Lifestyle

   The Bay City Public Library is offering patrons a chance to donate canned and non-perishable foods to reduce fines for late, lost or damaged items by Saturday, Dec. 1. 
   “We currently have a lower turnout than previous years,” said Library Director Samantha Denbow. 
   “’Food for Fines’ allows for any type of fee to pay for with donated non-perishable items until Dec. 1. This is an annual initiative to help patrons get their accounts back in good standing. ” 
   Each canned good or non-perishable food item donated removes $1 from the overall total of fines per patron. 
   Denbow said the overall goal was to give back to the community. 
   “I’m glad we could offer this opportunity to our patrons while being able to give back to the community and those in need,” she added. 
   “I hope this inspires others to give back as well.”  All donation items will be collected and given to the Bay City Police Department’s food drive campaign. 

   Matagorda County Commissioners Court accepted Monday sending the Nov. 6 general election vote canvass that will go to the state with the notation that the County Judge election results will be recounted.
   Incumbent County Judge Nate McDonald (D) defeated challenger Charles Wright by 61 votes in an election where 10,649 votes were cast – out of 21,645 registered voters.
   McDonald received 5,285 votes, or 50.29 percent, of the vote tally, while Wright got 5,224, or 49.7 percent.
   The judge’s margin of victory apparently grew by three votes, from 58 to 61, after 54 provisional ballots were verified last week by Voter Registrar Cristyn Hallmark.
   County Clerk Janet Hickl turned the provisionals over to the county’s ballot board that accepted 10 of those ballots.
   Of those 10, McDonald received three more votes from election night and Wright got five more.
   Wright asked for the recount last Friday.

Van Vleck ISD trustees canvassed the Nov. 6 election results for four board positions during their regular meeting Monday night.
   Trustees Tony Kucera, Kurtis Brown, Terry Evans and Donnie O’Connell all were re-elected to the board.
   Board members Evans, O’Connell and Kucera were sworn in, but Brown had an excused absence.
   The board also elected officers for President, vice president and secretary.
   Kucera was chosen as board president again with Brown and Evans filling the other two spots, respectively.
   Sophia Dusek, PBK architect project executive, gave an update on the bond project to the board.
   “We’ve issued construction documents on the new junior high and high school to Drymalla,” said Sophia.
   “Drymalla is currently taking bids until Dec. 12. We’ll bring the bids to you and review them just before Christmas.”
   Dusek unveiled a few changes to the plans for the new gymnasium.

   Main Street Program board members discussed upcoming holiday events and plans for Camofest during their regular meeting Nov. 14.
   “After ‘Christmas Around the Square’ we’ve got Small Business Saturday and then we’re in December,” said Main Street Manager Shelly Story.
   “’Flock Fest’ is our big event next month and Camofest is in January.”
   Story reminded the board about the itinerary for Friday-Saturday, Dec. 7-8.
   “There’s going to be a lot going on Saturday,” she added.

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   Though many of you have yet to consume the Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas season is in full swing in Bay City and Matagorda County.
   The downtown merchants started things off with Christmas Around the Square last week. 
   If you missed it, don’t despair. 
   There are still plenty of great shopping and fun opportunities.
   The Friday after Thanksgiving is a day shoppers flood the stores vying for Christmas gifts at special prices. 
   But the next day, Small Business Saturday, is even better. 
   Locally operated and owned shops offer unique gifts that can’t be found elsewhere and a more relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience. 
   It is the perfect time to head to downtown Bay City and support our small businesses.

    The latest installment In the Harry Potter franchise, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” debuted at No. 1 over the weekend and raked in over $253 million worldwide.
   As the second movie in the Fantastic Beasts series, it was better than I expected.
   Plus, it’s a little timely given all the things circulating in the world today.
   The film features an ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp. 
   The plot follows Newt Scamander (Redmayne) and Albus Dumbledore (Law) as they attempt to take down the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp), while facing new threats in a more divided wizarding world.
   In 1927, the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is being held prisoner by the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). 

   A suspicious neighbor tipped off police about two women staying in a house where the owner was gone.
    Officer Aurelia Mendez was sent to the 2900 block of Avenue H in reference to two females in a vacant house around 2:34 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11.  
   A neighbor knew no one was supposed to be in the house and called the police and gave the description of the suspects inside.
   When Mendez arrived, she found a female leaving the back of the residence.  
   After the female was detained, she told officers that there was another female in the house.  
   Officers found the other female and detained her as well.  
   One female said she had permission to be at the residence.
   Mendez made contact with the home owner who was out of town, who told the officer that no one had permission to be at the residence and she would file charges.