Lifestyle

   Bay City ISD trustees approved the implementation of the proposed standardized dress code for students during their regular meeting Monday night, July 16.
   “We made a few revisions based on feedback we had from parents in the community,” Cherry Elementary Principal Merideth Dodd said during her presentation.
   “Those changes included things like expanding color choices for tops and bottoms as well as for hoodies.”
   “We are not using this dress code to punish our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Marshall Scott, III.
   “In the end, it’s all about safety.”
   The full dress code is outlined and available at bcblackcats.net.
   “This is going to be a gradual transition at the start of the year,” added Scott.
   “For the first month or so, there won’t be penalties, but as we progress, students will have to adhere strictly to the new dress code.”

   A request to approve a reinvestment zone and an abatement for Peyton Creek Wind Farm was tabled after a lengthy public hearing at the Matagorda County Commissioners Court regular meeting Monday, July 16.
   County Attorney Denise Fortenberry told the court the abatement decision hinged upon the court’s determination that the wind farm would create jobs and bring more revenue to the county in the designated area.
   Noting other property owners in the proposed reinvestment zone, Fortenberry pointed out that they and future companies locating in the designated area, if approved, could request the same abatement terms.
   “If you agree to a 50 percent abatement for five years, you can only do the same for another company for the same zone,” Fortenberry told the court.
   The courtroom was packed Monday morning and most of those attending were there for the 40-minute wind farm hearing.

 The $41.2 million Sargent span – the swing bridge replacement project - will begin in September, but some preliminary work needs completion before then, according to Michael Zanella, project manager, for the main contractor, Irving-based Austin Bridge & Road.
   Before the main project begins, utility line removal and replacement across the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway (GIWW) in Sargent will be completed before work will begin work on the Sargent corkscrew bridge.
   The utility line work will be finished in August by another contractor, Zanella noted. 
   The new utilities are in and removal of the old lines remains. The new line will carry several utilities, including electricity, gas, water, wastewater and AT&T, he added. 
   The unique structure will extend FM 457 across the GIWW, replacing the last remaining swing bridge in Matagorda County.

   Van Vleck trustees took two major steps to improve school security by buying metal detectors and wands and by approving a security position for the district at the school board’s regular meeting Monday, July 16.
   The board approved purchasing metal detectors and inspection wands, at a cost of about $26,000, then discussed the security position in executive session, approving the move in open session.
   The board’s approval of a security position allows the district to hire a licensed police officer in the near future, Superintendent John O’Brien said Tuesday morning.
   That will be the first step in creating a future police department, he added.  
   The board also extended its deadline to Dec. 31 for approving Peyton Creek Wind Farm’s application for the appraised value limitation to give its owner, E.ON, more time to define the boundaries.

   Community Actors of South Texas (CAST) recently held their annual season premiere at Nia’s Town Square restaurant.
   The 2018-2019 season premiere featured snippets from all of the coming productions including “Nightmare on Broadway,” “Steel Magnolias,” and “The Lion King Jr.”
   “Hillbilly Hankerin’” is a special closer for the 2017-2018 season starting at 5 p.m. Aug. 3-4 and 10-11 with a matinee showing at 3 p.m. Saturday Aug. 5, at the Van Vleck High School auditorium.
   Tickets are $10 per person and the show is directed by Gena Lea and Darve Smith while featuring children of all ages on stage.
   “Nightmare on Broadway” will be directed by Dr. Kara Cowart and will feature music from the villains of Broadway.
   Auditions are scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 27-28, at the Bay City High School choir room.
   Actual show dates for the dinner theater event are from 6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday Oct. 25-27, at the Bay City Country Club.

   Tidehaven ISD trustees unanimously approved a 5 percent pay raise for at-will employees during their Monday meeting.
   “This pay raise is going to be effective almost right away,” said TISD superintendent Dr. Andrew Seigrist.
   “We are grouping employees as we go into this raise. All the cooks are together then aides, secretaries and so forth.”
   The pay raise also includes bus drivers.
   “Our at-will employees help us fulfill our mission, and they make a positive difference in the education of our students,” said Seigrist in a press release Tuesday.
   “Our at-will employees help set the climate and culture of our district. Tidehaven ISD Administration and the Board of Trustees greatly appreciate the contributions our at-will employees make for our students and staff. The success of our at-will employees is our success.”
   The board also held a workshop for the 2018-2019 budget, though it won’t be finalized until the end of August.

   “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” is the third film in the “Hotel Transylvania” franchise and rated PG for some action and rude humor.
   It is directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and written by Tartakovsky and Michael McCullers, and features Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Fran Drescher, and Mel Brooks reprising their previous roles as well as new additions to the cast like Kathryn Hahn and Jim Gaffigan.
   The flick takes place a few months after the events of the second film with the story centering on Dracula (Sandler), Mavis (Gomez), Johnny (Samberg), and the rest of their family, both human and monster, and friends as they take a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship. 
   Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel.