Lifestyle

   There have been 72 new confirmed COVID-19 cases from Dec. 7-14 in Matagorda County, data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
   And, a major COVID-19 development was reported Monday when the state announced that just over 224,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped to 109 Texas hospitals this week according to DSHS. 
   Hospital, county, and city officials will make an announcement when COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Matagorda County, but as of right now, there is no firm arrival date, according to Matagorda Regional Medical Center. 
   Governor Abbott estimated that 1.4 million more doses will be available starting in mid-December. 
   Vaccines will be prioritized for healthcare workers and first responders because they are at greater risk of spreading the virus if they become ill, officials said. 

   The Main Street Program board unanimously approved a $5,225 façade grant for Three Chicks Soap Co. during its regular meeting Dec. 9.
   The grant covers half the cost of cleaning and repairing some brickwork, repairing transom windows, a new awning, and painting the building.
   “The good news is that the building owner, Becky Cook, is going to let a mural be painted on the side of the building,” said Main Street Program Manager Shelly Story.
   “We’re hoping that the mural attracts downtown visitors and draws them into shopping with our merchants, too.”
   Story mentioned that the mural project would be a joint venture with Bay City Tourism Director Heidi Martinez for the coming year.
   The board also approved a $7,500 website package for taking part in the “Shop Where I Live” marketplace website.

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   Bay City VFW Post 2438 recognized six local students as winners of the annual “Patriot’s Pen” and “Voice of Democracy” essays Dec. 15.
   All winners received recognition awards and their monetary prizes based on either first, second or third place won and varied from $100-600.
   The “Voice of Democracy” (VOD) winners are Patricia Castanon, Bryson Kelley and Kinsley Simons in first-third respectively.
   Each student wrote and recorded an essay based on this year’s VOD theme of: “Is this the country the Founders envisioned?”
   Winners of the “Patriot’s Pen” contest include Emmalie Isbell, Grayson Svetlik, and Reese Polk in first through third place.
   Their essays explored this year’s theme: “What is Patriotism to me?”
   As first place winners, Castanon and Isbell both advance to the state level competition and have a chance to win other scholarship awards.

   Bay City’s December sales tax allocations from the state Comptroller’s office shows growth over December 2019 and an even more impressive increase from this year’s year-to-date over last year.
   The sales tax rebate is part of Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s recent announcement that he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $790.3 million in local sales tax allocations for December, 3.7 percent less than in December 2019. 
   These allocations are based on sales made in October by businesses that report tax monthly.
   Bay City’s December sales tax allocations were 4% higher than the same month in 2019.
   Bay City’s December rebate was $534,475, compared to $510,524 in December 2019.
   For the year, Bay City’s allocations have totaled $6,693,091, 12% more than the $5,960,949 the city received in the same period last year.

   Everyone, young and old knows the basic mainstream story of Santa and how he delivers gifts to children worldwide. 
   Following tradition, the good kids get toys and bad kids get lumps of coal. 
   I mean, that’s the basic gist of what Santa does during Christmas, right? 
   Though, what happens to the kids that aren’t motivated by getting a lump of coal to do better and get gifts instead next year? 
   This movie kind of explores that with unexpected violence and bitterness from old Mr. Clause. 
   “Fatman” is an action film written and directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms and starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Robert Bockstael, Chance Hurstfield, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. 
    David Gordon Green and Danny McBride serve as executive producers of the film. 
   The movie is rated R for bloody violence, and language and clocks in at 100 minutes of total run time. 

   Happy December- we made it! WHAT. A. YEAR. 
   Twenty-twenty has felt like something out of a horror/sci-fi movie and I can’t say I would give it too many good reviews. 
   But amongst the fire and smoke, a lot of great things have emerged from the ashes. 
   I think we have all learned the true value of quality time with our loved ones, learned to be more gracious and patient, and how to be flexible in a constantly-changing world.  
   It has been a weird time in our lifetimes, one we surely will not forget… but let’s take a look at some of the good that has come from this infamous year. 
   In the midst of an incredibly active and destructive hurricane season, we saw the triumph of the human spirit as neighbors and strangers came together to help each other out. 

   Saturday, Dec. 12, the BCHS boys and girls swim teams hosted a dual meet with Wharton.
   All swimming distances are in yards.
   Girls’ team score:  Bay City 36 – Wharton 22
   Double individual winners for the girls were Glory Vargas (12) in the 100 butterfly & 100 backstroke, Suhana Khondker (09) in the 50 free & 100 breaststroke, and Megan Moya (09) in the 200 & 500 freestyles.
   Boys’ team score:  Bay City 80 – Wharton 15
   Bay City swept the boys’ relays.
   Felix Rodriguez (10), Matthew Brooks (11), Michael Vargas (10), & Ashton Wallace (10) opened with a win in the 200 medley relay.
   Jordan Wright (12), Daniel Dye (11), Wallace, & Brooks took top spot in the 200 free relay.
   Dye, Rodriguez, Wright, & Vargas wrapped up the meet with a victory in the 400 free relay.