Lifestyle

   As someone who watches a lot of horror movies, it’s easy enough to see when something’s left it’s best scares in the trailer and brings no substance in the rest of the film.
   “Separation” managed to accomplish that within the first 15 minutes of the film.
   After all, I make it a habit to check out trailers for movies more often as of late so that I don’t have to direct you towards something terrible.
   Sadly, this flick isn’t even worth renting on Redbox or looking to stream anywhere.
   Which is really depressing since the trailer showed such promise and I’m always down for the good old possessed/evil toy tropes like “Chucky” (1988) or 2014’s “Annabelle.”
   The film stars Rupert Friend, Violet McGraw, Madeline Brewer, Mamie Gummer, Brian Cox, Eric Miller, and Simon Quarterman.
   Separation is rated R for language, some violence, and brief drug use and clocks in at one hour and 47 minutes long.

  “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.”   Broadway-bred bombast and beauty! Revolving doors… Secret passageways... A mysterious figure… All add to the comic mayhem that takes place inside the new CAST Theatre as we present “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.”
   This production starts at 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 26-27, and Thursday-Saturday, July 29-31, with a special lunch presentation at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25.
   All tickets are $45 per person and feature a catered meal by Venezia’s Garden at CAST’s
   new home, 920 Nichols, in Bay City.
   Actors portray actors, directors, singers, and writers – all of whom may be in danger from the “Stage Door Slasher.”
   A New York police detective tries to sort out the mystery-in-a-mansion.
   Only the audience is aware of some of the secrets – but you can’t tell!

   Bay City ISD will host Registration Week at four of its five campuses over the week of July 20-24.
   With the first day of school less than a month away, Bay City ISD is making a push to register returning and new students to the district as early as possible.
   Early registration allows the district to create class rosters and assign students to their teachers before the “Meet the Teacher Night” ceremonies.
   All students, including those that were in BCISD last year, must complete the registration process.
   Registration can be done online by visiting bcblackcats.net/registration, or by attending these in-person registration week events:

   Bay City swimmer Oliver Spencer’s had four, top-eight finishes in the recent Aggieland Inviational at Texas A&M.
   BCHS Swim Coach Bob Button said 25 Houston-area teams attended.
   All of Spencer’s distances are in meters. 50 fly, 1st:29.26
50 back, 3rd:33.47
100 free, 3rd:57.60
200 i.m., 8th: 2:33.42
   “We trained through this meet, as Oliver’s championship competition is the age group state meet (TAGS) in Arlington,” Button said. 
   “He’s entered in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events.
   There also were several local athletes racing in a meet in Cy-Fair last weekend, Button added. 

   City Council agreed to make good for the Nile Valley Road reconstruction contractor for bid specification discrepancies, at council’s meeting Tuesday, July 13.
   The discrepancy differences occurred in bid specifications for concrete wall paving on the bridge slope. 
   In one section the specifications call for paying the Nile Valley Road contractor, Port Lavaca-based Lester Contracting, per square yard, while the requirement in another place stipulates per cubic yard reimbursement.
   Lester Contracting said the reimbursement should be based on cubic yardage.
   Council decided to make good – after an executive session – on the contractor’s per cubic yard payment that totals $116,063.
   City Manager Shawna Burkhart said that payment wasn’t expected, but she said the city still expects to come under costs on the $6 million project.

   Matagorda County Women Crisis Center received a $25,000 grant from the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) to better meet the essential legal needs of domestic violence survivor
   The Crisis Center will use its Swalm Grant to maintain a full-time family law attorney and paralegal.
   The attorney and paralegal will provide lifesaving services to survivors looking to gain independence and freedom from their abusers including divorce proceedings, custody and child support issues, immigration issues and protective orders.
   TCFV) awarded more than $300,000 to 12 domestic violence agencies across Texas via its 2021 Swalm Grants, with 91% of the grants matching 100% of the recipients’ requested amounts. 
   Individual grants range from $6,000 to $30,000 for a variety of fundamental needs and come from TCFV’s Swalm Endowment Fund.

   Bay City ISD trustees unanimously approved calling for a special election in November to find a replacement after accepting board member John Dewitt’s resignation Monday, July 12.
   Board members present included James Scardami, Trent Tinnin, Jill Westmoreland, Matt Murray, and Priscilla Robinson,
   Trustees Mark West and John DeWitt were absent.
   The decision came after a 56-minute long closed session discussion with district legal counsel on how to proceed with the rest of DeWitt’s unexpired term.
   Dewitt was elected in 2019 and his three-year term ends in May 2022.
   “If there had been more than one year left, we would have been required to either nominate or hold a special election,” said BCISD board President James Scardami.

   Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard’s announced he won’t seek re-election after 10 years on commissioners court.
   At the court’s regular meeting Monday, July 12, Pollard said he wouldn’t seek re-election in the March 1, 2022 primary and will serve out his remaining term through 2022.
   “I have enjoyed my time in office serving the great people of Matagorda County since being sworn into office Jan.1, 2011,” Pollard said.
   “I have made many new friends over the last 10 years and a few enemies, hopefully more friends than enemies.
   “I have discussed my decision with my wife, Mary Claire, and we feel the timing is right. The old saying is ‘happy wife makes for a happy life.’ This job requires being on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week. 

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