Lifestyle

   Bobby Head has tossed his hat in the ring for the Bay City mayoral election May 4.  
   That makes it a three-way race among Head, Julie Eslinbaum and Robert Nelson at press time Tuesday. 
   Mayor Mark Bricker has indicated on Facebook that he does not intend to seek re-election.  
   Time is running out to file for city council, mayor or Bay City school board positions.  
   The deadline to file in the city and school races – and to get their paperwork submitted – will be at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15.   
   City Council Positions 3-5 are held, respectively, by Mayor Pro Tem Chrystal Folse, Becca Sitz, and Jason Childers.  
    Floyce Brown has filed for Position 3, the post Folse held for several years.   
   Folse has decided against running again.  
   Sitz and Childers have filed for re-election to their positions 4 and 5.  

   How do we go from two weeks of movie flops to a sudden storm of interesting flicks? 
   “Cold Pursuit” ranked third during its opening weekend with only $11.8 million in revenue domestically. 
   The film is rated R for strong violence, drug material, and some language including sexual references. 
   Cold Pursuit is a 2019 American black comedy action thriller film directed by Hans Petter Moland in his Hollywood debut from a screenplay by Frank Baldwin.  
   The film stars Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Emmy Rossum, William Forsythe, Tom Jackson and Tom Bateman.  
   It is a remake of the 2014 Norwegian vigilante film In Order of Disappearance, also directed by Moland, and follows a snowplow driver who sets out for revenge on a local drug lord following the murder of his son. 

   Community Actors of South Texas, better known as CAST, is preparing for its 20th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, Feb. 16.   
   The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Bay City Service Center at 7th and Avenue M.   
   “We want anyone who’s ever been involved in a CAST production whether you were onstage, backstage, helped on a set-up or tear down, to be a part of this celebration,” said Richard Knapik, CAST President.   
   “CAST has been actively performing since 1999 at numerous locations and we’re asking for the Bay City to come out and help us celebrate this achievement,” Knapik added. 
   CAST grew out of Bay City Community Theater which performed from the late 70s to the early 90s.   
   In February 1999, John Hodges and a group of dedicated volunteers formed CAST, which continues to flourish today.  

    Palacios hosts the third annual “Matagorda Bay Birdfest,” Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-18. 
   While the majority of the event is free, some bird tours require pre-registration and payment. 
   “Birdfest aims to connect people, birds and nature,” claims the Birdfest website. 
   “It also celebrates the diversity of regional bird species as evidenced by the annual Mad Island Marsh Preserve Christmas Bird Count, creates active involvement in science and art and encourages awareness and stewardship of the Matagorda Bay ecosystem.” 
   There will be several guest speakers, a youth art program, bird parade, kayak and birding tours, food and vendors. 
   Guest speaker sessions will be from 1:30-5:15 pm. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the East Side Annex. 

   Bay City Parks and Recreation Department received Special Recognition at an awards ceremony held in Houston by the Houston – Galveston Area Council (H-GAC).   
   This occurred during the H-GAC’s first Park Summit and Awards reception Friday, Feb. 8. H-GAC announced the winners of the 2018 Parks and Natural Areas Award competition.  
   These projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Projects are honored in three categories: Planning Process, On-the-Ground Projects Over $500,000, and On-the-Ground Projects Under $500,000. 
   “Since 2006, H-GAC has recognized creative and innovative park and natural area projects that implement best management practices in planning, policy, and development” said Jeff Taebel, Director of Community and Environmental Planning at H-GAC.