. There are a lot of talented songwriters out here in Galveston, and getting to know them has been such a blessing in itself. They influence me to be the best me I can be.
ZT: What defines ‘good music’ in your opinion?
AG : Good music, in my opinion, is something that feels like it’s coming from a sense of one’s own honesty. Something pure that makes me know who you are and what you want to show us.
ZT: What is your songwriting process?
AG : My process can change for whatever I’m feeling for that particular song. Just going over certain feelings or words that I wish to express and/or say. Finding the tune in which I want to build off of, it’s all a bit of trying to control the chaos.
ZT: What is your opinion on AI-developed songs?
AG : I don’t use it myself; it is a tool for most to work out their thought process of what they would like to record or accomplish. However, to me, it seems it could be overused and distract people from actually learning on their own what they want to actually write, rather than a computer doing it for them through a prompt; it cuts out the real work.
ZT: How do you define success as it relates to being a musician?
AG : I believe success is being able to have your music heard and appreciated, inspiring others to join and create something out of nothing as you did. Creating community and great memories is successful enough.
ZT: What is your musical goal for 2026?
AG : To record my full-length album, and to keep playing around Texas as much as I can.
ZT: Where is the best place for people to find out where you’re playing next?
Austin Gaston will be performing at The Old Galveston Club, 8-11 pm on December 20th.
T hat’s a W rap
Photography by
L one 25 S tar R ally
Cade Crippin, Cristy Fritz, Renee Hartfield, Michael Lichter, Sarah Saenz, and Zach Tate.
In its 26th year coming to Galveston, the behemoth free public event known as Lone Star Rally wrapped up on November 9th after 4 days of motorcycles, music, and mayhem. The streets of Galveston were filled from 12 noon to 12 midnight with revellers from all over the country and a few international travellers as well. Riding a motorcycle isn’t imperative to attending Lone Star Rally, and many people come simply to marvel at the spectacle.
Known as the nation’s largest 4-day motorcycle rally, 2025 saw an increase in attendance from recent years when the weather was less cooperative. No one seems to know for sure exactly how many people attend Lone Star Rally each year, but event coordinator Steve Penland said it was a record year and most of the hotels on the island reported sold out, with no vacancies all weekend long. Estimates on actual attendance range from 400,000 to 600,000 people and 250,000 to 350,000 motorcycles.
No matter the definitive numbers, Lone Star Rally 2025, with its 4 days of sunshine, provided any and all attendees with a photo-op on every corner. Social media platforms were flooded with amateur and professional photographic images ranging from the blurry to the beautiful. The event was covered by national networks and every local media outlet within 200 miles of Galveston.
Pro photographers like Cade Crippin from Huntsville have been attending Lone Star Rally for 12 years.
“I like the bikes, the concerts, the people. Seeing what people put into the bikes, the paint, the custom work. I love it,” Crippin said.
Local photographers Renee Hartfield and Sarah Saenz joined in as well, helping capture over 150 live music shows on two official Lone Star Rally stages (the Progressive Seawall Stage and the Miller Lite Saengerfest Park Stage) including headliners Creed Fisher, Kevin Fowler, Hariball, Montgomery Gentry, Jackyl and Saliva along with Whey Jennings, Hippies and Cowboys, Lone Star Skynyrd, Cowboy and locals Kelany, Tucker Hart, Tilluride and Zach Tate. Galveston’s many music venues, restaurants, and bars also hosted live music, creating even more opportunities for live music photography.
Like most people, Crippin, Hartfield, and Saenz shared their work on their social media pages, and Waves Magazine wanted to acknowledge their good work along with nationally known motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter. Lichter has been photographing motorcycles since the 1970s, his work appearing in thousands of print publications and online. Lichter created a special event at Lone Star Rally this year for people who wanted to memorialize their Lone Star Rally weekend with images produced by one of the best in the business. The “Motorcycle Photoride”, sponsored by Moto Clay and Michael Lichter Photography, took place on Thursday and Sunday and allowed bikers to be photographed while they rode along some of Galveston’s best open roads. Lichter created unique images by riding on the back of a motorcycle, sitting backwards so he could shoot the riders in motion. Michael Lichter, based in Colorado, travels the world photographing motorcycles and has been shooting for Lone Star Rally since 2008.
Michael Lichter’s Photoride
Families
Miss Lonestar Rally Drive-In Car Show
“I love seeing all the mixed cultures, motorcycle clubs, and ethnicities together in one small city – everyone sharing a common love of motorcycles. I love the music choices too, from country to rock & roll, it’s hard to choose between the two stages sometimes,” Lichter said.
A new addition to Lone Star Rally in 2025 included the Outlaw Dave Activation Stage, designed to celebrate Galveston’s local musicians at Henley Park. Performances by the Mighty Orq, Lightning Rob, The Examiners, and Guitar George were just a few of the many concerts at Henley.
As usual, the Drive-In Car Show on Pier 21 drew thousands, along with the new VICLA motorcycle display and sound-off competition. The annual Tattoo Saloon Tattoo contest, Miss Lone Star Rally, Outlaw Dave Parade, Cycle Source Ride-In Custom Bike Show, and Rodeo Games spread out from the Seawall to Harborside were all big attractions at Lone Star Rally.
Over 300 vendors selling food and bike-themed clothing, jewelry, and motorcycle accessories made for endless shopping opportunities in a vibrant street atmosphere. Though generally a more adult-oriented event after 7 pm, many families happily strolled through the streets of Galveston during the day, enjoying the Lone Star Rally.
Lone Star Rally 2025 had some of the best weather in recent years, and while attendance was up, incidents involving police were down, making it one of the most successful rallies in Lone Star’s 26-year history on Galveston Island.
Lone Star Rally returns to Galveston November 5-8, 2026! More at LoneStarRally.com
Cowboy
Creed Fisher
Hairball
Zach Tate Cody Torrison of Tilluride
Lone Star Skynyrd Tucker Hart
FISHING on the Island
The With Chris Gonzales
Experienced Fishing Advice To Make Fishing Great Again
Serious Tackle Box
3-Way Swivel Deep Bottom Leader System
Deep dropping to 200 feet and deeper when using a mono leader that has a dropper loop or surgeon’s loop for the hook connection has always been a major concern for me. Twisting and tangling on the way down, especially with a long “hook leg” comes to mind. This is because the cut or live bait is the primary twist generator on the fall. I’m also reluctant to use those ring-type 3-way swivels, the angle of pull on the stem’s “bulbed” end of each eye on the inside of the ring really bothers me, no matter who makes them, or at what strength they are rated. I can’t put a big bait down deep hoping for a grouper or whatever to inhale my bait with one of those ring types as part of my rigging.
The Rosco, 600 1b. 3-way swivel is the simplest and strongest of the 3-way swivels...period. They cost around eight dollars for a six-pack and are available at Serious Tackle. Get the black ones if you have a choice. The correct orientation, top to bottom, when using this swivel is shown in the illustration. This positioning gives the maximum insurance against twisting and tangling because it has free rotation of the swivel eyes. The 5 ft. section of mono above the 3-way swivel is for cut-off and abrasion resistance. The swivel at the top of this section also gives increased twist and tangle insurance. This swivel can be a 350 1b. Rosco, size 4/0 in black, or a 500 lb. Size 10 ball bearing version that’s also in black.
3-Way Swivel
Deep Bottom Leader System
My hooks of choice with this leader are Mustad 39960DT in sizes 16/0 to 20/0 and Eagle Claw L2045G 18/0 and 20/0 – all are circle hooks.
The three mono sections of this leader system are 300 lb. clear. Crimped connections are much easier to make than tied ones, especially in 300 lb. and up. When properly crimped, it’s almost a foolproof rigging method, using compatible pieces makes this a reality. To build the leader system as shown in the illustration, you need the 300 lb. Mono, 1.9 mm double crimps (black), a 4-position hand crimp tool which is designed for use with double barrel sleeves (crimps) and using its correct position for these sleeves. Squeeze the handles tight, till they no longer move, and then tightening will be complete. Make your crimp or crimps in the middle portion of the sleeve, each end should be “belled” as in the illustration.
This is the procedure I use for making the crimps right and tight with a little insurance thrown in. Look at the part of the illustration that’s below the “hook leg” of the leader system. The first step, which isn’t shown, is
to cut the mono’s end at an angle — not 90 degrees across the strand, this makes it much easier to push through the barrel sleeve. Next, push the mono through the sleeve, then through the eye of whatever you are attaching it to, such as one of the swivel eyes. Then, back through the sleeve until it comes out the other side about three inches, as shown at number 1 on the illustration. While keeping this end away from all the rest of the mono, very carefully heat the tip of the mono with a butane lighter until it melts. . .take the flame away and blow out the fire on the end of the mono if necessary. Assuming that you have already turned off the lighter and put it down in a safe place, blow on the end of the mono to cool it down and solidify it. Now, pull on the mono loop, as at number 2, in the direction indicated by the arrow. This will pull the bulbed
end of the number 1 length against the end of the sleeve. Then pull the mono in the number 3 area toward the direction indicated by its arrow to close the loop to size at the swivel or hook, this connection is now ready to crimp. Repeat this procedure at all loop and crimp locations. The “little insurance thrown in” is the bulb on the mono end. Should the mono slip, which it should never do, the “bulb” can save the day. There’s even a story from the West Coast that I read where a guy brought in a yellowfin tuna and saw where one of his crimped mono connections hadn’t been crimped but held because the bulb jammed it tight when the fish was on. A fish story? I don’t know, but the bulb is now part of my crimped mono connections.
On the illustration’s bottom loop is a breakaway loop of 40 lb. mono. Make this loop by doubling a piece of mono and tying a double overhand knot in the tag ends. Loop the breakaway through the bottom eye twice before going back through its end with the tied end of the loop. The breakaway loop’s end with the knot and its two stiff ends are then passed through the sinker’s eye and around its body, forming a loop at the sinker’s eye. The sinker’s weight will be determined by how much is needed to get your bait to your target depth and keep it vertical directly below you.
Braided line of 100# and over make a good choice for deep bottom drops for several reasons. The two biggest advantages are its virtually no stretch for best feel and hooksets; its small diameter also has less resistance to the current “blowing” your bait presentation off vertical.
Circle hooks are almost a must when fishing deep. Their hooking and holding abilities really work to your advantage; they also have much less chance of becoming hung up in structure than a similar-sized “J” hook. Circle hooks also require that you wait for the rod to bow hard and stay that way before you begin to wind your prize to the surface. Dropping to the bottom with a big-cut bait such as a bonito or bluefish strip or a live blue runner is an offering that’s hard for any self-respecting grouper or sow red snapper to resist. This rigging and tackle to match from the swivel up will soon have whatever’s on your hook realizing they’ve made one of life’s bad choices. The 3-way barrel swivel by Rosco is the right way to go deep and beyond with confidence. This particular leader system with its super strong and efficient 3-way swivel, 300 lb. mono with crimped connections, and big circle hook is definitely a deep confidence generator; give it a fry and you’ll see what I mean.
Gonzales Owner - Serious Tackle
Pro Fishing Gear & Tackle
Chris
Continue building your tomorrow!
At Galveston College Continuing Education, our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality, and careerfocused programs that serve the needs of our students and the broader community. Whether you’re preparing for a new job, building new skills, or learning something just for fun, we’re here to support your journey every step of the way.
• Allied Health: Earn certifications for high-demand health care fields such as Phlebotomy, CNA, CCMA, Massage Therapy, EKG and EMT Technology.
• Craft Trades: Develop the skills and training to work in high-demand fields like Shipfitting, Pipefitting, CDL Truck Driver and more.
• Technology: Dive into AI for content creation and innovation, or get certified in computer networking.
TOMORROW Your BUILD
• Leisure: Enrich your life with sailing, painting, ceramics, chorale, and cooking classes; get fit with a gym membership or yoga ; learn computer basics, or hone your skills in digital photography and editing.
• Customized Training: We offer customized training solutions for businesses and organizations of all sizes.
Beach Bum The
TIME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES
Merry Christmas, Wavers!
Christmas will be here soon and it’s one of your Bum’s favorite times of the year. I love getting together with family and friends and enjoying the wonderful fellowship that the Christmas Season brings.
I had an idea the other day when I was out riding around in my ol’ scarab. It’s not like me to have many thoughts in a day, but here is what had me thinking...
With lots of family and friends gathering this holiday season, what are some of the best things we can do to entertain everyone? After all, we can’t eat and drink all of the time, although your Bum is pretty darn good at it.
Nothing beats a great movie to watch. That is always a real crowd pleaser. Your Bum has given you an early Christmas present and listed some of his favorite all-time holiday movies. They are listed in no particular order. Enjoy!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Rudolph The RedNosed Reindeer Released in 1964
Rudolph is a legend and as an adult in these trying times, Rudolph feels to your Bum like the underdog story we need. The core of this time-tested tale proves that being different isn’t something to be ashamed of - it’s something to embrace.
Die Hard Released in 1988
Listed as a Christmas movie only because it takes place during the holidays. New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) heads to L.A. to see his wife and winds up attending the Christmas party from hell, thanks to Alan Rickman’s memorable Teutonic baddie Hans Gruber (who finds a one-man killing machine along with a lump of coal in his stocking!)
Bad Santa
Released in 2003
Billy Bob Thorton is masterful in one of your Bum’s favorites. Thorton’s thieving department store Santa injects some nasty deviancy into the yuletide season in this uproarious black comedy. NOTE: This one is not for the kiddos. Tuck them into bed and then enjoy.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Released in 1965
After finding himself in a bout of seasonal depression, Charlie Brown tries to put together a Christmas play before Linus reminds him of what the true meaning of Christmas really is. Your Bum is a huge “Peanuts” fan.
Miracle On 34th Street Released in 1947
Another Christmas classic that your Bum loves. You can’t go wrong with this perennial Christmas staple about the trial of a man claiming to be Santa Claus. Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn provide us with outstanding performances.
It’s A Wonderful Life Released in 1946
Few films define Christmas like Frank Capra’s 1946 classic starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, who, on the verge of committing suicide, is visited by an angel who shows him the true importance of his life. A masterful performance by Jimmy Stewart.
Home Alone Released 1990
Writer John Hughes added heart to Thanksgiving with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. In Home Alone, he takes a less sentimental approach to the holidays with the tale of 8-yearold Kevin McCallister (the adorable Macaulay Culkin), who’s left alone by his family only to face down — and outwit — a pair of bungling burglars. Let’s be honest, you can enjoy this one any time of the year.
A Christmas Story
Released in 1983
Another of your Bum’s real favorites. This movie has so many great scenes, including when foureyed Ralphie’s pal gets triple-dog dared into touching his tongue to a frozen metal flagpole. Be careful Wavers, don’t shoot your eye out with the official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!
Gremlins
Released in 1984
This dark Christmas comedy starts with the adorable Gizmo, but when the rules are broken—no bright light, no water, no midnight snacks—the chaos begins. From gremlins caroling outside to wreaking havoc in a movie theater, the mayhem is nonstop. Equal parts funny and creepy, it’s a Christmas movie that proves cute can turn dangerous fast.
Edward Scissorhands Released in 1990
Tim Burton’s gothic fairy tale stars Johnny Depp as Edward, a gentle outsider with scissors for hands. His hedge art and ice sculptures amaze, but suburbia’s fear turns bittersweet. Winona Ryder brings heart to this quirky, haunting holiday classic.
Christmas Vacation
Released in 1989
Do you dread having your in-laws visit for the holidays? Watching this Chevy Chase movie will make anything your family does seem totally normal in comparison. So many great scenes, including when the thousands of Christmas lights won’t light up. Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie) is hilarious.
Scrooged
Released in 1988
Bill Murray takes that cynicism to the extreme in this darkly funny twist on A Christmas Carol. As a selfish TV executive, he’s visited by three outrageous ghosts who try to set him straight. From the wild cab ride with the Ghost of Christmas Past to Carol Kane’s hilariously violent Ghost of Christmas Present, the movie is packed with unforgettable scenes. Murray’s sarcastic charm makes this one a holiday classic with bite.
Frosty the Snowman Released in 1969
A true classic, this animated holiday gem brings Frosty to life with a magic hat and a jolly laugh. From playful snowball fights to the race against melting, it’s a cheerful reminder of childhood wonder. Jimmy Durante’s narration makes it timeless.
Have some good ones to add to the list? Let us know at www.wavesgalveston.com
PET PEEVES Of The Month
Check-Out Line Horrors
We are in the middle of the peak shopping season. This means crowded stores and long check-out lines. It’s a time when tempers can run very short. This is especially true when highmaintenance and inconsiderate people totally bring a halt to the check-out process. It’s not the cashier’s fault; it’s usually the customers who are problematic. Here are some examples that can make even the most patient people lose control...
Money/Credit Card: You know you must pay. The checkout line is not the place to search a 1,268-pocket abyss of a purse to find your payment. The ones that have to “run to the car” to get the money? Oh…My…God!
Huge amounts of change: I get it. When I was a kid, and payday was almost here, Mama would send us to the store with “sofa change” to pick up a few things. Pre-counted, in a zip-lock bag, and the amount clearly labeled, the check-out process was quick. However, digging in a purse or under the car seats for .62 cents to avoid breaking a dollar at check-out is ridiculous. Break the dollar. Change can be cashed in for bills at any Kroger via the change machines. Push the buttons of the machine, not the buttons of the people standing in line behind you!
Lottery ticket purchasers: “A Dr. Pepper, $10.00 in gas on pump 3, and two Texas Two-Step scratch-offs, please.” This should be a brief interaction between Mrs. Customer and Mr. Cashier. But wait, is she scratching off the lottery ticket at the window? Oh, she won $2.00. Good for you, lady! Make sure you stand here and keep cashing them in until you don’t win anything. I’ll wait.
The champion of the “most inconsiderate folks” competition goes to Jane Q. Customer, who places items on the counter, the cashier rings them up, then the customer leaves the counter to grab something they forgot. It’s not the cashier’s fault. He wants
to strangle Jane Q. just as much as the 6 people in line waiting. The kicker is this is the same lady, previously in the middle of the line, who kept looking ahead, mumbling that the line is moving too slowly and she’s late for her 2 pm yoga class at the Y.
Do we like people who are inconsiderate of our time, preferring to deliberately pull us into their disorganized mess of a life by aimlessly holding up check-out lines?
NO! WE DON’T LIKE THAT!
There is something to be said for practicing certain etiquette, social interaction protocols, if you will, instilled in most of us during the growing-up process. At the very least, be conscious that action taken in a social situation affects other people, directly or indirectly, not just in a check-out situation, but also in several daily life routines that we all follow. Prepare for the daily grind, like a trip to the store. Use common sense and a little regard for other folks. We can get through this “adulting” thing together. We promise!
SCRATCH OFF ONE MORE LOTTERY TICKET AT THIS COUNTER.
I’LL WAIT
The Herbs of Christmas
The strongest memories are those that are attached to scents. If we smell cinnamon and pine, we can’t help but think of Christmas. While pine is considered an herb, it also has medicinal qualities, and cinnamon is definitely an herb. There are many more herbs that receive attention at Christmas, several of which grow easily in our climate.
Sage- Sage is to southern cooking what Dolly Parton is to country music. The dressing on the table just wouldn’t taste the same without sage. This is a sturdy, evergreen herb that grows well in our climate with a little bit of shade. It’s fairly tolerant of drought and poor soil.
Rosemary- They say Rosemary is for remembrance, and the holidays are the perfect time for remembering the Christmas’ past while making new memories. Rosemary likes sandy soil and heat which is good since we have plenty of that! This woody shrub is also evergreen and works well both in cooking and in decorating.
Ginger- Ginger has many uses around the holidays- gingerbread houses and gingerbread men. This spicy herb is excellent in teas for reducing inflammation. Ginger is a tropical plant and grows well on the island. It’s best to keep at least one plant in a pot in the event of a nasty cold snap. That way, if the plants in the garden are killed off by a freeze, you can plant more from the one you took inside.
Cloves- if we are being technical, cloves belong to the spice category rather than an herb, but let’s not be picky. Cloves are wonderful pressed into citrus to make pomanders. The whole house smells warm and citrusy. Cloves do not grow well here, but citrus does!
Enjoy your Holiday Season and all the beautiful plants that make it grand!
R eflections
by: John & Kathy Valastro
Galveston Railroad Museum & Its Christmas Experience
Hello, my Island friends. I wanted to share a few thoughts about what we can do to get into the Christmas Spirit. There are so many fun activities on the island. For our children, grandchildren, and even ourselves. Who says we can use our imagination and revisit some of our most treasured childhood memories?
Visiting the Galveston Railroad Museum during Christmas feels like stepping into a dream. The combination of historical authenticity (real railcars, vintage locomotives), theatrical performance, and seasonal magic hits a sweet spot where education and entertainment merge. The ride itself isn’t just a novelty— it’s deeply evocative, reminding me of the wonder I felt as a child reading The Polar Express. Listening to the story, sipping warm cocoa, and hearing the jingle of a sleigh bell takes you out of the everyday world.
More than that, I admire the museum’s focus on inclusion: providing sensory-friendly options and accessible railcars shows that they care about creating memories for all visitors.
Overall, the Galveston Railroad Museum’s Christmas activities are more than festive—they’re a heartfelt celebration of storytelling, community, and the timeless allure of trains. It’s an experience that honors the past while creating joyful, present-moment memories, and that, to me, is what makes it so special.
Here is some information and a little history:
The Galveston Railroad Museum, located on Galveston Island, Texas, is more than just a repository of historic railcars and railroad artifacts. During the holiday season, it transforms into a magical winter wonderland thanks to its flagship event: The Polar Express Train Ride. This seasonal spectacle masterfully blends nostalgia, theater, and the joy of Christmas, making it a deeply memorable experience for both children and adults.
The Essence of the Museum
At its core, the Galveston Railroad Museum is a five-acre site filled with vintage locomotives, beautifully restored railcars, and a historic 1932 depot. The setting itself carries huge significance: it preserves the romance and heritage of rail travel, reminding visitors of a time when trains were one of the primary arteries of American life. Even outside of the holidays, walking through the yard, exploring old passenger cars, and learning about railroad history evokes a strong sense of connection to the past.
Holiday Activities: The Polar Express
Every holiday season — typically from mid-November through December — the museum hosts its signature event, The Polar Express Train Ride. This is not just a static display; it’s an immersive theatrical experience.
When you board the train, the enchantment begins immediately. Passengers are encouraged to wear pajamas, conjuring the spirit of the story’s children excited for their journey. As the train departs, the soundtrack of the motion picture version of The Polar Express plays, wrapping riders in familiar melodies that heighten the sense of magic.
Onboard, actors play beloved characters such as the Conductor, dancing
chefs, elves, and more. They serve hot chocolate and cookies, just as in the book, and lead a reading of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic The Polar Express. The experience is theatrical: there’s singing, caroling, and storytelling. Then, after a journey that feels like it’s headed straight to the “North Pole,” Santa and his helpers board the train. Each child (or passenger) receives their first gift of Christmas: a silver sleigh bell, which is not just a cute souvenir, but a keepsake that ties back to the story and the movie.
At the end of the ride, guests return to the depot, now transformed into “Santa Land.” There, elves entertain, and attendees have photo opportunities with Santa himself. There is also a Christmas store and a food court on site, so families can linger, soak in the lights and decor, and continue celebrating.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
One of the museum’s notable features is its commitment to accessibility. They offer a wheelchair‐accessible railcar with a hydraulic lift, as well as ADA-friendly restrooms. They also dedicate special “sensory cars” on certain dates, designed to welcome individuals with special needs (such as autistic guests), making the experience more inclusive.
Logistics & Practical Details
To fully enjoy the experience, visitors are advised to arrive roughly 30 minutes before departure to catch a lively pre-boarding show. The round-trip journey is about 60 minutes on the train, but the full event—including entertainment, boarding, and the after-ride activities—is best allotted about two hours.
Ticketing is tiered: there are various classes, from “coach” to “presidential,” with different price points. For 2025, tickets run from about $35 for coach up to $125 for higher-class seating. Parking is also managed: there’s limited parking directly at the museum, and overflow parking nearby.
In case of severe weather, while the train may not depart, the show is still presented in full, so guests don’t miss the experience. Also worth noting: if you need to cancel or change your ticket, there are policies in place (changes more than 60 days out are easier, while within 60 days may incur fees).
“Keep memories alive by revisiting our most treasured past.”
John and Kathy Valastro
• A laid-back beach destination on the Bolivar Peninsula with 27 miles of drivable sandy shoreline
• Fresh seafood restaurants with live music for casual waterfront dining
• Charming boutiques, lively festivals, and plenty of family-friendly events
• Wide selection of beach rental homes offering easy access to both beach and bay
• Complimentary ferry ride from Galveston and just a short drive away
Cookin’ Column
Hello everyone! The holidays have begun, and Bunny wants to give you a recipe that everyone just loves. It’s a snack that you cannot resist and will probably make you pass Christmas dinner. You can also wrap these up in little bundles and give them as gifts to your neighbors and friends with a Christmas card. Let’s get started.
Anita’s Gourmet Pecans
Ingredients
• 1 Cup Sugar
• ½ Tsp Salt
• 1 Large Egg White
• 3 Tbs Kahlua (or any liqueur with a strong flavor), but Bunny prefers Kahlua
• 4 Cups Small Pecan Halves
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Combine sugar and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
Stir thoroughly to blend.
Spread the pecans in a single layer on the cookie sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until pecans are toasted and crisp, stirring once after 10 minutes.
It will look as though the coating is coming off. Stir from the outside of the pan towards the center as the nuts at the edges brown faster. Watch closely because sugar burns quickly. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately loosen nuts from the foil. Cool on wax paper.
Hint: Save the seasoned sugar that is left for topping ice cream!!! Yummy!
These can keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container, but that never happens in this house!
Hope you will enjoy the last month of the year (can you believe it?) and enjoy every minute.
Whisk egg white and liqueur in a large bowl. Add pecans and stir to coat. Add sugar mixture. Happy Trails, Bunny
